Barn Renovation 1

My blog postings have been few and far between these past few months as we have been renovating the workshop and log store areas of the barn. This is the back of the cottage area which is attached to the barn with the back of the old workshop at the end. We are intending to infill this area with an extra room to make a new kitchen.

Looking up the other direction is the remainder of an old retaining wall and the greenhouse frame we moved last year after removal of lots of trees and undergrowth.

This is a view from the front of the barn showing the front of the workshop and an old wall which are to be taken down and rebuilt as they were too un safe to renovate.

From the bridle way the log store can be seen.  The roof has already been removed as it was asbestos.

Inside the workshop.

The work started at the beginning of October 2015 and so now it is well on its way.  As I sort the photos I will record the progress of the build and hopefully time permitting catch up to where we are now.

Capability Brown Embroidery

I am a member of Newbury Embroiderers Guild, and we were asked to take part in an exhibition to celebrate the 300 year anniversary of Capability Brown. Our guild was paired with Blenheim Palace and we took a trip there last summer to form some ideas and take some photographs.

My piece of work was inspired by one of the small bridges that spanned the Great Lake.  I liked the way the lines of the bridge contrasted with the softness of the surrounding foliage, and decided to study the bridge from three different viewpoints. The piece is approximately A2 in size.

Although I did take a great many photographs on the trip, I was more inspired with those taken by my friend Gail who kindly shared hers with our group.  Thank you Gail!

My piece of work was constructed of papers, various fabric, wool, ribbon, photo transfer and paint with machine and hand embroidery.  The exhibition starts on February 13th and runs until the 2nd May 2016