It's nearly time to go ......again!

It's been a very busy few weeks since we came back from the last cruise...

...and now it's almost time to leave for the next one!!

Final docs came this morning...

...coach ticket booking made yesterday...

...and sample Travel Journal for Atlantic Showcase is done! YEY!!

I've used loads of Brusho Sprays...

...some stencils...

...and printed pages with blocks from Colouricious.

All the packs that I've put together for the two cruise legs have been folded and block-printed too...

...so they have a head start as soon as they join the sessions! :-)

I've also put together my own sketchbook...

...and have decided to focus on colour and pattern this time.

I treated myself to a new set of Schmincke watercolours, and filled-up the extra spaces with some Sennelier half-pans.....so no excuses...painting SHALL be done!!

(Yes...I know I haven't shown you any pages from the last trip's sketchbook yet...but all will be revealed at some point...promise! :-)

The next couple of weeks will be taken up with writing the final chapters of the book on Colourcraft Liquid Batik Dyes...

...and stitching final samples to be photographed.

My work table is completely covered in pots and trays of beads for stitching onto a piece of dyed silk that will (hopefully) be pictured on the front cover.

Oh Boy!

...do I need a 72 hour day right now!!

x C

New Year......New Challenges!!

Well.....Happy New Year everyone!!

I hope that you have recovered sufficiently after your Festive Celebrations.....

...and are raring to go to meet 2015 head on!

OK...

...just take things easy then :-)

I'm really hoping to do a bit more blogging than I did last year...

...which was so hectic/busy that I don't quite know where it went!

Mind you, it looks like 2015 is going to be even busier...

...with some VERY EXCITING things going on. (Sorry....can't let any cats out of bags at the minute)

I can say for certain though, it's going to be a year for writing....

...and that means experimenting too...

...making all the samples and finished pieces to be photographed.

I also have a few workshops and a Summer School to prepare for...

...and three cruise stints over the next 15 months.

The miles will certainly be clocked up over this coming period!!

Our Christmas plans went badly awry though.

We had booked the ferry etc with the intention of sailing across to France on the 19th December....

...staying in Alsace over Christmas....

...and sailing back on New Year's Day.

However health issues dictated otherwise, although we were able to shift the ferry crossing for another date so didn't lose £200 :-)

Hey nonny no!!

The stay at home did work out quite well though...

...when I managed to get a couple of substantial pieces of writing done, so they're off the list for January at least...

...and I've made a start playing with some Colourcraft Liquid Batik Dyes for which I have been asked to write a small book for publication later in the year!

Here are a few piccies of my first attempts at batik wax...

Now...

...all I have to do is iron out the wax.....

......apply some fabric medium....

...spray with Brusho.....

...and finish with black detail!

Woo Hoo!!

x C