London bound...

 Last week I had one of those rare pure escapism days. No work...no tutoring (that's work too)...no children...no cooking...just pure escapism.

My niece has been doing a year's art foundation course in London so my sister and I hopped on down on the train for the day to see her end of year show. Now being an arty type this obviously appealed to me but so did spending 2 1/2 hours each way having the luxury of nattering to my sis. That in itself was a rarity.



First stop when we arrived in London was to head straight to Camberwell to the London School of Art where we met Ella. At this point I will brag about my talented niece...I think it is okay to brag about nieces and nephews in a way that you can't necessarily about your own children...her weave top left was for me the star of the show before I even knew it was hers. It is actually hard to get a real feel for it here, but Ella had dipped dyed all the threads so there was a natural irregularity through the whole piece.

There was some other beautiful textile work that I was also particularly drawn to. As a child I would have loved to have done what Ella has done, even if I had then returned to a more traditional path, but to have had that opportunity at that age. I wasn't allowed to do art...only Latin...which I failed on purpose just to prove a point. Ella meanwhile is going on to do Medicine next year (yup, the girl has brains too) and I really admire my sister for supporting her choice of having this year to indulge in her creative side.

After looking around the college we sauntered around sunny London and found a nice cafe to have refuel before we headed to the Matisse Cut Outs exhibition at the Tate Modern. Wow what an incredible exhibition! I think it is on until some time in September so if you have the opportunity to go see it you really must. It is quite incredible. The talent of that man is even more evident with this almost accidental technique. 

(There's me and my sis in complete awe in that bottom right pic and my niece taking forbidden photos...tut tut...not such a good girl after all.)

Just time enough after that to bid farewell to Ella, hop on the train back home and get our minds in gear for heading back to reality the next day.

One thing for sure is, a day of pure escapism in London is a real tonic for all ails and stresses of life. They don't disappear and they are there when you return, but to disappear for a day does the world of good. I am definitely planning on doing it more regularly. And besides I am refuelled with inspiration...I think there will be some Cut Outs influenced screen printing coming soon...

new QAL...

i am very excited and very flattered to have been asked to be part of a new QAL The {Big} City QAL organised by Amy and Aylin.

i am one of 13 gals from all around the world where we will each produce a block from our chosen city.

i am london.

Aylin has written all about it here.

go and check it out and i would absolutely love it if you joined in.

there will be a new city every sunday for 13 weeks and every 3rd week there will be a linky party with some amazing prizes.

as i say i am very excited and extremely flattered and would be delighted to have you all with me every block of the way!

right...i'd better start to plan my block...

New York, New York

We brought you London. And then we brought you Paris. Now it's the turn of another of our favourite cities...NEW YORK, NEW YORK!

With all the favourite bits of this amazing city depicted in the usual quirky Famille Summerbelle style, this is an amazing addition to the growing range.

Choose between plum or midnight blue - we couldn't, so we thought we'd leave it to you!
Just click here to find it in the shop.

From London to Paris

First there was this...

And now there is this.

What was I thinking? How I could possibly have one without the other?

(Thanks, Julie, for being so amazingly creative and clever and producing yet another item that is already set for being a best seller)

Hats

We are away this weekend in London, for a very flying visit, for my Mother-in-law's 70th birthday celebrations. November isn't a great time for me to be away and this will be the second weekend away this month. I'm trying to build up the enthusiasm and even designed her a personal card for the occasion (without a mention of The Age - obviously).

She LOVES hats. The only thing that she loves almost as much is shoes. But I did shoes last year. I brought it downstairs last night to show Matthew. He asked if it was a vase. Granted, that was before I put the slogan on. And granted, I took one look at it and thought it could be too. But, everyone, I mean everyone, knows the lady is hat mad. Why would it be a vase?

(I am aware that I am blogging to excess at the mo - apologies. That's partly because I've abandoned it for so long and partly because I know that it's going to be a while before I get on again. So bear with me and ignore at your leisure!)