Through The Arches

This is looking through the archway, from what I call my 'Monks Secret Garden' to the top of the vegetable garden. Secret because it is enclosed and there is a seat in a rose arbour where I like to hide and read! Monks because it is full of herbs, a wooden lecturn and a pew seat. I based it on the herb and vegetable gardens on the terraces of St Mount Michelle in France.
In the vegetable garden beyond this gate there are onions,celery,peas,cabbages and early potatoes. As you are starting to see Quilters Cottage Garden is split up into smaller gardens. This encourages us to try different garden ideas and it's easier to garden!
I love the Spring as everything wakes up and we can get outside.
I have also managed an hour of freemotion quilting on the Red Quilt today and had a lovely lunch with the family.
Out tonight at The Embroidery Guild.

Out in the Garden

This is near the top of Quilters Cottage garden. The greenhouse, polytunnel and working area is beyond this. Today we weeded and prepared the soil for late potatoes and red onions. The long bed is asphagus and will be starting to come up soon. I just love asphagus! there is also a raspberry bed, trimmed and tied up in hopeful expectation!
The metal sculpture in the foreground is one of mine and based on Crewel Embroidery and Border patterns. The paths are all gravel now to stop weeds and to make the areas easier to look after.

A Page from Pat's Altered Book.

These are the first pages inside Pat's altered book. As you can see she has used many creative mixed media techniques. Pat's page on the left are inspired by Japenese Silks and Brocades.

Just beautiful.

For more details about the sessions at The Gallery visit http://www.thegallerydereham.co.uk/

and for more inspiration of the work I share and teach visit my website

http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/

Pat's Altered Book Cover

Pat had begun her altered book ideas with Marion, the artist who takes the evening session on a Tuesday evening at The Gallery. During a morning session Pat discussed ways in which to finish the front of her book cover and how she could use ribbon and organzer. We looked at some of the inspiration I had brought with me and Pat then went away and attached her front cover,making and attaching the flowers, which as you can see are just beautiful. This book is now complete and the pages are all creative and inspirational inside. This is Pat's second altered book.

See more journals and sketchbooks on my website http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/

Pat Embellished Brooch

Pat had a go on the Embellisher last week and took her sample home, embroidered and beaded it. She then added a backing and a brooch pin. It's fantastic so well done Pat!

See more embellishing on my website http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/

Carol Machine Piecing

Carol is working hard machine piecing her Quilt. She has learnt so much about cutting using a rotary cutter,ruler and mat. Cutting squares, triangles, measuring and piecing. Carol has gone away each week and diligently done homework so the quilt strips can grow. Next week the centre panel will come together and borders pieced. Well done Carol!

To also see more of the workshops click on the label ' workshops' below this post.

See what else is happening at The Gallery http://www.thegallerydereham.co.uk/

Gallery Day 22nd March 2010

Jeannie had an Embellisher taster session last week with me at The Gallery and today she returned to start to embellish landscapes for cards. This is the start of one and there will be a running hare and further embellishment added later.

Jeannie has been making puppets with The Splat Art Club which meets at The Gallery on a Saturday.

See http://www.thegallerydereham.co.uk/

Spring Weeding!

This is half of the long flower bed and a small section of the lawn which we weeded and mulched today.The lawn was trimmed and cut today too! I will shown you more of Quilters Cottage garden as we move round the areas in our Spring cleaning over the next couple of weeks. I like the planting and the lounging but really hate weeding but it's got to be done!

We live next to a field and you can see the open Norfolk Sky!

Springs Here!

Well, Springs here and Stewart and I just had to get out in the garden with the sunshine. We've got three quarters of an acre to garden! This seat area is opposite my studio and part of the large lawned area with a large long and I mean long! flower bed. We weeded it and mulched this area before lunch today.

Logs Split and Stored

We started cutting and splitting this morning and as you can see the logs are now all stored away under the tree house, drying out ready for Autumn when I will need the logburner going again. Hopefully there will only be the odd day for a fire now with the weather changing.

The studio patio is clear and ready for BBQ's!

Right back to the ART!

Logs on the Studio Patio

I thought I'd show you what I do when I am not creating art!

We've been collecting over the last week ready to saw and split.

The studio logburner needs feeding wood all winter for me to be able to work in my garden log cabin. So we have the task of cutting, collecting and splitting to have a wood pile to keep the cabin fires burning!

Quilting Saturday

This morning I started what I thought was going to the back of the Red Quilt but Stewart came into the studio and looked at my piecing and said" that' too good to be a back!". This then set the mind whirling 'but I haven't got a modern red fabric to put on two quilts!'. Only one thing for it go fabric shopping! This entails a 62mile round trip to Sian's Scouthut at Hunstanton, Norfolk. A lovely country drive to the seaside and an Alladins cave of fabrics 30-40% cheaper than regular stores. Stewart laughed as we walked through the door as Sian must have at least 15 red fabrics which I could choose from. She has new Japenese fabrics and Beach inspired ones too! which are really inspirational!
Lola the dog was happy to see us and really fussed over Stewart!
So red marble dyed backing fabric, we made our way home with a stop off at a watering hole called "The Crown" at Gayton.

Pattern Day

Yesterday had a Pattern day with Mum. We both want to make some Summer Jackets. So this entailed working out the what pattern pieces went with which jacket and how we needed to fold and lay the pattern pieces out. We both haven't made clothes for a while so it was a bit like learning a new language all over again. All went well and the toille jackets are now cut out ready to sew together and taylor. We take them to pieces and cut out on our real fabric! Fun!
Mum, Jenn and I all had a lovely 'ladies that lunch' in the conservatory. Baked Butternut Squash with Morrocan Coucous and Roasted Vegetables. Bluebery juice for our drink. Lovely!
Mum and I then went for a walk round the woods opposite us. Two deer were out and the snowdrops are still in full flower.
A really lovely day, Thank you Mum!

Start of The Red Quillo

As promised the photo of the Red Quillo before it is layered together and freemotion quilted.
Most of the fabrics in this quillo were the same as the ones used in 'The Toxic Stack', which is now in permanent collection at The Gallery,Dereham. This piece will be for their sales area. So I hope to get it finished within the next week or so. If you really like the colour red and want to see how I use it, visit my websites and see my other embellished work and exhibitions.

http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/ and http://www.janeclarkarts.com/

see The Gallery at

http://www.thegallerydereham.co.uk/

Sandi's ATC

Look what arrived in the post! an ATC package from Sandi at Puddleducks in Australia.

Blue is'nt her favourite colour but she was inspired by the Blue Moon. It's just beautiful and so is her card and the wrappng paper is divine!

Thank you Sandi.

Visit http://www.puddleduckfarm.blogspot.com/