The next project...

The “Linen Dress 1” (working title).

Simple yet beautiful shape.

(I might need to put bust darts in this and make it for myself)

Into the dye bath

Leave for hours….along with a second dress and other robes.

Slowly it works its magic.

Dyeing = Science + Witchcraft

Dyeing = Know + Unknown

Dyeing = Controlled + Uncontrolled

I think thats why I love it so much.  I know whats going to happen, but not EXACTLY.

 On the theme of red, my shoes…. roll on more warm days….

I love wearing boots, but its time to kick them off.

Next Sunday I’m looking forward to K&S at Edinburgh, first time the show has been north of the border.  
Looking forward to it.

Before that five days of stitching, nattering, walking, eating and drawing in Grasmere.

Walking and Thinking...

Firstly I want to give a HUGE BIG THANK YOU to Richmond and Leyburn EG for the warm welcome on Thursday.
I gave a talk on “Land of the Far Horizons” and met some lovely people.

The first talk in a series I have planned for the next …mmm….. decade maybe.
Because….(drum roll)

Ideas are forming!  
Oh yes finally, after all this time….
The sketchbook is filling up! 

I’ve been on some lovely walks to Bamburgh

The the National Trust house at Cragside

 

The garden is starting to look Spring like and the tulips to the right of the path are almost blooming.
I call these “Mums tulips", as I planted them in November 2014 when we first heard she was ill…. and then they bloomed beautifully the following April after she had gone.

The left side of the path has a new rose hedge - Queen of Sweden from David Austin.
I’m looking forward to seeing that bloom and walking past it several times a day to literally smell the roses. 

I’ve been sampling some dyeing on old linen sheets and tablecloths.

Cutting out new dresses on the kitchen table. 

I need several more hours in the day and several more days in the week.
Very busy and loving it. 

 

 

 

Accomplishments

 Train gin day.... (as the Mac wants it to be) or rather TRAINING day.

I could happily sit on a train drinking gin…… preferably the Orient Express heading to Venice. (One day)

I’ve just “finished” an 8 week training course…. but it never ends, the strategy is to maintain motivation and continue to increase fitness. 

 Also completed the course on Art Nouveau Across Europe - run online by Oxford University.  They always deliver very good courses.

Despite it being a very tough few months I do feel a sense of achievement and with a stitching retreat in two weeks I feel I might actually achieve in the needle and thread department soon……. and Festival of Quilts is well and truly booked!  Roll on August.

 

Progress on the green Hare Dress

 

Progress so far.  
The larger hares at the base are stencilled using markal oil paints and the smaller hares are created using foils.