Big Stitchings...

I've just finished the largest machine and hand embroidered piece I've ever attempted.

It measures 60cm X 60cm and is attached to a linen canvas.

It took many, many hours to stitch but I loved every minute.

I used the deconstructed layers from pieces of a beautiful old quilt that I bought from Hope and Elvis.

I am thrilled to be part of a group exhibition at The Steel Rooms in Brigg.

The theme of the show is 'Time' and I wanted to celebrate the beautiful hidden layers of the antique quilt, and to produce a marathon piece of stitching that would literally take a huge amount of time to produce.

I also wanted to record the construction of the piece itself, I hope you enjoy seeing how this hare made of scrips and scraps emerged!

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BOO!

It's been a busy few weeks and so we decided yesterday to have a day out.

It was, in fact, the perfect day for a mooch around the pretty market town of Louth.

And then we happened upon this shop and my heart skipped a beat...

Frocketty Boo is jam packed full of beautiful women wear, mens wear, hats, bags, jewellery and shoes.

It was so tempting and Charlotte was so friendly that we left the shop with a treat each!
(Well, apart from Middie, but there isn't much call for vintage chihuahua wear!)

Someone's getting a bit camera-shy!

Frocketty Boo Vintage
53 Queen Street
Louth
Lincolnshire
LN11 9BJ

March Medicine...

You may remember I went to a ' Beat The Winter Blues' herbal remedies workshop in January at The Steel Rooms, held by the very lovely Ali English.

For this workshop we used nettle tops, violets and a whole host of other such exciting ingredients.

We started by brewing up a lemon detox decoction.

There's lots of chopping, peeling and creativity involved!

We then enjoyed the fruits of our labour and sipped our lemon and nettle tea.

It was really refreshing!

The next recipe was for an immune boost syrup, just the thing if you are starting to feel run down, or you have the beginnings of a cold.

I left the mathematics and measuring out to my trusty partners in crime... Thanks chucks!

Ta! Da!

A jar of our very own medicine to take home!

I really enjoyed myself, can't wait for the next one!

So, basket full of herbal goodness, I had a potter around Brigg before setting off home.

(My favourite little antiques shop...)

I also gave my new granny glasses a test run, cheap as chips from good ol' Asda's.

Hope you had a fab weekend too.

X

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A Retrospective Indeed...

This week we visited the Harold Gosney Retrospective Exhibition at The North Lincs Museum, Scunthorpe.

Harold Gosney was a tutor at the Grimsby School Of Art Foundation Course when I studied there.

It was one of the best years of my life and completely changed the way I looked at the world.

Looking back, it was like going to Hogwarts, every tutor was incredibly talented and dedicated and they were all such amazing characters.

Here's our Sam, looking very studious indeed.

It was brilliant to see his sketches and maquettes, as well as the final pieces.

It was food for the soul, much needed during this busy and demanding time of the term.

I always find the preparatory work and thought processes fascinating, and just as beautiful as the finished pieces.

The students were really inspired and produced really lovely sketches.

I couldn't resist getting out my trusty old sketch book too!

(Can you tell that I couldn't quite get the horse's head in the right position!)

Happy memories of happy days...

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