After Covid ...

(NOTE: The above "heart" is a sample that I came across whilst moving things around in my new workspace - it is about to take a "transform" but more on that later.)

Here I am ..... & once again updating - this time here with just a brief outline! Time has marched on & it won't be long til 2021 appears but since I last posted, I have been very busy. The new workspace is operational & is an absolute pleasure to work in as it has an "open wall" with doors to the outside ... on a hot day (like today) it's brilliant especially when you're really cool inside!

The 'old' workspace remains in a smaller area & at the moment just contains many items I'm not currently using. It's taken ages to sort all my things out but after distributing to charity shops & some textile groups, I'm left still with lots to use!! I've decided to discontinue with most of the other blogs that run ... mainly because I've decided to have just one place to generally display & the other to have more detail. Not sure at the moment which one will be which - that's still to do.

The studio at the end of 2018 ...

A corner of the studio with flooring down & new walls....

& some cupboards arriving ...

Bringing it under one roof ... Patterns of Life 3

Some more things coming together - most importantly finding paperwork to enable me to continue with my Google blogs (I'd misplaced my logon details in house move but finally found in one place).

Something else I came across was the above - a Trifari brooch which was in a box of other related items which I'll be mentioning in future posts but for now, I'm just using it for the new website logo (click if you want to see it). Additionally on the website, I've added some basic info regarding this item of jewellery - it's called " Wool Dolls "  - so just click the link if you want to read it. I also forgot I had this I'm my collection:

I'll be finding this in due course too ... a brilliant pattern from the 1940s ! By the way, the website is bringing my digital & practical portfolios together (an on-going current job) which I have decided to entitle "PATTERNS OF LIFE 3". I'm also moving the studio over the next few months ... an exhausting job!!

July 2018 & all has changed !

Hi everyone who reads this. Just to let you know I'm still around albeit my last post was 2016 & we're now over halfway into 2018!

A variety of things have happened - most importantly I've had a replacement hip op August 2017 ... the best thing ever as I now feel 21 again!!! Also our dog died (the one whose fur I was knitting) earlier that year & I moved just before the op!!! Traumatic for everything .... but I'm now back on track & hoping to continue where I left off. My poor favourite pink bottle brush transported well into rented accom garden (in a pot) before the final move & was transplanted into the ground (in the move house) about a month ago. It's now grown a bit & hopefully will do well.

I'm really pleased about this blog as it's meant I've been able to recapture all my thoughts .... albeit currently only in a hurried way. As soon as everything is located & easily reachable, I'll be updating in a much better way. With a house & hip ! move (etc etc) lots of my things have again been into boxes & only recently found & come out to see. The hip bit meant I wasn't able to get the house going as early as I'd have liked but the current weather has meant lots being done now. Many of my earlier ideas & projects are now hopefully "better equipped" ... or should I say - will be soon ... & at the moment, that's all I can say!!!

PS The dog shawl was finally finished, some knitting's been completed, some web sites have been undertaken & a new studio is about to happen!! So not been too lazy!!!

Time is not on my side ! ...

I'm currently experimenting with transparent plastics for my cell project - which unfortunately is progressing too slowly! Reasons? ... I've got a variety of 'mundane sewing house jobs' on so unable to get as much time as I'd like to continue with it. However, I do it when I can - currently I'm expanding on this small experimental piece from several years ago.

Cells ...

1. As a result of becoming VERY inspired with this topic, I've decided to start Project: Cell. I'm not sure which direction it will take or where it will lead, but think that to isolate it at this stage may be beneficial.
2. Carrying on from the other day, I've been looking at cells on the Internet & am finding them very enthusing & inspirational. Not so much for the imagery but more along the lines of interpretation as I find I'm immediately transposing them into stitching, fabric or textiles. Also, in looking back over many of my initial designs (both here & in my actual sketch books) - the ones I prefer are those that in some way could be termed as types of "cell structures". I like the way in which together, cells form a particular 'final shape' - not appearing to link to the individual cell shapes.
3. I'm also finding the on-line cell structure patterns are providing me with a sense of 3D interpretation while I look at them - in effect they appear to almost 'move'. Having not opted for any sciences at school, this aspect is interesting me sufficiently to now put pen, paint & ink to paper - an initial start (in Photoshop) can be seen here. Whilst I've been looking on-line, many ideas are now presenting themselves regarding how I can work some of my initial designs. One in particular (a blog entry) now becoming visible to me as (sections) worked in a variety of laces & bubble plastic.
4. It's also of interest to me (while researching a specific insect), to find that a part of it has legs that carry crochets! Not sure where this will end up but am very enthusiastic with this imagery - more so than for some time.
5. Although not in the studio today, I can't wait to get started on this line of thought - it seems to provide me with a specific 'tool' to use!

Ship ahoy !!

I can see boats & ships from several windows when they pass by. Not living by water before moving here, they have now become somewhat fascinating to watch. Here's just a little tug heading off to bring a larger vessel in but I can't wait til the end of July when some special ships are due to pass by! (Hopefully I'll get some pix!)

Speaking to our decorator (who was a regular sailor when younger) yesterday about ships & sailmaking, reminded me of my personal stitching interest & once again a connection with stitches, fabric & threads in yet another craft. He told me there's a sailmaker nearby where possibly I could go & watch ... a definite diary date for the future!

Poignant Avatar !

My first try in YouTube has resulted in a slide show which at this stage I'm quite happy with. I've been trying to upload this into my blogs for some time but it hasn't been very successful - I think to do with software etc & compatibility! Anyway it appears to have worked so with my new phone & camera 'toys' I hope to expand this side too.

By the way, I've chosen my current Avatar in YouTube as the above image - it seems suitable & rather poignant!

The New Year Approaches

I hope by the end of this year to have all my things in their respective 'homes' - either at home or in the studio. Everything generally has been unpacked & put into its new place(s) & ready for the new year to bring all my creative thoughts & processes altogether. Many things have been sorted out, tidied up, finished, put into order, prepared for next stages & lots of lost items have been finally found! Also a lot of new ideas have come about but currently in a notebook!

One of the most pressing things I needed to do was to 'bring together' all my different sides of creativity: textiles - crafts - photography - computer ... under one roof & so that I can reference it all side by side - if you're interested then have a look here.

Lost but not disappeared !

What a dreadful time since my last entry - a house & work move & DOWNSIZING !!! Lots of things crammed in boxes to be sorted out at later date - one thing being my list of log ons & info. Lost but not forever as finally found & here I am again. Now trying to bring everything under one " e-roof". If you've arrived here from one of my other e worlds you'll have seen what I mean !! Now, depending on whatever mood I'm in, I'll be able to update & (hopefully) keep abreast of it all.

By the way, this is what I see every night from the lounge - not always a sunset though!!