"I begin with an idea ... and then it becomes something else"
~ Picasso

Sunday 10 October 2010

rainy day ramblings

For the first time in ages I've had time to go through my photos and have a good catch up on both blogs. I'm showing Autumn inspiration on LOVE STITCHING RED and now a good catch up is needed over here too ... I got busy with real life and then lost my momentum ... easily done when your head is full of "fluff and beads"!

A few weeks ago now ... I got along to an exhibition of work by artist Trevor Bell at the Millennium Gallery, St. Ives

TREVOR BELL AT EIGHTY
EARTH AIR FIRE WATER AETHER

















My first impression was one of amazement at the size and scale of his work ... artwork taking up a whole wall ...






















... and then I began to look closely ... and was fascinated with the detail ... and then interested to find that, although my first love is red, I find myself more and more drawn to sea blues and rusty coppery oranges, so expect to see some in my next blog post!

















The blues came out in this heart I made for my friend Cathie recently, inspired by the cottages of St. Ives and the work of Alfred Wallis

Cafes and places to be





















It's a mixed media heart stitched on cotton and silk that I dyed myself in aqua and pale mauve, with an aqua blue satin backing, it incorporates my distressed chiffons, wool tops, melted plastic, scrim, text, beads, tiny hand stitches, french knots and mussel shells

















I do enjoy making these because each one comes out different. This one has text "Cafes and places to be" which I think is lovely. In my mind, it's Bumbles Tea Room on The Digey, St. Ives surrounded by little white washed cottages with lichen covered rooftops and Alfred Wallis's cottage just opposite

Alfred Wallis's cottage





















Alfred Wallis, artist and mariner, lived here

















The work of Alfred Wallis















Bumbles Tea Room is up a little cobbled street in St. Ives and just around the corner from Porthmeor beach and The Tate. It's quaint and cute and has knitted cupcakes on plates in the window and old fashioned cakes. I hope you have tea there one day

Up the steep little street
















My blog friend Julie and I had tea and cakes in there a couple of weeks ago. It was a dark, rainy day so we couldn't think of anywhere nicer and cosier to sit and chat and exchange little gifts

This is the heart I made for Julie ...






















... and Julie made this beautiful book for me ...






















I absolutely love it! The front and back are completely covered in layers of fabric, textured threads and stitch. Julie made a long cord which wraps several times around the book and ties with seahorse and starfish charms


















Inside, I had a "wow" moment because all of the pages are hand painted and different types of paper and look at these ...

















... pages of beautiful water colour pebbles
















My book is gorgeous. Thank you Julie ♥

















Later in the day Julie and I went beachcombing on the lifeboat beach, looking mainly for plastic and knitted materials rather than my usual pebbles and shells

Rainy day
















The next day was rainy and dark
















Rainy and dark
















This is what I did with some of the pieces. Texture by Les Brumes

playing with the pieces





















Well, as you know, it never rains for long in St. Ives, especially if you have a sunny nature! A few days later the weather was back to being gorgeous again. This is me with the quilt I stitched for Festival of Quilts 2010. I am very grateful to Julie's DH for taking the photo. I wanted one of the quilt with St. Ives in the background. It was taken at the Malakoff















This one was taken on Friday 8th October when I walked down to St. Ives to see textile art by Wendy Topsey in St. Ives Arts Club

No matter how many times I see this view I fall in love each time
















Hope you have a great week. I'm already working hard on the next post which is the one I meant to show you before ;o) but before I go I want to share this absolutely gorgeous postcard that my friend Jo sent me recently. Thank you so much Jo ♥ ... I love it!















Carolyn ♥

25 comments:

Jill said...

I believe I may have said this before, but all of your posts are a delight, and I feel totally inspired - now I must act on it.
You have even made your beachcombings of plastic scraps look delightful.
Jill

Gina said...

Such a lovely post Carolyn. And lovely to see you too!

Anonymous said...

Wow indeed!Love it all. MUST make a point of visiting St Ives next year, especially Bumbles Tearoom!I know I would love it down there. The blue hearts are gorgeous and Julie's book is just beautiful.
Penny

Shoshi said...

Oh Carolyn, what a lovely post! So nice to see a picture of you, and your work continues to inspire me no end! Lovely to see the work of others you admire, too. Like you, I adore pebbles in all their wonderful shapes and colours.

Your blog always makes my mouth water! You are so gifted. I wish I had half your talent.

Julie said...

My blue heart is absolutely lovely and it has pride of place on my cabinet. I showed it to Grace today and she loved it too :) Do you mind if I grab the photos of the book I made please? I forgot to photograph it myself.

Jo has good taste, the card is beautiful.
xxx

Sharne Gregory said...

What a lovely book Julie created for you. My heart that you sent me has pride of place in my 'playroom'. I just adore it!

Sarah Anderson said...

So much eye candy in that post - love, love, love your book from Julie. And the hearts you made are gorgeous, as is your quilt :)

Julie Shackson said...

Lovely post! Great photos too, and I love your blue heart. Next time I go to Ty Cariad, I'm going to take a picture of my tiered plate of knitted cakes for you!

Joei Rhode Island said...

WOW! This post just went on and on with the most gorgeous artwork. Love the Blues.

Gabriele Agustini said...

OMG! Your work is stunning!!
It's my first visit here and I find your blog absolutely fascinating!!
Thanks for sharing!

elena nuez said...

great post!!
absolutely delicious blues!!!

Chrissie said...

Peep-bo Carolyn! I think your blue heart is fab and Julie's painted pebbles are stunning, aren't they!

Pom Pom said...

Hi Carolyn! SUCH loveliness, especially YOU holding your masterpiece with the breathtaking view in the background. I LOVE the heart.

Valerianna said...

A very rich and full post, thanks!

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Thank you for visiting my blog and for taking time to comment. I will try to get round everyone's blog v. soon

Carolyn xo

JP said...

a lovely blog - I did enjoy seeing your quilt at FOQ but i really love this photo in St Ives

Anonymous said...

Beautiful quilt, beautiful postcard, and best of all - beeeyooootiful St Ives. I've added it to my bucket list.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful blue heart and Julie's book is a stunner! Nice to see a photo of you with the quilt, and I can see why you never ever tire of that view. xox Corrine

Heloise said...

Lovely post full of beautiful pieces of work, good to see you holding your quilt too.

audrey said...

Carolyn...
Your Blog is beautiful, your art is beautiful, and you live in a beautiful place. The large quilt is stunning! So happy I found you. I look forward to visiting more often.
♥ audrey

CAROLYN SAXBY said...

Thank you for visiting me and leaving such lovely comments :o)

Shoshi said...

Hi Carolyn - Thanks so much for your lovely comment on my blog re my flowers! You know how I admire your work, so any compliments from you encourage me no end. Now I've got my Cricut machine and SCAL software I shall be producing more work, hopefully! Keep an eye out to see what I'm doing with the flowers. Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

donna said...

I loved your blog and all the beautiful things you fashion from different materials. Now that is art.
I hope to stop again, I love red and loved looking at your creations in red.
Donna

Jackie said...

The hearts are beautiful. What a wonderful idea to pay homage to Alfred wallis. The mussel shells look like kindly mice in the foreground. I love Julies watercolours too.

Jade said...

hello im Jade
i have seen your work and it has really helped me and linked in with my work that im doing in my last year in 6 form art since i do textiles and my theme is natural forms. At the moment we are having to write and essay comparing artists and i am using you as one of mine. would it be possible to be able to ask you a few questions please. just about your work. if you could get back to me i would be so greatfull my email is jadeholly@hotmail.co.uk.
xx thank you again and your work is very beautifull