the patchwork dress

Hallowe'en

Thank you for all the lovely comments and support re the cards, and for that matter on all of the wonderful feedback I've had since starting the blog. My first Hallowe'en!...exciting!

One for the 'images from the neighbourhood'... You can just make out Bertie Bat in this one.

This is the view from my kitchen, and I've spent many a late evening washing up watching Bertie's aerial antics in the sky. He doesn't come every night, so when he does it's a real treat to watch. Especially set to music. He moves so fast! He seems to feast on a little cloud of insects and things which build up when there is low pressure or it's been a warm day, just in the shelter behind the neighbouring building and ours.

You can just about make out the distant mountain - I love this view and that mountain! It keeps my perspective large and distant amongst all these houses, and is the perfect weather vane. You get a 15-20 minute heads-up on all weather conditions as it comes in off the Atlantic.

Bertie swoops and gyrates on a dizzying mobius loop, disappearing and then reappearing. He's quite hard to photograph. Despite having the camera set for a fast moving subject, light levels were low, so many images came out blurred, Bertie looking more like a bow-tie than a tie-fighter.

Mostly he dines alone, but occasionally, and on this night he brought Bettina...but they moved so fast I couldn't get both, in focus, in one shot.

If I'd left the image on long exposure, I'm sure they were flying in the evening sky to spell out the words:

Happy Hallowe'en to you all!

new photocards!

Phew!...I don't know why, but feel like I've just given birth... to my new photocard range, which I have been putting in the shop.

The idea is to have a range of cards which can vary and change as I go along, but that can suit a variety of occasions. I've often found it hard to find cards that I like, just simple and unfussy but uplifting - and you can't beat nature for that.

The small cards are suitable for everyday, birthdays etc - even note writing or artist's dates! - while the bigger ones are good for big occasions like weddings, births, important birthdays, or when you just want someone to KNOW you are thinking of them! They are quite heavy duty quality cards. I hope people like them...

In the meantime I am going to see how I get on offering free p&p/shipping on them - as it's too fiddly to work out, and then what you see is what you get.

I am also doing bundles of cards, so if you buy 4 in the same size you get the 5th free - with the option to chose the cards you would like... they can even be all 5 the same. The bundles are attractively tied with a ribbon (at the moment reclaimed ribbon too!).

..this photo shows a 'naked' bundle, (to omit flare) as cards will be individually wrapped in clear bags unless requested without.

As anyone who has loaded Etsy photos knows... it was quite a session!

crocheting nuts!

I think there is an old lady inside me trying to get out.

Let me explain... I had an opportune find at Oxfam yesterday, 7 balls of lovely green 100% cotton 'yarn' in good condition, that I immediately snaffled for crochet (at the princely sum of £3 for the lot).

I also saw this lovely little jug, and although I have no need for it - I just love the pattern on it. Discovered it is from Meakin pottery, which by happenstance I just seem to find bits and pieces of - I like their vintage designs a lot and will need to investigate more...

Anyway back to the old lady... last night I couldn't wait to get into bed with my crochet needle and some wool (!). I am just teaching myself to crochet, having now moved on from 'worm' to 'strange irregular triangle' or 'wrongly tensioned piece that looks like a smile'. If I was learning to drive, I've checked the rear mirror, adjusted the seat, and last night I thought I'd go off for a drive round the empty carpark.

Maybe this is guerilla crocheting, but I sat down, thought "what would happen if I stick this in there" and suddenly I was free, spiralling upwards, until I realised I'd created a little... pixie hat?

...so I got out my brown wool, did another one... and suddenly announced "I've made an acorn!".
Oh well, "great trees from little acorns grow"...

As you can see from my 'photoshoot', I also received this 'Quilt' book this week as a gift from a friend (thanks Annette xx).

It's a really lovely book, ideal for beginners or quick ideas - like just sewing 3 fabric panels together et voila, or tufting through one panel of pink silk - plus lots of ideas for handpiecing too.

I particularly like this quilt (maybe not the wee hexagons on the side so much) but the fabrics and I do love anything with a hexagon...

...nice clear images and instructions - feels possible!

'Quilts' by Murdoch Books ISBN 1-74045-758-7

I think I might need a crochet instructor, someone just to look over my shoulder and explain why my rows get shorter, take me out onto the highways of speed crochet and slam on the brakes before I get into trouble... so if there is anyone who knows me who is harbouring crochet mastery, please make yourself known... my 'L' plates are on.

..oh, by the way, the jug pattern is called 'Sol' - something we could do with a lot more of round here!

mystical shopping lists

Inspired by an email from Sally Anne this morning and her mention of this blog's post which has a wonderfully wistful air about the Old Road of Celtic myth...

...I thought I'd share this picture from my walk at Tirnanog healing centre near Drymen. It was a mini-artist's date, about all I had the energy for, and I didn't realise how much I needed the throw-covered sofa in the café beside the radiator until I sat down. Bliss. As well as the 'magical organical café', healing rooms, courses and shop - they now have a mini-woodland walk in the grounds. Punctuated with benches where you can just sit and breathe in autumn goodness, watch a squirrel bury nuts, or listen to blackbirds scurrying in the dry leaves.

The photo ties in with quite a few I've taken recently of bridges, and I especially like the portal/bridge nature of this one, leading you on the Path. Just before I reached the bridge I bent down to pick up a small feather poking out of the leaves. It looked like the tiniest quill, perhaps a message from my angels ...or the nature spirits, to get writing!

If only I had more time, more self-esteem, was happier... if only I could buy these things... what's that? you can? Which brings me to what I was going to blog about today...

A while ago I also had a conversation sparked by this post with Melissa about my habit of collecting till receipts.

Since they have started itemising, you can get some pretty interesting results - I see them as found poems, in that there they are, ready made, and as sweet or poignant a take on life as a poet could concoct.

...this one especially. A receipt for soap, but - No Change... like a medical verdict. Not a bad day's shopping for a total of £12.88.

The funny thing is, and this brings things back to my last post about the ancestors - that in a conversation with my cousin Archie in recent years... I discovered he does this too!

honouring the creative ancestors

As we approach the time of Halloween and Samhain, I wondered if this was also traditionally considered a time to be aware of and honour 'our' ancestors.

I am fascinated by the tribal tradition of honouring the ancestors in order to heal the present, through the work of teachers such as Denise Linn, Malidoma Somé, Jill Purce and the influence of the native american teachings - which were passed on to me by my good friend Elizabeth Richards in the US, who studies the Cherokee and native traditions. Working with our ancestral lineage to understand and heal who we are, and understand that patterns in our ancestry can come through generations, both as a gift and limitation.

A while ago I inherited these photos and writings from a cousin and discovered that my great grandfather Andrew had written a poem about cycling around Loch Lomond. How 'funny' that I should be living in this area now with a partner who is also passionate about cycling in the national park.

Beside the loch, whose waters deep
Are studded well with islets steep
Where wild thyme grows and stately pines,
And round their forms the ivy twines.

Through lonely moor the road may lie
Where nought is heard save curlew's cry
Save whirring wheels that drive amain
And swirling sound of roller chain

extract from 'A Song of the Bike', Andrew Todd written circa 1895/1900?

Another cousin, Archie Carswell (also cyclist, artist, and grandson to Andrew) asked me for a copy of the poem... and could I combine it on one sheet of paper with the photo of Andrew with his bike?

It was like something came together in my head, and I realised that on both sides of my family were writers, poets and artists - and what they shared was a desire to express themselves through words and pictures. Suddenly it made sense to me that combining these two streams of the visual and written was somehow going to be 'my job' -and that I was doing it through film/tv work, storyboarding, design and interpretation work, my own writing... and now this blog!

Archie then gave me this amazing book which belonged to my great grandparents Andrew and Elizabeth. It is a visitor or guest book where people could leave a writing or a drawing. That's a photo of my grandad and great aunt tucked inside the coverpapers...

It's full of beautiful handwriting, wisdoms and pictures...

I'm guessing that might be Loch Lomond and the Ben again...

...lots of domestic witticisms and little cartoons about homelife. I particularly like this sketch, although it seems more modern, perhaps drawn by my great aunt when she inherited the book.. With the clock at 12 I often imagine romantically that it's New Year.

I also like this one, I wonder where it is 'of' - done by M.D. Todd - a mystery relative - I've no idea how we are related!

(I will need to do a few more posts before I can honour all my relatives, as this is only one side of the family!)

For the words and the pictures I'd like to honour and thank all my relations, and those who went before...

Aho Mitakuye Oyasin!
'all my relations', native american tradition

the open river...

Thought I'd share this picture from my outing today to meet a couple of friends for coffee. Lots of chat about blogs, creativity, pricing and creative business development with Suzanne.

I have been doing a lot of contemplating (over the past years) and especially lately about the nature of freelance work, never knowing what's round the corner - sometimes having choice, sometimes taking what's available. Feeling in some ways like I need to change or 'move on' even with what I have been doing, occasionally wanting to run for cover (job security) and other times wishing to expand and do something risky, sometimes not being able to see what that should be or where/into what to channel my energy.

So while I am searching/awaiting and creating new avenues of opportunity, I have decided to go ahead with producing more photo-cards which will go in the Etsy shop. Wading through cd's of photos last night I've decided to have a changing series of images which will keep things fresh and interesting (for me too!) and to make in small batches... perhaps the antithesis of business building - well, no business building - yes, mass production - no, which will keep my ethos of make as is required, and use resources where they are needed and reduce waste.

The cards will be blank, suitable for any occasion - and especially those awkward "rites of passage" occasions when it feels like a mass-produced card is inappropriate to the unique event that is about to unfold or occurred. I may also do an option of a printable insert that can be personalised - for wedding invites etc. So I haven't really got a range planned, I'll just change as I go along...

...meandering round the bend (!) to see what's there.

autumn colours

Fuelled by cutting up Country Living magazines, or possibly by the recent arrival of Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Road (which I have been asking for, for years and eventually bought myself) where all the quilts are photographed outdoors,...

...I thought I would photo my latest makes in a friend's garden while the weather was good, as the light has been poor for indoor photography lately.

they are 2 little belts made as a gift for a 2-3 year old girl from recycled and reclaimed fabrics.

They were quite difficult and unusual to photograph. I tried a few different things... which attracted some attention...

Can you see what she's doing in there?...

...just about, if I stand on my hoof-tips...

...I'm not sure what it is, but I don't think it's something to eat...

By the way, is is slightly obsessive to lurk daily and ask if the new copy of 'Country Living' is in yet? N said he overheard an older lady sighing to her husband as she leaned on her stick - "it's not in yet".

Don't worry, I know the answer to that question... but there are some lovely photographs of autumnal colours in the November issue...

a trip to ikea...

As I have been recovering from a recurring flu virus - third time lucky fingers crossed! artist's dates have been a bit thin on the ground, so last week I took myself out to Ikea...

Not perhaps what some people would think of as fun, but I've had many an epiphany sitting in the café people watching and thinking about "things".

Maybe it's the Ikea ethos of making design-led furniture and accessories simple and affordable for people, but I always feel a wave of potential - all these people trying to improve their spaces, although some, like one couple I encountered see it as more of a supermarket sweep, shouting across the aisles 99p!! and then the Ikea chorus of "but do we really need it?"

No, I didn't really need fabric... but I got some

I have long been a fan of Ian Mankin's fabric ads/features in interiors magazines, so decided to treat myself to this little pile of lookalikes. I'm not sure yet exactly what I might do with them. They may enter the stash slushpile, but at the moment I'm enjoying their jolly stripeyness... and it makes me feel better.

I also managed to complete a card order and put some more recycled cards in the shop (which sold immediately - thank you!)

these were for the order - themes were 'coast' and 'driftwood garden'.

the spirit of whitedog

I bought this beautiful sketchbook this summer as an encouragement to draw. I love the different papers and tones in there, just inviting me to make a mark.

I drew all the time as a child, but now I tend to see it as luxury of time - one day I'll get back into it, just for it's own sake. Rather than take baby steps I dreamed of a studio, a week painting in the Highlands - it only takes a spare 5 minutes to scribble.

Yesterday we were talking about whitedog and how he/she had been seen hanging out at the back of the local corner shop... Perhaps also sparked by talking to my friend Susan who was telling me about drawing just for the sake of it... when I heard a dog barking and suddenly got the urge to draw whitedog.

this was from memory.. I remembered the feel of whitedog and just drew what I felt.. a lumpy sort of irregular hound with pig's ears and a funny way of sitting on the pavement!

I liked doing this line drawing and thought it would be fun to do something like this as a print, or even as a little handstitching exercise.

some news...

diddlydeepdeedeep...here is a (rather long) news flash

recycled cards:
I recently had a serendipitous sale of what remained of my stock of cards in my Etsy shop to Jane at Snapdragon flowers who wrote a very nice account on her blog here. Whenever I need to blow my own trumpet I shall direct people to this!

All very serendipitous, because in the whole wide world Jane lives not far from me at all, yet found my blog through cyberspace via the flourloft, so thanks to Ginny there.

Jane was also the featured stallholder at the Country Living Spring Fair - so I was excited to hear from her as I loved her stall with it's bright green French delivery van, flowers and textile gifts everywhere. She also has some interesting and similar thought processes to myself about running a sustainable 'business'. Although daily I think about moving away from the label of 'business' and letting the whole thing evolve... rather as it's doing, actually...

I also completed and delivered a big fat pile of cards to Entrading
with about half of them Christmas themed. In my excitement to deliver, I totally forgot to take any photos of them, so you'll just have to go along if you are in Glasgow and check out the shop. They are such lovely people and pioneering an eco design ethic in Glasgow, with a great café too.

(Best way to find them - either from the front of the old Odeon cinema in Renfield Street, look up West Regent st to your left and they are up the hill at the lights...from Sauchiehall Street, turn up Hope Street at Watts department store, and they are a little further on the left, by the lights at West Regent Street.)

**I'll be doing some more cards to put in Etsy this week.**

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book and fabric stash:

I got some great new books recently... guess what I'll be doing over the next while. The Kaffe Patchwork book was a gift from my friend Suzanne who is back blogging with abandon!

The crochet book came from the recent Quilt Fair at Ingliston showground. There were 2 really good creative and textile orientated book stalls, this one, and of course Kaleidoscope of Milngavie, who have more quilting books than I can look at in one afternoon.

I recently ordered Simple Sewing by Lotta Jansdotter from Amazon, as have seen it around a lot but not inside it, to inspire me to do something with this lot

of secondhand or clearance fabric in a heavier weight that I have been stockpiling for some householdy projects I think...

I particularly like

and

I think coming across this fabric on Saturday has inspired me to do something with this stash

there are 4 small curtains worth of this fabric- I just love it!

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where to find it all:
Lastly, I also picked up this great map called 'dear green place' which you can order here of all the 'reuse' organisations and shops in Glasgow...

... it's a very well produced little leaflet with the map scaled in walking and cycling minutes.

Part of a much bigger scheme, you can check out here to see if a local map exists of your area in the world.