Hello hello hello! Late again! Busy with all sorts of things but especially preparing stuff for the Shipdham Church Craft Fair this coming Saturday. I seem to have become a cushion maker - I did do a few more bangles, a photo-type Christmas wreath, and a felt wall plaque which I like but don't know whether anyone else will! Where did my plans to be making Christmas cards, perhaps a quilt, go? Ah well, you can only do so much. I have been doing some doodling and designing, here are a few pages from my sketch book - and I warn you I am no artist!
Above and below, some try-outs for wings and leaves - I seem to applique these shapes a lot!
This is my intitial design for the bird and stem felt plaque. I enjoyed making this, we'll see how it goes.
And this was my first idea for my Three Folk Birds cushion, with a couple of plaque ideas above.
After meeting Debbie Osborn at the Castle Acre Craft Fair last month, I was keen to visit her Open Day at her Art House Textiles studio just outside Fakenham, so Yvonne and I toddled over there on the way to Jane Anne's at Swanton Novers for a day of stitching.
We arrived just after opening time and there was already a crowd. Debbie and husband Keith made it a very welcoming experience, both sharing the chatting and coffee/tea pouring which made for a lovely visit.
Debbie is a fan of the Slow Cloth Movement, using eco-txtiles and natural plant dyes, often using re-cycled fabrics. She uses her own original designs which she hand cuts into print blocks to print lengths of fabric which she then makes up into cushions, bags, napkins, coasters and so on.
Here's Debbie describing the printing process to a visitor.
As well as textiles, Debbie works with mixed media and especially paper. I LOVE all of her notebooks and calendars, I did make a few Christmas purchases!
Here's just a few of her paper products. I'm looking forward to going back and spending some time with Debbie, drawing perhaps, painting - who knows? I do know it will be fun.
And now I must away, but before I go I must include an old photo of Jim and I taken on our Engagement day in 1970. I posted this on face book and it caused a bit of a stir, I've never had so many comments or views - well, you don't normally pay much attention do you, to how many people read your posts, only to answer comments if needed. We were quite astounded. Even got a 'like' from Andy Cutting! So there!
Ha! Sue I can only copy shapes, I can't draw properly, but I do enjoy "colouring in". Yes, now I come to think of it, Jim does have that shy thing that young Endeavour has. But fortunately his liver is is slightly better nick than the older Morse!
ReplyDeleteWow.... that 44 year old picture is priceless.
ReplyDeleteHi Lynne, huge catch up here, what a wonderful blog, I adore your work, your drawings are fabulous, I love colouring in as well.... Thank you so much for your kind comments today, I feel as though I have been out of the loop for too long. You do visit the most interesting artists, I hope your craft fair is successful at the weekend, too far for me to visit, sadly. What a lovely photo of the pair of you, to think, we were only just out of the swinging sixties at this stage!
ReplyDeleteSuexxx
Hi Sue, thanks for popping by and lovely to have you back blogging! To be honest the fair at Shipdham is a bit far for me too! I seem to travel miles cross-country since retirement, nothing really happens near here. Ah well, at least I am lucky enough to be able to drive my own car in retirement I don't know what I would do if I didn't have that freedom. Yes, I love that photo, and though it was early 70's I still think of that time as late 60's! Lxxx
Deletehow happy you both look - so glad to hear that you are still cuddling 44 years on - ha ha!!! we are a similar age i know but i was still at school when that photo was taken - ha ha again!!!! i will try to find you on fb and send a friend request then you can laugh and smile at our old photo's!!! thanks for showing us your work in stages - i wouldn't dream of copying you but it gives me ideas of how to go about a certain project that is in my mind - thanks again - glad you are ok - i'm sure you won't but don't stress about your fair at the weekend - people will love your items i'm sure i do!! take care xxx
ReplyDeleteLovely to find you on face book, Lynne. I must say, I don't always plan my work in any detail, but sometimes I sketch an idea out, or try colour schemes. Hping Saturday goes well, should be a good day anyway. Lxx
DeleteSome of the best photographs are in black and white! Wouldn't necessarily have realised it was you. Not free this weekend so hope you do well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dc. No the years have changed me more than they have Jim!
DeleteA long standing marriage is unusual these days and something to be very proud of. I wish you many more happy years together x
ReplyDeleteThank you Kath - not many of us about these days!
DeleteRe the photo, all I will say is that you have aged very well, look even lovelier, to my mind and eyes (remember I do wear glasses!). And of course, I love your sewing and planned projects.
ReplyDeleteEdwina, the cheque is in the post! Thank you for that lovely comment. I have to say I don't feel that way myself but then we are contrary creatures. Lx
DeleteLovely to see a little of your design process Lynne. And that fabulous engagement/birthday photo :)
ReplyDeleteHi Annie, it was a dearth of photos which prompted me to post the sketches to be honest! I love that photo, so do my sons. Lx
DeleteLove your doodle designs Lynne, they're gorgeous and so colourful. John and I got engaged in January 1970 and married in the October of the same year. Your photo is not unlike one that I have! Congratulations. P x
ReplyDeleteHi Patricia. Thank you, I don't always 'plan' my designs in such detail but sometimes I do. Isn't it funny how you can date the decade when you look at photographs! At least this one hasn't got that awful orangey 70's tinge so many slightly later photos have today - must have been funny quality film everyone was buying then! Lx
DeleteGreat to see your lovely work and especially all the plans and designs behind it. Congrats to you and Jim - you deserve each other (in the nicest possible way!). xCathy
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy, thank you - yes, it's been a long haul but we are still smiling! Lxx
DeleteDear Lynne, I am so delighted that you showed us this photo. You were adorable and the look on both of your faces is pure love. No wonderful you are still cuddling after 44 years. Isn't love wonderful :) I also, enjoyed looking through your sketch book. I think that you could copy pages from your sketch book and turn them into greeting cards.
ReplyDeleteHere's wishing you another 44 years of cuddling,
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)
Hello Connie, it's amazing to look back, isn't it! I wish I still had that figure! I have lots of ideas for cards, just need to set time aside to concentrate on them sometime - I need ORGANISATION!! Love to you, Lxx
DeleteDropping in between a trip to the Lakes and next week we're off to Canterbury. Just hoping all is well with you as you have been AWol ... like me.
ReplyDeleteThinkng of you, take care,
Jo x
Hi Jo - I'm still here - having had an unplanned vacation from blogging, will be back on form soon I hope!
DeleteHope you're OK Lynne, it's a while since this post, longer than usual for you so hoping there's nothing untoward keeping you away from the computer.
ReplyDeletex
Hope everything is OK with you, a long time since you blogged so missing your posts! Anyway, just to let you know you had been in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteNina
Hi Edwina - no I'm still here, just in one of those blogging fugue states where I can't get going. But I'm almost ready for a come-back! Thanks for the kind thoughts Lxx
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