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Sunday 18 February 2018

m0re cards and experimenting....

18th February 2018

I have had a dreadful cough and cold this last week which has left me feeling very lethargic!

 While on my home sit I made a small series of card toppers on handmade paper...



....this was an idea from Di Wells where tissue paper  is crumpled very tightly, opened  out and repeated 2/3 times, it is then like a fabric when stitched, just made a very simple leaf design but like the result.






I decorated this painted cake with french knots to look like raspberries!


Simple stitches on old linen using variegated silk threads...


...also made a lot more poppies and Kantha stitched my indigo fabric, then I was out of action due to heavy cold, must get right for my trip to Cornwall on 2nd March, so looking forward to meeting up with old friends and learn some new skills and walk along the wonderful Cornish coast......

Sunday 4 February 2018

The last two weeks...

4th February 2018

I have been quite busy.....

....decided to blanket stitch around all the shapes before I start the Kantha stitch to add texture ....


....close up...



.....more poppies for the park until I ran out of red yarn...


....used up the rest of my yarn to make more squares for my throw, think it is going to take a while to place all 240 of them so the effect is random!!!


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I watched a short interview with Di Wells, quilter and textile artist living in Cornwall, and I would love to go to one of her classes. She was showing some amazing quilts based on houses and I loved them. Di also showed her work using tissue paper and delicate Honesty. I really wanted to 'have a go' as it would be useful for my card making....

.....tissue torn into size A5.....


....the sheets are then scrunched, little ball on left, then opened carefully. This is repeated 3 times.... 


....the result is a wonderfully textured paper which has more strength for stitching as the fibres have been broken down, this can then be painted and stitched using at least 3 layers. I have prepared these sheets but will have to wait to paint until I am back in my workroom.


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I am housesitting for the next 2 weeks near Osterley Park which is run by the National Trust...


....a cold, dry day, ideal for a walk around the park....



....didn't go in today but plan to....


....a lovely barn converted into a cafe with some brave souls sitting outside with their coffee, a second hand book shop where I bought a map of the area for just £1 and a great little gift shop....


....lunch time for the cows....


.....huge variety of trees, especially liked the pattern on this trunk....


....lovely views around the lake...


....had to watch for roots..


....and very muddy...




....after 9,864 steps I arrived back at the house and noticed this Rhododendron in the front garden, so delicate....



.....while I was eating my lunch I watched this squirrel gorging on the nuts and seeds on the bird table....


....a balancing act while looking for a way to get more from the hanging bird feeder, but it is squirrel proof!!!