4,708 Miles West

Today I got down on my knees in the vegetable patch and searched for signs of life… I found microscopic beetroots and tiny spinach seedlings. It’ll be a long time before a meal can be made from that crop! We had a lovely evening walk and came across a woodpecker’s nest full of screeching babies, some tiny pink flowers I’d never seen before (must look them up) and a gamekeeper who invited me to his wedding.

I’m enjoying just randomly doodling in my sketchbook at the moment. The green cow parsley and flowers are a heat transfer sketch for a t-shirt and the page also includes fabric collage and stitch as well as bits of a map of Canada.The bear is a quick sketch of brown bear from Berlin Zoo which I saw on TinyHappy earlier in the week. ( I’m not sure how I feel about zoos though, bears need to be free I think)

Time to head up the apples and pears now and read a bit more of “Atonement”.Don’t forget its CCAD’s degree shows (including Textiles and Surface Design at Hartlepool) next week; opening night is the 4th of June.

Music To Fall Off The Floor To

Today the postman came and left my parcel in the coal house so I’ve only just found it -”Textile Designers At The Cutting Edge” by Bradley Quinn. Looks like it will be full of inspiration but I’ve only had a quick browse so far as I’ve been busy sewing and thinking and listening to Imani Coppola on repeat the entire day.

My work went off to be framed yesterday and should be ready in time for the Embroiderer’s Guild exhibition in York next month.I’m looking forward to seeing how it looks, surely better than just being stuck on a bit of ticket card.

Its crazy windy up here, the mini heat wave ended as soon as I was set free from the Golden Lion, typical.So, no temptation to be lazing in the noonday sun, in fact I’m about to tune up the old mandolin and see if I can learn one of those Kristen Hersh songs…watch out for the sound of glass cracking and ears bleeding!

Listening to: Imani Coppola “Chupacabra” and Kristen Hersh “Hips and Makers” ( almost obsessively, well actually no almost about it!)

Reading “Atonement” Ian McEwen

“Meek Bears”

I’ve been feeling a bit sorry for myself, just a little bit of a cold but what with all the rain and everything…everything seems to be soggy, including me! Last night I sat on my doorstep for ages listening to the eerie music made by rain dripping into various watering cans and buckets (maybe I’ve caught a Jane Austin style chill!?).Although it was midnight and I should have gone to bed,I ended up doodling in my sketchbook and then playing with the results in Photoshop.I’m going to print the design onto some fabric in a moment.

So, as I look out of the window, I’m loving the way the big Oak tree has finally burst into leaf, bright lime green and black against a leaden sky, the hills in the distance are Payne’s Grey- what a colour scheme.

Time to get printing and do a bit more to that jacket.meanwhile, here is a link to the website of a local glass artist ,Desiree Hope,whose gallery my children visited the other week.Beautiful things.

Flying Bears

I just had to show you these flying bears! They’re made by Etsy seller Ememem and the special thing about the little needle felted bears she makes is the story that introduces each one. Go on have a look!

So you can see my obsession with bears has not yet subsided.In fact I’m going to do some more drawings this afternoon…the morning ( ok, early afternoon ) was wasted because my car had (and failed) its MOT.

Anyway, just a quick one today. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to show you the finished baby jacket…

Monster

I’m really enjoying working on this little jacket ,now that I’ve started stitching into it and just playing,instead of worrying about trends and the mass market. I wonder if I can borrow a baby to model it when I get it finished!?

Today I’ve been a domestic goddess, making rhubarb jam and starting some bread off, filling in my tax return and attempting to draw some bluebells as well as updating my C.V. The updating was due to a call I got this morning from Protocol National asking if I was interested in applying for some art and design teaching jobs.Anyway,there’s no harm in trying…

So, although I’ve been busy busy busy, (and still not quite managing to get on top of things) I’m struggling to find much to talk about tonight. Time for a drop more coffee and some more sewing.Perhaps this monster that Jake made will give me some inspiration and encouragement! Isn’t he great.

Hopefully the books I ordered will arrive soon, (“Textile Designers at the Cutting Edge” Bradley Quinn and “Moominpappa at Sea” Tove Jansson) I’m desperate for more Moomin stories ; why have I only just discovered them?

Through the Round Window

The other day I stood in the willow house and took this picture looking out towards Arden Moor. Every year I intend to line it with fabric and make a waterproof floor so that I can sleep out there, but never seem to get around to it.The last few summers have been so wet but maybe this one will be perfect sleeping outdoors weather.

Today I managed to get to the Post Office and send off the last two designs from the group that has been haunting my kitchen for three months. It feels fantastic to be free of them! I’m pleased that I actually started and finished a design in the same day.( did I mention that ideally I should be producing at least 6 per week…and then actually selling them!!)

This afternoon I made an experimental sample for a baby jacket using wool voltaire and heat transfer. Its not bad for a first attempt at actual garment making but I do need to practice! I’ve also added a bit more to my red bear as well, its turning into a doodle project…no pressure, just for fun.

Well, I’ve been busy and it feels good. I must go now because there’s a storm and I don’t want the lightning to come down the phone wires! Here’s a link I meant to post before, its the blog for SmallMagazine…good inspiration for anything creative to do with kids.

“Waking the Witch”

Detail of "Lonely Hearts" Dress

“April is the cruelest month”and so it was; but all of a sudden it’s May.

Since I last wrote  the hedgerows have come alive with cow parsley,wild garlic and red campion. The woods are full of bluebells and the apple tree that I grew from a pip and planted here nine years ago has got it’s first blossom ( maybe in another nine years I’ll be able to enter the Osmotherley Cider Competition!).

I’ve almost finished the group of designs I started in March, which is pretty disgraceful but sometimes you just have to take things slowly and admit that you can’t do it all. I’m looking forward to a fresh start with a new group and also planning to frame some pieces for the York Embroiderer’s Guild exhibition at the Guildhall, York ( June 26-28).The CCAD degree show is in Hartlepool on June 4th (?) so I’ll be going to take a look at my future competition!! This time last year was so exciting…hand in dates, degree show, New Designers. Looking back on a year since graduation I’m making a resolution now to make some time for my own work .Pressure to be commercial in order to make money has left me feeling a bit creatively bankrupt.

Red Bear Returns! Work in progress

Now I must put the kettle on and get this final design done so I can post it tomorrow.