brooches and more

What an exciting week this has been. I have been asked to contribute to a book that is coming out next year and so had to spend the week photographing some of my work. Between that, making bags and looking after Fraser I have hardly had time to do anything else. The ohoto shows a selection of brooches I have made to accommodate some of my beetles. I had a photo sent this week from one of my American Students showing the beetle she had made from the kit I sent her. It proves that the kits work.

summer concert

Last night was The Swindon Choral Society summer concert. We are celebrating 80 years of the Society and I have belonged to it for 24 of them! I fulfilled a secret ambition at this one. To sing the wonderful solo part in The Easter Hymn for Cavaleria Rusticana. I did it as part of a trio but it was a thrill to sing it.
I shall now spend the week making shopping bags to sell to raise money for the Society and dyeing silk caps ready for my next workshop.

bags and beads

This is my lastest piece of work. I bought the lovely glass when we were in the US and couldn't decided what to do with it. After fiddling around I decided to incorporate it into a piece of Textiles and this little brooch is the result. I can not wait to make a few more now.
Spent yesterday making calico shopping bags for the Swindon Choral Society. I print them with a lino print of music and embroiderer the name and dates of the Society. I made 50 ten years ago on our 70th anniversary. I don't know how many I shall make for our 80th as I find it a bit mind numbing but it does raise us some funds.

Holidays

Well I didn't get any painting done on my week away. However I took lots of inspirational photos especially at the two National Trust Site we visited, Bodnant and Powys Castle. The place we were staying had it's own resident family of peacocks who used to visit us each day. The baby one used to follow a pair of ducks around. I am now looking forward to our next holiday in October when we are going to Sedona, Arizona with friends a truely inspiring place.

books & holiday

Off on holiday on Saturday for a week in North Wales. I hope to get some painting done for textile inspiration.We had a great talk at Guild on Monday about indonesian textiles. Very interesting. I have just had more orders for my book. Check it out on my web site.

left overs

At Last I have found a way to use up any little bits of silk cap left over from my bowls and this is the result. It has given me an excuse to get to grips with my creative Embellisher machine as they embellish beautifully onto the background of black felt. I thne machine embroider them in place. The lining is fabric I had left over from my last Gilbert and Sullivan production when I had to make a very large Witches hat big enough to cover a 6' man!!