Third Age Musings

February

2012-02-02T16:16:00.003Z

Here is my February all fresh and green and ready to go. It may be freezing, but the sun is shining and there are snowdrops in the garden.

I made the background by printing the pages with white acrylic and then giving it a watercolour wash. The paint acts as a resist. My paisley lino cut gives a damask effect. I scanned the pages for the squares and added a bit of depth to the wash with watercolour and Inktense pencils.

January has turned out rather lively. The blank page was very unexciting but wintery silhouettes added some atmosphere.

There are lots of calendar pages on the Flickr site or your can link to calendar blogs from Kate's page, do take a look.

It's not too late to take up the challenge.

Jill

Sunday

2012-01-29T17:50:00.000Z

I have posted these photographs before, right at the beginning of my blog adventures when I was logging my progress in my photography course. Clare mentions that the scenery is reminiscent of Tuscany, and I have to agree - I think it is the row of poplar trees and high view point, but it is definitely south Bedfordshire. Here is the same scene taken at each season.

I drove right through the middle of this scene today on my way to see friends. I always love it how ever many times I pass through. It was very misty this morning and I wished I had my camera with me.

I have also had a go at making a book from all the papers I have created during my sketchbook course. This is the chaos that is my desk, sometimes I wonder how I manage to get anything done!

I printed paper for the front and back covers with the linocut inspired by the scene above.

It has five signatures stitched into a card spine. The stitching is a bit wonky despite my careful measuring, I guess more practice would help, but it is not the sort of thing you make every week.

I'm not sure how I am going to use it yet, but I keep having to give it a bit of a stroke, how sad is that?

I have nearly finished the Creative Sketchbook course and I have got a lot from it - what next?

Watch this space

Have a good week.

Jill

This week

2012-01-23T20:03:00.000Z

I'm sharing these pages with you because I know you well and you've been with me all the way. I'm not sure I knew what I was doing here but we all need to do a little experimentation and one of the thresholds I have crossed is not being afraid to show my "less than" pages.

Here I added to the charcoal and wash sketch with a border of forks as reference to previous pages and the tree line. The chequered sky is showing over a cut-out horizon from the next page shown below.

This is a bit of a mish-mash using a photo-montage, lino cuts and stencil - it actually looks better here than in real life - but it is quite exciting experimenting - at least I'm learning what I don't enjoy doing and what subjects I prefer working with.

As I have been transferring my several thousand photographs onto my new computer I came across these from a couple of years ago and thought I would share.

The two below were part of a series I made of wrapped flowers.

Have a good week,

Jill

Work(s) in progress

2012-01-15T18:55:00.001Z

I have been trying some different methods of using soft pastels - this still life was created with paper stencils. It gives a beautiful soft effect, but completely out of character with what else is in my sketchbook. I'm still living with all of these following pages and seeing what I may add.

Below I have used the same technique but used the roof tops of my urban setting as inspirations - still haven't finished with it yet.

The roof top shape suggested this diamond pattern below next to a monoprint of my house I managed to do straight into my book after many failed attempts on paper - once again watch this space for developments on this page.

Finally in my sketchbook this charcoal and wash rendering of a local view is also waiting for some more work.

I am loving all of this - although as you can see a lot of things were started this week - some consolidation needed as I near the end of my Design Matters course. I am having to change some of my thinking. As a mainly figurative artist I am having to re-educate my eye in thinking towards design opportunities. I am hoping that the C&G Creative Quiltmaking will help me realise some of my ideas as stand alone pieces.

Meanwhile, I thought I would have a go with drawing onto fabric using Derwent Inktense water-soluble pencils. As these supposedly become permanent once wetted they work really well on fabric. I used some sketches of aquilegias I had in a sketchbook and copied them onto unbleached cotton calico. I then though I would try some machine quilting and found a couple of demos on binding quilts on good ole' Youtube. My mitred corners wouldn't stand close inspection, but I felt quite pleased with the results. I added some hand stitching to the right hand one, but I'm not sure whether it added anything to the end result. I don't know what I shall do with these - I may just put them in my textile workbook as samples.

I thought you might like to see I how I have added colour to these previous pages - done way back last August. It has turned a sketchbook exercise into something much more interesting - I think!

Thanks for sharing my pages with me - it is so lovely to get your comments, they mean a lot.

Have a good week.

Jill

January Windows

2012-01-08T16:54:00.002Z

I thought I'd add a bit of variety to my post today, not just pages from my sketchbook. But I will start off with one inspired by the long gone stained glass windows which once decorated our house. I loved them, but the frames were so rotten we couldn't open any of them so they had to go. Somewhere I have a good set of photographs I took before they were removed, but I cannot find them, just a couple of snaps which gave me enough detail to do this. The diamond pane rubbing was made on the front door which we were able to keep, but no coloured glass.

Keeping on the window theme - this is the large window in my workroom, which was once the garage. It was a very small garage and this wall is taken up with window and radiator - not a lot of storage space - hence a crammed window sill and cardboard boxes.

This is the business end of my workbench - the computer is at the other. I have been trying out my soft pastels. I was rather pleased with my first attempt of my little owl paper weight, but managed to spray it with repositionable mount spray instead of fixative - no please - don't say anything! The second one is okay, but lacks some of the spontaneity of the first. My soft pastels are rather old and seemed to have dried out and are extremely crumbly. I'm not sure I am ready to invest in a new lot at the moment.

And finally here is me sitting in front of the computer, which cleverly took the picture of me holding my camera and with Marvin sitting on the conservatory chair which was brought in on a temporary basis, but has become a fixture since he loves to sit on it and give me creative advice.

I seemed to have acquired a new batch of followers in the last month - welcome and I am extremely flattered. I did say I would arrange a give-away when I reached 150 followers, but the number has grown to over 160, so I must get organised, I haven't forgotten.

Do have a good week,

Jill

A Happy Creative New Year

2012-01-02T17:25:00.002Z

Happy New Year to You

Here is my new calendar page - looking rather plain, and below are my December pages.

This is my third year of keeping a diary in this form. Kate here is hosting the 2012 366 challenge so visit there if you want to join in. I love keeping a diary this way and although it looks involved, it isn't. You need to find half an hour or so to prepare your page. I cut 4cm squares and glue them on a double A4 page. As you can see my background for January is fairly simple with colour washes. Filling in the little squares needn't be done everyday - I often fill several at a time adding the little drawings and colour when I have time. Some entries are just a couple of words or even a doodle. I must say I love looking back over my previous pages and they have resolved several arguments about when we had done something.

I have been finding time to do something creative every day even if it is just filling in my calendar.

Here are my latest pages in the Design Matters sketchbook project based on my little owl paperweight.

This one is bordered with the little lino cut I made and features a cut-out that opens onto the page below.

The right hand page was created by using a gold oil pastel to take rubbings of leaves on brown paper and flooding the paper with watercolour.

This page features a pocket for holding all the little samples and bits related to the owl. I have used a larger

lino cut I made based on a paisley pattern that was on a supermarket Indian dinner box.

The sheets below were created by rubbing the lino cut with wax crayons or oil pastel.

My favourite technique is using gold oil pastel on brown paper as I did on the owl page above. It gives a beautiful rich finish.

I am in the middle of my next project, so watch this space. I am also working back through the book enhancing the pages with additional techniques. It is a new notion for me, as previously my sketchbooks have more or less been a chronological record of my thought processes and learned techniques, whereas with this one it will a single piece of artwork.

I have reached the last Module of the Design Matters Creative Sketchbook Course and now I am seriously considering signing up for Creative Quiltmaking, which is a City and Guilds course, next.

I now need to devote some time to commenting on your blogs - I have managed to peek at them, but I hope you'll understand, I am on a creative wave and I need to ride it as long as it's with me!

I do wish you all the best for 2012 and look forward to sharing what you have been doing.

Jill

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T15:24:00.001Z

To my dear online friends,
Merry Christmas to you all,
with very best wishes,
Jill

(Recycled magazine tree thanks to Lesley's link to this site )

The next project

2011-12-18T17:31:00.001Z

Moving away from the cutlery theme for my sketchbook work I toured the house looking for inspiration and finally chose this Royal Crown Derby Little Owl paperweight, one of a collection Mr T has bought me over many years. I love the rich colours and the shapes in the decoration so I thought I would use this as a theme for a series of pages.

After a couple of quick sketches and looking at the owl in detail - probably closer than I have looked before, even though I have owned him for many years - I chose this particular feather pattern as the basis of my design. There is something reminiscent of '30s patterned paper about it.

My first project using 'magic expanding sponge' was to make a negative and positive print. I used the feather shape and mixed up some acrylic paint to reflect the gold, Imari red and cobalt blue.

This is the page so far with some colour wash - not sure where I will take it next, or just leave it as a pattern.

Meanwhile I have cut a small 'lino' print of a double feather. Below are a proof print and a couple of rubbings taken from the block. The one on the right is gold oil pastel rubbing on brown paper with a colour wash which I am particularly pleased with.

Hopefully this little motif has a bit of mileage in it and I am already twitching to get out the needle felt.

And for all of you kind souls who asked about Marvin here he is...

"Look Ma! No dribbling"

Although I have to say his fur has looked better.

We had snow this morning, although it has all melted, it is now beginning to freeze hard. Hope you are all keeping cosy and have a a good week.

Jill

These things happen!

2011-12-13T17:48:00.001Z

In my last post I showed you this collage I had started using the linings from recycled enveloped. I was moving stuff around on my desk when I had a spillage accident. I squeezed a sponge over the page - don't ask why - and it left a great blot of green watercolour wash over the spoon!

I had already decided to add texture to the page using a Sharpie pen. Rather than just make random marks I had decided to mimic the textures of the paper with different types of cross hatching, so I managed to squeeze some more green wash from the sponge and painted it across the two pages. When it was dry I worked on it with pen and added the lino print which I had cut earlier using the lines on the paper used for the spoon as a pattern.

Carrying on with the black acrylic I added some texture with some different size sequin waste as this mimicked the texture of the background paper, I then worked into it with colour pencils and oil pastels to add more depth.

The stencilling seemed to suggest another fork, so I emphasised that and added some extra colour to link it to previous pages in my book which have beed much warmer in shade , I also added some stamped letters.

Afterwards I though perhaps I should have spelled out "mash it up" as that was more in keeping with the fork.

Before I go I want to say "hello" to Diane in Surrey and Barb in North Carolina who have both e mailed me this week about my page, although they don't Blog themselves. How lovely it is to get mails out of the blue.

Hope you're keeping warm and dry and have battened down the hatches for the gales.

Jill

Thursday up-date

2011-12-08T16:44:00.001Z

I hope all you UK residents are holding on to your hats! It is certainly blowing a hooley here and I know up north it is even worse.

I have managed to fit a bit of creativity in.

Here are four gouash and indian ink resist pieces I have been experimenting with. They look rather better here than in reality. Linda Kemshall did a demo on DMTV which I don't subscribe to at the moment (Too many other things going on) but a quick google soon came up with a few explanations.

I have coloured them with my Koh-i-noor intense watercolour dyes.

It has also been back to the cutlery drawer for me. On the left is a cut out inspired by Matisse and on the right a collage formed from cutlery shapes cut from the insides of envelopes. I managed to make the cut out all in one piece - but I could do with a new blade in my craft knife. Not sure how to develop the envelope collage so I took a couple of copies on the scanner.

Here is one of them which I have been working on with a black Sharpie pen. You can see the different textures from the envelopes better in this detail.

Not sure yet if this is the finish I want. Without any work the textures are rather too subtle.

Thank you for all the comments on my previous post, I have managed to clock up 150 followers so I shall arrange a give-away, but not sure if if I will fit it in before Christmas. On Saturday I shall be supporting the Artists Network Bedfordshire at the Dickensian Fayre at The Disovery Centre, Stockwood Park in Luton - although I'm not sure what times I shall be there. (No, we're not dressing up) So if you live in the area, please pop in.

Keep warm

Jill

No Longer November

2011-12-02T15:37:00.001Z

No longer November...

Like many people, I find this is a very emotive time of year. Christmas is bearing down on us, and there is an overwhelming urge to prepare for the festival. However in my very small, grown-up family there is really not a lot to do. I'm sure many of you will envy our quiet time. However somehow I still feel the pressure to get things done...

I am enjoying my sketchbook course. Here are another batch of pages.

The page above now shows the pickled onions in the jar through the window cut out in the right hand page. I have tried to integrate the photographs into the background with mixed media and different techniques without getting over fussy.

Onion studies.

Here are another two pages using the idea of a cut out and integrating a photograph into the page - the bottle revealing the spotted paper above and the photograph below.

And here is my journal page for December - going for a frosty look, although we haven't had much of that so far this autumn. The white writing is done with acrylic ink and a dip pen. They are all December quotations.

Marvin the cat has recovered well from his dental treatment but now only has his canine teeth remaining. He seems perfectly happy especially as he has to have his 'kitty bricks' soaked to soften them. We are happy too (although a lot poorer). Not only has he stopped slobbering over everything, he no longer greets us with his 'killer breath'. I shall soon be able to remove the pieces of fleece which cover all his favourite sleeping spots.

The convalescent sleeps soundly.

Have a great weekend and see you soon

The weeks fly by

2011-11-26T17:35:00.001Z

I cannot believe how quickly the last couple of weeks have flown by. I seem to have been very busy doing nothing, with a few productive days thrown in.

Last week I visited Hertford where my friend Sally was having an exhibition at the YumYum cafe. This was not only a good opportunity to support Sally, but to also have rather nostalgic moment or two. I was a student in Hertford. I went to the memorably named Balls Park Teacher Training College. Although I went to a college re-union a few years ago, I don't think I have visited the town since I left in 1971! I didn't have long, but the town centre is compact so I soon found my way around. I had forgotten what an attractive place it was - or perhaps I didn't notice in my youth.

The Yum Yum cafe is in this old building which I must have walked past many times when I lived in this rather elegant Georgian terrace in my second year - I think we lived in the far end - at the bottom of Port Hill on the road to Bengeo (what a great name).

The River Lea runs through Hertford along with several other small rivers.

I must have also crossed this bridge many times.

The brewery looked rather resplendent in the late afternoon sun. I do remember the smell of hops, which I found rather unpleasant wafting over the town.

I seem to remember spending many evenings here in the White Hart - a half a lager and lime and one vodka and lime was the most I could afford at a time!

Graveson's brought back many memories - it was a favourite for buying fabric - I made a lot of my own clothes as a student.

Over-looking the car park was this wall with plaster decorations - pargetting - a local feature which I remember learning about when we had to do a local study. Can't remember much else!

...and at Courtyard Arts I found a textile exhibition including some pieces by Marian Murphy. These small hands were captivating. Marian ran the first machine embroidery workshop I went too, which leads me nicely onto Gina Ferrari's workshop last Wednesday at Art Van Go.

I had a great day learning some new stitches and ways with my sewing machine which I would never have dreamt of.

Some fellow embroiders awestruck at Gina's demo.

We learned how to do 'cable stitch' which involves hand winding bobbins and by-passing bobbin tension - very frightening!!! That's my multicoloured sample along with a rather rigid and damp sample of fringe sewn on water-soluble film - another first for me. It was a treat working with Gina, who was great fun and an excellent teacher, I'm sorry I missed her earlier sessions at AVG.

I've got lots to do the week ahead including taking Marvin the cat to the vet for a tooth clean and possible extractions! But I hope to fit in a bit of creative work too.

Have a great week.

Jill

More pages from my sketchbook

2011-11-15T13:12:00.001Z

Thank you for all the positive comments about the Mac, I'm getting there. Meanwhile I am loving my new amount of S P A C E and putting time in on my creative sketchbook course.

I am working on collage and adding photographs to pages. Not quite happy with this page yet - may work on it some more.

Meanwhile I am enjoying drawing. Here are two studies I did of onions. The first is done with Inktense watercolour pencils on watercolour paper, the second with the same pencils on cartridge paper.

Below is another double page spread from my sketchbook exploring the making of pickles and chutneys. I have integrated a photograph and the middle jar is a cut-out.

I am still working on the page that will show through the window.

It has surprised me out find how inhibited I still am in working on these pages. The course encourages you to go back and rework pages if you feel it is needed, to supplement one way of working with another. I don't know why my inhibitions and purist ways are so deeply entrenched - but I suppose I was brought up believing that there was 'proper' way of doing something and that had to be mastered. Going back to rework a piece always felt like cheating for some reason - even though I know it isn't. I am looking forward to reworking some of my other projects especially the 'Walled Garden' which started so well and fizzled out through loss of direction. I hope that I shall be able to apply what I have learned here to revitalise some of that book.

Next week I am doing a day's workshop with Gina Ferrari of Fan My Flame fame which I am SO looking forward to. It will be a real treat to use my sewing machine under Gina's guidance. If you have never visited her blog please do so, she is a very talented lady. I have missed working on textiles for a while, but hope everything will come together eventually. However I have to remind myself that I am only doing all of this for fun and no one is going to call me to account.

Thank you all who take time to comment, I love to read what you have to say. It is great to be able to view all of my followers again, the number has been hovering around the 145 number for a while with people coming and going. As it approaches 150 I feel a give-away coming on, so watch this space.

Testing testing...

2011-11-12T15:51:00.001Z

As you can see my new iMac has arrived and I have spent the several days starting to get to know it. Now I have bit of a stiff neck from sitting too long at the screen which I did have raised up. Now I have put it back to desk level. Loading a photo into Blogger seemed rather long winded, but I guess I will get to know it all better. I have also bought a couple of Ikea worktops which has given me a full length work bench, more space to make a mess!! I haven't disconnected my old PC yet or moved the printer/scanner, which will take up a lot of room on the desk. I am also finding new homes for 'stuff' and then not being able to find anything. Sorry, this is probably really boring for you.

I do want to take the opportunity thank John who spent some time helping with a trip to Ikea, ordering the computer and helping move furniture.

Hoping to have some sketchbook pages to share soon! Have a good weekend.

Jill

"Moon of Falling Leaves"

2011-11-06T12:55:00.000Z

Just a quick up date after another busy week. However I did manage to fit in creating my November page.

2011 is nearly through - it is unbelievable.

"Moon of Falling Leaves" is the Lakota for October, whilst November is "Moon of the Coming of Winter". There are still plenty of leaves left to fall . With no frost to finish them off the geraniums are still adding to the colour scheme in the garden as well as a few out of season miscreants like the companulas.

For the November background I used Derwent Inktense pencils with some cut-out stencils created for my creative sketchbook course. The squares are plain brown paper.

Here are a couple more pages pages I have created using Inktense and Karisma colour pencils.

Cotoneaster berries - a detail taken from a photograph

and in my smaller book, an experiment making a rubbing from a cutout I made of a sparrow.

I am very pleased that over the last year we have cultured a fair size colony of House Sparrows that live in the shrubs in the garden - and kick up quite a din too. Two or three years ago we hardly saw a sparrow, it was once such a ubiquitous bird that we took it for granted but its numbers have declined over the last decade or so.

Hoping to get my Apple Mac this week, so fingers crossed, next time I blog....

Have a good week whatever you're up to,

Jill

Only just time for tea

2011-10-30T15:25:00.001Z

I've had an extremely busy week including visiting Dad on the Isle of Wight and a trip to Ikea to buy new desks for my work room - thanks to John and Trish for the lift and help lifting heavy flat packs. I have put together one under-desk cupboard, but my back suggests leaving the other one for a few days. Eventually I should have continuous worktop along one wall which will also accomodate my new computer. Hopefully I will be able to fit everything in. At the moment every gap is filled with a folder or a box, my new arrangement won't have so many gaps!

I have made time for one project in my sketchbook. I have used a favouite teapot as the starting point. May do a bit more work on it at some point.

It is nearly the end of October, so I am going to work on my November calendar page now as I've another busy week ahead with more family visits and appointments with the vet and the hairdresser! I don't know why, but appointments each seem to take up half a day since I retired. I can't believe I used to fit them all in with working full time!

Hope you all have a good week and see you in November!

Jill

The weeks fly by...

2011-10-23T18:04:00.000+01:00

Thank you all who wished me well after my tumble - I'm fine now. No lasting damage, although my back is always a bit dodgy, as many of you who are fellow sufferers of chronic back ache know. Falling over is not recommended!

I have been really getting into my sketchbook course. It is helping get back into a creative mode. Hopefully it will also push me into some textile work. Meanwhile I have been getting into cut out pages -

the edge of the right-hand fork is cut out and turns over to reveal -

this page with pink fork and some rubbings on a cut out jug.

This was an experiment with large scale washes - not totally happy with these - yet.

Wax resist experiments ...

and a more finished piece. The wax resist and rubbing has been really great for getting me away form finicky detail, which has its place, but can obsess me!

I'm in for another busy week - but I will try to keep up with you all

Have a great week

Jill

Catching up

2011-10-13T16:19:00.001+01:00

Thought it was about time to catch up although not a great deal has been happening on the home front. However last Monday I took my camera out for a walk on Sharpenhoe Clappers to enjoy the last day of the 'heatwave'.
I bought myself an impromptu sandwich and ate it sitting by the car park enjoying this view, with the wind blowing in my hair.

Then I set off along the path ...

to emerge with a view across Bedfordshire.

Although very sunny, it was hazy in the shadows and I think the Travellers' Joy (aka Old Man's Beard) that smothers the hedgerows gives these bushes an almost eery appearance

It was very windy on top of the hill and there was the continual clatter of beech masts falling from these magnificent trees. It looked as if someone had been trying to improvise some shelters with fallen logs.

As well as the magnificent beeches I love ash trees. Their leaves make a beautiful tracery against the sky.

I always like to keep my eye on the ground too ...

...however unfortunately, when I was nearly back at the car and on the tarmac path, I turned my ankle on a beech mast and hit the deck. I was thankful that I had put my camera in my bag and managed to avert an expensive trip! However I did cut my hand and knee AND TROUSERS. It was a good job no one was around as I must confess to uttering a loud expletive as I landed. If any of you watched Steven Fry's Planet Word you'll understand that this was to relieve the pain. Luckily no lasting damage was done, although I was so cross with myself - I have very wobbly ankles and have to take care. I had picked my way gingerly across the rough ground, but with the car in sight I let down my guard! I have said before that I can turn my ankle on a sixpence and devoted a whole post to my tripping disasters here.

Kitchen shelf

I am finding the Creative Sketchbook course with Design Matters great fun, and I am very impressed with the material and immediate feedback. I would not hesitate to recommend it (It's full at the moment) if Linda and Laura Kemshall run it again. I have finished the first module so here are a few more of my pages.

forks,

knives

and spoons.

I'm moving out of the kitchen now and into colour!

My best wishes to all of you - several of you seem to be having a bit of a rough time lately, and what ever you do take care - watch out for those beech nuts - tripping hazard!!

Glorious October!

2011-10-04T14:26:00.000+01:00

Well there goes September

and in comes October in a blaze of glory. Looks a bit of a muddle here but I painted the background in the garden surrounded by beautiful sunshine and warm autumn colours. I used water colours and my water brush. I scanned a page and printed out a couple of sheets for the squares. They'll stand out more when written on.

I was inspired by my previous page in my journal which I wrote about in my previous post.

Norfolk Pages

2011-09-29T14:43:00.002+01:00

Here are the pages I started when away in Norfolk. A brilliant addition to my tool kit has been a reservoir brush (also called a waterbrush). This means I can do water colours sitting in an arm chair! A perfect companion to my ancient watercolour box which was my Dad's. The brush will clean with a few wipes on a paper towel so is ready for a new colour. No good for sweeping washes, but perfect for what I wanted.

I painted the shell whilst away, but added the photo montage and tracing paper seaweed back home.

Freehand copy of Cromer church window (photograph) done with the reservoir brush - not sure how I will develop this yet. I have to give credit to my Design Matters Creative Sketchbook course for inspiring me with the cut out and adding a page.

Home again,

2011-09-25T12:32:00.001+01:00

I've just got back from a short break in Norfolk. I took my camera and a few arty bits and my art journal. Where we stayed was close to footpaths bordering fields so easy to lose yourself in the sound of rustling leaves - nearly as good as the sound of waves for restoring the spirits. The first day we visited old friends who we haven't seen for many years - we couldn't quite work out how many! After a lovely pub lunch Laurence took us for a walk with his two dogs - Ali had to spend the afternoon preparing lessons - on her day off.

It is really difficult taking photos whilst in charge of a charging spaniel you don't know!

Meanwhile Mr T and his old college pal make up for a few years' news.

The weather was a rather overcast, but there were patches of blue.

Where we were walking was a newly planted woodland with lots of native tree species . Everything seemed to be laden with fruit.

The next day we headed for the coast and Cromer was the closest spot. It is many, many years since I have been to Cromer, and mainly just passed through it on my childhood holidays.

It has the air of a slightly run-down sea-side town. but that is part of its charm. This was obviously once a much more salubrious parade of shops with its white tiled front.

Despite the sign in the window this shop was shut!

Another rather rundown building, but looking as if it had plenty of history.

The pier however was lickety-spit and topping the bill were The Barron Knights (You don't have to own up if you remember them). Although it was overcast it was very mild and we enjoyed watching this little chap have a paddle.

We enjoyed lunch in a teashop opposite the Church.

Cosy!

I was rather struck by this reflection of the church windows in a mirror on the back wall.

After toasted sandwiches and tea the sun came out and we drove down the coast to Mundesley.

How perfect was this?

I couldn't wait to get down on the sand.

I took lots of pictures of the weather front as it moved south leaving us with a beautiful blue sky.

I love the butterscotch coloured waves and could easily have sat for an hour just listening to them.

Mr T likes to keep moving, but he enjoyed a bit of beach combing, but there weren't many pickings today.

The break-waters or are they groynes - I don't know the difference, are always fascinating...

and a good source of a bit of rusty corrosion.

On the way back to the car we dropped in to what must be one of the smallest museums around. Upstairs was the coastguard station. Well worth a £1.

We spent our third day in Norwich. I didn't take my DSLR camera as it is a bit heavy, but did have my 'point and shoot' in my bag. However I didn't take any pictures!

I'll share my journal pages later.

Back to reality now, I hope to catch up with you all soon. Meanwhile how can four nights away generate so much washing!!

Have a good week,

Jill

Barton-le-Clay on Saturday

2011-09-14T15:38:00.002+01:00

On Saturday 17th September 2011 I shall be at Barton-le-Clay Village Hall with my friend Sally.

It is the Annual Exhibition of the Shillingtona and District Camera Club and we have been invited to have a stall there. So if you live in the area I shall be there from 11.00am to 4.00pm, it would be lovely to see you.

Here are some of the things I will be taking

felt and fabric brooches

hearts and stars

boxes and purses

cards.

And the camera club's exhibiton too!

SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2011
admission £2 - under 16 and members free

VILLAGE HALL

HEXTON ROAD

BARTON-LE-CLAY

MK45 4JY

Friday in the garden

2011-09-09T17:55:00.001+01:00

I decided to take my camera in the garden. I am using my 50mm 1:1.8 D lens which is brilliant in low light as it has been very dull here today.
Here are a selection of shots - I took lots - over 40, wouldn't have done that with a reel of film. I would have had to have been a lot more thoughtful before I pressed the shutter. If you click on a photo it should enlarge for you.

I chose some herbs that have gone to seed.

There are a lot of six spot ladybirds around. This one was enjoying the fennel flowers.

Another ladybird clambering in the fennel.

This is the parsley. If you look carefully there is a strand of web between the seed heads.

Another shot of the parsley

This is a close up of coriander flowers which are rather delicate.

We have plenty of froglets hopping round the pond, but this one was larger - about dessert spoon size I'd say. It is good to see them as we had a good size dollop of frogspawn which I photographed in the spring.

However I am missing the blue tits, great tits and coal tits which seemed to have totally disappeared since our neighbour cut down their leylandii hedge about three weeks ago. We are grateful for the light as it seriously shaded our vegetables, but the birds loved it. Hopefully they have gone on a country holiday to make the most of the natural food available and will be back when the weather turns. Meanwhile we are enjoying the large flock of house-sparrows that are emptying the feeders as fast as I can fill them. We saw very few of those for many years, but we counted at least 20 at one point. Sorry no photos of the bird life.

However I am continuing to enjoy the Creative Sketchbook course. Here are another couple of pages.

Do have a great weekend - I'm looking forward to doing some more drawing myself.

Jill

I cannot believe it is ...

2011-08-31T17:02:00.000+01:00

... over a week since my last post - and what a gloomy week we have had here in Bedfordshire. Luckily we have had a very sociable seven days which has kept me happy despite the lack of sunshine. Many of you commented on my calendar pages last month when I suggested that I might not bother to post them any more, so I have decided to carry on. I thought you might be getting bored with my life!

Here are my offerings.

Good riddance to August I say, it started so hopefully.

I do hope we have a little more sunshine next month. The trees are full of fruit but round here we could do with a little warmth to sweeten things up.

My colours were inspired by the fruit and berries, leaves which seem to be turning already and the grass which is still really green and is going to need cutting AGAIN soon.

I have started my Creative Sketchbook course with Linda and Laura Kemshall 's Design Matters.

The package is really well presented with lots of helpful videos.

This week I have been doing a lot of drawing. I often draw natural objects, but these studies require a bit more discipline.

My accuracy has definitely improved.

My computer is really giving me a hard time and it takes ages to scan or up load photographs. I think this is why I have been a bit more reluctant lately to keep up with regular blogging. I have a horrible feeling the whole thing is going to jam up on me. I am pretty sure I am gong to treat myself to an Apple Mac so I now need to get everything backed up and ready to transfer to a new machine as well as rebuilding my computer desk so it will accommodate the larger screen. Although this is something I should do joyfully, I am a great procrastinator when it comes to change!

Have a good week - what is left of it, and here's to a sunnier September.

The Up-side of a Gloomy Tuesday

2011-08-23T12:52:00.000+01:00

It may be damp and gloomy today, but it means that I spend time in my 'studio' without feeling I should be out and about making the most of the glorious weather! So here is a quick glimpse at what's what.

Here is a mosaic I created from my 11 (+1) postcards on my theme of windows. What a wonderful collection and range of takes on my topic. It has been great fun and I think it has taxed our creativity.

This is the final card I received from Joanna which I love. It is hand stitched - and I now I'm thinking of going blond!! The quote is from James Joyce.

This is the final card that I created for Penny on her theme of Angels which I found very difficult. However I kept coming back to this angel I photographed in Great Bedwyn, Wilts. She was on the wall of a stonemason's yard. The business has since closed, so hopefully she has found a good home. Not sure what to do with her, I ended up making a background of Angel quotations. I wanted to go out on a glorious note, but however 'hard' I squeezed my creativity nothing glorious would come!

Meanwhile here are a few sketchbook pages.

Sorting out some fabrics and threads I was struck with how many greens I had, which made me get out my pencils, paints etc and really have a big think about green!

Using paints and pencils I then sat in the garden and tried to reproduce the greens I was seeing without worrying too much about form.

My Creative Sketchbook course starts soon. Not sure how much I will be able to share with you yet, but no doubt there will be some.

Hope your week is going well,

Jill

August this and that

2011-08-16T12:24:00.001+01:00

Just a quick share of some things I have been up to. I have finished my last Postman's Knock card and feel a corner of my desk has been liberated. It has been great fun but I'm ready to stop now - we have been at it since April! I am still making a few bits and pieces for my stall at the Photo exhib in Sept ( more details later) but want to get back to my 'Teach myself Textiles' programme I am trying to devise. I am looking forward to the creative sketch book course, as although I feel I have drawing skills I still lack direction. I have also signed up for a day's workshop with 'our' Gina in November. Unfortunately I was unable to make the other two she is running, but I'm really looking forward to working with her - although I am not wishing the time away! I am also trying out some of her sketchbook ideas she is posting on her blog!

Meanwhile here are a few bits.

This is a page in my Art Journal based on an oyster shell I picked up on Gurnard beach, Isle of Wight, where my sister lives. However she is planning a move the the mainland very soon. I shall miss our beach walks but it will be great to have her nearer.

Gurnard Beach from the cafe at the end of her road.

Here are a couple of little 'party purses' I made from some satin I transfer dyed. The background is the paper I painted with dye. I layered the satin with different coloured organza and machine embroidered it and then added a few beads.

Finally here is a page of my 'Honesty Book' decorated with a little lino cut and a quotation. I'm trying to work on filling it.

Thanks for dropping in.

Jill

Catch up time

2011-08-07T19:34:00.000+01:00

This is going to be quite a long post, so please feel free to leave now if you haven't much time.

I have been busy, mainly going round in circles - which brings me perfectly to my latest Postman's Knock card from Jo Urbani whose ability to create a collage would be hard to match. For my theme of 'Windows' she has created a porthole view of the sea. This brings back memories of a School Cruise I went on in the mid-sixties on a re-fitted troup carrier. We had portholes in our dormitory and until we docked at the first port I was sure it was on the port side, only to be really shocked on going on deck that it was the starboard. We had to go down so many zig-zag stairways that I lost all sense of direction and I suppose I hadn't bothered to study the directon the water was passing by too closely. But I digress, perhaps you can see why I have been getting nowhere fast this week.

This is the card I made for Jane on the theme Overhead. I couldn't decide on one idea so I thought I would draw them all as 'inchies' . The little images brought back lots of memories of drawing illustrations on workcards when I was a teacher. This was before computers and clip art. I used to spend hours in the evenings drawing and writing on cards with felt tip pens and then covering them with clear sticky back plastic. So in a way this card was an easy option.

During Open Studio week Sally and I were invited to have a stall at local photograph group's annual exhibition as they want to broaden their appeal to the public (Shillington and Distric Camera Club, Sat 17th Sept, Village Hall, Hexton Road, Barton-le-Clay) so I have been replenishing my stock.

I have enjoyed making these little Needle Cases from scraps of felt.

and I have made some more Book Covers.

Below is an experimental bag I have been working on for weeks and weeks.

The base is woven strips of red, white, pale and navy blue. I was doubly inspired by the royal wedding bunting and a yatching/sea-side theme and after stitching the woven felt down, spent some time emboidering it.

The emboidery is a mix of formal circles and drifting lines of running stitch and beads. Finally I couched on cord in wavy curves to represent rope, or the encrusted casts left by some sea worms. amd stitched french knots and little pearl beads in the curves.

I managed to get some sea-splash quilter's cotton for a lining, which I forgot to photograph and it is fastened with a magetic clasp. The shape of the bag is a bit odd and it is not very practical as you could lose your pennies in the point. But I enjoyed making it and finished if off with a hand made tassel and a couple of charms.

What do you think?

This is the bag I have made from the piece of slashed work I made ages and ages ago. I have lined it with blue gingham. As it is heavily quilted it would be good to keep your packed lunch cool. I can just fit a A4 sketch book into it.

I shall be taking these to Barton and then putting them in my Etsy shop, which could do with a bit of refreshing.

Whilst in the garden trying to find somewhere to photograph my bag in the few minutes the sun came out I thought I would snap the veg.
At this time of year our plates runneth over. We ate runner beans nearly everyday last week. They are my favourite, and a huge plateful has very few calories.

We only have one 'wigwam' of plants, but it is more than enough for the two of us.

By the middle of the week we will be feasting on these purple beans, which turn green when you cook them, leaving the water purple (Ooh, now there's an idea). They are good cold in a salad.

We have had lots of mange tout peas already.

I highly recommend yellow courgettes - the skins are so less leathery than the green variety especially if you like them raw in a salad.

And this is a knobbly ridge cucumber. They have a vey thick skin, but the flavour is excellent.

And finally, thank you for sticking it out! This is another appeal.

I desperately want to buy some more of these beads. They are glass 6mm rocaille, pony or crow beads - take your pick on the name. I bought a bag from E-bay a few months ago, but I can no longer find them anywhere even after trolling through HUNDREDS of pages on E-bay and Amazon and Google. I have visited every local outlet too and they do not seem to be sold in the UK anymore. I can get strands of single colours from the U.S. but that works out very expensive. I put them on the cords on the book covers (see the above picture) and my purses. The plastic ones do not have the weight or aesthetic appeal of the glass variety. (The bronze ones here are 4mm)

I have found some on Etsy, although the colours aren't as pretty, these are pearly but I will probably get those, BUT if you know of a stockist near you could you let me have their e mail or telephone number? I am sure somewhere there must be some old stock! Also I know lots of you enjoy car boots and craft fairs, if you see any I would happily pay up plus postage and package. They do not have to be pearlized, but they must be GLASS and about 6mm diameter with a large hole of about 2mm. The plastic ones are usually 9mm.

If you have stuck with me to the end - thank you, and I wish you all a very good week.

Jill

Phew! Wot a Scorcha!

2011-08-02T17:19:00.000+01:00

August has hit like hot, wet blanket and I am feeling all limp and energy less. There are big dark clouds brewing in the distance and there isn't a breath of wind, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear thunder a bit later. I went into the town today to visit the hairdressers' and the centre was hardly recognizable with picnic tables set out in St George's Square in front of a stage with a children's entertainer and everyone sitting outside eating their lunches. The town had a real holiday feel. The air conditioning at the hairdressers was just right and coming outside into the heat brought back lots of holiday memories. It is not often here that it is hotter outside than in. Back home the earlier breeze has dropped and I have drooped. Marvin is lurking in the shrubbery and Mr T is googling on the lap-top. I have made myself create my August calendar page, not least because it is too hot to think about anything else. I'm not sure how many more of these I will share, although I shall probably keep creating them as I like keeping a diary, but I feel the novelty of posting them is wearing off.

As you can see my August pages are very simple, just a colour wash with cut out squares and a bit of stamping.

Thank you to everyone who contributed about the Mac and those of you who commented on my last post. You are very kind. The page shown is in my Art Journal, as are the calendar pages above. My sketchbooks are really more like doodle pads. I am hoping the Creative Sketchbook course will help me bring the two together.

I have been invited to have a stall at a local Photography group's autumn exhibition so I have been stitching a few bits and pieces which I will share with you later. Meanwhile enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. It has completely clouded over here now and a breeze has sprung up! It is no wonder we obsess about the weather went it changes from one end of a page to the other!

Sunny Saturday

2011-07-30T21:40:00.000+01:00

At last a lovely sunny day that I could spend indulging in some art work. I have been doing bits and pieces, but nothing that I have felt worth sharing. I have decided to sign up for 'Design Matters' Creative Sketchbook Course. Meanwhile today I have been taking a few photographs in the garden and drawing.

First I collected a selection of different yellows and laid them out on some white paper in the dappled shade. I set the camera white balance on 'shadow'. A little tweak has brought out the colours especially in the shadow which looks a bit like a watercolour wash.

I then switched the WB to 'sunny'.

The courgette flower was crying out to be drawn.

I sat it on an old ink bottle, but it just wanted to close up

I love the contrast in colours. I drew round the shadow cast by the senecio, but the alchemilla mollis ...

and the Ladies Bedstraw flowers were just too small to draw, but I love the shadows.

As the courgette flower curled up this little chap emerged from the petals.

I came indoors and added some colour to my page and got out the yellow embroidery threads.

Not sure where I shall be taking it next.

It is nearly the end of July and I shall be thinking about my calendar for August next week.

July seems to have been quite a busy month for me.

I am going to try and catch up with all of your posts as I have only been making quick visits lately.

I do hope you are having a sunny weekend too.

Jill

Do you have a MAC?

2011-07-17T13:34:00.001+01:00

I shall have to change my computer soon as it is VERY cranky and grinds horrendously when I edit photos. Several friends are encouraging me to get a Mac and I have been to a friend's to familiarize myself with the format. I am sure I would soon get used to it. However on my PC I use the program CoralDRAW Essentials 2 quite a lot for simple graphics. It is very flexible and allows me to draw shapes to exact sizes and position items on a page with accuracy. I use it most to help Mr T create CD covers. I have also used it for greetings cards and to manipulate images for the Postman's Knock project. I have also created labels and inserts for my Etsy shop as it so much easier than Works, unless you are doing straight forward stuff. The only drawback is that they are stored as CorelDRAW files. However that is not the problem. If I get a new PC they no longer produce CorelDraw Essentials, but they do a Home and Student edition which I guess is the similar. But this is not compatable with Mac. What I think I need for a Mac as a substitute is PRINTshop.Pro which is certainly cheaper, but I don't know anyone who uses this. The review sounds as if it will do what I want and more so I am wondering if anyone out there can help me with some simple info. Other people have suggested that I shall be able to do this sort of thing with Photoshop Essentials. I have Essentials 5 and the graphics part certainly isn't flexible enough for what I want. If any of you have any suggestions I shall be very grateful. I do not want to pay hundreds of pounds for a program. So if you have PRINTshop Pro can you let me know what you think of it.

This is the sort of thing we do - only in coverting it from a Coral file to a Jpeg the white background has turned black! By the way this was the give-away for our guests at our garden do.

Meanwhile back to the creative stuff. I am doing a bit of experimental sewing - more of that another time, but I had to get the camera out in the garden yesterday as the sun came out in the late afternoon and I do like a bit of back lighting,

Honesty seed heads are just delicious at any time of year, but the sun shining through was stunning...

and I think purple and orange is my favourite colour combination at the moment.

What a shame the Buddlea isn't full of butterflies. Are you going to take part in the Big Butterfly Count ? I did see five species yesterday despite the dull weather.

Do have a good week,

Jill

Still here

2011-07-11T15:58:00.000+01:00

June was frantic and the first week of July busy too, and now I feel all in the doldrums - without any wind in my sails, rather than fed-up.

I finished my little boat I made from Ann Wood's pattern here.

I made the boat ages ago, but have been waiting for inspiration for the sail. My upcycled plastic bag bunting provided me with the inspiration I needed so I was able to hang it up as part of the decorations for our party.

Ann has some very pretty ones for sale.

Meanwhile last week I went to the Isle of Wight for a couple of days to stay with my Dad. It is not far, but it takes ages as the ferry crossing adds an hour and a half to the journey. My sister will be moving onto the mainland later in the summer, so it may have been my last visit to her bungalow. She lives in Gurnard so we had lunch at the beach cafe and took a stroll along the seafront. It was very windy and I wasn't feeling very inspired.

The beach huts which I have photographed several times.

The sun catching these sails really made them stand out - it was so blustery it was hard to stand steady enough to get a good shot.

And here our a few shots from our 'do'. Luckily the weather held out, and although it wasn't that warm, we managed to stay outside 'till midnight. I failed to photograph the spread, thank you to Sainsbury's and Heather who made veggie bites and some wonderful little desserts. And I failed to snap Marvin who helped himself from the buffet when we were all outside - I had to clip the covers on the platters with clothes pegs!

Everyone said they enjoyed themselves, and Mr T had friends there going back to his school days.

Mr T rigged up speakers in the garden and had lined up suitable music. We warned our neighbours we would be outside till late, but Sara from next door said she could hardly hear us from indoors, so we didn't keep her little ones awake! I think she had a little smile to herself about us 'oldies' having a good time.

Strange how everyone congregated round the 'bar' - can't think why. It made an alternative to the kitchen.

Luckily our friend Dave who does a lot of wedding photography took charge of my camera and managed to get portraits of nearly everyone. That is Dave on the bottom row reading the Sunday paper next morning.

I had to sneak Mr T from our recent self portrait as he got missed out - and yes that is me second from the end - I wish I could remember what was so funny.

I've nothing much up my sleeve at the moment but I am hoping inspiration will return soon. Meanwhile I have a couple of projects that need finishing and I may give myself a couple of 'exercises' to do, (that is the textile sort - not physical, in case you were wondering,) which will fulfill my aim of just doing something. Postman's Knock is great for keeping the creativity ticking over - I've got a few ideas for my next topic, so I won't be idle for long.

Have a good week - I am gradually catching up with everyone.

Jill

Going Dotty

2011-06-30T17:43:00.000+01:00

At the risk of repeating myself - yet another month has gone by, and finishing June's pages means that we are halfway through 2011. June has been very busy as any of my regulars will know, preparing and manning the Open Studio event and at home getting ready for Mr T's garden party on Saturday, Thank goodness that the forecast is for fine weather, if not sunshine. Mr T has been working very hard and the preparations are all in hand. As you may guess from the fuss, this is not something we do very often. I think the last 'do' we had was for our 25th, but that was a much smaller affair, and - oh my goodness - it was SEVEN years ago! I hope I shall have a few photos to share with you later. Next week I am aiming to visit my Dad and sister on the Isle of Wight for a couple of days, leaving Mr T and Marvin to look after each other, so I don't suppose I shall have time to squeeze in a post. I have my next postcard for Postman's Knock more or less ready to post when I get back from the IOW. The postcards and my calendar have been the mainstay of my creativity this month I am looking forward to getting down to some serious stitching very soon. Meanwhile I will share my pages with you.

Some of my June entries I have filled-in in blocks, sometimes I find it difficult to remember what I did at the beginning of the week! I can look back and find out it was only last week I had my hair cut - seems like ages ago!

For July I have gone a bit dotty - I used one of the paper napkins I have bought for the party as a background. I haven't had much time for embellishments so I can add them later if I am in the mood.

I have been trying to keep up with everyone's posts but I haven't always had time to leave a comment. I'm feeling like a little nap now. Mr T is watching some cricket, that is ideal to shut your eyes to for five or ten minutes.Goodness knows how I would have coped if I had had to teach until I was 66 or even 68!

Have a good weekend,

Jill

Sunday catch up

2011-06-26T17:42:00.000+01:00

Why does it have to be all or nothing with our weather? The heat doesn't suit me so I have been hanging around inside today close to open doors and windows. I wanted to relax in the garden, but even the shade is rather too warm and Mr T who doesn't seem to be effected by the heat has been pottering in his vegetables, so I have been trying to find homes for the things I have brought back from the Open Studios. Sally and I have declared the event a success and we both made enough sales to make it worthwhile. We both want to say 'thank you' to all our visitors and to those who made purchases. I met some very interesting people, many of them Sally's friends as she is well established in the local arts community, but also some unexpected treats, like the elderly neighbour of hers who brought us some examples of her work in 'Design' magazine from the 1950s and a sample of her wallpaper design of that period. What a treat that was. I also want to say thank you for your 'bloggy' encouragement and to Chrissie for making a visit.

I still have a couple of busy weeks ahead, but after that I am looking forward to some more intense creativity. I have been fired up and feeling a bit creatively frustrated. Thank goodness for Postman's Knock which has meant I have had to produce a bit of art.

Gina's theme of Concealment and Revelation had me stumped for quite a while. I was thumbing through my postcards bought from galleries and exhibitions when I came across Michaelangelo's David which I had bought in Florence (The postcards not him!) See this piece of work was one of those moments you never forget - along with every other bit of art we could cram into the visit, and I thought it would be good to be able to recreate that feeling. However my naughty side took over, especially when I realised I could not recreate my idea of a series of doors leading to the image on a post card sized piece of work in a week!

I had to make do with one door, but added the tab to build up the anticipation for the reveal.

I did hesitate a bit with the leaf and the joke, but I reckoned I had the measure of everyone's sense of humour.... Luckily Gina says this her favourite piece of art - I don't know if she has seen him - I hope she has, but I am very pleased my precious postcard has gone to a good home. (I do have four others taken at different angles.) The door is one of my photographs resized to fit.
My postcard(s) from Lesley were a treat. She had said that she thought her original idea was too close to some others, but how different can a window be? I loved the window cleaner polishing up that beautiful view. I could do with sitting by a lake today.

Of course Lesley had found the perfect card to go with the pictures showing a window with a model fishing boat evoking fishermen's huts and fresh fish for tea. But her second post card is a gem. A couple of doggies in a window, which of course all us ladies of a certain vintage will remember from Uncle Mac's Children's Favourites, a Saturday morning radio programme, along with my other favourites 'Tubby the Tuba' and 'Sparky and his Magic Piano' and ... I could go on, but I won't...
What great fun the project is turning out to be.

Have a good week everyone.

Jill

Our best side

2011-06-20T17:57:00.017+01:00

What a week! Not only am I occupied with Open Studio, but Mr T has organised a garden party to link up with old school and college friends he has recently connected up with. It is a lovely idea, but I could have done with a bit of a break between the two events - well I have got a week after the OS finishes. We are hoping the weather changes for the better! Lots of preparations have been needed after having some work done round the house and generally reorganising EVERYTHING. This is us sitting on our new bench which Mr T started 5 years ago at occupational therapy before it was cut for stroke victims. It has been living in pieces behind the sofa, would you believe, but now with much thanks to some friends and a proper electic screw driver it is finished.

"Men at work"

It got its final coat of stain yesterday.

Only two more opportunities to visit our studio Wednesday and Saturday Details are here on Sally's Blog.
Did I mention Chrissie from Niminyfingers came last Wednesday. How lovely was that?
It would be lovely to see you too, if you're near by... but wherever you are have a great week.

Open Studio

2011-06-12T22:29:00.000+01:00

Here is a glimpse of Sally's studio where we are showing our work over June.

This is my corner of the studio.

We had a stream of visitors on Saturday and we both made some sales.

I am sure some of you will recognize some of my work, most of which has appeared on this blog or is in my Etsy shop.

My photographs.

It was beautifully sunny most of the day, even if a fresh breeze blew through, so we were very lucky as today it hasn't stopped raining.

Here are some of Sally's photograms and below some of her monoprints.

We are open again on Wednesday. I am also spending a couple of hours on Tuesday and Thursday manning the exhibition at a local gallery showing a selection of work from artists across the county.

I know I am going to have a busy and interesting week - I hope you have a good one too.

More 'stuff'

2011-06-05T14:53:00.000+01:00

I am dashing off a quick post as I have got a lot to do today. Open Studio is looming and I want to finish labels and print a few more cards. I have finished off next Friday's postcard as I don't think I will have time in the week, and planning the next one. I won't have time to report on Postman's Knock next Saturday morning but at least my postcard will be in the post. Mean while here is another of my collections. This one all mine. I started it to claim a space on the dresser before Mr T's tins and packets took over. My china collection really started with jugs (another time) but then I moved onto fruit and veg themed pottery. I started with a little Carlton "Australin Design" redcurrant dish about 25 years ago, and eventually collected a shelf full. The large one came in its original box, which I stupidly threw away!!

I then started collecting this strawberry basket Shorter ware. My sister bought me several bits as birthday presents.

The tea pot has to be one of my favourites, and I love the strawberry cruet set.

I have also got a miscellaneous collection of bits, these are the best of them.

I stopped collecting when things started to get too expensive and I had filled up the dresser - it is only small. I probably collected most of these in the mid 80's, early 90's. However now e-bay is awash with Carlton and Shorter ware, and very cheap it is too. However I am fond of my little collection, but have no desire to add to it.

Now I really must get on....

hope you have a good week

Jill

June, she comes too soon

2011-06-01T20:46:00.000+01:00

Filling in my calendar is never a chore, even though sometimes I fill in three or four days at a time. However the idea of preparing a new page sometimes does feel a bit of a drag. This week I really enjoyed looking at some paintings by the Fauves after being inspired by the envelope and label Gina used for my Postman's Knock postcard. I would never normally make a painting like this as I would think about it too much, but as I knew it would be mostly covered with the squares I let rip with the acrylics - great fun.

It is hard to believe that it is June already,.

I omitted to say in my last couple of posts thank you to all of you who sent me positive messages when I was feeling a bit glum. Gave myself a bit of a talking to. I spent a great day with some lovely friends as Nutty Knitters today, there is nothing like a good heart to heart, especially when accompanied with a good cup of tea and a slice of Maxine's home-made strawberry cheesecake. Shame I can't share that with you over the ether!

Hope you have a great June,

Jill

June

2011-05-31T16:37:00.000+01:00

This month I am sharing an open Studio Event with Sally Tyrie.

We will be opening on June 11th with refreshments and demonstrations. The studio be open from 11am untill 3pm on Saturday 11th, Weds 18th, Sat 18th, Weds 22 and Sat 25th. If you think you can come along please e mail me (via my profile link) for more details.

You can also visit the Artists Network Bedfordshire web site for more information.

The tip of the iceberg

2011-05-29T15:40:00.000+01:00

When Lesley of Printed Material suggested posting photographs of any collections we may have, my immediate thought was "I suppose I could get a few bits together" without really thinking that my house is actually full of collections! My husband came with a few when I married him, so I had to start one or two of my own to fight for a corner of the house before I was overwhelmed. He came with lots of old tins, beer mats, some old bottles and lots of odd packages, an enormous library and an extensive record collection. Over the years our collections have grown and I thought to introduce you I would go on a 'shopping trip' round the house and make a visit to the chemist.

I'll unpack for you

First of all you ladies may like to get ready for a day out.

I had some eye lash curlers in the 60's, can't remember how much they cost, but these were 5s..11d. that's nearly 30p to you.

If you intend travelling you may need Mylol insect repellent or Glacier skiers' suncream.

Always good to have fresh breath and emergency toothache tincture.

Your first aid kit should have some plasters...

and if you over do it, you may need one of these

I think these are smelling salts, but it says on the bottle to take 20 drops in water (But not in the case of haemorrhage.)

Most of these have been found by my mother-in-law from her own bathroom cabinet or WI jumble sales.

Now what shall I photograph next?

My card for postman's Knock this week was for Lesley on the theme of Taking Flight. At the beginning of the challenge Yuri Gagarin was in the news as it was the 50th anniversary of his flight which I remember . In the 60's and 70's space flight seem to offer endless possibilities and those first pioneers were so brave. I can remember standing in the garden on the night of the moon landing in 1969 looking at the moon and just being 'blown away' by the thought that men were standing on it.

The card with the little boy dressed as an astronaut was one from our archives - a promotion for a 1995 Loudon Wainwright iii album. Great to find one that matched one of our themes.

This is the lovely card I got from Gina. Immaculate machine embroidery and a great image of chickens. I can just here them clucking and muttering to themselves.

Weekly post

2011-05-22T17:12:00.000+01:00

I am in a good place and a bad place at the moment. Good because I can look at all I have achieved and I am getting ready for the Open Studio ( I hope you won't be sick of me mentioning it), but in a bad place as I feel lost in a creative fog which has been going on for some weeks. To add to that, this week I have not felt too good and low in energy. However I do try to make myself 'do' something practical most days. I'm not sure if it my age, but I feel every day is precious and I must make the most of it. I hate to feel I have wasted a day. I have tell myself that sometimes it is all right just to sit around, mooching, reading and drinking tea even when there are so many things that 'need' doing. Is it our natures that make some of us feel like this or the way we have been brought up? I am certainly not a 'good' housewife and my standards would not match up to my mother's although she was never critical, she just liked to pass on helpful hints. Such as, "If you wipe out the oven every time you roast Jill, it won't get so dirty" (Oh yeah! Mum). Perhaps there are others of you who feel caught in the middle - brought up to the adage that the wife's first duties were to her husband, home and family but educated (eventually) to believe that as a woman your own interests are just as important. I cannot put any blame on Mr T who would never suggest I put anything domestic first, but perhaps he has been encouraged by me to expect that I will do. So it's my own fault. I also feel that may be all of this is also a wonderful excuse as to why I haven't pushed myself further. Well I have got that off my chest!

So this is what I have been doing. (Not all this week!)

I am still working on my self directed textile line of study and I have a new book, "Drawn to Stitch" by Gwen Hedley, which fits in well with the others I have been using. My starting point for this exercise was the peeling paint on the old door from the walled garden in the top photograph. I noticed that the knot in the wood was heart shaped, but it was the wood grain and peeling paint that appealed to me.

After drawing the wood grain and looking carefully at the colours I experimented stitching grain lines in a piece of calico on felt.

I decided that the felt side up was more interesting

I then tried using two colours. I could not match the beautiful silvery pinky grey of the old wood so I just concentrated on the textures. I used yellow ochre for the grain and black for the cracks.

Finally I repeated the last excercise but added three layers of blue/green organza which I then cut away with scissors and a hot soldering iron to reveal the ochre stitches.

I was very pleased with the effect.

Next will be trying to achieve that beautiful colour of old weathered wood.

On Wednesday, despite not feeling 'on top of the world' I spent a day with Sally at the studio she works in at Digswell near Welwyn Garden City. She was running a second day workshop on monoprinting using the huge old press they have there. No photos I'm afraid. This time I wanted to experiment with printing on fabric, I was a busy day with five of us using the press whose wheel must be over five feet in diameter and takes some turning, however it is a lovely process. Printmaking cannot be rushed so I was very happy to come away with four pieces printed with found objects and shapes cut from corregated card.

This piece on natural calico has some lovely textures especially in the leaves which does not show up well in this photograph.

This was on piece of white cotton after using more ink and scratching into the ink on the plate.

This was achieved by rolling black ink onto the pieces of card and placing them back on the plate. The impressions left by the objects when printing the previous piece can be seen in the red ink. I printed onto some cheap polyester satin I bought on the market. It was a bit of an experiment, but it took the ink well and had a beautiful silvery lustre.

This was the final piece on polyester satin again.

Detail.

Not sure what I am going to do with them now, but they are very pleasing to look at.

It has been a day of bright sunshine and dark showers today - bit like my mood! But if you have made it to the end of this post, thanks for sticking it through.

I do hope you have a bright week,.

Jill

Quick bunting how to

2011-05-19T18:43:00.000+01:00

Some of you have asked about the bunting - here's how.

HEALTH AND SAFETY - WORK IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA

Collect together lots of plastic bags and wrappers, the more colourful the better.

Place a sheet of baking parchment on your ironing surface and start to cover it with strips cut from the plastic.

Build up a couple of layers leaving no gaps.

Put another piece of baking parkment over the top and heat up your iron.

Irons vary, mine is a cheap one I use for craft and it needs to be in the cotton range.

Iron over the baking parchment quickly. You will see the plastic start to curl and shrink. Take a peek to see if it has stuck together, if not give it another quick pass with the hot iron. If you leave the iron in one place the plastic will disappear!

TAKE CARE - HOT PLASTIC STICKS AND BURNS.

The strips of plastic have melted together.

I turn it over and check the back to make sure it is all stuck down.

Cut out a pile of triangles...

and zig-zag stitch them to some tape.

This one was made with an old plastic document pocket filled with sequins or you could use snips of plastic.

Have fun and take care.

(Some books recommend using a respirator mask when melting plastic.)

A quick up date

2011-05-15T16:39:00.000+01:00

I have half an hour or so before I concentrate on cooking a roast (we always eat in the evening otherwise I fall asleep for the afternoon) so I will write a quick post. It has been another busy week with visits to in-laws, a few hours working with Sally on our Open Studio invitations, and a long session at the hairdressers. Not to mention getting the latest Postman's Knock postcard finished off.
Sue's theme was "Rust" and my immediate reaction when I got the list was that I wanted to refer to Neil Young's album "Rust Never Sleeps". I had the idea of staining those word in rust onto a piece of calico. I twisted some florists wire into the words - I knew this does go rusty - eventually - as I have used it in my Chrismas wreath, however six weeks in the damp had no effect. To encourage a rusty effect I popped a couple of pieces of rusty iron in the bag which had the desired effect of staining the cloth, but the wire remained stubbornly rust free. Never mind, this gave me the excuse to do a bit of hand embellishment which I always enjoy. Not what I envisaged, but I think it worked in the end.

The card I received from Cathy is a real peach. My theme is 'Windows' and of course Cathy was able to find an original angle. Not only the idea that the eyes are the windows of the soul, but also that we might like to feast our eyes by looking out of a window...

Do check here to see what she had in mind.

Otherwise I have mounted my needlefelt pictures to make cards...

...started to print out photographs and mount them onto cards...

... made a pile of triangles from melted plastic bags and wraps to make bunting ...

... and prepared a pile of invites ready for mailing.

This is really so much more fun than working for a living. However we shall have to make lots of sales just to recoup our expenses, let alone make a profit. I count myself very lucky that I can afford to do this.

If you live in my area and I already have your address, you may well have an envelope in this pile, otherwise if you think you might be in Luton on June 11th, 15th,18th, 22nd or 25th, and would like to call in, please contact me via my Profile link and I will e mail you details.

You can view Sally's work here .

I seem to have missed lots of your post lately, I try to find some time to read what you have been doing and comment as there are so many inspiring ideas out there. Do have a good week.

Jill

Busy, busy, busy...

2011-05-08T16:32:00.000+01:00

Another busy week - although sometimes I think one half of the time I create a mess, and the other half I clear it up. I have spent time finishing off and sorting things for the Open Studio event. I haven't made much of a photographic record of my progress to share with you. I had to repackage some items that had been in my Etsy shop as I have changed my e mail address since I started it, a rather tedious chore.

When I go to 'Nutty Knitters' I don't knit, but I do do a bit of needle felting. I now have a good collection of little pictures ready to be made into greetings cards. I have been adding some beads to them this week.

I have also got some felt flowers that need finishing and making into brooches.

I realise that I have rather a lot of items - so I hope that my friend doesn't feel overwhelmed in her own studio! I also hope that those of you who live in the area will be able to visit. It would be lovely to meet you. More details nearer the time.

I have also been working on a couple of postcards for 'Postman's Knock' I like to be prepared, but inevitably there will be a last minute rush to finish them off before posting. (No previews of those allowed).

In between times I have done a bit of gardening and was thrilled to hear the swifts screaming. I have been out every morning scouring the sky as last year I first spotted them on the 1st of May, this year it was the 6th. So that's pretty close timing.

Mr T was clearing an overgrown area in the veggie patch and realized he had disturbed a colony of bumble bees. We left them to settle down and then marked off the area to make sure we didn't disturb them again. I am pretty sure they are Early Bumble Bees (Bombus pratorum). The workers vary in size a lot and some of them are really small. I sat and hung over the nest with my camera - no prize winning shots I'm afraid, but at least it helped me identify them.

If you want to click on the picture you will get a better view. This little worker was fanning her wings to circulate air in the next. Her thorax is quite bald and shiny and if I zoom in I can see my outline refected in it!!

This worker is returning with loaded pollen sacks.

The nest is just flat on the ground at the bottom of a rockery wall. It is made of tiny bits of dead grass and even tiny snail shells. I presume the bees must have collected all the bits together.

I was a bit worried about them after the heavy shower we had early this morning, but they were busy as usual.

Well I suppose I had better go and clear up the mess I made earlier and then find the brooch pins.

Do have a good week,

Jill

Maytime

2011-05-01T16:57:00.000+01:00

I had such a pretty postcard from Chrissie yesterday as part of our Postman's Knock fun. My theme is windows and Chrissie has created a perfect little Boulangerie window, complete with awning, lace curtain and a selection of breads. The card came in this lovely wrap and I must admit that my first thought at the red, white and blue tie was with Friday's goings on rather than the Tricolore.

The lace curtain is even on a rod.

It has been a busy week where I seemed to achieved little. Last Bank holiday Monday I did an hour or two at the local country fair promoting the Artists Network Bedfordshire's open studio event in June.

This is Jo, a very active member behind our stall which drew lots of interest. The info is not all there on the website but I will let you know details later if you are in the area.

On Wednesday, Sally and I got together to do some planning and I have made a list of 'things to do'

On Thursday I did something completely different. I visited a group of alpacas which are kept as 'pets' by the couple here - I realise now that I don't know their names. I went with my U3A Natural History group - although not quite 'natural' to our local surroundings I did learn a bit about these animals which are domesticated in Peru.

The alpapcas were very friendly as demonstrated here!

They are shorn once a year and the owners usually donate the fleeces to local spinning groups. In fact a couple of the ladies at 'Nutty Knitters' were spinning some last month. The fleece is incredibly soft and thick and has no lanolin so does not need to be washed before spinning.

a couple of examples of knitted yarn from the alpacas.

When down loading these photos which I took with my 'point and shoot' I found this one of Marvin taking a bit of time out on the bed, something which is not encouraged, but tolerated in dry weather. Here he is trying to prove to me that he has been keeping up with the dry cleaning.

At the moment like most pets, he is moulting like mad and could be a rival to those alpacas!

It is also that time of the month AGAIN, and as I only seem to be managing one post a week, my calendar pages appear rather too quickly. I hope you are not getting bored with them.

April seems to have been sunshine all the way. The lack of rain has meant a lot less snails this spring so although the young veg hasn't been eaten, it does needed a lot of watering. However even the lawn (moss patch) is beginning to turn brown, so a bit of evening rain would be useful. I also find it difficult to be creative this weather. I want to be sitting stitching etc, but the outdoors is calling. I try to ration my gardening time due to dodgy joints, but even after a spot of weeding I haven't been able to settle at my desk or sewing machine. However I did enjoy creating my calendar pages.

May is rather flamboyant. I bought some metallic and pearlised acrylics so had to give them an outing. The squares are cut from pearly paper.

I hope you are able to enjoy this holiday weekend and I will try to put in some extra 'comment' time.

Have a good week.

Jill

No eggs here

2011-04-24T20:57:00.000+01:00

Firstly, happy Easter!

Quite a lot of you are very 'quiet' at the moment, I hope it is because you are enjoying the holiday and sharing the glorious, if somewhat disquietening, weather we have been having, I haved to keep reminding myself it is still April, even though the garden seems to think it is the middle of May. Today has been much fresher, but still warm enough to sit outside in short sleeves.

I have been busy this week, but don't have any photographs to show for it. However last week I did experiment more with different materials and the heat tool, (with plenty of fresh air) so I shall share these with you.

Each piece is postcard size and I was influenced by the layers of leaf debris found on woodland floors.

This first piece is layers of felt, bond-a-web, mixed fibres (including grasses) and painted Lutrador blasted with the heat tool which melted it together, and then machine and hand stitched.

Wasn't sure about the hand stitches, so I stopped.

This second one is similar, but I included some sweet wrappers and angelina fibres. I also painted strips of bond-a-web. There is more colour showing through the layers.

I machine stitched round all the holes created when I heat blasted it and then added some hand stitched herringbone.

I like this one better.

This final one was built up on a piece of cotton velvet. I cut pieces of painted bond-a-web, felt, organza and painted Lutrador. I then added transfer foil when the bond-a-web was warm and tacky

I machined stiched the layers before heat blasting them so the effect was less dramatic.

This one looked very landscape-like and so I added some hand stitched grass.

Hopefully I shall have some more to share with you later in the week.

I am beginning to get ready for the open studio event in June - more about that at a later date!

Have a good week.

Jill

Reminiscing

2011-04-17T16:34:00.002+01:00

Yesterday was Postman's Knock arrival day and the postman did knock, at about 9.30 while I was writing a few blog comments. He had this package for me.

I patiently photographed it before opening and carefully cut the paper not ripping it off, which I usually do. Inside was my second window postcard, this time from Jane

It was 3D and depicted a beautifully draped window - very realistic, with clear cellophane panes looking out at a beautiful garden. There is no way I can photograph the view without dismantling it, so I am the only one privileged to fully appreciate the work that has gone into this lovely card.

Clicking on the pictures should give you a close-up view.

It is lovely.

My contribution this time was to the theme "Yee Ha! Ride'em Cowboy" which got me rummaging in the back of the cupboard for the bag of memorabilia I had kept after my epic USA trip in 1977, in which I travelled round the US on the Greyhound buses. My old bus pass, timetable and a map centred on Colorado formed the main body of the postcard and an old book about cowboys belonging to Mr T provided the buckaroos. As the US is such a large place I wanted to convey this, so made a folding card to get as much map as possible.

I then distressed it as I wanted it to look as if it had been stuffed into a traveller's pocket for a few thousand miles!

The fact that I had kept my bag of memories intrigued a few comment writers on Postman's Knock so here are a few more details. In 1976 after being in a long relationship and encouraged by an adventurous flatmate I advertised in Time Out magazine for a companion to spend 4 weeks the following summer touring the USA. It was something I really wanted to do with my new freedom, but none of my friends wanted to join me, I certainly didn't want to go it alone, so advertising was the only alternative. After meeting several prospective travelling companions - male and female (But that's another story) I finally linked up with Cathy, another teacher from London. I had relatives on Long Island, friends in Santa Cruz, Cal, and my flat mate had met a couple of lads from LA whilst she was camping in France. We put them up while they toured the UK and I was invited to stay with them. Cathy and I flew to NY and after a free night (due to a special deal with Thomas Cook) at the Statler Hilton (Telephone Number: PEnnsylvania 6-5000), now renamed Pennsylvania Hilton, we visited Dad's cousin on Long Island. From there we started our 8,000 mile round trip of the states. I kept a diary as we spent many hours on the buses and the long straight roads made it possible to write while on the move - not usually possible on buses here. (Why didn't I keep a sketch book too? I ask myslef now)

Using the bus timetables it was easy to log our mileage as we went from NY to New Orleans - via Washington DC and Chattanooga (bit of a Genn Miller theme emerged here). Then to Houston - popping over the border to Mexico at Al Paso; then the Grand Canyon; a memorable night in Las Vegas; Los Angeles and a stay with the lads we'd met; Santa Cruz; San Fransisco; Salt Lake City; Denver and a day trip into the Rockies; Chicago; Niagara and a quick pop into Canada for an hour or so; Boston and then back to NY - are you exhausted? Think how we felt, as we spent every other night or so sleeping on the bus. So perhaps you can see why I have kept all this stuff with my diary - and no I don't think it would make a very exciting book, although we did have a few adventures.

I met Cathy once after the trip when we exchanged some photographs, but not since. We got on well at the time, but had little in common apart from the trip. I quite like it that way. Somehow it means I own all of the memories. Shortly after I came back I met the future Mr T, who is not greatly fond of travel, so that was my GREAT ADVENTURE and I am getting plenty of mileage out of it still.

Sunny days

2011-04-10T16:18:00.000+01:00

What an amazing week we have had - I can't remember an April like it! Like a lot of you, no doubt, I have spent a lot of time out doors rather than in my 'studio'. I will share a few things I have been up to, but it is not a lot. Firstly I have finished my Butterfly books and they are now in my Etsy shop.

I have also filled in my Textile journal.

Otherwise I have not done a lot on the creative front - just haven't been in the mood this week.

But I did spend a lot of time watching the waxwings which stayed until Friday by which time they had completely stripped the last of the berries off the cotoneaster. This was the best shot I got, heavily cropped.

At one time we counted 22 of them on the TV aerial.

Otherwise I have been trying to get rid of some of these

Although very bright and cheerful, they are overtaking my garden.

MrT has been looking after his onions

I don't drink this yogurt drink ALL the time, but here are about a year's worth of bottles marking the onion rows. Note little 'fence' which seems to have kept the local cats off.

Most of the time I have just been enjoying these flowers which have burgeoned this week.

aubretia

polyanthus

plum blossom

spotted laurel (aucuba)

and finally a close-up of those polyanthus.

Oh, but I have been getting my next postcard ready for Postman's Knock. You'll have to wait to see that.

Have a lovely week.

Jill

Teach yourself textiles - slashing and burning

2011-04-04T16:25:00.001+01:00

Textiles I

I had a quiet weekend and have an appointment free week ahead so I am determined to fit in a few more exercises in my quest for textile knowledge. Firstly, after watching a video from Fay Maxwell about fabric slashing, I though I must have a go. (Thanks Lesley) Firstly I built up layers of fabric scraps on a piece of calico topped with a relatively plain piece of fine cotton. I then straight stitched the layers together like this.

then taking a sharp pair of scissors started slashing the layers between the rows of stitches.

I only snipped through the back in a couple of places!

Slashing is only the beginning - the next thing is to wash the whole thing as violently as you can. I was unprepared to devote a whole wash cycle to this and unsure of colour fastness I hand washed it, but gave it a good scrubbing with my wooden lemon squeezer!!! (Note to self - look for a old fashioned washboard) I then indulged in a fast spin, as it was very thick and then popped it on a rad to dry.

The green top fabric frayed so much I had to trim the threads, but the result is very tactile. I am now deciding whether to add any stitching.

Natural Break

I did have to interrupt my stitching to cook a meal yesterday and when I popped into the garden for some rosemary a flurry of birds flew up from the cotoneaster which still has a lot of berries. I had disturbed about twenty waxwings. Luckily they didn't fly far and sat in a neighbouring tree while I rushed in for the camera. The sky was dark and it was starting to rain. There was even a loud clap of thunder, so no time to set up the large zoom and tripod which would have been better in this light.

A bit of cropping on this picture just renders enough detail for those of you familiar with this winter visitor to identify its characteristic profile with its tuft of feathers on its head. I haven't seen waxwings and I am delighted to be able to add them to my weekly bird count which I submit to BTO Garden Birdwatch.

Textiles II

I have done the slashing, so here is the burning, although melting would be a better description.

A selection of beads I made by melting anything meltable with my new heat gun.

Not sure what I am going to do with them - rather scratchy for a necklace - but they are strung up at a window at the moment.

Mr T was notable unimpressed by my experiments, but I know you'll be interested (I hope)

Jill

No fools here

2011-04-02T20:01:00.000+01:00

That's another month done - goodess me, time does fly especially when you are enjoying yourself.

I seem to have had a busy month and last week I seemed to be rushing about from place to place. But I did manage to get April's pages done, although at the moment they are looking a bit plain. The background is decorated with a spiral lino cut I whizzed off this week. I'm into spirals at the moment, but more about that another time. I also spent a day with my friend Sally at her studio at Digswell where she ran a workshop on monoprinting techniques using the heavy etching press - great fun, but really, we only had time to familiarize ourselves with the basic techniques as printmaking is quite a laborious procedure, but with so much potential. Not sure that it is my method at the moment, more to share from that another time too.

However the excitement of the week has been the first posting day for the Postman's Knock group.

Twelve of us who have blogging connections have entered a 'deal' to send a postcard every fortnight to one of the members of the group on their chosen them. The first posting date was yesterday, so quite a lot of us received our first postcards this morning. You can view them here.

My chosed theme is Windows and here is my card from Penny

Perfectly conveying her Spanish theme. I haven't heard whether mine has arrived at its destination yet. fingers crossed that it arrives safely.

Do have a look at the other postcards, I feel I am in such talented company.

Jill

Another week

2011-03-26T20:11:00.001Z

I have had a really busy week again, but I have manage to fit in an hour or two for practising my free machine embroidery skills. By drawing with my needle, I have stitched two butterflies.

I first painted them onto pelmet weight vilene using Koh-i-nor watercolours. The top one here, based on a Peacock butterfly, I covered with a piece of 'shot' polyester organza to give it it some shimmer. I then machine stitched using a straight stitch varying the top and bottom threads, often tightening the top tension to bring up the bottom thread to break the colour.

Here I have scanned the two pieces. I added a bit of hand stitching to the Peacock one.

This is the reverse side which is also quite nice, but the colour is less intense without the painted background.

Here I have photographed them with a packet of machine needles for scale. Since taking the picture I have cut out the peacock one, using a fine soldering iron which has sealed the edge of the polyester organza. I am experimenting with making it into a small book.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Meanwhile I have done a few tasks in the garden, cutting the the grass always makes such a difference, even if nothing else is done. I was pleased to see this frog in our little pond guarding her great pile of spawn. As I was shooting into the sun I used the integral flash to add a little detail and sparkle to her eye.

I was also pleased with this shot of the water iris and its reflection, not looking quite real.

I seem to have yet another busy week coming up, but hopefully I'll manage to fit in a bit of creativity. I think another week of sunshine is too much to hope for, but a few more days of fine weather would go down well.

I hope you are having a great weekend, and have a good week.

This week I have...

2011-03-20T17:46:00.002Z

As so many of you have been so encouraging in my 'Teach Yourself Textiles" venture I thought I would keep you up to date. However I am pooped. Yesterday I helped Mr T spring clean the green house, which involved empying it out, scrubbing it down, and then refilling again. Mr T did most of the initial work, but I was involved in driving off to Homebase for supplies, the scrubbing part and putting everything back! Today I have been switching our e mail address, contacting etsy, paypal, and so on, as well as friends and other contacts. It has taken hours, so I have nearly had enough of comouters for today. I did manage a short break hanging out our laundered gardening clothes from yesterday and a quick tidy up on one of the small flower beds. So this is what I have been doing textile wise this week.

On the left are a couple of pieces of couched threads from Pam Watts' book. catching the threads down with sheer fabric and then top stitching and on the right some experiments I did ironing plastic sweet wrappers between sheets of baking parchment - great fun!

These two pages record my last workshop session with Marian Murphy. We concentrated on free embroidery using a zig-zag stitch. She showed us lots of effects and textures which can be achieved. We also zig-zaged onto butter muslin which gives a drawn fabric. This is great fun. The muslin must be stretched in a hoop first and a wide zig-zag is used to make a grid. The stitch pulls the muslin threads together. You can then 'darn' over the squares giving them texture.

We also zig-zagged over lengths of knitting cotton and other yarns to create cords, Marian then showed us how we could join these to make braid and mesh.

Going back to the Kim Thittichai book 'experimental textiles' I took one of her design ideas and played around with it. The theme was Spirals. I was rather taken with the shapes of spiral galaxies and anticyclone cloud formations. I also stitched a couple of samples

This is black voile on black felt machine stitched with a silver thread on the bobbin and a tight top tension to bring up the silver thread with beads added.

This one is my favourite french knots on felt.

Not sure what I will do this week - rest? But I'll let you know.

Have a good week, and let us hope the news is more hopeful for all of those living through times of revolution and disaster.

Jill

Sketchbook analysis

2011-03-13T16:59:00.001Z

Lesley at Printed Material has posted some of her sketch book pages as one of her friends has asked how people use theirs. I have stacks of them as I always have a book by my chair and a few pens and pencils. So I picked half a dozen that were easily accessable - one dates back 15 years - and looked for common subjects running through out.
Firstly a draw a lot of faces. There are a lot of them, often done from the television. Occassionally I can even recognise a TV personality, here are a selection with a few close ups.

My favourite drawing tool is a waterproof 0.1 or 0.3 drawing pen.

Another common subject in all my books are cats. Several of these are of Tess - cat before Marvin, she was a pretty little Siamese cross.

Here is Tess in Karisma colour pencils, sadly no longer available.

I am also fond of drawing flowers and often buy an inexpensive bunch to draw if there are none in the garden.

When you can't find any other subjects there are always body parts - your own hands and feet I mean. They are always available!

When all else fails I just let my imagination run riot.

These drawing very rarely lead to anything ... but I'm sure they must say something about me. Perhaps I am just at the bottom of a hole with all my art work trying to get out!

Jill

Stepping out

2011-03-08T15:40:00.001Z

Thank you for being so supportive in my journey into new territory trying to develop my design skills. As many of you asked me to keep you informed of how I was doing, I thought I would share my first chapter. Of course this could be just a new 'fad' too, but hopefully I can keep coming back to the path even if I stray. I have lots of vague ideas in my head for pieces of work, but I don't know how to 'realise' them, so I am hoping that a bit of formal skill acquisition will help me on my way.

Firstly I drew up a 'mind map' and wrote down all the things I could think of relating to design and specifically textiles. I did refer to a few internet sites and found Kim Thittichai's book 'Experimental textiles' useful. Clicking on the images should bring them up larger if you're interested.

Out of this exercise I decided the two main areas I need to develop are my ability to extrapolate a design out of my initial ideas and secondly, my ability to translate that design into something workable. For example I have lots of photographs that I think could become interesting textile pieces, but it is getting from the photograph to the textile that I need to develop.

My workshop with Marian Murphy at Art Van Go has got me started. I have had two sessions so far and this has mainly been about techniques, but Marian does suggest design ideas as we go along. Having been inspired by her books of designs I got myself an A3 and a A5 Pink Pig sketch book to keep my work in. I especially like the cartridge paper that these books are made of as it will take a bit of punishment which my Art Journals give testimony to.

Here are my samples that I made during her class.

Above, just playing with free stitching and tension with the use of a mirror tile to create a little symmetric motif ...

...and some much more exciting techniques we covered the second session, including reverse applique.

I also decided to go back to basics and in my A5 book did a few exercises with the colour wheel. When I was doing water colours I purchased a set from Michael Wilcox who wrote a book entitled ' Blue and Yellow Don't Make Green' so it was fun to look at his theory again. Of blue and yellow can make green, but he is talking about the fact that traditional water colour paints are not pure pigments and you get violet blues and orangey yellow and so on ... it was a good exercise to tune up my colour sensitivity.

Above is the free embroidery face I stitched after my first workshop.

Marian told me how to stretch it over a piece of card so here it is with another page of a colour mixing exercise.

I am sure you are all familiar with the follow colour concepts...

...however triad harmonies, split complementaries and mutual complemetaries were new to me (Thanks to Kim Thittichai's book.

Below I have followed up one of Marian Murphy's techniques of stitching channel in a sheer fabric over a plain one and threading different coloured cords through the channels.

I am going to snip the channels and pull out loops of cord and embellish with some beads and stitching.

I think this could become a purse.

There are also lots of techniques to try out from 'Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidery' by Pam Watts so I have probably got lots to keep me going for a week or two. I am hoping to go on a printing workshop run by my friend Sally, so I can use that opportunity to develop some designs rather than just going and having a ''play' ... it is all rather exciting.

I even managed a short walk with my new shoe orthotics today and heard a sky lark here, on Sharpenhoe Clappers (photographed here in December a few years ago)

Thank you all again for your lovely support, I really do appreciated your comments.

Time Marches on ...

2011-03-04T19:38:00.000Z

I am a bit tardy getting my March calendar pages posted, but I have actually started it, I have just had an adversion to going through the process of scanning the pages etc.

I am glad to say good-bye to February - it has been not only a dreary month, but one of restlessness, especially the last couple of weeks. Every few months I feel as if I am turning another corner in my creative journey so hopefully March will be the beginning of the next phase.

I rather slopped this page together in my new journal - I love filling in the little squares, but my creative energy has been focussed elsewhere.

Thanks to everyone who was so encouraging after my last blog, ` I quickly came to a decision after writing it. I have decided not to registar on a college course, but to try to follow my own path taking part in as many workshops as I can, buy books, build up my local contacts and set myself goals. When I began this blog with the sub-heading "chronicles of a mature learner" so that is what I am going be doing. Watch this space.

I took advantage of the sun this afternoon, so join me and Marvin in the garden.

Have a great weekend,

Jill

Thinking time

2011-02-27T17:40:00.000Z

It is Sunday again and I really wanted to compose another post, but it has been an odd week. I guess it is spring in the air, the ending of one season and the beginning of the next, although I am sure winter has not finished with us yet. So why has it been a strange week? Firstly it has been a time of finishing. I have completed my Daffodil book. Although I know many of you have seen pictures of it before, here it is finished.

front

back

inside

details

I am also coming to the end of my third Art Journal.

I have been looking through the pages, seeing how far I have come on my creative journey. My March calendar page is in my new journal - I will share that later.

Staring a new journal has got me thinking about where will I go next on my creative journey. I am looking forward to my second Machine Embroidery Workshop on Tuesday and a am realising the potential of working with textiles. I am torn between continuing to flit between one new idea and the next and consolidating what I do. I have been thinking about taking another OCA course, this time on textiles. But is is very expensive if you are not 100% sure the course is what you want . I do want to be able to take my ideas to more depth. To this ends I have ordered a couple of books and I have been trawling the internet so I might write myself a 'creative syllabus'. It is something I did for my pupils when I was teaching. I just need to identify some goals for myself - easier said than done! And of course I shall have to have the will power to see it through. In a few weeks, the urge will probably have passed, which is where committing quite a few hundreds of pounds on a course acts as a real incentive! There is nothing offered at local colleges except the usual foundation courses, which would be lovely in different circumstances. I need something I can keep control of. If anyone has any ideas or can refer me to helpful books/websites I would be grateful.

Meanwhile here is a page in my 'Honesty' book, which I have decided to fill myself.

I made a 'parchment sandwich' to look like a translucent honesty seed head which I stuck between a hole cut in a couple of pages. It needs a bit more work on the page, but I think you get the idea.

This week I also went to see Matthew Bourne's ballet Cinderella at Milton Keynes with a friend.

It was stunning, so if you have tickets, you are in for a treat.

Have a good week, and 'see' you soon!

Jill

Another week, another project!

2011-02-20T16:31:00.000Z

This week I have been mainly machine stitching. On Tuesday I went to the first session of my Machine Embroidery for Beginners with Marian Murphy at Art Van Go. Although I have picked some basic ideas from books and video clips it was brilliant to have a whole day with an expert. We played around with different tensions and threads and just practised free machining. We then went through a couple of design processes. Marian's design book was an inspiration in itself and made me want to be more disciplined in developing ideas. But knowing what a butterfly brain I am, I don't hold much hope! However the practice gave me the confidence to infil the petals and background on my daffodil book with machine embroidery.

I want to embellish it a bit more with some more hand stitching and beads as I want it to be quite 'rich'. I also prepared the inner pages today, tearing them to shape and leaving them stewing in a lovely Brusho mix of yellows and green. Unwrapping the pages is a treat and a surprise - I will try to remember to photograph them, but as it is a messy process the camera is usually well out of the way.

At the workshop Marian flipped through my 'doodle/ideas' sketchbook I had taken with me and spotted this doodle and said it was the sort of thing that could be translated into stitching so I thought I woudl have a go.

I traced off the face onto tissue to transfer the outline and then just tried to use the needle like a pen.

I was pleased with the result and could see its potential. I just need to apply these ideas instead of going off on another tangent. Here are some details.

I chose a few favourite areas and created a collage

I was pleased with the colours - I just had to work with what I had got, but feel there is potential for development. There is a couple of weeks between the workshop sessions, so plenty of time to work up a few ideas.

Meanwhile here are some waxed papers I was working on. I may have a go at a couple more boxes/pencil pots!

On the homefront I have managed to wear my new shoe inserts all day and walk to the corner shop for the paper. It just feels like a hard ball of cotton wool in my shoe instead of a pebble, so things are improving ( I have given my feet the day off today) and Marvin the cat continues to live with his diabetes with no immediate problems. Mr T is cataloguing his entire CD collection (He has hundreds/thousands) which is keeping him quiet. A walk round the garden in the grey dampness this morning revealed a few buds on the verge of bursting, so a bit of sunshine this week would really be good.

Whatever you are doing I hope the sun shines for you, have a good week.

Jill

A week in retirement

2011-02-13T16:09:00.001Z

Dear friends, when I realised it was a week since I last wrote a post I wondered where all the time went so I thought I would share my week with you - well the highlights and the low lights at least.

Monday

I had my appointment at the orthopedic department to collect my new orthotics for my shoes. I have a Mortons neuroma in my foot which is an enlarging of the nerve between the third and fourth toe. As I have fallen arches it was thought orthotics would help take the pressure off the neuroma and prevent one forming in my other foot. I am looking forward to being able to spend a day on my feet without pain. However the new orthotics have a raised area which is agony ( as bad as the neuroma). The doctor assured me that I will get used to them! But in the meantime this is what they feel like!

When I asked if it was possible to order another set so I didn't have to keep changing them from shoe to shoe, I was told they cost £200-£300 a pair, so I had better persevere. I am wearing them an hour extra a day - just round the house to begin with!

Tuesday

A hairdressers appointment at 1.00 meant the morning was spent on domestic bits and pieces, but whilst I was in town I went to the local camera shop where a very helpful gentleman printed up a couple of my photographs on the A3 printer. My friend got me some frames from IKEA so I spent a while deciding how and what I was going to frame up for the forthcoming exhibition at the Luton Hoo Walled Garden.

Wednesday

A good chunk of the day was spent at Nutty Knitters, my chat and knit group, although not everyone knits. Several of the ladies belong to the Artists Network Bedfordshire and the group includes spinners, felters, milliners and jewellery makers, so we always have plenty to talk about in Maxine's lovely farmhouse kitchen - and someone has usually baked cake of some sort - something I never do.

Meanwhile at home we were having our downstairs cloakroom - well as there is no room for cloaks, loo - refurbished. I do hope the old one does not have to stay out behind the bins for too long!

Thursday

Thursday can easily represented by this photograph of my desk! But some creative inspiration was creeping into my day and I started playing around with some daffodil ideas. In the garden I saw a bumblebee so spring is definitely in the air.

Friday

We usually hit the supermarket on a Friday. I came home with a bunch of daffs and put them by my desk.

which really started the ideas flowing for ....

... another stitched book.

Saturday

So here is what I did on Saturday.

Please click on the pictures for some details.

Sunday

What did I do on Sunday? Well, I took all these photographs and wrote this post. Not a bad life, even if my feet are killing me!

I hope you have a great week, and see you soon,

Jill

Did you know...

2011-02-06T19:00:00.000Z

...that tulips keep on growing taller after they are picked?

Which is why it is best to put them up to their necks in a vase...

so as they grow taller, they won't droop.

I found that out from a friend who trained as a florist, but of course you may know that already ...

...in which case I hope you just enjoy this group of photos from my archives.

I seem to be very busy so I'll keep this brief, hope you have a good week,

Jill

Just 'do' ...

2011-01-31T17:10:00.000Z

I have tried to be more active this month - not a New Year resolution as such, but when you reach a certain age you realize how important your physical well-being is and I have never been a lover of exercise. I have some physio exercises for my back and I am getting custom made orthotics for my fallen arches, so I wonder where February will see me! Marvin, the cat, is doing well after my panic on his diagnosis of diabetes. He drinks a couple of pints of water a day, but he has a good appetite and doesn't appear to have lost any more weight.

Thank you to all who ask after him.

My February pages are rather simple at the moment. Wax resist plus washes of red and yellow for the background and green squares with a bit of white gesso stencilled on. I was influenced by a bit of 50's fabric for the colour scheme. I am sure the pages will liven up by the end of the month. I do hope that those of you who have joined in are enjoying the challenge. Kate has organized a link on her blog - I have yet to suss that one out.

For all of you who kindly comment on my journal pages, here is another one. I have been having a paisley moment or two, I find this sort of thing quite mindless and when I am not feeling inspired to be creative I can just start with a glorified doodle. I may add to it over several days. The internet is a wonderful font of fact, and as I have a mind like a sieve, writing down what I find out is a must. I just sarted by writing in some paisley shapes and the patterns grew. You may also notice from the top of the page that I have joined the Artist Network Bedfordshire. My friend has invited me to join her in the open studio event in June so we have had to do some planning - but more about that much nearer the time.

Here is a page from my little watercolour moleskine. I did think I would try and draw something from my garden in it every month, but I started it about 18 months ago and it has some big gaps. Perhaps I will do better this year. Here I drew winter flowering heather, which is a bit tardy this year as it often starts to open before the new year and Christmas box which has the most heavenly sweet scent, if somewhat insignificant flowers. I have managed to cut this back hard every summer and keep it small enough to stay by my back door. If you long some winter perfume I hightly recommend it.

Well that is January wrapped up, spring is really waiting in the wings. The sun has shone today, the birds singing and it is five o'clock and the sky is still pink! That's progress

Home again

2011-01-28T22:09:00.001Z

I've had a great break on the Isle of Wight. My father has a retirement flat in West Cowes and is a sprightly 88. I stay with him as he has a spare room, whereas my sister's bungalow is filled with a couple of teenage nephews! She lives a mile or so along the coast at Gurnard. I spent Wednesday at my sisters and I am sure you can guess we spent ~~most~~ all of the day talking. We did manage to walk down to the sea front and have short walk on the beach, it was rather chilly. Here's my sister, Janet.

It was wonderful to fill my lungs with sea air and hear the waves breaking on the beach. The island faces the mainland across the Solent so crashing breakers are not so likely on this sheltered shore, but for those of you who miss the sea too, here's a watery shot...

... and a view along the beach in the other direction.

The only good thing to be said was the cloud covered sky did have a bit of variation in tones of grey rather than the uniform milky grey that we have been experiencing lately.

Janet showed me a few copies of her magazine "Selvedge" which is beautiful publication for anyone interested in textiles, art and design, but what she wanted to share with me was an article about an exhibition at The Foundling Museum called Threads of Feeling. I will give you a brief outline of the story behind the exhibition, but you should really look at the web sites.

In 1739 the Foundling Hospital was founded by the philanthropic Thomas Coram to care for abandoned babies. When mothers brought their babies to the hospital a meticulous register was kept of each child taken in. However no record of the mothers' names was kept, so to identify the child in the unlikely event of the mother returning to reclaim her child, a token was taken from the mother. This was often a piece of fabric cut from the child's or the mother.s clothing. These registers have been meticulously preserved and now form an exhibition at the museum. The Thomas Coram Foundation is still a leading children's charity.

Not only are these tokens a heart rending record of the tragic separation of mothers and their babies they also form the most extensive collection of examples of 18th century fabrics. Do follow the links, but have a few tissues on hand. The exhibition is open until March, so may be I will get it together to visit.

Meanwhile back at the Isle of Wight, the weather changed and the cloud broke up Wednesday evening and I was able to get this shot from Janet's front garden before the light went - then it was really chilly.

Back home to Mr T and Marvin I was pleased to find one of my 'Scribble Boxes' had sold.

Have a great weekend,

Jill

Sunday

2011-01-23T21:21:00.001Z

Just a short post today - where does the time go?

First, here is a page from my journal recording how I made my 'Scribble Boxes' which are now on sale in my Etsy shop. Here is another one I have made, along with the ones you have already seen, forgive me for blatant advertising.

Something in the air

Although we are still in the middle of winter, somehow we have turned the corner towards spring, the bulbs I planted in the autumn are showing through and the birds are tuning up their songs

My winter flowering iris is always a cheerful sight.

(iris unguicularis)

and Marvin is doing fine ... he is eating well and drinking a lot, which of course a symptom of his diabetes, but otherwise is showing no symptoms. I am hoping to go to visit my family on the Isle of Wight for a couple of days this week, leaving Marv in charge of Mr T, fingers crossed for some fine weather.

Have a good week.

Jill