All creatures great and small traveling.

A sneak preview. I am stitching through some water-soluble fabric hence the muddle of stitched and drawn lines.
I posted my October page for Gayle this afternoon, so I do hope that it arrives soon, and that she likes it.

Belated post - Mandy's Castle page for Carmen.

This is rather out of sequence, but here is the Castle page I made for Carmen back in April.



As my attached letter explains, the picture is based on a photograph I took of my daughters playing in the ruins of Beeston Castle.





This rather wonderful ruin is on the top of a steep hill with magnificent views of the surrounding Cheshire Plain. The site was chosen carefully for its strategic value. Built as it was many centuries ago, it was there to help protect the English from the marauding Welsh. With a cliff to three sides and a steep hill climbing to the remaining side, the castle managed to survive for centuries eventually falling during the English Civil War. It has the benefit of an amazingly deep well, which would have been life-saving for the inhabitants during a seige.
As a family, when my daughters were young we often visited this castle. We learnt a lot about the history surrounding it whilst playing amongst the ruins. There are still regular events, where various societies come to re-enact different periods from the Castles long history.
Thanks Carmen for allowing me to wander very happily down memory lane as I put this piece together.

The Sea has arrived!

Now, isn't this delightful. I was thrilled to receive a package through my letterbox this morning from Liz. This is my June page - a little late, but it was well worth waiting for...........

All those lovely details.



I just love the beaded blue coral. The textures are just gorgeous.



Just look at the stitching on the seahorse. It looks like there are such stories he, or she could tell of adventures amidst the coral.



The fabric for the back of the page itself just could not have been more perfect.

And the letter from Liz, tells of the techniques she has used.

Oh Liz, I do agree about being near the sea. It is a magical place, with all the smells and sounds. I live right in the centre of Cheshire, a county almost in the heart of the UK. But you are right, a journey time of around an hour and a half will bring me to the coast. I am so fortunate.

Thanks so much for my page. I look forward to day when I can put all my lovely pages together and make them into a book. I intend to exhibit the book when it has been made, but do not know where, or when, just yet.

Castle

I'm afraid my castle page for Carmen is running a little late at the moment. A mere hint above. I love castles, especially one particular castle not too far from here. Built in 1225, it is now a ruin, but much loved by my own family. We spent many happy hours there when my daughters were young.
Unfortunately, that is probably why I ended up running late with this. I just could not decide how to depict this much loved structure.
I shall get this completed and into the post as soon as I can, but apologies for the delay.

Leaves for Maya.

Beneath are some of the scraps which made up my palette.



Some of the stitching in progress.



Your page will be setting off on it's journey to you Maya, in the morning. I do hope that you will like it........................