Material Madness

My younger daughter departed yesterday morning on a school art trip to Barcelona (lucky girl)and has kept us busy preparing for it, shopping for essentials and replacing lost EHICs. One item we could not find in the shops was a jacket, and the mother madness awoke as I decided if not available for money, then it would have to be for love. Wednesday last week I found a pattern very similar to a style she'd tried on in Monsoon, and with daughterly approval purchased some turquoise coating in Bristol. Then, as is my wont, I had a few poorly days. However, I got the pattern rescaled and cut out, covered the buttons and made a start.



Here she is, newly jacketed and suitcase at heel, about to get into my great friend Cath's car for a lift to the airport at about 7.30am.



The last stitches were made after the car had drawn up outside! She'd tried on the jacket and the front lining rucked up the skirt, so I had to unstitch it and just had time to tack up the lining hem before she stepped out the door. I had worked at the jacket all night, so was ready to crawl into bed for a few hours sleep through the morning before I needed to spring into action for other commitments.

The things we do for love!

Challenges Duly Risen To

Yesterday I completed the Artist Trading Cards and Quiltlet I presented in my previous post. They are now in the mail to Alis and Susan of the Unlimited Textiles yahoo group.

 

 

This month's swap theme on this group is Passion, for interpretation as a quiltlet and as a brooch. I feel inspired about this, and have started sketching, mentally and on paper, some beginning ideas.

Of course, I "cheated" by using this design work for my January Take it Further Challenge which was to be inspired by someone we admire. I have been far from my best this month so I think it's just about acceptable to kill two birds with one outcome in this way. February's challenge is "what I've lived long enough to remember" so these two themes will not dovetail so readily - so I can enjoy trips down Memory Lane and make forays into Passion as well.

I also downloaded instructions for the February bag project on the BQ List, which is a bit more involved than the January bag I made, but looks interesting and very attractive - indeed I think I got what Kandy would describe as a sneaky peek at the meeting of Great Western Embroiderers we both attended a couple of months ago. I will have to go and hunt through the fabric mountain to see what I can utilise this time around - there's still plenty of choice.

I have signed up to the Creative Every Day challenge as well. I guess the daily photo blog I started is contributing to this commitment as well. I'm still on my first Bayerische Sock and am ready to start the heel now. It's knitting that requires concentration and I'm resisting casting on another project for the moment so I don't get diverted from this one, but I may have to because there are certainly times I could be knitting when I don't feel up to working on this project. However, I have some handstitching coming in the swaps I've mentioned, I think, which may fulfil this function for a while without additionally diluting my project progress...

DH and I rose to the challenge of going out together more often "a deux" last night by going to see Atonement at the Bristol Showcase cinema. We'd missed it first time around, to my great regret, but the film's recent success in the Golden Globes seems to have granted it a limited second run before its imminent release as a DVD. It was wonderful: I'm so glad we got to see it on the big screen. Powerful story, fabulously shot and excellent music, too. Another good one. It did us good, even if it's meant I've spent the day in bed so far. Where will our next "date" take us?

The challenge I still have to really get my teeth into is working on the inspirations provided by our holiday in Marrakech, which is simmering away in my sub-conscious at the moment. I need to make a start on this because there was so much wonderful there. My friend Dale has put me onto a wonderful new-to-me blog, The House in Marrakesh to make me get nostalgic again - but not in an "I've lived long enough to remember" kind of way.

Oh well, time to get up, get dressed, get nose to the grindstone and get on with the day.

Art Nouveau, the Glasgow Girls and the TIF Challenge

Well, I expressed my intention to base my work for the TIF Challenge for January on the much-admired stucco artists whose creations I saw in Marrakech, but it was a premature and over-ambitious plan for a month when I've been seriously under par. So I've exercised my prerogative to change my mind: needing to create some items on the theme of Art Nouveau, I revisited the Glasgow Girls, Jessie Newbery and Ann MacBeth. I have long admired their design work and stitchery, which follows on and almost bridges the gap between my beloved Arts and Crafts movement and Art Nouveau. I think their prominence in the art world of the time was also important, mirroring the political emergence and emancipation of women which has allowed my own generation so much more freedom of life choices, education, careers, finances and opportunities. I admire the Morris women very much, but I also admire the Glasgow Girls because they owned the design process for their artistic creativity and passed it on to others. I first discovered them during my history research for City and Guilds Embroidered Textiles Part 2, and was thrilled to see some of their work for real when we visited Glasgow a couple of years ago.



I developed the following design by distilling elements of a number of designs and textiles by Newbery and MacBeth,and working it out to fill a 5" square quiltlet.




Then I worked the design up into a cartoon for the quilt, and also two ATCs which I need to make for a swap.




The process of draughting out these designs gave me some insight into how I might work them into textile pieces. My first idea was to use applique techniques, but instead I decided on interpreting them both using silk painting methods. I found some silk charmeuse which I stretched using masking tape onto an old place mat - remarkably effective. The design was placed underneath the cloth, which, in good daylight, allowed me to trace the design directly using gold gutta. Once that was dry, I filled in the spaces with silk paints.





I've painted some more silk in the pink for the back and sashing of the quiltlet, which is drying and so these projects should be completed tomorrow, very much at the eleventh hour. I guess I've not taken the design much further but I hope the GGs would have approved of my interpretation. They were not averse to a bit of gold, after all. And at least, very much at the eleventh hour, I'll hopefully have managed to complete a few challenges for January while revisiting a technique I've not used in ages.

Ham Wall Part 2

 

As sunset developed its colours in the skies, gloriously reflected in the waters, a small flock of birds wheeled across the sky. We found our way through a stand of trees to the rhyne, beyond which was a clear view across a water meadow.

 

Gradually, more and more groups of birds sped across, making for the same copse of trees. Some groups flew over our heads, others passed to our left or to our right. There would be a pause, then more and more came. Tonight was not the occasion of a dense swarm as sometimes happens, but as more and more flew in and on to that same copse, it became difficult to imagine how they would all pack themselves in to such a relatively limited space, the total gradually increasing as the minutes passed.

 

As we accepted that an extreme aerial display was not going to be forthcoming on this occasion, the sound of the birds calling to one another increasingly amplified across the moors, swelling to a climax as if calling the stragglers to hurry on home.

 

It was time to make our own way homewards, before the light finally went. Retracing our steps, we looked across the rhyne to see a deer leaping through the grasses at the edge of the reed bed. By the time we regained the road, it was nearly dark and it was becoming very cold under the clear sky. We decided to make a stop at the cosy Railway Inn for warming refreshment and to rest our legs before making our way back across the moors, levels and hills for home.

Ham Wall

 

Today was a gloriously clear day and we decided to go onto the Somerset Levels to look for the starling roost which we had heard can be a spectacular sight at this time of year. We'd not ventured into the nature reserves on the Levels before but were able to find some useful information on the Somerset Wildlife Trust's website.

 

The roosting takes place at dusk, so we set out at half past three, drove to the other side of the Mendips and through Axbridge, Cheddar and Wedmore to Meare, then turned off to Hay Wall. The levels are reclaimed land, drained by a network of ditches, or rhynes as they are called in these parts. There are a few small, steep hillocks dotting across these flatlands, of which Glastonbury Tor is the most significant.

 

There are beds of sedge reeds growing out of the water, and the water is dark where it is not reflecting the sky, because of the peaty soil of this area. Trees grow in luscious clumps and one sported a magnificent crop of catkins.

 

There is a wonderful feeling of space in this area of big skies, and just before sunset the quality of light was wonderful. On this Sunday afternoon there were many other people who had decided to make this visit, and there was an increasing sense of anticipation as we all made our pilgrimage to see te birds come home.

Bagging some Stash

 

Once upon a time, many years ago, I had a small daughter and planned to make her some clothes. I saw a very pretty floral cotton remnant in a fabric shop and knew it would be insufficient for a dress, so found a plain pink poplin to match it. Time passed - many years, in fact. This year I joined the British Quilters List on Yahoo Groups, and commenced the Make a Bag a Month Challenge. Instructions for the January bag received, I went for a look in the stash cupboard(s) and that purchase from long ago seemed a good choice for my project. The result is in the photo above, a sturdy and attractive alternative to the ubiquitous plastic bag. It also folds into its own integral pocket for easy transport in a handbag, pocket or glovebox. I have already received requests from the aforementioned daughter for a bag of her own - we'll see, for I seem to have a bit of a log-jam of projects at the moment, after my New Year enthusiasms and subsequent viral-induced energy slump. At least I can use this to contain any works in progress, as well as for shopping.

Some Updates

We are still flood-free here, despite more rain, thank goodness. It is extraordinary to think of the chaos caused by the torrential deluge in this locality just over a week ago, and I'm so sorry that folk in other parts of the country have been having a hard time again due to further flooding in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.

I have managed to keep up with my daily photo blog, and the new theme for my pictures seems to be unseasonal flowers: we have Sweet William and Pot Daisies blooming in the garden at present. I'm keeping my eyes open for the arrival of frog spawn in the pond - it's early yet, often arrives around the time of my Mum's birthday,which is in a fortnight.

Sarah's dissertation is complete, in the hands of the bookbinders and should be ready for collection tomorrow or Friday morning: such a relief!

Ancient Wall

 

Such a higgledy-piggledy wall, but it has stood for many centuries by the Kubba El Baroudyine in Marrakech. Its structure pleases me tremendously.

Winter Weather

 

On Friday,Sarah and I ventured out to investigate bookbinders in Bristol and to visit the Central Library, it being dissertation time for her. While we were in the library, it began to snow. We decided to take a break for lunch before making our way to the second bindery, so stopped off at
Zero Degrees for goats cheese salad and a side of fries to share. It was delicious. The precipiation continued, sometimes as snow and sometimes as rain, and sometimes as a mixture.

Our bindery research revealed that one business is a more traditional establishment while the other is interested in less routine projects and does not regard slip boxes as too much bother. I think I know which one she'll commission for the job.

We left Bristol just before four and noticed the pretty dusting of snow on the hills of Ashton Court Park and the surrounding fields. We soon had ample opportunity to peruse our surroundings as the traffic ground to a halt on the Long Ashton bypass. We slowly inched homewards for the next hour and a bit, while hearing about delays on the roads caused by the weather, but it was difficult to grasp just what was going on. As we reached the end of the dual carriageway a couple of miles and probably 70 minutes later, we espied a large lake of water in the underpass below us and a lone policeman stopping all cars. It was hard to see what was happening and we were surprised to be told to do a u-turn and go back the way we had come, as the road ahead was closed. It became clear that the traffic we had seen travelling in the opposite direction had been similarly directed, and we commenced a stop-start crawl in the opposite direction, while the queue the other way stretched beyond our vision.

I began to feel quite panicky: the policeman had been unable to say whether we would be able to reach our village or which way we should go, and meanwhile we were getting nowhere fast in a gridlock situaton. We passed a BBC Radio Bristol car in the layby and moments later heard him broadcasting an update on what was happening, except that his information was incomplete and he thought the road was closed in one direction but that traffic was getting through the other way. Were we totally cut off from home? Which alternative route to try?

Eventually we reached the next exit and wove our way through a village and back roads to Nailsea and onwards back to the A370 without incident, and eventually arrived home more than two and a half hours after we had started the journey, which would normally take 20-30 minutes. I was so glad to reach home! So were my younger two: the school bus could not get through and they were stranded until their Dad was able to collect them.

However, the stress was not yet over. Sarah and I had been invited to a friend's home in the village for a "girls' night in" and, much as I fancied crawling into my bed as I was exhausted, we went along. However, it transpired that our river was on Flood Alert for the high tide at 9pm, and two of the girls live in the area at highest risk of flooding. They were alarmed that the Millenium Green, on the riverside, was flooded, although as one of the menfolk was reported as saying, that meant it was doing its job as flood plain and part of the flood defences.

Eventually, worry got the better of them and they went home to move valuables upstairs and to cover air bricks and so forth. For the rest of the evening, we kept looking out of the window to see if there was water lapping round the cars outside, but in the event, all was well.

On Saturday, I went back to Long Ashton for the monthly meeting of the Avon Guild of Spinners,Weavers and Dyers. It was interesting to see how quickly the flooding had resolved: apart from two driveways dammed with sandbags, a lot of puddles and one lane apparently resurfaced in brown earth, there was nothing to show for the drama of the previous day.

However, further very heavy rainfall is forecast for tomorrow. Action replay? Certainly the ground is still sodden, so if there is another heavy deluge then run-off flooding in the area is very likely. Seems like a good day for things domestic and creative and not stepping foot over the doorstep. Luckily, this house is on relatively high ground, so we are in no immediate danger, but it's a worry for the community. Ironically, my copy of a pertinent book arrived on Friday, so maybe I'll curl up on the sofa with it and my knitting, if I can find it. Anyone seen a little purple bag containing a little purple sock knitting - it's gone AWOL?

Shutter Arabesque

 

This carved wooden shutter in Marrakesh is a good example of the hidden gems in the city and the wonderful colour of the walls in the medina.

Bird in the Courtyard

 

This little bird was a frequent visitor to the courtyard of our riad, chirruping cheerfully and hoovering up the crumbs from breakfast from the tiled floor.

 

Rashida, our housekeeper, apologised for the dawn chorus provided by the birds, who liked to roost in the trees and shrubs growing in the shelter of the courtyard walls, beside the pool and fountain. I am used to birdsong at home and enjoy it: as I said to her, it gives me pleasure.

Picture Playtime

 

I have joined some friends in a photography project by setting up picture-a-day blogs to run through this year, and mine is called
Picture My World. I decided it would be appropriate on Twelfth Night/Epiphany to take some pictures of the Christmas tree before we dismantle it, and took the opportunity to explore some of the functions of our camera at the same time. I set the ISO to 50 (so slow), disabled the flash, and set it to the fireworks mode. By moving the camera during the long exposure, I could get some interesting trail effects: the lights flash, hence the beaded appearance. Then I collaged four of the photos on Picasa and the above was the result. Great fun!

A Filthy Sky

 

This is what confronted me as I took the peelings to the compost heap today. I was not at all surprised that it started to rain moments later. We have had heavy showers here all afternoon, and what is supposed to be a lawn in the garden is more of a quagmire. I want some sunshine!

Meanwhile, back in Marrakesh

Stucco in the Souk 

Moroccan style incorporates a vast amount of geometric ornamentation, usually on the interiors of buildings, or at the doorways of important public ones. I greatly admired this work and felt privileged to watch a mastercraftsman creating plaques in his studio, just around the corner from our riad, towards the Musee de Marrakesh. I was too in awe to ask his permission to photograph him at work, and would have loved to bring home an example of his work but was discouraged from doing so by my beloved, who reminded me of what overfilled chaos is our current decor. Maybe the promise of a place to put a plaque in the future will fuel the drive for a calmer, more restful, tidier and less cluttered home? Pigs may fly......

Anyway, I'm a last-minute participant in Sharon B's
Take it Further Challenge and, as I thought about who and what I admire, this wonderful artisan came to mind. So did my lovely textile art mentor, Christine Benson, who has advised me to relate as much of my work as possible to the inspiration my trip gave me. So, my field of reference is determined and I can swap my thinking cap for my taking it forward one.

First Knitting in 2008

Bayerische Socks

I cast on to knit Eunny Jang's pattern for
Bayerische Socks on 1st January, but unfortunately set up the pattern with irretrievable errors, so undid it all the next day. Yesterday I cast on again, and it seems to be going right this time around. I'm knitting in Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Sock Wool from Get Knitted in a "solid" (slightly variegated) purply mauvey shade which has been stashed for this purpose for over a year. Hopefully progress will now all be onwards and satisfactory.

Sunset at the Lakes

Season's Greetings and Happy New Year!

 

How many people know that North Somerset has its own Lake District? The lakes are visible on the UK weather map and are properly water reservoirs. Blagdon Lake is also stocked for fishing, while Chew Lake is a wildlife reserve. We had a family lunch out at the wonderful Bear and Swan in Chew Magna yesterday, which I would recommend for its delicious food and excellent service in an attractive setting, and then went on to drive home through the Lakes. We stopped briefly in the chilly lay-by at the end of Chew Lake to wish the water fowl a Happy New Year before driving through the twilight to the warmth of home

Another day, another fancy dress costume

 

Apparently there are uniform requirements for Sixth Form after all: for example, on the last day of term before Christmas,you must wear fancy dress. Which, in this house, means Mum must get creative on the sewing machine again... So here we have our West Country Squaw, Anna, kitted out for school, as photographed by her proud Dad. Mum (me) was fast asleep, trying to recover.

Jardin Majorelle

A short caleche ride from Jma el Fnaa is the extraordinary gardens created by Jacques Majorelle, which were rescued from decay and lovingly restored by Yves St Laurent. Trees provide shade from the heat of the day and high perimeter walls shut out the clamour of the city. It is very different from the English style of garden: there are these wonderful cacti and succulents mulched by gravel, in a bewildering range of shapes, shades and forms.



Then there is that essential ingredient of the Arabesque/Moorish garden: water, in the form of ponds, fountains and rills, the splashing and the condensation adding to the cooling effects of the tree-given shade.



A garden is not a garden without some flowers, and these all featured at Majorelle in October.



Finally, there is another ingredient that makes Majorelle unique in itself: the rich cobalt blue that runs through the garden on painted masonry and woodwork, which has been named after the artist and the garden: Majorelle. This is certainly an oasis I would return to: a little piece of paradise on earth.

Anyone for Tea?

One of the great pleasures of life in Morocco was Moroccan Tea. or mint tea. It is served always in an ornate silver teapot, complete with server to protect your fingers, on a matching mat. The tea is usually sweetened in the pot, and may be poured from a great height with great ceremony and loud ullulations (if taken in J'ma El Fnaa at one of the evening food stalls) into tea glasses. It is served less extravagantly in other settings. It is, without doubt, one of the two most refreshing drinks there. The other is citronade, freshly prepared. A clse third is the freshly squeezed orange juice which is also ubiquitous but may be adulterated with water and/or sugar, and almond milk is also delicious but less refreshing. I also tried avocado milk shake for the novelty and rather enjoyed it. However, for me the tea won every time. On one occasion we were offered it in a shop within the Souk de Teinturiers, where we had gone to buy various items like henna and pigments. We were all suffering from poorly tummies and this tea came with added aniseed, which was immensely soothing. We came home with our own teapot and set of glasses so the question is, do I make my own tea server and mat as illustrated above?

Cats in the Casbah

Here is a small selection of the many photographs taken of the feral cats in Marrakesh. My eldest and youngest between them took photos sufficient for at least four editions of Medina Moggies calendars. Cats own Marrakesh. These ones deign to share the courtyard of the Musee de Marrakesh with its human visitors, but they kept a close eye on our behaviour, sometimes undercover.

Moroccan Medley

We had a family trip to Marrakech, Morocco during the recent school break, and by way of a taster, here is a collaged selection of the many photographs taken while we were there. It was very beautiful, very different, very exotic, inspiring and thought-provoking. Unfortunately, we brought home the souvenir no-one wants: travellers' tummy, or whatever you like to call it. The good thing about it is that I lost a stone in weight! The bad thing is that it's triggered the post-viral syndrome big time, so I'm finding it very difficult to do more that sleep or slump on the sofa. And Christmas is coming! Nevertheless, it was an amazing visit and I daresay I'll gradually catch up with everything, including blogging about it. At least it's good hibernation weather, all dark, dank and damp.

Autumn Sunset

Apart from the arboreal splendour, there can be spectacularly colourful sunsets at this time of year, as demonstrated in the collection of images above. I love these fiery skies.

Autumn Leaves

A heads-up from my sick-bed. These colourful leaves prove a valued distraction but the coming windy weather will probably put paid to this wonderful display until next year. Not a good year for health in our house at all.