About nothing in particular and everything in general

This is going to be a bit of a random, all over the place kind of post!

Partly because I have been in a random, all over the place kind of mindset for all sorts of reasons - personal, day job, family etc.

But I feel to day as if I will have a spring in my step and can focus on my work again.

So first of all, 'In A Spanish Garden' - this is an embroidery that I finished a few years ago, had framed and hangs in my hall.

Well, a couple of blog posts back I mentioned that I had been to the Quilt and Stitch Village at Uttoxeter Racecourse.

I think I omitted to tell you that this won 3rd Prize in the Innovative Embroidery Category.

Now, I find these competitions fascinating, because in my view the other piece I entered, Abscission II was the better piece.  But hey, what do I know?  I don't judge!  These competitions are great because they have given me the confidence to put my work out there.

This photograph is pretty dire - I had to take it at an angle to try to stop the glare on the glass in the frame. But you can still see me in the bottom left hand corner!

My friend Rob and Andy (they of the beautiful bone china ) have a little corner in their new studio set up for photos with black out blinds etc. I need to think of a similar rig to take my own photos.

But talking of putting my work out there, the Open Studios is looming.

So I thought a bit of a spring clean and tidy of the studio was in order. We are actually going to use the hall and dining room to hang and display work - principally because the studio itself has limited hanging space - all windows and doors - but the plan is to have people wander around the ground floor and Jane is all for setting up demonstrations (rather hoping her Indigo Vat will make a star appearance in the garden!)

Anyway, as it was the studio was not fit for anything!  (this Photo is taken part way through the re-organisation - which lasted over 2 days!)

And a trip to IKEA was in order.

To procure this little beauty. Not cheap, but I thought I would treat myself.  I find I don't put my paints away - I seem to just want them to hand.  And the dimensions and height of this looked ideal.

To give me a spring in my step there is an old apple tree in the garden here - and just look, it is laden with blossom. And the delicate pink reminds me why apple blossom is the queen of blossoms.

And here is a detail from 'Alchemy' - it is pretty much done I think.  I really haven't shared this at all have I? It has kind of happened without my documenting the process.  I am going to try to finish it today - assemble the component parts (it has two layers) and then perhaps I will revisit it in a proper post.

And finally, for no reason than I was sitting drinking a cup of coffee, a detail from one of my table cloths.  I just looked at the print and thought how lovely, simple and effective it was.

It's a bank holiday here in the UK today, a day to myself and a day to crack on with stuff.