And the first stamp is ...

a very simple one.

The photo is one I took when we visited Helsinki. The Rock Church is an amazing place, cut out of the solid rock, and lit, as you see, from above.

I took a section of the glass roof as the inspiration for my stamp.

The stamp is made from an eraser, carved with lino cutting tools. Sorry that the image is a little blurry, my camera really doesn't like close work!

I cut diagonal stripes out of the eraser, and then stamped the resulting image in different orientations and arrangements. The printed image is reversed, of course, which is why it slants the other way.

You will notice that I am not a punctiliously neat stamper - I like the texture that results from being a bit slapdash. [That's my story and I'm sticking to it.]





I also used a found object [a piece of plastic tubing] with the stamp to make a border pattern [top left].

I particularly like the ribbon-like arrangement which suggests weaving or wrapping - or both.

The negative scan suggests gold work to me, for some reason.

And by the way - I realise that I promised to write about the Creative Textiles Workshop last Friday and I haven't posted a word. Things have been so hectic here at Cheese Acres that I haven't even unpacked all my stuff - but I haven't forgotten. Things should get a bit calmer next week - especially if we get the threatened snow. Why go out in snow if you don't have to?