Thru the tunnel & out the other side!

What a fabulous 2 weeks it's been in Plockton. I'm so glad I made all that effort over the last 9 months - my menopausal baby! Wonderful too were all the encouraging comments I've had from my blog buddies, thank you & welcome to my new followers ;) I got some lovely comments in my book at the show which I shall bring out often when I need a  little ego stroking ;) I really don't have time to write all the lovely words out here! (he he) I only sold one piece in the second week but with all the cards & textile jewellery & the combination of the 2 weeks I will definitely do this again. I'm thinking one week in June & one week in September & my DH might join me this time! - not sure if I can have the same as my  first September week next year, we'll see. Apart from the huge ego boost, it has given me the impetus to carry on making a body of work; that's what I do!

brought home this vase from the exhibition

The Loch Carron Quilters were next door to me in the main hall for 2 days - no pics, didn't think to take my camera ;(  Lovely neat work. I was asked by Jennifer Lewis of Skye Quilt Studio who was also there representing the Isle of Skye Quilters if I was interested in giving a workshop in the new year based on my textile 'strip' hangings. I was a little worried about talking/showing to a group who quilt so neatly but another member came by who said she'd be very interested. So that's good! Jennifer sells fat 1/4s but most importantly for me, the perfect gold machine thread so I never need to run out again!

the above came from this blurry shrub - no light this morning at all! Ostiospermum still out despite the hoolie blowing. We;ve had some rain this week!

No actual collage this week, just a thought that I'd use the polystyrene sandwich box as a printing plate to carve into an image of the beautiful old boat  that I could see from the window I looked out of when I was grabbing a bite to eat in the gallery/hall. Gave me a change of view from looking into the room at the stream of potential customers ;) As I'd forgotten my camera I asked a Plockton gardening buddy to take one for me.

My day off last Sunday was spent in lovely if breezy sunshine walking into Blaven on the way into Elgol. Or Bla Bheinn as it should be spelt.

the summit is the left hand lump, the furthest away one,  of the 2 middle ones which you can't see when you're closer

 We, my SIL & I only got to a thousand of the 3 thousand feet but it was just an amble, trying to keep up with the DH & his 85 yr old uncle!

looking back

I may go back up with a little training behind me, once Tam & I have lost the muffin top round our middles from zilch excersise & chocolate, for me, probably every day for the last 3 months when I've been keeping my head down & going for it. My version of  'mother's little helper' & it did help but while writing this I've eaten my last bit till the boxes come out 3rd week in December! No more, from now on my body is my temple!

got a little bit of vertigo taking this above!

path up to the left then you're in a gorge

swinging the camera round to the right

a close up view, sort of a relief after all those big spaces!

A world wide invitation to the worlds biggest coffee morning

Oh how I wish you could have all come from all corners of the earth. I know you'd have been there in spirit!

My Solo Exhibition Invite/flyer. We've been wasting time trying to convert from a word doc which wouldn't upload, to a pdf file which was 'rejected by server' & having thought you could transfer anything to anywhere within a computer I said to myself 'just photograph the thing!' Even tho I lined up the grid in the camera it's still skew, oh well.

I've had a fabulous week, sold the equivelent of a piece a day, so I'm delighted. An artist friend said galleries expect to sell a third so I've only got 10 more to go - we'll see what next week brings!

Videos, my first! They'll make you a little sea sick ;)

First section

2nd section

3rd section

4th section

At some point I thought the frame would be filled better potrait, so turned the camers- had no idea you'd have to lie down to see it! Also, no idea whether the page or individual videos will open, hope it works ;)   (well, it seems to for me!)

No collage this week, not surprisingly but I've made a couple of cuffs & sold them so made a couple more & some cards. I forgot to take a pic of the card & cuff table. I also forgot to show the table of amazing cake & nibbles my friend Jo made for the coffee morning/opening, so grateful & tasted delicious!

Looking forward to this next week, thanks for all your good wishes!

I'm hung!

What a great day! The hanging of my work went really well, very relaxing, unbelievably ;) My DH was a brilliant help with the calico backing I borrowed to cover the darkish hessian...only I forgot (didn't think!) to iron it first so I might run over it in situ tomorrow....! The work looks so clean & crisp (& GOOD!) against it, who will notice? I'm hoping to do a short video tomorrow (before everything sells ;) & then the youngest will help me upload next w/e. I really can't believe I'm finally here, hung & about to spend 6 days surrounded by my hard work but available to stitch, make cards or just read (& hopefully talk to visitors) for 7 hours a day. No B&B, Work, housework, kids to deal with! Doing what I want to do, a holiday indeed. The biggest thanks goes to my DH for being there to do all these things for me & to him & a couple of art buddies encouraging me all along the way. It goes without saying that all my blog buddies have been so supportive during my journey (oh, is there another way of saying that over used word?! I'll have to get my Thesaurus out ;)

This week I made an experiment which may turn into something, not sure. I've wanted to make a transparent hanging which would hang against a window, inspired by Julia Capara & Cas Holmes, for ages. I used the diluted pva method but it still turned out too stiff, altho I did enjoy slip sliding across the piece - not sure if the machine did tho. Next time I may try fusing with bondaweb - I love that word fusing ;)

The dreaded flash had to come out, blowing another hoolie today so no light & worse to come tomorrow - I hope I can get over the bridge!

Anyway!

Front, just gold stitching


 

Back, terrracotta in the bobbin. Challenging having to think about both sides of the piece.  I may turn it over & get gold on the terracotta & vice versa. I think it's interesting the way the image bled, the black turned into a stunning sea blue color but it wouldn't be considered  technically proficient (by whom, I say!)

& here's a 'you get the idea' fuzzy, up against the window, trying to be see thru with no light, one.

I'll keep trying!

I'm going to relax in front of tv & the fire, feeling very satisfied with myself, altho I'll probably watch some 9/11 anniversary things. The stories you hear about people who for some reason missed being in the wrong place at the wrong time, they're heartening stories but I'll spare a thought for those who were in the wrong place.

One week & counting!

Quick post today as I'm already 'late' with it & off to work in 45 mins, then at 10pm tonight I'm on holiday! So I'll have nearly 3 weeks to fit in all the hundreds of little jobs to do before a show & then sit quietly (!) for 12 days enjoying all my hard work & hoping others do to. I'm sure it'll be  fine. Thanks SO MUCH for all your kind & supportive words, much appreciated. The Sunday in between the 'gallery' is closed so I get to spend some time with my uncle & sister in law who are up for their anual visit.

Took the DH along to see the hanging space & he too thought there were many more pics than there were (& was relieved that i have enough) of artist Sian Armstrong, no link, I don't think. She paints sheep & trees, lovely & she's been so helpful to me. Had a walk about the lovely little place.

A sweet village made very popular by 'Hamish Macbeth' & Robert Carlyle.

must watch some reruns.

Didn't think i'd be able to make a collage, oh no, failure! But the DH needed the shared table cleared to do some D ringing & stringing of frames etc & as i cleared I liked the mixture of golds neutrals & blues so I stuck them together & stitched a bit & rubbed over it with a gold wax stick. I still had some of these bits so I did more sticking stitching & rubbing with the intention of cutting it in half for either side of the first piece. I quite like it, my first 'spare! About 12" x 4"

I will find time & head space to visit everybody, I miss you guys!

What will I do afterwards, I was asked, well, there's a question ;)