Tag Tuesday-Down on the Farm

This week the theme on Tag Tuesday is 

Down on the Farm.

For my Down on the Farm tag I have

used some feedsack patterned fabric for 

background, in keeping with the Farm theme.

I am interested in how the feedsacks, made from linen

or heavy canvas were used from the mid 19th

century in the US

as an essential item to store animal feed, but

at the same time were a decorative item, enabling

farm wives to stitch clothing from them and to 

reuse them as patchwork items.

I found a post about the history of feedsacks here.

I placed some animal fabric prints on the background. 

When I had the idea for the tag, I thought I had some

farm animal printed fabric, such as cows, sheep, pigs,

 but it turns out that on my farm I have rabbits, birds ,

cats and ducks!

Tag Tuesday-Symmetry

I have been too busy with the Caversham Arts Trail

to play Tag Tuesday for a few weeks, but I am back 

with a new tag today!

Here is my Symmetry tag!

I used an Indian wood block which I have been

using  for printing on fabric in my stitched

textiles work. I love the shape of the block, and

the fact that it is hand carved means it

feels good to hold and work with.

I printed the block onto painted paper and added it to

a printed tissue paper pattern mounted on card. For the borders

I used some of my new washi tape collection  ( 8 new designs

in a box from Paperchase, watch this space, I will most definitely 

be using them all!) I topped it off with some gold braid to give

a wow factor.

Tidy Studio

I have been really busy with the Caversham Arts Trail over the

 past few weeks. It was a very enjoyable experience. Now it

is over it is time to get my studio in order, to reflect and plan,

and to consider new ideas and projects.

Clear space on my worktable

New planning notebook

Ready to start work on my cutting board

Jane and Annette at The Caversham Arts Trail

Here are some photos from the weekend of the Caversham Arts Trail 

where I showed some of my work with

 Annette Massey. Here we are pictured outside our venue.

Posing in front of my work

Annette posing in front of her work

Lilac Blossom

 Our lilac is in full bloom and smells so sweet.

I brought some in to perfume the house and 

to bring cheer.

Caversham Arts Trail Exhibition

I am showing my stitched textiles work at the moment on the

Caversham Arts Trail. I am exhibiting with Annette Massey, who 

is showing her dramatic seascapes based on the West Coast of

Scotland.

Here are some photos of our venue from

the weekend. There was cake too! It was lovely to

meet our visitors and talk about art and textiles. The Arts

Trail will be open again on Friday 15th May, ,Saturday

16th May and Sunday 17th May from 11am to 5pm. Check

the link for details of the venue.

Caversham Arts Trail-Indian Inspiration Stitched Textile Pieces

I will be showing my work at the Caversham Arts Trail for the 

first time this year. The Arts Trail will be on the next

two weekends in May, on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th

May and on Friday 15th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May. See

the link here for details.

The pieces I am exhibiting are a series of Stitched Textile pieces,

called Indian Inspiration.

The Beech Wood

Everything is looking so green and fresh in the countryside

at the moment. I went for a walk in the beech wood with 

my camera. I found some early bluebells, only a few of

them, little flecks of blue, not the deep intense blue

of the woods carpeted with bluebells. I found primroses

too.