Sketching trip #3...

A bit of colour this time (wooo!) and still trying to get the gist rather than accuracy. I have to say I'm finding the whole 'artistic licence' thing quite stressful though (plus I was getting a bit obsessive with all the tiles and bricks...!).  And perspective... well that's a whole other kettle of fish!

This is a semi-imaginary view of Cockburn Street, off the Royal Mile, here in Edinburgh.  

Sketching trip #2...

We spent a lovely day in Glasgow yesterday wandering around familiar haunts (in the also familiar Glasgow rain...).  The sun did come out though for a glorious few minutes just as we arrived at the Botanic Gardens.  This was the first time I had seen Kibble Palace since its restoration and boy is it looking handsome.  

I made a quick sketch sitting inside the main dome,  with more very much appreciated encouragement from Kasia!  


I'm still trying to learn to focus on capturing the 'idea' of something rather than specific detail.

There was lots of inspiration to be had, particularly in the fantastic ‘killer plants’ room (!) – the colours and structures of the pitcher plants in particular giving us lots of ideas for future projects… .

Dreamcloud...

My first new brooch of 2011 - and another experiment and attempt at working with colours I don't usually favour - this time, pink and lilac.

I had a brainstorming session trying to come up with new shapes for brooches and necklaces, and this shape was one I decided to try to see how it turned out.  While I was sewing around her edges I remembered about some labradorite droplets that had been languishing in my beady stash, and the idea developed from there.

'Dreamcloud'

Felted silk hankie fibre, cotton scrim, chiffon, organza, tencel nepps and silk throwsters waste, embellished with tiny 2mm sequins, glass beads and seed, colonial knot, detached fly and detached chain stitches.  The labradorite drops hang from assorted sterling silver chain.

I love labradorite.  It's my favourite mineral!