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.
I was teaching in a building next to the Abbey, which was looking gorgeous with the autumn leaves and damp stones.
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.
Where have I been all week?
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!
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?
Just look at those colours
Looking back towards the Cheviots and home, down there in the valley.
One day I must walk to those trees.
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.
Though the other morning I woke to this;
The FIRST Frost!
Poor flowers, their days are numbered now.
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.
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.
I know, you’re probably fed up of seeing Bamburgh Castle again….
It’s just too beautiful and photogenic.
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)
A real contrast, but then thats me really isn’t it?
I love my bright Indian colours and my grungy earthy Northumberland.
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.
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!!!)
Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble…..
And this is the result. Just a small portion, but wonderful colours and implied textures.
And the “grey” and “dirty pink” batches.
Some good coffee time reading.
The garden can look magical at dusk
And the moon too - this reminds me of a Turner Painting.
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
.
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.
After this, I’m buying myself an eyelet setting machine……its hard work setting 150+ eyelets….
Sorry about the dull day
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.
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.
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.
DH heading to the reception.
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.
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.
Beautiful stained glass window.
Love the depictions of women.
The great thing about Edinburgh is being able to nip down a “close” - an alleyway, and find some hidden gems.
And some hidden gardens with typical Edinburgh entrances.
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.
Then we took a stroll back up the Royal Mile on the opposite side…
You can’t visit Edinburgh without noticing its graveyards.
These roses caught my eye.
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!)
I shot this scene of street life, looking up towards the castle.
One of my favourite pictures of the two days.
Back to our suite and a bottle of champagne and cookies (GF for me, its the little touches that make it special)
The embroidered cushions immediately caught my eye.
And the Goldwork vestment, how perfect was that?
The chocolate actually came home with us (!) but only for a day as it was required for stress relief.
Yes, I had to use the stool to get in and out.
What other earrings could I have taken? Could only wear black silk and gothic jewellery for dinner in the Secret Garden.
Glad i didn’t wear high, high heels...
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.
Me, post breakfast, ready for another day of walking Edinburgh’s streets.
Always on the phone checking emails…..
You had a fabulous view from those windows, looking out at the tourists looking in.
