A Successful Workshop

Even if I say so myself! Had a wondeful time with 11 members of the Skye Quilters group, most of whom came to get out of their comfort zone & free themselves up a bit. I know this because they said things like "this is the kind of thing I'd never think of doing" or "I'm really out of my comfort zone" & "this is much better than I thought it would be" Well, I can't ask for better than that. Before I show you their work I'll put up a pic of what I did - I didn't think I'd be able to get much done so I'd decided to make a small square, 6" 1/2,  which will sit nicely on a cushion cover.

cushion cover clematis

 Jenny's peonies

 Becky's bluebells

 Ann's tulips

 Shirley's spikey blueflower

 Lin's sweet peas

 Janet's hand stitch

 Peta's lysmachia

 Liz's spring meadow

 Irene C's lillies

 Barbara's geraniums

 Irene O's pink flowers

All the work together

 a little inspiration pack of ripped strips

 an inspiration table

The view on the way home

a classic

I did a craft fair yesterday & even tho it was a lovley if breezy day there was hardly anybody about. So breezy in fact that just as we'd decided to pack up early the 3 sided marquee blew away, I mean right across the green. The 'feet' must have glanced over my hand leaving  small bruises below my thumb & on my wrist - no lasting damage, a bit stiff today but wow, could have knocked me out! I felt a bit shaky & packed up in 3 seconds flat! 

The one thing that must have blown away was a little piece I'd been stitching for a card for the DH.......30 years together yesterday.   I mean, 30 years since our first kiss & never a glance in another direction! I could get quite emotional here ;)

Note the 'pearl' buttons (only one caught the light) Anyway, I stitched another one, maybe the other will turn up.

the DH's card to me - does this mean he wants all those 30 years again????

Starting a countdown & a giveaway win

It's 3 weeks on Monday till our exhibition! I can't quite get my head round it, not till after giving the workshop on Tuesday for Skye Quilters anyway. I've been slowly sorting things out for the day but then inspired by the Skyeworks Gallery having some cards last week & wanting some more already ;) & the 2nd monthly craft fair at Dornie on Friday (very quiet) I made 100 cards this week. Not all from scratch, just some of them. Others were laying around waiting to be processed. So process them I did ;)

                                                                   

          You may have seen some of these designs already & having thought of the logistics of taking a pic of a pile of 100 cards I decided to get on with scanning them, for the wesite really; we're revamping it a bit. Anyway, with nearly a 1/4 of them going off to the gallery, another 1/4 an  order - lots of hearts, the 3rd 1/4 being put aside towards yet another order I only have the last 1/4 for myself......

 so I need to make some more ;)

I'm still 'on holiday' so I'll be cleaning up some frames - one or 2 pics got a bit mould dusty leaning against the outside wall in the studio over the wettest winter we've had in a long time - this winter I'll be taking them in to the house or I'll invest in a de-humidifier! I'll also be framing up a few of the pieces not quite finished, the usual ;) Sorting promotion, invites... At least I've done it before!

The Middlest is home tonight after his first month at sea. Cadets seem to be given the worst jobs but isn't that the same everywhere? Someone's got to do it! He's off again in 3 or so weeks for 2 months this time. All good experience.













Last but not least I won a giveaway from Alex at Under a Topaz Sky  

 Wonderfully wrapped

I couldn't believe that I won somethong so like 'me' - rust dyeing, rusty washers & turquoise 'beads' all held together with fabulous stitching.

 'Along the Turquoise path'

It's a beautiful piece, with a lovely calming movement to it. It's on my mantlepiece to enjoy, the terracotta walls setting it off beautifully. Thank you Alex, I just love it!

even the lovely wrapping is a gift ;)

The layout you see here is NOTHING like I've carefully arranged on my post; if it aint broke, don't fix it, I say ;(


 Wish me luck for Tuesday!

Another lovely week & I'm on Holiday!

Another beautiful week has just gone by, with a little bit of rain here & there otherwise lovely blue skys. Still no more Swallows but lots of Cuckoos. I've even managed to sew some broad beans & altho they'll be late I'll still have some ;) I was givena couple of tiny spare tomato & mange tout plants & found some self seeded rocket from last yr so the greenhouse is filling up (!)


We had  friends staying for a few days, their first visit here. Old friends, - we've known them since '76 as we were all in Oxford, the DH earlier as he went to school  with him. I knew him & therefore her when he was in a band; she & I  were long term groupies,  I guess we still are! Having friends up gives us the opportunity to be 'tourists' so we did the boat trip thing over to Loch Coruisk which is set in the Cuillin Hills.

On a creative note I was worried that as it was 4 days of talking eating making merry & travelling about the place, I wouldn't have time to make anything this week, but of course there's no reason why I couldn't produce a few photographs, mount them & put them in the studio, I've done it before! so the first 4 pics are my chosen ones, the rest are pics of the trip but don't feel you have to stay till the bitter end!

Arriving at Elgol Pier

 



You get to see the seals (Common Seal) on the way, last time we saw a Sea eagle & you get great banter from the Captain. We've always done the trip where you get dropped off for 1 1/2 hrs, run round a bit, eat a quick picnic & then hop back on the boat for a delicious hot chocolate & a bumpy (because the wind's picked up!) ride back to the pier.

You also see Cormorants

& islands; Eigg & Rum

Here's Eigg again viewed over what we call the vanishing pool, the river flowing from the lock into the sea.

This time we decided to walk round the lock, warning our friends who don't do a lot of walking that it would take about 5 hrs, they said fine......This is the start.

Intriguing rock fromation 1/4 way round & more of the hills coming into view

Reflections

Sundew & Violets

the odd sculpture

Half way round looking back

 Looking  up into the sun

Tam loving it!

 Arty rocks

 Last but not least, while the boys reminised over loud music each evening, mainly the favoured Motown we girls stitched our tapestries. I hadn't done mine in years, but it's actually where I started, way back when, thanks to my mum teaching me the stitches.

I may yet do some more ;)