Summer garden- splash of colour.

Montbretia or crocosmia- vivid splash of joyful colour at the top of the garden.

Summer garden 2

Inspired by the colours in the summer garden. These roses begin life dark red and get lighter but the camera sometimes isn't quite true to the real colour. The hypericum is glorious in its yellows, buttery and lemon. I put that with the purples of buddleia and a terracotta daisy. It is all about the contrast of colour as well as the bright hues.

Summer garden.

Roses and lavender. 15cm x 5cm. Machine and hand embroidery, applique on turquoise linen. 2.5 hrs work. I have work going to an exhibition in Chipping Camden, that's North Cotswolds next week. The exhibition is called Summer Delights and its at the Court Barn Museum. So it is time to consider Summer in my theme of seasons. The sea birds come into that theme but I am celebrating the colours in our garden. The dark red roses stop me in my tracks every time I go out in the garden.

Puffin in progress.

 I decided to start again on my puffin embroidery as the first try was not working out. Not enough thought at the outset and I didn't want the padding. So after more drawing in my sketchbook

I decided to embroider the page on fabric. That is really what I want to record- our marvelous day on Skomer. So I cut out 2 rectangles of calico the size of my double page, painted the top layer with white acrylic paint to stiffen it and make it easier to draw on and tacked the 2 layers together. I have begun with the face side view to get to know the exact markings and colouring.

Birds exhibition at The Guild at 51, Cheltenham.

 Collecting up all my work for the Birds exhibition at Cheltenham and delivering today.

 2 concertina books and their travelling bags, this is the feather book.

 The Spring swallow

 and Winter Birds- straight from the framers.

Falling feathers hanging. There are cards and 3 unframed pieces on feathers too. The show within the gallery runs from July 25th-10th Sept. And Hello to some recent new followers, thanks for looking in.

Winter bag for the concertina book.

Yesterday I made a bag for the winter birds concertina book. A bit strange to be embroidering winter trees on a hot July day but I have a deadline!

Daisy crosses etc.

 Other interesting things from my holiday photos- the car park at Dale had these daisy crosses,

 sand patterns from the beach

and rock lichen and flora. So much inspiration for painting and embroidery.

St Davids cathedral- sculpture at the main door.

Dragon fly on the pond at Hilton gardens.