Halloween Pumpkins

It is Halloween today, so here are some pumpkins for you. I guess they are squashes, really, but close enough! We have been drawing them in my art class. 

Tag Tuesday-Halloween

Halloween is the theme for this week's Tag Tuesday.

I decided to do a stitched tag this week, as a change as I have been using my gelli plate so  much recently. I took some Halloween fabric from my stash and deconstructed it, stitching the pieces onto a night sky with scattered stars.

Tag Tuesday-Autumn

This week's subject for Tag Tuesday  AUTUMN is so appropriate, because although it is still unseasonally warm here, the leaves are starting to change colour. I decided to use leaves for the subject of my tag. Inspired by Wendy K's SHOE tag, where she put shoes within a shoe, I decided to put leaves within a leaf. I had originally planned to use a real leaf, but decided instead to draw round it, and recreate it in card. On top of this I added leaf cut outs, using a maple leaf cutter I bought in the States. The paper I used was from interior design magazines (you see, I knew they would come in handy!) with a variety of autumn colours.

I photographed it outside on the grass in my garden against some fallen leaves and some  mushrooms which had just appeared.

Archways

  I noticed these archways at Caversham Court  and admired the different shapes of arches, which all match together.

The River Thames from Bridges

Here are some photos of the River Thames taken from Bridges Restaurant, which as its name suggests is right by Caversham Bridge. Sitting at a table inside was as close to the river as possible.

Finished projects

Here are some projects I have been finishing off.

I made another lavender bag, inspired by Clare Youngs' Scandinavian Needlecraft .

  

This scarf was fun to knit. It is made of fabric, with ready-made holes to knit. 

The tapestry was started when I was on holiday in France. I wanted a needlework project I could just pick up. It was very satisfying, like colouring in with stitch and I liked the way all the coloured threads were supplied as well as the ready-printed canvas. I chose poppies to remind me of France.

Tag Tuesday-Shoes

Our theme for this week's Tag Tuesday is SHOES.

I have gone vintage for  my shoe tag, as I remembered these wonderful images from The Graphics Fairy  and had been wanting to use them for ages! They are from an old Wanamaker's catalogue, but I don't know the date. I have collaged them onto a lace background. This was made by doing a lace rubbing with a coloured pencil. I trimmed it with lace and buttons and photographed it on a patchwork quilt to add to the vintage feel. 

Apple time

At our local apple orchard, Cross Lanes Fruit Farm, last week the apples looked stunning. We bought a mixed bag of different varieties and have been trying out some apple recipes this week. I enjoyed looking through my old cookery books and finding old favourites and some new ones to try. One thing is for sure, that I have enough recipes to keep me going until the apple season finishes. In my art class I have been drawing apples too.

Beech Woods

The beech woods have not started shedding their leaves yet, and the foliage is still green. It can't be long before they get their autumn colours and leave a carpet of golden brown.

 

Fabric of Britain-The Wonder of Embroidery

My inspiration this week comes from the Fabric of Britain programme shown on BBC Four last night. Part of the series Handmade in Britain  which is run in conjunction with the V & A , last night's episode, The Wonder of Embroidery gave a history of  British embroidery. You can find the programme link here. 

Tag Tuesday-Beads, Buttons and Bows

Our theme for Tag Tuesday this week is Beads, Buttons and Bows.

I liked the subject Beads, Buttons and Bows, but couldn't decide how to make my tag, so I spent a lot of time thinking about it! What came to mind was my mother's button box and how much I loved to play with it. I used to take out the buttons and sort them, looking at the shapes and colours and running them through my fingers. This is what I have tried to capture in my tag.

I took a photo of part of my button collection and attached some buttons to the print. to finish I added a bow. I photographed it on a lacy cardigan as it seemed to set it off well.