#inktober /6

#inktober / 5

#inktober /4

#inktober / 3

#NaSkeFiMo Day 3

National Sketchbook Filling Month!

There’s a great group on Facebook.  Why not join?  Anything goes, just fill a sketchbook - drawing, painting, collage...

All the sketching work will translate to textiles, I promise 

#inktober /2

#inktober

#inktober….. an idea that's apparently been running for a few years but i only found it recently.  
The idea is to do something in ink, one a day for the whole month of October.

I DID IT!!!!

Over the next few days I'll post them up here, if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you’ll have seen these already.  

I started colouring them in

Or giving a wash of watercolour, but I was only using a sketchbook so I stopped after the second day.

 

 

Teaching in Kelso

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. 

 

Decorating

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!

Hepburn Moor

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. 

Berwick upon Tweed

The Old Bridge and the Border Union Bridge.

And Lobster Pots.

Day out with the man-boy

Day out last week on Lindisfarne, a walk, silly photos, lunch in the pub.

Final flush

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.

Painting the walls.....

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.

Bamburgh (again)

I know, you’re probably fed up of seeing Bamburgh Castle again….

It’s just too beautiful and photogenic.

 

 

Watercolour charts

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.

Corby Crags

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. 

New plans.....

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.

Nights are drawing in....

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

.