Making The Most...

of our day out, we continued on to Callendar Park, a huge (170 plus acres) estate near the centre of Falkirk.  Reader, it's gorgeous... lots of things to do, plus a wonderful house...

The space is glorious; masses of trees, and every so often, a specimen tree in among the mass planting...

In the background, the edge of the loch.  Complete with swans...no, not the real thing, but little boats that can be taken out for fun.  And everywhere you look, something interesting, a different vista.

I have to admit, I was exhausted yesterday...should have know better than to go to two places on one day.  I think it was worth it, though, just to see all this beauty.  And I took one or two images that will doubtless inform some work...more tomorrow. 

You've Been Framed...

or at least, this particular piece has. It's a follow on from 'It's In The Trees', called 'Blue Trees', and it is sitting happily in a lovely wooden frame.

I have a love hate relationship with frames, but I have to agree with Robin, who said that he thought that a piece looks more finished than when it is hung without. I think that, as well as that, that there is an expectation that art work comes in frames. People know what to *do* with art in frames; I think they are less sure about textiles that hang unframed. Either way, I think that this particular piece looks good in its frame. I hope you agree; all feedback welcome as always! Find more detail shots here

And yes, of course, the piece is made from lutradur. Well, I suppose it would be... I'm obsessed with the stuff. Who wouldn't be, when you can get results like these.

Having A Good Time...

working with the lutradur I coloured whilst demonstrating at Festival of Quilts. The more I work with both lutradur and evolon, the more I discover, which is a great thing. I love to learn new things, it's an important part of what I do. This piece was made just before FOQ, some of you may have seen it on the stall. It's a piece of light lutradur, hand dyed in pinks, turquoises and greens, over a monoprint. The piece is called 'In The Trees', and the quilting emphasises some of the marks that lie beneath the lutradur surface. Some of them, though, have been left as marks; see if you can see them. There are close up shots here

I'm going to be away this weekend, spending some time with my sister and her family, and that, too, will be having a good time! We're going to Alton Towers, complete with small fry. I've never been; expect some new work around play and funfairs when I get back!