Seeing Double - Studio update

 On  Monday, took delivery of my second Sewezi table so that I can use both my Pfaff Grandquilter and Bernina activa 125 at the same time ( the Pfaff is particularly heavy to move around) I also had them both serviced, they're positively purring now.

 Apart from the 5 sets of plastic shelves for  fabrics, paints and equipment, on Sunday we put together a bookcase for my folders and sketchbooks ( just need to find them now among all the sealed book boxes...)

Now I need to find a source of the interlocking polystyrene insulation boards I like for design walls - I had to chuck my existing ones when we moved ( they already were so worn they had no corners!) Large flattened cardboard boxes aren't so effective once they've been used.
 My first Cwilt Cymru 'cynefin' quilt is finished bar the label, just 2 weeks to complete the second.

Purple Holes and New Shelving

 I've just uploaded an image of my  Journal Quilt for January ('purple holes') to the CQ Yahoo Group - I did most of the stitching on the train back from Weymouth and watching the final episode of 'War and Peace'

Over the weekend Ian and I dismantled the wardrobe that was in the alcove of my studio and I constructed another 2 sets of black plastic shelving ( now have 5) . Much better use of space ,I wonder how long it will take to fill them...
The wind is a bit alarming on the second floor! Not much sleep last night as we're not yet used to what the 'normal' sounds of our new house are.

A touch of purple : 2016 Scrap Journal Quilts

The CQ journal quilt challenge this year is 8 x 10 inch portrait with a 'touch of purple' Jan- April ( green and orange later in the year). I like to base my JQ's on what I'm doing throughout the year , and the last couple of years I've  mainly used scraps to make little sketches/ compositions. So I came on holiday  armed  with sketching gear; Kindle; score for Haydn's Creation ( will do some practicing alto chorus parts singing along to 'cyberbass' ) and a large bag of bits of fabric.

I sorted them roughly into colour groups and even with such a large selection, find I'm short of lights and yellows. Never mind, my first tacked composition is based around trimmings of indigo damask with holes in  ( with flashes of purple beneath). I'm intending to explore darning, mending  and other 'slow stitch' techniques this year.  

 

Talking of purple - this colour is missing from my oil  pastel starter set and  more  blues and reds are required in order to mix them. There's lots of greens but purples are the quintessential landscape colours for me, I had requests on a watercolour course on how to mix ' Mags Purple' as everyone else started seeing them too!  

Windy Weymouth

Back in Weymouth for a weeks holiday - I have lots of creative breaks lined up for the year but   we both need some time away from unpacking boxes and planning what to do in our new house. It's also become a bit of a tradition to come here around Ian's birthday. Yesterday after a stroll at the end of the Rodwell Trail  we headed over to Portland. Very windy around Chesil Beach and a lot of debris washed up. A depressing amount of brightly coloured plastic but also a lot of wood - there were a lot people beachcombing taking away logs  and branches and even what looked like a large wheel. 

 

It's our 9th visit to Mariners View, definitely a home- from -home now  which adds to the instant relaxation effect. This time there was a new dishwasher  and a lovely stained glass window in the front door   which cast amazing  coloured shadows.

The parasurfers were out in force making the most of the wind ( I counted 15). Rather them than me.... We're content to have strolls based around  nice meals - Cove House Inn yesterday and New Inn for Sunday roast today. Ian has requested Rodwell Trail followed by Nothe Tavern tomorrow.

 

Sketching Catch-Up

This  weeks Sketching Tuesday was at the V&A  in the newly opened 'Europe 1600-1815' Galleries. So much over the top ornamentation isn't really to my taste  (and lighting levels were low)   but I found much to enjoy in the section on drinking vessels !  I   was trying out combining graphite and watersoluble colour pencils ( and finding colour pencil marks don't  erase)  and in the last few minutes  scored into my paper with a piece of wire and then rubbed it over with pencil  with intriguing results - one to explore further.

 

Last week it was opaque turquoise glass vessel in the  Islamic Gallery at the British Museum,  separate drawings in watersoluble colour pencil and in graphite exploring the negative shapes.  One of many discussions that day in the café afterwards ( apart from sketching stools )  was how the objects that interest you most initially seem to be the ones that fall off the edge of the page!  

 

Looking for art classes more locally, I've just signed up for course on using oil pastels ( not a  material I've used much ).   I was late for the first class yesterday  , no bus turned up for 50 mins and then I couldn't find the Adult Education Centre  in the large Canterbury School campus! But I soon got stuck in, making simplified tonal sketches from photocopies of photographs, b&w to start with and then  more difficult colour ones.   

 



 All useful exercises and I've ordered my pastels   for next week when we'll be playing exploring their properties.  

Hard not to get distracted with views of Canterbury Cathedral  in the distance and  glowing wintry skies.  

2015 Journal Quilts

Looking forward to receiving my copy of CQ newsletter  and finding out what this year's Journal Quilt   Challenge will involve. This will the  10th year  doing them with CQ  but my 14th as I started in 2003. I can't stress enough how much I've learnt through the process of making them .Often they're samples testing out ideas for larger quilts or experiments from workshops or classes. More recently however I've been making  small collages using scraps  responding to places I'm visiting. My regular trips to Weymouth/Portland  and on retreat at Rydal Hall continue to be a source of inspiration.  We'll be in Weymouth again the first week in February and I'm already choosing scraps to take!
The montage of my quilts from last year is pretty diverse ( and yes I do know there are 14 - I got carried away with the B&W ones!), none of this designing them all at the beginning for me, that wouldn't allow for changes along the way. It also reflects what has been a year of  momentous change  for me  - I'll be doing another summary post in preparation for the 'change of address' letter we'll be sending out instead of our  annual Xmas one.

Another reason for looking forward to the CQ newsletter is that this JQ features on the cover to accompany  an article on eco-dyeing - Margaret Cooter is doing an excellent job as editor, she was so patient!

Creative Start to 2016

 

 

 

Happy  New  Year! Thanks for all your good wishes.  Still unpacking boxes  but spending time getting to know our new surroundings : the photos above are from a walk  around the Iron Wharf boatyard  and the  crown spire of St Mary of Charity on the way back from the pub. Lots of inspiration!! 

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 My studio is now functioning: black plastic shelving constructed, fabric stash boxes un-taped , threads unpacked and sewing machines in action.

 Today was first day of 'Open' exhibition at Creek Creative - I had 3 pieces of work selected and hung. Interesting display of work - the exhibition is on until the 31st ( and I can highly recommend the Café).  Next week is first rehearsal for Haydn's Creation. A good start to  2016!