Late in the day

I'll be brief as I've left it late in the day ;) Brief, moi?

College stuff first. After struggling with scratching/sketching on perspex I found mono printing with watercolor very relaxing. Now I want my very own set of watercolors....as if there's room in my studio for more! (but I need them)

  a poppy field but a little washed out

 second pull, more impressionistic, like this one ;)

 My attempt at abstract, hmmm. Difficult to get the paper damp enough & the paints not too wet!

Below is a drawing on slate found on the shore using an awl, much easier! Teach reminded me I might be able to take a print, of course - I was just excited about being able to make a mark ;) Might etch a little deeper tho - it's not as feint as it looks here. I'll practice the watercolor monoprinting, it was fun to do.

 Above is part of my registration sheet & some card used for wiping ink onto the etching plates must have got stuck on to the back of it. What fabulous marks have soaked thru! It's gone into my sketchbook for now but will probably be the first found mark in my marks book..when I've made it ;)

The results from last week - why does the program I use for cropping sometimes make them blurred? 3 angles of the cuff 

below 2 little 3 x 1" snippets I'm keeping for a rainy day

 2 even smaller patches  I made from collecting from around my desk...for my shoes! (remember those?

 one side of the purse - Day

the other side, evening ;) A button made from one of the corners

A sample piece - good thing I'm practicing; a wonky organza moon & a pretty strangulated heron - doesn't help if you can't see the drawing you've made on the back to stitch from & the DH said my trees are like seaweed..very good seaweed!

 Looks a little like an African mask, earthy colors even tho it's meant to be evening sky with sunset...

The book turned out ok, about 4 or 5 " by 6 or 7". I may make tassles for the ends of the cord - see they're wrapped around the second 'corner' button. It'll be better when I've stitched some pages in ;)

Pleased with the brooches, they're abut 1 1/2 by 1 1/2

 & some cards, about the same as the brooches but not tidied up, sort of a colorful Boro look (now there's another idea - using the needle felting machine gives a lovely disintegrated, old patched feel, what else could I make, I wonder?)  I don't normally hand stitch on cards but I had a coffee with my textile buddy & I stitched as we chatted. I'm enjoying this new found relaxing embroidery time, either while having a chat or watching East Enders...as long as I don't get in a tangle, can find my scissors, can see properly & the dog doesn't lay on my threads. Work is still progressing on the actual hangings......so much easier to do the smaller functional things. There, finished!