Knit, knit....unpick, unpick!!!

My patience is at breaking point....try as I might I cannot follow a simple pattern! Ask me to knit an art piece using a photograph I can interpret that really well. I have spent so many hours on this silly scarf project that I am in danger of stabbing myself with the needles! I have only completed around 9"....4 rows knitted, 3 rows unpicked. Its not even for me.....I am making it as a gift, but I think it would of been allot easier to visit a store....choose, pay, wrap.....sorted!

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

A lovely group of ladies come to my home every 2 weeks.... supposedly to knit, but the hours are spent mainly chatting and eating cake, all washed down with a cuppa. Knitting does get done, but there are often cries of varied expletives which indicate an unpick session! Each time I hear needles bashed down on the table in frustration I know I am not alone....Bizarrely it  proves I am not the only one that suffers knit, knit, unpick, unpick syndrome......

Oh by the way we call our group 'Nutty Knitters', you dont have to be nutty, or knit but it helps. Its lovely to see new friendships form, wonderful creations eventually appear on the needles, and of course it allows us all some well deserved me time :-)

You know knitting is supposed to be therapeutic and help with stress and depression. It helps concentration and should make for smiles....mmmmmmmm If I ditch the pattern and do my own thing maybe I will reap the benefits.

Here is the pattern I have been painstakingly trying to follow, I am sure many of you will be able to follow a series of stitches. Me well I start off well, then loose count, go off into the world of Maxine....then it all goes pear shaped.

This pattern is one from a lovely shop nearby to me. The Knitting Hut. The staff are welcoming and of course the yarns are scrummy. Believe me when I say 'you will be tempted'..

Here is a link to the shop  http://www.theknittinghut.co.uk   Happy Monday to you all xxx

Bird in a Cage

Creativity is sneaking back on me, and once again my inspiration comes from the heart and soul......I so often find myself looking to the sky and seeking dreams, but the little bird in the cage cannot seem to get out. Perhaps this project will set me free and I can live the life I so often aspire to....the one that lives deep in my heart.

Last weekend I took a trip to Brighton....I love the cosmopolitan hustle and bustle atmosphere, and of course its arty and trendy which is right up my street. I so needed my fix of people and seaside. I am always drawn to the water, probably as I am a Pisces!  Oh and I love people watching :-)

Well after a walk along the pier...a lunch of fish and chips...and of course the obligatory ice cream, you have to have one at the seaside and eat it at the end of the pier! I explored all Lanes....lots of little independent shops selling lots of unusual bits and bobs. I like to buy clothes and accessories that are 'out of the box', and here there were certainly lots of shops to browse in and choose find that quirky piece.....I have brought a mad strawberry shaped beaded bag! Its been put away until my birthday....so you will have to wait to see a picture! 

I treated myself to a new camera a few weeks ago, and used my day out to experiment with it....after taking many shots of my feet, the pavement and blurry zoom shots I was rewarded with a couple of reasonable pictures. Walking along the prom as dusk was approaching I was lucky enough to see a phenomena that few people see...a swarm of starlings. Seeing these birds twist and turn in their thousands across the sky over Brighton Pier was truly spectacular and a privilege indeed. A group of starlings that swarm in this way are called a murmuration and not only was I lucky to see them I also managed to snap them in the throws of their formations.

                        

They swarmed until the sun vanished, and all settled down to roost. Suddenly I noticed how quiet it was, the noise of the birds had ceased, people had left the beach, and even the waves became calmer and less noisy. The sunset was spectacular and as the sky changed colour I captured lots of images ...ideas and inspiration for another day.

Watching the birds made me want to taste that sense of freedom. So I sat and sketched in the 

half light, adding my thoughts and emotions.  

I wanted to join in the spectacle....be as one with the group of starlings, but still have the freedom to fly.....I wrote fast and furious for a while, my thoughts spilling haphazardly over the page.....finally finished I felt my inner karma felt restored...

A while ago I shared these feelings with someone very close to me....and she said a piece of music reminded her of how I felt inside....White Bird - Beautiful Day....Previous post will link you to this song.

Only I  can change the future...set the little

bird free, to fly and reach for her dreams

I made a start on that beach.....I took the page out of my book.....and yes you may of guessed, folded a paper boat and set it on the gentle waves to sail on its journey of discovery.

So it may be a long journey for me....but one day, someday, and I am not sure how long this will be, my destination, my inner freedom will be discovered...I will see all the colours more clearly without the confines off the bars of the cage. Oh how nice it would to be to fly.

I stood and watched my little boat take its first steps....floating into the distance, becoming bolder and more trusting of the waves....then embracing the experience and looking forward to what lies ahead......Good luck little boat x  Enjoy the journey  the waves take you on.

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                            

White Bird- It's A Beautiful Day -1968

Champagne, horses and roses

Hello everyone and a very Happy Sunday to you x

I think the above picture was taken after a couple of  glasses of bubbly....wide eyed stare....scary! Yesterday 4 of us attended Ascot for the valentines meet. 

                                                                                        

The food was scrummy, a whole warm Camembert cheese in its box....and I mean a whole one, around 8inches diameter, served with rustic breads, pickles and roast garlic.....yummmmm but as much as I adore cheese I am most defiantly cheesed out! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Here is a copy of the rest of the menu for you to peep at....mmmmmmm you know by the time we had finished I vowed I would never eat again...Guess what? Right now I have a roast dinner cooking away in the oven and I am looking forward to tucking in.....hey ho!

The restaurant was dressed up with roses, heart shape balloons and beautiful displays of flowers... the weather was grey and drizzly, so this splash of colour certainly  brightened up the day and made for smiles :-)           

Seven races were run, and I did a bit better than previous meets, as my general track record backs all the loosers! And I do mean the last one home! This time I did have four come in 3rd and one 4th, the other 2 followed my pattern....last. Oh well I only bet a small amount, and it a bit of fun.


My methods for choosing a potential winner are probably why I have no success. I generally go for a name that means something to me..something connected with my creative writing or my sketchbooks. The colours the jockeys wear are another deciding factor...so generally a horse with a name like 'Sunflower Fields', or 'Fairy Rings' will catch my attention,then my favourite colours, pink, purple or cyan blue will help me make my decision.


Is this a woman thing? Someone let me know, but tips in the programme and Racing Times tend to go over my head! Besides I miss out on valuable people watching time and general nosiness! 


I have captured some of the characters in some sketches and written snippets of conversation. These observations will go into my work at some stage......watch this space.


I had a fab day....but when I got home it was lovely to kick off my heels and rest my feet.  I love shoes, but wearing heels causes me some difficulties, all dressed up, I put one foot in front of another....and....I walk like a man dressed up as a woman. So I have to really concentrate on my steps, especially if I have to walk over grass, last summer at Ascot, in the Royal Enclosure, my heel sunk into he grass, but I carried on the motion of walking....and ended up flat on my face, and in front of the royal party too!


 But like many ladies I suffer all the indignities as a posh frock worn with your favourite flatties does not complete the right look. its even worse on a windy day, trying to stop your hat flying off, remembering to walk carefully, holding a handbag, whilst sipping from a champagne flute and trying to eat canapés without dropping crumbs. Men....you have it easy....a morning suit, flat shoes and free hands which enable you to knock back the fizzy, and eat the offerings without making an ass of yourself! 


You find you have spent weeks looking for that unique dress, that has to comply with Ascot rules, No higher than 2" above he knee, no string straps, they have to be at least 1 1/2" wide, no garish jewellery (so my Accessorise collection stay firmly in the drawer) Heels, and a hat. Off you totter on those heels, champagne and nibbles in hand, trying to look sophisticated, as you look  around the room you spot another wearing an identical dress.....The shame of it all, now you have to spend the rest of the day, not only trying to stay upright, but try to blend in with the flower displays, and hope no one notices.You know what? she looks fabulous in her outfit, it fits like a second skin, she has not needed the push you up, pull you in underwear, ( mine took me half an hour to get on, and by lunch I start feeling like a value chicken wrapped up in shrink wrap).....Her spray tan is perfect, mine is out of a bottle and streaky.....wrinkle free skin, no spots (they would not dare erupt during the social season) perfect straight white teeth....I bet she is all botox and veneers.....life's a bitch....what's that Maxine, nasty thoughts directed at her, well yes, I bet she's a bitch....grrrrrr


Anyway I'm off now to plan  the next outfit....he he x


Some ideas for..... canapés.... remember to wear high heels and sip Champagne whilst nibbling  them! Just wear your flats for the baking.....
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/occasions/canape/

Sunflowers, fairies and trees!

One of the largest bodies of work I completed was inspired by a very special large tree outside my bedroom window, my belief in fairies and my love of sunflowers. Six months of continuous work, lots of painting, stitching, manipulating and of course the written word made 46 pieces of textile/ mixed media work. Telling a story of a sunflower who was surrounded by friends, but sat on the edge, unable to share, until one day her secrets hopes and dreams came true.


I planted a Eucalyptus when it was only a 'twig', brought from from the local garden centre, over 16 years ago, not knowing how quickly it would grow, and how messy it would be, beware if you are going to plant one.....keep them pruned! Even though I moan constantly about having to tidy up around it i don't have the heart to get a tree surgeon to deal with it. This tree sheds its bark like camels shed their hair.....and leaves drop off all year round..............


When my children were small and inspired by Enid Blytons "Magic Faraway Tree" series of books, they would clamber into bed in the mornings with me and I would tell them my own version of wonderful characters who lived in the 'Oh so special tree'. I loved to watch their faces as the creatures and people I had invented danced in their heads, their eyes wide open and hanging on to every word....always asking for more stories I sometimes had trouble keeping up with them. A memorable, magical time....So now you know why I cannot chop my 45ft happy messy tree down.

One August morning I woke just as the sun was rising, and as usual looked at my tree. That morning  as the leaves moved gently in the summer breeze the light from sun coming up over the field shone onto the dew drops....the combination of early sunlight and water gave the illusion of fairy lights dancing on my tree. This only lasted for a few mins, and in my excitement I had to wake up my husband and share this delightful moment....it was 5.30 in the morning on a Saturday, and as you can imagine he was not best pleased when he was woken up to me babbling away about fairies in my tree!


By now I was wide awake and inspired, so I slid into my jeans and quietly went to my studio, leaving my family to sleep a while and started painting up a range of papers, dyeing fabrics, sorting threads, yarns and various mixed media in my chosen colour-way. Once I had all my 'ingredients' I could start some serious work. 


As I worked on the first piece I noticed one of the flowers was standing alone and that's when I started to write the story of Sunflowers fairies and trees. My eyes kept being drawn to her, and yes you may say I could of sewn another few flowers around her...but the lonely sunflowers story had started. Some of my words are easily seen and others are hidden...oh and if you look carefully I have used dried petals from my sunflowers.Also the dark middles are made with paper, I asked all my friends to write their secrets, hopes and dreams, and when they screwed them up I firmly stitched the paper in, not even I know the words they contain. 

This is the finished piece, and if you look to the bottom right you will see the flower I have been chatting about. My story is all about this sunflower, who listens to all the other flowers laughing and talking but as she stands alone is unable to join in....Eventually the fairies come down from the tall tree, comfort her and tell her to reach for the sky and follow her secrets, hopes and dreams.


All summer long she keeps turning her head to the sun, remembering what the fairies had said. The season turns to Autumn and she looses her petals, leaves and finally her seeds. Snow finally covers the landscape, keeping the seeds warm and safe below in the ground.

Spring is just around the corner, first the snowdrops poke their heads up, followed by crocuses and happy daffodils. The days get longer and warmer and little sunflower plants spring through the soil. They grow taller and taller their smiling faces taking in the warmth of the sun. Finally the lonely sunflower is surrounded by her friends as seeds had scattered to her part of the field. The fairies visit once again to see her happy and bright. 


Each piece tells its own part of the story. Apart from 2 pieces I have kept all the work and now I realise looking back this is my own story of how I felt at that time. We all need to remind ourselves that we can go hug a tree look to the stars and reach for our dreams :-)


You know if you look at a sunflower they have dark middles....we are all a sunflowers really, with lovely bright happy exterior, but a dark middle....we all keep something in our hearts that we never share.....


Chat soon.....A happy and bright day to you :-) Oh and there is a full moon tonight! M x

                                                    A few more pictures from this collection

Secrets, hopes, dreams and setting sail......

My favourite beach to set sail my boats...when the light is right I make a wish
 and send it on its way. 

My letter written, made into a boat ready to set sail across the miles to a very special friend indeed. Once I place it on the gentle waves it belongs to the sea, I stand and watch as it vanishes into the distance. Sometimes I may spot a seal, and my imagination runs riot, I wonder if the seal will help it on its way, keeping it safe, until it reaches its destination...fanciful I know, but forgive me I am an artist!!!


I have used the written word to express emotions, secrets hopes and dreams since I was a child. Words help me to put a unique stamp on  my work as I include stories in all my pieces. I have written and illustrated a few pages for a children's book, it still remains unfinished. But hey ho....one day it will be completed and hopefully published! 


I love to people watch and nosey in on conversations, I suppose we all do really, but I sit maybe in a tea shop, notebook and pencil in hand jotting down snippets of chit chat and sketching the scene, sometimes the people end up in my work, other times they  remain in a sketchbook to use as inspiration later. So next time you are sipping tea and see someone scribbling on a piece of paper, it may not be J.K. Rowling....it could be me!!!!

I thought you might like to make and sail your own boats so I have included a link for you, these will be easier to follow as my instructions after a glass of wine with lunch this afternoon may be a bit haphazard....he he

http://www.ehow.com/how_6551053_step_by_step-instructions-make-paper-boat.html

Happy Wednesday to you.....hugs 4 smiles M x

One Birthday and a very dangerous cake!

Em is my youngest sons girlfriend, she is 18 today....it doesn't seem 2 minutes since I was that age....how time has flown since then. I brought her a few little pressies but wanted to make her something different.....so I created this 3 minute chocolate mug cake. Easy peasy....just measure out all the ingredients  mix together in the mug, microwave leave to cool and decorate! 

As I watched it rise in the microwave I thought maybe this was going to be a disaster as it started  to grow and spread very rapidly from the top of the mug. I imagined it rising to fill the whole of the oven,  but when the 3 mins were up the cake had risen to around 2inches above the rim of the mug.....wow I cant make cakes rise in the oven like this....maybe a new career direction for me ....he he...."The Mug Cake Queen", "Mugs Cakes R Us"...."Mugs and Smiles"....we we will see.

Next the best bit....decorating the cake. Melted plain chocolate, hundreds and thousands with a cherry on the top......perfect. I popped it into a cellophane bag, added ribbons and of course the recipe.

Oh you are probably wondering why its called a dangerous cake......well all of us now are minutes away from a chocolate cake!

 3 min Chocolate Mug Cake

1 mug

2 tbsps. flour

2 tbsps. sugar

1 tbsp Cocoa

1 egg

2-3 tbsps. milk

1 1/2 tbsps. oil

Choc chips or nuts (optional)

Add all dry ingredients to mug…mix well

Add egg and mix thoroughly

Add milk and oil mix well

 Add choc chips or nuts if you are using them

Put mug in microwave

Cook for 3 mins at 1000watts

The cake will rise over the top…don’t panic

Let cool and decorate or just turn onto a plate…eat it the way you want to….yummmmmm

Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors. ~Alice Walker

Finally I have time to revisit this blog....The end of 2010 was a very busy time for me creatively, with deadlines to meet for clients. Anyway Christmas done and dusted I decided to take a month off to catch up with all those little jobs that needed to be done, oh and meet up with rather neglected friends.

Today I spent time in my studio :-) I feel energised now and my head is buzzing with ideas. Surrounded with my fabrics , yarns, paints and various nik-naks inspiration no longer eludes me. I am still working on my "1001 Arabian Nights" theme....I so often return to this sketchbook of work for ideas. I love the exotic colour combinations and vibrancy. I like to be surrounded by colour, especially bright pinks, purples and cyan blues, speckled with sparkle....my comfort zone, they make me feel happy. You will never see me working , or wearing come to that, BLACK......a little splash maybe, but too much makes me feel melancholy.

Oh yes I was going to share with you why this is called "Paper boats and steamy tea shops". Well....I spend much of my time in North Norfolk, I always level out when I am there and always come home with lots of fresh ideas. I love the sea washed colours of the houses, big open skies, wild beaches, the old fashioned quaintness where time has almost stood still. I love sitting in steamy tea shops on a cold day, people watching and gathering notes for projects. A sense of contentment and comfort indeed. paper boats, well this is where the madness comes in.....I write letters to people who may of upset me, outlining how I feel, that way I can get rid of anger and frustration without further confrontation. I write words to friends here or since departed, little poems, almost like prayers, telling them how much I love them. These letters are then folded up into a paper boats, taken down to the water’s edge and set off to sail on a journey of discovery. I also write to a very special friend, hoping that one day my words will sail across the sea and be found.

Here are a few pictures I took that inspired my mood boards and sketch book. The little seaside cottages are delightful and the colours were just perfect to sit alongside the soft shades of sky and water.

My inspiration was then transferred into a sketchbook telling a story of my trips and holidays with family and friends. My work is multi-layered so some of my words are hidden as some I keep firmly in my heart, but I think the pages reflect the colours and my story perfectly. This project was then developed, and finished up as knit and crochet designs.

I came out of my comfort zone with this as I am drawn to very strong bright colours in most of my work, so the washed out seaside theme was quite a challenge for me. This is one of my favourite sketchbooks as it tells a very personal story and the resulting designs for knitted art were popular with friends and clients.

If you would like to see more of my work visit studio23.moonfruit.com

Hugs 4 smiles Maxine x