Weekly Photo Challenge – Escape

Posted on May 17, 2013 by nuvofelt

She certainly came out faster than she went in!

Check out my other entry at Just Snaps too, and find out more here.

Some other gems to see:

Wordless Wednesday

Posted on May 15, 2013 by nuvofelt

Layered and textured paper. Part of a new artwork. Don’t forget to check out Just Snaps, too.

The Answer is NO! Or Capture the Moment May #13

Posted on May 13, 2013 by nuvofelt

A while ago I was asked to make some bunting for my grand-daughter. I finished it today. It was an experience that I did not enjoy.

You would think it was an easy task, wouldn’t you? Cut the fabric, stitch the fabric, hang it up. That’s all there is too it.

Or is it?

Well, first the fabric. The one we chose was not easy to locate. No local shop had it and finally I was informed that it had been so popular every shop in the world had sold out. That may or may not be true, who knows, but eventually I did find some, and the cost implied that it was in the ‘if you don’t get it from here you won’t get it at all’ category..

So, pattern made (a whole sheet of A4 paper folded and cut to shape) I proceeded to cut into the fabric. At this point I discovered that He who shall be nameless had been using my ‘Don’t Touch!’ scissors, and the cuts were not all they should have been. Sharpening helped, but frankly I was beginning to become quite disheartened about the whole exercise.

Next stitching. Now things began to go smoothly. The sewing machine stitched like a dream, fronts were stitched to backs in record time and as for the turning! Well, I was amazed at just how easy it was once the excess seam had been suitably trimmed. Now to attach to the tape.

The fabric is a heavy furnishing cotton. I had chosen a tape of similar weight and they went together perfectly. In fact, they went together just a little too well. You see, I had also chosen the perfect thread! I couldn’t see where the thread began and the tape and fabric ended. As I was stitching by ~~candle light~~ the new money saving light bulbs I couldn’t see what I was doing. I should have started in daylight – but it was only a half hour job, wasn’t it?

Daylight came. Yes, first thing this morning I attacked the project again. My goodness! Yes, that thread does match. Even the long ‘uncut’ trails vanished – yes, in daylight! Finally, and with only half an hour of stitching the flags were completed and are now awaiting delivery.

bunting

They actually look rather pretty, and I will take a proper picture when they are hanging up. However, will I make some for you? The answer is in the title.

Will I make some for other grandchildren? Of course I will. Just as long as ‘He’ stays away from ‘My’ scissors

100 Steps

Posted on May 12, 2013 by nuvofelt

Did you think that I’d forgotten about this series? I hadn’t! I have several I want to share with you, but our internet has been so erratic I haven’t been able to load the pictures I wanted. For weeks I have had to grab a very small gap in the day, between 8 and 11 in the morning, when things were working well. Although we apparently still had a connection it was fraught with frustration and you wouldn’t have liked the rude words I might have used.

Anyway, I digress. Yesterday we returned to Missenden Abbey. It’s a place I know really well, and I know that many of you too have been there. I’ve shown you areas where I have taken 100 steps, for instance here, and here, and my intention yesterday was to investigate another area in detail. However, it was a strange day all round, and my post explained a little. (Incidently, I won’t be using the iPad to take pictures next time I’m there, the lighting is atrocious so I apologise for the quality of the pictures. I was appalled to see them when I got home). It was a bright and sunny day outside, but cold, not the sort of day to ‘hang around’, so when the time came I knew that 100 steps had to be taken at the trot.

Outside I went. Sun shining. I walked down the path and it clouded over. I turned around to see and spotted this

100 steps 1

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen that bell, BUT I HAVE NEVER SPOTTED THE TV AERIAL BEFORE! It must have been there, but I couldn’t resist recording the moment. The moment? Yes, the moment the one and only shower of the day started…… so, 100 steps now turned into a gallop.

I know that I haven’t shown you the accommodation block. The outlook is lovely, very thoughtfully landscaped

100 steps 2

The running water is restful, but turned off at night. No need for an alarm, though, if you like a lie in

100 steps 3

this water spout is turned on at 8 am, just time to hurry you to breakfast. I tend to set an early alarm and go to the classroom to set up for the day before breakfast, though, so only hear it if the workshop is set in the room you can see at the end.

All thoughts of taking you across the bridge and through the gardens disappeared at this point as the rain became quite heavy, so I made a dash for the front.

100 steps 5

Someone, though, knew more than I did, because in spite of the downpour a loan blackbird sang joyfully to his heart’s content. I could hear him, but couldn’t see him for a while

100 steps 6

and then I spotted him

100 steps 4

It always pays to look up!

Here endeth a very quick trip around Missenden Abbey!

Weekly Photo Challenge – Pattern

Posted on May 10, 2013 by nuvofelt

Pattern, in the eye of the beholder! My answer to the Weekly Photo Challenge. Please also check out the entry on my other blog and follow this link to lots full information. More links below

Just to show you……

Posted on May 10, 2013 by nuvofelt

…. that I can’t stay far away from a riot of colour for long….

Wordless Wednesday

Image

Weekly Photo Challenge – From Above

Posted on May 3, 2013 by nuvofelt

Long Tally Sally

Patterns in the dye bath

Pansies

Coffee at Brasserie Blanc

Starter!

An eclectic mix ‘From Above’, the subject for the current Weekly Photo Challenge. Some of these were taken with the old camera shortly before it expired, and the others with the brand spanking new one. Can you see a difference? I can! It must have been ‘going’ long before I realised.

Lots more entries and full details are here, and a few links below.

Capture the Moment, May #2 – and more!

Posted on May 2, 2013 by nuvofelt

I have refrained from posting my work for sale on this site, not sure if that is a good or a bad thing, but at least this opening statement will warn those of you that think it is bad! I’m excited to share two new links. Meta from greeninthemiddle, also curates an online gallery. She has invited me to be part of this and today my first two items are listed.

I’ve also started a sort of ‘Mini Gallery‘ on Etsy. The work that I’m listing here is a collection of some of the Colour Studies that I make when I begin a new artwork. You have seen some of them before (here’s one), and at a later date I’ll probably be listing some of those. Frankly, though, there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all that I want!

Posts have been erratic partly because the internet still isn’t sorted, partly because my camera had somehow acquired a very nasty scratch on the lens. The latter has now been solved with a new purchase and the former should be resolved within the next seven days. Sadly family problems are still uppermost in my mind and they, of course, must take priority.

Oh, the joys of the internet! At least the sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day.