Merry Christmas 2015

'Tis the season to be jolly and this year the Treacle Market in Macclesfield certainly made us feel festive.

There was plenty of sparkle... 

...silly hats...

..a tune to make you smile...

...mistletoe...

...and festive dogs!

We got our tree up eventually and each year I love the memories that flood back as we unwrap the decorations. Not for me a tasteful, colour coordinated, fashionable set of decorations. Ours have been given by friends, bought as souvenirs on holiday or hand-made by family members and each year we unwrap them and marvel about where they came from. Some don't survive another year in the loft - air-dried clay has a tendency to crumble- but those that don't are gently wrapped up and put back in storage.

The tree in all its sparkly glory! It is small, but lovely (unlike the angel who looks kind of huge and unconventially dressed in red!)

We made lots of painted clay decorations when the children were quite small and had such fun with beads and glitter.

 A button heart made by my daughter.

A sleepy owl made by my mother-in-law

I made this Christmas stocking when my patchwork obsession was born.

The stag sits on the wall year-round, but has a festive touch for Christmas.

I'm very proud of my felt wreath.

Once the decorations are up we open this tree and have one of the special chocolates that are hidden inside. I think the family occasionally sneak one when nobody is looking, which is fine as long as there is one left for each of us for when the decorations get put away in the New Year.

Funny how we all develop our own little traditions as the years go by.

So after this little peek at my Christmas, all that remains is to wish you all a Happy and Peaceful Christmas 2015.

Christmas at Sefton Park Palm House

This weekend I will be helping many other artisans and food producers to bring Christmas festivities to Sefton Park Palm House.

This quality event will be expertly run by the wonderful Larry and Mandy of Artisans Network and all their helpers, creating a great weekend for visitors and stallholders alike. It is a fantastic opportunity to talk to artisans about their inspiration and work, not to mention a fabulous place to buy unique Christmas gifts (drink gin and eat cake).

Mr Dotty and I are very much looking forward to the weekend- we enjoy chatting to our fellow stallholders and the wonderful people of Liverpool who are always interested and engaging. We will wrap up snuggly in lots of layers and maybe warm our cockles with a special coffee or two!

The event is on 27th-29th Nov 12-6pm. I'll be there on Saturday and Sunday.

This is well worth a trip, so pull out all the stops- be there or be sqaure! (and come and say "Hi" to us at "Dotty B". We'd be delighted to meet you.)

Long Time No See!

Hello!
I daren't look at the date that I last blogged- no excuse really, just life plodding on! I'd forgive you if you have given up on me. I just haven't been very good at taking photos to show you or getting my head together to write something interesting.

Life here has changed a little. My daughter has gone away to Uni and I really miss her and find myself in an all male household! She is here this weekend, which is lovely. My middle son is at Uni doing art foundation and thankfully still at home this year. I'm enjoying watching the progress of his various projects. My youngest is in year 10 so is gearing up towards GCSEs (well, when he is not out skateboarding!)

The dog is as naughty (and mucky) as usual, but as the house is often empty now I wouldn't want to be without his company.

Work-wise it has been a bit of an up and down year. I've had a couple of exhibitions and some slow times, but I have been stitching recently as I have a stall at Spinningfields in Manchester with Makers Market this Saturday (14th November). I'll also be at Sefton Park Palm House in Liverpool for a Christmas extravaganza packed with beautiful handmade goods, delicious food and festive fun, on 28th and 29th November. (Details here : /www.facebook.com/Artisansinthepalmhouse/ )

I think I'll need tp wrap up warm, but I love doing these events, chatting to people about my work and hopefully supporting other makers by buying some Christmas gifts. There may also be a little cake consumed- just to help me keep warm :)

Hope you have a good weekend xx

Artisans At Croxteth Hall

I'm getting excited about attending Artisans At Croxteth Hall in Liverpool on 19th August. It is on both the Saturday & Sunday 12-6pm, but I will be taking my textile art there on Sunday 19th.

As well as my larger framed pieces I have been busy making these postcard-sized artworks.
The background is needle-felted with patches of fabric, then applique and machine stitches added. I usually add some little blades of grass and swooping seagulls by hand.

If you get chance pop over and say "Hi". It will be a lovely event with lots of beautiful handcrafted goods to admire (and buy), delicious food and a great atmosphere set in the beautiful grounds of Croxteth Hall.

Peace and Tranquility

The Summer holidays are fast approaching and I'm really wishing we had a little holiday planned. I'd love to escape in a little camper van...

...or sleep peacefully within the cool walls of a whitewashed stone cottage.

I'm craving sea breezes, open skies and time to enjoy each moment. My system needs a reboot to help me find some direction again. And some cool, salty air to clear my melted brain!!!

More Lisbon... street Art

Happy Monday!

Anyone that knows me or has been reading my blog for a while will know that I love graffiti -the colours, messages and its ephemeral nature.

It often features in my work and our recent holiday was a rich source of inspiration.

I reckon some of these images will make their way onto my textiles somewhere along the way, maybe as a backdrop for a lonesome chair...

I've mostly stopped photographing the whole piece now. I prefer to get in closer and abstact it a bit.

That way I seem to notice more of the details and unexpected shapes...

...and the textures of the wall beneath.

Have a good week....

All This Used to Be Fields

This morning the dog and I set off for our very local walk. It's a short stroll from our front door, along a pathway and a quiet road where the oil depot sits. It is very peaceful - the oil tankers are few and far between and are very respectful of walkers. There is a little pond in an adjacent field and the route is often populated by sheep, horses and cows in the fields.

We climb a stile into a large field, where Alfie can run free if there are no sheep (he's a bit of a sheep rustler at heart). After that we climb another stile and mooch along a leafy pathway next to the golf course before emerging back onto the road back home, where we sometimes pass children on their way to school.

Occasionally we bump into other dog walkers, rarely we see a golfer, but we are always accompanied by birdsong. I've walked this route in all weathers, learnt to run here and it is very close to my heart.

 Which is why I feel so sad this morning, having seen the early stages of devastation that the new by-pass road is causing.

 The boundaries of these fields were lined with trees and hedgerows. I can't help wondering what has happened to any nesting birds.

All of the trees and hedges have been uprooted and shredded leaving just a mess of sawdust.

Just beyond the sawdust there used to be a line of trees screening the golf course beyond.

Alfie is looking a bit confused- this is where I used to lift him over the stile and there were trees screening us from the field on the right.

It seems such a shame. I think I may have to walk elsewhere for a while.