Day 20... playing with software again.. ... still thinking landscapes.

 

 

I played around and forgot to make some notes about what I was doing.... so may never be able to repeat this! 

Day 19- English countryside. ...... inspiring.

 

 

Am thinking of using some landscape photos I took last year to develop some new pieces of work.  Love the sky in this one.

Day 18.. great excitement it has arrived!

 

 

The book has finally arrived.. we had 3 postal deliveries today ( unheard of normally!) .. I know there were 3, as I had been watching out for this delivery. I knew from Facebook that some of my mates had already had theirs delivered by the postie, so I was somewhat impatient and green with envy.

 

My package also had a lovely surprise of some gold paint included, for me to play with.

 

Forgive me though I had to give it the treatment, with the new free software. Just cannot stop messing about with it. ..... but now must leave you .....I have a book to read.

Day 17---more playing with images

 

 

Can't stop playing with the layers option in Paint.net, the free software programm that Maggie Grey showed us on her blog. .

Last month I was teaching a group..... how to make a start on developing sketchbooks...... and we sketched and took photos around the town of Cricklade, where we were meeting. It was great fun.

 

This is  a photo of the Church seen through a gateway.... and I have enjoyed playing with layers today to create this image. I should be wrapping Christmas presents and stuff like that, but am enjoying playing on the computer.

Day 16 - free software and more playing....

 

Maggie Grey gave me the heads up about this free software program .... see her tutorial on her blog here, I used a photo of a hedge to try out her tutorial on layers.... so easy to do on Paint.net ( just google it) 

 

 

 

Not content.. I then used Artistic sketch from the menu.. and also inverted the photo again...... fascinating and very easy program to use.... thanks Maggie G.

Day 15 - playing with and reviewing my sketchbooks

 

 

Just a couple of sketchbook pages.... I am enjoying this sort of free work in my sketchbooks.. but the time has come to review it. I had a chat with fellow artist Bev .... and feel I am on the way to creating a meaningful review. Now is the time to play with fabrics and thread and mark making.

Day 14-- decking the halls

 

At least all the lights worked first time ... phew! 

Day 13 - sky tonight

 

Really should have written dusk rather than tonight ... loved the colours... magical.

Day 12 A black and white day

 

Great fun.

Day 11--- Christmas post

 

 

Its the time of year that this post box gets lots of use by the nearby residents. The postman delivering every morning to the houses also has lots of work to do. Exciting isn't it?

Day 10- the Parkinsons Disease Carers Christmas lunch

 

 

This is an unofficial group that came together on Wednesday afternoons whilst the PD sufferers went to an exercise class organised by the local Parkinsons UK branch. Their website link is here.

As carers we found we had a lot in common, and so for the last 3 years we have ben meeting for a Christmas get together at the Blunsdon House  Hotel,  we are always well looked after.

 



Day 9-- nostalgic summer visit

 

 

Took this photo back in the summer, whilst walking through  Burford.  Down by the River Windrush, is this wonderful bench with flower pots. Waiting for a bus here is a delightful experience. Think Burford are definitely setting the standard for thoughtful seating whilst waiting for a bus.

Day 8- Christmas lunch

 

Isn't it a wonderful feeling when a group work together well? 

 

My stitching group today all contributed to the Christmas lunch at the meeting.. soup, bread, cheese or desert. What a spread and plenty for everyone. The photo shows the end of the lunch, not a lot left!

 

We had fun too.. a secret Santa raffle and Christmas crackers too.

 

 

Lots of social chat as well. Perfect.

 

Of course ..... there was the washing up as well..... !





Day 7- the walk

 

 

Winter is certainly here... although the weather is quite mild and there has been a lull in the gales and storms. The weather forecasters are threatening bad weather again for later this week.

 

Took the opportunity to take a quick stroll again today and this piece of pavement furniture always makes me smile..... mind the low flying bicycles! 

Day 6- Taking a walk... and selling a Singer

 

As I had to post a birthday card today, and as it is only a short walk to the post box, I also took the opportunity to take a 5 minute stroll around the neighbourhood to see what is going on.

I came across this park bench, that someone has decided to repaint, think they have made a good job of it..... I really like it. The original colour was that royal blue.

 

I also came across 2 delightful puppies, 12 weeks old........ they were cocker- poos.... suspect they are specially bred these days, in olden times they would have been called cross bred mongrels'. These days I suspect they are designer puppies.. fashions change! Never the less, they were gorgeous dogs.



 

 

 

 

I am trying to have a bit of a sort out, and I have kept this hand cranked machine for myself. Until now... have decided it is time to find it a new home. It stitches beautifully, but it does not have a wooden cover. I have always kept it covered with one of my hand dyed Shibori cloths.  It is such a pretty machine. I think it dates from 1919.. nearly 100 years old. I hope I can find it a loving new home.

 

Day 5- stitching and flowers too.

 

I have been continuing some more slow stitching, it is very relaxing, but this piece of work needs some good light to work to.

 

The daylight was quite good for most of today, but I do find these colours quite difficult by electric light. 

 

 

 

Same quilt in the background as yesterdays post, but some more wonderful flowers.

Day 4 -Some more special flowers

 

 

These are beautiful roses, I received them yesterday. The quilt hanging on the wall behind is one of my hand painted watercolour quilts. I thought the colours went together so well.

day 3 - A special day today

 

Lots of lovely presents today on this special day. 

Day 2 -Handwerk.. working with the hands



 



 

I always seem happiest if I have some thread, yarn or fabric in my fingers. This yarn was particularly pleasant .. quite soft and great to knit with. The colours were a bit odd when combined, but they were free of charge. So cannot complain.

 

This photo was taken at Hampton Court, on the  Green at the Handmade Fair , it was an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday and this cable knitting was one of the workshops on offer. Great fun.

 

This venue bought back many happy memories of the time we lived at Hampton Hill, just up the road. The lovely craft/yarn shop I used to frequent in that locality has long gone. A sign of the times I'm afraid.

Probably the same everywhere now. I can remember going in to the shop every week to buy and ounce or two of the wool I had put by to create a jumper. Did that regularly until the jumper was finished Very different times.

 



Day 1 -Stitching slowly.......

 

 

Something I seem to have been doing for a long time now, slow stitching, seems to have been taken up as a new movement and gaining momentum in the craft magazines. Some advocates are developing stitch retreats, articles and books to help develop awareness.

 

I think anyone who has enjoyed hand stitching .. or even other hand crafts like knitting or crochet, probably are aware of the soothing and relaxing medative state of mind that can happen when absorbed by the technique of hand work.

 

Here, in my small piece of embroidery,  I have combined eyelets made on my Bernina sewing machine with the eyelet attachment, and then surrounded the machined eyelets with  hand stitch .. in this particular case, chain stitching in a variegated thread. Pure bliss to stitch.

 

The stitching will probably end soon, as I have lost the variegated thread....... might be a slow process to find out where I stowed it away safely. Always the way isn't it?

 

There is also some interesting articles in the latest edition of Through our Hands online magazine......... have a look here.