Reminder to self.......

The Rembrandt, the late works Exhibition at the National Gallery ends on the 18th January and at the National Portrait Gallery there are some of the finalist's work for the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year.
I had a thought a while back that Van Gogh makes me think I can paint and Rembrandt reminds me that I can't.  The Sky Arts programme was made even more entertaining when I recognised two of my friends amongst the "critics". So it looks like a trip to London is required next week.
In the meantime I would like to thank all the people who visit and especially those who leave comments.  Highly valued. I wish you all you wish yourselves for the coming year.  Lots of inspiration and creativity and most of latt lots of fun.
A sample of each month this last year.

Procrastination.........

I should be wrapping presents, making mince pies, shopping lists and any of all the other myriad things that fill our heads at this time.  So what did I do.........I changed the layout of my blog.One of the reasons was to try and make the pictures bigger. How's this?  A sunrise earlier this month.

I have been wondering whether I should continue blogging(I hate that word, so ugly,) or whether I should give in and close it down.  But then I decided that would be counter productive to my (general lack of) production. A few bits here,

So I have changed the look, I have added a picture of my own homeland as a header (it tugs me more and more) and l have a plan in the New Year to try and produce lists of coming events which I hope will be of interest. In the past I have posted about visits to exhibitions which are finished (I am a bit of a last minute person) and when other people do the same I am quite frustrated.  So, if you know of an exhibition or workshop lleave me a comment  and I will try to post the necessary links in a timely way.

Our first planned visit in the New Year is the Quilters Exhibition and Fabric January Sale at the Maltings, Farnham, Surrey on the 18th January

So it just remains for me to wish anyone who lands here, either by accident or design a very Happy Christmas and every thing you wish yourself for the New Year.

Back to the lists.........

A cold and frosty morning......

...I took another quick trip to London on Saturday and our wanderings lead us to VV Rouleaux, one of my all time favourite shops.  I would love to be locked in for a week so I could see everything. The outside was entertainment in itself, completely covered in sheep's wool.

Close up

Having been a fan of the Liberty of London tv series we went to have a look at the Christmas windows

 I thought this would make teatime exciting

 and of course just a tiny peek inside.

 It was only possible to squeeze into the Christmas shop for a few moments.

but we would have liked to take these two home with us.

There are always beautiful flower outside and these did not disappoint.

The Ridge....

I found this on the  Curiosites de Titam blog.  Something that I would be too timid to do but am enthralled by this virtual journey. I could watch it over and over as there are so many images that appear and then vanish..

THE RIDGE from Camp 4 Collective on Vimeo.

And vis Curiosites as well this stunner. Odda in Norway.

via this site

Disappointment and delight..........

Yesterday, a remarkably murky day even for London in November, I went to visit the  Finch exhibition at Anthropologie in the Kings Road, Chelsea.  The display was confined to one small room

and two windows,

 This mas me smile.

  Because of all the publicity it has had I think I was expecting a much larger exhibition so I left feeling vaguely disappointed.

I hopped on a bus to Harrods and found these,  in between the large window displays were these tiny
delights. Who knew what goes on under our feet.

If you click you should get a closer view. The reflections and the snow effect made them quite difficult to photograph and they were set quite high, we commented that they were above child height, which seems a shame.  So much fun and whimsy, massive congratulations to and envy of the people who made them.  I would love to go again.

On another note entirely, I have probably been living inside my head but this morning I found this magazine
Through our Hands,
 
 it is now on it's third issue and you can read it on line or pay for a pdf copy.
Thanks to Margaret Cooter for the link.

ET....is back

Looked out of my kitchen window and found I was being watched.

Busy....

...but I just had to share this.


See the rest of the pictures of an abandoned mill in Wales here

My new friend.....

meet my boro bear...

I found these bears in Hobbycraft,  . "The Girls" decided we should decorate them. I covered mine boro style with pieces left over from my boro piece which I haven't shown yet. It was great fun to see how different they all were.

Here is Boro sitting in splendour uinderneath the Sep/Oct tree.

Can't believe a year has nearly disappeared and it is time to deck the tree in its' original Christmas finery.......did I say Christmas......by the look of the shop it must be very soon.  Christmas songs in M&S today!

Book completed......

I have finished assembling my book from the Cas Holmes workshop at Sew Not Strawberry Jam.

One of my (many) favourite things about SNSJ is the outside of the studio.

This was my main inspiration for the book with more than a nod to my native Lake District. This is a bit photo heavy but I am so pleased with the results.

This is the cover

 

These pages are a combination of pieces made on the day and old ufos.

 

 Rubber stamps (the first I ever bought in America)

 

A little rubbing and a piece of grass from the SNSJ garden trapped underneath a piece of painted ga

 This is, possibly , my favourite page.on the right the original sketch we made and on the left it is echoed by the reverse of stitching on a page on the back.  A gelli print and vintage lace complete the page.

This is the reverse side.  I love the boat/jetty/lake that appeared when layering papers.

It was difficult to photograph outside but I like what happens when I stand the "book" up.

Somewhere to explore.

TV is not enough.........

....I always have to have something to occupy my hands while watching/listening also in the summer we had the long journey north and I wanted something to do to pass the time.  I found this pattern on Ravelry, a Drops yarn design, here and it was perfect.

Each element is quick to finish and the whole blanket/throw grew quickly.

A closer look

My other TV companion is a hexagon patchwork,.  I have no idea what it is going to be and having started out as a stash buster I am now happily collecting small pieces of cottons from friends. the hexies are an inch and a half.  I wanted it to be as varied as possible as I am not a fan of the traditional "hexagon flower". This is a scan of part, those aren't clever half hexagons it is just a bit scrumpled on the scanner.

My daughter said the wrong side looked more interesting, I am inclined to agree.

How on earth......

......did I ever find the time to go to work?  This month has flown by with visits to The Knit and Stitch, a visit from my sister-in-law, a couple of theatre trips and yesterday a work shop with Cas Holmes at the lovely Sew Not Strawberry Jam. Not to mention my own knitting and stitching while feeding my two addictions American Football and Strictly Come Dancing.

For the first time ever I didn't take my camera to Ally Pally but if I had I would have taken photographs of the work of the wonderfully imaginative work of   Ann Small. and the delightful whimsy of Catherine von Isenburg

While my SIL was visiting we took a trip to Scotney Castle which hadn't quite donned all it's autumn glory but still looked beautiful.

 The theatre trips were to see two local amateur societies excellent productions of "Half a Sixpence" and "Hairspray". 
Yesterday was a real treat, a workshop with Cas Holmes. The lovely Sam welcomed us with coffee and I could see her wonderful ginger lemon cake so I was happy. Sew Not Strawberry Jam is becoming one of my favourite places, I just wish it was a little nearer..  I love the workroom

 

As does Sam's cat.

 Out side there are geese and hens and sheep and a lovely little garden, Didn't have time to take many photographs as the workshop was full on, took this through the window,

The first thing we had to do was go outside and draw, scary, I do not do drawing from real.  First surprise of the day, I managed something that looked like something. This is it after adding another element of the lesson and a serendipity meeting with my wet work on the way home.

We went on the compile the pages of a book based on our original drawing.  Because of the time constraint of the day I will have to finish my book here at home but I really enjoyed the day and found some of the techniques and ideas exciting. This was part of my work in progress.

Cas brought some of her own beautiful books,

You can see more of her work here

I'll get round to talking about the knitting and stitching later in the week (I hope).