A new chapter.
So my intention to keep my blog up to date went by the wayside.  I haven't added anything for a while!
I have recently ended a work contract and have more free time,  so I am hoping that I get more time to be creative.
My latest inspiration comes from places I have visited in Madrid over the last three and a bit years.
It is a lovely city with blue skies and very friendly people.  All together I have started four images. Only time will tell if these get completed.  The embroidery stage is nearly finished. I now need to paint the details to complete the images and frame them.
My idea is to generate a series of images of places I have visited in the last four years, which have helped me move on from darker times and helped me begin to enjoy the new found freedom in my life.
I hadn't felt like creating embroideries in this style for a long time for several reasons. Just getting to the current stage feels like a huge achievement. Hopefully there is more to come.

As always my cats have to help!

 

Preparing for summer

I made the decision last year not to continue to run a website but to post current projects on this blog. As I have agreed to take part in an exhibition in the summer I need to get working on some new ideas. I am focussing on images of Pembrokeshire and West Wales for now but no doubt will get side tracked as the year progresses.  It is also too easy to go outside and enjoy my garden with the dogs so images are progressing much more slowly than in the past.

I have lots of ideas and too little time.  Most of my current ideas are a blend of hand and machine embroidery. Current projects are illustrated below.

New Year. New Beginnings

The highlight of 2015 was completing my house purchase and moving in. 12th December 2015 was the big day and it managed to rain all day.  Eskarina likes my new house and the doggies too.
During all the changes last year I decided to not continue with a web page but a friend recently suggested keeping a blog. Not a bad idea. As I had this already set up I decided to update things and see if I can manage to post more frequently.

November 2012

Since my last post I have been travelling to Australia again and am only just beginning to catch up on all things textile. As usual I have too many ideas to commit to pictures but I am determined to genrate some embroideries of Leura in the coming months.  The images below are of a garden open in the Leura garden festival.  It was strange to see spring flowers out when I had left autumn trees behind in the UK.

As soon as I have created images I will try to post them either here or on my website.  As I now have time to practice more I find my skills at free machine embroidery are improving, meaning that I can add even more detail to the images I create.

Inevitably we went to Echo point and to the thre sisters lookout. I must have 7 different photos of this view as have been here every time I have visited Australia. One day I will look them all out. The grey hairs should be less in the earlier versions!  We also went to cuddle the Koals at Featherdale again. The roos were on strike during our visit. It was too hot for them to come out of the shade. Must admit I was ready for the cooler weather at home after my trip.

Post Wedding Activities

So much for keeping my blog up to date!  Several weeks (months) have passed and I am now adding to this again. My excuse was my daughters wedding which took over all our lives for the last few weeks. 

 I made a wedding dress, two bridesmaid dresses, my dress, my husbands tunic and two waistocoats (groom and my son) so was a little busy. They were all on a medieval theme.
I also created a wedding cake, my daughters and the bridesmaids headbands, and the flowers.  All in all I was very pleased with the outcome.  Any feedback welcome.

Finally I also manged to complete "The Committee" for the exhibition David and I had recently in the Cloisters at St Davids in Pembrokeshire.  It was lovely to meet so many friends and new acquaintances during the exhibition.  I had some wonderful comments and would like to thank you all for the encouragement with my new venture. 

I am attempting to update my website as well as this blog but admit to teething issues. Please be patient as I try to include some of the new images on my website.

Wednesday 6th June

Today its raining. No surprise!  I have had a productive couple of days and thanks to David for preparing frames for images. I now have a display in the studio.

Two new images completed, Summer Pateince and Meadow Bright.  These are the first of many.  Watch my website for updates.

Saturday 2nd June

Last Thursday was my last day in fulltime employment. Thanks to all my friends for making my last day enjoyable.
I am now gradually getting used to a new chapter in my life. I have started a new large image which at present is called "The Committee". The design comes from a photograph of some of our chickens that were free range in the garden. They used to come down when I fed the cats and muscle in on the food. Its suprising how quick they learn.
So far I have two bodies embroidered and the third started. Next will come the background before I complete the heads of the chickens.

Watch this space for progress.

It is nearly the end of April and things are changing rapidly both in the woods and fields around my home and also in my personal life.  I have accepted redundancy from my position as an analytical scientist at a local pharmaceutical firm and will be moving into the world of self employment.  Although a little scary, it is very exciting to be able to have time to be more creative.  The image above is of a Somerset garden, inspired by a holiday taken near the Blackdown hills in 2010.  I think back to the week David and I spent there and realise how much has changed since. A major change was the acquisition of a rough collie puppy in September 2011 - Cariad Aur (Gold Love in Welsh). 
My intention is to keep this blog updated frequently with current news, not all of it textile related. I am sure my puppy will move in at some point.

The first and the latest

Hare - Embroidered image with applique and hand stitching.
Approx 500 x 900 mm
The hare embroidery is one of my most recent images completed in the last month. This was born out of my husbands interest in hares and just "had to be done" to prove that what he can do, I can do (no competition really).

Indian runner drake - Embroidery approx 400 x 400 mm

Created using similar techniques to the hare this was inspired by one of the "boys" in the garden. We have 3 Indian runner ducks, along with a goose and some chickens that are expensive pets, but good for inspiration. I love the way the ducks run like little soldiers.

Tortoise. Approx 360 x 220 mm. Hand couched threads over lace and synthetic fabrics.

Finally my first ever embroidered picture. The tortoise was a school project in my second or third year at secondary school and therefore originates from around 1970. I loved needlework at school, but it wasn't considered to be a career option for me at that time. "Go into science" I was advised, as "sewing" didn't have the same status as a worthwhile career. I do wonder what if, especially after watching my eldest daughter study textiles as part of her degree. Just looking at all the opportunities to play made me drool.

One day, after having paid for University fees etc for the children, I may realise my dream.

Spring solstice

This weekend I decided to try to finish some of the projects I have started quite a while ago. While searching in my workboxes I came across the penguins and found the motivation to finish this. Spring has been quite productive for me. In addition to the penguins I finally finished my memory coat. I had been collecting fabric for several years and most of the fabric has memories associated with it. The dolphin print I picked up in Sydney the second time I visited Australia so it must be nearly 10 years old. The chicken print was bought for making Easter cards with the children, the paler blue was picked up as part of my eldest daughters A Level DT projects.......... It feels good to have constructed this from fabric stashed away.

Mothering Sunday

"Summer Gold" Image Size: 8cm x 8cm
"Dusk Flowers" Image Size: 8cm x 8cm

Today I have finally started to put details of my work past and present out there for friends, family and others to see. Above is a small taster of the pieces I have recently finished.

I expect as the days (weeks) go by this will build into a story about what I am working on and with and what is finished.

Those that know me understand that textiles in all their wonderful forms have interested me for decades (yes I am that old!) and are what I consider keep me sane (or insane depending on your point of view).

For now this introduction will be short as my daughter is instructing me in the technical side of setting this up.

Hopefully there will be more soon.

Cheers for now.

Annette