I actually did some sewing today …

although I can’t show it to you. I did some improvisational piecing for the new Art Quilts Around the World challenge, ‘When/where sea and land meet’. So I found all my bits of sea-like fabric and sewed together some likely candidates. It all may come to nothing but at least I’ve done something.

I also got started on ‘P is for …’ which is drying as I type, but doesn’t yet have any stitch. I don’t think I’ll have time to start it tomorrow as we are planning a Wednesday wander, but hope to put needle to paper on Thursday. Yes, P is for paper – amongst other things …

I was wandering round the house taking photos of things I've done, – and surprising myself a bit about how much I have actually finished since finishing C&G, – when I spotted someone asleep on the spare room bed. So here is today's rather odd texture image. 

 

And this is my attempt at reproducing that texture in a Turkey work sample for C&G.

A Monday meander

to the crafts fair at Winchester Cathedral. We have been a couple of times before and always found it very impressive, so my heart sank when we walked in and almost the first thing I saw was a knitted toilet roll cover. However one we got past that the rest of the display was up to the usual high standard. We bought ourselves an early anniversary present – a lustreware vase like those in the link but in dark blue and gold.

Then we walked past one of my favourite spots in the city – the tiny water garden behind the Cathedral.  Today it was looking like this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s texture is lichen on an apple tree – almost felt-like, and I love the colour as well.

I’m still in the creative doldrums …

I think I know why – there is something which may or may not be happening in which I may or may not be involved. [Clear as mud?]

This is something which I really want to do, but until I know whether I'm going to be able to do it, I can’t settle to anything. Apart from a bit of knitting, and I’ve unpicked half of that once already. If all else fails, read the pattern …

So here’s a bit of texture. Ivy stems [?] wrapped round one of our elderly apple trees. I think this one could almost be very irregular patchwork, or the obvious couching over a very crunchy [foiled?] surface. I also wonder whether it would work as abstract canvas work  a la Mary Rhodes. [Not this one, who I never heard of till I Googled just now. At least I assume she’s not the same one unless she was writing needlework books in her cradle.]

More texture

This is the bark of a silver birch, but I think those black squiggles look like runes. I have been meaning to crop and Photoshop it but I haven’t got round to it – yet …

This is a quick post because it’s time to go and watch the only sporting event I have any interest in – apart from dog soccer, of course.  No, not Wimbledon – tennis leaves me cold. How can it compare with dozens of men in tight lycra?

This and that

First, thanks to Layers upon Layers for the link to Recycle Runway, which has lots of ideas for creative embroiderers who don’t like to throw anything away. I love the decorations made from Coke cans – it’s a pity we don’t drink Coke, or any other canned drink, come to that.

And how about this – although I wouldn’t like to sit down in it! Wensleydale has a lot of nails – I’m sure he wouldn’t miss a few.

As this seems to be turning into a links post, how about this wind powered knitting machine via Craft?

I’ve spent the afternoon stewarding for the Contemporary Textiles course at college. We were quite busy and a lot of nice things were said about the work. There are also displays by C&G Embroidery, Patchwork and Creative Sketchbooks, BTEC Photography and the life drawing class. Pretty impressive all round.

I spent a little time [and money] with the traders – Art Van Go  and Winifred Cottage. Who could resist?

The odd shape in this image is one of our Bauhaus knock-off chairs, in case you are wondering. The lovely paper bag under all the goodies is from Art Van go, guaranteed printable.

Thank you for the comments suggesting that I am perfectly normal. So to prove it today’s texture photo is – a mouldy satsuma.

 

 

 

 

It reminds me of these,  which I spotted at Mottisfont yesterday – also soft and green and plushy. Hand dyed velvet or French knots in a chenille thread – or velvet stitch perhaps, if I was feeling very patient.

Do normal people …

think ‘It’s a hot day with no wind so I'll take some paper out into the garden and spray it with old cold coffee?’

Wensleydale seems to think it is perfectly normal, but then he’s been married to me for 38 years this month, so his judgement may be unreliable.

The paper turned out very well. It is destined to become the pages of a book. Surprised?

In the afternoon we did something a bit more normal, judging by the number of people there.

We went to Mottisfont Abbey.  

We’ve been a couple of times before, but only to go round the house. It has a good collection of 20th century art and some trompe I'oeil  wall paintings by Rex Whistler. But we usually go just before Christmas when the house is specially decorated, so we have only seen a little bit of the gardens, like this Impressionist bridge.

There are some enormous trout in the river, which respond well to bread – provided the ducks don’t get it first.

 

 

 

Today we didn’t go into the house [apart from the café] but concentrated on the gardens.

We were a little too late to see the old fashioned roses in their full glory but there were still plenty of flowers to look at, and smell. The sun really brought out the perfume.

 

I love the shape of the honeysuckle [top left]. It reminds me of this – on a book which, coincidentally, I found in the second hand bookshop next to the cafe. [I forgot to mention the bookshop.]

 

 

 

We also met an ent.  Here are his feet.

 

 

 

And here’s the rest of him, seen from the walled garden.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not saying what I think this bit looks like – but this may be in danger of becoming an X-rated blog…

 

 

 

 

And here, for  today's’ texture photo, is his skin. He was a sweet chestnut ent. I am not familiar with ents – er – sweet chestnuts - so don’t know if this sort of bark is typical – but isn’t it great? Smocking, I think, or twisted cords.

Do normal people wander round trees taking close ups of bark and envisioning them as embroidery? I got some funny looks and they didn’t know what I was thinking …

A quiet day for once

apart from  a visit from the gas man for our annual safety check. I am pleased to report that we are not in any danger of being blown up or killed by carbon monoxide, and that the gas cooker is safely chained to the wall as it should be.

No, I don’t know why either.

I’m not sure if this counts as a textured surface, but it certainly has visual texture, so it is today's texture photo.

Any moth experts out there who know what variety it is? I don’t suppose it is a tiger moth although it looks like it ought to be!