The Hare Dress is FINISHED!

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

Waterlily

Only had two flowers this year.

But so beautiful and worth waiting for

City Break

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.

(Image from the website, it was far too dark by candlelight to grab a photo)

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.

Another hidden gem discovered on the way down to the Scottish National Gallery.

Unfortunately the weather had turned to mizzle and drizzle….

So we headed inside to see some Impressionist paintings. 
Well worth it, we’d never heard of Daubigny.

We couldn’t understand why not, when his works were wonderful. 

 

Summer ends and the seasons change

The harvest is over for another year.

Roses are blooming in a last flush of beautifulness.

Natures bounty

Evenings closing in.

The Hare dress is progressing.

For a long time I had lost my mojo.
I just couldn’t think what to do with this dress….. well I knew what I wanted to achieve but just couldn’t quite sort it in my head.
And then IT CLICKED

Detail of one sleeve (the other is plain)
Gold leaf, gold work and spiral couching. 
Colours match the lining. 

These gold work hares!  A labour of love.
Finally found a home.
Placed to contrast with the matt texture of hand dyed scrims.

Playing around with placement…. and hand dyed silk velvets to contrast with the scrim.
Add in some textured wool spirals….
And slowly work your way from one side to the other. 

Glendale Show

The largest countryside show in the north of the county.

For the first time in years I submitted work, disappointed to find there was no embroidery section, no painting section…..
I got a second and two thirds. I never will do well, I’m not popular enough and my work isn’t traditional enough.
In the felted category I came second to this cushion.

Third in the “any other other craft”, which was the only category to put the cushion.

And third with the bag

My Mad Friend of Brightseed Textiles won best stand at the show.
You can find her website here. 

Dyeing days

Had a few days of dyeing recently.
Here’s snapshot of one session. 

Some larger cotton dresses (more on this later) and small colourful pieces which I intend to use with felted backgrounds and possibly a hare or two….. or three of four.

Fabrics at the top are soaking in soda ash, the procion dyes are ready to be measured out.

As a scientist I love the mix of accuracy, witchcraft and fate.
(Ex- scientist I guess, as its been over 20 years since I was in a research lab.  I still miss it very much) 

Mabon - the Autumn Equinox

The light is equal and turns towards the dark from now until Midwinter.

Now its Autumn, a season I love for its bright cool days and stunning colours.

Roll the days for warm soft jumpers and long boots.
(I shall miss the warmth of the sun on my skin though).

The gate at the end of my walk.
I try to make this walk at least once a week. 

Yum!

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