Early work and stitch samples.

 Still going through all my stitch sampler files, shoe boxes and suitcases full of stuff. So much stuff! I kept everything when I was teaching embroidery in case I needed it for workshops. This dandelion garden is an early piece.

unfinished canvaswork angels.

 Stitch samples.

 I would like to make some cushions with these as centres.

Machine embroidery whorls.

Elemental at Cotswold Sculpture Park.

 Tp celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary and to complete a trio of sculpture gardens we went to the Cotswold Sculpture park in Somerford Keynes.This one is set in woodland and has a surprise around every corner.

 The Comma butterfly liked the warmth on the elbow of this bronze.

 A bit of an 'ah' moment by the labradors.

A huge mixture of exhibits from the quirky to the realistic. Again lovely cafe, coffee and cake. It doesn't take all day but allow a couple of hours if you want to take it all in.

New carpet and re-living old pieces of work.

 I am having such a sort out and chuck out! The room is painted and the new carpet went down. I have been through all my books - more for the charity shop - Alan is refitting the book shelves. I have been through so many files of old teaching notes and even my City and Guild Embroidery Files (I studied part one and two from 1986-1991) So it has been a trip down memory lane. This is a quilt I made in 1991 when I got glandular fever that led to my M.E. I couldn't do anything except sit in bed and stitch a bit. I could never sell it because it holds that memory. You can do something despite the odds. (The see-saw was well and truly down Fiona)

 It is painted silk with wax resist and all hand stitched kantha style.

I also found the artwork that began the piece. Still lots more sorting out to do.

Betony.

 Betony added to the perpetual journal. Photographed in an empty studio. We have now got to the painting of the walls stage. But we did take a morning off to have a walk at Westonbirt Aboretum and enjoy the trees, wild flowers and butterflies. Marbled Whites liked the Betony. A new flower for me so good to draw and learn. It was a great medicinal herb. Back to the decorating now.

Perpetual journal.

 The weather is warm and heavy. No rain for several weeks so the veg gardening is suffering, but lots of flowers in the fields, verges and garden. I decided to make my perpetual journal into 2 books from Jan- June and July-Dec. So I have stitched together and bound the first volume (not very professionally but it is only for me!) Now I have cut the next leaves and started on the July pages.

These poppies self seed themselves all over the garden. They are large and gorgeous. The heads as beautiful as the flowers.In the studio I am having a massive clear out and tidy up because I have a break in work now the exhibition at Quenington is finished. I really miss stitching but it has to be done now and tidying and chucking out is very satisfying.

veg plot framed and the Rococo Gardens at Painswick.

 The computer has had a massive overhaul and is all better! So normal service is resumed, if only humans could be mended as easily. Above is the veg plot in its splendid box frame ready for Grow Your Own at the Guild next month.Below are pictures of the Rococo Gardens at Painswick. Today is the last day over at Quenington and if you enjoyed that, you will love this garden complete with garden buildings, maze and pigeon house. It is a huge garden set in a valley with sculpture trail for this summer. If you can't get there here are some pictures to give you a flavour.

Miniature veg garden in stitch.

The miniature veg plot is finished. some of the scale is not quite right, I mean those carrots are enormous compared to the runner beans on the trellis.It must be the compost. It was fiddly to make, but fun. It will need a box frame so I will lace it onto board and then go and see the framer.