“The Return of the Native”

Rain, rain, rain.The beginning of September has brought an end to a fairly miserable summer for me, “things can only get better” ( touch wood)! The heather on the moor is almost finished and the leaves are slowly beginning to turn.

I started doing these designs for New Leaf but have decided to rework them as possible pieces for an exhibition in October, since although I love the dull colours I’m fairly sure they are not “on trend” for kids fashion.

So, this evening I’m hoping to do a bit of drawing, coffee drinking and being inspired by “men and sheds” ;instead I expect my thoughts will be with a certain airplane, making its way back from Canada…a little too early and a little too late.

Meanwhile, you just have time to head over to Louise Broomhead’s blog and leave a comment in order to win a set of her lovely cards.Another event you might be interested in is VenetiaRed’s “Dress to Impress and Destress” tomorrow night in Middlesbrough.(Details below)Unfortunately I won’t be able to de-stress as I’ll be at work more likely feeling distressed!

I also received an e-mail from Catherine Howard a designer maker and technician from CCAD who is starting a networking group for people working in the creative sector. The first meeting is on September 19th at the Ship Inn, Low Road, Middlestone, County Durham. DL14 8AB. Tel. 01388 810904.( contact Catherine if you want more details cjhoward01@hotmail.com)

Ok, thats enough free publicity! Back to the sketchbook.

Motivation Radio

These are some thoughts from Witchmountain, as the year comes nearly full circle and I’ve been writing for almost a year…

“When all else fails ” we must go and work in the garden” ( “Candide” Voltaire)

“( for if you’re not afraid how can you be really brave?)” ” The Exploits of Moominpapa” Tove Jansson.

So I just wanted to say…Good Luck to all those final year students at CCAD.Don’t stress too much over Easter!From what I’ve seen this looks like being a vintage year and I’m looking forward to the Degree show in June (?) although I’m a bit worried about the competition! Have a look at their blogs and see what you think.

( sorry if I missed some out, but follow the links on those pages for more CCAD talent!)

Anyway, these drawings are part of something I did in first year when we were asked to illustrate a song or poem using the techniques we had learned that year (collage, heat transfer, stencil, cutwork, stitch and watercolour, amongst others). The song was by John Martyn ( “Fern In The Spring” -I’m not sure if thats the official title…)and those in the know will understand why I chose to post it now.’Nuff said.

Take care everyone and by the way Louise Broomhead and Melissa at TinyHappy are both offering fantastic giveaways on their blogs so get there quick. I’m going to do something similar towards the end of the month to celebrate a year of Witchmountain ( just need to decide what to giveaway…)

Inspiration

Here are some lovely things I’ve been looking at, and getting inspired by… I’ve been painting my room and while shifting stuff around I came across this gorgeous green silk shawl that my dad gave me for my birthday years ago. It has three embroidered butterflies on it and very long tassels that get in a big knot, but it looks great hiding a pile of boxes; rich green against the “Mulberry” walls.Maybe I need to buy an iron though…!

Louise Broomhead, a freelance textile designer working for Gilbey & Cheyne,  kindly admired my degree show on her blog this week.I had a look at the slide show of her work and felt even more inspired to do a bit of stitching and drawing, Thank you Louise!( For copyright reasons I’ve removed the image of her work but you must take a look at her designs and cards which you can buy via the link on her blog)

Sorry about the quality of these pictures,at least they upload fairly quickly. I thought I should put a few stitchy pieces here since its all been getting a bit too flat and computer generated lately. The bird on the right is the original fabric sample that I’ve been working on reproducing on Illustrator and Photoshop.

Must be coffee time by now? And then I shall summon the energy to go and empty the paddling pool which has turned an unhealthy shade of green- a bit like that shawl!