International Bird of Prey Centre, Newent

 I had an amazing bird experience day at Newent on Thursday. A Kestrel on my glove,

 Bespectacled owl,

 falcon,

and brown- tailed kite. Wow what a day - I was truly awe struck most of the time.

Falling feathers.

Getting work ready for the Quilt Show in Bristol. Adjusting fastenings etc. This hanging- Falling Feathers was shown across a bed at Newark Park- it will be interesting to see it vertical and on a wall at the exhibition. Interesting to photograph the back.

Starling.

 Sketches of bird heads from the feeder and from photographs. I used my How to Draw Birds books to give me confidence to get going. I find if I copy from a book first ( top right from Tim Wootons book) then go to my own photos and then draw from life- well it seems to work for me. Sort of building up confidence in steps.We saw starlings close up at St Ives on holiday. I managed to get a good photo when one posed on the railings by the cafe where we were having lunch. We do get them occasionally in the garden- such busy birds. The machine embroidery worked well for the flecked texture of the plumage. Putting stars in the starling.

SunMoonStars story quilt.

 Once upon a starry night, mother cat took her kittens to gaze at the moon.................

Trying out Jude's thread beads for stars- love them. The cats will all have tails hanging down -they may become ginger or tabby will see how it goes. This is so different from my usual work - like an escape!

Another feather, Autumn colour and mist.

 A little peacock feather to go beside the goldfinch one.

 Autumn colour at Westonbirt Arboretum.

Misty morning - sunrise. The mist sinks into the valley and the trees are in silhouetted in lines, far more beautiful than this photo. Frost on the cars.

The Guild at 51 - work for sale by Louise Watson.

These are my pieces that are showing in the gallery - The Guild at 51, Clarence Street, Cheltenham.  They are all around £200 each and are framed in bespoke box frames. There are also a few unframed folio works, handmade cards and photocards. Please phone Jo in the gallery on 01242 245215 - she can arrange postage.

 I just went for it with the sun beams! All last week I wondered whether to go on with this or start again with something more me but yesterday I just enjoyed the stitching.

 Very different from my usual work but it is a stitch along experience- very generously shared by Jude Hill - and so now I am embracing a story telling narrative. Really good to take a step outside myself and perhaps back in time to my infant teacher past. After final play at about three was always story time. Settling on the mat with my class, it was always my favourite time of the day. Everyone relaxed, I learned to read upside down so I could hold the picture book up for the children to see the pictures. Those brightly coloured pictures would spell bind all of us.

So this is once upon a time and now I want to invent some creatures to live under the sun moon and stars.