R.I.P. Marvin

Just to let you know after a rapid deterioration in his health Marvin fell asleep finally at the vets this morning. Gonna miss that cat for a long time...

No time… no time...

In my last blog I said that I was reluctant to make New Year Resolutions, but I did say to myself that I would try to write a blog more frequently, but I have failed at the first hurdle. However in my journal I did write a list of all the things that have happened so far this year, and it is no wonder I've had no time. Some are rather mundane but, all of them time consuming. Visits to elderly parents, hairdressers', doctor's and more excitingly knitters, embroiderers, textile groups and friends. There have been visits from my sister and nephew too.  I bought myself a smart phone - just because… and that seem to take up a day swapping numbers and logging on and so on. Some of the photos I took with it popped up on the TV. Mr T cried out  that there was a picture of Marvin on the screen while he was  watching the snooker and then  I did it again when he was watching the bowls! The only way to get rid of them was the TV off and on again! I thought I'd turned off the bluetooth which I thought was responsible.  When I've got time I'll fiddle about and try and work out what happened. 

Also my GP wants me to monitor my blood pressure and I've had to buy myself a machine. I have 'white coat syndrome" and my doctor always takes my BP at least three times and usually says it is falling to an acceptable level, but this time it didn't. I have been practising before starting to record the results and the same thing is happening at home - sky high first take, and then dropping. I could get a bit obsessive and keep on doing it; I try a bit of meditation in between takes, which definitely seems to work if I can be mindful enough!  The very act of strapping that thing round my arm winds me up, and I hate the feel of it gripping tightly. Hopeful at the end of the fortnight I will be so laissez faire with the procedure I will get a true picture, which I may have to accept as high. I'm also trying to walk more, lose weight and cut out even more salt, it's no wonder my blood pressure is up! High BP is very common I know, but not something one wants to have to accept.

I have managed to keep some creativity going, that's what keeps me sane. At our first Spectrum meet of the year Gina encouraged us to have a think about what we wanted to achieve in our textile work, so I applied some of the criteria we talked about to a new long term project. I have a new sketchbook and wanted to devote it to one subject - gardens and plants that are significant to me. I started with a mind map or spider chart as we used to call them donkey's years ago when planning school topics.

I want to produce a book that expresses my feelings on one subject rather than a random collection of ideas which is what happens in my other books.  My aim is to produce a beautiful book with now time limit to get it finished. I started with a collage of some of the pictures I have of my sister and I at home in the garden, and chose one to enlarge. Just a bit of fun to break in the new book. Hopefully it will also spark off some textile work.

One subject for the new book is this Amaryllis that friends gave us for Christmas.

It is now on its second spike of flowers.  When the first flower head died off I tried a bit of dyeing, wrapping the flowers up in a tight cotton bundle.

 It looks as if it could be a severed finger (or worse!!!)

The colour isn't as deep as this, but it was my first attempt.

While I was at it I also tried a bit of tie and bleach. I tied some buttons in a piece of black cotton I knew would bleach to yellow.  What a shame it didn't keep the bright orange.

I'm aiming a bit of stitch on my yellow daisies. Rather pleased as it was the effect I was aiming for.

Finally I have managed to finish the first poppy cushion.

This will be shown at the Spectrum exhibition at Art Van Go in March. More details to follow.

I seem to have gained and lost one or two followers, so hello to anyone new and thanks for sharing my journey. Have a good week.

Jill

Review

I don't know about you, but however hard I try NOT to make New Year Resolutions, somehow the urge to make a fresh start and set myself some goals is too appealing to ignore. I suppose that the New Year is as good a time as any for me to look back at how far along my creative journey I have come in the last 12 months. This time last year I was in the thick of my C&G certificate and there was little time for thinking about anything else. It took me much longer than I anticipated to finish and then afterwards I went into a creative doldrums for a while.  However a resolve to make a few things for my Etsy shop got me back into making mode, and many of those have sold either on Etsy or in the Pop-Up shop in Dunstable. I also finished quilting my poppy prints both of which I have written about here. But I have been working away at various other projects which I will share with you now.
Way back in October I drew some Iris foetidissima seed pods from my garden. I have been playing with these pictures in various sketchbooks ever since.

Lots of potential in these shapes. Think I may start a garden/plant dedicated sketchbook. (Res. no.1)

Meanwhile on the sewing front I have added another spray of leaves to this small quilt

There is more to come. (Res. no. 2 )

For Christmas I bought myself a book on Gustav Klimt, I'm not sure why I didn't already have one. Whenever I wanted to look at his work I always had to go on the internet or look at an old calendar I had saved. I remember going to an exhibition of Egon Schiele's work when I was at college and learning something of Klimt at that time. The work of both men has always haunted me; Klimt's wonderful decoration and Schiele's bruised, raw, emaciated figures. I was trying out some of his bleeding colours in the last iris pod sketch above.  However it is Klimt's decorative work which captures   so many of our imaginations. I hadn't realised ( or remembered) that his father was a gold engraver, so no wonder he is so fascinated with using it in his work. I often search through prints of his work for examples of his motifs, so I have decided to keep a record of them in one of my hand made books, that way I have my own reference book.  I have made a start with squares. I have taken patterns from one or two paintings and elaborated on them.

It is a great opportunity to play with my gold paint and pens. Triangles next. (Res. no. 3)

It seems to take a couple of hours to put together a blog post these days (with interruptions) so now I must go for a short walk (Res no. 4)  and iron and perhaps do another page in my book.

Enjoy the last couple of days of 2013 and see you next year.

Jill

                                                         

Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas to all my 'bloggy' friends,

have a great holiday and see you all soon.

Jill

Can't decide on a title...

I'm SO fed up. After blowing my nose since last weekend I am now coughing and feeling thoroughly sorry for myself AGAIN! I keep having lovely ideas for things to make but just cannot get my thick head round anything.  It is the first time in many years that I have not made Christmas cards, but that is not entirely down to the head cold, but just not having any inspiration. I am so glad we'd bought cards Until the dreaded drip took hold I did manage to get on with the a few things.
The Pop-Up shop proved a success and I made a good amount of sales. So much so that my Etsy shop is rather bare.  Not a bad thing, as you can only sell things once.  I will have a rethink what may be in it in the new year. I always said I wouldn't just make things to sell, so it will depend on where the fancy takes me.
I did finish quilting my three poppies. Here they are pinned up to the back of the door.

I've found a suitable fabric for making the cushion backs, but I just haven't had the time or brain power to think about making them up.  The last thing I want to to is to mess them up. A clear head will be needed.

I have been practising my knitting on circular needles and made these three cowls.  I find all the jumpers I like have large scoop, or boat necks and I feel the cold. I often wear a scarf to fill the gap, but fancied something different.  These took a 100gr ball of chunky or super chunky yarn and even I could knit one up in a couple of evenings.  I used a random pattern of rows of stocking and garter stitch which makes the whole thing reversible and no counting!

I rather enjoyed knitting and I am tempted to try something more demanding.   Trying to think of something that comes between a simple tube and a garment with shaping!

The one other creative thing I did before the headcold struck was add some leaves to this little painted quilted piece I started ages ago. It just goes to show that if you hang on to something long enough, you will find the solution. I wanted to add foliage to it and may be some flowers but couldn't decide what technique would work.

I suscribe to Maggie Grey's Workshop on the Web and this quarter there is a piece by Arlee Barr. I have been following her on Facebook and have found work utterly fascinating. She lives in Calgary, Canada and her work is complex and thoughtful. However the technique she uses to create padded appliqué was just what I need to add to this piece. I felt it was a real privilege to have access to her method of working.

It is not simple, and as this is a small scale, rather fiddly to do, however it was perfect for this project.  The leaves have embroidered detail and stand out from the body of the quilt. I can't wait to feel my brain is working so I can plan more leaves to add. 

I am looking forward to my first Christmas Tea with the Embroiders Guild this Saturday and a talk by Linda Monk, hopefully the cough will have calmed down by then or i won't be very popular!

I do hope you are fit and well and prepared for the season.  We have a VERY quiet Christmas, however we do like to fit in plenty of socialising in over the break. 

Hope to be back soon.

Jill

No time November

Hello again … just managing to squeeze another post in for November.  Most of my last three weeks have been taken up with quilting, interrupted with a bit of work at the Pop-Up Shop, and just staring absent mindedly out of the window.
The Pop-Up shop has proved very popular with lots and lots of positive feedback and a steady stream of sales. I think I shall have made a small profit, having recovered my initial investment, but won't know 'til the books are balanced. Joanne Bowes has been the main instigator as she put forward the initial proposal for the shop to Dunstable council she has worked very hard at making the shop a success so I do hope it has been worthwhile for her. Lots of people have said how good it would be to see a more permanent outlet for art work in Dunstable, but of course it is not that easy and the people involved are all artists and not gallery/shop managers which is a very different business.
Joanne and Vicky worked very hard to make the shop look professional and Joanne's and Jan's husbands managed to install a hanging system for the paintings.

 Joanne opening up 

One of our lovely, stylish visitors who gave us a big thumbs up.

I'm not used to having to do a full day's work any more so after being at the shop felt totally worn out, even though I mostly spent the time chatting!! Mr T and I had not had a good couple of weeks with some sort of bug, so I was very grateful for the support I got in arriving a bit late for my shifts. 

In between times I have been quilting my three printed poppies.

 The first one finished 

I intend making cushion covers, here it is on my sofa with the original painting, unfortunately it clashes with my colour scheme.

This is the second one pinned up and ready to quilt.

Below is the third one, just to give you an idea of the number of different colours I chose, although I didn't quite use all of them.

In this one the print of the petals came out with less detail, so I stitched the tones back in.

I have found a beautiful toning green mottled cotton for the backs, so not a lot left to do on the tops.  Haven't decided what do do with the backs yet. but watch this space… I have loved doing this so will be looking how I can develop the idea.

I've been trying to catch up with blogs and have been reading them, even if I haven't commented. 

Hope you're keeping warm and busy,

Jill

Poppin' up all over

Just a quick visit today to say that I'm taking part in the Artist Network Bedfordshire Pop-up shop adventure in Dunstable. I shall be taking along a lot of the things I had got ready for my Etsy shop, but decided not to put them up there until the pop-up finished. If you live in the area do come and visit. Not only will you be supporting local artists, but also Dunstable's effort to regenerate its town centre.

I shall be in the shop on Friday15th, Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st November.

Here are a few of my bits that will be there.

Jill