Upstairs Gallery - Textiles Exhibition

The beginning of this year has been busy preparing for the first exhibition of 2012 at Upstairs Gallery. The exhibition runs from next Tuesday 17th January - 18th February. There is a range of fabulous textile artists taking part using a variety of mediums. I will be showing some wall pieces which have been a departure for me and not an easy one! it's one thing putting your designs onto a cushion but another experience entirely presenting it as a piece of art to stand entirely on it's own merits.
I will post photos of a couple of the pieces I have printed once I have had a chance to photograph them properly.

My available blogging time is being sorely tested as I travel with Laura to interviews for her degree course applications, combined with keeping up with orders from my shops and my increasing involvement with the gallery.

Bluebell Wood

Last week turned into complete chaos here, with one thing piling in after another and having to cover for the manager of a local pre school, all of my planned activities went out of the window. very little sewing, no allotment work done and definitely no quiet visit to the bluebell woods.

However come Sunday morning we did get to the woods and the last weeks stresses faded away.
We live right on the edge of the Chilterns and this wood is rated one of the best in the country for bluebells. This is not patches of bluebells, you have to believe me the floor of the wood is a comlpete carpet of them. With one main path through the middle and smaller ones made by deer tracking around in various directions.

The scent is heady, it being a slightly damp morning as the sun comes through the new beech leaves the perfume is released. In clearing at the edges of the wood the owner has constructed these wigwams from fallen branches for children to play in.

Blue as far as the eye can see.

The green of the beech leaves makes a stunning combination.

And so I am revived.......I did make it to the allotment too but without my camera. Today it is raining and so I can do catch up on the housework and make up some orders. Hopefully I will get more blogging done this week

Louise x

Time out

I spent an hour today at a local nature reserve just getting a bit of space, fresh air and a change of scenery.

It is located in an old quarry which has been flooded and makes a peaceful circular walk easily do-able in under an hour.

Tomorrow I will hopefully have the results of the printing to show you, but I must go finish fixing it now that I feel refreshed!