Did I tell You About My Moth Trap???

Well the Art Weeks is over for another 2 years and everything is disorganised all over the place in the house.  I will try and sort it out over the next few days.  I also need to sort the notes and thoughts I made whilst sitting in the church unable to get to my studio!  Of course the little spare time I've had so far to go in there I sit and find all the thoughts have disappeared!  Good job, I hope, I made notes!  I'm sure I'm not the only one who's brain goes into overdrive when you don't have the ability to carry things out and then blank the minute you can. 

I did have a group of GCSE students from a local school textile group come and visit which was interesting.  

One of my book sleeves inspired the church committee to ask if I could make them a Prayer Request book for the church, which of course I did, and it's already in use.

After three weekends, and the weeks between, away from home I spent a fourth weekend in the local garden centre exhibiting as part of a group for the village of Cranborne Open Gardens.  Just a glutton for punishment!  We are now at mid Summer and I feel I've hardly been at home at all this year.  I'm now staying as put as possible for a while. 

I told you about the moth trap they put out while I was staying at Kingcombe and the amazing moths that were caught.  John knows I have always wanted a trap of my own and he went and bought me one for my birthday!  

Early I know but it's National Moth Week next month and he wanted us to be ready.  We've had it out two nights so far. It's like a sunrise all night long it's so bright. This was the first night.  I did warn the neighbours!! 

The second time we put it at the top of the garden behind the trains as it has a really long lead.  You could still probably see it from space.  On reading up it's preferable to leave a few nights between each setting out to allow the moths to feed.  You're also less likely to keep catching the same ones then too.  Also the release is quite important and they really are a bit daylight dopey and then of course a good meal for the birds!  We have been releasing where there are plenty of hiding places and hanging around to keep the birds away.  Good job we have a huge garden! I'd feel so guilty if they were just an easy breakfast, birds are very sly like that apparently.  

Anyway, I will leave you with some photos of our star moths.  There were dozens of different ones, (we seem to have thousands in the UK!!!) and now I have time, and some bug pots, I will start to keep a log of what we find.  

Privet Hawkmoth

Elephant Hawkmoth

Small Elephant Hawkmoth

Poplar Hawkmoth

Emerald

White Wave

Burnished Bronze

Blood Vein

Plenty more we saw and I haven't logged but we're doing well so far, especially in the Hawkmoth department!!

Dorset Art Weeks is Well Under Way

DAW opened on Saturday 26th and for Karren Burkett and I it is at my village Church.

The Church Warden is so pleased to have the space used he even grabbed some of Karren's paintings and put them up in the chancel.

We worked out our working area quite quickly.  Sitting doing nothing for 16 days is not an option!

But the table

And display boards

All look pretty good and we're having some lovely comments in the books. 

I've had to gird my loins and say good buy to quite a few favourites including

Rock of Ages and Relic Jurassic

New Moon

and And the Sun Shall Rise

As well and lots of bags, book covers and the cards.

It's what it's all about after all!

Kingcombe and DAW

After coming home from Devon I had a few days to gather my things together for a residential course with Lynda Monk at the Kingcombe Centre. I've never been there before and was really impressed with the barn for teaching and the standard of catering.  The bedroom was ok, at least most are en suite, but my bed was a bit hard for me.  It was all far too exciting to sleep much anyway! 

Lynda showed us her techniques for making fabrics with Tyvek and Lutrador.

As you can see I had a huge pile of good sized samples to bring home by the time we had finished.  We did use some of them up whilst there too.  We also experimented with textured surfaces and paint effects. 

I'm almost finished with the tall vessel.  I've painted it fairly lichenish but need to add a few extra bits.  The bowl was a clever effect and several people have asked if it's metal.  It's not but you'll have to go on a course with Lynda to find out what!!!!  We also made a stitched book, which I had to help several people with but then I do make a lot of stitched books, and a Grandma's Boasting Book which is origami folded pockets.  

I'm now making some of the fabrics into other things including these screw spine sketchbooks. 

She is a full paced, non stop tutor and I've heard rumours that people refuse to go on a second course with her as they can't keep up!  I loved it!!! We were allowed in the workshop anytime so a lot of us started around 7am and often finished after 9pm.  The superb food was copious, fresh and very delicious with continuous tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits.  Good job there were lots of walking paths around the estate! 

On one night the wardens put out the moth trap for us, something I've always wanted as I love moths.  We had quite a collection of the usual suspects the next morning but, oh joy of joy's, we had a Poplar Hawkmoth!! So pleased to see something exciting. 

Isn't he beautiful?  

I seemed to be on a bit of a wildlife spree whilst there.  The first night I rescued a huge queen hornet from the bedroom area.  The following day a swallow had managed to fly in too so I had to capture that as well.  So amazing to see the beautiful iridescent colour feathers on it up close.  The next evening there was an escaped lamb which no one would go near but I managed to get it back into the field with its friends.  Oh and about a dozen bees needs rescuing from various windows.  All good fun.

Next event is the Dorset Art Weeks which starts this Saturday 26th May.  I'm pottering now as I think I have enough to show.  I've just about run out of time now anyway as the rest of the week is taken up with other appointments.  We're hanging Friday. 

Enjoy your week! 

We've Been Away!

We've been on a dogliday with the girls!  Ruger and Tully were looked after by a friend as their age doesn't agree with sitting for long hours in a car and romping around big beaches any more.  So sad. 

The girls enjoyed themselves though! 

They explored rock pools for ages!  It was hard to see them in amongst the weed a lot of the time.  

And then there was the big, sandy beach too. 

John even found me a dolphin skeleton which he refused to let me bring home!  I was still a little juicy in areas though.  

We even had a day up on Dartmoor though it was a bit blustery and sometimes wet. 

We managed to really up our stepcount but I would really have loved to put a counter on one of the dogs!! They did not stay still for long at all!! 

I took Mandala Madness with me and managed another few rounds.  

Now I'm home I've also caught up with most of Cosmic.  A new part is released today.

I've also put together another set of cards.  These were very popular at the last Art Weeks.

Other than that we had the pub's Spring festival yesterday and Iwas there all day serving ale and cider.  It was a hot one but much fun.  We're off on a long dog walk now before the heat gets too much.

Have a lovely week!! 

Now Where Was I...?

After spending some time making samples for Brockenhurst I did put together this little book from a 1968, rather well used map of Dorset.  

It was falling to pieces along the mappish creases and so it naturally wanted to be pages.  I just added a few bits and stitched it together keeping all the lovely worn bits around the edges.  

There was also another couple of bags done for the Art Weeks.

I had a few scraps left over from the bags and, after pulling out my bitsa box, put together some cards in my Fragmental Cartouche style. 

Love making these!  Who needs to through stuff away. 

We had an amazing presentation of Elsa's Masters with Merit last week too.  I'm so proud of this young lady!! She has studied for her Masters at the same time as working full time, having two babies and training and running all over the place! Perhaps she's one of the ones who has found the secret door to another time dimension to fit it all in.  

Brockenhurst Needlework Fiesta went well.  Two days of stitchy, creative people can only be fun really.  Maggie Grey and I before the doors opened.

The Greys Mandala has had a few rows added.  Now at 32 inches.

 I've also started the new CAL this week in colour.  This is Cosmic and is 21 inches across at the moment.  

I'm sure the colours will grow on me as they expand.  I'm just used to dull! I did have to change the greens though as I found them a bit too off my taste.  I've put in much more earthy ones, chosen from some of the colours in one of the Batik yarns used so they do go much better to my mind! 

Finally, this week we have started the prep for the Dorset Art Weeks, 26th May - 10th June.  John has dug out the signage A frames and attached the new roadside posters.  I've been making up arrows and numbers.  

I'm not going to blink or it will be here!!!  

Have a creative week. 

March into April

Exciting post title I know but I can't think of anything else at the mo!

I've had a strange few weeks creatively. Not that I've been idle.

I put together another natural book. 

Gives reason for picking up all those odd bits I find calling to me. 

Despite trying it refused to have a proper cover mainly because it wants to sit like this.  Which is ok as it displays quite well. 

I have been making various pieces and samples for demoing at Brockenhust Needlework Fiesta again later this month and really struggle with what to show.  After hours and hours of fiddling about and mind changing I think I have come up with something that will work that isn't hot, smelly or takes too long to dry.  All things to be taken into consideration in such a close environment there.  If it works I'll be happy.  We will see. 

I also made another couple of Curio Compendiums to show with the others for the Art Weeks.  They make it more of a collection display then.  More places for all those ODD things I find.

This also included me making the smallest book I have ever created! It's in the top lefthand box. 

I have recently been pulled back into crochet.  I think the last I did was a bag in July and a couple of throws the year before.  This time I'm joining in a Crochet A Long (CAL) by Helen Shrimpton.  As a warm up I did one of her squares to see how she stitches and she has some amazing combinations.  this cushion I made using up lots of odds from knitting the Grand's cardies. 

I have just started her 2016 CAL called Mandala Madness in a King Cole Curiosity yarn that has a looooong colour change. They're supposed to be done in different colours per round but I fancied one of these in neutral greys.

It takes so much more concentration than just knitting in the evenings! There are 45 rounds done so far (36 hours worth), another 66 to go!  AND I could square it off after than if I chose.  I may stop early, depending on the size reached.  This years CAL starts in just over a week. 

In my efforts of trying to use stuff up I dug out my fabric sample books and an old bag pattern.  I tweaked it a bit and have been putting together some new bags for DAW too.  

Two made all bar the metalwork and bits, another two under the machine and several more waiting for cutting.  these always sell well.  The black and gold one I may even keep for myself! 

I've been having a few panic attacks about what I have to make for what's coming up and really not liking where I am with it all.  I have piles of stuff I just want to play with or finish or even start in some cases!  I took the decision to not do any more exhibitions after the one in September.  I may still do an Art Weeks or two but they are every other year and I don't have to do it if I don't want to.  I find it hard to keep producing items of a showable standard and I'm not the fastest creator.  I know there are some out there who can bang out work at a phenomenal rate but they have usually worked out a formula that works for them and, to be honest, I become so bored doing the same thing I become frustrated by the constraints.  I had the same problems when I was committed to doing my City and Guilds each time.   I will continue to flit like a butterfly rather than slog doing what I think NEEDS to be done. 

After having a bit of a moment last week I made lists.  Then I made lists of the lists.  When I could see where I was going and scratch a few things out each evening I made a mini list of things I wanted to achieve the following day.  I certainly started sleeping better knowing what needed doing just in small bites.  Then Saturday night I had a phone call asking if I would like to join 5 other local creators at a weekend long exhibition just after the Art Weeks.  Of course I said yes.  Now I have to slot in making a few more scarf pins and bags and hope I don't sell them beforehand! I'm sure I would still feel the same even if I hadn't lost all of January and February and most of March to the tumour but at least I'm still hear moaning about it! 

Once more into the studio......!!!! 

Whoo Hoo!

It seems like ages ago now when were were snowed in.  We have a fairly steep drive and because of the weird freezing rain after the powdery stuff leaving a thick layer of ice over everything we couldn't get out. We are used to being prepared, even though it rarely happens.  Living in a little village does make  you more aware. Anyway, it was all over in a jiffy, pretty while it lasted.

I did take advantage and try some snow dying! Not something I'd done before and, as we were all talking about it in the WoW FB group, several of us decided to have a go. 

I'd seen on youTube several versions of applying the dyes and opted for the straight powder way.  the strength of the colours looked promising to start with but, even though I had pre soaked with soda ash, I was a little disappointed with the results. 

I have a large box of quite strongly dyed colours already so perhaps it isn't such a bad idea I have some softer tones to add to them. 

The WW1 Sawdust heart arrived. I asked the organisers if it was OK to make another identical heart of my own to put in our village church and they said yes, a lovely idea. I had a Dorset Artist woodturner friend of mine, Darren Wheeler collect some of his sawdust and make one I did! 

Despite packing it in as hard as I could it was still slightly smaller than the original but you'd have to look hard to notice and they are not going to be next to one another. They both have the names of our fallen on the back on silk too.

I know the village had a bigger population back then but to lose 15 men, and several of them from the same families, must have been quite a blow to the area.  The official one has been sent off and the other is waiting for me to take it to the church later in the year. 

Speaking of the church, I will be holding my Dorset Art Weeks there this time with fellow Dorset Artist Karren Burkett.  Though I loved being at home with John and the dogs last time it was still a bit strange having all those people turn up at my house!  Also the new church warden is hoping to try to have the church used more as a community space, not just by a dozen or so every other Sunday.  It does have a lovely, light area to use too so when he asked me if I'd like to do something there the Art Weeks seemed the logical thing.  Hopefully it will make others see it as a valuable part of the community too.  

Something I have made for the Art Weeks, along with the pincushions, are some zipped pouches. 

These little bits are the equivalent of a painter's cards.  The little things people can buy and they help cover the basic costs of holding the event.  Once those costs are covered I can put money towards the dog rescue charities.  

I also had a frame made for the finished Earth's Treasures.

Really pleased with how it looks framed up.  I'll be happy to keep that on my wall.  

Yet another Dorset Artist Colleen du Pon who I have shown with and who's skills I have used before, has made me another hanger for the Ammonites piece.  She did one for me for the last Art Weeks.  It's just perfect. 

I've been rather sad to read of several reports of Etsy turning into not such a nice place to sell.  As well as the place being overwhelmed with the NOT handmade stuff, it's now selling awful cards mocking Harvey Price and other tasteless items and not banning them from being sold.  I have an Etsy and was going to go back there but I am now definitely staying with Folksy! After the Art Weeks anything unsold will be listed.

Finally, I'm feeling fab!  I had a phone call from my surgeon last week and he said the biopsy from the tumour removal came back as good.  The iron infusion has kicked in and spring is in the air!  What more could I ask for? I have an appointment to see him tomorrow so he can sign me off and life can move again.

Have a wonderful week ahead!!