Every picture tells a story

Every picture tells a story and this is my weeks story.
Full blown over the top flu.
Nothing to do but hug a hot water bottle for childish comfort. Hot lemon and honey. The rest don`t work.
See you next week
BYE   BYE

 

Breaking rules

Still connected to the wider world. Have been considering, should I invest in some carrier pigeons, as a back up.A 6inch piece of corroded wire was the cause but the problem was B.T.

 
9 patches. Do you remember these?
Working the individual patches, keeping in mind I would like this to work as a whole piece as well as separate squares. 

They will be backed onto these artist boards.

Have settled on the name "FINDINGS"

Some of my findings.

Tapestry  I have been advised I am stitching it all wrong. There are rules. One is supposed to go back and forth in straight lines and it really should be in a frame. I never use a frame as I like to feel the fabric I am stitching. I used this same working practice to do tent stitch. Broke the rules. I am stitching wherever I fancy. Another rule broken.
A little pink thread.

A little green thread

Horrors I have broken the rules.
If I have a piece of pink left in my needle I move to another pink bit to finished off. More rules broken.
So glad I have my own work and I can break all the rules I want and usually do.
The tapestry is worked for my pleasure and I would never claim to be an expert. I am enjoying working it in my own way. 

Plan for next week

1  Finish more squares, at least 3.

2  Think about displaying

3 Visit Kalamkari exhibition again. 

Look in on Sunday and see if I have achieved any of above.

BYE    BYE
 

 

1 st rant of 2016

British Telecom have left me without a telephone or broadband connection for 10 days -  so far. No clear indication when connection will be restored.
Main gripe is as a communication  network they are    Rubbish, really Rubbish. Customer service is Rubbish.  It has been expensive using my mobile, trying to contact someone who can give me clear information - not found anyone yet.
I have pressed numbers 1-----4 so many times , I am continually advised to go to www.bt.co./connect I HAVE NO BROADBAND CONNECTION or I am told I am in a queue - 35 minutes is a long queue.
Big rant but I feel better but still no phone or broadband.
 At a friends as I was having withdrawal symptoms.
Who would have believed a year ago I would be upset because I was denied access to my computer.

Thank goodness the seagull was safely installed.

 If he was at home he would have been upset as I tried to remain calm but ended shouting into the mobile.
Sorry nearly started an other rant.

I made a book of photographs to accompany the installation as only the buyer!!!!!!!! will be able to browse the books and look in the boxes.

 The exhibition looks good so if you are in the area please stop and visit.

I am still tent stitching.Would like to think it had helped me stay calm throughout the BT debacle but that would not be true.
Lets hope next week I am reconnected.

BYE   BYE.

 

Not quite back to normal.

4th January, posting on a Monday as days not back to normal, just yet.

Received as a Christmas present. 1st reaction. very nice picture but I don`t do kits. Smiled nicely, thanked profusely and secretly thought Charity Shop.
Sitting at night by the fire listening to an audio book  (Bleak House by Charles Dickens)
Looked again at present. Unwrapped, thought it might be relaxing to have something mindless to sit with at night. Took me ages to tick off colours and match to sides of canvas. Thought I would make a start.
Addictive, just had to finish a skein.

My thank you note will be genuine.

Back to the day job
Looking at painting the squares as a whole, then cut up. Will see how this works. Visualize the squares being individual pieces but having a connection.

Pieces of maps glued randomly. Painted using a sponge.

Tissue paper glued down. Washed over with gesso. Sprayed with water before gesso dries.

Added Coastal lines from 3 location I have been visiting.
Good to get back to this piece of work again. Based on sand ripples and coast lines.

Still grey, windy, rainy Ugh.
May finish another skein.
Will be back posting on Sunday next week as festive season over.
Look in to view progress, if any and see how many skeins I have used

BYE   BYE


 

Reflections

Reflecting on the last day of 2015.
A very sad, difficult and unhappy year for me. I leave 2015 as a widow.

The sunrise at 7.50,  31st of December  2015.

 After days of torrential rain, raging winds and dark skies, I take it as an omen that 2016 will have different challenges for me.
Stepping over the threshold from 2015 into 2016.

This is my affirmation for 2016.
 I will not be identified as " that widow woman"
I will be identified as " Maureen the textile Artist."
How is that for positive thinking. 
I plan to continue designing and stitching new work and hope you will look in to view the results.

My husband was very proud of his rose collection.
This one has survived the storms.

Tomorrow will be January 1st 2016 a New Year.
Health, Happiness and Creative Vibes to you all.

BYE   BYE.

Festive Branch

Making some changes to my usual Christmas traditions. 
A very happy festive season to everyone.

Back home

Home again from the big city. Have to admit I didn`t really do much. I heard a super concert, had a lovely vegetarian meal and watched an animated film. This was all on the first day and shared with special friends.
Visited an exhibition of different makers on second day and then hit the shops to do my Christmas shopping. I had planned to photo some of the Christmas sight but camera battery flat. It would have been an idea to check before leaving home.
Third and fourth days,  very mild but overcast not days for photos but camera now charged and I had planned long beach walks. Short drive out of city, then hit the beaches.

This is a very long, flat, stretch of beach, the day never lightened, but it is the lines from the ripples and tide that interest me.

The beach had bunches of these razor shells scattered along it. No idea why they were grouped this way

Walking back over the dunes spotted this fence. It is definitely  to keep folks out.

In this case it is for a good reason. The area has been marked off to protect special species of wild flowers.

This clump of sea buckthorn was a lovely splash of colour on a very grey day. Spotted on the way back to my car. The white stems look good with the  orange. Isn`t nature so clever with colour.

These paisley pattern shapes are the first batch made by members of the Embroiderers Guild. They will form part of a project for a Regional Day in April2016

 Have not picked up a needle, thread, paint or glue for a week and am beginning to have withdrawal symptoms but plan to get started again over the festive season.

Look in next week to see if beach walk has inspired me.

BYE  BYE