Thursday 26 March 2015

Marching on

Where has March gone? 
On the last day of February we travelled again to Ballyvaughan for the Concertina school.
While my husband was learning we 'wags' (haha!) were having some creative fun in our little cottage.
I first took some felt making stuff last year and all enjoyed it so this year we made flowers. Now some the actual musicians want to skip class next year and join us! 





 Here are the flowers ....



 and here they are when we remembered to remove the wine bottle!




 As far as the weather..this was the very worst week we've had. My friend and I didn't do much walking. We sat around and ate and did a bit of shopping.. well as much as you can in a tiny Irish village! Look out of that window at the hail.

Thats the bedroom in our little rented house. Its home from home and we always have the same one.



 However the Sunday at the end of the week was glorious



 We made our annual visit to the stunning Polnabroune Dolmen a couple of miles above Ballyvaughan.



 We travelled  along the coast. Look at this stunning way to make an unoccupied house look quite smart.


 The sea at Doolin was spectacular.




 These pictures are not in any particular order. I took this one to show what a wonderful place the Whisky bar is. Tea, Guinness, whiskey, wine and cake all readily available.





 My friend and I did the stunning walk along Rine (Rynn) point where a long sandbar seems to go on forever.




 My footprints





 and the curved beach at the very end. I'd love to be there in summer and maybe swim.


 On our return we were delighted to see an otter running across the sand and I was even more delighted that I had my camera in my hand.



  It was a long way off so I've cropped the picture and its quite blurry but still.....




It was a lovely week catching up with old friends . One had his birthday while we were there so we had cake and a candle. Not quite in the right proportions but its the thought that counts.


We discovered that the gravel path along the Flaggy Shore has been tarmac-ed after the terrible floods last year when most of it got washed away.


On the way back on Sunday evening we stopped by this inlet and I got out to listen to the silence.It was just going dark and the water was like mercury and much lighter than the sky.




As usual our Ferry was cancelled due to the bad weather so instead of sailing at 12 we had to wait until 9pm for the slow boat, so we tok a circuitous route to Dublin via Athlone, Roscommon, and Mullingar stopping by Lough Ree on the way .


 Someone was glad to see us when we got home! Happy to resume their positions!




I took this piece of work with me but didn't do much to it until I got back. 
I had a commission for a magazine article which I can't talk about and it was worrying me all week becasue what i did was awful.

I kept having those anxiety dreams where I'm committed to doing a terms primary teaching and I can't stop crying...you know? 
No?

Oh its just me then is it?

I couldn't do anything else until I'd addressed it. I've finished and sent it but the response has been deafening silence since so I 'm wondering if its not passed muster.

This is not it.

This is a piece that has been re-jigged and I'm quite pleased with it.




Once I finished the magazine piece I got going with brooches again. 








I had a lovely evening at Wirral branch of the Embroiderers guild last week  despite getting lost on the way here and the way back. It always happens when I think I know the way.However once there I was treated like royalty and the lovely ladies bought most of the above brooches from me.



I've just been playing since...






16 comments:

Els said...

Your work is as lovely as ever Jackie !
Love that big piece !!!
Oh wow those seaside pictures are wonderful ;-)
(lucky to "catch" that otter !!!!)

jinxxxygirl said...

Jackie you are most definitely not alone in that way of thinking. Infact i don't think i could work on commission for that very reason.... The way i would have to work is i make it , you like it, you can have it or buy it or whatever... someone elses expectations would overwhelm me... :) Hugs! deb

Robin Mac said...

Sounds like you had a great time in Ireland despite the awful weather. How lucky to see that otter. As always, your felting pieces are gorgeous. I am quite sure your commission will be very successful so stop stressing - easier said than done I know! Cheers

sharon young said...

What a lovely post, as always, I felt as if I'd been on a trip too, thank you for sharing it with us.
Beautiful work too, I really love the piece you've just completed, the colours are stunning.
I know exactly how you feel re commissions, I've just done a small one for my daughter and I remembered how much I hate doing them.
I'm sure you're recipient is delighted and is just a bit slow in their response.

Jennie Atkinson said...

What a fabulous week we all had in Ballyvaughn and I so enjoyed making the felt flowers! Glad you got one good day of weather - it was brightening as we drove back to Dublin - missed it! Looking forward to next year already as the photographs bring it all back. Jennie x

Jane said...

As for anxiety dreams, how about this one. Giving professional evidence in Court, just preparing for the hostile cross-examination, glancing down and noticing that I've forgotten to put a skirt on!
Jane

Rachel said...

Those brooches look lovely - so glad the Wirral Embroiderers Guild proved so welcoming!

Bossymamma said...

The felted flowers are beautiful - even without the wine bottle!

Heather said...

The flowers are gorgeous and look so exotic. Wonderful pics of spectacular scenery. The brooches and rejigged piece are beautiful and I'm sure the other piece is up to scratch.

Anonymous said...

Commission pieces are worrying - what's in the mind of the purchaser cannot be the same as what's in the mind of the artist.

But relax - your work is wonderful.

What a magnificent place you've visited - breathtaking views - I could almost smell the sea air.

The felted flowers are pretty!

ju-north said...

Great post! What a good time you had!

WendyCarole said...

Beautiful scenery beautiful work.

And ugh those dreams, one popped up out of theblue only the other week and it’s almost 3 years since I went anywhere near a school.

jennyflowerblue said...

Your break looks such fun and what a great place to break the wine drought. I would love the whisky/Guiness cafe- do they sell cake? I am glad you have sent off your commission, I am sorry though that it was a 'nightmare' for you. Ahh angst our old friend. Another bottle of wine I think and some more lovely work. xxxx

FeltersJourney said...

Beautiful photos from your hols, and beautiful work Jackie :)

I'm sure your magazine piece will be great.. the person dealing with it is probably on holiday or something. Try not to worry..
x

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I always love seeing the results of your playing. And I enjoyed the photos of your trip. I know I'll never be able to see the area in person so your mini travelogue is most welcome.

Chris H said...

I always know I'm going to be delighted at all your photos!
You live in an amazingly beautiful place.
That curved beach, where you said you would like to swim in summer... it looks like it has conflicting currents there... might not be too safe to swim there?
What a sight.. an otter! We only have them in zoos here.



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