a little intermission for a day or two

it was very busy at the Fiesta

I met up with old friends 

the Indian Emporium 

made an appearance

time to tidy up my room,  catch up with

with gardening and enjoy the prospect

 of warmer days and less rain

(please)

a later planting of indigo seeds is at

last producing little seedlings

The Circle quilt is finished.   The deadline was yesterday, and I made it.  I'll post a 
picture early next week.  As ever, it is the stitching of the binding and label that 
takes time, plus losing the odd thread or two.  I enjoyed the process in a strange
sort of way, and I might just follow on the circle theme,  listening to Indian
music along the way.


It will form part of a display of quilts by Infinity, on the theme of Kandinsky, at the Brockenhurst Textile Fiesta, held in Brockenhurst in the centre of the New Forest,
Hampshire over this weekend.


So, today I find that the publicity blurb has me down as 'quiting', minus a 't', and not quilting'.   That's not good.   Spent most of the morning trying to understand why this 
should happen.  The organisers were very apologetic, which is nice, and are trying to 
make amends.    Still so many unanswered questions.


Tomorrow, whilst I would rather relax after a hectic few weeks, will find me as a 
trader, fighting my corner and convincing all that I am definitely not quitting.  


In the meantime, I'm gathering all my Indian goodies for my sales table.   Dyeing up a 
new batch of threads etc.


The good news is that already I have a commission for two smaller versions of the 
Circle.  I'm happy about that, since I really didn't want to do it in the first place!


End of rant.   That feels better.  If you have got to the end of the post, thank you!

A Parson's Egg Week

(good in parts)

It started off well.  Delivering a quilt to be included in Make 52.  An exhibition at 

Walford Mill opening on Saturday, which will be very interesting indeed.

Caroline Parrott, Education Officer at the Mill, embarked on a huge undertaking

to create a piece of art or craft once a week for a whole year.  She chose a  maker/artist

for each week, working along side them, where possible.  

I was Maker 42 - the answer to life according to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Coffee and a catch up with my friend Hilary later in the afternoon.

I was hoping to get down to some fabric dyeing, of the Procion variety,  still too cold

for indigo.  Alas, I was struck down with a 'flu bug, I hardly had the energy to stitch

my Circles quilt.   The next day was spent mostly in bed!

Feeling better on Thursday I exercised my brain with Blogsy!    

All is lovely in the garden though.   Proper April showers, unlike this time last year 

when we had 'summer'.   Real downpours, hail, thunder and lightening.  So much

for the drought restriction orders.

the woodland garden is awash with wood garlic, bluebells and primroses

we can hear the beans growing in the veg plot

tulips feeling a bit soggy after another deluge

According to the stats on my website there has been lots of 'hits'.   If you

have, thanks for visiting!  Little parcels have been posted, and

right now there is one in it's way to the States.

I had great plans this week to add more content, but life took over.

I have included some note books in the Bazaar

here's a few

limited stock until I go shopping in November.

Perhaps next week into the dye pots.  An indigo vat 

would be very nice!  Hey ho, summer is surely

just around the corner.

Testing testing

I want to send posts wherever I am using my iPad, including photos.

Thunder, rain and a rainbow

So let's see if it works

Yes, Yes, Yes - except I managed to repeat my comment!    I guess I will have to work on that.

slowly stitching

circles

April showers

It's quite exciting, in a strange way.  There are days when you feel the sun on 
your back, and then there is the reminder of colder days.   

This evening the skies have darkened, hail has rained down - oh, my little seedlings
in the veg plot!  Amazing light.  Very powerful.  Here the sun is setting, taken from
my workroom window.  You might just see the raindrops.  The sky is now turning into 
what promises to be a dramatic sunset.


Such are the seasons, and why we Brits go on about the weather!   Hey ho, spring
is the precursor to summer, it can only get better.


My indigo seeds are taking an age.  Three seedling thus far.  The temperature is
somewhat erratic, I might have to plant a few more seeds.  The marigolds and 
dyers chamomile seedlings are going strong, in fact I think I might have to share
with friends, which is a good thing.

Additions

Yesterday morning we planted broad beans, sugar snap peas,

beetroot and rhubarb in our new vegetable garden.  It was very good 

timing.   Today it is pouring with rain.   The little plants will love this,  

and I shall enjoy watching them grow.   The new view from my window, 

replacing the old greenhouse.

I have placed some stock into the Dyed Goods Store and Bazaar.

Slowly, slowly will be the pace as I find my way around the

mysteries of the website.

 

I have a website!!!!!

A week of a very large learning curve.   I am very happy with the results.
Not too difficult after all (she said in retrospect.)  


It's Good Friday, there's a full moon tonight and Mercury is going forward again.
Time to launch the website.


Still 'work in progress' on some of the pages.   The Emporium button includes the new indigo store.   The Dyed Goods Store and Bazaar have yet to be stocked.

  

Going to give my brain a rest this weekend.  

The beach at Naxos would be good.

Instead I shall enjoy planting the veg plot

and watching my little indigo seedlings

appearing out of the soil

out of the vat

Today it is bright and sunny, but there is a nip in the air.  Frost on the cars 
first thing, brrrr.  Glad I took advantage of warm days last week for a couple of 
bucketfuls of indigo.

a little picture show of some of the fabric that emerged from the blue

thin stripes

brushstrokes

pole wrapping

bound

tied

mokumi

and, for fun, a hippie swirl
SOLD

there is also plain dye indigo, scrunched and clamped

plus fine cotton thread

my indigo cupboard does not look quite so empty now

This week I am, at last, setting up a website.   My store will be revamped and 

appearing on the site very soon,  as long as I can get my head round the 

technicalities!  A bit of a brain work out I think.

To start, I will offer indigo packs of 12 5" squares and scrap bags with lots of small 

but useful pieces.   Procion dyed thread packs, fabrics and embellishments.

If you can't wait for the website to open, or would like some larger pieces before

they get cut up, contact me!