Our sketching trio had a great day out on Wednesday. The weather was good and we set off for a walk in the bluebell woods at Badbury Clump where we were treated to a stunning display - they seem to have come into bloom much earlier this year.
From there a break for an al fresco lunch at the Carpenters Canteen in the village of Coleshill, then a visit to the nearby Great Coxwell Barn to enjoy a couple of hours sketching in the warm sun.
A day out by the Thames at Radcot, Oxfordshire. The weather was mild enough to sit outside Ye Olde Swan inn where our sketch trio enjoyed morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea, interspersed with sketching and a stroll along the river bank. The area was beginning to get busy with holiday makers starting their Easter break, either on various river craft or setting up on the adjacent campsite in tents, teepees, and camping pods, etc.
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| Photo courtesy of PK |
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| Sketches with a Pilot G-Tec-C4 pen |
These are two of my recent softcut blocks. After doing some test prints with the first block I decided to use the same image, but cut away the background on the second. I have tried both out on different backgrounds, adding more definition with coloured pencil and gel pens. (Print size approx 3.5" x 5")
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| White print on variegated colour background, with coloured pencil and gel pen |
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| White print on black paper, with coloured pencil and gel pen |
I like the quirky, quilted bags inspired by Teesha Moore so had to have a go at making one myself. Instead of designing my own embroidery for each quilted square, I used a piece of fabric printed with a variety of different motifs - birds, flowers, sea creatures etc. - outlining the images, mostly with simple running stitch.
I am not sure how practical this is going to prove. I think perhaps a sturdier inner lining would have been better, but a fun project to while away dark, winter evenings.
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| Approx. 10" square with a 2" gusset |
