Birthday presents

As part of his birthday present , he received a Sat Nav. So we thought we had better try it out, just for fun. So we programmed for the shortest route to Lacock Abbey. We had also treated ourselves to membership of the National Trust and decided to make use of that at the same time.

So we duly set off from home, Picnic lunch in the basket, and plenty of hot coffee, following the Sat Nav, implicitly to reach our destination. Just around the corner from our humble abode, we came across this wonderful sight, literally just down the lane. This particular family arrive every year, and camp in the same spot.

Sorry image is a bit blurry, but the photo was taken from a moving car. The gypsies had gone by time we got back home. They had 4 horses, which were grazing happily in the morning. Do feel sorry for them this year, as behind the hedge is a building site for a new college campus....... wonder if they will be back next year?

We left home in sunshine, and were surprised by the route the SN decided to send us on. I did not know we had a level crossing just 2 miles from home. It was down a very narrow country lane. This was the shortest route we had programmed, it seemed to be as the crow flies. Must remember in future that -short ( in Sat Nav vocabulary) =scenic=drive with care=narrow one lane, country roads.

Unlike the gypsies and their horses, we did have to stop for petrol. Did wonder what Sun tuning was? Apparently it is some thing real not just a spelling mistake. I seem to be obsessed with yellow again, buttercups in fields, yellow signs.

This is a field of buttercups and in the far distance the cows grazing. True rural life. We travelled along single track inclines and lanes, we turned into lanes that were not even signposted. We saw three different " Postman Pat" vans delivering mail, so we knew there had to be life out there somewhere.

The Sat Nav did get us to the correct destination, ( we were beginning to wonder) we arrived in Lacock with the rain!

Lacock, besides being famous for film sets is also famous for the place ( allegedly), where the first photograph was taken by Fox Talbot .We started by visiting the Fox Talbot Museum, as we are both interested in photography. Great exhibition at the moment on the upper floor, which we enjoyed. Then we looked at the invention of Photography exhibition on the ground floor.

This is Fox Talbot's version of the Oriel window at the Abbey. This is the first photograph that was printed. Here is my digital version of the same window.

It struck me when I was reading about his experiments at the exhibition (he took watercolour paper, soaked it in salt, then painted silver nitrate over the paper) that we prepare fabric with chemicals to transfer our images from computer through printer onto fabric. There is nothing new in this world is there?

The House that Fox Talbot lived in has also featured in many films. Harry Potter was filmed in the cloisters of the Abbey above. Lackock village itself has been the setting for many period films and plays.

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Isn't this sheep georgeous? Her lamb was bleeting over the otherside of the meadow, she just shouted back and then ignored it! Motherhood?

A lot of these images were taken from under my umbrella........... it was raining the whole time! We had a great day out though.

We arrived back in the rain, to find the workmen were digging up the lane, near our home.

Eat cake-chocolate preferably

So we have another Birthday, he said he only wanted chocolates this year as presents, due to the fact that - he has everything a man could want...... hairy chest, beer belly ( all his words- not mine) and of course he has me ( my words).

So in keeping with the request he received this from me: - those of you who know me well, will know this is a huge achievement. Hand made by me!!!! You are welcome to congratulate me , as I am most pleased with myself. This is handmade by someone who doesn't "do" cooking.

Moi!!

Jamie Oliver - eat your heart out.

We have not tasted it yet, am saving that for later, when we visit a restaurant for our evening meal. ( You do not expect me to try and cook a meal as well do you ???) Dream on.............

Am hoping the restaurant has cake forks. A pet hate of mine is trying to eat messy cakes with fingers.

Just as well we had the birthday celelbrations last Sunday- BBQ and family, its raining cats and dogs here today. The garden is enjoying the rain. Must get on with the celebrations......

What to do on a rainy Bank Holiday?

Looking through my camera's memory card, I realised I had not downloaded the photos for April. Thought it was a good activity for a rainy day. Had also promised myself to work on the journal quilt for May. So after a final tidy up of Sundays activities, I set about perusing the photos.

Quite odd..... lots of them were recording spring, and the primary colour of yellow. We had travelled down to Hampshire and into the depths of Wiltshire and into Gloucestershire. Here is a small summary....... notice the yellow!

That's enough of the photos ( do not wish to bore you into a melancolic state). There is artwork and stitching to come......... I promise.

So sketchbook time and permission to play with the colour yellow. ( all my photos have been put into a file called "yellow" now) Have decided these sketchings will go into my textures sketchbook for using in my textiles ------eventually!

This page is thick layers of oil pastel and then swirls scraped with the back of a paintbrush, inspired by the gorse bushes from the photos taken whilst driving along the A34.

This page is inspired by the yellow fields of that bright smelly stuff you find all over England now. Whatever happened to our traditional crops? I suspect there is some EEC subsidy to grow this stuff. Most people I have talked to hate it with a vengence. I heard recently that they are now making substitute fuel for our cars from it........ is this the organic world gone mad.

My little sketch above shows the bright yellowof the crop ...with tyre tracks......a picture of the future? Someone please tell me this is not going to happen.

The next page in the sketchbook, plays with colour here I have used acrylic paints, bright yellow and 2 shades of gold. Dabbed with a large paintbrush.




Same colours here as the last image, but have been inspired by the perspective of the Photo of the M4 motorway with the yellow blur of a field at the point. Let the stitching work commence.......

Do you work in a muddle as well........seems to be the only way I get anything done!

Did a quick line drawing of the daffodil and digitised it on my Bernina software, this was stitching away whilst I was doing the colour work. I think modern technology is wonderful...... the machine embroiders whilst I do something else! Just like the dishwasher works for me!

This was stitched with gold on the bobbin and yellow thread on the top, onto bright yellow felt.

Then of course, there is the journal quilt, I made quite good progress on this,( felt, transfer paint, embellished fabric, embroidered organdie and lots of layering) thought I would depict the green fields of England turning yellow, in part due to this new crop. Its not finished yet............ but then there is always tomorrow ......if it rains again. The sun is out now....................

Remember Rain??

This was photographed last week in my friend's conservatory, where it usually flowers in August! It has been so warm and dry in England in April that nature is really surprising us.

Its so long since we have had any rain, it was actually quite pleasant to see some this morning.As I am sure these daisies will agree. My four water butts in the garden have been empty for a couple of weeks now, so I was getting concerned. Pleased to report that this morning they are all full again. Relief.

The rain was supposed to arrive yesterday. We worried about holding the family birthday BBQ as the weatherman had promised rain, we were lucky though, the rain held off. There was a very cold wind at times, but that did not stop us enjoying the garden and eating the BBQ outside, with jumpers on of course. This is England - after all! We are made of hardy stuff here in the northern hemisphere!

Post BBQ - time to relax, 4 on the garden swing, 1 standing and 3 on the trampoline. That's 8 accounted for. Where are the rest?

Thats another 3, makes 11. Still some missing.......................

Here's another 4, that makes 15, still 2 missing.................. where are they?


Latest addition to the family has the right idea, sleep off a full stomach.......... if only we could all do that ! Now in search of the others...........

Heard a sneeze, one of the problems of suffering with hay fever. The sneeze helped me find 1 more - that makes 16, still one missing............................... of course its me behind the camera. All accounted for. 17 in all.

Lots of people made for a lot of washing up, thank goodness for dishwashers.......... 3 washloads later and all the kitchen gear in the cupboards has been turned around and used. Any one for tea?

sketch time

I have been stitching and embellishing today, for a series of journal quilts. It's good fun as I have given myself permision to try a number of different textile experiements. I am really enjoying the experience. Am not able to publish any photos yet. So ............

.............In the meantime I am evaluating a number of sketches I have completed this year. The sketchbook is devoted to making textures and how to interpet them in stitch. I have not got to the stitching bit yet. Will I ever, as I am enjoying all the mark making so much?

The techniques range from mono printing to using my favourite graphitint pencils. I have now purchased a few more colours. Just love to use them.

Ok - so am off to do some more sketching now. Will not be able to do much of my own stuff tomorrow as all the family are coming for a BBQ. The weather promises rain...... so that will be a challenge.

It is Bank Holiday weekend in the UK.......... it always rains! Have a great time ........

Tree Obsession

On a recent visit to Avebury, I admired the local amenities and the stones, but actually became totally obsessed by the trees.


The Swindon stone is magnigficient again, it had to be restored after some silly people threw paint over it. Continuing on our stroll around Avebury, we decided to walk across the site and I came across this clump of trees, and became totally obsessed by them.

They stood proudly at the top of a small incline.

This is a close up of the base. I could not resist taking lots of photos - almost spell bound by the trees.

This photo is taken from between the trunks.

Photo from the same position, but in the opposite direction. We then strolled back into the village to admire the school house and the church. We felt like tourists, but can you be tourists when the attractions are on your doorstep? Mmmmmm something to think about.

The school house with the teachers cottage to the left.

The church.

Sorting out my profile

Have to say a huge thank you to Digital Gran for helping me to sort out my blogger profile. I had not realised there were problems with it. Hopefully all is now functional. Pictures are still causing me problems, but will keep playing with them.

Here is another taster from my colour work sketchbook with textures. I am having great fun playing with these. There is still an absence of thread and fabric, but at least the ideas are flowing.

Am away in Solihull tomorrow for Art exam business, as I am an examiner for one of the exam boards. I always enjoy this in the summer months.

Playing with colour

Am having some fun with colour, starting with complementary colours. Hope you enjoy .

Photo from the compost heap! Red and Green.

Pictured in the garden an old plastic container. Blue and Orange.

Spring flowers - purple and yellow.

All the photos were taken in the garden - can you find objects to illustrate your knowledge of the colour circle in your garden?

Sorting the photos

Thanks to Mags for giving me some advice about photos in blogger, I am trialling resizing photos today. I love blogs with lots of pictures, do you?

I know my duck photo in the previous post will enlarge, the others do not. Have no idea why....... maybe you could help me understand?

The delights for today are a few more photos from my Bibury visit. I love the calmness of the river running through Bibury, and as most of my childhood was spent by the sea and water it has always had a calming fascination for me. The little bridge leads to the weavers cottages in my previous post.

Once you have crossed the bridge, this sign is on the wall of the building in front of you. Have no idea why the Royal Society of Arts took and interest. Recall there is reference to William Morris, did he have connections in Bibury? He lived just up the road in Kelmscott.

I am still working on my sketchbook pages, using a variety of media, this one is paint and black graphic pen, if you look carefully in the top left hand corner you will see that I have started cutting throu the page to reveal the next page. I love surprises, so that is what I am trying to achieve - a surprise on every page.

This page is stuck in - its a computer print out.... I like to draw on the computer.

Just realised I have uploaded 4 images today, unusual, usually only manage 3.

Lets see how the quality comes out now I have resized the photos. Perhaps you will let me know what you think.

Success-hopefully!

He was worth waiting for, isn't he cute? Hope I have solved the problem of uploading the images.

Had a great day out recently at a local village called Bibury in the Cotswolds, and this handsome duck is a proud resident.

These are the old weavers cottages called Arlington Row.

I am strolling on the footpath in front of the cottages. Can you see me? We had a great day out, but I left the cottages feeling grateful to be returning to the modern conveniences of 21st Century living. Not sure I would have enjoyed living in such cramped conditions, despite the strong textile connections.

New post

Have just transfered to the new blogger and at the moment do not seem to post any photos. When I manage to get it all sorted out, will return with gusto. In the meantime, please return again.