Book shelf

More line drawing, this time a test-run for a large scale pic of a bookshelf:

As is often the case, i find myself liking the back of the piece almost as much as the front (apart from the fact I've managed to catch the fabric up in the stitching...doh!)

Jugs

Today is the first day for a couple of weeks that all three girls have gone to their respective schools/nursery (I don't want to sound like a heartless mother, but I have to confess to breathing a small sigh of relief as I sent them out of the door this morning...)

Now that I have the house to myself for a few hours, surely it's time for some more free hand stitch-drawing?  Am off to work on some more jugs I think - I find their shapes very pleasing.Not too sure whether this version might benefit from a bit more colour:

Will post some more pics later... have a nasty feeling that the 3pm pick up time will be here before I know it!

Accessorising the hound

It's begun already, but that's ok since this is part of the joy of owning a dog, yes?

Beautifully hand made and very stylish pirate collar for Dash the Whippet, available here. I've also got my eye on a new coat for him, but am holding fire on that until he reaches his full size. Just you keep an eye out for us on the fields around Bath next winter, that's all I'm saying...

Georgie Meadows

I seem to have spent an inordinate amount of time at our local hospital over the last couple of weeks:
- two trips to the eye clinic with eldest daughter who had an ulcer on her cornea;
- one trip to see the out of hours GP service with youngest daughter; and
- one visit to the children's ward this week with middle daughter (who was clearly feeling left out, and decided to book herself an overnight stay plus chest x-ray just to up the ante a little bit...)

Lucky for me, whilst roaming the corridors getting lost between the various departments, I came across some fantastic textile pieces by an artist called Georgie Meadows. You can read more about the exhibition here. I didn't have my phone with me at the time and couldn't take any pics, so the images here are ones that I've culled from the Wellcome Collection and various other online sources.

Lovely, inspirational and very moving pieces and just what I needed to distract me. I might even get the kids to work on a few more medical symptoms, and then I can go back and have a better look...!

House of the Rising Bun

For anyone who enjoys cooking with their kids, these lovely products are definitely worth checking out.

What's that you said? Why, yes, that is my youngest daughter in the picture....looking suspiciously angelic. If only they could see her today, covered in snot and mysterious paint stains from pre-school!

I can also confirm that the finished cakes tasted just as good as the packaging looks! You can find out more from their website, http://www.houseoftherisingbun.co.uk, and you can buy direct here.

Can't draw, won't draw

That's how I've felt for a very long time, but I thought it was about time I had a go. So I set up my trusty machine at the kitchen table (sewing room still a complete state, as a result of all the building work) and set to work, drawing the various things I could see around me.

I limited myself to using up some scraps of calico and only one colour of thread (though i broke that rule on the final one!):

I was really surprised by how these quick fire stitch-sketches turned out, and was feeling pretty pleased with myself. As ever, I should have known better... (note to self: don't try drawing people, ever again)

House update - part 2

Next up - a new version of the Bath townhouse that I first worked on last summer:

That one was followed swiftly by the wonderfully named Gogland Manor:

And last of all there was a mystery house commissioned as a birthday gift for a mystery lady. For the sake of my possible career (or should that be my ego?) i'd love to name names, but my lips are sealed. Suffice to say, it was incredibly nerve wracking working on that particular piece, knowing where it might end up!