REMEMBER

Ten Plus Textiles are having an exhibition at Ordsall Hall in Salford. Some of the members have also been working on a community project with a local youth group to produce "creatures" which may be lurking behind the wattle and daub of the old building. Ordsall Hall is beautiful and well worth a visit.

 

 

My new work, "Remember", is on display. It combines many elements of my recent work- fabrics printed on the computer, graffiti and applique. The background was pieced, then needlefelted with an embellisher machine to distress it a little. The tree was cut from fabric that I had put through the printer to print an image of graffiti. I liked the idea of  blurring the boundary between a natural element like a tree with something more urban.

 

Thin Ice

A lovely brisk walk along the canal. Beautiful golden sunshine lifting my spirits and making the dusting of snow on the towpath sparkle. Birds chirping and the dog, off lead, giddy with the joys of Spring, snuffling along the bank and skipping along. That is, until he decided to chase the ducks across the ice.......

 Normally, he is wary of the water- he can't swim that well and often barks at dogs swimming in streams to warn them of the danger. But today, the water was solid; it must be -those ducks were walking on it, after all.

He got almost halfway, with me yelling at him to come back and willing him to be feather-light, when the ice gave way. There was a cartoon pause, while he registered that the water was in fact liquid, then he started scrabbling desperately. Did I mention that he can't swim? I was frantic, calling "Alfie come" and his eyes were pleading, but he was getting no closer to me. There was ice in his way. He was too far for me to reach. Very quickly he tired and looked dangerously close to slipping under. He wasn't moving forward, just paddling to keep his head up. I couldn't bear the thought forming in my head. I couldn't stand there shouting, reaching and watching while he drowned. So I waded in.

I know, I know! I've heard those stories too- I've told my own children-"Never go into water after the dog". I figured the canal couldn't be that deep. I was very careful and thankfully, by the time I was in above my knees I could reach out and grab him by his harness. The relief!

We then had a 25 minute walk back to the car- thank God it was sunny. After a good shake Alfie seemed full of beans again, but I kept him very firmly on his lead as I squelched along in my sodden wellies!

We got home eventually, both had warm showers and now that we have both stopped shivering, Alfie is asleep on the sofa. I think we may be going for a road walk tomorrow :(

Back on my Feet in Pretty Shoes

I am tiptoeing out of my January slump to wish you a belated Happy New Year and lots of  blessings in 2013. I've been sad and fed up of the long grey days. I am trying to focus on the good days, little moments of cheer and colour.

Which brings me to a different shade of blue......

It is ridiculous how smiley my new shoes are making me feel today (after all I am a Doc Marten girl).

 

I tried them on months ago and loved them, but I couldn't justify spending £54 on them. (OK I know Doc Martens aren't cheap, but I know they will last me for life through rain and snow and we are talking frivolous, girly shoes here!) A few weeks later I tried them on again - £30 in the sale- and they were sooo comfortable and the heels were exactly the right height so I could feel glamorous without tottering about like Danny LaRue! The problem.....no blue ones in stock:( 

 

 I have scoured the internet and driven my children and Mr Dotty mad by dragging them into every Clarks shop around. I had given up hope. Then, whilst moping and having a last wistful look at my perfect shoe, I discovered a pair in McConnell Shoes in Ireland....less then £30 including postage!

 

 

They arrived this morning and I am chuffed to bits!

 

They are even beautiful inside as they are lined with Liberty fabric.

 

 

 

All I need now is for Mr Dotty to whisk me off somewhere nice!!

Goodbye....

Dad

 

                          16th June 1943 - 19th October 2012

  Loving and beloved husband, father and grandfather. xxxxxxx

Coming Soon...

 

I've been busy finishing, labelling and packaging my work for this exhibition and I've also made some brooches to sell. The exhibition will be stewarded each day by members of the group, so if you are in the area, come and say "Hi".

Rain, Rain, Go Away

This wet, windy, grey weather is doing nothing to improve my mood!

I'm feeling sad as my poor Dad continues to be very ill and each day is a struggle for him and my lovely Mum.

We take each day as it comes, but it is strange to be getting on with the normal, hectic, day to day life with this hurt tucked away inside.

I can still create a little....

...some brooches to sell at the next Ten Plus Textiles exhibition.

And I can still laugh a little....

"Really Mum, I didn't take the coals off the fire"

And the world keeps on turning.

Can you hear that?

Listen carefully....yep, it's the sound of silence (well it would be if the neighbour's builders stopped for a brew and the dog stopped grumbling!)

I have to say though, I don't much care for it...an empty house, no kids running in and out, taking over the computer and leaving dirty mugs around the house. It's going to take some getting used to!

Today my youngest started at High School and I've been on pins all day waiting to see how he got on. My middle child is starting a new term and GCSEs and my daughter has gone on a last trip out with her friends before they all go to different colleges.

So while I can get near the computer and it is quiet enough here to think, I'll show you what I've been up to recently.

I've started to crochet a blanket that was featured in Mollie Makes magazine and is also in the "Cute and Easy Crochet" book by Nicki Trench. I'm fairly new to crochet and I've never crocheted a square, but I was amazed by how easy it is and now I'm hooked (pardon the pun!)

I'm only going to use a small amount of the gold and blue, but the other colours are in my bedding.

 

These are my first few squares- I know they don't look very square at the moment, but they will be once I've pressed them.

It is going to be a great project to pick up when I have a few minutes spare.

 

As you may remember, I am interested in grafitti and I  am planning to do some more textile work based on the colours found in the city. When I visited the Festival of Quilts in August, I found these two great books full of inspiration.

 

 

I can't wait to experiment with Sharpies, printing and fabric collage.

I'll be back soon with more!