Feeling much better this past week thank you for your comments. Speaking of comments, I do reply to all of you when you leave them. If you haven't heard from me it maybe that you are a no reply blogger and it's not coming through to you. You have to adjust your settings for that. If you have changed from Blogger to Google + at any point the default settings will have turned back to not letting people see your email address. Easiest way to check is to go to an old post of yours on your own blog, post a comment and when you have the email come through hit reply and see what is in the email address box. If that doesn't work or you don't have a blog you will have to look up changing it on Google. I also have a couple of you who I am not receiving an email from when you post. Not sure who that is down to but I do try and catch up with you eventually!!!
When I finished my City and Guilds in 2012 I remember the feeling that the rug had been pulled, or more like the crutch had been swiped away. Suddenly Laura Kemshall wasn't at the end of the line or email giving out her wonderful words of wisdom, support and encouragement. Now having finished these Embroiderers Guild courses I've had a similar feeling but instead of a plummet I've had a soaring feeling! Freedom! That doesn't mean I've been making too much but I have had a bit of a clear out in some areas, there have even been some listings on eBay. I have also taken back control of my time and diary which is most precious of all. I've also cleared some other deadwood activities which I was feeling were unprofitable for me. I am now in charge again rather than running madly behind trying to catch up. A good place to be.
I'm still working on the long panel piece, not too much to do now. It's going on a panel 100 x 30 cm so a good size.
Lots of layering of stitches and they all have to have a cohesive feeling to bring it together. repetition hopefully will help with that.
I've now pinned it to a roller embroidery frame so I can see where I'm going and what I've done. There are also a few bits of copper wire so I didn't want them crumpled and they also won't fit in a standard hoop or frame hence the pinning instead. The red here is a drawing pin!
A couple of weeks ago we went to Lewtrenchard Manor for a couple of nights. It's a very interesting place, full of character and history and I spent a lot of time just looking and taking photos on my phone. Every ceiling was different.
Even the paneling in our room had lots to see. Next time we go we're taking one of the dogs with us! Lots of places to walk there and right on the edge on Dartmoor.
I'm now actually trying to put some of these down into my sketchbook! Yes, you may gasp, me using a sketchbook! But only as a source of keeping the information together, this worm hasn't turned just yet.
We even popped up to Ilfracombe and saw Damien Hirst's Verity. She may be tall but not as big as I thought she was going to be. It was a bit of a grey day and the picture won't lighten but you can look her up if you want to see better.
Next week if off to the Knitting & Stitching Show in Harrogate! Quite excited and my list it growing.
Back to trying to finish the panel today. My wrists and thumb joints are complaining mightily, it's gloves on for most of the day, but not too much more to do now.
October was an absolute write off! The Thursday after coming back from London I woke up with no voice and that lasted three days. That then went everywhere and I was knocked sideways by the most horrendous cold thing and was in bed for 12 days. Never been so ill with just a cold! Of course there's no use going to the doctor as there's nothing they can or will do so home remedies it was! John makes a pretty mean hot toddy I must say. Just recovering from all that and my Hiatus Hernia rolled rather nastily which caused a bit of worry for a few days, but it's ok and no mad dash to hospital this time! And my cold has come back, but it feels normal this time thank goodness.
Whilst all this was going on I missed going to the Knitting and Stitching show at Ally Pally and I was gutted!! I had a long list of to do's, plenty of galleries I wanted to visit and a few people to meet up with. All passed and not even a sniff of those lovely halls!! I have now taken a huge leap and booked my hotel and a train ticket to Harrogate at the end of this month!! Scarey going all that way without my rock beside me but I know he will be following my on my Find my Friend thingy so with me in spirit. It was wonderful when I went to Paris on my own knowing he was there in ther ether like my guardian angel.
One of my Facebook groups raises lots of money for Pointer charities and it held a raffle some time ago which I won a prize of a painting of one of the dogs. The lady who initially said she would do it backed out but I was thrilled to be told that Michelle Diprose, an amazing artist and also a mad Pointer owner, would be doing it instead. Look what she did of my boy Ruger!! Isn't it fantastic??!!
I can't tell you how perfect it is and I am so, so pleased to have some of her amazing work especially of one of my own dogs.
Being so ill does not add up to much in the way of creativity, lots of sleep but not getting on with things. I did start a long piece for the exhibition next year. It needs a lot more added to it but I had to do some for a photo for the Art Centre brochure coming out for the new year!
I also used some of the boiled eco papers I made back in September to make a book.
You probably saw the start of this if you follow me on Instagram. Link to me, incase you don't and want to. I'm not a prolific poster but things do make it there now and then.
It's 6 x 7 inches and will be for the exhibition too.
Now days are drawing in as the clocks have pointlessly gone back I feel I'm fighting for time more and more. I'm sure it will be all ok in the end but March is running towards me too fast!!!
Oh and I finished my Embroiderers Guild Course, thank goodness. I now have the Level 2 in Machine Embroidery. I wanted to do the EG one rather than the City & Guilds one as it goes to Level 4 but the incompetence of my first tutor totally put paid to that idea!! Thank you Ms Howes for nothing!!
