Thankful on Friday instead.

Lots going on right now. It might seem odd, but some days it is a bit too much to add to coping levels for the day by turning on the computer.

Anyway, I like that the new physio I have been referred to, who is meant to help me with leg pain and mobility, looks to be prepared to really help and not just want me to 'manage the pain'.

and that going to hospital means I could pick up some more books in the bookshop and going to the library means even more!

I like I have had some time to work on some clothes for me. One I cut out is an eyelet lace, which will have white underlining.

I love the thatched cottage we stayed in when we were in Dorset on holiday the other week.

Our bit is on the right. The left side is where the owner of our self-catering cottage lived.

The whole street had houses with climbing roses up and over the door.

I really liked that it was amazingly sunny and warm enough to read at any number of spots in the garden there.

and that there were signs which said I should be there.

I love that Dorset has a Dragon drinking water.

I like castle ruins and finding out the story about them.

Corfe Castle ruins

The wheels worked really well, but I didn't go up to the castle. Normally that would be one of the first things I would do. But, this time I decided to listen to reports from the Thoughtful Man and his dog.

hot and tired

This was at a cafe in a little courtyard. Every time we walked past the entrance on our way here or there, Holly decided we should go down there. Even though there was no real reward for her. We did eat there 3 days and saw the model village there on one day. We called it Holly's dinner place.

More holiday photos on another day.

Also, during these past few weeks...
 I very much like that my Fly Me to the Moon piece 'Moonlight Groovin' has been used in publicity for that gallery by the organisers of the Festival of Quilts.

and that my Ramshackle Suburbs will be part of the Fine Art Quilts Masters.

and that it is still a bit of a secret because they only used the detail photo for the publicity. People have to go to the gallery to actually see the whole of it...unless they follow my blog. But still, a little photo on a blog and standing in front of a piece nearly 2metres by 1.10 metres, two very different experiences.

Check out more likes from the others taking part...links on LeeAnna's blog.

Ramshackle Castles

Today I am parcelling up a new piece to send off.

I showed some detail photos of bits of castles while I was making it. (and also a glimpse of a shortness of brown fabric for the binding...now you see how I have sorted it.)

And now Ramshackle Castles has been accepted into SAQA: Made in Europe II. It will be part of the SAQA exhibition at the Festival of Quilts this summer.
This is exciting for me because since SAQA started having exhibitions at FOQ, I have wanted to have my work included. I did have work included in some of the other European venues, but this is the show I take part in!

And the Blurb...

Ramshackle Castles:

Another in my series of Ramshackle Houses exploring community and neighbourhood. The challenge to develop the “Ramshackle look” to depict castles was a great way to take this series further. Each castle was given their own character; using additions and accessories like I do with the houses.

Living in England, I enjoy visiting castle ruins. I love to imagine the lives of those who lived in them.  Quite a different sort of neighbourhood, busy with all the people needed to run a castle.  In Europe, castles seem to be located on every hilltop...Or near enough. Sometimes the inhabitants were neighbourly. But more often, those in the nearest castle were definitely enemies!


I really enjoyed making this one. Castles are really something I enjoy learning about.  I did get a comment from one of the men in this house (guess who?) about there being no way you could walk on the ramparts at the angle of some sections. I said 'That is the point! It is Ramshackle.' And indeed most of the castles you find are some sort of ruin...although it will be said most of their walls are still straight. 

Ramshackle Castle

And here are a few more sneak photos. Remember I said it was a different building and that I was very excited?

Well, Castles, obviously!

Bit by bit I am making progress...interspersed with beads on the dragon gown.

I am hoping to enter this into SAQA Made in Europe II, but it also fits for the latest in-house challenge for TVCT which is Scale: Home. Scale - as in trying something different in size to something you have made before. For me, this is about depicting a different sized building and how could the larger building work with the Ramshackle technique.

Ramshackle - the new one

I had to delay the start of this because I needed to start the dragon gown. Now that I am onto the embellishing of the gown, and the need to finish this (deadline) is beginning to creep up...
and the need to do something else for a while... I have finally got going.

Actually, I have worked on this for 2 days and I am already well on my way. I have all the bits cut out!

So here are a couple sneak close-up photos:
new type of tree

rather complicated

a bit of an experiment -

I will need to see if this reads as what it is. Otherwise, I will recut these into bushes!