2020 or is it SOSO?

Blogging has taken a back seat in 2019, might it return to the front seat in 2020? Catch up on Nov - Dec activities

Costume exhibition at the National Theatre, free, on until June 2020, 

Panto making, production photos here

Birthday flowers

Contemporary drawing at The British Museum, very inspiring, free, finishes on 12 January

Floods in Oxfordshire

Last 4 Brexit journals, painted wadding background, decreasing influence

Repairing the Xmas wreath, from Gina Ferrari, I think 

Golden yellow winter jasmine, much needed colour

Starting work on a bookshelf quilt for a baby due in March, some of which had to be sewn on the Singer 201k

Will I take part in the Contemporary Quilt Group challenge for 2020, theme is Fragmentation? One metre by 60cm for 31st May? Gathering ideas

Just for fun, a pen holder, using scraps from the panto costumes, using this tutorial.

Trying to persuade my husband that even if we are trying to reduce, re-use and recycle, that a new nail brush might be needed, 

Coming up:

New exhibition at Two Temple Place, “Unbound, Visionary women Collecting Textiles” free, on until 19 April 2020.

Alexander McQueen, “New Roses” how some of those astonishing dresses were made, 27 Old Bond Stree, free, until mid 2020.

 

 

Two walks, two days

Trying to keep hope alive.

Off to Eigg - water

Eigg is a community-owned island, celebrating 20 years of community ownership this year. A yoga retreat beckoned, but the weather on the way over on the ferry did not. That great blur on the horizon is the island.

The dampness however does lead to beautiful mosses and lichens.

When the sun shines, the transformation is astonishing - Rhum from the north of Eigg

Singing sands beach with mist over the ridge

Galmisdale harbour

On the way to Kildonnan beach, with mainland in the background

These colours inspired some watery piecing

Unexpected outings, part 1, Manchester

I am working intermittently in Manchester until September.  This week, I discovered that the Whitworth Gallery is 5 minutes walk from where I am working. What a lunchtime treat.  The curators may have known I was coming - steel sculpture, intricate drawing, two textile artists, tranquil space, wonderful gardens. As I did not expect to be taking photos, I had no camera, only my phone, hence some wonky horizontals and verticals.

Tranquil spaces, and amusingly, labels on the walls giving details of the Little and Green paint colours used on the gallery walls

Garden glimpses

Steel sculpture by Anya Gallacio

Fabulous drawing by Deanna Petherbridge

and then Lucien Day

Followed by huge lengths of the astonishing printed fabric by Barbara Brown

.

Time after work, for a walk around Piccadilly Basin, along the canal. Great patterns in the ribs next to the lock gates to give grip while pushing

ribs of a different type.

Round the corner, some public murals - unexpected bluetit

and a calligram ( shape poem)  by the remarkable Lemn Sissay. ( Joyful things are found when looking up, rather than down at the phone or the map, when one is in an unfamiliar city)

sunset over the city rooftops

and so to bed.