the patchwork dress

scotland in miniature..

We seized the day and good weather yesterday and went to Arran. It's only an hour to Ardrossan and a fairly quick crossing of 50 minutes - yet I am surprised how rarely we have actually been. It's an excuse to go on the ferry...

One of my favourite things as a foot passenger is watching the people coming off the ferry (in either direction) as we get on, and trying to decide if they are islanders or visitors. The man carrying a pedestal bathroom sink in a box was a give-away as an islander on the return leg, smuggling his house bit by bit back to the island.

On the return journey we were treated to a display by the airsea rescue helicopter practicing manouevres off the back of the boat. We didn't venture out to look, but from our table in the café we could overhear the kitchen intercom annonuncements of "another cheese and chips" - which kept me very amused, as I imagined them being winched aboard for the pilot.

My intention had been to walk to several ancient sites around Brodick while N went cycling, but when I got off the boat I had a sudden desire to get on a bus to Lamlash, as I'd be in Brodick for another 6 hours at least. I was really surprised when I asked how often the buses returned from Lamlash to be greeted by a frustrated bus driver. Frustrated because he was Polish, and 1. had misinterpreted my question and 2. couldn't find the English to explain the answer he thought I wanted. This was all very strange, so in the end I asked the rest of the bus, who pointed me to the timetables. I sat beside a man who explained it was the new Polish bus drivers on the island, who hadn't quite got the hang of things and were still familiarising themselves with the routes!

Lamlash was beautiful, peaceful and bathed in sunshine... overlooking the Holy Island, a Bhuddist retreat... I was immediately accosted by (some very nice) schoolchildren and their teacher to be part of a visitor survey. Perhaps that had been my mission, since everyone else they had asked was a local (perhaps they play that ferry game too!). As the buses are only one an hour, I decided to get the next one back and resume my standing stone pilgrimage in Brodick...

These magnificent stones are not obvious to visit, although they are on the estate of Brodick Castle and on the map. The road has a very high hedge on both sides, and I had to look into each field to find the stones. This pair are on the left and there is another stone by itself (a set now split by the road) on the right of the road behind another tall hedge. For scale, the stone at the back is approx 3m tall. The backdrop to these stones is stunning - these mountains and the Goatfell range were fully clear and dominated the island all day.

I've got a thing about bridges at the moment... so this was pretty idyllic...

They say Arran is "Scotland in Miniature", representlng many of the topographies and geologies in one small area... in which case...

this must be the Forth Rail Bridge (check out this link, just for the old photo demonstrating the cantilever!) and that area to the right... the North Sea?

*This picture is for my friend Suzanne - do you remember when we had to build 3 of these from matchsticks??

** I'm going to start a second blog all about standing stones, sacred sites, earth energy and related things here soon

cats, dogs and a trip to Largs...

Saturday
I have never been to a cat show before, and thought I'd give it a go.

...don't think I'll be rushing to another one. I LOVE cats - but this wasn't much fun. The cats were beautiful - amazing... but a pursuit bordering on obsession. In one room the cats were in huge cages with little curtains, pillows, and, in the same awful fabric - an elasticated litter tray cover!! One lady even sat infront of an empty cage with a FRAMED picture of the cat inside it... we didn't stop to ask...

Sunday
We went to Largs. I can't put my finger on it, but I love Largs.

...first of all a hazlenut latté for me, fried egg roll and orange juice for N. We sat infront of what could be described as a showcase of chutneys, jams and jubejubes.

... I couldn't help feel as if we were being watched. Possibly by a friend of whitedog's.
This was a lovely café called Craigmiles and had a proper Italian, holiday feel.

I used to visit Largs often because of the old Nardini's there, which was worth a visit purely because of the interior... sigh... It was an artist's date dream. You felt as if you were sitting on a cruise ship from the 1920's and any moment a Palm orchestra would start up. Can you believe it is still a building site 2 years after it closed down and is now to become 'Nardini's retirement apartments' ? Ah, that's progress I suppose. On reflection we decided the food was never actually as good as we thought it was, but worth it for the ambience. You can see some very nice photos (wish I'd taken some back then) on this blog... which incidentally looks like a good read and after my own heart!

For those who don't know Largs, there is a wonderful old fashioned promenade walk, with view over to Arran, Bute and of course the little islands of Cumbrae, with the ro-ro ferry shuttling back and forth in the sun. Also the site of a Viking invasion at one time - hence the full size statue of a chip eating Viking.

Phew, time for a sit down...

making...

I have been making...

...more recycled card packs. Some for a customer and some to go in the shop.

They are a labour of love, and I've agonised over what's the right price for them - from "but they are just cut up magazines" to the fact they take me 3 good sessions - first of all the image hunt, theme-ing and making, then pressing them to get them nice and flat, and packaging - then the photography and posting them on Etsy!

Etsy run a great system, taking care of a lot of factors - I can't wait until they have a currency converter! Meanwhile if you are in the UK and would like some cards, email me directly via thepatchworkdress@gmail.com and we can sort it out.

this was one of my favourites - apples and pears - which was one of the packs that got sold.

walk at Luss

Yesterday I took a trip to Luss. I forget sometimes how lucky I am to live so near Loch Lomond - it only takes 15 minutes to drive here.. Luss is a beautiful old village by the loch, and although it can get a bit touristy, there are some nice lesser known walks in a loop around the village. My favourite to do in spring or autumn, as they are so easy but so rich in native trees and diverse landscape. I wanted to take you on a walk..

First of all a coffee from a comfy sofa overlooking the beach..

..watching some people feed the ducks and a rabbit... (!)...yes, a rabbit! Some children were getting their first canoe lesson...

...past the Highland 'Arts' strange shop...

and olde worlde post boxy...

...up into the glen, past the old slate quarry...

...and over the bridge...apparently the slate was too expensive for traditional houses, which were thatched - but later when the village was built as a model village - they used the slate, and it is on all the cottages, plus the very attractive church...

...another bridge - this is a walk of bridges and little stile type gates - I really liked the circular 'buttresses' on this bridge.

...along by the river and across another bridge. Here the river flows into the loch, slowing down - it's very peaceful. This image reminded me again of the artist Sowa - or maybe something much older - as does...

..walking back to the village through the fields.

A beautiful day and a lovely autumn walk.

'fall fabric giveaway'

My 'scrap swap' partner Alisa is giving away a bundle of autumnal quilt fabrics - so quick, until Weds afternoon Canada time to leave a comment at her site. x

Byres Road

Maybe because it's turning autumn, but I am becoming quite squirrelish gathering things I can bury away in my creative stash for winter projects!

I had a great day on the Byres Road in Glasgow yesterday - nearly a couple of months since I have been there - but met a friend for coffee and cake at Kember & Jones (again! I do love it there!). There were a couple of guys discussing a film pitch, I'm sure I saw a well known actress come in for her cappuccino - and sad, I know, but did feel a bit more in the hub of things - ok, so it's not LA!...

...but enough to bring me home with a skip in my step with this colourful bag of goodies. The crochet book came from the Oxfam Bookshop by Hillhead Library. They've got quite a good selection of secondhand craft books - a whole shelf just on needlework! I picked up this 1970's crochet book: 1. because I love the retro cover, 2. because the pictures inside look quite clear to follow. I'm amazed at the textures you can create with crochet, and bored N all night by saying WOW - look at that one! Very nice dear, some knots. So I have threatened to crochet myself a gored anklelength skirt and perhaps some chevron booties.

On that note...

I found a great selection of vintage silk scarves at one of the shops in Ruthven Lane. This one is much too nice to cut up, so any ideas aside from cushion covers or a flag to 'autumnal vintage stash acquisition'?

The stamps and paper came from Damselfly in the much overlooked Ruthven Mews which really is a lovely arcade that should be a lot busier, but an oasis of calm if you need it - and they have a nice little indoor/outdoor café too.

spot of blogkeeping...

Sun(!)day, it's been raining since yesterday afternoon..

...sleeves rolled up, time to do a little blogkeeping... you know, those things you mean to get round to...

First of all a big thank you again to Sally Anne at quiteahandful for this wonderful package she sent me...

I'd hope to wait until we had a better light to photograph them in, but really wanted to show these bright colours to contrast the day!

I love all of these fabrics, and colourful bits - and Sally also included 2 little embroidery kits and a great booklet to teach yourself embroidery. I think I will be needing it to work through some of the kowabunga hoard. I feel as if someone somewhere is giving me (and mum!) the nudge to do some needlework - Grandma probably! They are such lovely kits and much nicer than some of the slightly 'twee' ones that are about. I was just admiring some red/whitework on someone else's blog - so just the thing. I look forward to doing these, Sally, on days like this to come!

I've been busy putting together mini packages for the autumn giveaway, now all ready to post - and preparing for a scrap swap with Alisa that was organised by redheadedsnipet. Check out Alisa's quilts.. her industriousness puts me to shame. I'm really enjoying doing this swap, and sometimes I think I get more out of playing with the fabric than actually making something out of it..

On that note I thought I'd catch up with a couple of simple ideas for when you have little energy to create. A couple of people have asked about the photo printing onto t-shirts from a couple of posts back... but before that fortify yourself with some simple autumnal coloured soup...

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simple soup:

I've had a bit of an upset stomach this week, and not feeling like anything too fancy..

simple soup:
3 large carrots
1 potato
1 apple
1 pint water
salt & pepper
splash of olive oil
dash soy sauce
(chopped parsley)

Put all in a pot and simmer for 40 mins add the parsley and blend. Adjust seasoning to taste. Simple.

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T-Shirt "tutorial"

I feel a bit of a cheat calling it a tutorial and was surprised people wanted to know how to do this, as it really is crafting for the lazy! I then thought some folks don't feel so comfortable with image sizing and computers/printers, so I'll focus on that. But it makes a great simple and personal gift - good for men you don't know what to buy for. So many possibilities, you could add a photo, some text, or a drawing... photo/scan of a kid's drawing etc.

So this is more 'tips' than tutorial!

You need:
•1 teeshirt - preferable white, then you can experiment with other shades..
•a pack of iron-on tshirt transfer paper (you can buy this anywhere - good stationers, computer shop etc - you get about 10 sheets) I recommend if you can buy one from a company whose range you know works best with your printer - ie Epson, HP etc
• an iron
• a pillow case
• flat hard surface to iron on (you could use an old flat board on a tabletop.. or table top if you dare!)
•oh yes, a computer and printer!

1. read the instructions pertinent to your transfer pack and follow them!

2. if you have the technical ability to print out a photo onto paper, you can do this. If you want to size the photo, you can scale against your self in the mirror with a ruler what size the final image should be. You can adjust the picture under 'image size'. You probably want to keep the dpi quite high - so images off the internet blown up probably won't work very well (you might be lucky) but you could lose a lot of sharpness.

if you can, start with an original photo - or scan of a drawing, or computer art file. Add text if you like.

3. once you've got the image sorted, print it out onto A4 paper and just check it against the shirt, or hold up in the mirror until you are happy with the scale - make the adjustments now before you use the expensive transfer paper!

4. before printing onto the paper, you'll need to mirror the image so it reads backwards. You'll either be able to do this with your photo software, or in the print options that come up when you ask your printer to print.

5. take your sheet of transfer paper, which may have a notch cut off the corner to show which side to print on... (if you have a confusing upside down printer, mark a piece of paper with the words 'right side' and cut notch off in same place. If you print the image and it comes out on that side, then that's the right way!!)

6. follow the instructions for the print paper setting - mine says 360dpi ink jet paper

7. and print! cut the image down (if required) - leaving a small border about 6mm around it. You need this to help peel away the corner of the image otherwise you might damage the printed image.

8. make sure the iron is hot... lay the pillowcase flat on the flat hard surface (don't use an ironing board)..
use an even and heavy pressure (putting weight on it is the secret I have found) - iron as per the time and number as per your pack instructions. A slow and even movement.

9. let the image cool for a minute, but not completely, it's easier to do when still warm... gently peel back the backing paper. If the image is coming away you haven't done it for long enough/iron too cool/you weren't pressing hard enough - so if you can, just lay it back down and go over it a bit more.

10. all being well - hey presto! you've done it.

11. told you it was cheating.

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What's it like outside?

Hm, time for a coffee methinks.

Outside it's a tawny darkness this autumnal night. What I mean is the kind of dark I think owls would like. It was only 7.30pm but already the sky a deep ink blue, all the houses silhouetted black, punctuated with orange warmth from within, a light but moderate rain on the window.

Quite different from earlier in the week...

I decided to visit Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House, not so much for the house itself (as I've been before) - which is very beautiful

but to see the exhibition by artist willow weaver Lisa Bech, as I like her work very much. She had some nice pieces on display and I was particularly taken by her reference to the word sauchie which she says is old Scots for willow. Of course CRM was famous for the Willow Tearooms which are in Sauchie Hall street, (I think I had a long lost relative who managed there? -mum?) - so Ms Bech wove not only willow but words... I liked that.

There is a beautiful garden and small orchard.

I have been thinking about baskets quite a lot recently, as I thought it would be nice to have a "work in progress" quilting basket to keep projects in rather like a mending basket. I looked at the mass produced ones...and no,.. something a bit better made, not so heavily varnished...
Then I went out for a walk the other night and passed a skip with this wonderful basket sitting on top!

I rang the doorbell and asked rather sheepishly if I could take it, and the man was delighted - did I also want a huge living room wall unit? No, thank you, the basket was quite enough. So I was very pleased with that, as it has a nice rusticity with no varnish, and when I got it home N tidied up a loose end that was poking out with this rather fancy knot. So it will do - make and mend!

giveaway

Thanks to all those who left a comment for the giveaway! All the birds now have homes, and are packing their suitcases with seed ready to fly to Canada, New Zealand, and Surrey UK! After pulling the names out against the bags I realised I only actually had 7 bags (!), and as there were 9 names, decided everyone will be receiving something in the post soon! x

unbroken circle

Today I finished up an order of some cards for Intouch therapy centre

which Jill has asked for her reception area to use with her gift tokens. The card stand is an intermediate solution until I find a better one - at least it's made from recycled card and keeps them tidy & visible.

These catalogues arrived in the post this last week from Barbara, who had a friend pick them up at the Birmingham quilt show.

Both are written by Eli Leon about the African-American quilting tradition, and most specifically in "Something Pertaining to God" about the quilt artist Rosie Lee Tompkins also known as Effie Mae Howard.

I've been meaning to post about them all this week, and just got round to it, when I also received the latest copy of Quiltmania (a condition I think I'm slowly developing). Another little circle in my head closed when I noticed p16 featured an article by Eli Leon on this same artist, which had appeared at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont. In this funny little Typepad world, I've been visiting this blog this week, (one of last week's featured Typepad blogs) - and thinking how idyllic that little village looked with it's Quilting museum...and it's the same one.

What I love about these quilts is that they embrace irregularity and don't overplan. I'm sometimes torn between the thought of starting a quilt or a piece of work, and the impatience of seeing it come together or that I will lack the technical skill. One quilter, Laverne Brackens "can cut out the pieces for three quilt tops in a day and 'go back the next day and maybe do two of them'. If she feels like it, she can do all three, but it will take her until midnight." I stand in awe of this, and would like a little bit of that technique!

I suppose the difference is between the planning and arranging of a formal quilt, and a more intuitive responsive, almost sculpting or sketching process which is immediate - organic?

I am particularly fond of this by Rosie Lee Tompkins..

which is a wallhanging, but would make a great skirt! The 'punk appliqué style could be Vivien Westwood...

I find these works and those by the Gee's Bend quilters inspiring and energetic. Artwork critic Alison Bling wrote of Tompkins "These quilts are works of such distinction and devotion, ...they supersede established art-historical categories, forcing reviewers to retreat to that dumbfounded admiration that attracted us to art in the first place."