Me time

Today I’m going out to the Living North Fair.  Bye!

   

 

Solo exhibition dates confirmed

The dates for my solo exhibition have been confirmed

8th – 29th June 2011 at Paxton House.

I’ll be running workshops on some weekends – details to follow – and possibly having a party to open the event.

Paxton House is beautiful and well worth a visit, just a few miles from Berwick upon Tweed.

After the holidays…..

School holidays ended yesterday and I spent the day in the hairdressers getting some much needed TLC.

Over the week we had the electricity board checking the cables… very off putting to have a helicopter so close to your roof and Sky dish!

At the weekend I started painting the bathroom – as the plan is to completely redo this in 2011 its a minimal spend. 
(It was planned for this year but we built the studio instead).

 

As you can see its a small room with one huge window. 
The preparation is my least favourite job – the Cath Kidston gloves and flowery scrubbing brush made it seem less of a chore :)
Sad.  But true.

Major work was required filling in the gaps between floorboards;

 

The new colours are;

Wall colour – Mouse’s Back

Woodwork and floor – Light Gray
All from my favourite paint shop Farrow & Ball, I’ve loved these paints for years, even before they were trendy.

I love Autumn for its colours, but really do hate the lack of light at this time of year. 
Photography becomes difficult and I always feel a bit sad as I love the sunlight.

Though it is an excuse to wear my new purple velvet jacket. 
Looks great with the new boots.

New Boots

This post is dedicated to my friend Nadine in Canada, who also has a passion for footwear :)

My new boots – and boy are they comfortable.
(Plus I am 3 inches taller, which, when one is only 5ft, is quite significant).

History of Embroidery 1900-1999

New post on the History of Embroidery blog.

We are now looking at 1900-1999.  Almost finished.

Culture in Edinburgh

Its hard to avoid culture in Edinburgh.  I love the city.  One day I will get to stay a few nights and walk and walk and walk to explore it much more.  DH and I used to do this when we lived in London.  Its the only way to discover the hidden gems of cities. 

I’ve already found my hotel – the Witchery by the Castle.  I live and dream…… (and keep hinting a lot!)

I never tired of this view either.  Guess I have a thing about castles……

  

 

Two Sunday’s ago (yes I am behind and catching up!) we went firstly to;

 

Just love that daisy, would look great on my studio!

My favourites pictures -

Charles Courtney Curran - Lotus Lilies

Klimt - Italian Garden Landscape (finally got to see a real Klimt!)

Monet – The Water Lily Pond

 

Then a few miles away for something completely different;

Dali

Marion Adnams

John Pemberton

 

Another day we had a “cupcake” moment – only a photo as I can’t eat the darned things of course…. managed to embarrass DS taking the photo.  Isn’t being embarrassing in the job description for mothers?  Yes I thought so too :)

The Red Skirt

I made it to the Vintage Market in Berwick today.  Didn’t get to the Mind, Body and Spirit show as I blew the budget at the first stop.  Along with some wonderful lace I came home with a very special skirt.

I took some quick pictures for you and will take more tomorrow.  Its been cut down from another piece – a dress?  Not sure, but its the real thing in terms of metalwork embroidery and it is really heavy.

 

 

 

 

Land of the far horizons (with snow!)…..

On days when I wonder why I live somewhere so isolated from museums, galleries, M&S food and my old friends, I see views like this and I know exactly why I’m in Northumberland.  I don’t think it is ever more beautiful than in autumn.

You can see why its called the “Land of the Far Horizons”

 

and today SNOW!!!!!!!!  Pictures taken at lunch time from the opposite side of the valley (just south of Wooler – I’m in the hidden valley just behind from the old Dovecote).  Those pylons are the bane of my photographic life!