31 October 2016

Teaching in Kelso

Had a lovely Saturday teaching in Kelso, thanks to everyone who attended.
They made some lovely work but I forgot to take a photo.  I was too busy talking.

2016 10 29 13 12 33

I was teaching in a  building next to the Abbey, which was looking gorgeous with the autumn leaves and damp stones.

2016 10 29 16 07 43

Summer work wear is usually black linen trousers and red shoes, winter is cosy boots with ribbons and laces (they are SOOOOOO comfy).
Only my leggings kept falling down, time to ditch the larger sizes from my wardrobe. 

 

30 October 2016

Decorating

Where have I been all week?

2016 10 23 09 58 44

The picture says it all.

Back to it next week. Not my favourite painting at all, though the brush has lovely texture in that photograph!

20 October 2016

Hepburn Moor

With DH on holiday we headed out to lunch (Barn at Beal near Lindisfarne).

We went the long way around as the day was so wonderful and stopped on top of the moor (the sort where you have to get out and open gates along the road).

How could you beat this?

2016 10 17 13 04 40
Just look at those colours

2016 10 17 13 09 30

Looking back towards the Cheviots and home, down there in the valley.
One day I must walk to those trees. 

19 October 2016

Berwick upon Tweed

The Old Bridge and the Border Union Bridge.

And Lobster Pots.

2016 10 12 15 56 26 1

18 October 2016

Day out with the man-boy

Day out last week on Lindisfarne, a walk, silly photos, lunch in the pub.

2016 10 11 14 05 19 1

2016 10 11 14 12 21 1

2016 10 11 14 12 25 2

16 October 2016

Final flush

2016 09 28 17 09 10
Champneys Pink.

One of the smallest, slowest growing but most beautiful of my roses.
Gertrude and the Queen of Sweden are also making a last effort to throw out some blooms.

2016 10 03 07 52 46

 Though the other morning I woke to this;
The FIRST Frost!

Poor flowers, their days are numbered now.

15 October 2016

Painting the walls.....

In the sitting room the fireplace needed a make over to cover some cracks and sooty finger prints.
So carrying on with the theme of the room I went for Indian Pink, Indian Style and Indian Elephants.

Perfect.  Especially with the nights being chilly now and the fire being lit each night.
I love long summer evenings….. but also love dark winter nights. 

2016 10 01 19 45 34

2016 10 02 17 01 38

Meanwhile the kitchen needs more serious tlc…..this is the result of a leaking door.
So the whole kitchen is being revamped.
Unfortunately I’m the one doing the 'vamping.

14 October 2016

Bamburgh (again)

I know, you’re probably fed up of seeing Bamburgh Castle again….

It’s just too beautiful and photogenic.

2016 09 30 18 02 15

2016 09 30 17 57 47

 

 

13 October 2016

Watercolour charts

The aim is to 

1. get organised

2. start sewing again

3. start painting again 

With this in mind I created two paint charts from Mission Gold watercolours (oh boy are these bright and scrumptious and edible) and Daniel Smith watercolours (grunge and granulation to perfection)


2016 10 02 14 40 30

2016 10 02 15 28 27

A real contrast, but then thats me really isn’t it?  
I love my bright Indian colours and my grungy earthy Northumberland.

12 October 2016

Corby Crags

We used to eat our chips up here about 25 years ago, when we were only tourists on holiday.

Recently we passed on a gorgeous day and I asked DH to stop so I could capture this image on my phone. 

2016 09 25 16 36 21

Photo 25 09 2016 16 36 43

11 October 2016

New plans.....

A few weeks ago I was cutting out more dresses to make up and dye before it gets too cold.
(Procion dye works well at 18 degrees C, we won’t see that again for another 7 months without a heater!!!)

2016 09 16 16 34 41

Photo 25 09 2016 18 26 22

Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble…..

Photo 27 09 2016 11 52 34

And this is the result.  Just a small portion, but wonderful colours and implied textures.

2016 09 24 16 40 30grey dresses

And the “grey” and “dirty pink” batches.

Photo 28 09 2016 09 35 00

 Some good coffee time reading.

9 October 2016

Nights are drawing in....

The garden can look magical at dusk

2016 09 15 20 09 27 2

And the moon too - this reminds  me of a Turner Painting.

2016 09 017

Talking of Turner I’ve just finished reading a book about the man by Fanny Moyles.
I recommend it - I heard it on audio book as I worked in the studio

7 October 2016

The Hare Dress is FINISHED!

I’ve got fed up of waiting for a good day to get new photos, so here it is and better pics will follow soon.

2016 09 16 10 32 28

After this, I’m buying myself an eyelet setting machine……its hard work setting 150+ eyelets….

2016 09 20 16 26 53 2

2016 09 20 17 24 13dress

Sorry about the dull day

2016 09 20 17 22 46dress

2016 09 20 17 25 15dress

6 October 2016

Waterlily

Only had two flowers this year.

But so beautiful and worth waiting for

2016 09 15 13 10 39

4 October 2016

City Break

Last Christmas I had a mad moment and booked a night away for our wedding anniversary.
Not something we usually do, but I felt, even at Christmas, that a break would be good.
We certainly needed it, though it wasn’t without its complications and wondering if we should cancel in the week before.

First stop Berwick-upon-Tweed for the train to Edinburgh.

We couldn’t park at the station (its impossible after 8am - the situation is truly dire for a small, but mainline station), so we parked 10 minutes walk away and thankfully only had small suitcases on wheels.

2016 09 13 10 03 46 003

We did walk past this view of the remains of Berwick Castle, I must see if you can access the bank on the other side of the River Tweed.
You’d get a good view across.

Entrance 2

Once in Edinburgh we grabbed a taxi to our destination.

The Witchery by the Castle.
Not a hotel, but a restaurant with rooms.
Literally a stones throw from the castle gates at the top of the Royal Mile.

2016 09 13 16 18 30 entrance

DH heading to the reception.

2016 09 13 16 18 45 2
This gives you a flavour of the theatrical gothic nature of the place.
How could you do anything else in Edinburgh?
Its such a gothic city and in an area where witches were once hunted at a Kings insistence and burnt near the Castle entrance.

2016 09 13 11 42 04 ed

We dropped off the bags and went for a stroll down the Royal mile, meandering and wandering into hidden places.
This is St Gles Cathedral.

2016 09 13 11 49 19 1

Beautiful stained glass window.  
Love the depictions of women. 

2016 09 13 11 54 50Ed 2

The great thing about Edinburgh is being able to nip down a “close” - an alleyway, and find some hidden gems.

2016 09 13 12 19 11Ed3

And some hidden gardens with typical Edinburgh entrances.
2016 09 13 13 39 32

PP QGE exhib full

We had lunch at Holyrood Palace, viewed "Painting Paradise - The Art of the Garden" at the Queens Gallery and saw more of the Queens dresses.

2016 09 13 15 02 04Mercat Cross

Then we took a stroll back up the Royal Mile on the opposite side…

2016 09 13 15 05 37 roses grave

You can’t visit Edinburgh without noticing its graveyards.
These roses caught my eye. 

2016 09 13 15 24 46 john knox house

Ceiling inside John Knox’s house, we went in as I wanted to see inside a C16th house.
DH spent much of his time on the phone to work (even on holiday the phone comes too). 
Anyway, look at that ceiling and carved wood work.
The layout of the rooms, from one central spiral staircase, was fascinating too. 
I have a thing about imagining life in “old” Edinburgh…. 

(and not just C18th from reading Outlander!)

2016 09 13 15 25 12 1

I shot this scene of street life, looking up towards the castle.
One of my favourite pictures of the two days.

2016 09 13 16 44 09 1

Back to our suite and a bottle of champagne and cookies (GF for me, its the little touches that make it special)

2016 09 13 16 21 36goldwork cushion

The embroidered cushions immediately caught my eye.

2016 09 13 16 44 34

2016 09 13 16 47 14 witchery 11

2016 09 13 16 48 07 goldwork

And the Goldwork vestment, how perfect was that?

2016 09 13 16 49 45

The chocolate actually came home with us (!) but only for a day as it was required for stress relief.

2016 09 13 18 21 55 bath

Yes, I had to use the stool to get in and out.

2016 09 13 19 01 33 jewellery

What other earrings could I have taken?  Could only wear black silk and gothic jewellery for dinner in the Secret Garden.

Secret garden restaurant(Image from the website, it was far too dark by candlelight to grab a photo)

2016 09 13 21 50 29

Glad i didn’t wear high, high heels... 

2016 09 14 10 14 38 1

The next morning DH wanted a full cooked breakfast so we headed to the second restaurant and had coffee with the Devil.

Some people just won’t “get” this place, I adore it.
I just love the theatrical over the top touches. 

14519868 10154567859685747 942144138173647547 n

Me, post breakfast, ready for another day of walking Edinburgh’s streets.

2016 09 14 10 41 34 Witchery 10

Always on the phone checking emails…..
You had a fabulous view from those windows, looking out at the tourists looking in.

2016 09 14 12 02 53

Another hidden gem discovered on the way down to the Scottish National Gallery.
Unfortunately the weather had turned to mizzle and drizzle….

Inspiring impression web poster

So we headed inside to see some Impressionist paintings. 
Well worth it, we’d never heard of Daubigny.
We couldn’t understand why not, when his works were wonderful.