Bright lights ...oh and more strawberries!!

Hello once again  :) I hope all is bright and happy in your world? 

My days have been busy, gathering yet more strawberries, we are now up to 75pounds! But the crop has now finished....good in one way as I will admit I am getting tired of the red juicy sweet fruits. some nights as I shut my eyes the first image that pops in my mind is a bowl of strawberries! Now I am on to gathering broad beans, blackberries, mange tout, beetroot, broccoli and redcurrants. As I shelled the peas and beans and prepared blackcurrants yesterday, my youngest son said "You know that is why we have Tescos to make life easy, pop in buy the veg, take home, cook, eat and enjoy", he has a point, it took a good couple of hours to finish the task. But when I served up some of the bounty for Sunday dinner the chore was forgotten and the taste of freshly gathered and prepared food was sooooooooo good.
I have also had some creative days, another bag based on the Bright Lights theme that I and a few other textile artists are working to. Hopefully this time next year we will be taking our combined work on exhibition.

This work started life as pieces of collaged vintage textiles and threads, then heavily machine stitched together to form a whole cloth. The shapes of these bags are based on loose drawings of the human form. Once cut out the new cloth is embellished, lined and stitched. Apart from small seed beads I make all the components myself, again using up-cycled ingredients! The colours are based on some lovely dancing bright light reflections across the water in Sydney Harbour. A feast of colour for the eyes that always inspire me on my creative journeys. I return to these images time and time again. 

 Detail of hand made cords and beads

Close up detail of design and stitch

 Contrasting lining

Another close up of detail

I hope you have enjoyed the riot of colour and its made you smile and brightened your day? 

Hugs 4 smiles M xx