knotting day

Well, shes a bit round shouldered, so I might have to do a bit of snipping, but this is my attempt at pontillism (creating a picture out of dots) using french knots! She took longer than I expected and I'm not sure if she looks more like a mermaid than a hedge lady - but we've all got to start somewhere - guess now shes finished I've got not excuse not to do my run - Thought I'd share one of todays sketches too - this is Smugglers Cove in Greece -not uploaded but done today are also "red onion", "neglected nectarine" and "old bear"

sandy day

Caught up with a mate last night , nice to see him and have a chat seems like Ive done less running and more socialising and the ultra run is not far away.Need to address this but still fairly confident that I will complete the event.
Today I've been in the garden and fetching supplies for the extension to the shed. Unfortunately the cars taken a battering and now looks like a sand pit (oops) . All the bags of sand I fetched were frozen until warmed in the car so now I need to clean the inside of sand and water. First part of the base is now ready to concrete .The weather looks like its going to let me down and snow again but nothing I can do about that.
Jacs been busy fetching (spending) fabrics and wools and is working on an interpretation of the topiary sleeping woman.

a sketchy day

Been sketching for my textile course quite a bit at the mo - I've not done any drawing for years so its quite daunting, and I still have the same messy style that I always had. I'm planning on recreating the sleeping topiary woman (above) in french knots, while i'm hoping the cabbage lends itself perfectly to collage

tattoo day (part 1)

Nottingham City have done it well again - we did our long run from attenborough picking up the Citys Big wheel route which takes you along Beeston Canal to the River Trent - theres a new footbridge which now means we don't have to join the road, making for a much safer and pleasant run.
I did approx 14 miles, and Col shuttled back and forth so did just over 16 - guess I could have gone even slower, with the excuse that I would be helping him clock up the miles.

This afternoon Col went and had the first part of his tattoo done - a very Green Man style of leaves around an existing tattoo - looks really good, and I went over to my dads to look at some old black and white photos of him when he was young and his very first car

a light night day

We went to Nottinghams Festival of Lights which was just fantastic - the photo's really don't do it justice at all. Our favourite highlights? We couldn't decide between the magic garden just outside of Nottingham Castle next to the robin hood statue where the mixture of atmospheric music, moving insects, and changing colours of robin hood amongst the back drop of an eerily lit castle and more eerily lit trees or the Bromley House Library, a private library since 1822 which we didnt even know about - sadly we couldnt go around the library but we caught glimpses of the most amazing spiral staircase and shelves laden with old books, but we were able to go around its tranquil "secret" garden which again was beautifully lit. As well as the lights there were street parades and a really funny human jukebox and mad cycling nun - well done Nottingham City you should be proud.

Long run tomorrow!

Had a wander around Nottinghams Rock cemetry today - Its a really interesting place, as I understand it there are underground tunnels that lead to it from Nottingham Castle, and I think Wollaton Hall. While many of the graves are in an extemely sad state of repair and are fallen over there are some amazing masauleums there. I'd love to go back on a foggy day and get some really atmospheric photographs

A creative day

My first lot of course work has come back from my tutor today, and the encouraging comments about my collage work were really helpful. I feel like I've had an extemely creative day today as we went up to a needlework exhibition at the Harley Gallery this morning and then this afternoon I've been making a felt bag. I was supposed to do a long run today, but am hoping I may feel more like doing that tomorrow. Col has been very disciplined and has done a long run and set seeds in the green house

naughty day

There has been some naughty people down at one of our neighbours allotments . Had a text from another allotment owner asking me to inform neighbour that some one has tried to get in. Just done a run along the canal towpath so to have a look . Luckily no one got in as they were spotted,there is nothing on them so its just vadalism . Why?