Amanda Hislop at Oxford Summer School-Day 1....

30th July 2018

A brilliant first day on my course....

...the theme 'where sea meets shore'...

...we started by sticking torn tissue, newsprint and teabag paper onto a sheet of A3 paper....

...while this was drying we used a fine pen to draw basic lines on A3 of our theme and paint using diluted procaine dyes.....

...wax candle was also used as a resist....

....back to the dry collaged A3 for painting...

....folding and cutting came next...

...this folding produced different aspects of the larger work....

....this can be cut up in a variety of ways or be made into a book...

....I particularly liked this landscape, the shades of blue changing with the various papers used also the texture created by the collage....

.....this is a piece of A4 Khadi rag paper which I painted on both sides then will fold in another way when dry...

....such an enjoyable day and can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring........

Quick Update!

24th July 2018

I am moving into a lovely flat and am so excited!

However before I actually move in on 6th August there has been lots of sorting and packing and ordering and so many decisions! Also I am on a course at Oxford Summer School next week with Amanda Hislop and will be catching up with creative friends at the same time.

While I was clearing and sorting I found a Kilner jar of Damson Gin that I made 3 years ago so have been bottling and tasting.....

....DELICIOUS!!

Large parcels from Ikea...

....after assemblage with the help of my sister!

It is strange but the room looks bigger with the sofa in and the stool has storage and can be used for seating if I have visitors and a place to put a tray for use as a table!!

My next post will be about my course so watch this space....

A Visit to the Renovated Temperate House in Kew Gardens

22nd June 2018

Beautiful weather again this week.....

.....I decided to visit the wonderful Temperate House in Kew which has had an amazing renovation....

....some of the beautiful blooms...

....the pattern in the centre is stunning....

....always love the sound of running water....

.....a wonderful structure...

....looking down from half way up the spiral staircase...

....view of the ferns from the gallery, stunning...

...the side structures...

...the roof....

...a display of colourful leaves.

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Spent the next hour meandering through the gardens and found places I had not seen before!

The boardwalk was stunning...

...found the 'Ice House'

...the domed ceiling...

....water lilies...

....there were many school parties enjoying the open spaces, even having their picnic lunch under the huge trees which made a 'cave like' space. 

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A few years ago I bought this book of knitting patterns at the Yarndale Event in Skipton. The patterns are mostly very simple, using mainly garter stitch, but so easy for a child to wear and quick to make!!

I used a cotton/silk blend yarn, so soft,  to make this little cardigan/jacket for Alba and have enough yarn to make a little jumper for another special little person!

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Off home sitting next week, back to near Hampton Court so will be enjoying dog walking along the river Thames, I have my embroidery kit and knitting project packed and ready to go!!!

The Joys of Homesitting!!!

15th June 2018

My first homesit was last Christmas looking after a cat and dog, the dog was a delight and loved his walks. Since then I have done 8 more weeks looking after 2 different cats and another cat/dog. Such an experience seeing how very different they all are and such characters!!
 The last 2 weeks I have been looking after the most beautiful cat I have ever seen, long soft fur, beautiful markings and blue eyes! She took a couple of days to get used to me and now joins me on the sofa, stretches out for tummy tickles and loves sitting on my laptop while I am stitching!!

While getting dressed this week she jumped into my small case....

.....this week on Tuesday night managed to get into her food store basket with a basket of toys on top...

....and created this horrible mess, she had opened this new bag of treats and punctured 3 packets of wet food which had leaked all over the basket liner!

Needless to say she didn't want her breakfast next morning! I now fasten the buckles on the basket so she can't get in! She woke me at 4am this morning, payback for locking her store!!

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Tripped over a paving stone this week and landed rather heavily on my right knee causing threads to break in my comfiest jeans...

....decided to do a Boro repair, a Japanese way of mending visbly, and am quite pleased with the result, prefer this to a hole.

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I love walking around Richmond especially near the river and saw these delightful ducklings and a Heron fishing nearby.

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Remember I started this a few weeks ago and it was meant for a card for my granddaughter but made this solid stuffed shape instead using her favourite colour at the moment -PINK! Thought it might stand on her book shelf. 

Off to her birthday party tomorrow with the rest of the family, really looking forward to it....