Sandra Meech at Farfield Mill

It's not often that I travel any distance for an exhibition, especially when everything is on the web .....but this was well worth it. Farfield Mill is a superb venue on the outskirts of Sedbergh and Sandra's exhibition didn't disappoint! 

Having been brought up on the Somerset Levels and been to the Arctic earlier in the year, this exhibition was a must. 

The iconic willows/withies make superb silhouettes...I'd love to do something based on willows and the fabulous patterns in frozen floodwaters as the water levels drop....

I really enjoyed reading about the levels on the underside of each strip - references to the rivers Parrot and Tone took me back to childhood. 

and moving on ...to the Arctic ....

I love this piece - and need to experiment with Snapseed to create multi layered images ...

By printing onto fabric and then machine embroidering, a realistic image is achieved...

So now all I need is to find the time to develop my ideas! 

Beautiful Buttermere

What a glorious day - and a break from Craft and Art fairs! A wander round Buttermere ....fabulous light! 

More Barnacles

I always take too many photographs of Barnacle Geese! So a few more - a fabulous design source. 

Caerlaverock - Whooper rings

Finally, a sunny day! Off to Caerlaverock - plenty of Barnacle Geese, nice Teal, Shoveller and Wigeon. A Great Egret  -amazing that they have got so far north so quickly! Good to be able to make few new records for the WWT of the Whoopers that are present. (Funding isn't currently available for the continued ringing and monitoring of ringed Whoopers.)

Circulating Barnacle Geese.

Barnies in the sun!

Teal and Shoveller.

Looking across the Solway to home. 

Great Egret.

The main pond.

Plenty of Whoopers and Canada Geese.

The difference between Mute Swan and Whooper swans is apparent in their bills. The young Mute Swans beginning to get the characteristic black knobble at the top of the bill, the Whoopers with the straighter neck and greyer plumage. 

Visitors are able to record Whooper rings adding to the log of the birds that are present.

Take off....

Jelly Ear fungus ...

..and the colours of autumn in the Willow. 

Maryport Cuttlefish

Back in July we found some Cuttlefish eggs washed up on the tideline click here and took them to Maryport Aquarium where they kindly looked after them - and they hatched click here . They continue to do well and are now in the main exhibit area in the aquarium - well worth a visit! 

Moon Jellies.

Seahorse sp.

Octopus.

Wedholme textile samples

I've really enjoyed hand stitiching these little samples ....now to plan the next stage - something bigger?  

Gelli printed fabric was combined with hand dyed  fabrics.....below.

..and then hand stitched .....below. 

I haven't decided how to mount them ....

Some are more successful that others, so I will take elements from each for my fial piece.

Wedholme fungi

As I contemplate a 'Wedholme project' for next year, another visit and another focus ...fungi.

Although it's late in the season, there were plenty around and although the weather wasn't great, there were a couple of glimpses of sunshine and some dramatic light. 

A compilation of the fungi ...

Before it rained ....

After it rained ....

Candle Snuff fungus.

Some exquisite platelet type fungus.

Decaying Earth Ball.

A nicely coloured Russula.

And the moss continues to colour up.