Wishing You A Merry Christmas

Our Snow arrived on Wednesday and within about an hour we had about 20cm of snow!
Unfortunately our boiler decided to pack up at the same time!!
I rushed out or shall I say trudged out, in all the snow, to get a couple of heaters and several hot water bottles.
It seems a lot of boilers have suffered in this cold spell and the earliest date we could get someone to look at it was the 29th of December.
So the last few days we have been wearing hats, coats and scarfs indoors with hot water bottles stuffed up our jumpers!
Then yesterday my husband continued to try and fix it and miraculously it worked, although we are not sure for how long.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year without travel disruptions or boilers breaking down.
M x

Winter Wonderland

Hawthorn Frost

Hello,
We had the most amazing frosts last week and these few pictures are from our garden.
I wished I had been able to walk through Abbey Fields our local park, as the trees were exceptionally beautiful, a Winter wonderland which I could only glimpse at on my way to work.
Trees covered in frozen tears, sparkling like diamonds against the bluest sky I had ever seen.

I have many stitched pieces I am working on and I am holding back in showing you as I want some surprises for my exhibition next year.
Next week I am going to The Herbert Art Gallery to record a pod cast interview about my work which at some point I hope to share with you here.
I must now get back to my stitching , have a good week and wrap up warm as that cold weather is on it's way back!
Michala x

Winter Landscape

It's turned icy cold here this week, but thankfully with clear blue skies and sunshine.
We have not experienced the heavy snow that the North has.
Here is my own Winter Landscape.

Please forgive my limited time on the computer as I have a huge amount of stitching to do this weekend, in fact a whole blanket of stitching!!
Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for anyone who pops by or follows, have a lovely weekend.
M x

I'm Still Stitching!

Last week I went on a school trip to The Herbert Art Gallery to see Street Art , a touring exhibition from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
The work on show is from many well know street art artists including Banksy and Shepard Fairey.
I was surprised to find some very thought provoking images and a wide use of materials which had been used in unusual and creative ways.
This included a tree made of old industrial timber pieces and painted with African style patterns and faces, which seemed to me to represent an urban jungle.
The children also attended a work shop to produce their own street art and had a very enjoyable, busy afternoon.
I'm off on another school trip at the weekend to visit the art galleries in Birmingham which I hope to tell you about next week.
 I spent all last weekend on my own work and I'm stitching on many new landscapes for the exhibition.
Bye for now
Michala

Sketching Landscapes

I had some news from The Herbert Art Gallery this week which has been making me nervous, well, I think it's positive nerves because it has spurred me on with my stitching and drawing.
My work will now be in a larger gallery space measuring 44 display running metres and I now have some pencilled in dates for the 3rd December 2011 until 29th January 2012.
So, I have an extra few months but I will need more work!
As I write this, I have various blankets submerged in dye, including some very large pieces, one in the sink, a bucket and a washing up bowl, not to mention purple fingers because of a hole in my washing up gloves!
This weekend I will devote my time to my sketchbook and sewing machine.

Here is one of my sketches from a few weeks ago, before the leaves started to turn.
Have a great weekend.
M x

Art Stitches

This week I have some of my art work on display at The One Elm in Stratford-Upon -Avon.
The event is called The Roaming gallery and a selection of artists will have work on display on Thursday 28th October from 5.00pm until 11.00pm.
The event is being organized by Ginger The Art Of Print you can find out more about the event here http://www.theroaminggallery.co.uk/.

I will have a few textile art works and art brooches available to buy.

If you have time do pop over to Gina's blog she has photo's of a quilt my Mum -in-law has nearly completed and also news of a very interesting lace art project she is working on about continuity and connectivity.

I have still been working on exhibition pieces, mainly working in my sketch book and with half term this week, I will endeavour to experiment with my paints.
Those of you in the UK may be interested in the series The Genius Of British Art, on tonight, which is called 'Visions of England' and focuses on landscape, can't wait to watch it!
I hope you have a good week.
M x

Pink Sky

Another stitched landscape to add to my collection.

"When The Leaves Become The Sun"

I did not manage to get to London at the weekend ,so missed The Knitting & Stitching Show.
Luckily one of my blog friends did go Sharne and she took lots of photo's including one of my brooches on the Embroiderers Guild stand.
Thanks so much Sharne.x

The leaves are turning beautiful shades of gold and red, like the trees are dressed in splendid royal gowns.
The low Autumn sun has been the inspiration for this miniature stitched landscape and also a painting I am working on at the moment.
I hope your enjoying the colours of Autumn.

Stitch Magazine

If you buy this months Embroiderers Guild magazine Stitch, you will find my wearable art "Still Life" brooches. Here is the link to discover whats inside http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/currentissue.html
I hope you like them, they are wonderful to make using up all those small scraps of lace and fabric you can't bare to throw away, treasured in your own art piece.

I have managed to set up my display of art landscape brooches at The Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry this week.
They have glass units to display local artists work for a three month period, it's a lovely shop,spacious and modern in the centre of the gallery.
I am always inspired after my visit and The Herbert has an interesting collection of old masters including work by Lowery,Robert Polehill Bevan and a painting by Paul Nash "The Stackyard", which I love.

So I have been working intensely in my sketch book, trying to capture the changing season's colours and light. Filling each page with line drawings and pastel sketches.

Anyone planning a trip to The Knitting & Stitching Show?

 A friend and I hope we can take an early train down to London Saturday morning, well that is the plan, if I'm not too exhausted with all the stitching and painting I have been working on this week!

Art Brooches For Galleries

Amongst my larger textile pieces and paintings I have also been working on a new range of landscape brooches for The Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry and also for the Leamington Spa Gallery.
Each one is unique, signed and taken from ideas in my sketch book, individual drawn thread worlds, miniature art works which could also be framed.
They should be available to buy from the galleries by next week.

I'm hoping they will make unusual, original gifts, in time for Christmas!
Thank you so much if you have visited and left a comment, apologises If I have not replied.
My normal blogging should resume shortly.

Immersed In My Work

Hello,                                                            
I have been so immersed in my painting and stitching and getting back to the busy school routine, I have not had chance to visit blogs or write here recently.

Yesterday the Herbert Art Gallery contacted me to say they would like me to have a stand in their shop from this October for my brooches and cards and also to produce a range of cards for them especially for the exhibition.
It's very exciting but I wish I had more time!

There are many pieces I am working on, some which I will keep as a surprise for the exhibition.

Here is another quick drawing from my sketch book.

So for now I am going to plug in my ipod and listen to Chopin while I stitch in a world of my own, ignoring the housework again!

Working For The Exhibition

Another piece finished, smaller this time 28cm by 36cm although when framed it will be of course larger.
Inspired by the trees, near a small village where I live, their beautiful roots exposed and entwined.

I have a very busy a week ahead with school, I am working with the A'level art students which is very exciting for me.
There are lots of new displays to put up and many projects to sort out, not to mention all the stitching I have to do when I get home!
My children also start back and for one of them it will be their GCSE year, how did that come around so quickly?

Bye for now M x

August Stitching

We have had so much rain this August, I can count on one hand the dry sunny days we have had.
It rained here for at least 48 hours non stop this week, so apart from taking the dog out we stayed in, this gave me time to work on my handmade felt, stitching my "August Walk" landscape.
If we get a dry day we hope to go blackberry picking, it looks like a good year which is maybe because of our wet August!

Before I forget I must say thank you to Twiglet for her blog award.

P.S If you click the image you can see the whole picture, I have uploaded the extra large size but it won't fit on the page!

A Sea Of Grass

Stitching, stitching, stitching!!
Thank you to Madeira threads who provided their Lana wool threads which are used in this piece of work.

Festival Of Quilts Day Out

It was my first visit to the Quilt show and I wasn't disappointed as there was so much to see.
Luckily as I had pre ordered tickets my Mum and I got in fairly quickly, but for those who had to buy a ticket there was a very long queue.
I took quite a few hurried photo's, so these are the less blurred pictures.

I hope the artist's will not mind me sharing their beautiful work as I don't have all their names.

This is The Ground Zero quilt by Lois Jarvis, it places the pictures of 621 individuals who perished at the world trade center.You can read more about this artists work here http://www.loisjarvisquilts.com/GZQ/gzq.html

A face in Patch work.

This is a sea of bonnets each one hand embroidered with the name and date of the women who were sent away to Australia from the UK on the convict ships.

In some cases they only committed petty crimes, such as stealing bread.

A demonstration area

There was also lots of tempting stalls, so I did buy a few silk fibers and a book on European Quilts!

After all the excitement of the show it was back to my own work and I completed my "Thread Life" painting.

More Sketches

We had a lovely day yesterday with the children at Ragley Hall which is famous for it's sculpture park.
See HERE.
We chose a perfect day to go, warm and sunny which has been rather lacking this holiday.

I took many photo's of the gardens, sculptures and woodland which is exceptionally beautiful and well worth a visit.
I have continued to sketch between stitching, I'm almost afraid to stop, as I know how much work is ahead of me.
Every opportunity I have, I look for inspiration from nature and landscape.

Here are a few more sketches which I have been working on.
Tomorrow is my Birthday and I am spending it with my family and no doubt we will be out for coffee and cakes!
Thursday I'm visiting The Festival Of Quilts, a birthday treat, so a busy week.

I Think It's Finished!

It's finished, I think, although I may be tempted to add a few more stitches!

'August Walk'

I have spent most of the week out and about sketching, in between the summer showers!
The wheat is ready to be cut, it looks dry and dusty now.

I love the colour of the yellow fields against the lush green trees.

There are so many interesting patterns in the landscape, I wish I had more time!

Recently, I have been asked by an art studio in Leamington Spa if I could run some weekend workshops, so when I get more details I will let you know.

Tree Shadows & New Painting

The holidays have given me more time to spend on my art work, although I have taken to hiding the washing upstairs in a big pile and ironing as and when!
I have been stitching my ' Tree Shadows' piece which has flowed, in a very organic, rhythmical way, through the machine.

I have also been sketching and painting,' A Sea Of Grass' my most recent work, which holds many thoughts.

Yesterday I booked my tickets for my Mum and I to visit The Festival Of Quilts in Birmingham.
This will be my first visit and I'm so looking forward to seeing the fine art quilts and a day out!

Landscape Painting

The first week of the summer holidays and all we have had is cloud and rain!

My sister and I took our dogs and children for a walk through the fields and I not wishing to miss an opportunity, took some photo's of the landscape.

The fields had been full of blue flowers which I had sadly missed, but they had gone over to reveal a beautiful pale colour green, a perfect shade with the purple Borage and pink grass.
We walked to Kenilworth castle and I love this view through the trees.

When we returned home I started to do some more painting and sketching inspired by our walk.
Fingers crossed the weather improves!

My Heart & Soul

Working in threads "The Oak" for my exhibition at The Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry.
I'm on the Herbert website see here
Sorry this is a short post but I'm engrossed in my stitching and I'm putting my heart and soul into this piece.....it may take some time.

Tree

A tree for a friend stitched with love.

Thread Heaven

This week I was relieved to find another sponsor for my exhibition at the The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum
I have to say thank you to Dylon who will sponsor me with dyes for my exhibition.
I say relief, because as some of you may know, my husband has been out of work and the cost of materials and framing has been a concern.
Luckily my husband has picked up some contract work recently,  so I'm hoping we will be able to cover the framing costs or perhaps get some form of sponsorship or grant to go towards it.

I also received a large box of  amazingly colourful threads from  Madeira.
How excited was I and compelled to use them in my art straight away...thread heaven!

Today I have been working on a brooch for a friend, it's for a relative who moved to America and this was a tree from the view of their former home.
Earlier, despite the grey clouds, I took the dog and camera for a walk.
It's elating to find beautiful views so close to home that you have never discovered before and I am eager to translate these into paintings and then stitch.

I hope you have a nice week ahead, we break up for the summer...yipee!

The Oak

Painting my sketches of the fields that surround me.

Life Study And More Stitches

Last week I returned to life drawing, It's going to take me a while to get back to the discipline of studying the figure, I forgot how much I love it and how I use what I learn, to bring life to my landscapes.

The scene I'm stitching at the moment is draped over my sewing machine, I have started to add heavier stitching with many different types of threads.
My work space is small and cluttered, I don't seem to find the time to sort it out, stitching is more important!!

Drawing

Today we have been in Meldreth, which is near Royston, in Hertfordshire for my Grandma's 90th birthday party.
It was a lovely day for her and all her family from far and wide who came together to celebrate.
On the journey down I took lots of photographs of fields, trees and skies.
Oh dear, too many and I'm filling up the memory on the computer!

Here are a few sketches I have been working on this week, these have been done while out walking.
I think I may try painting the pen sketch to experiment with colours.

I hope your having a lovely weekend.

More Stitching

I have been stitching this week on a new larger textile piece.
Again, I have referred to my sketch book as my starting point, where I recorded how the light and shadows played between the olive trees in Cimiez, Nice.

I felt in awe of the landscapes magical beauty, as the light streamed in, reminding me of a colourful stained glass window in a church.
I have many hours of stitching ahead of me, hand and machine.

Madeira threads  contacted me this week and offered to sponsor me in threads for my exhibition at The Herbert Art Gallery.
To say I'm excited by this prospect is an understatement, when you know my obsession with threads!!

Working Sketches

On Sunday, a glorious Summer day I went out with my sketch book.

 I sat in the long grass surrounded by the tall, waving meadow sweet and yellow buttercups.
The landscape felt fresh, the new growth vibrant in the strong sunlight.

My aim is to spend a lot of time in my sketch book so I have a good range of work to select and develop from.

The Most Exciting News!

I won't forget this week in a hurry, in particular Monday, when I was on my way back from Warwick with my Mum and my husband phoned.
I couldn't believe it when he told me he had just taken a call from the Herbert Art Gallery, I had won the people's choice award!
The winning prize is the opportunity to have my own exhibition at this wonderful gallery in Autumn 2011.
I will need to have at least forty pieces of work, which will show a range of different media and a lot of stitched pieces.
So the hard work starts now and I hope to share my journey, preparing for this exhibition with you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart if you voted or you follow my blog as you have given me the confidence to develop my work.
As soon as I get firm dates I will let you know, as your all invited!
Click here for more information on the gallery http://www.theherbert.org/herbertMedia