Always need to take a walk through India when I visit.
Admire the contemporary artwork and the building.
Take a moment of rest and chocolate brownie in the Members Room.
And of course, buy jewellery, sari squares and flowers in the shop.
Yes, I really did buy silk flowers and carry them home successfully.
Mad woman.
Leaving a very cold, dull Newcastle behind last Thursday morning.
I froze on Berwick train station wearing thin summer clothes (Berwick 7 degrees C, London 22, just a bit of a difference).
Arriving in London and taking a taxi to the V&A.
First stop lunch.
Look up….. the cafe is truly beautiful.
One of the best.
The outside space is pretty special too, with the lake and the new sculpture installation.
The Elytra Filament Pavillion
The Botticelli Reimagined Exhibition was wonderfully in its depth.
Looking firstly (and unexpectedly first) at the most modern interpretations of the work in fashion and art, then taking us through the pre-Raphaelite era of Burne-Jones and Rossetti. (Which you know I truly love).
Then onto the man himself.
The female portraits were stunning.
The later work not so much - but you understand why once you have read that he was in a time and place of a religious uprising.
Where beautiful women were a sin, where painting beautiful devotional images were deemed lustful and so Botticelli began to paint ….. well, “badly”.
The next exhibition was Undressed : A Brief History of Underwear
I’d be very happy to be born into an era of corsets.
But certainly not Edwardian times where the corset really did disfigure in the name of fashion.
Anthropologie.
Love the store, its contents and decorations.
Walking from the New Town to the Old Town
Door at St Giles Cathedral
Another favourite shop - Ragamuffin.
More Lagenlook than a girl can cope with.
Then the Queens Gallery for lunch (yum) and to see Dutch Artists in the Age of Vermeer.
Well worth a visit (and lunch).
New work completed for the day. (More to come once its photographed)
My hare cushion - perfect to take a smaller hare, elements of the flower garland and create a one day workshop for you.
Available to all groups for 2017 - just ask for the “Hare and Flowers” workshop
The stand for the day - lovely to chat and talk to everyone.
I had a wonderful two days in Dumfries, giving a talk on Goddesses and then teaching the small Towers workshop
I was so well looked after - thank you to everyone.
Here is the beautiful work produced.
I look forward to seeing the resulting towers.
I love this time of year, though often wish I had more energy and more hours in the day.
Or rather, more energetic hours.
The garden just starts to look beautiful.
Trips to the garden centre
Beautiful tulips
Stunningly beautiful roses (nothing is more beautiful)
And sunny days for drinking bubbles.
For the first time the K&S show came north, across the border indeed - to Edinburgh.
I’m about 1.5hrs south of Edinburgh and 2.5hrs north of Harrogate, so it was refreshing not to have to drive quite so far.
I came home with some wonderful supplies from Art Van Go.
Threads and silks
Dress fabrics - for when I have SPARE time
And a bag kit a lovely sparkling pink fabric!
Different for me but it just jumped into my hands.
The show was not so well attended…. COME ON PEOPLE - IF YOU DON’T ATTEND THEY WON’T RUN IT AGAIN!
Sorry for the long break, we had no wifi for a long time and it’s still not perfect.
Suffice to say a Tesco lorry, driven by an unlicensed driver took out the pole and line at 2am one morning, then left the scene without making it safe or reporting to the police.
It could only happen in Haugh Head.
So there will be a few posts over the next few days to catch up on life.
We took a lovely walk along the cost at Seahouses for my birthday.
Followed by the BEST chips in the north.
It might not have been the Ivy, after all, who wants stuffy dining when you can have this?
Seahouses harbour with a view to Bamburgh Castle
Can't believe I have been home a week already.
It was such a lovely and refreshing week, seeing friends, chatting, laughing, eating wonderful food and sewing.
On the Monday I called at Ambleside and the iconic Bridge House was looking good.
This is where we stay and the room on the right is our workroom, with plenty of tables and space and windows on all four corners.
Just a short walk away is Heaton Cooper Art Shop and Gallery.
Perfect for stocking up on essentials.
Tuesday and Wednesday I managed short walks.
Thursday morning was very frosty and cold.
By lunch time the snow was falling and the hills had disappeared into the blizzard.
This is my view from the workroom on one side, more hills on the other.
More hares - progressing slowly, not because I wasn’t working but because they take so long.
A real labour of love.
And I started stitching the dress when my eyes could no longer cope with goldwork.
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.
