tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24773944263328276192024-02-06T23:35:01.321-08:00ELIN@ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-26087715720673467452020-06-13T05:29:00.000-07:002020-06-13T05:31:15.124-07:00Backgarden update<br />
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The back garden is looking good at the moment. A lot of plants have survived severe neglect over the winter. It has taken a while to reclaim the garden from the rats. It really felt like their domain for a few months. I was sweeping around the back of the bamboo and found two bleached rat skeletons, so feel the trick of a small but continuous top up of poison (in a brick enclosure) has enabled me to claim it back. Half the problem is having watched the families from the back door they were beginning to look pretty cute...massacring them a horrible thought.</div>
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I've featured these very dark tulips 'Queen of the night', as they have been a really stunning sight. I'm not at all into tulips but these look very glamorous. Tulips are in the gladioli camp for me, a lot of gaudy hues, only seeming to work in large scale drifts of all different colours. My tulips have fitted in as the colour scheme is restricted to warm dark purple/reds, whites and all the greens of foliage but the majority being green rather than yellow.</div>
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The colour was again different with the sun on them. Wonderful! David jokes I like them because, 'once a Goth always a Goth'.</div>
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<span id="goog_1325065796"></span><span id="goog_1325065797"></span><br />ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-41322085232331695802020-06-10T05:31:00.002-07:002020-06-13T05:32:08.922-07:00Allotment update - May 30th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Working mostly in the evenings as socially distancing from Tony, Terry and co.<br />
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Spring onions and purple sprouting broccoli for next spring behind.</div>
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Kohlrabi is growing fast. About three out of twenty have split due to me overwatering. </div>
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Here is the radish, rocket and beetroot experiment. A two year old
packet of Boltardy beetroot had very poor germination so, I thinned out
the other beetroot variety to fill the end of the bed. The bed itself
it working brilliantly. However, the mesh has still allowed flea bettle
to pass through. I will need to make another cover from ultra fine'
enviromesh' to combat them. What I may end up doing, is building an
identical raised bed with the same dimensions, as the covers are going to
prove the most useful in the long term. I have polytunnel plastic,
fleece and shade fabric to make covers from which will be adaptable to different crops throughout the year. ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-90732848836718536542020-05-19T06:47:00.003-07:002020-05-19T07:16:27.465-07:00Allotment update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gn5pQxZ7IcAmOAHqIevegaeD3EjeD1OCxbqUGcR8tzyrr1E4MiRfSo7ggagSgzysUmJx-WL5vy9bV8mnvOgqPJIQvjfd3dEkQ6JbOoLNnbR-f4zILY_NDyacXuPZXHZmUFqaZBZBaWgE/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1172" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gn5pQxZ7IcAmOAHqIevegaeD3EjeD1OCxbqUGcR8tzyrr1E4MiRfSo7ggagSgzysUmJx-WL5vy9bV8mnvOgqPJIQvjfd3dEkQ6JbOoLNnbR-f4zILY_NDyacXuPZXHZmUFqaZBZBaWgE/s640/DSC_0013.jpg" width="467" /></a></div>
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I decided to grow oriental poppies from seed last year. They overwintered very well and are now looking stunning. They are sadly very short lived...the allotment equivalent of the cherry blossom.<br />
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Pictured above is the top end of the new flower bed. It originally came into being as a safety measure. Before a handrail was installed there was significant drop from the concrete path to the bed below, the main aim of the raised flower bed was to prevent an accident or at least break someones fall should they trip. It was particularly aimed at Tony who is the main user of the path and allthough spritely is in his late eighties. So, it was left unfinished for about a year and lockdown has enabled me to complete that job and many others besides.<br />
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The bed was meant exclusively for cut flowers but has become a 'nursery' bed for anything sickly-looking and potbound. A real success are the three gaint collard plants (right) from Waun Ceilogau, the flea beetles that are chewing their way through all other brassicas on the plot, have left these alone. It is really delicious as well!<br />
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A purple theme is developing. Just germinated are climbing beans 'Cosse Violette' and below, Orach, which I'm trying for the first time. This year, lack of shade is a real issue. The orach, spinach and chards are in danger of bolting before they are even in the ground. The 'rubbish dump' section of the allotment alongside the beech hedge is going to have to be cleared out and beds created for these now vulnerable plants or otherwise search out varieties that are specifically grown for bolt resistance.<br />
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Lastly, a photo of some teasels procured from the mother plant at Waun Ceilogau. The fascinating reproduction process involves the seeds germinating and tiny plantlets growing high in the teasel heads. I just placed the teasel heads on compost filled mushroom tubs. The tubs had been on a table out in my backgarden, but, every morning I would wake up to find them strewn about the place with compost everywhere. David and I came to the conclusion the culprit was a blackbird looking for worms. A couple of weeks later I came down to a scene of devastation, every single container had been savaged in the same way. It was an awful mess, I ended up covering everything in fleece and insect netting at night time.<br />
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The story has a happy ending though, as we have two, just fledged blackbird chicks, a male and a female taking refuge in the shady corners of the garden. Judging from the dilligence the mother bird is showing feeding and chatting to her two infants, she is the same one that checked every single bleedin pot for worms!<br />
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<br />ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-86908640545681245342020-05-05T08:31:00.002-07:002020-05-05T08:46:35.695-07:00May 5th 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here is a
good picture of my plot in the first few days of arriving after the
whole plot became mine. Prior to this I'd been sharing the plot with
Owen, and I had been working the beds on the left hand side for about
six months. Now some pictures of what it looks like today.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFG1l7rAFTkaqdDBooi8le96ne4FwmOIe010nhaqZnZ30AdoWBNdUKNX2z7z8B-uUlh78_HFB00a90trLGZKq1hTLv-gZCIDp3bnb2zO-rGj5eWACyruuXQGjYxlTNXp3MJ7fdUezgjGFt/s1600/IMG_3712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1258" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFG1l7rAFTkaqdDBooi8le96ne4FwmOIe010nhaqZnZ30AdoWBNdUKNX2z7z8B-uUlh78_HFB00a90trLGZKq1hTLv-gZCIDp3bnb2zO-rGj5eWACyruuXQGjYxlTNXp3MJ7fdUezgjGFt/s640/IMG_3712.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Strawberries front right, herbs to left, behind is kholrabi with sugar snap peas further back.Swiss chard back left.<br />
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Sage from seed. A minor miracle!<br />
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My coriander this year for the first time ever, looks like the stuff you buy in the shops. Sewn into a deep bed (they don't like being moved) in the shady area at the back of the green house. Loads of water.<br />
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Trying green manures this year. This is red clover. I expect I'll dig it in, in a couple of months time. The soil has had little organic matter added to it over the years so green manure is another way of improving structure and nutrient levels. I am also trying Fodder radish to improve a compacted area alongside a pathway.<br />
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Strawberry beds....just been freshened up with dilute sulphur of potash and compost. I'll cover with pine needles as well soon.<br />
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Here is the herb bed, chives, lemon balm, rocket and hyssop. There is an echinacea bottom left corner that has survivied the winter. That will be moved to the flower bed soon to make way for parsley.<br />
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This I am proud of...the insect net I fashioned to fit on my raised bed. At the moment it is serving more as shade than anything else. Three types of radish, two of rocket and two beetroot varieties just germinated. I'm looking to find the best for early salad ingredients and a quick turnover rather than using it as a general seed bed.ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-50814149641909440432019-06-02T06:53:00.002-07:002019-06-04T09:16:13.134-07:00 An Expanded View of Drawing<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">At the start of 2018 I was invited to take part in 'An Expanded View of Drawing ' at the</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Riverfront Art Gallery, part of the big events and gallery complex in Newport in March 2018.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was kind of reluctant but received several requests from the curator to show drawings, so eventually I agreed. The drawings proposed were one or two from the 'Hybrids' series I had made some time ago, the work can be viewed on my website below:-</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.elinthomas.com/gallery_174478.html">https://www.elinthomas.com/gallery_174478.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the piece that was finally chosen to be exhibitied. I had packed the work very carefully giving full instructions on how it should be hung, as the shadows cast by the piece is important factor. I checked the work very assiduously even reinforcing the most delicate parts on the reverse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At some point during the exhibition or as the work was being taken down it was damaged, in fact torn, in seven places. The yellow paper shows the torn places in the work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had collected the work in person from the gallery, it was already boxed up and was passed to me by the curator who said she was responsible for taking down the exhibition. I didn't look at the work until I opened the box some time later. Naturally, I was upset to see the damage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I contacted the curator and the organiser, both of whom said they were sorry but knew nothing about it. I asked who took the exhibition down and was told it was a technician. I was then told the technician also knew nothing about the damage and the organiser stood behind the technician 100% and had implacable trust in them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So the three people who handled my work and were responsible for the care of my work denied any knowledge of the damage. They were able to back up each others stories. So, there was absolutely nothing I could do about my work being trashed. The irony is...the organiser bemoaned the 'lack of professionalism' in the arts sector in Wales. Well, I've heard some hypocritical bullshit in my time but that took the biscuit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Google it, if you want to find out who these people are. If you are an artist, I recommend you steer well clear of these individuals.</span><br />
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</span>ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-12862658851120085392016-03-12T06:26:00.003-08:002016-03-12T06:26:36.755-08:00I feel a blog challenge coming on!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9seedQb5RVAsvlCs3MSVGCKSDfY2iL9hme7upm8c6mub2lFdzhmzDKH7qE9HyHW4sGR0YnDsF1YwjJhJu9HBlP76_XJEwVFwrCMqDt2_MAIMZQwJxYojFx_sP3n7IHuZLYGrM2H6IDzYt/s1600/challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9seedQb5RVAsvlCs3MSVGCKSDfY2iL9hme7upm8c6mub2lFdzhmzDKH7qE9HyHW4sGR0YnDsF1YwjJhJu9HBlP76_XJEwVFwrCMqDt2_MAIMZQwJxYojFx_sP3n7IHuZLYGrM2H6IDzYt/s640/challenge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've been thinking since the start of 2016 about blog challenges. I really love the idea of daily drawing challenges and there are some amazing people on Pinterest posting every day on 365 or 30 day challenges. Wow, what a great idea but one I baulk at, just on the basis I'm too disorganised. A jewellery tutor of mine did a daily challenge of making simple 3D drawings, they ended up being exhibitied together with her jewellery and it all made perfect sense.<br />
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So, it's taken me two and half months to work out a challenge that I can do and one that it not so demanding I end up throwing the towel in. Mine is a leisurely paced (and encorporating a late start!), monthy challenge with the express aim of using the vessels I have collected from various charity shops over the years. As the photo shows, they are a motley crew. I would like also to have a technical side to the challenge too. My sketchbooks are full of ideas that never see the light of day and they often have a technical element that blocks me from following through.<br />
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The first one will be around creating a gradient by dyeing the crochet cotton. It will involve measuring and estimating the length of thread per row and then carfeully graduating density of colour. You can see why I've not got round to that particular task ;) Do stick around and see how it works out! <br />
<br />ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-42428144254815365422016-03-02T06:21:00.002-08:002016-03-02T06:49:38.002-08:00Stunning feature on mould <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm delighted to be included in a wonderful article on mould and art in the prestigious 'The creators project', a fascinating blog hosted by Vice magazine. It's great to be presented as an artist rather than crafter and to be in such illustrious company as Daniele Del Nero and Antoine Bridier-Nahmias, I was admiring Antoine's work just last week! here's a link to the blog article >><br />
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<a href="http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/en_uk/blog/6-mold-artists">http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/en_uk/blog/6-mold-artists</a>ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-57189008753409425252016-01-19T03:46:00.000-08:002016-03-01T01:01:08.927-08:00New year - new skills<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk74NtSAcudZ_t_LNf476RHcPuWmEMFPIIQYN0sHkP5vJnhlbFNrFitTRV66fftll4AFYsS24F0Wq1s1YVuEvzaeyoAUZ7DvOtDkAQcR0o4xrcDD1EARwH1SW__pfifN8H-P1tpmjSXB4/s1600/Lichendyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk74NtSAcudZ_t_LNf476RHcPuWmEMFPIIQYN0sHkP5vJnhlbFNrFitTRV66fftll4AFYsS24F0Wq1s1YVuEvzaeyoAUZ7DvOtDkAQcR0o4xrcDD1EARwH1SW__pfifN8H-P1tpmjSXB4/s320/Lichendyes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Happy new year to everyone! I've promised myself this year I would make tentative steps towards trying out natural dyeing techniques. I've had a book on lichen dyes for a while and am lucky enough to have family living near woodland which hosts some impressive lichens. My first consideration was 'ethical' collecting, a new concept, and as yet (with the lichen pictured above) I have gathered just what has fallen onto pathways and verges.<br />
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Serendipitously, I have just discovered Bristol is creating it's own Natural dye garden, how wonderful is that! here is a link to their page >> <a href="http://www.thenaturaldyegarden.uk/">http://www.thenaturaldyegarden.uk</a> . I have grabbed a spot on the 'Shibori dyeing with local natural dyes' course, with Flora Arbuthnot, which I am really looking forward to.<br />
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Very best of luck with all new ventures and adventures in the coming year!!<br />
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ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-76809745965458095962015-12-19T06:48:00.001-08:002015-12-19T06:58:41.393-08:00Love this feature!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpADoE1wwBV5hzmGegKe3AwRHMnTnHReRFz7xrTbRIa0FtrGv3vBiXgHz8tF6ETKItaroDICZUTvEEjY7xv5yVRjLX_iPzvVTqNLoRXxalgis84H_pdxIpGVgvbd-FqIlr6epDxv08Suc/s1600/IAMTHELAB_04-12-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpADoE1wwBV5hzmGegKe3AwRHMnTnHReRFz7xrTbRIa0FtrGv3vBiXgHz8tF6ETKItaroDICZUTvEEjY7xv5yVRjLX_iPzvVTqNLoRXxalgis84H_pdxIpGVgvbd-FqIlr6epDxv08Suc/s1600/IAMTHELAB_04-12-2015.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.iamthelab.com/craftiness-handmade/the-unique-handmade-world-of-elin-thomas">http://www.iamthelab.com/craftiness-handmade/the-unique-handmade-world-of-elin-thomas</a><br />
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Featuring work from my BigCartel shop <a href="https://elinthomas.bigcartel.com/">https://elinthomas.bigcartel.com</a>ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-80868145225554461852015-12-14T07:09:00.001-08:002015-12-14T07:09:42.667-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILXbr9VRlmQpQdqpO0jsJYWB5AyDHftF46oVvpGRUwZmuNOZsQnlmF-LvStbS3BIeB0Sv-F2zVZWNoJETCK_SivZkuNz-slQ0_gIol7ZCyBZ7VCdE_f3efkeXbBcdiTobs0EpHFBrVpiv/s1600/amould.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILXbr9VRlmQpQdqpO0jsJYWB5AyDHftF46oVvpGRUwZmuNOZsQnlmF-LvStbS3BIeB0Sv-F2zVZWNoJETCK_SivZkuNz-slQ0_gIol7ZCyBZ7VCdE_f3efkeXbBcdiTobs0EpHFBrVpiv/s640/amould.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Another beautiful mould!ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-24023612209152113482015-12-03T05:52:00.002-08:002016-03-01T00:55:27.618-08:00Blue textile moth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWTAoBGy0aVmHBswI21DPyOW1JXSPuEvIMH5UUPLHwpmJujWKnzCXwApZxn2diqv8L-efNh5y7d5Wg6TIQYxo5EjASqMLLYP6jjPatYltdeQTbrXIUhCNknb-M7YeAjqRvNWXd5MMKhUv/s1600/turquoisemoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWTAoBGy0aVmHBswI21DPyOW1JXSPuEvIMH5UUPLHwpmJujWKnzCXwApZxn2diqv8L-efNh5y7d5Wg6TIQYxo5EjASqMLLYP6jjPatYltdeQTbrXIUhCNknb-M7YeAjqRvNWXd5MMKhUv/s400/turquoisemoth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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productive year on Etsy, my shop will be going on the back burner for a
month or three. My aim is to sell as much as possible before getting the
mothballs out. Consequently, I have reduced all prices considerably.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: darkslategrey;">Please check out my Winter sale, if you have any questions or want to reserve items, just get in touch :)</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 20px;"><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/elinart" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="color: teal;">https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/elinart</span></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>Please note my Xmas shipping deadlines :- Canada and USA - 7th December / Europe - 12th December / UK - 15th December.</i></span></td></tr>
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ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-32023201146447333912015-10-21T06:32:00.003-07:002015-10-21T06:34:53.934-07:00New mouldy madness brooches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzHB3fZGuFJaXxvWBgQ7c3mCJtuYHX3zRA5I-0ClNa-aQS9ojC9v3xxCgtjNZ2__mu7BiPUE6Fee_49bfmSn-iuIitwYWnOB47RA3-pS-kE7_IW4_1iSpeV_WbMGEfDsf8H1JCrDPGAgo/s1600/brooches1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzHB3fZGuFJaXxvWBgQ7c3mCJtuYHX3zRA5I-0ClNa-aQS9ojC9v3xxCgtjNZ2__mu7BiPUE6Fee_49bfmSn-iuIitwYWnOB47RA3-pS-kE7_IW4_1iSpeV_WbMGEfDsf8H1JCrDPGAgo/s640/brooches1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Two new, small sized, multi-coloured mouldy madness brooches.</div>
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<a href="http://elinthomas.bigcartel.com/">http://elinthomas.bigcartel.com</a></div>
ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-14882513310900039282015-10-11T04:09:00.000-07:002015-10-11T09:51:58.542-07:00Mould<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzssvFIDPh5ctmf2nRItj8gwrwens91uvHMgfHpqPEEvpvX0RHfvjjrRND5nA7LNYGrylQOKwcgVzwWiVYooyrl45I9-iVWQrOrBRJhmiAMOlj2-Rp6JaymHYSWZsPwoKgJq_OiibpETs/s1600/yog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzssvFIDPh5ctmf2nRItj8gwrwens91uvHMgfHpqPEEvpvX0RHfvjjrRND5nA7LNYGrylQOKwcgVzwWiVYooyrl45I9-iVWQrOrBRJhmiAMOlj2-Rp6JaymHYSWZsPwoKgJq_OiibpETs/s640/yog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Superb mould on natural yogurt. Yum!ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-56921652156139796352015-10-04T09:57:00.004-07:002015-10-04T09:59:17.775-07:00Observer weekend magazine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOD0Dm240x3qHQokKCoO5ubt5-j5WGOx0EteAVwsBNmbdWAqc5HmOiNWwEB2plUH86WgKqLhYj5VQI0aa1cl3gf2BU1zHyfev0AUIhHO6_AMThwF3QKKFwx3xQ3bNo3G3KKtXHaW3Q3Dh/s1600/blogpetridishpale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOD0Dm240x3qHQokKCoO5ubt5-j5WGOx0EteAVwsBNmbdWAqc5HmOiNWwEB2plUH86WgKqLhYj5VQI0aa1cl3gf2BU1zHyfev0AUIhHO6_AMThwF3QKKFwx3xQ3bNo3G3KKtXHaW3Q3Dh/s320/blogpetridishpale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Look out for my crochet mould in the Observer weekend magazine on Sunday 11th October. Hopefully pics will be up on their website a few days later :)</div>
ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-24598692979503396372015-09-26T05:47:00.000-07:002015-09-26T05:50:38.617-07:00I'm pleased to announce.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6nca-J-fJhdxRvp5rNVwkP0i3Hv4CyQw3DlVdYgBVTq8ORyUighAidyqd-XLG-b9B_NeO04M_-TuLgQ3qlPkecE6XuGC4G19N94j7VE3MCHZ4DA_ULwma4EuXhacHPsqv0iUQzrtHgul/s1600/Delia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6nca-J-fJhdxRvp5rNVwkP0i3Hv4CyQw3DlVdYgBVTq8ORyUighAidyqd-XLG-b9B_NeO04M_-TuLgQ3qlPkecE6XuGC4G19N94j7VE3MCHZ4DA_ULwma4EuXhacHPsqv0iUQzrtHgul/s400/Delia2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Better late than never! After a trip to St Ives and some serious computer trouble, I'm at last able to pick a winner of my blog giveaway. Thank you to all who took part by leaving comments and those who contacted me privately : If you didn't win this time, don't worry, there will be another giveaway along soon. So, well done to Delia!!<br />
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On other winning matters, I'm pleased to say I'm going to be featured in the Observer Weekend Magazine shortly. I'll post more about this soon. Thanks again to everyone! :))<br />
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<br />ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-29679176104259318432015-09-05T05:23:00.000-07:002015-09-05T05:43:26.441-07:00Another great find!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEKeKh8hJWRiDW-OsGJTOAknOFDWkMpKRuk2DLG2sHM8f5GWmEEJDbqw2TizngBFKBuJ9QULfzZICQLoSuh6ag23LUi6VdtEmQD0ALASo-ZnuOCvWz7hVGQaYnManErHaZXNbPENDd9xv/s1600/starfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEKeKh8hJWRiDW-OsGJTOAknOFDWkMpKRuk2DLG2sHM8f5GWmEEJDbqw2TizngBFKBuJ9QULfzZICQLoSuh6ag23LUi6VdtEmQD0ALASo-ZnuOCvWz7hVGQaYnManErHaZXNbPENDd9xv/s400/starfish.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I'm really pleased with this new vintage find. It's a Wade starfish pin/trinket dish, made in Ireland the 60's or 70's. It cost the princely sum of £3 from a charity shop on Llandielo high street in mid Wales :)ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-77823818901009252602015-08-06T06:48:00.003-07:002015-08-07T11:11:33.636-07:00Summer love<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">10% discount code at my Etsy shop for the next three weeks. Enter 'SUMMER15' at checkout!!</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The crochet coral brooch above is my current blog giveaway. All those followers* who leave a comment in this or coming posts will be put into a hat mid-September. The lucky winner picked form the hat will receive this colourful brooch.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">* Blog, Flickr and Twitter </span></span></span>ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-3448713016536594992015-07-28T07:53:00.002-07:002015-08-09T04:30:29.983-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenkM75DDIn-2k2YV_plWytZgjm1iP21-amp7S3MnWFBZrPZaca4NI_wzcNjDcJXev5VgDwzJaZ4y0-25UXXvG0aWooAjsuoahz4CpoSeRVlcJKCa4NsK1ArSG_YCHt8CXdKJyHGdEm2mx/s1600/Sneakypeak1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenkM75DDIn-2k2YV_plWytZgjm1iP21-amp7S3MnWFBZrPZaca4NI_wzcNjDcJXev5VgDwzJaZ4y0-25UXXvG0aWooAjsuoahz4CpoSeRVlcJKCa4NsK1ArSG_YCHt8CXdKJyHGdEm2mx/s400/Sneakypeak1.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Quick peek at one of four nature studies I'm working on this week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Thanks for looking :)</span>ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-2499827584773677152015-07-20T06:00:00.000-07:002015-07-20T06:00:28.210-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52I_BeQiZgBVm-qAAdb4_BA9YPCl1VaOMog5nguyGG9SzMtxUeNc5S2Mn0KEJDUzIrnKePZEmO7qfFcVO-1ziZXo2gjYD3BqRF3FON0F7pZ_pIDOmAeGkTHe6GMhxLHIJeDvMvHxPc1Pl/s1600/mixedmoths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52I_BeQiZgBVm-qAAdb4_BA9YPCl1VaOMog5nguyGG9SzMtxUeNc5S2Mn0KEJDUzIrnKePZEmO7qfFcVO-1ziZXo2gjYD3BqRF3FON0F7pZ_pIDOmAeGkTHe6GMhxLHIJeDvMvHxPc1Pl/s640/mixedmoths.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My Etsy shop is now updated. I'm happy to reserve items or make custom orders. Thank you for viewing! </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/elinart?section_id=17543456&ref=shopsection_leftnav_6">https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/elinart?section_id=17543456&ref=shopsection_leftnav_6</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The photo is a money plant which I had to clean a thick layer of dust off first and an old green hand towel draped behind.....I like to keep my costs down ;)</span>ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-6773419906859749082015-07-13T04:27:00.000-07:002015-07-13T06:05:11.799-07:00Ready to fly.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnpSmhjROlTG14oQAV2gssDzYwsQEQTEcOi7a04s7N-4JABgdsu8UaXge9kzqsTjLiiz7iBpUEvVKn4Ee7waM_tDLLg0RV4X0GbMsmxvPvjpmb8h2O463995A9pc1Cd1zc2tUVpX_6hWg/s1600/cloth-mothdarkbrown1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnpSmhjROlTG14oQAV2gssDzYwsQEQTEcOi7a04s7N-4JABgdsu8UaXge9kzqsTjLiiz7iBpUEvVKn4Ee7waM_tDLLg0RV4X0GbMsmxvPvjpmb8h2O463995A9pc1Cd1zc2tUVpX_6hWg/s400/cloth-mothdarkbrown1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Dark brown iridescent upholstery fabrics, linen, polyfibre filling, glass beads. brooch back.</span></span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm near to completing about 12 of these moths in various colours. I have yet to find a good way of making the antennae, button thread has the right thickness but even a touch of wax doesn't make them positionable. I am going to try watered down pva and a couple of other things to see if I can make them perkier. Any suggestions for a fix would be much appreciated :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Hand painted linen, Joel Dewberry fabric, polyfibre filling, glass beads. brooch back.</span></span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've reached a point where I'm starting to use fabric paint and adding more hand-stitching, the urge to embellish is overwhelming! This means I have to take a different tack from now on. I have just purchased some long entomology pins, the next batch of moths will be more elaborate but constructed specifically for wall display. I'll work to a standard Ikea box frame size which will hold two of these small moths or one larger. It means, I don't have to hold back when it comes to the details.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Vintage Laura Ashley fabric, Joel Dewberry fabric, polyfibre filling, glass beads. brooch back.</span></span></i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All the 12 completed moths will be available to purchase next week in my Etsy shop on Monday 20th at 2pm. They will be listed at a special price in order to encourage their successful flight. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/elinart">https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/elinart </a></span>ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-1658919326546182142015-07-09T03:05:00.002-07:002015-07-09T03:10:09.063-07:00More moths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The white moth represents the basic pattern I have devised. I wanted to make a really simple pattern, so have whittled it down to seven pieces (the two eyes and one thread for the antennae are included). The aim was to dispense with areas which would be far too time consuming i.e the legs, leaving me with the freedom to play with fabrics and stitching to create a play of colour, contrast and texture.<br />
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The mousy brown moth is the first go at making a finished moth. I am not overly keen on machine edging in general, not sure why, but as I am creating more moths I can vary the colour and add small hand-stitched accents that liven up the flat edges. The aim is to keep it simple, so I have to make sure the urge to embellish doesn't take over. I have a large moth pattern (with legs!) in development, where, in the future I can go crazy on the details.<br />
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The brown moth presents an interesting dillema in the creative thought process. One of the wonderful things about moths here in the UK is their modest plumage. We have many hundreds of 'little brown moths', it's not until you zoom in on them the amazing variations become apparent. Just making brown moths would suit me, but I'm lucky enough to have a large stash of upholstery fabric samples. This stash has been part of the inspiration for producing the pattern in the first place, I also have to justify hanging onto all this fabric!. So, I'm trying to do both, subtle moths and moths with eye-catching colour combinations. More pictures to follow soon....<br />
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<br /><br />ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-25722735247487271392015-07-04T05:27:00.003-07:002015-07-04T05:27:52.751-07:00Cloth Moth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOAzRuDuu7DhPoQzRL-UL86wbQ54OUWfiL38o3PlQ-TMoqKbfcrbt0NlxhUaTfBQh62eBVk4SGYMSiiJ5YyDdXWzdrUp1mEaR08FuWpfLhlArMkB1WZXpuQRdf0FcFCio32XhkPfRGzVZ/s1600/cloth-moth1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOAzRuDuu7DhPoQzRL-UL86wbQ54OUWfiL38o3PlQ-TMoqKbfcrbt0NlxhUaTfBQh62eBVk4SGYMSiiJ5YyDdXWzdrUp1mEaR08FuWpfLhlArMkB1WZXpuQRdf0FcFCio32XhkPfRGzVZ/s400/cloth-moth1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Working on prototypes this past week, developing a simple pattern for a fabric moth. This one has a wingspan of 11cms and body of 5.5cms in length and I think, it's about as small as I'm prepared to go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By far the hardest task is turning the body right side out after sewing from the back. I left what I thought was quite a large aperture at the side to keep the shape of the point at the tail and blip for the head, but still it was tricky. What the photo doesn't show is the gash left by the scissors on the underside. I know it's madness to use pointy scissors to push the fabric through, but I often fail to listen to that inner voice. Thankfully, it wasn't a finished piece :)</span>ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-56906841646857702632015-06-24T10:18:00.003-07:002015-06-24T10:21:14.277-07:00A plant out of place.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1f_jI1Y7sM0BlSyP5sW7GWYGHKQeOOBjwGqKKakilyDNs6QXuUNo1BO9vl-vis9PB-9lkZrVoQk5JlOBd2No8YltoSEwBimyqPqIzxiCv7BKWh1gu6IZWjFdnR35S36_YDaH9q3StHAw/s1600/weed7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1f_jI1Y7sM0BlSyP5sW7GWYGHKQeOOBjwGqKKakilyDNs6QXuUNo1BO9vl-vis9PB-9lkZrVoQk5JlOBd2No8YltoSEwBimyqPqIzxiCv7BKWh1gu6IZWjFdnR35S36_YDaH9q3StHAw/s400/weed7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Above are a few of the errant plants growing along the pavements in my road. It is incredible how interesting the pavements are at the moment, with such a diversity of plant and leaf types. A short spell of fecundity before the council sprays the whole place with weedkiller. I also discovered the 'June gap' which beekeepers talk about in relation to a worrying lack of nectar for the bees. The result is the verdant greenness of plants especially those classified as weeds, being much more noticeable as there is a lull between Spring and Summer blooming.</span>ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-91904433405406438812015-06-21T03:47:00.002-07:002015-06-21T04:05:17.393-07:00Nocturne #5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWy1f6bclciAlQ61a6CIH4SCsmUDK5M-Iu3F5RHL1lAgiWE52WS9p7CJPHzOnSb0LH-6CJ-eXuLqoPg71Ft5KaMPgaV_RHmrqEKBLIvDf124QezOVClgXRTbVOuQs0-lm1dC5iBY-N7OrH/s1600/noct2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWy1f6bclciAlQ61a6CIH4SCsmUDK5M-Iu3F5RHL1lAgiWE52WS9p7CJPHzOnSb0LH-6CJ-eXuLqoPg71Ft5KaMPgaV_RHmrqEKBLIvDf124QezOVClgXRTbVOuQs0-lm1dC5iBY-N7OrH/s640/noct2.jpg" width="524" /></a></div>
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Nocturne #5<br />
Indian and Acrylic ink on Paper<br />
11.5 x 15cms<br />
2015ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477394426332827619.post-8833899913469862942015-06-12T09:04:00.000-07:002015-06-12T09:09:41.160-07:00More drawing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's always a relief to dispense with naturalism. My mind's focus falls repeatedly on the principle elements of abstract drawing :- line, contrast, spatial relations, tone etc. that is where my interest really lies, puzzling it out, playing. There are certain advantages to allowing drawing to become more stylised, despite the consequent problems of neatness and designs that can become over-worked and overly detailed. Using a botanical theme lends itself to playing with improvised forms which can exist purely to look peculiar rather than pretty. Luckily there is plenty in nature that fits that category.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The best way of countering this static quality is by keeping the composition dynamic. What works for larger, gestural drawings, serves also for smaller intense works - introducing strong elements that expressly refer to the edges of the white paper, which then require careful negotiation. A bold initial move also seems to thwart any reluctance in approaching the snowy wasteland of the paper</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As someone who loves drawing, I found this a fascinating watch!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05y3z5z/what-do-artists-do-all-day-18-tracey-emin">http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05y3z5z/what-do-artists-do-all-day-18-tracey-emin</a></span>ELINtmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607937113996106634noreply@blogger.com0