Sunburst Stitchscape

Hello!! Did you all enjoy the fireworks last weekend? Our next door neighbour had his own little private party in the back garden which meant I could wrap up warm, step out of the back doors and stand on the steps for a really close up firework experience! It's amazing how many bursts of colour can fit into one box! Our family don't really go to any large firework displays any more, although from our position on the top of a hill, we can fill the garden with candles and stand outside to watch the displays going off across the valley, which is just as nice.

I really love the fireworks setting on my camera, the photographs are absolutely astounding!! The one below looks like a Dandelion Clock, or exploding stars with the bright ball of light at the epicentre. My absolute, all time favourite firework is the one that looks like a chandelier. It works best on quite a still night as the sparks hold their shape for longer and after exploding outwards, drift down leaving blazing trails like an aeroplane would until it forms the shape of a really snazzy chandelier, do you know the one I mean?

All these exploding lights reminded me of my most recently finished stitchscape: Sunburst Stitchscape, which has a similar shape to the light trails stitched in, but is inspired by the sight of the suns rays filtering through a woodland, like in these photographs taken at Ashdown Forest on my birthday.

Ta-Daaah!!

There are quite a few layers to this piece, some of which I probably didn't need to do but I like to be thorough, plus I might have changed my mind about how to do the sun rays anyway. The background orange and yellow fabrics are all stitched in my usual fashion, following the lines of the pattern or creating texture, then the next layer of trees are also stitched, with whip stitch following the outer lines of the trunks and different stitches on each tree. Finally we have the 'rays'!! These are just long stitches in two different colours of yellow, punctuated with glittery sequins for that extra sparkly effect.

The bottom of the piece is finished with some woodland bullion knot flowers which I hadn't intended on doing but the 'ground' seemed empty without them so in they jumped to finish everything off. I love the colours in this piece, it's so vibrant, warm and happy, offset with the lovely deep blues at the bottom. The central tree shines out of the piece like the chosen one as the others are much darker, although I should admit this wasn't an intentional look, it just seemed sensible to put it in the middle as it was the only trunk in that colour. I can't wait to see this little piece (a 20cm square) framed up.

Crowborough Carnival

I absolutely LOVE carnivals!! Just the whole atmosphere and randomness of the situation is amazing, the towns coming together to enjoy the pomp and ceremony of it all- brilliant stuff! Last night was the Crowborough carnival (the town next to mine) and I haven't been in a while as holidays and university conspired against it so it was really lovely to follow the familiar procession again with friends.

It is a vastly different experience to the Uckfield carnival and I think it is fantastic to get the two sides; being in the carnival and being a spectator of the carnival. We bumped into a slightly tipsy random stranger who started talking to us- he was a Londoner down for the weekend to visit his parents and he couldn't believe what he'd just walked into. He thought it was incredible and so do I.

Toward the end of the route, the procession marches towards the town green, with huge flaming banners of short quotes which change every year. That's a crow at the front there, followed by the 'Crowborough Bonfire & Carnival Society' banner with the words, 'We Burn For Good' underneath it.

Then this year's celebrations include 75 years on from the Battle of Britain, the WI's 100 year centenary, and the Queen's great reigning triumph of 63 years and 220 days (and counting). These great big banners are used to start a gigantic bonfire on the green which everyone waits and waits for with great suspense.

After waiting around in the cold for an hour or so, suddenly having a great flaming bonfire is usually most welcome, as long as you don't stand down wind and get covered in the ash and little glowing pieces of leaf that fly up (a health and safety nightmare probably).

It's definitely a tradition worth waiting for!!

Summer ♥

Greetings Chums!!! Would you look at that sky! The bluest blue you ever saw. Marvellous. Do help yourselves to coffee and cake- coconut sponge (shop bought- I cheated). What's that you say? The cute little elephants at the top left of the above photo? Why, they are from my latest Glazy Daisy endeavour. Would you like to see more?

I am very much in love with the bright colours, the stripes, the spots, the elephants! Who, by the way, are inspired by these guys...

...you may remember them from here and here.

The plate is full of summery colours, the sky, the sun, the sunsets/rises, flowers in the garden/house....

My Gladioli have opened up a treat and look absolutely stunning in the kitchen. The colours are just so wonderful, that no photo can really do them justice!

Last night was fun too. It was Crowborough's turn to host a carnival, although this time I was a spectator rather than a participant. The best bit is at the end, when all of the flaming torches and banners reach the green and light up the giant bonfire. The heat is incredible!

Summer Inchies

 

Evening all (like the flowers? Gorgeous, aren't they??!), just a quick pop in to let you know about my recent inchie making marathon. From what I've heard from the lovely ladies at MixedMedia ATC_UK I should be expecting quite a few inchie sets plopping through the letter box over the next few days (highly exciting!) so I hope you don't mind me going on about the subject.
I seem to excel at last minute makes, as I have literally had months to make these and have finally got round to it a few days before the deadline!

Once I got going though, I was on a roll and made several more than I needed- great to keep for any RAKs, or to just send to friends in letters (I still regularly use snail mail).

So what do you think? I think they capture the essence of summer, lots of green (helped by the  mostly endless rain!) and happy yellows, fabulous stuff!!

As well as Alison's inchies, I now also have Wendy's which are just as beautiful and in true Wendy style- her's are always perfectly stitched and made using really lovely colours.

I am looking forwards to the weekend, especially tomorrow (Saturday) as I am in Uckfield carnival with the guides. We are going for a 'Best of British' theme and I shall be wearing--------

sorry, I was half way through writing that sentence when suddenly there was a massive BOOOOOOM from outside. Fireworks!!! I rushed outside and tried to take some photos for you all, although I wasn't in a fantastic position (the best position is hanging out of the bathroom window).

Plus...(!) on returning from the depths of the garden firework display I was presented with a rather cute sugar mouse biscuit!! (Apologies about the terrible photography)

Hmm, this post is turning out much longer than I anticipated, and I am keeping you in suspense about my outfit! The sentence I was halfway through was going to continue with ------ red, white and blue, with a union jack plastic bowler hat from Tesco. I may even try my hand at some face paint!! (If I can find any that is.)
Hope you've all enjoyed your evenings as much as I have mine!!