English Village

Our English heatwave continues and a visit to Epping Forest has produced these lovely panoramic views

The duck pond with the posh ducks

Then here is my garden in negative

Carrying on the spooky feel & experimenting with my phone again

The other morning I shot this in the town car park, camouflage tree and spiders jewels, wonderfully inspiring image, contrasting textures, velvet and felt with the siron and pearls or maybe swarowski crystals - oh if only there was time and it was 20 degrees not 30 and mad mower morris was not busy with his angle grinder right outside the studio window, neighbours eh

UP THE LANE

Deserted, peaceful & lovely in the Autumn sunshine

The earth is so dry along the way past the allotments

An opening in the hedge affords this stunning view, taken on the rule of thirds, a good picture for a landscape inspired textile.

In the pocket park they had to remove some of the trees, but they left the wood to rot and provide a good habitat for the wildlife

But what is this????  It is the pond, so very dangerous for anyone that does not know, look how the weeds or whatever they are called have taken over a beauty spot.  I have photographed this before in all its glory & posted on my blog.  Have a search

Blackberries from the secret lane in my tummy!!

The secret lane starts (or ends) in someones garden with this fabulous brick wall

So to the design part of the blog.  These images were taken on my Samsung phone which has many filters
This is the same photo as the one before, but now I have some surrealist texture effects with which to work and some discorded colours

This is the same photo in landscape format, see how changing the layout can alter the image dramatically, this now looks really spooky.  If I didnt feel so tired from teaching the first of the Design to Stitch masterclasses today then this would be good to play with.  No playing this week for me, working and visiting until the weekend, so I may not be a-blogging until then.  No luck with the newsletter either, weekend I PROMISE to sort it out
Try out the filters on your camera and try changing the format, print it out & stitch, let me know with a comment if you do
Thanks for reading X

TODAY

WOW F1 in HD on uber TV in Singapore at night - totally fabulous.  So the sun was out, branches of the trees lay strewn all over the lawn and mad mower morris was at it again with the guitar, normal Saturday in the shires.
Todays walk produced a bag full of blackberries, many of which are in my stomach - yummy.  The secret lane that we walk is usually so private that the birds are the only company.  Not today, the other side of the lane, (tiny line just wide enough for a fat body like mine) is a field and 2 really loud women were there, I assumed that they were a-picking like us, well yes they were a-picking but picking up POOH.  Dont know if it was horse, sheep, cow, random other animal living in a field but it was certainly huge.  A trade was not offered!!
Along the way I picked up this beautiful fallen leaf

This shows the colours appearing now in Northamptonshire

I got really told off for picking these up, I hunted around for full ones as I fancied drawing them, 'what do you want them for?  NOOOOO put them back - ha - I hid them, arnt they beautiful such a lot of promise, we used to have a Horse Chestnut in our garden - it was called Learning Tree & had a face on it, drawn by nature into the bark, it died a few years back, but it is still there overgrown with ivy & bushes but still part of our lives.  In front of it now is a rather grand Acer, that looks like a silly stick for all of the winter and has the most glorious lime green leaves for the summer.  I wanted an Oak!

Before the pooh pickers spoilt my bliss, I was marching along singing at the top of my voice
For I am just a country boy (yep girl) http://youtu.be/pveRfb2llv0
This Man has a wonderful voice
It is now early evening & very still outside, I am typing this by the light of my Ottlight only so that I can see the wonderful subtle colours in the sky, pinks, greys, blues and a shaft of pale orange.  Its days like these that make me truly grateful
More yummy threads arrived today King Tut & FS20.  I have emptyied my box of Lana threads & have placed all the wonderful buttons in the little compartments, they look so lovely, I have finished one of the pieces I am stitching, which has gone quite well and this evening as there is only rubbish on the TV, uber or dinky I am going to start another piece.  Sorry not to show.  I am just too happy to attempt a newsletter with grrrr mailchimp grrrr - maybe tomorrow

Thanks for reading my waffle, happy weekend to you x especially to the lovely lady who left me a comment on the last post, I am intregued as to where you live, I guess that it is really vibrant & exciting, its sleepy ville here but yes it is beautiful, just wish that the sea was just over the hill - never satisfied humans x

SEPTEMBER BUSY

The weather here in the Midlands has calmed down and on the Autumn Equinox it has been a beautiful day.  So all creative work in the studio stopped for an invigorating walk to the local pocket park.  Where to our huge disgust and surprise the pond was completely weeded over.  Really dangerous as the green weeds hid all the dangers.  Must get in touch with the keepers.
Along the hidden lane where I love to walk in total peace the blackberries were bobbing in the sunshine.  They are free from polution and tasted oh so lovely.  Think I might have to steal away tomorrow to get some more!
My new series of masterclasses called Design to Stitch starts on Monday & I have been putting some finishing touches to the samples by hand in the sunshine.  I just had to buy some new threads from Barnyarns but got a huge shock when I opened the parcel as they are huge cobs.  They are all burmilana which is 50% wool & 50% acrylic.  I have been using these these threads, usually now called Lana, for many years, actually getting a supply really cheap at a small haberdashery shop who didnt know how fab they are.

Two of 7 - :-)

Drool drool drool, look at these, I love buttons so much.  These are secret squirells & I have a big (BIG - HUGE) bag of various ones, these are gold & white mostly all different sizes, they are just beautiful and a big THANK YOU to who gave them to me (and the others)
Such an inspiring picture!

This book is just pure joy to read.  It is not a how to book, it is a story, a true one and the pictures are simply stunning

Wonderful, just look at this picture, its all I will show.  Would make a fabulous Christmas pressie or even an Autumn pressie. Google Sally Sparks

Here is a sneeky peek of a workshop piece for Dales Holey Moley club on veggies.

NEWSLETTER - I am having problems with Mailchimp, I shall try to do another newsletter this weekend & if I am still getting problems then I shall seek another provider.  This has to be the most daft system on the internet, more fool me for picking something that has chimp in it should be chump!!
Thanks for reading - wish I could get off 134 followers been like that for months, I really an considering a giveaway.....

RINGS

I am amazed at where the days go, not helped now by the arrival of uber TV in HD & 3D, wow or wow, I have resisted but resistance was futile and I am glad that I caved in whilst feeling under the weather.  The clarity is astonishing.  We did not win any Olympic tickets that I had saved and saved for so we shall watch it all on the TV.  I just hope that my eyes dont go square and am concerned that stitching may all have to be done by hand in front of it lol (only kidding stitching is in my soul)
I have been having a computer break & am very behind with my brain edges drawings as well.

I think a while ago I blogged that I thought that I had lost all my work with shape.  But whilst tidying up the studio storage room I found it all in a portfolio, all safe.  I  Had made a book based on circles, a shape that I love, it symbolises life and rebirth to me and this piece is using rings to print with

Here is the use of the soldering iron and the end of a pencil to print with and the lines are coloures staples, another love of mine for making marks as they work on fabric as well as paper.

Irridescent paint and a soldering iron tip to burn marks into watercolour paper withthe addition of burnt points, simple repetition but effective.

Finally using found objects to create circles and transparent paint, making interesting layers with repeat patterning with the little circles, made with a straw.

Recently I have been creating ideas for my series of Masterclasses due to start next week and making patchwork blocks for my patchwork classes.  Two very different areas of design and both very satisfying in their own way.
I shall try to blog a bit more regular now:-)
Thanks for reading x

PRESSIES

Thank you Hillsidethreads for your comment regarding the lost picture, what a great idea, I shall see if I can sort it out.  Nearly drove me bonkers and I still cant find it

A very lucky teacher I am, look at these fabulous pressies, along with a personal card.  The paper is a scrummy watercolour pad, thick, textured & I am itching to start creating a bird book using these 2 wonderful wooden birds.  They were contained in a purple mulberry paper & skeleton leaf bag with fab twisted handles.  All to drool over & I fancy making the birds into earrings, watch this space.  Thank you Carolyn x

FACES

I have been trying to find a particular photograph on my computer.  It has a face on it. Two hours and over three thousand (yep) pictures later, I still have not found it.  I know its there as it popped up on my screensaver.  I got hooked into organising faces.  I was so facinated with which family members Picasa thinks looks like each other.  If you have picasa give it a go.  I now have over a thousand images of people I dont know! Random people in the background on holiday!  People at weddings & gatherings, really quite funny. Then looking at the nearly one thousand images with my son on pulling his silly faces made me hoot with laughter.
Back to work tomorrow after a really odd summer, I dont really feel like I have been away with the exhibition & the charity days and clearing out Margarets fabrics and stuff - still a huge amount to sort.

I am the guest artist for Dales Holey Moley club on Veggie month.  Another reason why I was looking for images, this is what I was looking for

I shall have such fun working from this image of this cabbage on a market stall.  I wish I had taken more photos but I was being stared at by holiday makers and our friends were a bit embarassed, not so my long suffering husband who is used to me spending ages photographing some strange & wonderful event or thing.  I dont photograph people, good job or there would be thousands more images to plough through!

I have not forgotten about the newsletter, I am thinking about changing the provider as I really find MailChimp a real chump to operate!

Bedtime I think -- thanks for reading x

LA LUNA

As an artist who loves texture, I am so thrilled to have shot this picture, through the studio window.  The same window that captured the poppy field pictures a while back (sorry have not yet worked out how to link to a previous post - you would think that I would know as I have been blogging on this blog for 3 years now!!)  Wow 3 years.  I had another blog for quite a while before this one, which no longer exists to view, using my business name of Apatchshe.  I had to alter it as athough I thought it was a good name a-patch-she, it is so like the tribe and the computer platform, so this blog is just simply my name.  Naught flash!!

Back to the image, manipulated in Corel photopaint has produced this stunning image, resembles leaves.  Wich is the topic on creativebrainedges at the moment (I am not feeling particulary creative, I have to say, bit more edges at the moment)

Here is the moon as a quilt pattern, wham bullseye centre focus

Guess who has found theWO man in the moon, here she is, my very own moon creature LA LUNA

Here is the final creation, textured patchwork La Luna.  If I feel better tomorrow then I will print & stitch her, would make a nice little bag!!! hohoho

(no saucy comments please I can see it just as weell as you can!!)

QUILTS OF VALOUR

On Tuesday a group of 10 ladies came together again to continue with the making of our 2 quilts for valour UK.  All the materials are from Margarets stash the lovely lady who donated the Accuquilt Go to me to share with the quilters in our area.
We raised the cost of the Bamboo wadding from the donated money for the stash of patchwork magazines so loved by Margaret.
Bee Inspired provided the venue free of charge and also provided the wadding, some large pieces of fabric for an additional border & 505 spray at cost price.  Thank you David & Jemma x

I want to thank the ladies, Rachel for co-ordinating the hand stitched quilt which I have called Forest & her mum, lovely to see her again.
To our machinists, Sally, who amongst other things created 4 tiny tiny blocks with 1 inch half square triangles for the corner stones of the border.  Janis, Sheila, Brenda & Carolyn, for dealing with whatever I threw their way!!  To our hand pieces, Katy, Carol, Eileen, Rachel & her mum, wow you are quick & accurate x
I really hope that I have not forgotten anyone?
I forgot to take any pictures of work in progress, being a bit under the weather.

The next installment of THE HAPPY HORNETS - this is what we decided to call ourselves, Ketterings Quilting Bee! will be on
Friday 25th November 2011 from 1pm to 4pm ish
Where the quilts will be sandwiched ready for the quilting.

FOREST will be hand quilted in the ditch & HOPE will be machine stitched with a walking foot

The binding is alreasy made for Forest.  I am off to get some more of Margarets stash this afternoon, hopeful of finding some backing, if not then I am sure that my stash from my days as a MakowerUK quilt designer will suffice :-)

If you would like to join in The Happy Hornets, then please either talk to me in a class or email me on shelaghfolgate@aol.com
Thanks everyone x

SEPTEMBER

For most teachers September looms like a spectre at the end of the summer.  Well no summer here in England.  It has come in like some whirling dervish (whatever that is?)  Yesterday was the first day back locally & my husband & I were bemoaning how awful it must have been for school teachers, with the kids literally high as kites.  The image above is by Janet Bolton, whose work I really love.  She was at FOQ but always busy.  I have had the pleasure of 2 workshops with her many years ago
At the moment I am putting together two new courses Design to Stitch masterclasses.  This is an exciting prospect, creative classes without the restrictions of City & Guilds.  Something that I have wanted to do for a long time.  This will be the first time that I can incorporate hand & machine stitching in the same lesson.
If successful then I would love to do more, including in the evenings.
I have completed some stitched samples, sorry cant show.  Maybe I might do an Internet course as well at some time.
I had better return to work, have just posted today's brain edges offering, have a go at it, both Dale & I unbeknown to each other have done similar work, truly edgy. Thanks for reading x

LAST PICTURE

Probably by now you may be a little jaded at exhibition pictures so here is one final collage of 3 sample pieces chosen at random

The weather here is so changeable, yesterday was beautiful & warm, today its dull and overcast.

I am fortunate that all my Autumn semister classes & courses are running, however that means a heavy workload of planning - not great with the popped bloaty head syndrome that I posses today.

Dale & I are starting a new challenge tomorrow over on the creative brain edges blog.  This month it will be leaves.  Easy subject to join in with if you fancy.  3 postings a week, weds,  friday & sunday with stitching thrown in from time to time.  There will be a break for October as Dale will be absent with leave for most of it.  We have never met so I am excited for this to be happening in October.

Newsletter is due soon, hopefully tomorrow, thanks for following x

ALL OVER NOW

End of a fabulous week and the sun has returned.  Too tired to post at the moment, maybe later or tomorrow x

ONE MORE DAY!!!

Our local newspaper, the Evening Telegraph, has managed to get all the details of the exhibition wrong, so we are opening for an extra day tomorrow (Friday) which is no bad thing, as it is still very popular
So if you have not had chance to visit then please do, I shall be there tomorrow most of the day, please say hi!
Didnt get any chance to photograph samples today, due to an enormous all day breakfast with my daughter at The Mews cafe, its half past four now and I am still full from 11.30 scoff in lol
I shall add random images today instead & hopefully samples tomorrow.

This is a resolved image using impasto techniques

Part of a book cover using stitched patterns deconstucted

Further stitched patterns, this time on a very innovatively shaped container

Vibrant resolved design piece

Considered thoughtful manipulation of fabrics

Scrim, paint & wrapped sticks, this is actually a beautifully subtle piece, I will try to take a better image tomorrow

Edge finishes, manipulation & stitch techniques

Hope you are not getting bored......  ???? Here are some more...

Terrific design derived from yellow no parking lines!

More developmental ideas to resolved design piece, Chocolate & pink, a very modern colour scheme

This is a beautiful scarf. stitched on a difficult fabric, the design is from New Zealand, it hangs well & would match one of my outfits to a T

Finally, part of the room display,

The beautiful bay window in the studio, looking out onto the courtyard and the cafe, Dolls House shop, Toy shop & the craft shop.  We are very fortunate to sew in such an inspiring place & in the centre of Kettering town too, easy to reach by bus, train or paying car park.  Kettering is a lovely market town, not very big, with a beautiful Parish church & old buildings, it is only a few miles from Boughton house which was featured on the TV this week, both are on the A43.

Do visit us if you get a chance, browse around the shops and have a coffee & a small breakfast lol.  Phew need a rest now, thanks for looking and reading x