For the love of Lawn

I have been fortunate in my life to have a Mom that has always enjoyed patchwork. Vintage quilts are of great interest to her. As I child I can remember that she hand stitched patchwork hexagons together made from our old cotton dresses and we would have to cut out the paper hexigons which was intensly boring to me.
She still makes quilts and her other obsession is Liberty Tana Lawn.......oh yes, the divine Tana Lawn.
The 'feel' test can tell you whether it's Liberty or not. That superb fine quality and wonderful, timeless prints.
Although I am not a patchwork maker, I too adore Liberty. I have had a few snippets from my Mom in the past and I've purchased my own stash, but....last week Mom had a cathartic clear out and quite a bit of the loveliness came my way, as in here.....
and here
and here
mainly offcuts and snippets, how surprising the effect gorgeous printed fabric can have on a 'middle aged' woman! Oh gawd, middle aged....that was never going to happen to me, I was always going to be in my 20's.
Anyway, just thought I would show you a few of my Mom's quilts :

Pretty little cushion....all made from Madam Liberty.





Gorgeous throw sized quilt, too lovely and new to use at the moment....I do adore pattern, colour in the mix with black.

Two quilts here, a smaller hanging and a slightly faded older quilt........

Holly asleep under another one, backed with a hand embroidered table cloth, which was a wedding present from a distant relative (1985). It had got a little stained, as table cloths do, so Mom used the best part of the cloth to back this quilt.

(Holly has had a hard day at college)!

Another quilt but she has combined vintage cotton fabric with Liberty for this one.......I did'nt open it up to show you because I am really showing off one of my fav things, which is the lovely pinny hanging behind the chair.......It's a lovely find, crisp, clean and it has a pocket too!

Well that's all I have to show you, we have many more dotted around the house.
You may remember that I told you that my husband is very supportive, but he does'nt 'get' what I do. I rarely show him anything I make because all I get is 'oh yes, very nice'. Now this may sound patronising but it is'nt...he just does'nt know what to say, bless him. Well guess what, he does'nt 'get' my Mom's patchwork.......but I suppose I would'nt expect him to.
Thanks for stopping by.x

Oh my goodness!!!!!

I have posted this latest Dolce and Gabbana Advertisement purely from an artistic perspective. An appreciation of the male form from a serious anatomical view ....yeah right.
Serious close up girls....don't look if you are shy!

Herefordshire Art Week

Herefordshire Art Week details.
Had a thoroughly lovely day yesterday exploring a few artists' studios in North Herefordshire, where our caravan is sited. Our caravan is sited in a village called Eardisland, one of many very beautiful villages in the area. When I received a copy of the h.art brochure and discovered that my favourite ceramic artist Bryony Burn actually lives in Eardisland and would be opening her studio, I nearly had a fit of the vapours! www.bryonyburnceramics.co.uk Bryony is a very well known and established artist, selling her work widely. She has a great web site with work for sale.
We were welcomed into her studio and Bryony kindly gave a demonstration of how she works her magic.
Rolling out ...

Cutting out using a template....
Allowing to dry a little....
Construction......

Bryony has many beautifully slab built pieces for sale and it was incredibly hard to choose but I did manage in the end!

Here is the piece I purchased. Perfection.
Thank you Bryony, for your kindness and hospitality.

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We made our way to Presteigne and to the Sidney Nolan Trust Printmaking and Book Art Exhibition at The Rodd, Presteigne. The Sidney Nolan Trust is a registered charity established by Sidney Nolan in 1985 for the purpose of supporting the work and development of artists and musicians. The Trust owns the complex of ancient buildings at The Rodd.

My sister is exhibitioning here too and here are two pieces of her work, both lino cuts. The first piece has sold. I am very proud of her.

The Tithe Barn where the Books Art and Printmaking Exhibition is held. 13th-21st Sept.2008.

Wonderfully atmospheric building.

Great chunks of metal plate holding it all together.
As we were leaving this pastoral scene greeted us.
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Onto workhousestudiogallery at Presteigne. Six artists work exhibited in a wonderfully spacious building.

I felt pea green, I must admit, because this building was light, airy and spacious with all the facilities in place for an artist.



Fascinating collection of photographs, very inspiring..... being viewed by my husband.
More work.
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We visited quite a few exhibitions in the artists' homes, so you not only travel by-ways you would never normally go down but you get to see wonderful work, situated in homes of the artists and enjoy their perpective of their work.

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Back to Eardisland and the annual Show was taking place at the Village Hall. I thought you would all enjoy these photographs of the exhibits, so wonderfully British.

Hope you enjoyed my tour of North Herefordshire and thanks for stopping by.x

Premature Saturday Shopping List

Just wanted to show you my new work.....
Another in my series of mono printed envelopes.
This envelope is'nt too old, 1974 to be precise, old enough though, I suppose. My childhood era...... brings back memories.......Saturday morning TV, argh, Robinson Crusoe, The Banana Splits, The Double Deckers, the cartoon Osmonds and Jackson 5. I would watch these and colour in my colouring book or make patterns with my spirograph. Anyway, I digress...... The collage has a snippet of lovely liberty fabric and lots of french knots. Lovely deco button to finish.
Moving on ...... another in my line of collaged/embroidered decorative ~ Khadi handmade paper sketchbooks. Can't tell you how divine this paper is, with it's textured decal edges.
Last but not least a Textile Collage which I am relisting... I'm trying to improve my photography skills and use better backgrounds to show my work off. I like the fact that it is unframed and hangs from this lovely folky hanger. Sometimes I think that we lock textured pieces away behind glass, that should really be available for us to see and touch (gently, of course). Now I know this is a little premature but here is my Saturday Shopping List. Thought I would post this now, as I have a busy weekend ahead.
It's HerefordArtWeek and there are lots of wonderful artists' studios open all across Hereford to visit. Can't wait!

So here we go, my choice of wonderful Sketchbooks/Journals handmade by my choice of Etsy Sellers.
I have a love or perhaps even a passion for sketchbooks/journals, like many of you, particularly handmade/handbound books.
By the way, two of the featured items of glass from last week's list sold, due to them being highlighted on this blog, woo hoo, that's what it's all about!

1. Prairiepeasant ~ Softcover sketchbook in green

2. StoriesDivinations ~ Once in France - A Reincarnated Vintage Travel Diary Journal Sketchbook Notebook

3. livinoutloud ~ coral eucalyptus journals

4. lapaperie ~ Large handbound sketchbook / guestbook - gorgeous deep plum leather (320 pgs. quality paper) 5. jodigreen ~ hand bound, printed sketchbook 6. YourSecretAdmiral ~ Make Believe Book See charlotte's fancypicnic, for other members' choices.

Thanks for stopping by. x

Jesse's diets

On my way into work today....overstating the obvious somewhat!






Because I'm going stir crazy............the weather being so dreadful, I thought Jessie (from Jessie's diets, The Fast Show) sums it all up quite nicely here.

As mentioned in yesterday's post, I do miss the Fast Show, never failed to make me giggle.
Thanks for stopping by.x
ps BEWARE if you click any other clips ~ some are very naughty.

Bureaucracy rubbish

A friend of mine kindly rang me, to tell me, that a friend of hers had had a clear out of her loft and had donated her grandmother's and her mother's button boxes to a charity shop in the town where I work. GGGrrrrrrrr. If I got round to the shop quickly, perhaps they may still be there!!!!!! She suggested!!!!! Well you know me, where buttons are concerned, a bit of a button bore to say the least! Well I hot footed round to said Charity Shop with no luck, as the lady behind the counter was'nt really, how can I put this nicely........ alive. Harsh, I know, but we do have buttons at stake here. Tried again next day, different lady volunteer, who had a word with the shop manager, who was out back. To cut a long story short, she said that the Manager had not come across them yet, but she would put them aside for me if she did. Yeah right! The nice lady voluteer hissed out the side of her mouth that they had had new regulations about what they could sell and she said 'in all probability they had been binned'......yes, that's what she said.....'binned'. I must admit to blanching when she imparted this little bit of info. By all accounts the recent rules and regulations now as to what Charity Shops can sell are very strict i.e. they are not allowed to sell knitting needles or patterns and they can only sell brand new wool, still in it's original packaging. The nice lady voluteer told me that they had become like any other shop just selling clothes and books. I think it is outrageous that in these days of green issues and recycling, it seems that most of what is donated to Charity Shops goes in the skip because of the Laws that are currently enforced. Rant over........ This weekend, I have been mostly making: (I do miss the 'Fast Show') Envelope #1 I do love this picture of this Robin. It's the shape of the bird that does it I think. Anyway, sweet little envelope, lovely cream colour, collaged with bit of letter and Liberty Lawn. Peep Po....Envelope #2 and feeling quite inspired by the feedback I gratefully received about the mono printing, out came the ink and roller this morning.....I mono printed this flower onto this 1905 envelope and had a blissful quiet afternoon embroidery away. Thanks to jackie of dogdaisychains for the creative award. Very much appreciated Jackie, thank you. I have to pass this onto seven other blogs, so that's for me to think about now. So many blogs, so little time. Thanks for stopping by.x

Shopping List Saturday ~ Make a cup of tea, there's a lot to see!

A beautiful antique opened out envelope is the basis for this collage. One of my fav drawing techniques is mono printing. The quality of the line that mono printing produces is so gorgeous, so I have drawn a flower on this envelope using the very same technique.

Lots of calico, muslin, liberty, mother of pearly buttons too. The stamp, date mark and hand writing is so beautiful. Over 130 years old, the stories it could tell. It's only small but very lovely. SOLD Woo hoo!

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Another item for sale is a sketchbook with another Letter Card collaged and embroidered. This was sent in the 40's by a sailor to his mum in London from Butlins Holiday Camp. He signed himself as 'your sailor boy, Arthur'. This is a photo from the Letter Card, it's obviously the Camp Site Chef. Does'nt he look jolly!

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Right, now...onto Saturday Shopping List. As you all know, it's where I get the chance to pick and highlight some wonderful Etsy products. This week the theme is Glass, beautiful glass.

Go see all the other member's lists at fancypicnic for some wonderful, inspirational choices.

1. InfinateCosmosGirl - Green Light glass handblown jar

2. providenceartglass - Hand Blown Glass Bowl/Centerpiece Mulit-colored Reds-One-of-a-kind by Rebecca Zhukov

3. RVAGlass - Hand Blown Glass Orange Murrine Vase

4. flamekeeper - Midge Mixed Shape Lampwork Beads Torch By Night TeamTGH SRA

5. greenglasscafe - OOAK Handmade Lampwork Beads and Fine Silver - Baby Pink Lemonade Bird by SRA Lampwork Artist Payton Jett aka Green Glass Cafe
6. Venbead - Blue Rose Borosilicate Glass Implosion Pendant

7. jochris12 - Cherries Galore... fused art glass pendant and earring set

8. MyCabinCreations - Copper Green - Lampwork Beads

8. ccvalenzo - Daisy Garden Floral and Dragonfly Fused Glass Pendant 072008p105

9. LeftCoastGlass - Glass Finial Ornament
Hope you enjoyed all of that beautiful work. Thanks for stopping by. x