make.......

Today's prompt from Kim Klassens 'Be Still 52' workshop is 'Make'

I've been making for a few weeks now......

I have a commission to illustrate a children's book about domestic violence called

'Little Mouse Finds A Safe Place'.

So here are the tools of my trade and........ Little Mouse!

Textiles and tea........

You fancy a bit of stitchin? Get your fingers moving at the Textiles and Tea day at Shepherds Dene on Saturday 11th April 10am-4pm.

Accompanying our gorgeous 'Common Thread' exhibition, of 8 women working with textiles.

A day to relax in the beautiful surroundings of Shepherds Dene Retreat House, Riding Mill, near Hexham in Northumberland and try your hand at two workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon and a lovely lunch!

What could be nicer? Choose from trying felted embroidery, landscaped art quilting,needle felting,knitting your genes or needle point....

The day costs only £20 which includes your lunch, tea, coffee and home made biscuits......what a nice Mothers Day present!

To book phone Shepherds Dene on 01434 682212

See you there.....

Light......

This weeks prompt is light......

It was nearly dark when I shot these photographs, but I quite like the dark background against the light cloth, glass and candles.

you wait ..... and then two come along at once.........

Yesterday's prompt was about using rustic props with side lighting......

Here's my old studio chair with a wool knee blanket that I sewed with blue blanket stitch.

 I added an illustration from an old children's book and my gold ceramic moon.......

Bunting.....

Running late with my post for my Kim Klassen photograph workshop 'Be Still 52'.

The propmt was 'use bunting'.......hmmm....I made some very quick bunting with scraps of material, string and staples last year for my 'Art in the Garden' summer weekends to hang in the doorway of the gallery aka shed! It's been hanging there ever since.

I ran outside and took it down, faded and frayed....here it is with a piece of scrap cartridge paper that has been used to mop up paint, hand made stamps, blogs of ink and a few cut leaves from my autumn window display for 'Halo' in Whitley Bay.

So far, so good?

So how are you doing this far into 2015?

I've had a bit of a tricky time...largely attempting to come to terms with having turned 60.

I read a piece of Mareilla Frostrups today in the Observer today about how difficult a time she was having turning 50! Try 60 Mariella! 

I like her writing and presenting, she's 'Mrs Pull yourself together and count your blessings' personified, but has obviously struggled with her half century.

So, back to counting my blessings - and there are plenty of them and getting focussed in the studio. I took a day in a very grey and misty Northumberland to our old static caravan last weekend and got on with some moody northern pieces this week.

They got pinked up! 

Hope they still have that northern feel.......

art......

Well this was a good one for me....take a shot with your art!

Here are a couple of shots of part of a piece of work that I made a few weeks ago, inspired by a trip that I made to Morocco last year, with jars of orange paint and gold pigment...