Autumn

Autumn in the enormous field. Away for a bit now- going down to the sea.

More work on the puffin page.

I am working in the bottom right hand corner of the puffin page.

 This is the whole thing, getting there now but still work on the left hand side to finish. It is slow work, I am finding it hard to hold, don't want to use an embroidery hoop for fear of damaging stitching and marking cloth.It is 2 layers of calico so firm enough for the embroidery but it has wrinkled a bit. Nothing is ever perfect.

 Started work on the pages of the summer book, banded wedge shells,

 limpet with barnacles,

puffin and tower shell.

Summer concertina sketchbook.

Now there is a gannet flying past on the Skomer page. The gannetry is on Grassholm another little island in the group off south west Wales, you can see it from Skomer. Stokholm is the third and if you like islands there are lovely books about Stokholm by Richard Lockley. I love gannets, the masked riders of the sky. Their dives are spectacular as they fold up like a fan and plummet into the sea.

This is an older piece from a few years back. We have seen them in Scotland and in the Scilly Isles. We saw them at a distance in Wales, easy to spot once you know their characteristic shape and black wing tips.

I have started a summer concertina book. The aim is to have one for each season and a box for each one. The summer one will have shells and sea birds on.

puffin page- sea chamomile?

 I am working to finish the puffin page. The birds were nesting amongst a carpet of white daisies,

 that smelt like mayweed or chamomile but was larger than chamomile. I don't know what it is and couldn't find it in my plant books or on the Skomer website.

Anyone know?

Spots of colour finished

  I have finished this formal summer garden with its spots of colour. (13ins x 18 ins)

It seems a long time since I finished anything but it has been a busy summer with lots going on. Now its time to consider what I am going to show at Newark Park in the Spring. Concentrate the mind! Time to make some lists that always helps.

Underpinning, Brunel Broderers Exhibtion, Bath.

 We went to Bath to see the Brunel Broderers Exhibition at 44AD. Lovely exhibition, this is Carolyn Sibbalds pop up book,

 her tiny flowers too.

 Steph Woosters scarves

 Liz Hardings large piece

and Corinne Renow-Clarke Roman lettering. Its on until Sunday 11-5.

A spot of summer colours.

 Summer colours, the vivid shades of summer flowers to set against the greens. The camera makes it more blue but

 in the flash you can see it is very green.

 Trying to finish this now because Autumn is upon us, fields are ploughed and cobwebs shimmer with dew.

Bits and pieces and Haggis.

The Chipping Campden Show finished yesterday, all cleared away and tidied up. I am now on Instagram as louisemaywatson if you follow that. My daughter sorted that out for me- tech things not really my thing. If you are wondering what is instagram (?!)  it is a site where you can share photos. It is very quick to post a picture and artists and crafts people use it for publicity and connecting with others. And speaking of old dogs and new tricks here is another picture of the new guest dog- Haggis - who has been a very cute, well behaved guest. Here he is in play-with-me mode.

West Country Quilt Show, Bristol.

 Yesterday I helped steward on my friends stand at the Quilt Show in Bristol. The show features all kinds of textiles now, not just quilts and it was a good day out buzzing with creativity. I really enjoyed meeting people and being on Liz Hewitts' and Debbie Pawles' stand. Their work is beautiful.

 Debbie is a weaver,

 Liz makes quilts and eco dyes her fabrics. She was demonstrating how to dye using rust.

 One of Lizs' cards

 and I bought one of Debbies' pebble weavings. Her blog is Tapestry@ Sand Studios. Liz has a website www.celticstitch.co.uk. She is also a member of Gordano textile artists.

 This was one of my favourite pieces in the Show by Catherine Howard.

This was her statement. My sister has been working on a similar theme of womens' aging so I was interested straight away but Catherine was kind enough to explain her work to me and show me the back of the garment and talk about her process. She belongs to a new group called On the Surface.

For the Haggis fans- sometimes the world is a little upside down. Must be all that inspirational work.

Not a whole lot of stitching going on................

 Not a whole lot of stitching going on because of visitor distractions. So just a little stitching on the chamomile yesterday, my daughter came to stay last week and

Haggis has come for his holiday whilst his folks are away. Confusing for a dog but he has settled quickly into the routine. More walks for everyone.