The Dark Self

Yesterday I went to see The Dark Self exhibition which included a collaborative display of embroidered pillowcases titled '1001 nights 'worked by volunteer embroiderers across the country -one of whom was me !
The exhibition by artist Susan Aldworth, Artist in Residence at the University of York, explored the experience of sleep and invited viewers to reflect on their own experience. Her work encompassed experimental print, sculpture and film with the collaborative work hanging centrally from the roof of the exhibition space, a former church in the centre of York. The link between all the elements was the pillowcase. I felt that my own piece was a little 'off kilter' - I hadn't really understood the brief - but was elated to feel part of the whole. I was hugely moved by some of the contributions and loved the porcelain pillows, part of the Artist's work which expressed sleep through the imprint of heads - the negative space evoking how sleep leaves its mark on space, as on the imprint of the antique pillowcases used as print blocks in her other work.
sadly, I neglected to take a pic of the porcelaine pillows - I will rectify that when I visit again, which I surely will.

A corner of one of the experimental prints.

Rambling Rose

Inspired by Hazeltwig's beautiful rambler, here's mine - Paul's Himalayan Musk - sweetly fragrant and rambling all over the roof, side and back of our sitooterie.

Words

This is for you dear friend ..... seen in the alley leading to Tinsmiths

Oak apples

There might be a plague of gall wasps later in the year if this tree full of oak apples is anything to go by ! I have carefully noted its position and hope to harvest the galls later in the year to make dye and ink. I have a small handful of last year's galls from hazeltwig's garden in a jam jar of water in my greenhouse, hoping that solar power will produce enough dye for perhaps a twelve inch square of cotton. The water is already dark brown but that of course is not the same as it being strong enough to actually fix a dye into the cloth. I will give it another month or two and have a go. I think it may be more effective than the jar of dandelion flowers that is sitting next to it. I have a feeling that might smell totally disgusting when that is opened. Some of the water in both jars has evaporated but I am going for a small amount of intense colour rather than topping them up.

Sunday's walk

A fabulous day for a walk today - weather just right, warm enough to take my fleece off but not so hot that it was uncomfortable. The weather forecast for the rest of this week doesn't sound so obliging. I walked the top path around the wetlands - people are asked not to use the middle path in April and May because of the groundnesting birds - but the views are lovely and all the hides are accessible. Along the path I found this -

Poor little thing was so tiny - it would have fitted my hand - you'd think its mummy wouldn't have let it out by itself ! Ah well, tooth and claw.
Further around, once I'd negotiated a cow field and got over the stile to walk back down the river, I was glad to see that the sheep had obviously been busy and hung out their woolies on the line.

Further downstream at a small spring joining the river the watercress is growing strongly already - not that I would pick it from here. The water is clear and sparkling but who knows what is in it upstream.

When I got home I felt I had earned my breakfast and set myself up for a couple of hours in the garden. All that and an episode of Line of Duty as well - end of a perfect day !

Long time no see !

I have decided to try and post again - think I've worked out how to add pics again ! I am out walking every day and there are lovely things to see. This pic though has been sent to me today by my friend Jane who, by virtue of her 'boys' - ie dogs- is out and about all the time. She labels her emails 'blogborrowing' and hopes that I will use them

Success!

Do You Remember This?

Knaresborough Allotments

Hello dear friend ... I am 'guesting' on your blog again!!  Do you remember the postcard you sent me last year from your stash, well this is my photograph and sketch from an Open Day during FEVA some years ago when you could go and spend a day drawing there. Absolute bliss ....