Now What's Next...?

This week I have actually been using a sketchbook!  I know we are all supposed to be excited by using sketchbooks and keep copious amounts of them but they have never been my thing. I have a few that are more like scrapbooks but very few, apart from the C&G ones, that are actually filled with my dabblings and experiments.  I'm more your hands on kind of girl.  But I have now opened a new one and used it!  

I have been collecting a few motifs and ideas and making stamps.

I've then pulled a few prints off my gelli plate (something I'm very new at and still not too sure about) and added them to a pile of my fancy fabrics.

There are also a few bits going on with the experimental emblems department,

There is something fluttering around in my head that keeps knocking to come out.  Trouble is when I give it the opportunity it runs hiding at the back there somewhere again!  Anyone else have this problem?  Thoughts are just to keep fiddling about and hopefully it will be encouraged forth.

I'm having huge trouble with my keyboards at the moment.  The silly, tiddly thing that came with the Mac likes to put in extra symbols when it feels like it and the larger one I bought (the one with the delete button and proper number pad, I do finances for goodness sake and you can not calculate with numbers when they are in a line!) has the idea I need to capitalise everything every now and then.  It's favorite letters for turning this on are S, W and P at the moment but that changes at will.  Apologies for any un noticed typing booboos.

If you follow me on Faceache you will know about our latest neighbours, the Blackbirds.  We are lucky to have dozens of bird nests, high thick hedges and a large feeding station has encouraged them in.  That and John's ability to manically shoo away any predators like cats and rooks.  These Blackbirds have decided to nest outside the backdoor.

Last week on 1st July I waited patiently for mum and dad to leave, have a good zoom on the little point and shoot and took a quick photo.

On Thursday we found one of the babies in the garden, probably the little one you can see to the bottom right of the picture which didn't react to the possibility of food coming its way.  We suppose the siblings edged it out and one of the dogs found it.

Yesterday there was a lot of Blackbird scolding going on and we couldn't see any cats but the the Sparrowhawk shot through and John thinks it caught something.  We patiently waited to do a beak count and were quite relieved to see mum and dad come back to the nest.  There is still possibly a nest somewhere that has one parent down but it's not our little neighbours! And we love the Sparrowhawk too.

Today's quick snapshot of the two babies.  They are very vocal now and don't react the same way to our presence anymore.  Like the Robins earlier in the year we made the decision to carry on as normal and they would become used to us, which they have.  I think I will be keeping a close eye on them over the next week and being careful when the dogs go out though.

We have the F1 and the tennis finals and Olivia will round off the weekend by being christened so lots to look forward to.  Have a great one yourselves!

*Edit*
About 12.40 today they flew.  So far so good.  We can hear them but don't want to poke around too much to find them.  Mum and dad are still about feeding.  Fingers crossed for their onward journey. Aren't nests amazing?!

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Chalkland Flowers

Just a skim through what I've created this week. It's a commission of local wildflowers.

First was the layering.  Lots of open weaves in very neutrals stitched down with free motion.

Then I let Bob strut his stuff and embroider the flower names on the panel.  I don't use this machine often enough really and it was quite a learning curve remembering.  What would we do without the internet!

Afterwards I had a bit of free motion embroidery to do.  I enjoy this.  I will enjoy it more when Bob learns to thread himself every time I want to change colour.  Four different greens in these stems!

And all four done on the panel.

I was asked a couple of times at the Open Studio how do I make my work so flat.  I dampen it, stretch it out and leave it to do it's stuff!! And every piece is treated the same.  Obviously the media used can dictate the water content from a thorough washing to no water at all just the pinning and stretching but they all have time to be put into their shape and relax into it.  I was also asked five different times if I could do workshops, weeeeeeeellllll, I don't really have a lot to tell apart from things most people already know or things like this. And the few times I have taught it has petrified me so much I've been ill!  Daft I know but that's just me.

And finally the pieces mounted.  They are on 10 x 8 inch canvas panels.

I sprayed up some Khadi paper to compliment the flowers and tore the edges on a deckle ruler which, much to my surprise, gave them a lovely white contrast edge.  Quite pleased with them, I hope the recipient is too.

A little bit on the wildlife front this week.  Monday just as we were going to bed John found a HummingBird Hawk moth buzzing around the lounge.  There have been a couple in the garden but it was a surprise to find one inside.  After a bit of a chase and clambering about we managed to capture it and set it free.

And last night we had another bat fly in.  No photos this time but once we'd opened another few windows and doors it eventually found it's way out too.

I hope you all have a good week ahead!

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They Fledged!

This morning I was nowhere near my studio for ages and when I did pop in I saw these faces looking at me. They were quite active and having a few wing stretches. 

Then Elsa arrived with Olivia and we decided to sit in there as it's always nice and sunny and full of things Elsa wants to look at.  Whilst I was facing away Elsa said one was near the edge just as it few and hit the window!  Obviously I didn't have the camera ready for that but I was a bit worried about it hitting the window!  I couldn't see it anywhere so it must have made it into the bushes.

I managed to grab the camera for this blurred shot of No 2 about to leave.

 And then again as it tried to fly along the window.

Eventually it landed in the Quince.

Looking quite stunned with it's achievement and probably a little cold after the nice cosy nest with it's siblings.

No's 3 and 4 looking like Tweedledum and Tweedledee wondering what they are supposed to be doing.

Really not too sure at all!

So a parent flies in to encourage them with no food to offer.  Perhaps they'd better get a move on.

Which then works!

The parents are still flitting about and I saw one encourage one of the babies under a gate and on into the back garden.  I hope No 1 is ok.  I still don't want to go out there yet and check, (or clean the windows!), and maybe find out if there actually was a No 5 like we first thought. Luckily we don't have cats anymore and nor does the neighbour.

Fingers crossed for their onward flights. We have really enjoyed being a part of the wonderful event and feel more than lucky that we were here at the first flight too.  And don't forget you can click on the pictures for larger ones.


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We Have New Neighbours

During all the excitement going on around here I actually noticed this little busy chap (or Chapette).

When we had the conservatory re built on the side three years ago it narrowed the corridor down the side of the house.  There was a little robin box left on the fence line but it's always been empty.  I've been trying to train the holly and ivy to help conceal it hopefully to give it enough cover for a nest builder to find it acceptable. We seem to have some interest!

And just to show how close the box is, from my window to the box is about 4 feet.

They have been very busy as that amount of leaves and fluff has only taken a couple of days to build up.  There are always Blackbirds, Wrens, Dunnocks and Robins flying up and down that corridor and we have plenty of sparrows nesting just to the front of my room.  That is where I sit, usually facing to the left of picture but, as you can tell, using the machine too.  I spend a lot of time in there and I'm hoping that my presence doesn't put them off nesting, they know I'm there and I don't intend to stop using the space!  Robins are very sociable and there are usually several nests in the local garden centre so they will, and should, become used to me.

I'm just off to sneak back in there and hopefully do some sewing so I have something more creative to show you very soon.

A Jolly Little Jaunt Out

Yesterday we had a visit to the New Forest Show.  It was rather wet and the sun decided to show it's face just as we were leaving.  It was so wet I didn't even open my bag let alone use the camera!  As always there was lots to see, do and eat.  I'm sure most of you know the routine of a County show!  

We did see plenty of ducks and geese but very early this morning on the lane out of the village we turned the corner to this beautiful gaggle of swans waddling up towards us! (iPhone and low light).

I think mum and dad were a little shocked to find this big metal thing with lights coming towards them but the cygnets, all 10 of them, were unfazed.  A couple even plonked themselves down in the middle of the road.  I wasn't so daft as to jump out of the car, any animal with babies has to be given respect, but I did find a piece of paper to flap as John inched the car closer.  Luckily they took the hint and moved over.  And mostly plonked themselves down again.  The youngsters were obviously a little tired, that hill is slightly steep and the stream is about 50 metres down the bottom there.  They've probably never used their legs for such an ungainly thing as walking that far before!  

We were on our way to to West Sussex to pick up this sewing machine base that John has bought me for my birthday.  I have a spot in the house that needs a table for a plant that's been living on the floor and this is quite a neat, narrow table stand.  A little bit of work to do on it and a top and it will be perfect.  Just need a slab of wood to buy (Darren I may need a rummage xx) and a bit of a carpenter (Chris your talents again xx) and hey presto!! 

Do you remember the silks I layered up a while back? Well I have done some stitching here and there.

And then I chopped it up. (After sewing around the decided sizes a couple of times to secure the hand stitches).

 And neatened it.

 Then a few beads.

And buttons.

And bits.

And I'm now ready for the next stage.  I will make a couple of visitor comments books from them.  Something I have been told is a must have for showing work.

Sad news this week is that the Art Trail in October has been cancelled but at least I have a few bits for the bigger one in May next year and I really do feel a little calmer about the whole thing.  Remind me of that next year will you??  It did spur me on to finally put something in my Etsy shop though.  Only a few cards for now but it starts the ball rolling.  Nothing worse than a totally empty shop!

And the good news this week is that Elsa and Mike have reached the magical 12 weeks stage of their new family.  I got to see my new Grandbaby!!!  Well one of those grainy photo things but very clearly a baby with hand held aloft.  We will just have to wait to see if it was waving a spanner or a needle but the knitting and proper quilt planning can now commence in earnest, I've been waiting weeks to brag about this you know!!

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The Urge to Play and Time to Catch Up

I had my first silk club selection all the way from Australia a couple of weeks back but have been busy doing other things to really have a play with it all.  Yesterday the urge came upon me!

Here are a couple of the cocoons lurking in strange positions.  They actually have size on them and are drying.

Whilst waiting I sprinkled some of the metal flakes, also included in the club selection, onto a piece of flimsy and covered it with  separated layers of the silk hankie.

A whizz through the embellisher and some hand stitching.

This is more the colour than the other photo.  With the addition of some gold work leftovers.

And the cocoons had a bit of a jazz up too with metal flakes on the size, stitch, more gold work bits, beads and some super sparkly organza in the top.

A few Shisha mirrors just because they were hanging around.

And the cocoons have a little home.

Just a little more to be done.  

Last Wednesday John whisked me away to Limoges for a few days.  Yes we have been fabulously lucky to go away a couple of times already this year but this is the first time just as Me and He for a while.  The hotel was lovely and central to the old quarter where the Cathedral Saint Etienne is.  It's one of the few remaining fully Gothic cathedrals left and it is a beauty.  

It has super thin flying buttresses like above and it's covered all over in gargoyles like below.  

Well worth the visit and to the Museum of Beautiful Arts in the Bishop's house next door.  In this museum we found quite a few paintings by the artist Elie Lascaux, very beautiful and lightly surreal, worth putting into Google Images for a quick look.  The shop even had a book all about him in English as well as a French version so that had to come home with us. 

In other news (!) we all seemed to have survived the Google Reader switch off.  In fact it wasn't even noticeable so that was a relief.  I did worry slightly that I may lose you all but you are all still there. GFC and other gadgets weren't affected.

We had a special couple of visitors to the garden last month.  One night after a BBQ I went out to check all was in and saw this little glowworm  between the paving slabs.

It was the first we've seen here so very exciting.  John went in for the torch and I managed this photo too.

We are also pleased to see we still have slowworms.  Sorry if you're a bit squeamish about wriggly things. 

And speaking of squeamish here are Ruger and Ellie practising their levitating head party trick.  Cool eh??

Off to watch a bit of tennis now.  Have a great week.

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A Brief Interlude

Please play corny lift music whilst staring at the ceiling or your shoes.

I have had a bit of a cough for a couple of weeks and this week it exploded into full on something or another.  I've had a totally empty diary and so have spent my time working hard in my studio coughing and sneezing and basically dying in bed or on the sofa.  No energy or will to lift my head and aching tummy muscles.  I'm still anaemic according to Dr's tests and being susceptible to coughs and colds is a side effect.  This is the third bout since the ulcer bleed in October.

I'm becoming so fed up.

Whilst I could still lift my arms a little I did do this little waistcoat from a Noro pattern.  Jumping from the 8mm of the throw to 3.75mm for this was interesting! I loved the bright flecked yarn I found in a local shop.  (I may just put this one to one side, just don't tell Elsa and Mike).

And as I don't have much more to say here is a photo of one of the Great Spotted Woodpecker's through my studio window yesterday looking rather fine and dashing in his plumage.

And this is the male Blackcap who visited this week after showing a photo of the female last week. I think they are pretty little birds and, for those who don't know, they are of the warbler family and known as the northern Nightingale as they sing so beautifully.  They are really only a summer visitor but a few have started to over winter here now, but it's still a rare thing.

If my coughing allows I may lurk in my studio for a while and see what doesn't happen.  Have a great weekend.


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