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!

It's been a much better week

Thanks to you all for such kind & sympathetic words last week, much appreciated.I've had a productive week, not least being the fact that I went swimming for the first time in years, walking out of my front door, down onto the shore & into the extremely baltic water ;) I had an audience of my disbelieving but impressed DH & the Youngest - I just knew he was thinking 'go Mum!' So I did. Actual gasping spluttering breaststroke until I was distracted (as if having my buns frozen off wasn't enough) by the purple flowers in the grass under the water. (not sure what they're called)

The tide was right up so I walked in over grass

& didn't even mind the feel of thas plantain tickling my legs (as a child I had a fear of swimming over reeds - didn't mind the leeches!)

You can hardly tell I'm shooting thru water but for the rippling mosaic effect here. Another lovely purple plant I don't know the name of. I've got to say I felt exhilarated, freezing & exhausted, after at least, oh, 10 mins of photos & breastroke (not at the same time ! ;) The youngest said the cold does that to you. Can't believe I've wasted such a resourse on my doorstep for so long - when I tried it before it was like a thousand knife points digging into my legs. Well, it still is but I felt the knives & did it anyway - inspired by our B&B guest, thank you Eva!

So this weeks hanging

Photographed in low daylight the terracotta looks a little intense (but you get the idea ;) My interpretation of Yarrow at the top, then Astrantia & a rambling rector rose at the bottom which is frighteningly realistic! See last weeks photo.

I haven't mounted or twigged it yet, instead I worked on another white flower hanging

The 'lighting' has gone a little haywire here, too - the top flowers are meant to be a lacecap hydrangea, I used undyed silk & they've come out half grey & half burnt out - they're somewhere in between those 2 colors.

 Then comes  little spikes of heuchera, dotted here & there, (ok, that's a white background)

then an umbellifer (or is it compositacea now (sp)?! It's like queen ann's lace but it chunkier than that, in the hedgerow, with purple pink stems - I should really look it up but my ice cream's melting & all those French knots have done me in!

 Hmm, this might not be the pink stemmed one, oh well. Anyway, not too happy with the fact it looks a little like a blown over stylised tree...At the bottom are some hebe, little white bottle brushes!

The 3 'white' hangings  look good together but I may go back to some color next week & I'll get on with the beads & twiggy bits. And another orange pink & purple one - today I sold the first one I did ;)

Welcome to my new followers, please add a link so I can visit & I'll come by after work tomorrow, hopefully, to those who have a link.

I nearly forgot to say I had a lovely surprise visit from Aileen at Aileen Clarke Crafts on Friday, on her & her family's way to Harris. She was very encouraging about my new work, seeing it in person & showed me her new Moo business cards & greetings cards, saying how well  some of my pieces would make good cards. It's on my very long list of things to do for the show, less than 5 weeks, so it was great to have her gently nudging me along.

Happy Mother's Day!

I've had a lovely day, hug from youngest & chocolates ;) phone call from eldest - don't think middlest knows it's mothers day, don't mind at all as I saw him "last active 12 hours ago"commenting on someones facebook. Not exactly a relaxing day, but that's fine - went to a party last night, not that late as we had lovely B&B guests, a couple of visitors in the studio & once again trying to come up with a finished collage. I had an idea in the back of my mind I'd watch a film - didn't get into the garden as it's been sunshine for 5 mins followed by hail or rain & a bit breezy to feel comfortable in the greenhouse! I did get my sweet peas & tomatoes sewn earlier!) I don't understand people who say Sundays drag!

Sent this to my Mum, she loved it. I'd covered the 'relief' stitched petals with some plastic & masking tape so it wouldn't get squashed & I added a note asking Dad to remove it for her...in case they thought it was part of the design ;) !

sample 1

Sample 2

sample 3

Idid a little hydrangea sketch but forgot to photgraph it. I seem to throw little samples together with abandon, they're only 4" x 3" or so & I love zooming around with stitching adding a bit here & there, using recycled fabrics,(shiny blue this week) newspaper 'drop cloth', painted papers from my pile, & skelatalized & pressed hydrangea petals/bracts from the garden. 

When it comes to 'the real thing' I sort of sieze up & don't let myself relax enough playing with different selections of paper & fabric. Next time I'll pretend to myself I don't care, that they're really samples... Above is the start of one collage about 10" x 4"

& the start of another one. I will get there. I think all the work in the studio has taken more time than I thought - I have almost a wall full of hung & mounted stuff & feel pretty good about that & a card order to get on with.

Hope you all had a great day, too, now I will go & watch that film.