Edgelands and Autumn

We are well into the Autumn and enjoying the latent warm weather of an Indian Summer. The days although bright in Kent are getting shorter. November is around the corner and this year more than any other we think of the past. 'The Gardens and War' exhibition continues at the Garden Museum until January.

                     

It is also time time to tidy up in the garden and mine has been neglected with so much building work going on in the house but the Bees are enjoying the late sunshine on our hedge and makes me realise how important the edges of our gardens and  the hedges around our fields are to wildlife.

I have had my head down getting back to teaching at Adult Education and handed the copy in for my next book in this month but also managed to squeeze in a lovely visit to Sew Not Strawberry Jam in the middle of the Kent Countryside to run two one day workshops with a look at the surrounding hedges and landscape for inspiration.

Examples of student work in progress. 
Quick sketches in the garden and of plants

Layering Images in Stitch Sketch workshop

Momigami paper for Postcard Places

and a few views of the lovely garden with Geese. Just love the bright pegs.

 

Finally, I am delighted to be exhibiting with Anne Kelly in Connected Cloth at Crowborough Arts Centre, with Anne Kelly, 31 Oct - 13 Nov

There and back again

Well the 'word on the bird' is that she is back again.  This little bird has migrated to the West Coast of the USA.

My last point of call was St Diego and I made some garden sketches in friends gardens.

Went off for the day flying with two friends..One of whom is a pilot. Never been in a small plane. The images below are of the mountains and Los Angeles as we flew. Note the Queen Mary in harbour. I even took some stitching with me but for once I could only look.

 

 Had a lovely Japanese meal at a small coastal town North of Los Angeles .Loved the teapot and bowl.

 

 Whilst back to earth, workshop commenced. A few folded drawings from a quick warm-up in my workshop in San Diego NTC Point loma. hosted by the wonderful Jane LaFazio

 And some more contributions for Tea Flora Tales from some of the students who attended. Brilliant artists by the way.

Some more Tea Flora Tales and some book forms in progress form my second workshop in St Diego with the San Diego Book Arts

 

It was a wonderful finish to the marathon tour. Had a day off in the hills overlooking the desert of California during the time the roads were closed to high rise as the fierce Santa Anna winds blew.

 

Some lovely shadows on the blinds which helped keep the equally fierce heat and winds from the desert at bay. Finally, as the sun came down on my marathon trip a last walk on the beach.

Thankyou to all my friends on the way who made this trip so rewarding in so many ways. For the laughter, warmth and companionship.  See you again soonish.