A Brief Encounter and a Proposal

Mr Dotty and I spent a happy Sunday afternoon at the glorious Stockport Plaza watching Brief Encounter (his favourite film) which was divine on the big screen. Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, illicit meetings, clipped vowels and oh my...those eyes! In the interval I noticed a couple in front of the stage and realised that the man was getting down on one knee to propose!!! Judging by the lady's reaction and the fact that champagne was consumed, I'm pretty sure she said "Yes" ! It was a lovely, romantic moment.

Afterwards we settled in the tea room for afternoon tea- what could be better! We had a wonderful afternoon, such a great event to raise money for Christie's hospital

Schnauzer Saturday

Saturday was a good day! We started with a mooch around the Artisan Market in Wilmslow, buying some yummy food. We treated Alfie to his favourite Gourmet Dog Biscuits, bought the most delicious pies from Orchard Pigs and amazing scones.

Later on we drove over to Dovedale for the National Schnauzer Walk organised by the lovely people from the schnauzer forum. We got a bit lost on the way, the ABS warning light came in on the car- I don't think the car liked all the twisty hills and consequent braking!-and the youngest child, who usually has an iron stomach, got carsick! Thankfully we arrived on time and I was in schnauzer heaven. The car park was ringing with the sound of nearly 40 schnauzers "chatting away"! It was so funny :D

Alfie was so ecstatic to have all these friends to meet and play with.

The stepping stones were negotiated in various ways, some leapt across and others were carried- dogs, that is, not owners! I don't think anyone fell in. Alfie is a wimp when it comes to water and usually tries to act as a health and safety officer, yapping at any human or dog who tries to paddle and tries to pull them out! Needless to say he thought we were slightly mad to suggest crossing the water and he had to be carried!!!

After this, Mr Dotty scoffed his pie, which was pork and black pudding and  apparently scrumptious- a brave move, I thought, for a man surrounded by dogs.

Here are some of the group. I'm the one with pink hair and Alfie is the one who is facing the wrong way and showing his bum!

We went home tired and happy and I REALLY want a second schnauzer:)

I think we are in for a lovely week weather-wise so I think lots of walks will be on the agenda, which I hope will also give me time to try and come to terms with some difficult family news we had yesterday.

What are you up to this week?

Hotch-Potch and Speechless

Words fail me today!

A few piccies instead...

I am very excited about tomorrow-it is going to be a good day! In the morning, I'm having my hair coloured (ok that part is a bit boring, sitting still for ages! There are only so many Hello magazines I can stomach), meeting two lovely friends in the afternoon, then in the evening Mr Dotty and I will be rubbing shoulders with some arty types! I had a piece selected for the Open Contemporary Art Exhibition at Stockport Art Gallery and I can't wait to see all the wonderful art.

Sneak preview of my mixed media piece, "Home from Home 2". I am always very grateful for how well received these pictures of Skye cottages seem to be.

I have been busy working towards my next exhibition with the Ten Plus Textiles Group. This is a quilt I made four years ago for an exhibition at Little Moreton Hall, a stunning tudor house in Congleton.

The "strips 'n Curves" technique by Louisa L. Smith is quite challenging. I created a fabric by piecing together black and white strips, then cut these up to make the patchwork- lots of seams to match up!. I quilted it very simply with circles. It is quite striking, but I'm afraid I found it...well, dull!

So, my brains were wracked for ideas on how to recycle it (or is that "upcycle"?) I'm beginning to explore the shapes of leafless trees.

I love the ones in Skye- short and gnarly, and leaning against the harsh elements.

So, I appliqued a bold, bright, bare tree onto the quilt. The curves of the branches echo the curves of the patchwork and the tree looks as though it is offering up the moon. I requilted it with orange thread-it was originally blue- and added some black satin stitch circles to draw the eye. Then I had great fun handstitching and voila!

I don't want to reveal the whole thing just yet as it is going to be on show in October.

Right, off into the kitchen to make the second Christmas cake of the year! *smiles smuggly*

Louise Gardiner at Collect

The wonderful Louise Gardiner talks about her work for COLLECT 2012 (http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/collect/now/view/you-blow-my-mind/?list_p=1).
 She is a very talented embroidery artist, teacher and quirky bird! She has dedicated the last six months of her life to this project and her vibrant spirit comes across in her blog http://lougardiner.blogspot.co.uk/