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

Saturday 5 February 2011

On a beach

So many colours and tones epitomise St. Ives

Last summer, on the hottest day of the year,
the colour of the water was almost surreal

a sea of jade and aquamarine

I was reminded of these colours when a lovely parcel arrived from Margaret at Libbertybelle
I was delighted to win her giveaway prize of a textile pack which included some hand dyed fabric, chiffon, hand dyed scrims, threads, ribbons, beads and buttons in these beautiful toning shades of green. Thank you Margaret x

Margaret also sent me this very pretty hand stitched postcard
with vintage lace, french knots, seed stitches and buttons

Margaret has family connections to St. Ives
so I wanted to stitch her a heart with St. Ives colours
using some of the bits and bobs that she sent me
and this is what I came up with for her

on a beach
each heart I stitch turns out a little differently
each one evolving on it's own with a tale to tell

"on a beach" is about beachcombing and gathering
things washed up on the St. Ives harbour beach

I used chiffons which I frayed a little to make them shimmery,
beads, knots and a limpet shell from the harbour beach

beach layers of sea, shore and shimmery sand

The fabric at the bottom is a piece of hand dyed cotton from Margaret's stash and I stitched on a piece of green seawashed plastic which I found washed up on the harbour beach

on a beach

I also made a small card from one of my photos of St. Ives
with texture from dommend (flickr)

This week has been a very busy one for me

The Brooklyn Sketchbook Project 2011 - I have now posted lots of photos of my sketchbook for anyone that is interested in seeing them ... they can be viewed here:

Below the Surface

I'm so glad it's the weekend. I'm looking forward to going into town for a few supplies and then catching up with as many blogs as I can possibly get round this weekend. I love you all x

Thank you for all your lovely comments x

Hope you have a good weekend too ... doing something that makes you happy!

Carolyn x

24 comments:

vilterietje said...

you have a big creative heart:)

Jensters said...

You make some wonderful thinks Carolyn...i love your work and what a wonderful giveaway you won.....i could do with some of st ives myself at the moment....will check out yr giveaway later...i have one at the moment too so check it out x

Diane Kelsey said...

Lucky you and Margaret! Wonderful colours and a special heart to keep and treasure.

Sandies' Patch said...

Love the heart and the colours..!
Love your work!

Sandie xx

inge said...

I just discover your blog...wow amazing, what a wonderful and peaceful heart...

Julie Shackson said...

Gorgeous colours and another stunning heart!

Dawn S. said...

What a beautiful creation!!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely LOVEyour latest heart! It's just gorgeous. Have skimmed through your amazing sketchbook, but I need to settle down with a cuppa and enjoy it all properly now.
Have a nice weekend.
Penny

Deborah said...

Exquisite heart! Lovely colors.

Mariel said...

oh! que hermoso! felicitaciones.

so beautifull! congratulations... it touches my heart too

Sharne Gregory said...

I think your heart is stunning, I hope to be able to see it in the flesh when I next see Margaret. Love the photo of the seagull too!

Silke Scheller said...

Dear Carolyn,
Margaret will be very very happy about your heart. It`s loveley.
And it was interesting to see how you developed your idea by comparishing the colours of your photo and the threads and other materials you got in your giveaway.
Enjoy your weekend,
Silke

JP said...

your cour in your hearts are just amazing and so evocative

Carrie said...

I'm very envious of anyone who lives near the coast and St Ives is such a beautiful and inspiring place. I love your latest heart.

Lisa said...

so delightful and ethereal.. makes me long for the beach and the clear blue water...beautiful art Carolyn!

cardinal arts said...

beautiful heart! and I really liked the beach photos and then the photo of your supplies with all the greens and blues

Pom Pom said...

Oh how beautiful, Carolyn! I'm sending you a picture of my river. You'll love the color.

ShabbyChicShaz said...

A beautiful, beautiful heart, just love the colours and hope I get to visit St Ives again in the near future :) The colours are just how you describe, heavenly :)

Helen Stead said...

Hi Carolyn,
I adore your work and was wondering if you would like to take part in an interview for my site thecreativediarist.com
It would just involve a few questions about your techniques, inspiration, studio etc.
Email me at helenstead@live.co.uk if this is something you would be interested in doing.
I would love to hear more about your background!

Thanks

lynda Howells said...

oh my goodness..she will be so happy to receive such an amazing heartx. I remember the sea looking that colour in St Ives, a few years ago when we were there for my son's wedding.
What a lucky poerson you were to receive that beautiful giveaway and postcard. Love your work. have visited your Below the surface project and am VERY impressedxxlynda

Linda Lilly Cottage said...

Hi, I left a comment on this post the other day and I can't see it now. Must not have ticked the right boxes. Just wanted to say that your heart is gorgeous and it just epitomises the seaside. I adore it.
Kiss Noises Linda

Margaret Garrood said...

I am the lucky one to receive Carolyn's beautiful heart. It now has pride of place in my workroom and will be a constant reminder of my visits to St Ives, and hopefully an inspiration for my work! I look forward to visiting again soon and looking at that gorgeous aquamarine sea. Thanks Carolyn
XMargaret

Corinna Nitschmann said...

My favorite colours! It's always amazing how you catch feelings in textile...
Fluffy regards from Hungary
Corinna

Lynda Howells said...

just so love your work Carolyn and you capture St.Ives's colours so beautifullyx lynda
http://tryingtocreatearteveryday.blogspot.com