Thursday June 25th

I don't want to make you all jealous but i have a hair appointment!! Not till a week on Tuesday but at least I have something to look forward to.
It's too hot to sew, my hands get sticky and must make the fabric grubby.  I have been looking at an Indian piece and choosing some colours and shapes that I want to use.  Not done anything with all that fabric I bought, so maybe I should consider that as well.
Lesley however, has been busy printing.  She has sent me pictures of the lovely work she has done using some inexpensive acrylics she got from the Works.  I have put a picture of them in if you are interested.  The prints on fabric just need ironing to set them then they can be washed.

These prints have been done on paper.

These two prints are done on fabric.  She has used a roller and the flower in the bottom picture is alchemilla mollis.

Thursday 18th June

Not very June weather looking out of my window at the pouring rain, still the garden looks happy.  Hope it eases off a bit before I go out to pick some rocket for my tea.
I have started working on my blanket stitch this week.  Not done much yet but a start has been made.  I am now going to leave the Africa work and maybe do a piece inspired by the photographs I took in India.  I need at least one new piece for the exhibition in November at the gallery in St. John's Road.  The picture framer there, Alex, is open again if you have work you want framing.
I haven't much to tell you this week as a jigsaw has occupied all my spare time.  It is about the hardest one I have ever done, a photomosaic of the Beatles and I wish I hadn't started it but just can't leave it now.
Roma has been much more focused and has sent these pictures of her blanket stitch pieces, done while watching TV.

I have finished some work on my Africa piece that I had started.

I am not sure where to take this now. I think I might make it into a hanging with lots of cords and beads hanging down the sides.  I'm not happy with the printed piece on the right, it feels a bit big in comparison to the rest of the pieces.  It will hang on the back of the settee for a while so I can think about it.
Keep the work coming in, I love to see what you are doing.

Thursday 11th June

Just been for my short walk around the village again and again I mistimed it and got a bit wet.  This week Lindsay and I finally had notice that our August holiday to Spain has been cancelled, which was what we expected really.  Shame they had to wait until we paid the balance before telling us, we now have a six week wait to get our money back or book for next year, which we might do.  We still have a week booked at the beginning of September to a holiday cottage in Northumberland and hopefully that will go ahead.  The only worry is that they will change the school holiday dates and shorten the summer ones but Lindsay says that will be a nightmare for planning the work.
I have been busy sewing but haven't got a lot to show for it as I have been doing hand sewing on an evening. However, Lesley has been busy.

She has made this sample piece from some of the off cuts of the scrubs she has been making for the NHS.  I think it is a lovely idea and something to remember.

This is the piece I have been working on.  The cream is just backing fabric and will be cut away when it is finished.  I want to try and hide some of the printed piece on the right, it is a bit big and bright so I think I will try and make this a hanging and add fringes, strings of bead, etc.  I have a few cowrie shells that I think will fit on the other brown piece and there are a few more bits and pieces to add to it but it is coming along.
Keep safe and well.

Thursday 4th June

Who would have thought that we would still be socially distancing in June, this seems to be going on forever.  I forgot it was Thursday and nearly didn't do this update.  My sister and her husband and Lindsay came round at lunchtime and we sat on the drive under the car port with our sandwiches and had a good chat. The garden is looking happier now we have had a bit of rain.  It always looks disappointed with my watering even though it is rainwater and I give it plenty.
I haven't got anything of my own work to show this week.  I am working on another Africa piece and have been crawling on the floor putting fabrics together and trying them out.  I have now got an arrangement I like but I can't move it off the floor until I have got the pieces attached to each other as I don't want to loose the arrangement.  Should have it ready for next week. I have also bought another book, this one is by John Gillow and is full of lovely pictures of African fabrics.  Some of you who were members of the Embroiderers Guild when it started in Pickering may remember him coming to give us a talk at Lady Lumley's School where we had an exhibition.
However, Roma has been busy and has sent this picture of her 'Pyramids to Penguins' theme.

Some of the fabrics she has dyed herself and some are purchased.  I love the little penguins.

Has anyone found anything interesting on the internet they could share with us.  I keep looking out for things and will post them when I find them.