the Art of surprise...

Spring Fling...was fantastic...and later in the week following a delicious lunch at Little Salkeld Watermill...a chance picking up of a leaflet...a stunning drive across the wild country from Cumbria to Northumberland via Alston ...and down a tiny country road going we are not sure where...

 

...and daughter mine and myself arrive...at a lovely house and garden with such a view, open the door and find ourselves in a clean white space...

full of colour and texture and a wealth of paintings and textiles...we have found an exhibition of art work by Kate Jackson, Rachel Phillimore and Jane Willis...whose house we are now in...

paintings, ceramics and glorious textiles, a chance to see rug making and to talk to Rachel, all in a beautiful space and in a relaxed way...serendipity has led us to a rich visual feast...

 

I loved Jane's paintings but... my heart is textile through and through...

Kate recycles fabrics to create stunning quilts, hours of patient work...

and Rachel likewise takes all manner of fabrics and slowly creates rich textural pieces of art...

can you see why I got rather exited?

we then went to the next village and found Kate's studio where she runs wonderful workshops, above a lovely village shop and cafe, she has a room full of textile treasure...here and you can see more of Jane's work here and Rachel's here...just wish you could have been there with me to see it too, hope you enjoy it second hand...

Emmaxx

Friday night and I'm loving...

that it's been a delightfully sunshiney day...ok with a hint of cloud...but positively BLUE sky and bright sunshine... huzzah!

that although it's been a bit of a crazy week with a second trip to Newcastle (to get a filling replaced cos it fell out!)... thanks to my nieces' ability to turn themselves into Removal Women...I was able to get my Mum's sewing table which was her Mum's dressing table ..into the car and home...it's a nice link down the years to my grandmother Evelyn who sadly died when Mum was a young girl, so I never knew her..

and here it is in the window of the lounge...awaiting full use as my Running a Busy and Successful Business Desk...and maybe painting up tho' I'm not sure..what do you think?

please note the essential pretty accessories and Homes and Antiques magazine...bags of yarn and wool and other delicious items from Woolfest and...all those things essential to every Business Woman's Desk...

sometimes a magazine just hits the spot cheers and inspires...and I loved the vintage feel and the colours in this one...and this gorgeous red desk...

fab lamp

 

and divine sofas...instant Pink Sofa envy!!

 

a new Very Important and Inspiring Business Only mug from Laura Ashley...just loved the colours...

 

a little yummy fabric from Ikea and yarn from Treacle woolshop

scrummy blanket pieces from Eliza at Woolfest...looking lovely while they wait patiently to be created into something lovely...




that my funky wristwarmers made by Philippa of Wheeldale Woolcrafts... mean my Businesss wrists will always be warm...

and just look at this beautiful brooch from Julia at Handknitted Things...may have to buy some more for pressies...

and finally for Friday...that I have at last been able to start playing with my fantastic new embellisher....or needle felting machine...bought just before Woolfest so I have only just begun to have time to explore it...and I love it...it creates such amazing surfaces and uses up all my scraps of fabric...the ultimate textiles recycling...

 

ooh so many lovely things to get making...but better go to bed now...night all! xx