Olive and Latte Starburst

Recently completed colour combination in 'Starburst' crochet cover pattern. The green is in Sirdar Luxury Soft 100% Cotton shade 657 and the contrast is in Sirdar Juicy DK 80% bamboo ,20% cotton shade 423 - more details about the pattern here.

Autumn Leaves

This simple embroidery project came from a download pattern called Day Three Tree via the lovely website called Lollychops (and well worth a visit). The embroidery hoop I used is 18cm (7") diameter and the backing fabric is some preshrunk medium weight unbleached cotton. I used the tree template from the pattern but cut the leaves out free hand in wool felt, pinned everything into position, then used embroidery thread to sew on in running stitch. Where there was space I used some wool fibre to stuff the trunk and leaves to give some raised relief texture to the piece.

Vintage Inspired Crochet Cushion with Raspberry

I used a triangle motif shape from a book to design this cushion cover for myself. There are twelve individual pieces joined together with extra "flat " crochet around the circumference to give the required depth on this 18 inch diameter cushion. It's made in DK cotton with an improvised flower in the centre and button slip closure. Yes, the chair really is that bright pink raspberry colour. I have four of them! Not quite the colour I expected. The Dulux colour mixing card "Garnet Symphony 3" is a bit darker on the sample card. However, after four coats of paint ( 2 undercoat and 2 topcoat eggshell) and days of work, I'm keeping these re-purposed chairs as they are!

Out and About - YSP

A long overdue outing to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and exhibition featuring David Nash on display until February 2011. If you like the work of Andy Goldsworthy then chances are you will like this sculptor. No photography was allowed inside the Underground gallery - so no photos of drawings of my favourite piece by this artist - The Ash Dome - a living art work in a wood in Wales started in the 1970's. Click here for a link to the Royal Academy of Arts site and the video.

Information added 06/07/2010 - link to BBC Radio 4 interview with David Nash. Click here.

The following photos were allowed...

A small exhibit in a greenhouse near the Garden Gallery featuring the work of poet Alec Finlay...

Coffee...