Hand sewn Christmas cards

I thought I'd show you my Christmas cards for my friends and family this year (only special people because they take quite a while!!).

I used white embroidery board by Paper Poetry from Rico design, it costs about £4 for 10 sheets which are 17.5 x 24.5 cm. I painted the board silver, black and gold, though I think you can buy it in different colours.

The card is perfect for stitching and embroidering into so I decided to sew some Christmas images which I drew onto squared paper before sewing properly. This card is really versatile and you could use it to create all sorts of interesting projects.
I managed to get hold of some two fold cards with windows which were perfect for mounting up the images, ready to give people for Christmas!

 

Exhibition visit: 79th Annual Exhibition from The Society of Wood Engravers

Yesterday I visited the 79th Annual Exhibition from The Society of Wood Engravers, at the 44AD Gallery in Bath. I was so impressed by the level of detail and workmanship in the prints that I felt I had to share my favourites with you. I have never tried wood engraving myself but I have tried Lino printing and found that quite difficult to get my head around, I think wood engraving must be super difficult! (and time consuming) it makes you really appreciate this ancient art form. The exhibition has now come to an end but you can see images of all the pieces on the Society of Wood Engravers' website.

The Sailmaker's Garden by Barry Woodcock

Dunnock in the Camellia by Cathryn Kuhfeld

Partrishow by Kathleen Littler

Lifeboat by Terry Browne

Greenhouse by Geri Waddington

The Tortworth Chestnut by Peter Collins

Cherry Blossom by Rosamund Fowler

Lewesdon Hill Beeches by Howard Phipps

Edward Thomas: A Landscape Journey by Neil Bousfield

Apple Pressing by Bob Guy

Cornwall Holiday photo favourites part 2

Here are my other favourite photos from my recent road trip around Cornwall

St Michael's Mount

Lovely mixture of succulents and unusual plants

I wish I had these plants in my rockery!

Spiky plant

Spiky plant close up

I love the patterns in these plants!

 

Looking down on the gardens

Model of St Michael's Mount made out of Champagne corks by the Butler

Trerice

Beautiful Cyclamen at Trerice National Trust

Lansallos

Lansallos Church at Sunset

Lansallos Beach at Sunset Cornwall

Coast Path

Rare Cornish Chough Bird

Shaun the Sheep Exhibition at Land's End

Bitzer Model

Caravan from Shaun the Sheep Movie

Lovely Set from Morph TV series

Mittens and Osbourne from Timmy Time TV Series

Model of Land's End featuring Shaun the Sheep

Rocket from Wallace and Gromit, A Grand Day Out

Bus Station Set from Shaun the Sheep Movie

Cornwall holiday favourite photos part 1

Last week I returned from a 3 week road trip around lovely Cornwall! Here is a selection of my most favourite images (there were a lot!) I hope you like them I think I will do this in 2 parts...

Lost Gardens of Heligan

Collection of Pumpkins, Squashes and Gourds

Southern Hawker Dragonfly laying eggs Aeshna cyanea

Collection of colourful dried flowers

Scottish Longhorn Mother and Calf

Burma Rope Bridge 

St Ives
The below 3 images are from an installation by Mark Dion in Porthmeor Studios St Ives. This artwork was commissioned to reflect the remarkable arts and fishing heritage of the area.

The Maritime Artist installation by Mark Dion

Bright colourful Fishing floats

More Bright colourful Fishing floats

Hillside Graveyard

Levant Mine and Beam Engine

Levant Mine