Woodblock Christmas Tree

I have been making Christmas cards with this woodblock from The Indian Block Company at Colouricious.

Christmas tree

Here is a seasonal posting of our Christmas Tree. We had our annual trip to Christmas Common to buy it at the Tree Barn, where there were plenty of trees to choose from. It is supposed to be non-drop, but that will remain to be seen.

Later-at the end of the Christmas holiday, I have to report that it was not really a non-drop tree, but better than some we have had!It has lasted very well, though. The needles seem to be dropping from the bottom branches,leaving the top intact!

Caversham Artists Christmas Show

Yesterday I went to the Caversham Artists Christmas Show at the Old Fire Station Gallery in Henley. It will be on till Tuesday 6th December, and is well worth a visit. There are a variety of artworks on sale by a local artists group, including ceramics, jewellery, knitted textiles, photography and decoupaged furniture. Lots of Christmas presents to buy, as well as beautiful art to look at.

For Advent

As it is the first day of Advent, I am posting a picture of some Scandinavian tree decorations I have just finished. The book I used is Scandinavian Needlecraft by Clare Youngs, which has many enticing projects in it. I first posted about it in May 2010, when I used it for design ideas for a Scandinavian box I made for C & G.

Seed heads at the Herb Farm

When I was at the Herb Farm I took some pictures of seed heads. It is so late in the year, that there are some rather decayed specimens, but I found them fascinating.

The Herb Farm

I took my camera to The Herb Farm at Sonning Common in Berkshire. It is a specialist garden centre for herbs and has a nice cafe and gift shop.There is a always a feast for the artistic eye in the garden. I like the unusual herbs, such as pineapple sage and lemon curd thyme. Everywhere you look there is an abundance of textures.

Colours of Autumn

These wonderful autumnal colours were found at a farm shop. The weather is changing here, so there may soon be a posting of winter photos.

Experiments in Patchwork

I first started patchwork when I was about 18 and a university student in Norwich. A group of us had a craze on doing English patchwork with hexagons, using Laura Ashley fabrics. I started a quilt, which has been in a drawer somewhere, unfinished for years. When I was looking for something to do whilst convalescing, I thought I would try out patchwork, but this time do the american style of piecing. I stumbled upon this beautiful book by Lynne Edwards It was exactly what I was looking for, instructions on how to make each separate block. Some are hand-pieced, some machined. I have to say it is not as easy as it looks!

Although I do have a lovely stash of patchwork fabrics (along with my other stashes), I felt the need to buy some more fabrics, to be sure they went together. I really like the feed sack type patterns. Aren't they lovely!?

My first block " Tumbling Blocks". This is hand stitched.

My second, Maple Leaf, also hand stitched

Polish Pottery

I cleared my dresser and washed all my pottery and arranged it. This collection is know as Boleslawiec, from the region of Poland where it is made. I have collected it since the time I lived in Warsaw in the early 1990s. The background colours are blue and white, with other colours incorporated into different designs, so the patterns all go together. They are hand painted and stamped. I never get tired of looking at all the patterns and textures, and I think you will agree they all sit well together. In fact I think my dresser was made for it, despite the fact it was built for my 1920s house in England

More seed heads

These are the photos I took last weekend on our recent visit to Kent, taken near Chilham. I really like seed heads at the moment, as you can see. The question is, will I be inspired to stitch a piece with a seed head theme?

Seed heads

Seed heads are always fascinating to me, for their lovely textures. I am inspired by Margaret R's photos of her textile landscapes featuring teazles in her blog Digital Gran. This reminded me I hadn't posted my seed head photos from our visit to Kent in the summer, so here they are. They were taken on the estuary at |Oare Marshes by Faversham Creek.

Back to blogging

I have had quite a break from blogging, firstly because of illness and recovery from four minor ops. One of these was on my hand (fortunately my left) and I had a subsequent skin graft which has taken very well. I have good, but not full movement back in my hand and am still doing my exercises.

At the same time as all this was going on, the loft conversion was being built. This was another reason for the break, as the house was pretty chaotic (well, even more that usual!). All the dust and noise, and the contents of all the rooms seemed to end up in what Richard calls the "knitting room".

Now the loft is ready and I have moved my things into the studio, gradually, trying organise it all so it is easily accessible. One of my favourite bits of the building is my huge eaves cupboard in the studio, big enough to swallow up all my plastic boxes of fabric and assorted bits and pieces. I am so pleased with my working arrangement, and can settle down to sew or draw without having to clear a space and move everyone else's stuff. Those of you with teenagers will know what I mean. We haven't moved into the bedroom yet , as we are waiting for the new bed to arrive.

I am making curtains for the new bedroom and have been working on some patchwork. I will post photos soon.

Loft conversion

My loft conversion is now finished and I am the proud possessor of new bedroom, wet room and studio space. I am delighted with it and can't wait to move in!

Horrockses Exhibition at Basildon House

The exhibition of Horrockses Fashions at Basildon House in Berkshire was well worth a visit. It was labelled as " Off the peg style of the 40s and 50s " and organised by the Fashion and Textile Museum, London.
The dresses are displayed on models throughout the house, as well as laid on beds. This works well with the period setting. I enjoyed seeing the dresses, but my main interest was the actual fabrics, with their strong prints and exciting use of colour.