31 August 2010

Glendale Show, Wooler. Part 2

Gossip in the pens.

    GShow sheep1

“….shall we tell her the secret?…..”

GShow sheep2

“…well you know that woolly tart over at Chillingham…..….”

GShow sheep3

“… eee…. she never did!…..”

GShow sheep4

“… she did!…….oh darn….shush, she’s listening……”

Gshow 2010 13

I have a thing for black sheep.

Gshow 2010 15

Gorgeous chap.

GShow 2010 18

Look at those beautiful horns.

GShow 2010 21

There were horses too….. but I have a thing about sheep, horses are too big and I am too small.

30 August 2010

Glendale Show, Wooler

Today was show day – I love this day every year.  Apart from the fact that we get trapped at the end of a single track lane and couldn’t possibly try to leave and go the opposite way to the hundreds of cars coming to park in the morning and leave in the afternoon.

Today was sunny – what a change from yesterday when it was cold and lashing with rain.

Now, I’ve got 50 photos recording the spirit of the Glendale show in Wooler.  So this might be a long post!  (It might be two, or even three posts.)

Gshow 2010 6

Through the gates across the lane and into the field.

Gshow 2010 5

gshow 2010 2   

GShow 2010 1

Look how dry the river is today, you can also see how unstable the area is – would you believe “Natural England” will not let “English Nature” (both government bodies) consolidate this stretch and move the stones and gravel?  Mad.  Thanks goodness we now have the flood defences fitted to doors.

Gshow 2010 8 

The Glendale Show – the largest in north Northumberland, is a real mix of fun fair, agricultural interests and retail therapy.  Along with flowers, jam, very sexy bikes, washed and brushed sheep and various foods.

Gshow 2010 10

GShow 4 

Gshow 2010 9

Start a sheep farm for £10.

Gshow 2010 20

Do you think they are?

GShow 2010 19 

Gshow 2010 11 

Pretty things in the craft tent

Parachutists landing….

Gshow 2010 14 Gshow 2010 16 Gshow 2010 17

Gshow 2010 12

Agricultural machinery…

  Gshow 2010 44

Gshow 2010 43

Posh people with picnics.

GShow 2010  12

Men who look like their dogs.

 Gshow 2010 42

Clothes I can’t fit into atm…

Gshow 2010 41

Chicken handbags (!)

Gshow 2010 47

More sweets…

Gshow 2010 48 

Gshow 2010 49

Pink and purple wellies.

Gshow 2010 50

Or green wellies if you prefer.

To be continued…….

28 August 2010

Being a mum and an artist

If you are a mum and are frustrated by not being able to create read this article at parentingexpress.com.  Feel as if it was written just for me.

The Divided Heart: Art and Motherhood by Rachel Power

I quote “As Susan Rubein Suleiman wrote, perhaps the greatest struggle for a woman artist who has or desires children is the struggle against herself. No amount of money, no amount of structural change, can entirely resolve the fundamental dilemma for the artist–mother: the seeming incompatibility of her two greatest passions. The effect is a divided heart; a split self; the fear that to succeed at one means to fail at the other.”

for web-1

25 August 2010

Cutting and Stitching

Not only did I unpack the haul yesterday I started cutting and stitching too. 
(DS was away playing at a friends so I had uninterrupted time and peace).

I am still mulling over creative art ideas and needed to be working with fabric but not thinking too much.

The Tilda fabrics were first.  I need another blue fabric for a border between the mustard and red.  Ordered that yesterday, hopefully here by Saturday. 
The colours aren’t right on the screen, looks much better in reality.

  DSC_6488

The remains of the fabrics were placed into a diamond formation. 
New for me – a practise for the Rowan fabrics.

DSC_6487

DSC_6489

Guess I should unpack the workshop bags soon and I think that will spark a round of arty collages….. maybe I should get these throws cut and stitched (if not quilted) first of all…..
otherwise they might not happen for a long time (ask me how I know that!)

The day after

DSC_6479

The day after returning from FoQ I began to sort out the haul.

Would you like to see?

Some pieces from Sumatra from John Gillow’s stand
(there is a piece from Iran but it got wet and is drying out).

   DSC_6474

Fresh stocks of organza in the usual colours for Indian inspired work. 
You didn’t think I could stay away from purple and pink forever did you?

DSC_6476

Rusted cloth – because I know I could do it but time constrains mean I won’t.

DSC_6486

Australian fabrics – now completes the set I have been collecting for two years and I can start two pieces to give a reminder of our trip – brights for DS and the others for DH and myself.

DSC_6477

Rowan fabrics for a bed throw (gasp).  Something to do whilst I mull over new creative ideas.

DSC_6478 

More pretty fabrics for another throw….
Well it is COLD up here in the winter all year.

DSC_6484

Buttons….. I got carried away and forgot to add up the individual prices - they were the most expensive set of buttons I have every put in a bag!

DSC_6480

Can a girl ever have too many printing blocks?

DSC_6481

Pots and tubs restocked from AVG.

DSC_6482

Just two threads from (C21st Yarns).  Cotton (below) and silk (top).

DSC_6483 

All I ACTUALLY needed was this…..£2.25 of fade away pen!

DSC_6485

23 August 2010

Comments

Thought you would like to hear the judges comments about my entry to FoQ.

Judge 1;
Lovely soft colours and fabrics.  I feel the dark machine embroidery of the birds contrasts too heavily with the soft big stitch work.

Judge 2;
Your machine drawn birds are charming - just a bit lost against your chosen background.

You can only laugh.

Natural selection2

22 August 2010

NE71 July 2010

have been well behind uploading a photo a day.  I apologise.  I find I have not kept up with every day either.  Have decided not to stress, but promise to try harder.

Here is the collage summary for July – to see each post got to the blog here. 
I’ve been playing with the template.  I like this clean look.

It’s been quite a month – the studio finished, creating the French book, unusual activity in Rothbury and a pair of beautiful new slippers.

 NE71 July 20102 NE71 July 20103 NE71 July 20104 NE71 July 20105

NE71 July 20106