It's taken a year but I've done it!

Helloo dear Violets, have been very quiet and have not posted anything for a very long time...have been really busy. But the Ragtales website is now up and running and the products are selling! Have even managed to link in a Facebook and twitter link, so if you feel inclined please send me a 'like' or a 'tweet' ....www.ragtales.co.uk

JULIE ARKELL - 'I've Dusted the Farmyard'

As promised here are lots of pictures from Julie's solo exhibition; I've Dusted the Farmyard at the Blue Coat,
Liverpool.  The exhibition runs until 12 May, if you can get to see it I urge you to do it.  I have never seen so much of Julie's work in one place it is a rare treat. It was lovely to catch up with Julie and Clare at the gallery and the work was sooooo bewitching!

Above: This group greets you at the start of the exhibition

Above: A moment of Help

Above: Big Bretonne Rabbit

Above: Adorable, Doll's Houses

Above: Made in Childhood, Much Preferred and Dear Thing

Above: Help Me Mend (I almost bought this one!)

Above: I want to Abandon Ship (and almost bought this one)

Above: Farmyard Group 

Above: Looking for Clouds (How adorable!)

Above: Once Back Home

Above: Rabbit Duck Swimming to Safety (how I didn't buy this I don't know!)

Above: I just found a pencil, She always found us treasures and A Tiny One

Above: Pretending to be Someone Else and When Do I Meet the Wife?

Still have some more to post and will do that tomorrow.  To check out what I did buy see

tinkeringbythesea.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

xxDi

Linking In

Hey, ladies, have just posted a log on Les Soeurs all about The Pantry Violets - take a look if you have time.  Have lost touch with where TPV inchies now are, but sure they will reach me soon......   

If any of you want a free return workshop at LSA take a look at our latest blog and you might be in with a chance!

New cobbled courtyard outside the mason de maitre

a Masterpiece

This amazing piece of art is by my son Grayson, age 16 and a half.

He has only recently started to draw nd certainly seems to have inherited a little something from his mother....though his imagination far exceeds my capabilities, for sure....
It is all from memory and imagination, with references to all kinds of other influences - Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, computer games, pokemon, Star Wars, etc, etc.

I am just blown away by his ability to do the tiniest drawings on an 8X10 piece of paper.

To see the other one - click here

INCHIE BY INCHIE ..........a token of my esteem

Hello Violets!

Firstly thanks for all the messages of support I've had from you all when my Sister, Lynda, died suddenly
last month. I am blessed indeed to have good friends, thanks most especially to Julie Arkell and Taylor and the lovely women on the papier mache workshop for their love and care when I got the awful news at West Dean.

Just posting the progress I've made with the inchies (which arrived whilst I was at West Dean).

Here are the bits and bobs I'd collated months ago ......

My inchie is based on a token - I was so besotted with the Threads of Feeling exhibition I went to last year with Danielle - that I thought I would do a 'token' inchie.  I ditched the fabric hearts which were too fiddly and opted instead to do a heart made up of french knots!  Thereby conquering my complete inability to make a french knot.

The inchie token is made up of a piece of stripy pale pink silk, then a piece of antique silk with part of a flower stitched in a gold thread with french knots in the corners, then the french knot heart. The gorgeous
antique silk is truly beautiful - I got this marvellous morceau from my friend Sandie at Rag Rescue.

Here are a couple of the inchies ................

I hope to finish my inchies and send them off in the post by the end of next week and am sorry it has taken me a while.  They have, though, been very therapeutic. 

Tomorrow I'm lucky enough to be attending the private view of Julie Arkell's solo exhibition; 

'I've Dusted The Farmyard' which continues until 12 May 2012 at the Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool.

Love to All

xxDi

Happy Day!

LOOK what I got!

My friend, Cheryl made this wonderful little brooch for me -

inspired by the charms that Oolie made for her bracelet,

using paper clay and fabric.

Isn't it FABULOUS!!!?

And Danielle!

This lovely bracelet arrived in the mail on the

very day of my birthday!!

Isn't it amazing that the colors are the same as the brooch from Cheryl?

How on Earth did the two of you plan that?!

Thanks so much for your creative genius, you two.

xoxo

By the way, click here

for a little giveaway to celebrate 300 posts

on polkadotponie

Happy Birthday Jone!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Jone-

Sending you the happiest birthday wishes EVER!!!!! Have a wonderful day tomorrow. Know that I carry you deep in my "heart pocket" dear friend! LOVE- Your Oolie

Happy March

Happy Birthday to YOU

Happy Birthday to YOU

Happy Birthday to:

Jone on the 5th

Cynthia on the 15th

and

Clare on the 20th

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

BIRDS

paper clay is so cool.

years ago, I bought some little clay birds in Mexico.

(should've taken a photo of them, too)

yesterday I made some little birds of my own.

above, little white ones...

and below:

once the paint goes on...

it is fun to see all the different personalities

as patterns appear in the paint.

GRAYSON

Just had to take a couple of photos of my 16 year old

He was getting things together to wear to a dance tonight

He wanted to have a bow tie like my dad

He was cleaning his shoes on the counter,

but I had to get this shot...

(love the curls!)

He is wearing my grandfather's fedora from the 20's

and a velvet bow tie

I think he has decided to wear a white buttondown instead

and some white shoes

Can't believe how fast we got to this place

whew!

Perfection

Just thought I would share with with all you ladies a picture of my first grandchild.

  

Lenny Zed (named after his grandfathers) was born on St Valentine's Day, the Year of the Dragon - how lucky is that! - and he is, of course, gorgeous.   I have been knitting blankets and matinee jackets, little hats and booties, like crazy; and  Sheila, (she of the fabulous gateaux on "Show and Tell Day") made a divine little teddy bear out of antique French linen to give to the little man when he is a little older.

Sheila's teddy with a little mouse commissioned from Chloe Antiques

Finally some superb finds from Verteillac brocante which I shall keep for the first visit.

Can't wait!

my first canvas

package of two on sale last week

I bought a package...

and painted one of them..

I added more paint this morning...

...a few birds.

no idea how this will turn out,

but the process seems like fun so far.

Quilt Squares

The quilt squares for the summer Julie Arkell class are ready and have been sent. I can't wait to see what shows up in my mail box!

Here's a little preview.

xo,

paula

At The TEA

So, we had to go to the Tea for breakfast, or brunch....and the "Flats" had to join us.

Sami and Becky sat with Oolie

And they also got to meet Nancy - my pal!!!

(she's "mercurial")

After the Tea, we came home and did a little sewing.

Oolie played with some wonderful hearts

and I cut and arranged little "garden brooches" - aren't they fun?!

Love to all...

wish you were here with us..

xo

West Dean with Julie

Here is Julie looking as sweet as ever

 The adventure began when Di picked me up at the train station and we zoomed over to West Dean. The campus is beautiful. This was the view from my room. It was a chilly week but most of the happenings were indoors anyway.

Kim's husband always knows what to get her as a gift

 On the first night Julie talked to us about the course and we got acquainted with each other. Most of the women were from England. The next day was spent making our paper mache figures and applying the newspaper. Luckily the radiators gave off a lot of heat to dry everything in time.

 The next day we began dressing and decorating our figures. These are two of my unfinished rabbits. I struggled with the knitted hat (quite easy for a knitter) but was pleased with the results afterwards. Dressing the characters was fun and a bit challenging.

Julie brought in some puppets she made and encouraged everyone to make a puppet. Mine is not finished yet but will be a two headed puppet.
The most coveted pieces of the class were Di's donkeys. They are so adorable. I am not showing a picture of them because I wanted to let Di be the one to show them off. Unfortunately Di lost her sister on the last day of the class. It is a terrible loss for her and her family. Thinking good thoughts to you and your family Di.
I enjoyed the course very much. It was a lot different than the workshop. Fun to get to experience both media and locations.