I know, I know

my French still life seems so long ago that I took this

yes, it really is me

been a long time, hasn't it?

not sure what has happened, but am having a hard time getting back to my blog........

so sorry

I'll be back soon

but wanted you to know I am still here!

please check back

Mont St Michel

unbelievably beautiful

a little island surrounded by sand and water

hope everyone out there is doing well

and having a lovely fall.......

what texture!

a random shuttered window

thanks for checking in!

__a

Open Studios at Cardinal Arts

here are some (rather bad) photos of my Open Studios

we opened over the Bank holiday weekend

and the turnout was.......

terrible

am hoping this weekend will bring more people in

(should mention that the inspiration for these bird charms

came from the amazing, amazing, amazing artist Geninne)

the people that do come in

are full of compliments

about the work and the set-up

my studio is at one end of the town

so it seems to be difficult to get people down here

altho, there are others near here -

and we are listed in the catalogue

and right next to the Buttercup Café!

we'll see what happens

am still optimistic!

lovely felted bags by Get Felt

and the diaphanous knitted shrugs or capelettes

by Tuscan Handknits

(despite the name, she is a local maker)

I have sold the "capelette" hanging above the bags

LOVE to bags! they are knitted and then felted

fantastic colours and shapes

have sold a couple of those too

the funny thing is that I just happen to be in

my studio during the week

all the publicity states the studio is open

on the weekends

but have had more sales during the week

from people just randomly wandering in!

go figure

it is a sunny day today

which is nice

even tho there is definitely a nip in the air

fall is coming soon!

and so is my mother!

she arrives next week - just in time to see the end of my show

then mother, me and S are going on holiday

we rented a gîte in France for 10 days

cannot wait

so looking forward to relaxing......

have a stack of books waiting

but before then

wish me luck!

have a wonderful weekend!

and a big hello to a couple new followers

thank you for wanting to be included in my ramblings!

Artwave getting closer

well, here I am;

still working towards getting my studio ready

for the Lewes Open Studios:

Artwave

some very patient stuffed birds

waiting for their tails to be sewn shut

while these two are waiting for someone to come

and take them home with them!

other birds in progress

these are made with clay and hand painted

how cute are these?!

more clay birds covered in various papers and tissue

ready to be strung up with beads

like this

(hand not included)

more mini canvases

that will eventually look like these

I made earlier

I also want to do more

of my usual free machine stitched pieces

similar to this

in this terrible photo

I tried to show you one piece I finished for the show

detail of above picture

was experimenting with silk embroidery

lots more to do!!

oh! and I did get selected to join the

volunteer stitchers for the

Battle of Lewes Tapestry

I start next week

am hoping I can take some photos

of the progress to show you

have a sunny, creative weekend everyone

and thank you, thank you

for stopping by!

finally finished

whew

finally, after much procrastination and wool drama

I finished the tapestry sample

now.......lets hope it is good enough

to get into the group of volunteers

stitching a tapestry to commemorate

the Battle of Lewes

in between stitching this

or.........looking for the correct wool

I have gone back to making a few more stuffed birds

am done painting my little clay birds too

now, to string them up and add some sparkle!

I tried one

and realised the birds are so heavy

their birdy bottoms stick in the air

instead of their birdy beaks

panic!

and then; clever me

thought about finding some sort of weight

so went to the local fishing equipment shop

they thought I was really strange

(not the first time that has happened)

I guess they are used to people coming in

knowing what the fishing weighty things are actually called

oh; and knowing what size and weight

“can’t I just look at them? hold them in my hand?”

anyway.......got some

and they seemed to be working on my test birdy

after I get that finished;

back to more mini canvasses, I think

I also want to do a few bigger pieces

like I normally do

here are a few photos from the

Southover Grange Gardens

which is not too far from my house

such a beautiful place!

the plantings are so spectacular

and I love how they juxtapose the most

vibrant colours next to each other

(doesn’t really come out that well in the pics)

but.......you get the picture

AND

it all surrounds a lovely Eizabethan house

thank you so much for stopping by

hope you all are having a creative week

and in the States; not burning up

in the UK; not molding....or too badly affected by these riots

I do not even know what to say about all that

back to work!

just spent a nice weekend in Germany

in a little town we lived in for 3 years

cannot believe that was 8 years ago!

weirdly; it was cold and rainy the whole time

and then I get back to the UK

and it is sunny and warm!

usually the other way around

the town was having a

Middle Ages Fest

check out that hat!

a lovely felted acorn top

minstrels below the tower

even Middle Agers need a coffee break

some Scots had invaded too

beautiful leather drum on his back

(am sure there is a specific name for it......sorry)

am now back home

and back to getting things ready for the Open Studios

a friend of mine brought in some lovely

needlepoint cushions for the show

they look great against my

Guatemalan blanket

(oh - but you can barely see the actual blanket)

oh look - birds!!

haha

have made these little clay birds

some are painted some are covered

with printed tissue papers

am hoping to put them on ribbons and add

little charms and beads to the bottom

have never done this before.......

so, we'll see how it goes

a strange thing happened recently

I have suddenly become attracted to

Elizabeth Blackadder

her realistic botanical paintings are amazing

but that's not what is attracting me

it is her more whimsical, looser still life pantings

now......I am not a painter -

but I kind of want to try my hand

at least try to get the loose, lyrical feeling

and then add things on top; paper, etc

just a thought......but I need to keep ahold of it

and when Artwave is over

maybe get out a little canvas and try it out!

she is having a big exhibition in Edinburgh

but I think that is a little far for me to get to

might obtain a book of her paintings

to keep hold of the inspiration

so........happy week to everyone

and thank you thank you

to my new followers!

yea

mini canvasses n' stuff

I am having so much fun with these......

and am liking how they are turning out

(for the most part)

I have several more to do - but wanted to finish some off

just to see how they'd look when completely done

detail of one of the canvasses

the other week S and I went to visit friends in Leeds

while S played golf, I went to the Great Yorkshire Show

here are some of the interesting animals I saw:

contemplating

a face only a mother could love

(and my friend; she is crazy for pigs!)

bit too much fake tan?

try to get a comb through that!

this guy loved his head being scratched

those curls!

you lookin at me?!

I want to show you a couple more things:

I went on a little spree in the local antique shops

first up; rusted metal rose

second; a bamboo drinks trolley

I have differing opinions on this one

not that I really care because I love it

but......a few people have looked askance

when I showed them

too kitsch?

not sure what I will do with it;

maybe paint it shiny black? shiny red?

altho I also like the natural colour

use it as an actual drinks trolley

or

some sort of display unit in the studio?

what do you think?

hope everyone is having a creative week

looking forward to the weekend?

I wouldn't mind a bit less rain

altho, am not too envious of the

blistering heat wave in the States

thank you so much for stopping by

appreciate your interest

__a