Busy days

It's nearly two weeks now, since my trip to Stourbridge, had a good day with old friends.
We made concertina books and boxes to keep them safe.



We tried lots of different ways to transfer images onto fabric, you can see some lovely experiments here.

A couple of days before my trip to Stourbridge, I had major excitement , when Jenny Rayment and Valerie Nesbitt came to film me and my work for their new website

http://www.justhands-on.tv/

We filmed in the new kitchen, hope no one notices that the walls are still bare plaster, with the odd rude comment left by the builder, bless him.

I must admit it was a fascinating experience, everyone was so kind, I hope it all turns out OK. .

My textile group, Group Purple are putting up our exhibition on Sunday, can't believe how quickly it's come around.

Please come and say hello if you're in these parts, we'd love to meet you.

The exhibition is at 'The Weavers Gallery' Church Lane, Ledbury. from 20 - 26th July.Open every day from 10.00 - 4.00.

Hope to see you there.x

Lincoln Embroiderers

Things have been really hectic around here just lately , everything happens at once. I don't know if it's my time management skills at fault or maybe just life. . . .

Anyway I had a great weekend away as the guest of Lincoln Bailgate Embroiderers Guild .
They made me so welcome , a lovely group, and very talented too. Have a look at the current issue of Stitch magazine, there's an article on their beautiful work based on an old manuscript.

We were making Fairy shoes, a lovely day of stitching and laughter .

Lucky Fairy who gets this pair. . . . .

They 'morphed' from this before my eyes!

Before long all these appeared.
It's great to see all the imaginative ways that these little shoes evolve.

I made sure that I had time to visit Lincoln Cathedral, what treasure there!

I just had to show a few more holiday pics.

Here's Rowan being Queen of the Castle on one of the little islands at Sandaig, Gavin Maxwell's 'Camusfearna'.

It's a magical place, quite a strange atmosphere and you can just imagine the otters playing .

The hills in the picture are on the island of Skye. Seen here wearing a fluffy, cloud hat.

Lastly, we sat one evening, watching the sun set in the north of Skye. The ridge of islands in the distance is the Outer Hebrides and sea mist rolled back and forth between.
It was so beautiful and I fell completely in love with this amazing island and it's people.

Holidays in the Highlands

We've just returned from a magical holiday in the Scottish Highlands.
Two weeks wandering and discovering this truly wonderful, wild, part of the world.
I've had so many amazing experiences,. . . . . .walking in the forest while the rain poured down, leaving our surroundings glowing with so many shades of green.
. . . . .Seeing the mist rise and curl as the sun warmed us. . . . . wandered through days on the Isle of Skye, where the clear blue sky and the earth meet and celebrate with a special kind of light,where the 'Fairies' still live

. . . . . .spent long hours at 'Camusfearna' where Gavin Maxwell lived with his otters, the land he called his 'Ring of bright water' which came from the very heart of the sea.

. . . .walked along a wooded glen where the waters of the river Croe gurgle and sing,the birch trees whisper amongst the bluebells and the Cuckoos sing all day from dawn to dusk,even the stones on the path sparkle in the sunlight.

When we got back the builders have done their work and I have a new kitchen, it's wonderful and I am so grateful. I just have to find my new washing machine and then I can start the 'big clear up'!

We came home to the news that Mike is probably going to lose his job in the next few weeks. Still a bit stunned by that news.
So for the moment I think I'll carry on dreaming of our holidays in the mountains and the glens and share a few of my pictures. . . .

On the 'Road to the Isles' from Fort William to Mallaig. The Glenfinnan monument, where Bonnie Prince Charlie gathered the clans in 1745.

Looking down from the Glen Righ forest, across Loch Linnhe to the Ardnamurchan peninsula




Loch Leven at the start of Glen Coe.



Eillean Donan Castle in Kyle of Lochalsh


Sunset over Loch Linnhe.

Just a few of my many photos , they don't do justice to the beauty, or capture the magic which is hereabouts in absolute armfulls, but they hold lovely memories.

Secret Wales

Couldn't resist showing you these proud parents with their babies . . . and the Moorhen quietly watching.
Come with me please, on a quick tour , following the Ceiriog valley to Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog.

At Chirk, the Ceiriog valley is wide, with lush meadows grazed by sheep.

Here, the Llangollen canal and the Railway viaduct cross the valley.

As we travel up the valley we pass through quiet villages and countryside. Little sign now of the bustling industry that was here.

There are fascinating glimpses though, in the industrial archeology of the area.

About 12 miles on, the valley opens up and there lies Llanarmon. It's beautiful, a thriving village , surrounded by the hills and a very special sense of peace.

At this time of year, there is an open air art exhibition, well worth seeing.

The church stands near an ancient burial mound and welcomes it's visitors with a warm atmosphere.

The same can be said for the welcome at the Hotel, where we sat in the garden and listened to the sounds of the valley as we ate.

On the return journey I saw this venerable Oak near the road. Poor Mike had to stop quickly so that I could leap out and pay homage to this ancient tree. It was huge and I could have stayed much longer. . . . .

Hidden Treasures and Secret Wales

Last weekend I spent two lovely days with Chester Embroiderers Guild.

I was teaching a two day , book making workshop , which I call Hidden Treasures.

The covers and some of the pages have hiding places for all manner of things . . . .

I am so pleased to be able to show you some of the amazing work produced . . . I learnt a lot from these talented ladies who make me feel so welcome, it's like spending the weekend with old friends.
Everyone chooses the subject for their book, then it's wonderful to see the variety of subjects. we had 'A Norfolk Holiday, Travels in the Middle East, Childhood, the story of a dear little dog and more . . .

I love watching as the ideas grow and the pages take shape.

I've been promised some pictures of the finished books (no pressure girls!) and as I've been asked back again next year I hope I'll get to see the real thing too.

***************

Mike and I decided to make the weekend into a little holiday and we stayed, once again, in the lovely grounds of Chirk Castle .

Here we have crossed over the border, into Wales.

There are walks through the estate , woodland paths and best of all the beautiful Ceiriog Valley , where you can walk or drive through 'secret Wales'.

I took these pictures on a sunny, early morning stroll, Rowan ran in crazy patterns , chasing rabbits and shadows.

The wild Garlic flowers scented the air and covered the path in places.

Soon, 'Mad legs' had to go on the lead while we walked through the parkland. She would so love to play 'chase ' with those lambs. . . .

The entrance to the estate is guarded by these gates, built in the early 18th century.



Then, it's back into the woods and a strange world of . . . .



. . . . a 'Horned Man'?


and patterns painted by the sun and the leaves. . . .







I'll stop now and next time I'll take you up the valley to Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog and maybe tempt you into secret Wales. . . . .

Cuckoo!

I'm all excited, I heard a Cuckoo this afternoon!

Memories come flooding back of my childhood , when we heard that naughty bird regularly.

Sadly, it's a rare sound in these parts now.

I've done some more pieces for the exhibition, this one is called 'The primroses scattered by April'.

Magic in the air. . . .

I know I am inclined to waffle on about the trees and the birds etc. etc., but . . . I just had to share the magic I found this weekend.

So, go on, make a cup of coffee and come for a 'walk' with me. . . It's sunny and warm and you won't need your wellies. . .

Early the other morning, Rowan and I went walking in the orchards,

The apple trees were buzzing with life. . .

Walking through the rows of trees , listening to the birds' morning concert.

Scramble down the bank in the little copse and I found these cowslips. Memories of childhood, when we would make 'Posy balls' with these charming wild flowers.

(Excuse please, the mish mash of photo styles, I have a touch of photoshopitis!)

Let's stand for a while and wait for the world to wake up. . . . . take in the view across the river Avon to the village of Offenham.

You can just make out the church in the mist, it's dedicated to St. Milburgha, a Saxon princess.

Yesterday, while Stratford upon Avon held the annual 'Shakespeare's Birthday parade', we went walking in the woods nearby. . .

Just inside the wood, look out across the meadow. . .

Now, take a deep breath and turn around . . . .

My pictures are no match for the real thing, the colour, the scent and the magic in the air.

We've brought all our dogs here through the years and Rowan loves this place as much as they all have.

Just before Christmas I told of the ancient, coppiced Lime trees to be found , deep in the woods.

Here are two of them, with their Bluebell carpet.

Tread carefully here, I'm sure this is sacred ground. . . the birds know it too, such sweet music.

Let's linger here. . . .

Explore some more, this way now. . . .

Rowan is worn out with chasing imaginary critters and my tummy says it's time to head home for a bacon sandwich. . . . coming? xxx