Poppy pictures

I've just finished painting a panel of three canvases - red poppies, plus a single canvas in the same style. The long panel is destined for a sun-room wall - the room overlooks a spacious grass and flower garden, and the picture will help "bring the outside in"!

The single panel is for sale, sadly my own walls can't accommodate it. It's 20" x 30", £60. Please check eBay, paintingandplants, if you might be interested in owning it, or send me an email. As I write this, the inspirations in my own garden, for these pictures,  are growing fast after their winter sleep. I'm looking forward to seeing all the poppy plants in flower again soon.

 

Shaun the Sheep hats

Two Shaun the Sheep hats, knitted as a bit of fun. Maybe someone will wear them!

Shibori style felting

I learnt another new technique on a felting workshop with Jenny Pepper. Japanese Shibori is the art of tie-dyeing; this workshop was about stitching and tightly wrapping half-felts, so the wool gave colour to the piece, not actual dyes. These photos show the stages from laying the wool, then stitching, finishing felting, drying the work ... and finally taking out the stitches. The felt holds the shape created by the tight stitching.As well as stitching, shapes can be created by adding "found objects" - pebbles, shells, glass - and holding them in place with a tightly wrapped elastic band, as in the second sample piece.

My next project, so I can practise what I've learnt ... I've sketched out a landscape picture with sheep! Watch this space!

Bunting - Tour de Yorkshire jerseys

It's the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race this coming bank holiday weekend. Day one ends in Scarborough, but this year doesn't come through Ayton. At least the bunting is finished, even if I don't put it up!