Since you've been gone...

Well since "I've" been gone really... April was a mental month in the real world with so much going on that it made my head spin! With 2 pieces of coursework to be handed in for my MSc (in e-learning) and virtually living in Cumbria for my day job, my studio stood empty for of the month. However I did manage to get 2 things completed and here they

One is a birthday gift for my Mum - she never reads my blog so this won't spoil the surprise! It was from a pattern given to me by my friend Julie and was so easy to make - it took me an evening to get it together.

The fabrics were a bundle called "American Retro" that I fell in love with during a recent (work)trip to London that took me past (kind of) Liberty's! What a place!!! Anyway, it was not cheap, but the colours were a joy so I had to have it! At least there is still half of it left so I can make something that I don't have to give away!!!

That is me in the picture - because the lovely Paul refused to be captured in an apron, even when I promised to crop off his head (in the picture - not literally!!). He suggested that you might see more of the apron if I wore it (hence he is now residing in the shed in disgrace). He claims he meant that it was more suited to my 'womanly curves' but I dont buy it. Good job he is lovely or he might end up in the shed indefinitely!!!

The other project was some more beaded buttons. I am teaching the class again at Art & Stitch on the 12th of June and I wanted some more samples so I decided to do a single colourway set.

I chose my colour of the moment - blue!

I wanted to use the same beads on all three but to produce distinctly different looks. This one is a simply circle pattern around a little flower bead.

This one is my favourite. The opalescence reminds me of one of those Faberge eggs handed out by the Russian aristocracy!

The final one was a freeform button - simply to play around and move away from the more rigid patterns of the other two. I think I may frame these three together and display them as a picture rather than have them hanging around in a draw!

Anyway, I hope to spend some more time in my studio over the next few weeks and get some more stuff done. I am doing the Peterborough Artists Open Studios this year and so need to get some more stuff done. I have my erosion bundle to get cracking with, and a wall hanging that is nearly done! I will be blogging about these soon enough!