Big and small

I decided today to finish off a very big piece I had begun a long time ago. Whilst working upon it, it brought back memories of that time, and I realised how my work has changed and moved on. Quite a dark piece. themes that I would quite like to explore again.
Then I finished off two tiny pieces. What next I wonder?

This piece -race you to the lighthouse is currently illustrated in Selvage magazine which is a wonderful magazine, very inspirational, however the article says that I am going to be at The Teddington textile fair, which this year sadly I am not, I hope to be their next year with my work.

Seedlings ahoy!

I spent last week trying out more new ideas for pieces for the book and only had one disaster out of five so not bad going! It was really good to be sewing away and listening to all the birds singing their hearts out outside in the sunshine, catching lovely song when I stopped the machine every so often to change colour or to put in a new spool. I have again been using new colour combinations, with at times what I think seems to be a 1930's feel.
On Saturday I held a workshop birthday party for girls who had a wonderfully exciting time making delightful pieces and eating birthday cake, all laughing and giggling as only girls can. then home and out with a lovely friend for a big nosh up!!
Today we went up the river for a lovely spring time walk and when we got back home I planted more seeds including geranium's which I have never tried to grow before. I recently saw in a garden centre a display of planted plastic vegetables, with all the seeds and trowels and canes all dotted about the display, enticing one to buy, most peculiar, we seemed to be the only ones who could not understand the relevance of the plastic produce, each piece of plastic veg even had its own bar code sticker. Hope my geraniums are not plastic seeds.

3D boxes in the making

New pieces and more ideas to try out.

The commission piece that I was making last week is finished. It's a good piece, I am very glad as it took me a long time to make it, rather taxing and a challenge, but I am very pleased because I feel as though I learned a lot this week through it. It's now off to the framers next week and then will be ready for the client for the beginning of April.
I have started another project for the book, 3D boxes, another challenge, and again a good taxing one, certainly keeping me on my toes. I tried putting new colours together, rather than using old favourite combinations, it is hard doing new things, but good, I don't ever want to become complacent and relient on what I have done before, I want to keep moving forward.
Next week i am trying out some more idea for the book projects, ideas I have been mulling over for ages, in my head they all work and look splendid, next week I shall find out the truth when I make them.
I now have 35 sweet peas up! I want to empty my compost bin but think I should wait another week along with waiting a bit longer to sow more seeds, before our summer house is crammed with seedlings in old juice boxes.

xray vision

Seaside Bunny

Commissions

15 sweet peas are up so far and I think spring is surely on its way!
I've just started a new commission piece this week and so far am very pleased with how it is coming along. It is quite a challenging piece with a subject matter that requires a lot of concentration, I am excited by the challenge and hope very much that the piece comes out how I want it to. Making commission pieces takes so much longer than when you are making pieces for 'yourself' the client is always in the back of your head and you constantly ask yourself questions, this green? or this green? when you make for yourself you automatically know which green to use.
I am always very delighted to make commission pieces, it is always a great joy to be asked to make a piece which has a subject matter which is so very special and individual and means so much to that person.