Texture Book Part 3

I know I promised to have a giveaway for my Birthday which was at the beginning of the month. Well I am soooooo sorry I have not offered the texture book yet - it's because I have now made 4 small ones and have sold each one just as I finished it!! Great for me but not for you!! I have also been asked to offer the process as a new workshop for a guild so I am in the process of creating a flyer... The photo on the flyer is my latest small book.

As soon as I get a chance to create another one I will have my giveaway.

A BRILLIANT EXHIBITION

I have just come back from an exhibition at the Katharine Lady Berkeley's School, in Goucestershire - I was invited to the Private viewing of the A level Textile,Fine Art and Graphic Art show. I was interested in the Textiles in particular - but all of the show was brilliant. I took lots of photos but would like to share just a few with you here.

What is my connection to the school, why was I invited to the private viewing - you may ask - well I have been corresponding with a student called Anna Pasco. Anna chose to study me as one of her textile influences for her A'level Textiles. She has asked some very sensible questions and can you imagine my surprise as I walked into the show - right by the door I saw this.....Isn't it brilliant !! Anna has really analysed my coffee grid and tea bag works to create this lovely dress. What I found particularly fantastic is Anna's technical skill at free machining text on the tea bags which make up the bodice !! This is an impressive talent! The text is from the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. WELL DONE ANNA !!! This dress was only part of the work Anna has done - her sketch books were over flowing with technical samples and creative imagery.
Of course all the students have produced some stunning work, hence my spending 2 hours working my way through sketch books. Here are just a few pieces I really liked - I hope I get the correct names to items... (sorry if I don't) This bodice was by Heledd Chaloner - this next piece is free machined by an AS student - Lauren Eyers - great skill ! A wonderful ink pen sketch by Charlotte Pearce - Charlotte took all three art subjects - Fine Art, Graphic Art and Textiles for her A'levels !!

And Emily Kettle another AS student's purple dress.

Very Well done to all the students at Katharine Lady Berkeley's School !! I hope to be invited to visit the show every year - the work is well worth seeing. I must also mention Mrs Ferraby - the Textile's teacher - it's thanks to her that these girls produce such stunning creative work, with such technical skill (the bodices are all fully boned - not easy to teach or do!!).

By the way the show is open to the public for the next few days if you are interested I would definitely recommend a visit!

More Birthday ATCs and my garden

Five more Birthday ATC's have arrived from...

Marga..Cindy.. Norma.. (pic is a bit dark of the ATC from Norma so here it is again....)Jonita (sorry if I have spelt your name wrong) and Joanie - THANKS TO ALL
What's going on in my garden?? - The giant Poppies are starting to flower and the courgettes are almost ready for picking - this container veg gardening is ok

Paper Culture and National Botanic Gardens PART 2

As promised photos from yesterday - Now I have put the photos on my PC I have realised when yesterday I said I took over 120 photos - its turns out to be actually 210 !! I must admit some of my pictures are awesome - for once the close ups have come out really well!! Here is a shot of the exhibition - the main reason for the visit - to see close ups you will have to go there yourself!!! The Gardens..... I love Hostas and the onion family...in the topic house....and look at this orchid..... close up and black flowers - just love black flowers and love seed pods - when the flowers have finished their bit... or huge flowers (huge means huge this is about 8 - 10 inches across) or the 8 inch bud.. I have many more beautiful pics - I will visit the Botanic gardens again - perhaps in the autumn. or if there is another good exhibition.

Paper Culture and the National Botanic Gardens of Wales

I have only had 4 hours sleep and driven over 450 miles in the last two days!!!! For those in the UK - I have done the M4 from end to end twice!! I live approximately in the middle of the motorway. Firstly yesterday I drove to London to help my daughter move house (yet again!!) - that was an early start up at 5am to beat the traffic on the M25 and to get her moved in a day. Home very late - exhausted, only to get up early again today to drive in the other direction into Wales (110 miles in that direction!!) to see an exhibition called Paper Culture at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales. The exhibition is by two artists - Sue Evans and Anita Bowyer. Sue makes the most delicious dresses out of paper - thanks to Julie M for the info on this!!!!! The weather was just perfect today for spending the whole day in the Gardens and boy are they stunning!! I have taken over 120 photos just today!! There are some truly amazing plants. Both the exhibition and the gardens are definitely well worth a visit.

Link here for the gardens: http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/
and here for more details of the exhibition: http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/en/133.html

I am too exhausted to post any pics now - but tomorrow when I have uploaded them from my camera I will post some of the more exotic plants and a couple of shots of the exhibition.

Hair and Poppies

I don't like my photo being taken - and as I am alone it is not easy to take your own photo (thankfully) BUT I wanted to show you the hair colour.... This is the tissue I used to wipe the edge of the bottle of dye - a lovely deep plum colour!! On my hair however it looks much more red ....Close Up.... I think next time I will go to the hairdresser - this is a little too even all over - nevertheless I am happy with the shine it has in the sun!!
In the garden I have these poppies - they are now over 2 feet tall and look at the buds.... Can't wait for them to open.

Still Here and More ATC's

Yes I am still around - only I have been busy and it seems like I only post here once a week - right now I think that may be enough. What have I done today so far??? Been for my walk - it now ranges between 1/2 and 1 hour and I love it - lost 6 pounds in 6 weeks - I know that may not sound a lot (I don't really have a lot to lose - only 5 stone!) but I have been told slow and sure will keep it off. After my walk I cleaned the house, did the laundry and cut the lawns. It's only 11 am !! Yes I was up early. When I have finished writing here I am off to dye my hair Plum, have a shower and then get out into the remainder of the sunny weather to hand stitch my little giveaway book.

In the meantime here are the next bunch of Birthday ATC's I have received...
Firstly from Sheila - my kind of texture - lovely... Gold tissue enclosed a flower ATC and pretty heart from Lynne. A pretty card, lovely ATC and some fibres (which are just the colour I need for my book) from Sharon. A piece of fabric and an interesting paper ATC from Dove - the back of the ATC is also interesting (sorry forgot to take a pic). From Wil came this card - is that Origami ? and an interesting Heart ATC. Joy sent this card, postcard - is this where you live?? If so it's lovely (Green with envy!!) a pretty ATC and some interesting fibre - again useful for my latest book. Last but by no means least is this pretty pink ATC and cute Elephant Card from Pauline. Thanks to all - these really brighten my day.
Off to dye the hair.!

Thanks

Thank you for all your good wishes for my Birthday - sorry I did not get round to posting anything else as promised - but (some people know I am a bit of a recluse - don't like a fuss) I had a busy evening - alone - I went grocery shopping!! Yep that's true ! Anyway on a less odd note I promised to show you the ATC's I have received. I belong to a lovely group of I think its 30 ladies - ATC birthday swap. We send each other ATC's during the month of the individual's birthday. (not explaining very well) Anyway as it is my birthday in June (the exact date is irrelevant for this group) I have so far received the following lovely ATC's - SO THANKS!!

First one came in this lovely little ' case' from Kathy

it contained a lovely ATC and a tiny little 'book /card'. The card is only about 1" big. Next a paper ATC from WendyA hand made envelope from Pippa which contained this delightful treasurethen a card, matchbook notebook and ATC from Aine. A card, skein of thread and lovely beaded ATC from NormaKate, who started this group, send a card and small package, when I un did the package lots of lovely extra bits fell out and I spent a few minutes picking up bits off the floor!!

Next an ATC from Julie. An ATC as part of the card from Ann Clare and the final one for now from Shasta. How lucky am I??
For my walk today I took a slightly different route - this was the view in one direction ... and in the other direction I walked through this field....

On another different topic - you know I mentioned the bud of my serracenia - well it has gone from this.... to this.....

That's all for now I ache all over as I have been gardening since I got back from this morning's early walk. Time to rest!! Tomorrow I will start making the mini book for my giveaway.

Happy Birthday to ME !!

I'm sorry I have not been around for a while but life has been busy. Just a quick note this morning - before I go off to work - to say today is my birthday (not quite a significant one - that is next year)! I have received some lovely cards, gifts and ATC's - when I get home tonight I will show you pictures.

For the moment I am planning a birthday giveaway - not made yet - but it will be a small version of my latest texture book - so keep reading over the next few days - OK it will be a bit late but the thought has been there for a while - just not the will to create!!

To all those of you who have sent me stuff a very, very big THANK YOU - Love you all!!
See you later.

PS - Linda if you are reading this - you said in your card you do - THANK YOU and I really, really miss you too - perhaps I could visit??