Reflected stalactites

A visit to the National Theatre at the weekend to see " The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" which was absolutely terrific. The visit coincided with torrential rain, which rather scuppered the attempts to see the bonkers art again at the Hayward Gallery as the stalactite gallery was locked due to flooding - great reflections though.



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Also a chance to get closer to the giant, fabric baobab tree, and to find out that the textiles have all been coated with something to make them very hard and waterproof, which was a bit of a surprise when touching the layers.

The grey skies enhanced the neon highlights on this cement mixer


Curious indeed.

Go GB

August marks the last of the 4 yellow journal quilts. After the events at the Olympics, it had to be Team GB. I was very negative before the start, expecting the spectacle to be totally dominated by the large sponsors, who seem to me to be at odds with sport and healthy living. However, I but was hooked the whole way through.


I always struggle with Bondaweb and lettering, so set myself a challenge this month of trying to get it right first time – and I did.

Commercial fabrics, gold super-hero symbols from here, applied with bondaweb, and then machine-appliqued for security. Machine quilting with variegated thread, and micro stippling in the symbols. It is a bit wavy as the border is satin stitch, but I am hoping that it will flatten once I have blocked it again.

My own day of wonder

Off to London to see three exhibitions. First up, "Festival of the World" at the South Bank Centre. Lots of crazy sculptures,

Baobab tree made from fabric


Stalactites and stalagmites made from milk cartons



A productive roof garden on the top of the Hayward Gallery


Lots more to see inside, including a maze of books.

Then off to Mind the Map to see intriguing works by Simon Patterson, Stephen Walter, Susan Stockwell, Jeremy Wood, Claire Brewster, Tim Fishlock, and Agnes Poitevin-Navarre alongside several historical version of Tube maps. No photos, but if you had any interest in maps this is really worth visiting. The building is a source of good images, with lots of reflective surfaces and juxtapositions of shapes.





Lunch at Kaster and Ovens on Floral Street - no website, but lots of review online. Excellent, unusual salads.

Next a flying visit to the London Film Museum at Covent Garden. I was a great fan of the late-lamented Museum of the Moving Image, and was hoping this might be of the same ilk. Unfortunately it is not. It either does not have sufficient exhibits to fill the available space, or it has been designed by someone who believes in the "less is more" philosophy of design. It left me cold. There is a saving grace in the cafe, which very few people seem to have discovered yet, even although it is in the heart of Covent Garden. It has lovely coffee, really comfortable armchairs, a classic film showing on a large screen( with subtitles, so not intrusively loud, on this occasion "Beakfast at Tiffany's"), lots of newspapers and board games on every table. Beware the door on the ladies toilets - it is very, very heavy. If a door needs a taped-on paper sign to say that it is very heavy, and that you need to push it really hard, is this not an indication that there might be a problem with the door, or with the installation of the door? (rant over).

Then a very quick whizz round Covent Garden, visiting Venchi and L'Artisan Parfumeur ( Nuit de Tubereuse, if anyone is thinking ahead to Xmas and birthdays) - luxurious both.

Finishing up with a walk back through the South Bank, watching crazy people on the 60 metre high Star Flyer


and a visit to I Knit Londonwhose windows were reflecting the Wiggins /Pendleton/ Hoy/Armistead successes


Lots of inspiration, as ever after a London wonder day.

Extraordinary………….

results in the velodrome, leading to a lot of knitting being done.


Then a visit to the V and A to see the Heatherwick Studio exhibition. What amazing exhibits and it was so fantastic to have a go in the "Spun" chairs in the courtyard.





On until 30th September, this is really worth a visit.

Fine Cell work, pop-up shop

I am a supporter of the charity Fine Cell Work who teach prisoners how to stitch. This is not part of the punishment, (as stated by members of my family) but "is a social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem"

They have a pop-up shop in central London, at which I will be helping in September. Do visit if you can, I'll be there on Tuesday mornings.



Not much stitching going on here, too much Olympics watching.

Lilies, sunshine, gold and bronze

My lilies erupted into bloom yesterday at last





The sun shone, and we saw Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome win gold and bronze, 500m from the end of the course………,


and the photo in here ( keep scrolling!) says a lot.

Life is good.