Robin Hoods Bay

I am back in the North East and catching up on the BBC Radio 4 programmes I have missed while I was away. Many people texted me at Chateau Dumas to say there was a little mention of me on Open Country in the context of the research and exhibition I did in relation to the maidens garlands in Old St Stephens Robin Hoods Bay a few years ago. Many of you will have been to Bay so it is worth a listen and at the end Eliza McCarthy sings Stow Brow, a song I used and based some of my work on.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0902n78

Sorry you folks outside the UK the link may not work for you but here is a picture of the garlands! If you want to read more about my work and the story then please link HERE. Scroll down  the title page and you will find info and there are loads more pics too.

Dumasiennes

I hope this gives you a flavour of what my students at Chateau Dumas have been doing this week. Lots of textile collage used in different ways. What talented students.

Quilts and Donkeys

CI have managed to purchase two french quilts since I have been here at Chateau Dumas and am busy unpicking them in spare moments as I can't get them in to my suitcases in their current state. 

On Sunday I also spotted a donkey wearing a very similar piece of the yellow quilt under his saddle. Must be the fashion round here!! I also like his accompanying blue headscarf and am going to try this colour scheme myself.

French Tapestries

Beautiful  tapestries at Montpezat-de-Quercy near to Chateau Dumas where I am teaching for two weeks.

  

. 

 

Kittiwake- part oft series of sea and shore birds. I live a stone's throw from the largest inland colony in the world , around 800 pairs nest near the Tyne Bridge . 

Sunny Evenings

The reason you are not seeing so much new work on here is that in the summer I do not sit and sew in front of the TV but spend the evenings on our allotment. When I go off to Chateau Dumas in a couple of weeks my husband is going to have to live off courgettes, runner and French beans , blackberries and raspberries. To keep my garden looking pretty I deadhead every single day and don't know if he can be persuaded to do this but you never know....

Wee Woad Bag

On the final day of the courses I will be teaching at Chateau Dumas the students will make a little bag to use up accumulated scraps and fabric that they will have dyed with woad. Here is a teaching sample....

Those of you are coming to join me in France , I am getting excited and hope you are too!