Findhorn experience

Last month I embarked on a new adventure; I travelled up to near Inverness to take part in an experience week at the Findhorn Foundation, a spiritual community, eco village and learning centre on the Moray Firth. I went 1st class (when I booked in advance this was cheaper than a normal ticket!) which was very comfortable with food and drink regularly offered. This, 3 changes, interesting scenery, a book and starting my journal about the week helped the 10 hour door to door trip pass ........ well, in 10 hours! 

My arrival at Cluny Hill, a Victorian building that was once a hotel.

Our group of 16 consisted of 4 English, 2 Americans, a Mexican, a Brazilian, an Italian, an Australian, 3 Dutch, 1 Swedish, 1 German and 1 English/Dane!! A truly international gathering of all ages, all with different reasons for being there. It was all very new to me, I practice Mindfulness and wanted to explore and deepen this aspect of my life. The week included activities to bring us together as a group, sacred dance, meditation, sharing sessions, talks about the community, Taize singing and 4 mornings of 'love in action',  ie. working in the community; I worked in the garden.

The entrance gate to the original garden at Findhorn.

Some eco houses at The Park

A house made from an old whiskey barrel!!

The Nature Sanctuary at The Park, a place for meditation.

Sunset

An afternoon by Findhorn River.

Our group art work on the beautiful beach, my favourite place up there.

My part.....

The pebbles in the heart represent my family.



An amazing week of new experiences.

Norfolk break

Last month I joined my daughter and her family for a few days in a caravan at Hopton. I don't really 'do' caravans but it was fun spending time with my lovely family. Fun to wake up and have Barney running in to wake me up! The weather was kind, of course it was a bit windy and overnight it rained but otherwise it was sunny. We made it to the beach, I enjoyed taking some photos, maybe to inspire some future work.

Barney loved the sand

I was amused in the summer when my daughter was at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge with Barney. As she went into a room the woman coming out said hello, you must be Anna's daughter; she(Rhiannon) follows my blog and recognised Barney! Fame at an early age!!

I know it's a while ago, but I loved the Knitting and Stitching Show and bought some fabrics for my next 2 quilts but I'm not allowing myself to start planning them until I've finished the 2 I'm doing now. Hopefully by the end of the year both will be completed! Here are some of my favourite pieces of work.

Ebb Tide by Glenys Grimwood

Liz Holliday's work on contours

Cuckmere Haven by Bridget Barber

and John Allen's Tin Mines

I went by coach with the Letchworth Settlement, a really easy way of getting to Ally Pally. So good to relax on the coach and chat rather than drive myself home.

My first lino cutting class

Several people have asked me when I was going to hold some art, particularly lino cutting, classes in my studio, so after a lot of planning I contacted those interested people and I held my first Introduction to Lino Cutting and Printing class last month, at home in my studio.

 3 people joined me for a busy, fun day learning about lino cuts. We learnt about the different types of lino to use, the tools, the inks and the papers for printing on. We then practised using the tools.  Jane, Sarah and Gina had fun getting to grips with the tools and experimenting with the different marks that can be made. It was fun, it's exciting trying something new! When ready we transferred our design to our piece of lino and set about cutting the design. This is part of the process I love, Jane, Sarah and Gina had fun getting to grips with the tools. We learnt to ink up the lino and hand print onto Japanese Washi paper using various tools.

Here's Gina using a roller to hand burnish her print.

 It was great to see our first results, very exciting! Then we moved on to printing on my wonderful book binding press, which is fun to use.

We had a really lovely day with great results.
I'm holding another day in November, (no spaces left) and planning a day each month next year. If you are interested in joining me for a class, do contact me.

Thanks to Jane for taking a few photos with her phone (I'd left my camera in Norfolk).

Her's Sarah with her lovely abstract bird design.....

...and Gina's delicate birds and trees.....

...and Jane's delightful Christmas trees, already made into cards I hear.

 Sadly no photo of Jane!

I had a wonderful day, totally exhausted afterwards but such fun to share my passion with others - 3 more people who may well get hooked on printmaking; they want to come back!

Patchwork in progress

Well, Herts Open studios is over for me and I had 2 successful weekends; lovely visitors who were interested in finding out more about printmaking; including Itziar, a lovely Spanish graphic artist from St. Albans, who reads my blog - good to meet you! I didn't take any photos, oops!

Now I've got back to the machine quilting on my modern log cabin quilt, nice and easy wavy lines and 'rounded' squares. I'm using yellow and brown variegated cotton thread.

I've really enjoyed working with these modern fabrics, now I just need to quilt the edge pieces.

The speed in which this has been achieved is in stark contrast to my long term quilting project which was started years ago. It's a copy of an old Cumbrian family quilt that covers my table in my studio.

I'm quilting a design of oak leaves and acorns on the blue triangles. I now realise how barmy it was to embark on hand quilting such a large item, considering that it only comes out in the winter sometimes!! However, progress has been made, there are 20 small triangles all quilted and out of 60 large triangles 35 have been quilted so I am over half way through. I've also put 2 hearts on it; I'll have to decide whether to quilt anymore of those.
 I've decided to really work on it this winter, due to encouragement by Elaine, who came to my open studio and saw it. This week I have quilted 2 triangles. Maybe if I mention it on my blog it will spur me on!! 25 triangles to go!!

More screenprinting

I thought August was going to be a 'quiet' month but it was really busy with lots of printing, both on paper and fabric, a few days out, seeing friends, a great birthday and time spent with family; all very good. I also acquired another press but more of that another time! I spent 2 days at the Curwen having fun screenprinting. Here are the results drying, lots to be over printed...

...and some finished...

I'm loving working on fabrics, my washing line is good for drying (on a still day!)

    I've put another table up and my studio is fairly chaotic!! 

A fun diversion was a day with friends Annie and Pippa at the Festival of Quilts, always inspiring to admire the truly wonderful work on display.

I liked the new layout once I'd worked it out! There was plenty of space in the food area which was good, so much to see that we'll need 2 days next year as I certainly didn't see everything.

 I was only going to buy some backing fabric for my 1970's log cabin patchwork but as I saw all the fabulous modern fabrics a new idea took shape.... I decided to make the back a 2012 patchwork, keeping the yellow and brown theme using fabrics with spots/stripes/lines. So, the following week I carefully planned a modern log cabin, the same size as the 1970's one, unfinished for 30+ years until earlier this year. Here it is, ready to join the blocks together after lots of moving around.

I'm machine quilting it at the moment, wavy lines in yellow and brown and going round on the squares. It's lovely to be sewing again!

I also had a stand at Ashwell Show on August Bank Holiday; better weather this year and quite good sales at what is mainly a horse show! It was the first showing for my textiles; cushions, tea towels, aprons and shopping bags.

I was demonstrating lino printing all day which generated a lot of interest.

I've seen a lot of my grandson Barney, being a Granny brings a delightful dimension to my life. He calls me Nanny or Gaga!

How cute.   

This week I will be getting ready to open my studio with Herts Open Studios, if you are anywhere near, do come along! I'm open on the 15th, 16th, 22nd and 23rd from 11 to 5.

 I've updated my website and written a blog today, phew!