art of textiles

Creative Sketchbooks review

2012-01-26T18:09:00.000Z

Mandi left a comment asking if I've liked Design Matters Creative Sketchbooks course. I can honestly say YES! I've never really been sure what to put in my sketchbooks for my degree course. I've found that this course has helped me get out of my comfort zone and be less precious about my sketchbook.

I won a set of Derwent Inktense pencils earlier this week so I used them to add colour to one of the black and white drawing from Module 1.

I'll probably do more work on this next page when I get to module 3 and learn more techniques.

Untitled......

2012-01-13T00:19:00.000Z

.... check out this new online showcase for OCA students. I'm so chuffed to be included in the Textiles section. It's the first time I've been referred to as an Artist.

Module 1....

2012-01-08T22:24:00.000Z

...I've finished Module 1 of Linda and Laura's Creative Sketchbooks course. Anyone interested in doing this course enrollments will open again on Monday 23rd January 2012.

Here's a couple more pages from my sketchbook as a taster.

Now on to Module 2 and COLOUR

Marrotte.......

2012-01-01T17:00:00.001Z

I started a couple of Joggles classes before I went into hospital but didn't get very far with them. Before Christmas I made a start on the Marrotte class. I finished them at 10pm the day before I went to my brothers in York as they where a Christmas present for Ste and family.

I'm so please with how they turned out ................ let me introduce you to

Jack Frost

Madame Nadine

Sweet William

and finally Freddie

I wasn't sure if they would like them but they loved them.

Happy New Year...

2012-01-01T00:30:00.001Z

I spent an enjoyable few days with my brother and his family in York after Christmas. We went to a Panto at York Theatre Royal. I've never been to a panto before but as an introduction this was brilliant, I haven't laughed so much in ages and it was a good thing it wasn't just after my op or I'd have bust some stitches.

The past few years have been my 'Annus Horribilis' so I'm hoping that now I've got my health problems sorted that 2012 will be a lot better.

Wishing everyone a peaceful, healthy and creative 2012.

Happy Christmas

2011-12-25T00:07:00.014Z

This Christmas looks as if it will unseasonably mild for some of us in the UK this year, 12 degrees compared with minus 2 last year here in Liverpool.

I'm looking forward to my Christmas dinner this year as last year I wasn't too well on the day. I've made the stuffing today to go with the chicken, roasties and sprouts which I'll cook tomorrow then sit and eat it in front of the TV.

Hope everyone has a Happy Christmas and Father Christmas brings you all you want.

Minton floor reveal........

2011-12-18T00:26:00.000Z

...... for anyone coming to Liverpool in early January don't miss this. You won't regret the one pound it costs to get in as the floor is only unveiled once a year.

Here's a taster to wet your appetite from a few years ago.

Aaargh.....

2011-12-15T18:10:00.001Z

I could scream! Halifax closed the local agency I used for my banking so I changed to Lloyds TSB earlier this year and now the EU is forcing them to sell off branches because they are too big and guess what ....... yes the one I moved my account to is one of those that are due to be sold off. It is so annoying there are only 2 banks close to where I live Lloyds and Barclays, HSBC closed a few years ago and is now a bar .......moan over for now.

Post op..........

2011-11-09T16:28:00.002Z

.... I had my Hysterectomy on 27th October and am slowly recovering. I was only in hospital for 5 days but I was glad to get home, it can be so noisy at times so didn't get much sleep. I've not been doing much since I came home sleeping and watching a lot of TV. I'm surprised how well I'm feeling now but it will still be another month or two before I get back to normal.

One year ........

2011-10-26T12:16:00.000+01:00

I can't believe it is a year today since my dear Mum passed away, where has it gone. It's true time does heal a bit, I miss her so much and think of her every day.

1926-2010

More Drawings....

2011-10-25T16:02:00.000+01:00

I'm about half way through Creative Sketchbooks with Design Matters. I've not done as much as I'd hoped by now as I've been busy. I'm going to have to put my studies on hold for a while I have to go into hospital soon for a Hysterectomy. I'm not looking forward to the op, but who does - but I couldn't go on any longer the way I was. Hopefully once I'm fully recovered I'll be able to get my life back and do a lot more.

Here's a few more of the drawings I've done ...... more spoons

........ and plates

....... and finally cupboard contents.

New camera......

2011-10-12T16:40:00.001+01:00

I've missed out on taking some photos when I'm out because my other cameras are too big to carry around all the time ........... so I've treated myself to a compact digital camera. After looking around the internet I decided on the Panasonic Lumix TZ18. It is small enough to put in a pocket or bag but seems to take good photos.

I took these with the Macro on it.

More classes......

2011-09-24T16:14:00.000+01:00

..... as if I haven't got enough to do I've enrolled on a few more Joggles classes, they both start next week - Mummy Dearest and Cloth Marrotte. I'll post photos as I progress.

I made the Temple Dancer a few years ago so I'm hoping that they will run this class by the same teacher again soon.

Drawing....

2011-09-24T16:06:00.000+01:00

.... I've made a start on my Creative Sketchbooks online course with Design Matters. I've let it slip over the past year so I'm trying to do a little bit each day, practice does help to improve your drawing. Linda and Laura have put a lot of time and effort into this course so obviously they don't won't to much detail to be shared online but here's a taster of what I've been doing so far.

Liverpool is the best.......

2011-09-22T12:40:00.000+01:00

....... I didn't need telling I always knew it was. Liverpool has been named the best UK city by travel industry professionals. Two weeks ago we where voted the UK's friendliest city by readers of Conde Nast Traveller. Like anywhere there are good and bad things about my home city but it is so nice to hear that we are getting some good publicity for a change instead of the negativity that the press always seem to pick up on.

Date for your diary ............

2011-09-22T12:31:00.000+01:00

....2012 will be the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Five cities associated with the ship will be holding commemorative events including Liverpool where it was registered. Liverpool City Council has just announced a 'Giant' spectacular 20-22 April 2012. It should be an amazing sight.

Museum of Liverpool

2011-09-03T17:11:00.001+01:00

I was sad to see that the new Museum of Liverpool was nominated for this years Carbuncle cup. I have to agree that it really isn't in keeping with the rest of the waterfront but you get a marvellous view of the Three Graces from the large window and inside it is amazing. I suppose it will grow on me as the years pass and we get used to it.

At least the Museum doesn't obscure the view from the Mersey like the winner of the 2009 Carbuncle cup which I agree is ugly.

Which is a shame because the Pier Head is looking really nice now after years of neglect.

Central Library

2011-09-03T16:24:00.000+01:00

I've just found this about the refurbishment of Central Library here in Liverpool. Scroll down to the video to see what it will look like - amazing. I'm all for progress but I'm so glad they are keeping parts of it, I suppose because they are Grade II listed and can't be altered.

Passed.....

2011-08-26T14:35:00.000+01:00

....... I got a letter at lunchtime to say that I'd passed The Art of Photography. I missed out on getting a better grade by 2% but considering all the family and health problems I had during the 2 years of doing the course I can't complain about the result. It won't count towards my textiles degree but it was nice to see what the assessors thought of my work. You don't get much feedback but what was written was mostly positive.

"Your work shows great potential. There is some very good work here, which demonstrates your enthusiasm for photography and your ambition to learn and improve. Presentation is clear and well organized. There is some strong, visually innovative imagery, particularly assignment 4"

My tutor was pleased with assignment 4 as well, here's a few of the photos I took.

Creative Sketchbooks

2011-08-08T20:52:00.000+01:00

I haven't been doing as much sketchbook work as I should for my degree with OCA. I find it difficult to know what to put in it so when I saw this course with Linda and Laura Kemshall at Design Matters I decided to enrol on it.

Degree Update.....

2011-07-22T19:56:00.000+01:00

If you'd like to see what I've been up to on my Textiles degree have a look here, here or here.

Here's a taster of one of the samples. This was my first try at screenprinting so I was pleased with how they turned out.

I won..................

2011-07-08T12:31:00.001+01:00

won what you may ask??? On 19th July a brand new museum will open in Liverpool and I got an email this morning to say I've won 2 golden tickets to the breakfast preview of the Museum of Liverpool. This preview is only by invitation so it will be a privilege to be amongst the first to see the museum before it opens later in the day. Simon Kane in the Independent has given it a good write up here so I can't wait to see inside after watching it slowly emerge over the past few years.

Here's a few photos I took of the outside for TAOP.

Can't wait to take some photos inside. I'll share them with you after the opening - an excuse to buy a new dress, got to look my best haven't I.

Quilting......

2011-06-13T12:44:00.000+01:00

.... is good for you according to this article. We already knew that whatever creative activity we do is good for us didn't we but it is nice to have it acknowledged.

I was also surprised to learn

The craft industry contributes around £3 billion a year to the UK economy.

The Art of Photography

2011-06-06T18:01:00.001+01:00

Forgot to mention that I sent of my work for assessment last week. This module won't count towards my Textiles degree but I want to see how well (or not) I did. It doesn't get assessed until next month then it will be a few more weeks before I learn what grade I've achieved, I'll post when I find out.

One of photos I took for Assignment 4 - Lighting techniques.

Degree update

2011-06-06T17:01:00.001+01:00

If you are interested in seeing what I have been up to over the past few months with my latest work for Textiles 1: Exploring Ideas have a look here or here.

Solved it.......

2011-06-06T15:42:00.000+01:00

....... I think I may have solved the problem with my blog not showing up on followers blog roll.

On the Blogger forum covering this problem they suggest deleting the blog from Blog Roll - save - add blog again - save. I added my blog to the blog roll and it seems to have worked.

Just checked a couple of blogs where I know mine is in the blog roll and it seems (fingers crossed) to have worked.

Blog updating problem

2011-06-06T12:29:00.000+01:00

Ali Honey left a comment on my last post to say my blog hasn't updated for 3 years on her blogroll, but I know I've been blogging in that time. According to the Blogger help forum it has been happening to quite a few people. I'll have a go at some of the fixes that have been suggested to see if it helps.

2011-06-04T12:29:00.001+01:00

It's a long time since I've blogged here but I've been busy with my degree work here. I'm starting screen printing next, my 1st try at it so I've bought a few books from Committed to cloth and Amazon.

The DVD that came with Thermofax printing was very interesting. I'd love a Thermofax machine but at £800-1,000 I can't justify the expense at the moment so I will have to buy a few from here or here.

I posted my work for The Art of Photography for assessment last Tuesday. Unfortunately this module doesn't count towards the Textiles degree but I want to see how well (or not) I've done. It had to be there by 15th June but it will be a month or more before I find out.

I know envy is one of the 7 deadly sins but when I saw this video I couldn't help being envious of her new studio, who wouldn't be with all that space.

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T00:20:00.001+01:00

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

OCA Exploring Ideas

2011-01-19T21:28:00.000Z

Christine left a comment on my last post

Hello Susan
I was interested in your comments about the OCA Exploring Ideas module as I was thinking of doing it myself. What do you think of it? Have you managed to get started after having such a terrible year? Best of luck with it, anyway.

but I couldn't reply directly so I hope you read this.

I've felt more like studying over the past few weeks so I've finally made a start on Part One of Exploring Ideas and so far I'm enjoying it. This first part doesn't have to be sent for assessment but is more to introduce yourself to your tutor and give them the chance to get to know your work.

Project Interpreting cultural sources - in this project, you'll be researching a textile design from a particular culture.

I've chosen Africa as it is such a large continent there is bound to be something that catches my eye. I've done most of the design part, just got to do samples now. I'll have to get started because I'm supposed to send it to my tutor at the end of this month.

I'm looking forward to Part Two 'Screen Printing'. I've not tried this before so it should be interesting.

When I update my OCA blog I'll put a post on here for anyone that wants to have a look at what I'm doing.

Reflections..............

2011-01-01T16:35:00.000Z

I've been reflecting on what I achieved last year in the way of creativity. I didn't think that I'd got a lot done but now I look back I've done a lot more than I thought.

half of Module 4, along with Module 5 and 6 to complete Level 3 Certificate in Design and Craft - Stitched Textiles (Embroidery).
Assignments 2, 3, 4 and 5 of OCA The Art of Photography. I'm just waiting to get my last assignment back so I can send it for assessment next month.

Click on the links in the side bar if you want to see what I did.

I've not done a lot of work on my 1st assignment for Textiles 1: Exploring Ideas because I've been unwell, but hopefully once I get my health problems sorted in the next few months I will regain my energy and enthusiasm to continue studying.

I took this photo last year on my phone camera. I was going to delete it from my computer but on reflection even though it wasn't what I wanted it could be used as a base for possible designs????

It's of the christmas lights down at Liverpool One.

Happy New Year..............

2010-12-31T23:59:00.004Z

I spent yesterday and most of today in hospital again getting treatment for anemia, so on top of losing my dear Mum in October .... this has been an awful year for me. I don't know about anyone else but I can't wait to see the back of 2010.

Hopefully 2011 will be a new beginning.

Happy Christmas ....

2010-12-24T15:45:00.000Z

and best wishes for a creative and peaceful New Year to everyone.

Phew..

2010-12-22T20:50:00.000Z

I managed to get to my local supermarket to get some shopping in. It isn't far but I wasn't taking any chance on slipping again so I got a taxi there and back. I'm hibernating until after Christmas now and hopefully there will be some sign of a thaw soon. I don't know about anyone else but snow is nice when it first falls but once it gets trodden underfoot and turns to ice it looses its allure.

Ouch.....

2010-12-21T16:09:00.000Z

The snow here in my part of Liverpool has turned to ice what fun, NOT!

First the water wouldn't go down the sink in the bathroom. The pipe outside the bathroom was frozen solid. I poured boiling water over the pipe and managed to unblock it but it is so cold here it probably wouldn't take long to freeze up again. I know they say you should lag your inside pipes so I've wrapped the bathroom pipe with some foam wrapping paper, you know the sort that sometimes comes wrapped around electrical goods. Hopefully that will help.

I tried to get out to do some shopping this afternoon. I got about fifty feet from my front door trying to cross the road and the next thing my feet slipped from under me. I tried to save myself but I ended up flat on my back on the road and banged the back of my head. Luckily a taxi driver and van driver where passing and they stopped and helped me up but it did shake me up. I had to turn back it wasn't worth trying to walk any further. I'll see what it is like tomorrow.

Day 20 Advent Blog.......Brrrr!!

2010-12-20T14:32:00.000Z

Well blogging every day for advent hasn't really worked for me has it. Not had much to write about really.

It is so cold here in Liverpool today -6 degrees at the moment. We had about 4 inches of snow last Friday night but it has turned to ice now. Luckily I stocked up at the supermarket on Friday afternoon. Hopefully it will thaw a bit later this week so I can venture out.

Day 15 Advent Blog

2010-12-15T14:52:00.000Z

I got a letter on Monday to say I've got the funding for 2010/2011 for 2 modules with OCA where I'm working towards a Textiles degree. I've been given a Tuition fee grant plus a course grant for books etc. I just have to pay £205 as a contribution towards the 2 modules I need to complete Level 1 of the degree which are Textiles 1: Exploring Ideas that I started in October and Understanding Art 1: Western Art that I hope to start sometime in 2011.

Day 14 Advent Blog

2010-12-14T13:21:00.000Z

Happy Birthday

2010-12-11T14:08:00.001Z

It is my nephews 15th birthday today. Where have the years gone to? It only seems like yesterday I was holding him in my arms when he was a few weeks old and here is is taller than me.

Happy Joey hope you have a great day and see you at New Year.

Arts Cuts

2010-12-10T17:57:00.000Z

Well the government cuts are starting to bite in the Arts. The Conservation Centre here in Liverpool will close next Friday. They had a 15% cut in funding on top of 3.5% earlier this year so it isn't viable to keep it open to the public.

It was 30 years ago today.........

2010-12-08T14:58:00.000Z

that the world was robbed of one of Liverpools' best known sons John Lennon in a senseless act of violence. There will be a vigil down at Chervasse Park in Liverpool tonight hope everyone wraps up because the weather forcast says it will be bitterely cold.

I was looking for a video to include and found this. I've never seen it before.

and of course one of his best known songs post Beatles.

Day 7 Advent Blog

2010-12-07T07:46:00.002Z

I can't believe that it is 6 weeks since my dear Mum passed away. Life does go on and each day it is getting a bit easier for me.

I found this on Pebbledash's blog and I hope she doesn't mind me using it here. I found the last 2 lines particularly moving.

A Pueblo Indian Prayer

Hold on to what is good,

Even if it's a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe,
Even if it's a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do,
Even if it's a long way from here.
Hold on to your life,
Even if it's easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand,
Even if I've gone away from you.

Day 6 Advent Blog

2010-12-06T15:41:00.000Z

Blimey the weather in the UK is throwing everything at us over the past few weeks isn't it. Luckily we didn't have a lot of snow but last night we got fog. Flights from John Lennon airport have been disrupted as the airport had to close, flights have been cancelled and diverted to other airports.

Day 5 Advent Blog

2010-12-05T15:20:00.001Z

Some of the lights in Liverpool City centre leading up to the Bluecoat Gallery.

Day 4 Advent Blog

2010-12-04T21:53:00.000Z

I took this photo down at Chervasse Park in Liverpool.

See Liverpool from a whole new angle this Christmas, 60 metres above the famous Liverpool skyline aboard a swinging chair ride.

Located on Chavasse Park, the ride opens on Wednesday, 10th November and is the only one of its kind in the UK.

Take a ride into the sky and experience the amazing views of the city whilst spinning at an exhilarating speed.

I felt sick just looking at it going up and spinning round, no wonder you could hear screams from those on it.

Day 3 Advent Blog

2010-12-03T22:57:00.001Z

I'm on my last assignment for OCA The Art of Photography. I hope to put it in the post next week so that my tutor can get it back to me in the New Year so I will be spending the weekend working on printing the photos I've taken. I've applied to have it assessed in March so all my work and log book has to be delivered to OCA in Barnsley by 15th February otherwise I'd have to wait until next August to get it assessed.

Day 2......Brrh!!!!

2010-12-02T15:41:00.001Z

I must be living in one of the few places in the UK that hasn't had a lot of snow. We had a dusting of snow earlier in the week which is still a bit icy in places.

BUT it is so cold I feel like hibernating until spring. I envy those with central heating. I've got the gas fire on full blast, thick socks on, a jumper with a cardigan on top to keep warm. I even resorted to putting the gas stove on so it warmed the kitchen up and through to the bathroom so I could get washed. Takes me back to when I was a teenager when we huddled around a coal fire. Thanks goodness I don't have to go down the backyard to the toilet like we did before the house had a bathroom put in.

Icy leaves taken earlier this year.

Day 1 Advent Blog

2010-12-01T15:13:00.001Z

I've been very lax at blogging over the past 6-9 months so Gina over at Fan My Flame has come up with the idea of blogging each day as a sort of Advent Calendar. I'll give it a go, though I may not having anything very interesting to blog about I'll perhaps post some photos.

Well to start with I got my C & G certificate in the post from Sian today. So I have officially passed Level 3 Certificate in Design and Craft - Stitched Textiles (Embroidery).

So this post isn't photo free here's a piece I did ages ago from a freebie by Carol McFee.

We Will Remember....

2010-11-14T11:00:00.001Z

I always make sure I get my poppy for each Remembrance Day but this year there is a bit more significance to my wearing of it. I've been doing some research into my Family History. Earlier this year I found a 2nd cousin on Genes Reunited who filled in a lot that I didn't know about my Dad's side of the family. It turns out my great Grandfather was married twice. He remarried in 1915 and they had a son John Henry born in 1920. He was on board HMS Courageous one of the first U-boat offensives against the Royal Navy in WWII.

So this year I wear my poppy with pride in memory of my Great Uncle

John Henry Devonport

1920 - 17 September 1939

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Thank You

2010-11-06T15:02:00.001Z

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on my last post the kind thoughts where very much appreciated at what has been a very difficult time for me.

My brother and I laid my Mum to rest with my Dad on Thursday. I know in my head that she is out of pain and at rest but there is such a large hole left in my life.

I don't have the enthusiasm to get back to my studies just yet but I know Mum wouldn't want me to give up on them.

Sad news.......

2010-10-26T17:25:00.002+01:00

My beloved Mum passed away early this morning.

1926-2010

The Dr's managed to treat the pneumonia but she had COPD and her lungs just gave up. I know it was a final journey she had to make but it was so hard for me. I didn't want her to be alone so I stayed with her and she went peacefully. God Bless Mum my best friend.

I want one.............

2010-10-24T23:46:00.000+01:00

.........but they are so expensive. You may well ask what I want ......... my brother came to LFC home game this afternoon and brought my nephew with him and he stays with us for a few hours. Anyway he is nearly 15 and just started on GCSE's, his school provide a MacBook for the next 2 years. He promised to bring it with him last time he was here. I can see why anyone that has an Apple recommends them.

But at £849 they are out of my price range at the moment........I can but dream.

Old Age

2010-10-22T21:58:00.001+01:00

Getting old can be a bugger can't it. My poor Mum has been in hospital since Monday with pneumonia again. This is the 3rd time she's had it in less than a year. I thought she wasn't too bad but I got a call at midnight monday/tuesday to say she had taken a turn for the worse so I was there all night. The Dr wanted to speak to me when I got there today. I could see she wasn't any better if anything worse. The first lot of antibiotics weren't working so they've put her on a different mix. She was very tired so wasn't breathing properly so her blood was getting full of carbon dioxide so they've moved her to Ventilation Inpatient Care and put her on the kind of mask and ventilator she was on last time. I'm not a particularly religious person but I'm praying that it works as well as it did last time.

I wouldn't want her to be suffering or in pain and I know it is selfish of me but I don't know what I would do without my Mum, she is my best friend. Get well soon Mum.

Textile Degree

2010-10-03T17:16:00.000+01:00

If you've been following this blog over the past few years you will know I have been studying with the Open College of Arts

The OCA was recently confirmed as an approved degree provider by Student Finance England, SF Northern Ireland and hopefully SF Wales so now degree student on low incomes may qualify for Government funding.

As I got funding for my OU course I am pretty sure I qualify so early in September I applied. I got an email to say I would be officially enrolled on my degree course on 1st October and I should receive my 1st Module in the next week or two.

I am now officially a part time undergraduate studying for a degree in Textiles (when it is validated by their accrediting University).
Alongside the Textiles 1: A Creative Approach for which I received an A 76% I am planning to study

Textiles 1: Exploring Ideas
Understanding Art 1: Western Art
Textiles 2: Developing Creative Textiles
Textiles 2: Finding Your Style (should be ready by the time I need to do it)
Textiles 3: Advanced
Textiles 3: Your Own Portfolio

I hope anyone that is interested in joining me on my journey will follow my blog at OCA Creative Arts Journey

Finished

2010-08-26T15:23:00.000+01:00

Phew, by the skin of my teeth I've finished C & G Embroidery 7922.

My C & G registration runs out on Saturday so I've been hard at work on my wall hanging so I wouldn't have to pay another 3 years registration.

I've enjoyed my 3 years C & G and learnt a lot although I'm still not as adventurous as I could be but perhaps that is just my 'style'.

I could go on to do the Diploma but I've decided to go back to studying Textiles with The Open College of the Arts as each Module will be assessed and count towards their BA Hons Textiles degree when it is validated by their accrediting University which is Bucks New University hopefully some time next year.

What a difference a week makes

2010-05-27T11:39:00.000+01:00

This time last week I honestly thought I would be organizing a funeral. But thankfully I was so wrong. My Mum is well on the way to recovering. They moved her out of critical care on Monday afternoon. She's in a side room for now because she has an MRSA infection in her nose, it seems lots of us have this without knowing it. She's very unsteady on her feet but I suppose you can expect that after 5 days in bed but hopefully she will get her strength back soon.

We had a laugh though when she said the pysio was teaching her how to breath, as if she hasn't been for the past 84 years. But that was part of the problem I think she doesn't breath deeply enough into her lungs, it seems she doesn't breath out the carbon dioxide so it builds up in her lungs.

I hope they will let her home soon because this travelling up to the hospital each day is killing me. I keep forgetting to take my blood pressure medicine and I think I'm anaemic again because I have to keep stopping every few yards because I'm out of breath. I forgot to take my iron tablets for the past week so that hasn't helped.

Not again

2010-05-21T21:27:00.003+01:00

My poor Mum is in hospital again with pneumonia. The past few days have been fraught. Her breathing had got so bad I had to call an ambulance on Wednesday night and to be honest I didn't think we would make it to the hospital she was so bad they had the lights and sirens going all the way. They took her straight into A & E but it was over half an hour before they could tell me how she was and of course I panicked when they took me into the relatives room I expected the worst. They said she was very ill and when they took me through to see her I knew she was in a bad way. The Dr from ICU said she had single organ shutdown and that if it spread to other organs they would only be able to make her comfortable. I freaked out when they asked what she would want doing if they had to resuscitate her. I had to phone my brother to come over from York because they didn't think she would last the night. They let us see here for a few minutes in ICU but there wasn't much we could do but go home, now I'm not an overly religious person but I did pray a lot that night. My brother is a born again Christian so he'd asked his friends from church to pray for her.

We phoned next morning and they said she was still critical but talking to the staff so we went up to the hospital and they let us see here again for a few minutes and I can't believe the difference she was so much better. They must have pumped her full of antibiotics to get the pneumonia under control. She's still in ICU because they are waiting for a bed in the chest ward for her. They've taken out all the needles that where stuck in her and reduced the oxygen she needs.

As my brother said earlier today 'The Power of Prayer', it is indeed miraculous.

NB I've just looked up Aintree University Hospital (although we know it by its old name of Fazakerly Hospital) and the Critical Care Unit is state of the art and the Chest ward (one of 3) she'll be going to is one of the largest in the country and many of the consultants are national or international experts so she is getting the best treatment possible.

Tambour Beading

2010-04-04T15:59:00.001+01:00

I’ve always wanted to know how to do this so I was chuffed when I found this YouTube video showing how it is done. It looks easy once you’ve got the hang of it.

I want one

2010-04-04T15:56:00.001+01:00

Have you see the new i pad that has just come out in the US. It’s due out here at the end of the month. I don’t usually go in for all the latest gadgets like some people but this does look as if it will be useful. As I’m an OU student I’m eligible for a discount so I think I’ll be having a look at this when it arrives in the Apple store in Liverpool One.

Testing Windows Live

2010-04-04T15:42:00.001+01:00

Purple Missus mentioned that she had tried using Windows Live. I’d heard of it a while ago so thought I would try it. I got a bit fed up with blogging because it was such a hassle but this is so much easier.

OU TMA

2010-03-21T12:26:00.000Z

I've just got my first OU TMA back. I can't believe how nervous I was to look. Not as bad as I thought it would be 57 out of 100. My tutor gave some very good comments and advice so I know what to do to get a higher mark in future. I realized at the time that I hadn't written as much as I could have done, we had 1,000 words for the 2 parts but I only used 544 for the first part and 700 for the second.

If I got marks like this for the rest of the TMA's and the exam at the end I'd get a Pass 3 (C) which I'd be very pleased with.

Tomatoes

2010-03-19T20:51:00.000Z

The landlord helped to clear the front room of rubbish for us last November. It was so cold in there that we never used it (Mum said you could lay someone out in there) and it became a dumping ground, you know the sort of thing like an attic or box room and you say I'll just put this in there until I get rid of it and the next thing umpteen years have passed and it is full.

Well now I can get to the window that looks out on to the road and as it gets a lot of sun so I've decided to have a go at growing my own tomatoes. I've been so fed up of buying tasteless one's in the supermarket.

I've put in 2 different kinds, Gardener's delight and one called Minibel a dwarf variety that you can grow on a windowsill.

Phew!!!

2010-03-12T17:51:00.000Z

I've not posted anything since New Years day but I've been so busy with other things. I've finished Module 4 of City and Guilds and started Module 5. I'm still waiting for Assignment 2 to come back from my OCA tutor.

I mentioned I was starting an Open University course well to my immense relief and with 5 minutes to spare I've just submitted my first TMA (tutor marked assignment). It is the first time I've ever had to write an essay of this sort so I'm a bit apprehensive about how I will have done. To be honest I won't be too upset if I don't get a high mark, it would be nice but I'm really only doing it to learn more about Art history.

Shopping in the Sales

2010-01-01T12:24:00.003Z

I gave up going to the Boxing day sales because they never had anything I wanted but this year I made an exception. I bought a new bag earlier last year on a market stall for £5. I should have guessed it was false economy in the long run because it's started to split and I was getting so fed up of it slipping off my shoulder when I was out shopping. I've seen a lot of women with across body bags so I thought I'd go look for one last Monday.

When first got up it was foggy but by lunchtime it had cleared so I nipped to town and got this in the John Lewis clearance sale for £20 instead of £40.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T12:17:00.002Z

Happy New Year
to all my blogging friends may you all find
love, creativity and peace.

I've written before that I don't make New Year resolutions then I can't break them but in 2010 I hope to do the following:-

Finish Module 5 and 6 of City and Guilds Embroidery before June otherwise I will have to pay another 3 years registration.

Finish OCA The Art of Photography so I can put in for Augusts assessment. I should get Assignment 2 in by the end of this month and 3,4 and 5 don't seem to have as much work to do so I should make it.

Start OCA 'Printmaking 1: Introduction to Printmaking'. I'm looking forward to this course. I can see how I can use it in Textile work as well as Fine Art.

I must be a glutton for work because I've enrolled on another Open University course. I have always been a doer i.e. using my hands, being artistic as apposed to using my brain (not that I don't) but I've never really been good at maths etc so I thought I would attempt something more cerebral.

I've never really been very good at expressing myself especially in written work - probably why I failed my O'level English exam so I hope I will be able to do this with 'Art and its Histories'. It should be an interesting challenge for this year.

Update 8th January, because I get certain benefits I've got the funding of £630 for this course so I've just finished registering and now await the arrival of the course material if they can deliver it through all the snow that is currently gripping the UK.

Happy Christmas

2009-12-23T16:01:00.004Z

One of the first photos I took with my new 'nifty fifty' lens.

This is of the large wheel that is in Liverpool One over Christmas. I thought the centre looked like a star so what better photo to put up to wish everyone who celebrates it a very

Happy Christmas

and best wishes for a peaceful and creative New Year.

New glasses

2009-12-11T17:27:00.003Z

I had to get my eyes tested for new glasses this afternoon. It's 2 years since my last eye test and I've noticed over the past few months my eyes had deteriorated, been using the computer too much I think. I've had a separate pair for close work but this time I'm getting varifocal lens but I got a bit of a shock at the price. I get some help because I'm on benefits but I had to pay £174 towards them. Good thing I had some money saved. It will take 7-10 days but I should get them in time for Christmas.

The optician didn't mention it but the young man who helps you choose your new glasses said I had an 'astigmatism' it had me worried until I looked it up on the internet. Now I know why I had some blurring of my vision sometimes. It makes you realise that you really shouldn't take your vision for granted and get regular eye tests.

Update 23rd December

I got my new glasses yesterday. I suppose my eyes had got used to the old ones so it will take a while for them to adjust to the new ones, but everything is so much clearer and I can read now without any difficulty.

Calendar Girls postcards

2009-12-06T23:42:00.004Z

I've not been able to do any work for the past few weeks. My Mum was rushed into hospital in the early hours of 21st November with pneumonia and fluid on her lungs. She came home on Friday but for 2 weeks my life revolved around hospital visiting. Anyway my life is back to normal now so I'm trying to catch up.

I am late sending this first postcard to Sharon but hopefully she will think it was worth waiting for.

This is the picture chosen by Jenny for November.

I have had a piece of fabric I dyed using the 'shibori' method for my C & G work and it reminded me of the bark of a tree so I used it for the base and backed it with a piece of wadding and FME around the shapes.

December's postcard is for Doreen in Australia, so I worked on it this afternoon. I want to get it in the post so it will get to her if not before Christmas at least before the end of the year.

This is Neki's choice.

I used my embellisher to attach some silk fibres to a piece of black felt.

PS I bought the silk fibres from a UK distributor but they are from Treetops so they are going home.

Go Penguins update.........

2009-11-23T11:12:00.003Z

The Go Penguins are 5ft high but I forgot to say in my last post that Liverpool schools have designed and painted 3ft high penguins see here. Aren't they good. If this is a sample of what our youngsters are producing "Art" is safe in their hands. They also seem to be more aware of the Environmental issues that are facing the world than many adults.

3 primary schools near me have done one each 'Arnot St Mary’s C of E Primary School' which is my old school, 'Gwladys Street Primary School' and St. Francis de Sales Catholic Junior School.

Go Penguins......

2009-11-22T23:57:00.005Z

...... last year as part of Liverpool's Capital of Culture year brightly painted 'Superlambananas' sprang up all over the city and where a surprise highlight of the year. I don't think anyone knew how popular and successful they would be.

This year Liverpool's year long theme has been the Environment. As part of 'A Winters Trail' for Christmas this year the council commissioned the same company to come up with something new .......... Penguins.

I missed out on doing a design last time so I made sure I did one this time and this is what I submitted but unfortunately I wasn't chosen boo hoo!!! I thought perhaps it was because I hadn't done a design featuring the Environment but now I've seen the finished ones some have nothing do with it. Never mind maybe next time they do something similar.

I called him/her 'Oddles of Doodles'.

They all went on display yesterday and this website has them all - click on one of the photos and it will take you to a slideshow with further info about each one.

Some of them are brilliant but is it just sour grapes on my part but are a few of them a bit mediocre?

I particularly like Carrie knitted from 300 recycled plastic bags, Gustav Penguin, Waterfront Penguin, there are some fun ones Sleeping Beauty, Snowy and a celebrity one Owl Ma Penguin. I'd love to see these but they are over the Mersey on the Wirral Grow Your Own Penguin and Strawberry Fields which given its' name you would have thought would have been on this side.

Now I've just got to try and get photograph of as many as I can. I can at least see what my design would have looked like Home Bargains one of the sponsors have been selling 6" high ceramic penquins that you can decorate and enter a competion to win a 3ft version with all the proceeds going to the Lord Mayors charity appeal. I've bought my nephew one each and a few for myself.

Lest we forget

2009-11-11T11:00:00.001Z

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning.

We will remember them.

Calendar Girls postcard for October

2009-11-10T12:25:00.003Z

At last I've done Pippa's postcard for October. I caught my nephew's cold when he came a few weekends ago so what with the kitchen refit and a rotten cold I was feeling very sorry for myself so only felt up to creating at the weekend.

This is the picture we had to work with chosen by Carol M.

I embellished some gold coloured wool to a piece of fabric, it matched the ladies dress. Then I took part of the mosaic background behind her head and free machined it on top. I think it's worked okay.

Back to creating

2009-11-10T12:14:00.006Z

At last the new kitchen is finished and I can get back to creating.

It was worth all the upheaval but oh what a mess workmen do make. It's a long kitchen with windows at one end so where the stove was positioned before (where all the new cupboard are) I was standing in my own light when I was cooking so it's much better where it is now.

Do you know windows and doors don't count as part of a kitchen??? Well that is according to the painter from the firm who did the kitchen so I've got to get some paint to do them myself. Though how I'll manage with the window over the sink. I may get up there but I could be stuck up there for some considerable time. We had curtains up at the windows but we're considering blinds now.

Update 4th December 2009 I didn't have to paint the windows, we've just had new double glazed windows installed.

Another Doodle book

2009-11-03T14:43:00.003Z

I had another go at a Doodle book but this time I used watercolour paper for the signatures and 5 lots of 2.

Doodle Book

2009-10-23T17:55:00.007+01:00

Like many people I bought the books by Maggie Grey and Lynda Monk/Carol McFee. Last Monday the first of their online classes started.

Our landlord is replacing our delapidated kitchen so I was in my studio at 8am this morning while the plumber replaced the pipes.

At the end of the day this is what I ended up with from Lynda's first lesson.

Inside Cover

Outside cover

Front inside cover and signatures

Back inside cover and signatures

Doodle Book Spine

Finished 'Doodle Book'

I didn't think I'd be able to do any sewing for a while. A few days ago my right hand was very painful. I don't know if I'd been using the computer mouse too much or if it was from doing the lino cutting. It's hard to describe but I couldn't hold anything even writing was painful so I rested my hand for a few days and it seems to have eased.

The plasterers will be here before 8am on Monday morning to finish the walls so I'll have a go at Maggie's lesson then.

Talking Threads

2009-10-15T15:00:00.002+01:00

I've just been watching the first programme in this series. I don't have sky so had to watch it online but if you do it full screen it's at a good resolution to watch. This week's programme was Jill Kennedy on silk painting. I'm looking forward to the rest in the series.

Since I've been blogging I've been staggered to realize how many people, young and old there are that are keeping alive the various arts and crafts from painting and drawing to textiles, knitting and anything in between. So isn't it about time the TV stations that everyone has access to (not pay to view ie cable and satellite) started to cater for the artists amongst us and stopped continually bombarding us with reality programmes like Big Brother and as I read recently 'repeatedly repeated repeats' you can only watch Midsommer Murders, Diagnosis Murder and Murder She Wrote so many times before you start to speak the dialogue with the characters as you watch.

What do you think - agree or disagree?????????

More Lino cutting

2009-10-09T22:06:00.005+01:00

I used a piece of turquoise fabric to print the sample block as a background

then printed the positive and negative leaf over it. I like the way some of the background print shows through.

Finally I did a repeat print. If you look carefully you can see there is a second pattern appearing.

Calendar Girls postcard

2009-10-04T21:51:00.003+01:00

I'm late finishing my Calendar Girls postcard for September. Life got in the way and it will get worse later this month. Our landlord is putting in a new kitchen for us so it will be chaos for up to 10 days. It will be worth it in the end because I would be so ashamed to show a photo of it at the moment. Nothing has been done to it since it was done in 1975 so if you where around then you will have an idea of what it looks like.

Anyway back to September's postcard.

As soon as I saw Pat's choice at the beginning of the year I knew exactly what I was going to do.

I used a piece of fabric I'd already dyed and put it through my smocking pleater, pulled the threads out and ironed a piece of iron on viline to the back of it.

I've got a bag of proper 'shisha glass' that I bought when I did an Indian embroidery class years ago so embroidered them on the the background.

Finally I made some machine cord with variagated thread and couched them on to the postcard.

I hope Val likes my interpretation.

Lino cutting lesson 1 continued

2009-09-30T21:40:00.003+01:00

I've finished the rest of lesson 1.

Exercise 2 was to do a positive and negative image of a leaf.

This first block is made with 'Soft Cut' which is a lot easier to carve into. I didn't think it would give a sharp print but it seems to.

This second block is carved with proper lino. It's much harder to cut into so I heated it with an iron which helped.

and this is the print I got from them.

This is the last exercise to carve a block about 7cms square.

then repeat print it

Lino cutting lesson 1

2009-09-24T23:26:00.004+01:00

I got my first lesson from Dijanne on Monday.

I had some brown 'lino' but sent for some grey 'lino' and 'soft cut' lino sheet from Jacksons Art and had to wait for them to arrive before I could start.

I used a piece of the 'soft cut' to try the first exercise - using lino cutting tools to create a sample block.

This is what it looks like printed on to paper.

It was a very useful exercise to see what mark each tool makes.

Lino cutting course

2009-09-09T12:29:00.000+01:00

I’m hoping to do Printmaking 1: Introduction to Printmaking early next year as my 3rd Module in 1st level towards a Degree with The Open Collage of The Arts.

One of the blogs I follow is an artist based in Australia who is running an online Lino cutting course. It only cost $30 about £18 for 3 lessons and from what I’ve read on other blogs Dijanne gives a good grounding in starting to learn Lino cutting so I’ve just signed up for it.

I won't have to buy any materials because I've already got a small Lino cutting tool set and I bought some soft printing blocks but I want to learn how to use the proper 'lino' that I bought ages ago.....must remember to try the tip I read somewhere, sit on the piece of 'lino' for a while to soften it and make it easier to carve.

August Calendar Girls

2009-08-29T17:33:00.005+01:00

Just made it before September ........... where has this year gone to?????

Val chose our inspiration for this month

it had me stumped for a while until I was uploading some OCA work to my new Wordrpress blog and it came to me.

I found a piece of silk and using gutta draw some hearts on to it then painted it with silk paints.

Once dry I ironed it to set the silk paints and rinsed the gutta out. I sandwiched a piece of wadding between the silk and lining cotton and machine stitched around the hearts.

I thought it needed a bit of something so I used my glue gun to add a bit of 'Bling' to it.

It will be in the post to Pat after the Bank Holiday.

Phew!!!

2009-08-25T11:37:00.008+01:00

I've not been posting to this blog a lot lately but yesterday I thought I was going to have to abandon it. For some reason I couldn't log into it, but as you can see I eventually got in.

I've been busy concentrating on my City and Guilds work and OCA Photography course. I've completed C & G Module 3 here.

Started Module 4 a few weeks ago and got a bit messy having a go at paper making. It's an interesting technique, but I'm not sure it is something I'll do a lot of in the future I'll see how I progress with it further into the module.

The weather has been so lousy this month (what happened to the long hot summer we were supposed to be having this year). I've not been able to get out a lot to take photographs so I'm getting a bit behind with my projects. I sent my 1st assignment at the end of July but I'm still waiting to hear back from my tutor. I'll give it another week perhaps she's been on holiday. If you'd like to see what I've done you can see it here.

I've eventually worked out how to use Wordpress, I like the way you can have pages within pages a bit like a website without having to pay for it. So anyone can click on a link in the sidebar and go immediately to The Art of Photography or Textiles 1 instead of having to trawl through page after page with Blogger. If anyone's reading this I'd appreciate some feedback on it because I think I'll use it for all my OCA work and stop using the other blog. You can find it here

I've had 2 postcards from my fellow Calendar Girls.

This is June's from Carol M aren't the colours gorgeous.

and this is July's from Jenny make me feel chilly just looking at it.

Go Penquins

2009-07-13T12:11:00.003+01:00

Last year as part of Liverpool's European Capital of Culture year we had 'Superlambananas' across the city and it turned out to be one of the surprise hits of the year.

Last week the company behind them announced a new art event here in Liverpool later in the year 'Go Penguins'. There will be 100 5ft and 3ft penguins in various places from November until January.

July postcard for Carol M

2009-07-12T12:15:00.005+01:00

This months inspiration was chosen by Pippa

Like a lot of my fellow Calendar Girls this month I wanted to capture the texture of the picture.

First I embellished a piece of scrim to a thick piece of fabric. Sorry the photo isn't very good of this stage.

Next I embellished various thickness of thread on to the background.

Covered it with a layer of gesso

and sprayed some brusho blue paint on then left it to dry.

I then added some fabric paints in blue and green painted on some white acrylic in parts to lighten it.

Finally a coat of watercolour 'Iridescent medium' to give it a sparkle, you know like when the sun glints of snow or ice.

Neglected Blog

2009-06-20T12:28:00.000+01:00

I've been neglecting this blog lately. I'm still here but I've been concentrating on my photography course and finishing the 3rd module City and Guilds so if you want to see what I've been up to please click on the links to my other blogs.

and because I like to put a photo up on any posts here's one I made earlier (anyone outside of the UK that's a reference to a children's programme here called Blue Peter). Dylan and Ermintrude where very patient and didn't complain once during their photo session, while I was trying to get the Depth of Field correct!!!

June Calendar Girls postcard

2009-06-16T09:17:00.001+01:00

This is the inspiration for this months postcard from Sharon.

I used part of the right hand corner as my inspiration. It reminded me of a patchwork but I didn't want to use that technique so I embellished 'Silk' fibres to a background.

I zig zag stitched the lines to accentuate (blimey that's a big word for this early in the morning) between the different colours I used.

It will be in the post to Jenny this afternoon hope you like it.

The Dream

2009-06-01T00:35:00.003+01:00

Has anyone been following Channel 4's Big Art programme over the past 4 weeks.It has been interesting to see how some have been open minded to a piece of 'public art' in their communities and yet some have been so closed minded that they won't give it a chance. It was the last programme last night and it showed the completion of only the second piece of Art to be completed which is in St Helens not far from where I am in Liverpool.

This picture is only the artists concept idea but if you look on Flickr there will probably be loads of photos over the coming weeks.

If you missed the TV programmes you can catch up with it at here.

What do you think of Janet Street Porters comments from The Independent on 1st April

There's already been controversy over the 60ft-high concrete and marble sculpture of a girl's head called Dream, by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, currently being erected on a former slag heap by the M62 in St Helens outside Liverpool. If ever there was a strong argument for not allowing the public to choose art, this is it.

Put baldly, it is completely without merit, the only plus being the local council did not pay for it.

I don't know what anyone else thinks of it but I like it.

Calendar Girls May

2009-05-19T21:49:00.004+01:00

For a while this afternoon I thought I wasn't going to be able to use the internet. We had power to our electric lights but not to the sockets on the walls. About 3 months ago the landlord had installed a new electric board, you know the sort that has a trip switch etc instead of the old type where you had to use fuse wire in the fuses. Anyway I tried resetting the switch but it wouldn't work so I got on to the landlord and they sent someone out within the hour.

He had us unplug everything but couldn't find out what was wrong. It wasn't until he asked when the power went off that he realised it was something to do with the heavy rain we'd had around 3pm. We can't use the front room because of the damp and one of the sockets on the outside wall over the years must have got wet in it and the heavy rain this afternoon had caused a short circuit. He managed to fix it and we are back to normal.

Anyway back to the subject of this post - my Calendar Girls postcard for May which I posted to Neki this afternoon.

This is the picture that Doreen chose for this month.

I embellished some wool to a piece of fabric for the background.

Then added silk fibres in various colours......

..... and finally added some hand stitching to suggest the 'water lilies'.

This months postcard isn't my usual "style" but I hope Neki likes my "impression" of Doreen's choice.

Calendar Girls April

2009-04-20T21:32:00.007+01:00

It was my turn to choose the picture for this month. It took me ages at the end of last year to find a calendar that was suitable to use. All I could seem to find was dogs, cats, cars or pop stars but after going into umpteen shops in town by pure luck I got it down the road from where I live in a card shop's New Year sale.

I thought it would be easy to use this as the inspiration for this months postcard but it has been harder than I expected. This afternoon I sat down to do a small watercolour painting of part of the picture to see if it would inspire me. I'm so pleased with it that I hope Lynda who it will be going to will accept it even though it is not a postcard as such. I've not cut it to postcard size and put a mount on it so you can frame it if you want to.

All about faces

2009-04-16T23:35:00.014+01:00

For the past few weeks I've been concentrating on an online class I've been taking with Paulette Insall called 'All About Faces'.

In the first lesson I practiced drawing eyes, noses and mouths. They look really funny when they are out of context.

Next I put them all together in a face. I need to practice faces they all seem to have the same look.

Week 2 I did the background for my paintings. I used a 8 x 10 inch and 10 x 14 inch canvas. I had to re do the green one because I made a mess when I started to paint the face and couldn't rescue it so you will see the background is different in the smaller canvas.

I made a start on the face by drawing then painting the first layer.

2nd stage - Add colour to the eyes and lips and the face starts to look more lifelike.

3rd Stage - Add hair, eyebrows and start to add shading to the face. I prefer the 1st face, the 2nd didn't work as well. I wanted her hair to look as if it was blown by the wind but I don't think it worked.

4th Stage - Add shading to lips and more shading to face.

Finishing touches - I didn't want to do to much to the 1st face so just added decoration to the hairband and touched up in a few places. The 2nd face hasn't worked out as well as I wanted so I just added a quotation and I'll put it to one side for a few weeks and look at it again.

PS I should have said I used acrylics for these painting with some Caran d'ache Neocolour water soluble wax crayons for the cheeks and lips.

96 Remembered - never forgotten

2009-04-15T15:06:00.010+01:00

Today is the 2oth Anniversary of that fateful day when so many Liverpool Fans went to watch their football team play in the FA Cup semi final at Hillsborough, Sheffield, my brother Stephen was one of them, he returned home safely to his family but 96 did not.

John Alfred Anderson (62)
Thomas Howard (39)
Colin Mark Ashcroft (19)
Thomas Anthony Howard (14)
James Gary Aspinall (18)
Eric George Hughes (42)
Kester Roger Marcus Ball (16)
Alan Johnston (29)
Gerard Bernard Patrick Baron (67)
Christine Anne Jones (27)
Simon Bell (17)
Gary Philip Jones (18)
Barry Sidney Bennett (26)
Richard Jones (25)
David John Benson (22)
Nicholas Peter Joynes (27)
David William Birtle (22)
Anthony Peter Kelly (29)
Tony Bland (22)
Michael David Kelly (38)
Paul David Brady (21)
Carl David Lewis (18)
Andrew Mark Brookes (26)
David William Mather (19)
Carl Brown (18)
Brian Christopher Mathews (38)
David Steven Brown (25)
Francis Joseph McAllister (27)
Henry Thomas Burke (47)
John McBrien (18)
Peter Andrew Burkett (24)
Marion Hazel McCabe (21)
Paul William Carlile (19)
Joseph Daniel McCarthy (21)
Raymond Thomas Chapman (50)
Peter McDonnell (21)
Gary Christopher Church (19)
Alan McGlone (28)
Joseph Clark (29)
Keith McGrath (17)
Paul Clark (18)
Paul Brian Murray (14)
Gary Collins (22)
Lee Nicol (14)
Stephen Paul Copoc (20)
Stephen Francis O'Neill (17)
Tracey Elizabeth Cox (23)
Jonathon Owens (18)
James Philip Delaney (19)
William Roy Pemberton (23)
Christopher Barry Devonside (18)
Carl William Rimmer (21)
Christopher Edwards (29)
David George Rimmer (38)
Vincent Michael Fitzsimmons (34)
Graham John Roberts (24)
Thomas Steven Fox (21)
Steven Joseph Robinson (17)
Jon-Paul Gilhooley (10)
Henry Charles Rogers (17)
Barry Glover (27)
Colin Andrew Hugh William Sefton (23)
Ian Thomas Glover (20)
Inger Shah (38)
Derrick George Godwin (24)
Paula Ann Smith (26)
Roy Harry Hamilton (34)
Adam Edward Spearritt (14)
Philip Hammond (14)
Philip John Steele (15)
Eric Hankin (33)
David Leonard Thomas (23)
Gary Harrison (27)
Patrik John Thompson (35)
Stephen Francis Harrison (31)
Peter Reuben Thompson (30)
Peter Andrew Harrison (15)
Stuart Paul William Thompson (17)
David Hawley (39)
Peter Francis Tootle (21)
James Robert Hennessy (29)
Christopher James Traynor (26)
Paul Anthony Hewitson (26)
Martin Kevin Traynor (16)
Carl Darren Hewitt (17)
Kevin Tyrrell (15)
Nicholas Michael Hewitt (16)
Colin Wafer (19)
Sarah Louise Hicks (19)
Ian David Whelan (19)
Victoria Jane Hicks (15)
Martin Kenneth Wild (29)
Gordon Rodney Horn (20)
Kevin Daniel Williams (15)
Arthur Horrocks (41)
Graham John Wright (17)

You will never be forgotten by the people of this great city and one day you will have Justice!!!!

Monoprint tutorial

2009-03-29T17:32:00.005+01:00

There was a discussion on Textile Challenges about monoprinting and I said I'd write some instructions for those who hadn't done it before so this afternoon I took some photos as I did a couple of samples.

The first photo is of supplies that I used - cheap latex gloves so you don't end up with paint all over your hands, textile paints in blue and white, acrylic paint in permanent rose, textile medium to add to the acrylic paint,sponge brushes (the yellow handled ones where 40p from Wilkinsons, the kind you use for testing paints) and finally a piece of glass to spread the paint on - I bought mine in a 99p store.

1st stage - I mixed some of the acrylic paint with an equal amount of textile medium and brushed it evenly onto the piece of glass.

2nd stage - you can use anything you want that will make a mark in the paint, I used a piece cut from a credit card.

3rd stage - place a piece of fabric on top of the paint and use a brayer to gently roll across the back.

4th stage - gently pull the fabric from the glass and voila you have your first monoprint.

You can leave it like that or add a second layer.

Mix blue and white fabric paint together and make your marks. This time I made marks in different directions through the paint.

I used the same piece as before but placed it so it covered some of the first monoprint so you can see what it looks like with more than one layer.

I hope you find this of help. This is the method I find works for me but as with any new technique experiment until you find what works for you.

March postcard for Debbie

2009-03-27T12:05:00.003Z

This months calendar page was chosen by Carol T 'The Earth from the Air' by Yann Arthus Bertrand.

When I first saw this it reminded me of an abstract painting. So after spending most of the month pondering what to do it suddenly came to me why not do a painting.

A while ago I bought a short roll of painting canvas from a pound shop so thought I'd have a go. I cut a piece larger than the postcard size and used some masking tape to stick it to a board to keep it flat. I opened the picture in Photoshop and using a 4" x 6" crop moved it around until I found a suitable part of the original. I draw it on to the canvas and using acrylic paints I think I've managed to get the correct colours.

This is what I came up with. Hope you like it Debbie, it will be in the post on Tuesday.

Cyber Fyber

2009-03-19T11:23:00.003Z

I meant to post about this last week but it went out of my head. I got an envelope in the post from the US but couldn't work out who it was from until I opened it and found this.

What a lovely surprise when I turned to the pages.

The postcard I swapped for the Cyber Fyber exhibition in print. It's the first piece of mine to be included in a magazine so to say I was chuffed is an understatement. Thanks for sending it to me Susan.

New Blog Header

2009-03-09T00:05:00.002Z

I've had a bit of a spring clean with my blogs. Do you like the new header? I thought I'd better change the wording on this one from 'forty something student' to 'mature student' as I turn 50 on 17th March. When did I get to be so old, I still think I'm 21 in my mind.

New Blog

2009-03-09T00:01:00.003Z

The week before last I applied for a bursary with OCA so I could do a photography course with them. Well I was lucky and they awarded me nearly all the cost of the course 'The Art of Photography' I'm just waiting for the course material to come.

So that I can keep all my work together and use it as a log I've started a new blog I hope you'll have a look but I'll let you know on here when I post anything on it.

Absolutely Stunning.......

2009-02-24T21:06:00.004Z

St George's Hall here in Liverpool is said to be on of Prince Charles's favourite buildings and I can see why. Most of the building is open to the public but for the past few weeks we have been able to go into the Grand Hall and see the 'Minton' tiled floor.

I went down to see it on Friday afternoon for the grand price of £1. Words can't describe the floor and another room I saw - 'absolutely stunning' is all I can say. Hope you agree when you look at the photos I took.

A bit of background about St George's Hall to start with:-

St George's Hall was designed by Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, a young architect who won two separate design competitions, one for a concert hall for the people of Liverpool, and one for the city's Law Courts. Both these designs were then incorporated into one building - St George's Hall which was opened in 1855.

The building has several distinct areas, the Great Hall, with its world famous Willis Organ, Minton tiled floor and high vaulted ceiling, can seat 800 people.

At either end are two court rooms, the Crown Court and the Civil Court which were last held court in 1984

There is also a wonderful Concert Hall which can seat 480 people and is thought to be the best example of interior design by Charles Robert Cockerell, as well as various other functions rooms and the old prisoner accommodation in the basement.

After the Law Courts moved elsewhere the Hall was left to languish until 1992, when partial refurbishment meant the Great Hall and associated ante rooms could be opened for public use.

This area continues to be in huge demand for exhibitions, conferences, dinners and concerts. Since the 23m refurbishment in April 07 when the building was officially opened by Prince Charles we are now able to use 90% of the building and offer accessibility.

This major works effectively restored fabric and infrastructure securing its survival /accessibility, for future generations. (C) http://www.civichalls.liverp ool.gov.uk /stgeorgeshall/history/index.asp

The highly decorated floor in the Grand Hall consists of 30,000 Minton tiles and is usually covered by a removable floor to protect it. Every few years this is taken off so the public can see this amazing floor.

The Grand Hall looking towards the organ.

View from organ end of Grand Hall.

The ceiling of the Grand Hall.

Stained glass window of St George and the Dragon.

Close up of floor tiles.

You can see from the following photo why the floor is kept covered for most of the time.

One of the statues that holds up the organ pipes.

Floor from the viewing gallery.

Close up of centre

Close up of part of the ceiling.

The next set of photographs are taken in the Concert Room. Charles Dickens held ‘penny readings’ here.

This is the view that you get when you walk through the doors, awe inspiring itsn't it.

Close up of the ceiling.

The stage with a view of the ceiling in the mirrors at the back of the stage.

When I was paying my £1 to get in the lady on the till said the manager was hoping to be able to open the Great Hall every year. So if they do and you get the opportunity to visit I recommend you do, you won't be disappointed.

Calendar Girls February

2009-02-22T23:46:00.003Z

Sandy chose this months picture.

My version for this month isn't very experimental more safe and pretty.

My first thought was to use some smocking for the body of the unicorn but I realised I couldn't get the correct shape so I had to rethink.

I used a piece of my hand dyed cotton fabric made a sandwich with wadding and thin cotton backing then machine stitched the quilted shapes.

I sewed pearl beads on then used a hot glue gun to attach the jewels at the centre.

This will be on it's way to Sandy on Tuesday, hope you like it.

Thimbles.......

2009-01-26T21:39:00.005Z

I use a 'tailors thimble' when I'm hand sewing

that my Mum gave me, we worked out it must be getting on for 50 years old. I can't use any other type so I had to find this one. I dropped it last night and it rolled somewhere but finding where has taken up most of this afternoon.

I hoovered the carpet in the hope of finding it under furniture but all I found was lots of pins. I heard something go up the hose so emptied it to see if it was my thimble but no luck. I even put a piece of fabric over the end in the hope it would suck the thimble up but all it did was suck the fabric up.....

By this time I was getting desperate so there was no option but to pull furniture out. I emptied the shelf unit I have under my desk so I could pull out to look underneath ..... no luck there,

then I pulled out the 3 storage units I bought before Christmas and finally the table I have my sewing machine on. Still no sign of it and I know it had to be somewhere it couldn't have just disappeared into thin air now could it.

So as a last resort I looked again in the hoover found the piece of fabric that had been sucked up and guess what ......... I found my thimble. Hurray what a relief because I don't know where I'd be able to get a new one in Liverpool. I found some here but it would have cost £7.50 post and packing on top of £2 plus VAT the thimble cost.