A real gentleman......

We were looking forward to having Lorna Bateman talk to us at EG this weekend, her talk was to be called "An Africa Experience". Unfortunately due to the volcanic cloud disruption Lorna was actually marooned in Africa. We hope she can come to us another time.  To cut a long story short we were more than fortunate to have Richard Box take her place. Generous, informative and very funny, what more could you ask in a speaker. My piece of paper was covered in notes which I hope I can decipher. I bought his book "Drawing Techniques" and I am kicking my self for not buying his DVD "Drawing for the Terrified". Richard  confessed to not being very computer oriented and  mystified us when he talked about "up-building" photographs to a computer . I have "up-built"  Richard on You Tube.



 .

Teesha Moore has posted 4 video tutorials on making fabric journal covers.  Looks like a fun way to reduce stash.

No flights......

I'm doing my own thing!

My sympathies to all those affected by lack of flights.  I think, by now, everyone in the UK must know someone who has had their holiday cancelled or who has had a struggle to get home.

I think I have said before, I don't know why we ever need to fight amongst ouselves, Mother Nature will win out every time.

A Novel idea.....

in a report from The Guardian of a  Sewing Cafe in Paris where you can hire a sewing machine or just stop in for a coffee and a chat. Could it catch on here in the UK?

Last Wednesday, as I think I mentioned, I went to the Van Gogh Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Art. Having left it too late to pre book a ticket I joined the queue, two and a half hours someone said, "no", I thought, " can't possibly be that long"...............................two and a half hours later I climbed the steps to the exhibition rooms!  Fortunately my time had been passed in conversation with two charming and very different gentleman.  I thank you gentlemen for your company and your fascinating conversation.

I loved the exhibition based on Vincent's letters to his brother Theo.  More than once I overheard the comment, that,  without Theo there would have been no Van Gogh!  The letter had wonderful little drawings where Vincent explained to Theo  the paintings he had just created.  In some cases, for me,  more touching than the paintings themselves.

Here is my contribution to this months Ideas of Inspiration, the theme is Yellow.  Who was, for me the master of yellow?  Van Gogh.  Here, with apologies to Vincent,  is my "Sun"

and from a Calendar Girls swap,  a couple of years back, some "Sunflowers".

From the sublime(Vincent's.... not mine) back to reality I am off to watch the first "debate" of the Party Leaders.!!!

A couple of years back I discovered Scribbler and played with it lots and then I forgot about it while I played with  newer toys.....today Deb had a link to, not only Scribbler but, heaven help us, Version 2.

and how about a rose!

I'm supposed to be doing the washing!

Give a girl an idea......

My last post was about making fabric roses, this is my latest.. made from another of John Lewis' faux batik cottons and bits.

Lynda picked up on this, from myself and Doreen, being Lynda she took it to a whole different dimension.  Talk about outside the box.  Go look here.  Gorgeous.

On my "to do" list is a visit to the V&A to see the quilts exhibition which is on until July, having nearly missed the Van Gogh exhibition at the Royal Academy(more of this later)  I found this fascinating video while checking the dates and then wandering around the excellent V& A site. If you like quilts take a moment to look.  Tracy Chevalier wrote "Girl with a Pearl Earing" so I look forward to the book she was researching.

There is also,( heaven help us, I'll never get anything done),  a wall of quilts where you can add your own quilt. Here is one I recognised from the blogs I follow. Deb of More Whiffs, Glimmers and Leftovers

Quilt of Quilts

Stars Out of Place

View this quilt on the V&A website

http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/quilts/quilt/detail/id/597

No wonder I'm always running out of time!!!!

Last week Ati's Little World  had pictures of shabby chic roses ,she gave a link to Anni's blog and Anni she gave a link to the tutorial by Roben-Marie. So here are the roses I've made.

Fun and quick to make, and really give a lift to an old cardigan. I love this sharing community.

I made a necklace as well

 The black links are fishing swivels,

 a tip given to me a by a lady whose necklace I admired.  I believe you can buy them in other finishes but my local  fishing tackle shop only had black,  The advantage is because they swivel the necklace hangs well.

No fooling..........

..............just Happy Easter.