Autumnal Belton

Earlier this week we took heed of the weather forecast which was casting doom and gloom about the temperatures for the next few days and took advantage of the beautiful sunshine to visit our local National Trust property Belton House.  We thought the children would have been back at school after half-term but evidently they had an inset day so it was pretty busy but the beauty of Belton is that it's large enough for everyone.

The colours in the gardens were wonderful so I'll let the photos do the talking.

 The lake with a party of swans looked wonderful and was very peaceful without its usual company of geese.  Presumably they are still on their way.

 The walls of the Orangery were covered in ladybirds, or more accurately ladybeetles that originated in Asia.  Apparently these bugs are becoming a nuisance in America so it seems it might be our turn now.

 One of the offending lady beetles.

 These are the fruits on a Spindle Tree.  I thought they looked a bit like butterflies.  You would think that they were flowers but, no, they are the fruits.

 This fungus was on a trees tump down by the lake.  The fungus ran in a line along the track of the roots too.

International Quilt Challenge

The latest theme for the International Quilt Challenge Group has been 'Reflection' or any variation thereof.  I last showed you it a couple of weeks ago when I was trying to decide how to quilt it.  Since then I have got to grips with said quilting and the piece is now finished, having skidded past the deadline by 6 days (oops!).

Thank you for the advice I was given in my last post, it did help with the decision making.  I decided not to add in any more 'field' boundaries in the hope that the quilting would make the brown lines less obvious.  I think I've just about got away with it.

This detail shows the area towards the top.  I made the 'field boundaries' towards the top darker to give the idea that they are in the distance.  The binding was made from the same strips as are in the quilt.  

My interpretation of 'Reflection' comes from reflecting on this area of Cornwall which is close to St Ives which is always in our thoughts when we are not there.  The wallhanging is also going to serve as my entry for the Sue Ridgwell Challenge at the AGM of the Quilters Guild of the British Isles in April under the theme 'My World is Green'.  I just need to add the sleeve and label.  The dimensions are 24" x 24".

Snow day(s)

Or should that be snow week?  We have had more snow down but so far it hasn't tempted me to any more snow dyeing.  We were promised more today but it is slow in arriving so, despite the snow dyeing, I am hoping that maybe it will miss us.

On Friday, when the latest lot of snow came down, I ventured out to Stitchcraft for some 'Friday Fun' with a mini workshop making Pin Cushion Baggies with Wendy Coyne. 

Altogether nine baggies were made and despite keeping an eye on the accummulating snow out the window we had a happy couple of hours.  There are going to be a lot more of these mini sessions and I am planning to go along to a few more.  If it hadn't been for the snow I would have stayed for a cuppa and a natter/cake.  As it was I got home safely but the drive up our side road was 'interesting'!  (My DH rang me as I was about to leave to drive home to warn me the snow was drifting across our road and covering it in.  Bless!)

This was the view in our garden Saturday morning.  

Instead of more snow dyeing I have been working on my quilt for the International Quilt Challenge Group and for the Sue Ridgwell Challenge at the AGM of the Quilters Guild GB.  Last time I talked about these challenges I had got as far as making a paper collage to explore my ideas.  I have since been busy piecing the landscape.

This is the start.

I've spent the last few days disecting and inserting darker strips to describe the field walls.    I think it may need one more diagonal line across the foreground.  I've been experimenting in Photoshop with the added insert and with possible quilting lines:

What do you think?   I still feel it lacks some pazzazz so decisions may be made about thread colour and possible beading.  I need to get my skates on!  As the challenge group piece it needs to be finished by the end of the month! 

Wherever you are in the world and whether you're freezing or boiling have a good week and keep safe.

Scottish Islands Part Deux

 This sight greeted us at a petrol station that we stopped at in Tyndrum on our way up to Oban, our crossing point to the Isle of Mull. 

Our coachdriver stopped so DH could photograph this mirror-like reflection.  A few minutes later and the surface was ruffled by the wind.

 This is McCaig's Tower in Oban, a folly that was built to give the local unemployed some work.

Who could resist this sweet little spaniel waiting patiently at an upstairs window for his master/mistress to come home?

You are probably wondering, as was I, what these people were doing with a tent on a layby.  Sadly I din't find out but I did realise that they probably had their hoods up to deter the midges as it wasn't raining.

I always like a good reflection and this one was at the ferry in Oban.

If you click on the image above you should see the remains of crabs thrown back into the water at Fionnport, the ferry point for crossing to Iona.

 I would have loved a walk on this beach at Fionnport.

Above is the rare landscape of the Machair . We must have arrived at just the right time as the flowers were beautiful.  We were lucky enough to hear a corncrake too as we walked along, a rare sound indeed! (If you follow the link for the corncrake you can click on a button to listen to its distinctive cry).

These photos show the Abbey and its attendant graveyard where ancient Kings of Scotland, Ireland and Norway are buried.  We only had time to grab a snap as we hurried back to catch the ferry.  Another reason to return.

What a beautiful place to be remembered.

The children of Iona had been busy decorating their cycle shelter.

And finally for this post, a few texture images for you.  

The fungi on the tree in the image above reminded me exactly where the inspiration for the windchime I had bought earlier in Cockermouth had come from.

Till next time.......

Naturescape

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Our walk at Naturescape brought us to this wildlife pond which, thanks to the dynamic sky reflected in it, presented some wonderful design potential.
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I tried to take photos today that showed potential for transferring to textile design and looked for contrasts of shape and texture. Who knows where these images may turn up? Maybe in a Journal Quilt? We will be going back to Naturescape next month or in June to see the wildflower meadows which should be in full flower and to see the dragonflies that will be flying over this pond. What a lovely way to spend a sunny morning! Not forgetting the very yummy homemade cake that was sampled with a cup of tea in the Tea Room!