It's amazing what a bit of retail therapy will do for you!

Had a lovely day in Inverness in the week getting a few essentials & I decided a new lippy & some pretty underwear would do the trick; they did! No, no photos! ;)

During my show I sat importantly behind a big table :) looking out over the room, with my work & stuff strewn all over it. For a change when I had something to eat, I sat on the other side, looking at a beautiful view of a small hill above a slip of water by a lovely overgrown garden. So tranquil. (at that moment, anyway!) Just in the water was an old boat that had been there since time began according to my Plockton gardening buddy Jill, who kindly took the photo for me when I kept leaving behind my camera.

There was another one nearby which wasn't as unique but I was drawn to the windmilly type thing on the right.

So, having thought I'd make a printing plate of this boat out of the village sandwich boxes I was deliciously collecting- well, I didn't have as much time as I thought -this week I finally made a little stitched textile piece instead.

Here's the sketch - I took it along to my arty buddy Janet & made the stamp of the windmill/fan thing.

I'd started machine stitching before I went & carried on by hand at her house - I can chat & stitch! Then I stamped a few times & as the ink didn't take on the organza, I stitched the shape in. Carried on at home - I was trying for the effect of 'distorted stitches' as mentioned in 'Stitch Dissolve Distort' by Val Campbell-Harding & Maggie Grey (pg 40/41 for those of you lucky enough to have this wonderful book that I'm revisiting slowly) The idea is to drag stitches about a bit, a case of experimenting. I don't have a program thing on my machine so can't 'invent' a stitch & keep it. Anyway, I'm just playing, enjoying coloring with oil pastel, & burning away some of the organza & a little bit of thread sketching! It may turn into a 'real' piece one day - my first boat.

The stamp of the fan looks like an arrow but I quite like that ;)

Had a great afternoon at Janet's - we started the Printmaking class together back in January which was postponed. She encouraged me to enter work into an exhibition at Strathpeffer Pavillion end of November & they accepted my work ;) & to put some CD case sized work into Inchmore gallery for early November so a bit of a focus going on! Thanks Janet!

The fog is starting to lift!

"I can see blue sky throught the tears in my eyes & I know, I'm going home" Probably miss quoted but does anybody recognise that? I know I'm home already but sometimes you can't see what's in front of your nose & need reminding. I'm feeling like the fog is starting to lift but it may be a while till I stop grumbling at everything! I've had some wonderfully supportive comments (when blogger allows - so frustrating!!!) & emails for which I'm truly grateful. I know I'm not alone but I guess there comes a point where you've just got to get on & deal with things, whether you feel like it or not. The DH has been great....just getting on with things, it's his way. Me, I yell & moan a bit....then eventually get on with it. Huh.

So all I was able to do last week was make backgrounds knowing I was going to cut them up for cards (I'd kind of let slip from my mind a couple of small card orders...) I waited till this morning for some pics as I keep running out of light in the day (oh for a daylight studio!) & now it's black sky or blinding sunshine!! so excuse the lack of quality in these photos ;)

Gesso on an old calendar page 'drawn' into, scrbbled on with watersoluable crayons when dry, dissolved  a bit, cut up & edged with gold leaf pen

Oh, crooked, too - no time for photoshop!

Strips, stitched down, cut into strips across the top, stitched down, random stitching all about,  cut into 1/4's stitched together (you don't want too much bulk) cut to about 2" x 1" 1/2, edged with  zigzag.

Painted ground, stamped & paper from the bits & pieces box stuck down, a bit of crayon & gold wax

Same as above. These do well at Christmas craft fairs as they aren't Christmassy I guess, altho I will make some trees & icicle types, too...

Off to my day job I go, you've just got to be grateful, really, being able to do lots of different jobs, haven't you?

post exhibition blues

I've been in a bit of a funk this week which is to be expected I guess after 9 months of intense activity , the last 3 being extremely intense, barely lifting my head for air, looking at my children or saying hello to my DH. Obviously I did do those things & much more, just in rather a blur. I naively thought that being in one place for 2 weeks ( well, plus travelling to & from) would be a little holiday but it was even more pleasurably intense than before! (ok, I've used that word 3 times now - enough!) So I've gone rather quiet, nobody recognises me! I'm quiet because I've been struggling with that most detested phrase "I can't be bothered" . I hear it all the time at work, it's all around me, being surrounded as I am by people from all walks of life, all ages, friendly & unfriendly, visitor or local, & heavens, that's only part time!

original honesty sample

I've had to turn, over many years, from being a pretty negative type of person, frustrated & inarticulate really, to a more positive, tolerant sort. A less frustrated & more gobby, opinionated type! I've learnt to eventually see the 'other' side of the story & to stop throwing around my poor half empty cup & to enjoy a calmer sip from the half full one, provided by my DH. But just sometimes these positive people really get my goat, you get to thinking "these people haven't really lived, haven't gone thru what I'm going thru" etc, etc & just want to tell 'em to shut up! Then I think, well, is that how I appear to people, once I've 'put my face on' trying to be positive, always upbeat, seeing the best in everything & stopping just short of having your martyred hand permanently stuck to your forehead? This is why I hate the phrase 'I can't be bothered' or 'I can't be arsed' along with the greeting between two mates & not just the 'youth' "Hi what ya doing, nothing?" "yeah, nothing, you, nothing?" "Yeah, nothing" Where the heck do you go from there? I feel it may drag me in to deep negativity, I fear the downward spiral to the what is the point question we must all avoid in order to just carry on at survival level. Some are lucky enough not to ever ask themselves that question, of course, the answer may be far too frightening to contemplate. So while being down here I'll be working it thru, thinking of all those wonderful things that make up my life, I'll be looking for that open kind smile & stepping back from the fearful soul's despair, just while I'm in repair, mind, because then I must look for that soul that I could possibly give something back to, as I know which side of the story I want & I will find it.

Well, after all that did you think I'd leave you without a collage?!

Ever so slightly blue this is this, I mean last weeks collage from the sample i made earlier this year, about a ruler by a half ruler. Visitors to the exhibition loved my samples book & this is the collage i said I'd be making next so i thought I'd better.  Always worried about scaling up but i think it works. Used rusted fabric instead of the paper in the sample, blue potato sacking, honesty seedheads & seeds, of course, the mixed paper with wash background & an exotic chicken feather from my collection & lots of gold machine stitching.

Thanks for listening ;) 

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 ;)