Time has flown past and it's a few weeks since I last posted. I've been busy catching up on the swaps that got missed during Artweeks and I'm really pleased that I've only got one more to do and I'm not late with it either. I've had several of the African Arts quilties in from the Embellisher Group. I won't post pictures in until they're all here. I plan to attach them together in some way and hang them from my workroom wall.






Which is just what I've done with the white on white quilties for Lenna Andrews' swap. Unfortunately because they're white they don't photograph too well, but I've done my best to show you the wonderful stitching and textures in them - only two of the four because the photos just don't come out.

As well as the African Arts swaps I've done the complementary colours, cupcakes, recycled fabrics and another I can't remember. I've also received this wonderful tag from Eileen (that's the last thing I've got to do).

I signed up yesterday to do Dale Rollerson's 6 week online embellisher course. I always enjoys Dale's blog and came across this course which starts next week by chance. The exchange rate is still so good that it was great value and I'm looking forward to learning lots. Thank goodness it starts after half term finishes; the weather has been so awful that the children have been tied to the house. We've seen the new Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford just gets hunkier), been ice skating, done mosaics, etc, etc, and we're only half way through.

Well, we've got to the last day and I'm on a real high! Couldn't sleep last night. We had a really slow week, Thursday we only had 5 visitors which was very depressing. Friday was much better and I made my first 'big' sale - ie an embroidery rather than just cards or sketchbooks. I was so thrilled! Then a neighbour came in and oohed and aahed over another picture and wants to come back today to discuss a commission!!!!

However, yesterday was my big day - sold FOUR more pictures. One is even going back with its new owner to Canada. It's such a wonderful thrill to know that complete strangers (and some friends) are prepared to pay money for something you've worked for. It's just a great confirmation that I am producing 'art' that means something to other people, not just me.

Lots of local people I know came and made the usual comments 'I didn't know you did this'! I'm sure there are so many people out there hiding their light under a bushel and Artweeks is such a good way to show what you do. It can be a very lonely business otherwise. Now I'm looking forward to having the chance to visit other people, once today's finished. I'm so grateful to Debbie for letting me use her studio in such a fabulous place.

First day of Oxfordshire Artweeks and I'm so tired! We set up yesterday. I'm sharing a studio with another woman in my village. She lives in an amazing old Victorian grange with a huge garden and beautiful studio. I'm not jealous - honestly! She also imports 'animals' made from wire and beads from South Africa. They're made by Zimbabwean refugees and they're fantastic. My daughter has so far fallen in love with the elephant, the zebra, the goat and the crocodile. I have a personal favourite in the sheep. I can't really see a zebra on the lawn of an Oxfordshire cottage somehow! (I'll post some photos tomorrow).

Anyway, we sat and chatted for the first hour then people started arriving. We're open from 12-6pm every day for the next week - rather a challenge. Anyway we had quite a few visitors up until 4.30pm then all went quiet. It's great fun talking to people who are really interested in what you're doing and I've had lots of admiring comments (though no hard sales unfortunately). I'm trying to 'sell' the Embroiderers' Guild as much as I can as well; we may well get some visitors at least through this.