Here, there and everywhere.

Henley was fab, my pieces went up a treat onto the walls and I was very pleased that I managed not to crowd them altogether, but to give the pieces space. My Friend Janet Bolton http://www.janetbolton.com/ would have been very proud of me, she constantly reminds me "not to crowd" There were lots of lovely people to chat with, very flattering remarks, sales and commissions. All in all I was very pleased, and although it did rain, a lot, it was a great show.

On my return I finished the lovely long Autumn commission piece and am sending it off this week. Very exciting. As I got nearer to the completion of the piece, with its russet tones and hues the sun through the window got that little bit stronger and stronger, and when I was wrapping Autumn up in its safety of bubble wrap, out came the sunshine in warm orange, at last- I think summer is here!

On Saturday I held a one day workshop in Oakham, Rutland at Catmose College. http://www.rutnet.co/ The students produced beautiful pieces of machine embroidery, all worked exceedingly hard, we all had a great day, sumptuous threads, the sound of busy whirring sewing machines, concentration and many laughs. Each one in the group produced such varied and individual pieces, they were an inspiration and a delight to teach. Catmose College is a school but has a gallery and holds workshops. In the gallery was an exhibition of embroidery pieces from The Embroiderers Guild Groups, under the title of Canals. Bright, honest, cheery, full of patten, design, techniques and an overwhelming shout of the love of stitching.

Yesterday I went to Brighton, to the open house for the last time, as it was the last day. The house still looked splendid with all the work displayed and everyone being enthusiastic and helpful. At the end of the day, with the help of my lovely husband Michael we packed all my work away and the work of my friend Jan Guest http://www.janguest.com/ and drove it back along the coast, saying good bye to people that I had spent a happy time with, it is always sad, but in a good way as I had a enjoyable time with them. We stopped of at Jan's and then had a pub dinner nosh up with beer, very nice and a good way to end what seemed like a mad dash around the country.

This week we have three sets of friends coming to stay, I am planing menu plans, with of course puddings being the most important course. Why have dinner when you can have pudding instead?
At the studio, being half term week we have workshops for children. I must cut out 12 cushion covers tomorrow ready to be decorated and appliqued by 12 enthusiastic young artists. I am also going to start and finish the biggest mound of paper work and start another commission piece, which I have been mulling over for a while, and now feel ready and excited to begin.

Our cat Big One has made a brilliant recovery from his teeth extraction, and Maurice and him are once again merrily bashing the living daylights out of each other, in a friendly cat like way.