valentines

I finally finished a couple of heart pieces to put in the café next door

almost missed my deadline!

they take so much longer than I think they will......

but I like they way they came out

hope everyone else does too!

I am going to try and maybe do a couple more

maybe make them less elaborate (if possible) so they won't take so long

it is a grey and rainy, rainy, rainy day today

boo

and now.......back away form the computer, Anne - and get to work!!

so much to do.........

so little focus

thank you to each one of you that takes the time to come by my blog - and especially to leave a message

and a BIG HELLO to those of you who have recently started “following” my blog

welcome -

really appreciate all of you

__a

red and white

I am almost done with my latest work

it will be in a show which is explained here:

http://www.patinalewes.com/#/login/4541086101

I ended up adding more red by needle felting it into the background,

which I think looks better; softer than my original stitches

I am thinking of maybe adding a piece of lace and a few more stitches,

but need to get going on that as it is to be delivered to the gallery this Friday morning.

I think the black background goes better...do you??

Thanks again goes to Marco Crivello who asked me to participate in this show.

I am then going up to Suffolk to visit with my in-laws since we

will be in the US for Christmas

I leave next week already! I do not really feel ready.......but then again......

doubt I would get much more done if I was home longer

my head is still sort of floating around and cannot quite land and focus

I am SO looking forward to the new year

this one has been so up and down; such extremes

am looking forward to coming back and getting back to my plans!

it is really cold here........altho no more snow

I hope everyone else is doing well and gearing up for

an exciting and beautiful holiday season

__a

goldfinch reworked

I felt something was wrong with my goldfinch picture......like; it looked horrible!

so decided to rework it a bit

am much happier with the outcome

and I finally found a way to use my fancy feathers I bought ages ago.......these are pretty subdued -

they also come in purple, bright green, red and turquoise -

not sure when I will use the others as I usually don't use bright colours like that.....we'll see!

not sure you can tell, but there is also an amber "jewel" on top of the feathers, which I have been itching to use too

tomorrow will be taken up by trying to set up my open studios - which starts Saturday til 12th September

felted bags by Get Felt were delivered today - and they look fantastic! great colour combos - will be sure to take photos and get all the different items so you can see everything

rainy day today........rainy day tomorrow

hopefully it will clear up by the weekend - I have visions of hanging my aprons on the brick wall (somehow) outside my studio door- hoping the colours will draw people in

__a

is it finished??

I think it might be!

wow...who-da thunk I'd pull it out of the bag! well, actually, I thought perhaps eventually I would - with invaluable insight and suggestions (and a few small "discussions") from husband (thank you!!)

I added more stitching in the background and a "river" of threads to pull it all together

think I will also keep the threads hanging off the background

was hoping to finish and go up to London tomorrow, but might need to be here again - Simon, the framer said he'd help me adhere it to a white backing and put it into my frame

whew!

ATC swap

what with all my travelling, etc - I haven’t been able to show you the results of my first ATC (artists trading card) swap! I did this swap through the Hand Embroidery Network (HEN) site I belong to

the one on the left is what I got sent to me from Lynn

the right one is what I did for her!

this was such a fun thing to and a good way to keep stitching as the size isn’t too big - and you get something back from another artist!

I also forgot to mention that while I was in Kansas City - I sold two of my pieces! I had made a cardinal picture for my mother and when she took it into a framers to have it framed.......the lady that owns the place really liked it and wanted to see more - after emailing back and forth, we decided to try a little collaboration; so I sent her two pieces I did (see photos below) and she will frame them and hang them in her shop/gallery for sale sometime in October. anyway, while I was in KC, I went to see her to see if she liked my work and she paid me on the spot for them!

felt good.......

this is just a quick post.......but plan on getting back to it a bit more - and start working on some new things!

thanks for stopping by........and have a good weekend

time to go

I finished it! well, ok, not quite - I haven’t attached a backing to it..and am not sure if I am supposed to put anything on the back or not

looks like it will be making its way to the US with me and can send it out from there

thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions on how to steer it a bit more towards Spring

not sure if I got there, but think I like it anyway -

as I mentioned- am about to go to the States for a couple of weeks to see family and friends and help out my parents a bit -

have collected some recipes to try out on my mom......plus, I finally get to have some Mexican food! woo hoo!

oh, did I mention the margaritas too? hee hee

on the rocks, no salt, please

I will also be seeing my younger sister, whom I haven’t seen in over a year - and meet the latest nephew for the first time

I hope my flights are ok and the movies are good!

will be writing the next post from Kansas City

Tootles!

in progress - and an apology

first; I would like to apologise for not keeping up with my blog......

I have been on a few trips and had every intention of posting my photos and telling you about them.......but I forgot my camera! I bought a single-use one but am having trouble filling it up so that I can get it developed!

I also said I would answer Lorna’s 7 things about myself request.......which I still haven’t done (sorry!)

I have been having to deal with a few events that have blindsided me this year - and I find myself staring out into space.......unable to make sense of anything or pick myself up and do what I had intended to do that day -

my to-do lists keep getting longer and longer......hopefully I will be able to cross a few off soon

on a positive note: I have finally been able to start a new piece - I am still working on it, but thought I would show you where I am now.......

this and my chickadee will be sent to the States to be framed and hopefully shown in a new framers/gallery - will let you know when they are finished and available.

again - thank you so much for your comments and for taking the time to come by.......

__anne

ta-da!

well, I think it is finished.......

and thanks to L for giving me stacks of old musical scores......will start using them in my work - I did use a small fragment in this one

I am now going on a little trip to the Isle of Wight this weekend, courtesy of lovely husband - what a surprise!

we both need some time alone (together alone, I mean)

so am hoping for long walks on the beach and a bit of reading and LOTS of seafood!!

must remember to pack my rain things as it is supposed to drizzle the whole time, making it even more adventurous and atmospheric

now I just need for the hotel to have a roaring fire! (pleeez!)

here is the heart I have made......and will slip it into our neighbours’ post box to thank them for the lovely sprinkling of hearts they (I think) did for Valentine’s Day

heart sessions

“Wind to thy wings. Light to thy path. Dreams to thy heart.” ~ unknown

this is what I have done today - I like the second one......but feel it needs more; I just don’t know what that means yet!

not sure if you can see the little shiny beads that go all the way around the heart, which is needle felted

the first image is the one I posted the other day.......feeling I should leave it alone, start something else, go back to it and then see what happens

well, this is what happened and I am not liking it - but oh well - can’t win em all!