Wednesday 13 October 2010

Pastures New

There's no tweed at all in this post. First a comment on comments...so many..over 60 for the last post I can't believe it. Thank you. Its very encouraging. I hope most have received a reply, I tried.

All the tweed has been sent to the Isle of Harris at great and unnecessary expense. 
The post office lady misinformed me and I ended up paying about two and a half times what it should have cost. When I discovered this I complained, and the 'Postmistress' in charge gave me a complete refund. The parcel has not arrived yet though after three working days on the road....rather worrying .
UPDATE:I checked on the track and trace website and its says 'delivered'.
Phew.


I've had a change from Tweed and made a long feathery leafy thing..I apologise for the rubbishy background. I've been trying to edit it in PSE but a monkey could do better so you'll just have to mentally edit out the stitch marks in the canvas.

 I've been thinking about this idea for a while. What do you think?  Altogether different when its rolled.


 I don't know if I like such a large amount of velvet all down the centre.

 The fastening is velcro and not right at the end so I have added another velcro spot to sort of latch on to the surface of the felt where it overlaps. The felt is a mixture of colours with just one area of blue, and the velvet is deee-lic-ious pinky purply ness.
The stitching is in aqua shades.

I wrapped it round my own wrist to try to illustrate the point but I'd need a lot more than an erase tool to get rid of the wrinkles so I spared you that sight.

So there it is.

We have had the most amazing weather here lately, as have many bloggers, so I'm just going to add to the feast of berries and leaves and blue sky around the web.

These are viburnum berries and have such a waxy unreal surface they look almost luminous with the sun on them.  Is the word 'dayglo' still in use?
It was difficult to focus in the brilliant sunshine but I still like the pictures. They almost make up for the grey skies in the Summer.


I should be very grateful for any sky at all. I am just trying to imagine what it must have been like for those miners in Chile during their time under the earth. 
We stayed up late to watch the wonderful scenes as they started to come up to the surface. Well, I went to bed but found I was still alone at 4am so went down to find my son and husband watching TV and well...I watched with them. Its a good job we can choose our own working hours, I didn't get much made today.
But its so good to see them as they arrive on the surface isn't it?

In the middle of all this positive emotion, I received a call to say that a friend of ours, who we haven't seen for quite a while, had been killed in a motorcycle accident last Sunday. 
I have mixed feelings about mentioning it as I don't really think comments of sympathy for me are appropriate, so I would appreciate it if it does not become the focus of this post.
 I only make mention of this here to mark his passing which has shaken all of us.  
My thoughts are with his wife and daughters as they try to come to terms with the sudden loss. 
He was a gentle and unassuming chap always with a ready smile. He was not young, but at 60 neither was he old and should have had many years of life ahead.

Finally, someone else has been enjoying the great outdoors.
He came in with guilt written all over his face..literally. A big dangling feather stuck to the top end of one of his whiskers was dangling down over his face.
Can you see it in front of the printer?


When he started to wash his wicked face, we saw that there were other feathers stuck to his toes.
What can't speak can't lie.
He is a very bad boy indeed.
I am not speaking to him.

51 comments:

Pam said...

I have my fingers crossed for you for safe arrival of your tweed Jackie!
I think it's a perfect amount of velvet down the middle of your leaf. It looks just beautiful with those glorious colours! I love it.
Are those berries edible? Can't remember now if you said so in your post. They do look quite ethereal.
mmmmm, he certainly is a bad boy, isn't he! Not very clever to come home with the evidence still glued to himself! ;o)))))))))) x

Perpetua said...

I just read about your friend. I too had a dreadful moment last week where I realized a friend was just---gone. I had qualms about posting it---but then you think---a blog should really be about all of it, the ups and the downs. When I read yours today it rang true. I hope you are doing ok. And your leaf is beautiful.

lilylovekin said...

That is a VERY VERY bad kitty indeed! Yes I am so happy for the miners, it is good to have happy news for a change. I hope your tweed makes it to its destination.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I love the leaf - in various shapes they'd make great brooches. Seeing the 'guilty' kitty - I have to tell you a little story....every time we left the bathroom door open 'someone' would have a grand chew on the toilet paper. Of course the younger dog got the blame because after all it was something he would do. However, it wasn't until the night we caught the little dog with toilet paper stuck to her face that we learned the actual culprit. Poor Odin took the blame for months and it wasn't him!!

jeanette, mistress of longears said...

I am totally in love with your new shape! Do you think it is karma that you have added a rather feathery shape to a world so recently deprived (via the bad boy) of another feather? And I laughed about your wrist - because that's the only unwrinkled, unsagged part of me!
For me, the nicest thing about the miners is the heroic - and I do mean that- team work and pooling of resources that made the rescue possible. We can, as a species, do the most altruistic and wonderful things.

jeanette, mistress of longears said...

I am totally in love with your new shape! Do you think it is karma that you have added a rather feathery shape to a world so recently deprived (via the bad boy) of another feather? And I laughed about your wrist - because that's the only unwrinkled, unsagged part of me!
For me, the nicest thing about the miners is the heroic - and I do mean that- team work and pooling of resources that made the rescue possible. We can, as a species, do the most altruistic and wonderful things.

connie said...

I just love your new piece!!! It is very nice and what a great idea. Thanks for the reminder to count our blessings it is so very important.

Elderberry-Rob said...

hi, just catching up on your posts - the leaf is beautiful - I would wear it as a leaf on a coat lapel or on a piece of leather round my neck (having a thing about leaves as I do!)

Daisie said...

I love the leaf and am not sure there is such a thing as too much velvet, I just want to sit and stroke it. I can see it pinned to a cloche hat for a vintage girlie robin hood look ;)
xxx

Elderberry-Rob said...

p.s. I am hoping you might make a few more as brooches and put on your etsy as I have Christmas shopping .....

Annie said...

Your puss was only doing what nature intended I guess but I know how you will be feeling....I caught ours once with a baby blue tit hanging out of each side of her mouth [and yes I do mean 2!].
Love the feather.
Hugs,
A x

menopausalmusing said...

So very very humbled watching the miners being rescued....... just an incredibly compelling story, and glad it has ended well.

I hope that your tweed work gets to its destination safely after all the work that has been put into it. Love the feather and think the shape is just fine. Nice to see that (naughty!) cat of yours making a guest appearance!

Marigold Jam said...

Hope your parcel does arrive safely eventually! Indeed it was wonderful to see some good news on TV for a change and to know that when they pull together people can achieve miracles. My thoughts are with those miners and their families and let's not forget the brave medics who volunteered to go down there too! Love the velvet feather and don't think there is too much velvet - it's so tactile isn't it? Bad puss but only doing what comes naturally I guess!

Jane

Emma said...

Lovely feather, not too much velvet. When I make a cuff & try it on I look in the mirror to see what 'they' see! Of course, these things twist round, with a different focus.

Carpe diem I keep yelling at the kids, & myself - lovely when they tell me to sieze the day too, I feel I have achieved something!

silverpebble said...

WHat a beautiful feather - I can see these on coats and wrists up and down the country

Karen said...

love this new piece, the colours are gorgeous. I too was addicted to the miner rescue, absolutely fantastic!

Sharne Gregory said...

Love the new piece, what about making it into a brooch? And I love all that velvet, makes it very tactile.

Twiglet said...

Another triumph! Your feather is lovely - shape, colours and embellishment - just perfect. I do hope your parcel arrives safely.

Ro Bruhn said...

Love the feather bracelet, so rich and royal.
I do hope your tweeds arrive safely, it's always an anxious time waiting for confirmation of arrival.
So sorry to hear about your friend too. Happiness for the rescue then sadness for loss.

A time to dance said...

I love the feather jackie, I think it would be lovely on one of those large clips that you put in your hair, yes I have now become obsessed in hair accessories....we have an equally naughty pussy cat, his prey is mice...and I stood on a dead one on the way to the loo without my specs!

Fiona said...

Hope the tweed arrives. We sent something to my daughter in Lancashire and were in the middle of claiming for it when it arrived about a month later!
Bad kitty, looks so pleased.

Rachel said...

I love that feather - gorgeous!

Bad cat - but so in tune with the feather you had produced!

Whitney-Anne Baker said...

oops naughty cat, what a giveaway!
The feather you made is stunning, all that velvet is divine, I could almost eat it! Nice as a cuff but put a couple on canvas too . .. maybe two or three together.

Heather said...

Glad you got a refund and hope the parcel arrives safely. Three days is not long to Harris. Your velvety feather is gorgeous as are your photos. Re the Chilean miners - isn't amazing how extraordinary ordinary men can be? As for that naughty mog - boys will be boys, and cats will be cats. Thinking of your friend and her family.

Julie said...

The cuff is fabulous, so original!

What a bad boy! Quite right to send him to Coventry for a while. Hope your tweed arrives safely. Look after yourself after sad news.

Carol Q said...

wonderful new shape Jackie. beeeoootiful colours. looks very fiddly. it didn't look like too much velvet to me. our naughty cat came in with a dear little mouse last night. still warm, with his eyes open but dead. another BAD pussy!

Maureen said...

Love the 'Feather' Jackie, not so sure about the puss cats feather embellishments tho'! I do hope your order arrives safely, it is absolutely magnificent!

WendyCarole said...

Love the new piece.

Hope your tweed arrives safely.

Bad puss!

Carol said...

Hi Jakcie, I LOVE the velvet... and all the colors... are you going to have them for sale as bracelets? Just gorgeous!

I hope your package arrives soon...

jennyflowerblue said...

What a gorgeous new form! I like! I also love your photos, they look like an illustration from a ladybird book of the seasons. Hugs xx

Robin Mac said...

That feather is gorgeous Jackie, I love it. I have my fingers crossed for the safe arrival of your parcel - after all that hard work it couldn't possibly go astray. Cheers, Robin

Linda Vincent said...

The feather is rather gorgeous Jackie ...and you can never have too much velvet!
I think it has many possibilities.
As for that big furry snowball.....maybe he'd just been rummaging in hedgebottoms and picked the feathers up accidently? It can happen! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Love the "leafy thing"...and I think the velvet portion is just right. (of course, that's just my impression!)

Hey, a kittie's gotta eat!

As an aside, and forgive me if I already mentioned this...it's been a hectic last few weeks...but your pieces have gotten quite a few comments from our coworkers...they're hanging on the wall in our hotel room/office!

Mary Welsh Hubbard said...

I really like the leafy thing - it's very pretty. I like the colors.

The photos are gorgeous!

And the cat...Kellie had a good laugh when I had her read it.

Thimble Fingers said...

Love the feather - it'd make a great napkin ring ... what a funky dinner party could be had with a setting of lots of feathers.
Yes, its wonderful about the miners and impossible to imagine what they've been through. Fortunately on this side of the world we watched it at a civilised hour on tv, and we too were glued to the tele all day. Very emotional.
As for kitty .... what a naughty boy, but he seems quite chuffed with himself.

Kathleen said...

Yet another great piece, I love the feather and the strip of velvet down the middle. It looks great. You do such beautiful work. The shapes just lend themselves to this piece gracefully. Very nice.

Unique Beaded Gems said...

Love the leaf bracelet. It's very unusual. He is a very bad cat but very cute!! Jo x

Victoria said...

Hmm... I believe the kitty was a bit influenced to nab some feathers of his own after seeing your beautiful creation! (Which I adore!) Also, I respect your wishes on nixing the sympathy comments, but I also appreciate the ever important reminder that we really need to remember how fleeting life can be.

Vintage Tea Time said...

I agree with most of the other posters so far - the leaf is lovely and not too much velvet at all! It would be great to wear as a cuff, as you could be forever stroking it with your other hand! Your work is amazing, very inspiring!

michelle said...

Hi - I just happened along this wonderful blog - what a treat for the eyes!!(and humour!) Is etsy the only online outlet you sell from?? I was looking for your fab bags!

Els said...

I've seen it SO many times now, but every time again I'm so smitten by your glowing velvets !!!!! I really love them very much. You work miracles !
(keep on stitching!) ;-)

Rosie said...

Not a bad boy, just doing what comes naturally! I love your velvety "feather" and it seemed a shame to roll it up and not see the shape any more. Glad also to hear that I'm not the only one with wrinkly, monkey fingers ....

Gina said...

Totally in love with yopur feathery leafy cuff... so beautiful.

Unknown said...

The shape and colors are just beautiful!

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

I adore your long feathery thing and those berries. Hope the sunshine is a bit warmer for you today sweetypie, if not put an extra pair of socks on and think of Cornwall :o)

Caroline and Jayne said...

I always love looking at your blog...Perhaps you could share some craft projects over on our craft blog www.fiskarettes.co.uk I'm sure Fiskarettes would find your work as amazing as I do x

Maggi said...

I do hope that the tweed order arrived safely. The long velvet leaf is gorgeous, all that velvet makes me want to stroke it. Please don't stop speaking to him, he is a cat just being a cat!

Annie said...

Love the leaf wrist wrap, the colours are soooo beautiful and definitely not too much velvet.

Dot said...

Catching up on some posts today. I love your feather bracelet/cuff. It is gorgeous and I hope you make more of them. The berries look delicous and bad, bad pussy cat with the feathers showing what he has been up to!

Anonymous said...

This is a great post. Thanks so much for sharing, like always.

Anonymous said...

thank you so much.



Mo
st of my pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Dear Anonymous.....

....don't waste your time...I have a spam filter.