Oh I have had such a lovely Weekend. Saturday I drove to the big city. Over the hills to Manchester for a workshop with Lynn Kirkley. It was based on her exhibition there called Afternoon Tea. (Shan Lynn ask where you were-honest!)
The above was Lynn's demonstration then it was our turn. The cakes were real and looked delicious!
I was trying hard to keep it loose as I usually paint very tight and detailed.
She made these beautiful earrings for me, another talented lady, busy making and crafting. (I think she needs a blog, don't you?)
Manchester has some fantastic buildings.
The tall building in the background above is the Hilton Hotel with 47 floors.
The pub above is the old Peveril of the Peak with the most fantastic tiling. It does stand out amongst the tall, mainly new buildings that surround it.
I had to stick my camera out of the car window for this one of the Hilton, so its a bit wonky-it doesn't lean like the one in Pisa!
What a lovely day!
Easy like Sunday Morning
Now Sunday has been a taking it easy so far type of day. I was up early and did some bits to my rag rug so I could photograph it to show you.
It started as a circle design but the more I look at them they do remind me of my dried hydrangeas.
I will definitely do some more.
Of course Lucy knows exactly how to take it easy on a Sunday morning!
What a lot of things in one post! Lovely rug, the darker background really brings out the design and the texture of the fabric is great. I want to sink my fingers into it, or my toes, which I guess is what would normally happen with a rug! Tea-time is turning out to be a bit of a theme at the moment - the colours in your picture are lovely too. Yes your friend does need a blog - those earrings are really unusual. Wish I could stroke your Lucy, she looks so comfy in the sunshine! xx
ReplyDeleteTea & cakes what could be better? Love the rug & earrings too.
ReplyDeleteI've worked and I was at university in Manchester and never seen the Town Hall from the steps of the art gallery, and I used to walk through there every day.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's different when you have your head down walking quickly as the bus was late and you have to be in Uni in 10 minutes!
Beautiful paintings, and rug, and Lucy, but then cats know how to be gorgeous at all times.
Susan
Hi Lyn
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed hearing about your weekend! Your painting is so good, and I was interested in what you had to say about finding it hard to keep it loose. I'm just getting back into painting and drawing, and am struggling to find the 'ease' because I'm so terrified to make a mistake - my issue is not about my style normally being detailed, it's just fear of making a mistake, but I should just let it go, as mistakes are an inevitable part of learning!!
How lovely that you met up with your friend after all this time, and that the conversation was enjoyable and relaxed!
I love the Hilton on an angle! I haven't really noticed the architecture around Manchester much, as we are usually stressed and lost. I'll keep a look out next time. Interesting that the one old building surrounded by mainly new ones is a pub!
Your textured rug looks wonderful! How long does it take take to make something like that?
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
Best wishes
Dan
-x-
I love your watercolour, well done, like you say it is hard to keep it loose but works so much better for watercolour. Those earings are gorgeous too - please get your friend to start a blog to teach us her talents :-)
ReplyDeleteYour hydrangea rug is luscious.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy seeing your art work. As a non-artist, I marvel at your work. From brush to paper, it is truly a miracle.
Love and Hugs,
from Gerry and Renee
You just pack so much loveliness into your posts! I love the idea of using real cake as a still life subject! Maybe getting back into a sketching habit won't be so hard after all. Your rag rug is simply beautiful, and those earrings are so pretty. xx
ReplyDeleteLyn, what a fantastic post! I wish I could attend a workshop like the one you attended. Your painting is beautiful. I too need to loosen up with my art work( so my art teacher tells me). The rag rug is superb. It looks like you have been rag rugging for years!!! Your friend should certainly start up a blog. The more the merrier! x
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, Lyn!
ReplyDeleteI loved the cupcakes *yum!*
and the paintings are just so wonderful!
Love the earrings..such a nice and lovely gift from your friend!
Lovely photos of Manchester, a great city, would love to visit it!
Annalisa
x
Just wonderful. Everything. But especially the cupcakes - virtual and real !!!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week
oh what a lovely, lovely post! I like the idea of painting cupcakes, although I don't know if I would be able to resist eating them! hehe :D
ReplyDeleteI love the colours in the rug.... I really want to make one, my nan is always telling me about the ones she made! x
A perfect two part post...
ReplyDeleteThe cupcake painting is yummy.
The rag rug's colours are so perfectly matched to the real flowers, its amazing.
Thanks for the tour too.
Have a great week.
Susan x
Hi Lyn! What an interesting and yummy workshop!
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing us the loveliness of the big city!
Have a good week! xxxxx
What a lovely weekend ... and did I see sunshine through the window?! Lucy knows the warms spots, no doubt.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have been at the workshop with you ... it sounded wonderful and your art work is just beautiful. I attended art classes once a week for a few years, and improved enormously from how I started out, but still have a LONG way to go, but my art teacher told me she used to give the pensioner group a class of white port at 10.00 in the morning to loosen them up ... maybe you need to try that, sounds good at any time of the day, LOL!
As for your rag rug, I love it, it looks so cosy and inviting, and yes, exactly like your hydrangeas ... will you be doing more?
Tell your friend she needs to tell the world about her earrings, they are delightful.
Hi Lucy!
ReplyDeleteYour weekend sounded magical! The cupcakes look good enough to eat. Boy now I have a craving for cupcakes and tea.
ReplyDeleteDonna
ooh the watercolours are stunning.
ReplyDeleteYour rag rug is a delight...I can see Lucy pinching it !
Guess where I was at the weekend? Love the look of EVERYTHING in your post. You are so talented. xxx
ReplyDeleteglad you had agood weekend - that painting is really delicate and the rug is doing well - does it make your fingers sore - did you have anice lunch?
ReplyDeletei am totally in love with the rag rug - it's so beautiful, lyn. it's a pity we can't do the touchy thing over the internet - it looks so wonderfully tactile.
ReplyDeletei also like the painting a lot.
love sumea xxx
Hi Lyn,
ReplyDeleteWhere do I start - I'm sick as a pig that I'm missing all these workshops thanks to the no-annual-leave-left situation, and it brought back how much we learned at the last workshop and the lovely atmosphere at the venue. Can you imagine what it would have been like if our still life classes at art college had been like that! It would have ended in a vicious food fight with everyone scrambling for cup cakes at the end!
Your rug is fab (of course), really beautiful Lyn!I must say I'm surprised Lynn Kirkley asked where I was - was it in a "Where is your friend (The one who follows you around, sighing all the time in a frustrated manner because she can't do it)?" or "Where is your friend (the naughty one)?" ! x
Hi Lynn, two posts in one, great value. And both lovely, I love your loose cupcakes water colour and can quite understand why they had to be eaten, they were just asking for it! And love the hooky rug too. Really enjoyed this, thanks, Karen x
ReplyDeleteLoving the rug, never done it myself, but the colours and texture are great
ReplyDeleteWhat a charming post. I feel like I've taken a lovely little day trip to a place I may otherwise never have seen. And all your creations are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThat is really a beautiful painting!
ReplyDeletegreat rug.