Happy Christmas

Here's my bloggy Christmas card. It shows the postbox opposite our house (so handy to have your own postbox) in the snow. Couldn't persuade a robin to pose but this chap looks quite exotic. Our new neighbours are now convinced that we are mad.

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Winners of the birdies are Sue Wild and Emma Siedle-Collins. Let me have your snail mail addys and we'll send them off.

Have a lovely Christmas everyone.

Thanks for all the great comments. Rather a lot to answer but here's a selection.

deLysia - it sounds lovely and warm where you are - our snow is still with us, now frozen hard. If it wasn't so difficult to get a flight at the moment I'd be tempted to join you.

Christine - I'm delighted that you've been inspired to join the Photoshop course. Will look out for the IKEA shortcuts bit although Clive is on strike and is never entering their portals again. I'll have to go with the girls as I've got a £10 voucher.

I certainly need boxes and doodads Kira.

Smudge's antics seemed to have made you all smile. He is enjoying his new home but, even though he's now free range, he has decided to keep the indoor loo and keeps coming back in to use the litter tray. Not what I had in mind. Perhaps, as Judith suggests, it's the difficulty with the catflap.

Olivia - short legs are a certain disadvantage for doggy flaps. Do his eyes water?

Jacky - you are so cruel - but it did make me laugh.

Edie, whose dogs have outgrown their door, perhaps you could hinge it at the top - make the whole thing a dog door?

Ev - Smudge doesn't mind being laughed at - he's very into stand up comedy. Our dog used to hate it, so we had to run away and laugh somewhere else.

Clive is better - he tried gilby's stretches and they did help.

Julie - my mother had acupuncture for nerve pain after shingles. She didn't believe in 'that sort of thing' and declared that sticking pins in was a lot of nonsense. When asked why she kept going back she replied that it was the only thing that helped!

Dale - what does a myotherapist do? Fat cats are a good idea as the next step after birdies - I have tried owls and Maggie Hills suggested frogs - fun with the long legs.

Smudge misses the frogs here, as we have no pond. He had an intense personal relationship with one called Frogford in the last house. He kept fishing it out of the pond, without harming it, and they sat on the lawn together until we rescued it.

Zak - love it that you've been making birdies - these things should be shared and developed.

See you in the New Year

Giveaway Extended

Due to the post being so displaced I'm extending the give away until Friday and will post the birdy cards after Christmas. So if you missed it - you are not too late. Will blog on Friday and cover comments then too - there were some good ones, I thought. Thanks to everyone who commented. If you go to Workshop on the Web's Facebook site (If you are a subscriber) you will have a very good chance of winning a birdy there.

We had quite a fall of snow on Friday night which meant a lovely, snowy walk on Saturday. I was going to take you all for a walk from my new home so I took lots of photos and I guess you all know what's coming next. Yes, snowy displacement maps.

I know I do them every winter but it's such fun as the high contrast in the snowy images gives such good results. Not going through the method again - you'll find some tutorials if you look for the labels.

First, as usual, I filled the screen with a pale gradient and then used this image of snowy trees as a map.

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The results were beautiful but pale so I used the Artistic Effects and Coloured Edges to add definition.

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Ain't it pretty?

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I then used the same image to displace a pic of an Italian door.

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Loved the way the blue looks like a pool, especially as the original snowy shot was of a stream.

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Now hankering for some bright colours to counteract the pastels, I laid down some broad stripes of colour. Then the Warp brush was used to swirl them all up together. I've used an old version of Paint Shop Pro for these effects but any paint program should have these tools and filters.

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The same snowy tree image produced this. A bit busy but very colourful.

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I had intended to use this photo to end my walking blog - the best bit of a weekend walk is the coffee and papers at the end.

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However, look what a great result it gave me when it was used as a Diplacement Map on the brighty coloured warped image.

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Click to make it bigger and you'll see a design just asking to be turned into a mixed media study - right down to the corrugated cardboard on the left. I shall certainly be using this design. I'm sure the leopardskin slippers made all the difference!

See you on Friday.

Giveaway

Here's a pre-Christmas give-away - offering two of my Silly-bird brooch cards, picked from those who leave a comment on the blog. We've got another two up for grabs on the Workshop on the Web Facebook page, but those are for WoW members only. So, if you a fan of WoW, go along and double your chances. .

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I do enjoy making these - I stitch the silk carrier rods to felt, cut out the shapes and then hand stitch. They all seem to have a different personality - such fun. I think the one below is looking for a loo!

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We are still loving our new home and have decorated our bedroom - aka slapping on a coat of emulsion. Poor Clive has paid the price by developing sciatica, not sure if the two events are related. He has some strong pills from the doc but it's still extremely painful.

Smudge is now allowed to go outside. He spent a lot of time in this position (below) just to get the lie of the land. This also demonstrates the need for a cat flap from the outsize department when we re-do the kitchen in the spring. It takes him a long time to squeeze through it, with much frantic leg kicking on the way. It quite funny to watch but I fear he will be wearing the flap as a belt soon.
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We have been out buying stuff for my workroom but the putting together of it will have to wait until Clive is better. He came with me to IKEA to get the stuff - it was a bit like the Fred and Penelope cartoons. I should have photographed him under one of the 'walk this way' arrows with desperation written allover his face. The caption would have been, "Clive felt that the IKEA experience had somehow passed him by".
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Back soon with news of the free on-line classes for the mixed media book. The first one will be based on silk paper, water-soluble paper and acryic wax. I'm hoping to put some kits together and will offer some as a give-away, so watch this space.

Snizzle

We were too smug too soon about the snow. 'We won't get it down here in the warm south', we said. We woke up to several inches and we've had snowy drizzle (snizzle) ever since. I am cross because we've run out of paint and our hill is causing skids so we can't get out.
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I did love the look of this garden pot - wearing his scarf and muffler.
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While the hedge is very Christmassy.
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Clive had to go and shake the Pampas grass as the weight was snapping the plumes.
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Haven't blogged since the Harrogate K&S Show. That was a drama. We went to help set up the Wessex Textile exhibition on the Wednesday, scuttling home quickly on Thursday morning before the snow came. What with the move a few days before, we were both a bit shattered. Then came the news that poor Ruby Lever, who was stewarding with husband Ian and Brenda Weeks, had slipped on the ice and broken her shoulder. So painful. The rest of the gang rallied round to pack it up on Sunday but Ruby and Ian had to stay a little longer than planned and then got caught in the snow.
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Thankfully they are home and Ruby is a little better. The show was more quiet than usual, due to the weather.
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This weather is a real pain as I was planning a trip to Ikea to get the storage furniture for my workroom. I want to get on as I am planning some free on-line classes, based on the Mixed Media New Studio Techniques book (http://www.d4daisy.com/) in the new year. I have some great ideas and can't wait to get started. I shall have to work on the dining table (nothing new there, then). Watch this space for more news on that.
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I have been doing some knitting - my first attempt at making something without a pattern. I've got a jacket with crochet edging so have followed that as far as I can, using up lots of different wools for a striped effect. I haven't pressed it yet but you get the idea here.
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Really enjoying the crochet bits - easier than picking up and knitting the edging.
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Thanks to everyone for the warm new-home wishes. we love it here and it does feel just like home.

Post from the Hut

It's happened. We're here and we're so happy.
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It all went so smoothly - we had heard such horror stories but the guys made it so easy - almost fun. I did buy Marks and Spencer cookies which they carried off to their lair in the van, but when they packed my kitchen, they also packed the lid of the biscuit tin which hasn't been seen since!
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Not much time - I'm just grabbing a moment between the locksmith and the electrician to show you the new pad. Thanks to Fiona, who was wonderful, we got settled and (almost) sorted very quickly. We got the key to the new place much earlier than expected so we left poor Fee, like Cinderella, mopping the floor while we went with the movers to the new place.
This is the view from my sitting room at the front of the bungalow.
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This is how it looks inside.
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The view from the back, over the vegetable garden. Will I have time to grow veg - possibly?

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We have a vine on the garage wall. Will I make wine - unlikely?
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A summerhouse. Will I sit - certainly. Possibly with a glass of wine not made by me!

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This is the back. The patio doors belong to our bedroom.
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There is a little dressing room and a bathroom off the bedroom.
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Needless to say there is a computer in there, too. It will not look this tidy for long.
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Clive has his desk in the sitting room. He had to be upgraded to a better class of desk.
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For me this is the best bit - my workroom. It has patio doors to a tiny hidden courtyard where I can dry things and burn things and stamp on things to my heart's content. Well, I can when I've been to Ikea and got all the fittings.

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I have glossed over the main bathroom and the kitchen, both of which need urgent attention. We begin with the bathroom in early January. However most of the living space is well painted and quite easy to live with.

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I like the up u rose verification - very apt and we do feel quite uplifted - just as well as we are off to Harrogate tomorrow to set up the Wessex exhibition at the K&S. The house sitter won't have Smudge to keep her complany but she is very excited about all the lovely walks here. Although only a mile from the old place, it is right on the edge of town, so lots to explore.

Moving - part 1

Well, the moving experience has certainly improved since the last time we did this twenty-six years ago. The large van turned up early this morning (the day before moving day). We thought that they were just going to take a few boxes but they are planning to move as much as possible today so we can have a clean up. That will save time tomorrow. We'll have beds, sofas and the telly, so not too much like camping out.

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The weather is horrible with driving rain, but they have a catwalk, which they run up at a great rate. They are being very careful with all the furniture.
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Very nice lads, too. They are getting on with it quickly and our only role is to make tea and get in the way.
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It's good to be able to have a clean up today. We'll save our energy for the new place tomorrow.
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There are even portable wardrobes - straight in with the clothes, on their hangers.

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I thought I would feel sad but I'm really keen to get into the new abode, especially as the dishwasher is out of action.

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I liked all the comments and I'm ahead of you with the cookies and chocolate. The emergency box is full of them - and I've got a spare kettle. My reading material, wabbit, is going to be kitchen and bathroom brochures. So glad you find our books good for eye-candy.

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Next blog will be from the new home - nicknamed The Hut after a Celtic prayer about a hut in the wilderness, suitable for hermits. It's not quite the wilderness, but on the edge of it. We've just found out that our new next door neighbours have chickens. Now what will Smudge think of that?

What Would You Take?

Well the watchword here is KBO, as Churchill would have said. Many rooms have been completely demolished and look sad and bare, with just a pile of boxes in the centre.
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We have been struggling a little as we've both had the most awful colds and Clive developed tendonitis in his foot (due we think to a new pair of M&S shoes). However, we are feeling better today and have allowed ourselves a little shopping trip. I have been buying goodies for the emergency moving box (cookies, snacks and sweeties) while Clive made more sensible purchases such as curtain hooks and screws. It will remain to be seen which is more useful!

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My workshop is one of the rooms that has gone and the pile of boxes is enormous. I have decided to pack all my immediate needs into two of these cabinets on wheels which will go straight to my proposed workroom. They are not really as wonky as this - just an interesting camera angle.

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I don't expect to be able to get at anything in boxes for ages so this will have to be my entire materials store. What to pack? What would be your priorities?
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Apart from a nucleus of threads (all my machines are travelling in the car to make sure that the Bernina is accessible) plus silk carrier rods, chiffon and felt, most of the stuff is arty.

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Here is a typical drawer. inkAid, gesso, molding paste, crayons, pencils etc. spray paints, sketch books and so on. Jane Wild said it would make an interesting design and stitch exercise to see what could be made from the contents. Perhaps that will be my first assignment.

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Thanks for the comments.
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Amo - I think somehow it is easier to move the whole house than just to relocate one room. It's good for de-cluttering.
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Diane is referring to the dishwasher packing in the villa in Italy earlier this year. It was not big enough to take all the crockery and cutlery for each sitting but Clive did his best.

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I'm a bit worried about my sanity, Robyn, if you're only just recovering from the trauma of three years ago! I don't see how you can resist the lure of a purpose-built studio. You can keep your diamonds and pearls - new studios count for much more.

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Only eight sleeps to go.

16 sleeps to M Day

The move is getting closer. I thought the time would drag but it is rushing past alarmingly quickly and packing is in full swing. I am responsible for packing up my workroom while Clive is only responsible for all the rest of the house. Guess who is winning!

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Me.

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The other side of the room shows that I have made a start.



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In my defence, I am trying to finish the last of the work for the Harrogate Knitting & Stitching Show. I have made some more work for the cradle - this one with an Egyptian theme.

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The piece below is a study of some lilies which were manipluated by using the displacement map in Paint Shop Pro. The design was then transferred to felt by printing it out on tracing paper and then stitching over the main design lines before tearing away the paper. The stitching is very heavy and solid. This is how I do the faces for my icons, Kerry.

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I have made lots more 'Sillybird' brooch cards but boredom forced me into an experiment with silly owls. They are fun but take longer.

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The fun thing is seeing what happens to their legs when I put them in the cards. They all run in different ways.

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Had a smile at the tence/tense, Heather. You may notice a box of sweeties in the workroom - an excellent antidote for stress and tension!

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Quinn - that's a great title but will I be able to part with my Patron Saint of Relocation? I had planned on putting a price on her for the show but I fear she may now be needed at the new abode. Another NFS.

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Val - copper foil?? Festival of Quilts??? I can't remember last week let alone August. Was it the foil that you iron on to Fusible Webbing (from Art Van Go or Ario) or the very fine real copper (Oliver Twists).

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Margaret - yes we do really need our broadband. BT can't even tell us the phone number - we hope to keep our current one, but they say they can't promise. we are only moving one mile down the road.

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Thanks scooter for the good wishes. Off to empty another shelf.

23 Sleeps to Moving Day

Life is very hassly at the moment. I thought it would settle down when we had a firm date but I'd forgotten about all the arrangements to be made with the utility companies and, worst of all, British Telecom. So far we've had four emails all giving different information about installing the new line! As for arranging the Broadband connection, well...........

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Our ISP, Madasafish (how can we swap providers when they have a name like that?) is great and has been very supportive in our BT battles. Just when we thought we had the right sort of number, for the right sort of line, they came up with the idea of sending an engineer first thing in the morning on moving day. Sigh.

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Anyway, amid all the packing I have managed to do a bit of stitching to keep me sane. Here is an icon-type saintly lady who is going to the K&S at Harrogate to replace one I sold in London.

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She is heavily machine-stitched on felt and I've manipulated her face with padding to get a raised efect that I'm quite pleased with.

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I was going to just mount her on card for the cradle sales but then found this great frame, made by the wood-working-son-in-law. Needs to be a slightly darker colour but looking good for a wall piece, I think.

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The winner of the dissolvables sample book (remember the 'let me know' list for the Mixed Media Book) is Marilyn Szatmari. Drawn from the hat by Fiona who will be posting it to you soon Marilyn. Well done.

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Have to dash off now to Staples for more bubble-wrap. the packing continues.