Embroidery Module

Spent a lot of time today working with the embroidery module.

After spending the first hour or so of the day learning how to create lettering I transferred the designs to the machine and stitched them out.

After spending much of the day pressing the restart button (really, every 2 minutes or less) I switched off the thread sensor and life was much easier.

My sketch of the Venus of W stitched really well.  I digitized this a few days ago and have completely forgotten how to do it!

Adding circular lettering and a few prehistoric animals and an Indian sun completed the machine stitching.

Despite the frustrations with the thread sensor I’m very happy with this result.  Now I’m adding some hand stitching and beads.

Sunday rugby

When its less than 3 degrees C (and feels –1C), watching rugby training for two hours is not the best way to keep warm and sane.

The clubhouse room was closed so I headed back to the car and spent the time listening to an audiobook and stitching.

What else do you do?

Venus and the first strawberries

 

I’ve spent most of the afternoon painting Venus images, now left to dry completely before painting the background and border.

Yesterday my veg box arrived with the first strawberries of the year.
Wonderful!

Think

A day for enjoying the company of friends and for thinking about the exhibition in June.

Thanks to these friends I know I am on the right track.

I was worried the display wasn’t going to be cohesive, however I can see that it is.  It will consist of two, maybe three elements and within these elements everything fits.

The landscape paintings are all impressionistic in complementary tones.
The textile work is tied with a common element – lace.
The photographs are all the same size, in the same frames, all nature based.

I very much want the room to look right when you walk in, not just tied together with an artist’s statement that no one can understand.

Fabric painting

Something I haven’t done for a very long time – painting on fabric.
This is just a test piece.

Very enjoyable.

Jack Frost

….came last night and stayed most of the day.

This was my Blip photo for today.

Yesterday I should really have  been working on “arty” stuff I guess, but I took a break to make a tunic.  It took a few goes to tweak the pattern so that it actually fitted me – sort of at least.  The front wraps over, not too clear here.

Back panel and sleeve edges from a different fabric.

Then today I made a variation, not a wrap front, but fabric panels in the side.  Decided this fabric didn’t work and changed it.

Just have to finish pinning the hems tonight to sew tomorrow.

Edinburgh

I apologise for taking so long to write this entry.  I have just been so busy and tired recently.

Here are some more pictures from the day.

Firstly a trip to Drummonds for a lesson on using my Bernina software and to collect the Cutwork Module

Then, after shopping in the New Town at Cath Kidston and Brora I took a taxi to the Grassmarket in the Old Town.

Love the name of the pub, hangings used to take place in the Grassmarket.

A new find – Mr Woods Fossil Shop

Fossils for me and rocks for DS.  Perfect.

Then I walked up towards the castle and always think about the pure history in this area.

Who lived in this house next to Edinburgh Castle?

Or walked up these steps at the top of the Royal Mile?

As for the tooth – its still hurting, last night I saw the ENT consultant and have no obvious sinus problems so the next stage is a CT scan.
So I keep taking the painkillers…..

Edinburgh

 

Full report tomorrow on a great day out - here is a picture I took trying to capture some of Edinburgh's sense of history

What not to have up the Chimney

I used this picture as my Blip entry today.

Its a wonder Santa managed to get down – there were THREE lots like this.

Soot everywhere and almost 3 hours of cleaning and now the washing of blankets and cushion covers still to do.

Oh for a modern version of instant heat….. I would give anything to have this changed. 
Yes I know…. coal fires are romantic etc. etc.….. no they’re not. 
I grew up with one and they are cold, dirty, take ages to heat up and real PAIN!

Sorry, normal service and humours resumed shortly.

The Snowing Quote

Small boy is dropped off after school by taxi, walking towards the kitchen door over the lawn,
in the twilight,
as its snowing (again).......
mum waiting with door wide open and a smile.

Small boy says;

"Its snowing again, you'd think it would be tired by now wouldn't you?”

A priceless moment, I needed a laugh.

Some colour for you today, I got the paints out with the best of intentions,
but I reacted badly to antibiotics Number 4 and spent the afternoon curled up on the sofa with a good book instead.
Trying AB’s Number 5 tonight.

 

Beading and listening

With DS back at school I spent Wednesday beading and listening to an audio book (I’m on the very last Rebus Novel, number 17 and I shall miss him). 

The studio was snug and warm, with the addition of a blanket across my knees. 
Beading’s not a great physical activity is it?

Remember this fabric?
(This photo shows the correct colours)

I’m now well on my way to having the beading finished.
Soon a new Goddess will be born.

  

Today was another trip to the dentist.
This is where I parked the car in Newcastle's suburbs, very different to what I usually see.

It wasn’t a totally successful day as the dentist is stuck as to what is causing the constant ache in my jaw and occasional deep pain up my face. 
We are now onto Plan B which is a GP’s appointment tomorrow to assess my sinuses.
Plan C has also been actioned – a referral to the Dental Hospital.

Oh Joy.

Not a total wasted day though as I discovered the Oxfam Book and Music Store.
Dangerous territory!

One book on the Human Body for DS, Burne-Jones, Catherine de Medici and Bill Bryson for me.

DH went to Berwick this afternoon and took this photo on his iPhone about 4.30pm, Cheviot Hills in the background.
Tonight is going to be cold!

New year, new day, new Goddess

This afternoon the boys were out playing (one to the beach, one to buy a new DVD player) so I headed into the studio for a few hours.

I started a new larger 3D Goddess using some Liberty fabric. 
I shall spend many happy hours beading, beading and beading ……

I have a whole new series of Goddesses waiting to be created over the next few months. 
They are in the sketchbook, just need some time to make them come alive.
You can see more Goddesses here.

Happy New Year to everyone

Hope everyone has a creative, peaceful and wonderful 2011.

I am dreading January, not only do I feel as as I have had the winter already but last January the studio collapsed and the rabbit died an the year before I wrote off the car…… feel like I should stick my head in the sand this month!

During November and December the only trips out have been to the dentist - 500 miles so far and its still hurting (back on again on Thursday).
K&S was cancelled, as were EG meetings, lunches and coffees with friends…. I was really disappointed about all that.

But looking back at 2010 there are a lot of good things to have happened;

A new studio with all the plugs in the correct places and cupboard and shelves fitted in.

We were given a telescope (thanks Mary!) and have spent nights star gazing with friends, saw Japanese prints, went for wonderful walks in wonderful Northumberland, planted hedging around our property, took DS to London and France for the first time, saw my wonderful friends at FoQ, had lunches and meetings with my wonderful friends up here, saw some great exhibitions in Edinburgh and got that wonderful skirt (I still haven’t made the first cut!)

Thought this picture was fitting for January 1st – sketchbooks, some filled with inspirations and ideas, some ready to fill with new thoughts, along with threads, beads and fabrics.

I don’t do New Year resolutions but this year have a sentence in mind;

“Just get ON with it!”
To which my friend Penny added
“And get it right”