“…In another life when we are both cats.”

A beautiful autumn day today, berries and yellowing greens. I feel as though I’ve been sitting here forever watching the big oak tree go through it’s changes; skeleton to spring green, and now just starting to turn golden round the edges.How fast it all seems to have wizzed by.

My friend Jane just called by on her way back from delivering mosaics to the Saltbox, apparently my magpie and owl are up on the walls there .So, goodness, I actually have work in a gallery! The exhibition runs until November so if you’re in the Helmsley area go and have a look (closed Mondays though).

These images are of a piece I’ve been reworking, intending to get framed for the exhibition.This morning my model “Toast” was sunbathing on the garden table, making the most of the last days of summer.

Events this weekend : Designer’s Marketplace is at The Loft in Leeds this Saturday. These events are really taking off and getting lots of good publicity from Tigerprint , PrintandPattern etc.

“The Printed Image” Opens on Friday and runs until October 23rd at the Zillah Bell Gallery, Thirsk.

2009 Degree Show

Since I last wrote I have been to Hartlepool twice to see the Degree Shows at CCAD. The opening night was very busy and brought back all sorts of memories from last year. It was lovely to see some familiar faces and catch up with people a little bit, as well as seeing the end result of all the hard work I’ve been reading about on various blogs.An instant favorite was Holly Flanagan’s amazing dresses, featuring bold prints and jewel like embroidered neck-pieces.The embroidery was so original and fresh, very inspiring. I think she is entering the Hand and Lock Competition this year so I’d like to wish her good luck.

I’ve been working on some new designs and found out I’d sold a piece in Japan which is good news amongst the gloom of a wet June day. I’ve also been making a few little bits and pieces to take to York for the Embroiderer’s Guild exhibition.I’m not sure if I’ll be allowed to sell stuff but I need to fill the table anyway.Its a shame the exhibition clashes with the next Designer’s Marketplace in Middlesbrough on the 28th.

Now, time to reheat the coffee and finish some sewing. I just finished my last  (and decidedly weirdest) Moomin book, “Moominpappa at Sea”, and have that horrible feeling you get when you finish a book and feel a bit bereft!

Books

Today I went looking for that Moomin book I said I was saving for a special occasion ; needing to escape a little from the here and now. So I went into town and bought books and Vogue Bambini ( for research) and embroidery thread. As I left the bookshop I heard this …a man, with a small boy of about 2 or 3 who wanted to go in to the bookshop, said ” you don’t want to go in there, it’s only full of books” ….my heart sank even further than it was already. Sometimes a good book is the only thing that saves me. I can’t imagine a childhood without books or stories…poor kid.

Well I posted some designs today so that means I can spend tonight doing something to put on Etsy, before starting another group of six. Today’s picture is a sketchbook page, I really must start using it more.

Time to light the fire now and snuggle down with my reading.

(Oh, don’t forget, if you’re in Newcastle this Saturday, Designers Marketplace is holding it’s latest event at the university there; actually, I might get the train up since the weekend is looking pretty empty so far!)

Keeping The Wolf From The Door

I went for a trawl around the charity shops today in search of interesting fabric and desperate for a book ( having read all but two Moomin books …the last two being saved for an emotional emergency as they are hot chocolate for my soul!) I found these beautiful old books with weird and obscure titles. Too expensive for my pocket money but aren’t the covers gorgeous? I love the faded colours on “Dick’s Dog” and the sailing boat… no sign of a dog though.

I came home with Inspector Morse ( not literally unfortunately!) and a handful of buttons and belt buckles which was all they’d let me take from a button tin I was hoping to buy and rummage through. I love old button boxes- they always smell funny and generally have one or two treasures hidden at the bottom.

I’m still making my little note books, the picture above is the latest, using a design I’ve showed you before, but this time printed on cotton and embroidered. At the moment I’m all over the place and not at all focused so I think I need to stick to one idea at a time , maybe books on Mondays, New Leaf Tuesdays etc.

I just got a couple of e-mails , one from Leanne Hodgson, mentioning a new blog for the “Venitia Red ” label .”Venitia Red” is a really interesting idea; a fashion label supporting new graduates and run as a community project. The other was a newsletter from Selvedge magazine which included a big advert for Helen Stevenson’s “Designers Marketplace”. The next event is in Newcastle on March 28th and should be well worth a visit.

Reading: Inspector Morse Omnibus by Colin Dexter

Listening to: Last Night a DJ Saved My Life