More Graffitti

Here is another example of Lisbon Graffitti

Inspiration from Lisbon

I've just been away to Lisbon for a few days. What an inspirational city! Full of views and textures. Lots of decaying paintwork and huggly-piggly architecture.



Is this a decaying catalogue in the centre of Lisbon? No, I am afraid not. This was a piece of corrugated iron covered with old posters, but it did remind me of the catalogue decaying back home.




The city's graffiti artists were quite prolific , and I thought these works were worth taking a photo of. I post more pics later.



Here is a piece of sculpture in the botanic gardens. This is a good place to visit if you are ever in Lisbon. The cacti are wonderful, so I got lots of photos and close-ups to inspire me during the winter months. Note the lovely mosaic pavement beneath . This is a real feature of Lisbon, so don't wear high heels if you go there!


This is a view over the Alfama district. I loved the patterns made by the roof-tops.

I was very sad to hear about the death of Julia Caprara whilst I was away. She was a great inspiration to me and it was through reading one of her books that inspired me to take my C&G in embroidery. She will be sadly missed.

update on chapter one

Here are the samples after they have been painted with acrylic paints.

I added machine embroidery to this before I painted it. No PVA or Golden medium used on this sample.

Textures and cabbages

A busy day inspired by the new book by Maggie Grey, Textile Translations.

I had tried mixed media in my first pieces for the Norton priory exhibition, but I had trouble stitching the pieces.

I decided to make 5 samples following the instructions in chapter one, using slightly different colours and papers in each. I have a couple of ideas in mind, for a final piece.

Here is three of the samples at the first stage of chapter one in the book.

Whilst I was waiting for the gesso to dry I took Barney for a walk along the sea cop adjacent to the Ribble estuary.

A beautiful day, so warm and sunny but the view of the Pennines and the lake district was obscured by cloud.

I saw these lovely marks in the mud on our way back across the fields.
They had the same textures as the samples I had left drying in the garden.

The cabbages I photographed last week, have changed colour and some of their leaves are showing a lovely lacy texture.



When I got back home the gesso had dried so I sprayed the samples with some Moonshadow Mists I bought at the Fashion, Stitching and Embroidery show at Harrogate last week.

Here is the result.

Finally, whilst I was in the garden I just had a check on my catalogues ( see Maggie Grey's weblog Magstitch). This is the result so far!

Winter's here! back on the blog

Since GD5 arrived I have had no time to blog. But the days are drawing in and the evenings getting longer so I am spending less time out doors, golfing, gardening and walking the dog!

Here's the youngster. Don't they grow up fast?

I've been busy doing something creative this weekend. Hubby's been to Spain for the weekend so I have had the kitchen to myself to make as much mess as I want without having to clear up to cook. Well done to M&S and their ready meals!

Inspired by a visit to the fashion, stitch and embroidery show at Harrogate. A great venue. Smaller than the Knitting and stiching show but without the 'Tack'

Here are some cabbages in the local fields. I just love the textures.

I've been doing some paper collages to try to reproduce the fields and the textures. I am looking to produce a piece of work based on this using the embellisher.

I also dyed lots of different fabrics, although i may just use white fabrics and paint them after I have pieced them.