Finally I have caught up on the “Almost” A Photo a Day for February.
You can see them here on the NE71 2011 blog
http://ne71-2011.blogspot.com/
or here on BlipFoto (they are nicely set out here and captioned)
Can’t believe it is March tomorrow!
According to the weather forecast the old saying;
“March winds will blow and we shall have snow…” could be true…. hope not!
Half term straight after Grasmere seems to have taken my time and energy. Time to take it easy for a few weeks.
Here are a few more pics from the week away.
Some wonderful African Charms – they belong to Maggie Relph of the
African Fabric Shop
This was my bedroom “The Stables” complete with stabling construction! Apparently used by Wordsworth’s horse….. I hope the horse was as comfortable as I was.
Snippets of some work ….
And back in Northumberland the sun has started to shine (though no way am I trusting it to be Spring yet!)
This is the entrance to the Ingram Valley with the medieval furrow lines still very much in evidence.
DS is growing up.
….and we had a visitor this week…..
Life seems to have been so busy since I returned from Grasmere…. I haven’t even downloaded the last few photographs and that's unheard of.
I must do that and I must bring my BlipFoto journal up to date.
I am enjoying half-term with DS, but am also starting to get into a bit of “panic tizzy” about the exhibition….. it’s because I’m not doing anything, if I’m working I’m OK!
A quote from a friend which sums up life atm;
I wish I could find a way of doing everything on my wish list – including being in two places at once!
I must “Zen out” and remember being here…..to calm down!
Stitching this morning and Keswick and Castlerigg stone circle this afternoon.
This is the Guest House
The room and fellow stitchers
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Derwent Water
Back to Grasmere
Misty tree.
I have disguised the raindrops.
Yes it is raining as only the Lake District knows how to.
Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny so I will be out with the camera having fun.
I am also having fun stitching, but I can do that at home…. I am enjoying being in the lakes more than anything.
Even if it is lashing with rain.
Nothing changes here …… thank goodness
Next week I am off to the Lakes! I am going to Grasmere with a small group from the Contemporary Quilt Guild (a sub-group of the UK Quilters Guild). There are no tutors, simply stitching in the mornings and evenings, afternoons to explore or more stitching.
I love the Lakes so this is a wonderful combination. Not least because I won’t have to tell anyone to put their shoes on, pick their coat up, do their homework or remind them to brush their teeth.
(Talking of teeth the tooth came out yesterday, but is sore today, guess it will take a while to settle).
Will certainly be spending time here….
and here…..
I’ve been told that there is a limited internet connection so I hope I can blog every day.
Here are the full details for the exhibition, let me know if you will be visiting and I will post these details again closer to the date (I have a feeling it will come very quickly!)
Hayloft Gallery Paxton House - 9th -29th June 2011
Paxton House (TD15 1SZ) is 4.5 miles from Berwick upon Tweed and is described as “perhaps the finest example of 18th century Palladian Country houses in Britain”. Beautiful for a day out with guided house tours and walks along the River Tweed. Mainline train station at Berwick. http://www.paxtonhouse.co.uk/
Title; “Translations”
Description;
Landscape impression paintings and textile collages in transition from landscapes to feminine thoughts.
Artist in residence dates;
11am – 3pm
10th,12th
17th,19th
24th,26th
Following details off the web site;
Opening Times
Open daily from the 1st of April to the 31st October.
House: 11am - 5pm (Last tour 4pm)
Shop & Tearoom: 10am - 5pm
Grounds & Gardens: 10am - Sunset
Tours last approx 1 hour and leave from the waiting room adjacent to the courtyard.
Please book in at reception, last tour is 4pm (April & October 3.30pm)
House and Grounds:
Adult: £7.50
Concession: £7.00
Children: £3.50 (5 - 15, under 5's free)
Family Ticket: £20 (2 adults + 2/3 children)
Grounds Only:
Adult: £4.00
Children: £2.00 (5 - 15 under 5's free)
Family Ticket: £11 (2 adults + 2/3 children)
Lots of family offers throughout the season.
Group visits to the house and grounds may be arranged for any time of the year and packages tailored to suit your particular group interests are available. Please contact us for any further details.
Study days and specialist tours are available for students and adults with emphasis on architecture, furniture, social history and/or costume.
Paxton House welcomes visitors who are wheelchair users, with dedicated parking bays close to the Reception. However, bearing in mind that Paxton House was built in the 18th Century, access is only available to the main floor via a passenger lift for wheelchair users.
The main floor contains the principle rooms - the entrance hall, morning room, dining room, drawing room, bust room, library and picture gallery. The Hayloft Gallery - exhibition area is also available via a passenger lift. The 18th century kitchen, the Ellem Fishing Club Exhibition, Stables Tearoom, gift shop, toilets and waiting room are all on the ground floor.
Paxton House has a wheelchair available for the use of visitors.
Guide and Assistance dogs are welcome.
I am working hard in advance of my meeting with my mentor on Thursday. This will be the second meeting and I am very much looking forward to it.
Though I have not felt like blogging much in the evenings…..
I am also working hard to take my mind off this tooth – yet another infection, yet another set of antibiotics (4th in 3 months). My dentist is very much of the mind to try and save the tooth by waiting for an appointment at the dental hospital where they can complete the root filling. However this could take months of waiting with no guarantee of success.
Last night I went to see an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon who took an X-ray and discovered the latest problem.
I was in such pain yesterday, it had really starting hurting SO much and I couldn’t take the full set of painkillers because of driving. I burst into tears and couldn’t speak for a few minutes. Poor guy. He gave me a shot of local anaesthetic for the pain, nice thought.
The X-rays show the tooth has moved away from the bone and I have a large abscess. So I am paying privately to have the tooth extracted (don’t ask how much, could get a flight to India for the price).
Then I am finding a new dentist.
This morning I took my basket along to the studio, set the embroidery machine off with a few designs ….
…. and started another fabric painting with these wonderful new brushes that arrived today.
Pleased to recommend Artifolk, two orders placed recently arrived next day and P&P is free >£40. Try them.
This afternoon I went to Paxton House to review the gallery where I have my exhibition in June. Its large, very large…..
The house.
Entrance to the tearooms and gallery
The house opens 1st April… today there was just my car in the car park.
I have finally been getting to grips with the Bernina Design software, really enjoying this.
Below is a palm leaf design repeated and flipped.
This piece is square really, the binding needs finishing and it needs a good press. This is Februarys Journal Quilt for the contemporary quilt guild’s 10x10” challenge.
Machine embroidery, hand stitch on hand dyed cottons.
