Today’s the day that I have finally finished my Hand Embroidered portrait of Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland. I am very proud of the many months of hand stitching and over fifty shades of DMC embroidery threads used to created this image. Anyone who knows me will tell you how much I love and am addicted to embroidery. I am always embroidering flowers, animals, birds and so much more to create pictures, brooches and buttons.
I do enjoy a big project every now and then and this time I chose a portrait and who could it be but our President.
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It is always scary getting started but also exciting too. I study the image, choose the colours and sketch the drawing. It is amazing to watch the image grow and take shape one stitch at a time. Using a single stand of thread allows for shape and form to grow. I repeatedly check the original image for colours and ensure that my shading gives the right shape and tone.

During the process of embroidering the portrait I take lots of pictures. I love how they capture the image taking shape, the face slowing emerging from the fabric and tangle of threads. The image from the back has a beauty to it all of its own and some people prefer this side. Some would say this is hard work and although it takes time I find it relaxing. You get into a rhythm of stitching, relaxing your mind in to colours and textures . The sheer pleasure I get from embroidery is hard to put into words but it is a medium that suits my creative soul . 

I am not really in to posting pictures of myself with my art work but in this instance I am so happy and delighted with the portrait. I hope I have done our President proud and that you like it too.
If you want to know more about this embroidery just drop me a line.

3It has been my pleasure to create 3 postcards for this wonderful event. Being part of over 1,200 artists from all over Ireland and around the world, including many famous names. Each artwork costs 65 euro and all funds raised will help support over 400 Jack and Jill families across Ireland.
Turn art into care by purchasing an original artwork that you love, and don't forget - the artist's identity will only be revealed when the sale end's.....
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Did I tell you how much I love lions. I love all animals that roam the great open plains of Africa but lions are my favourite. Although I paint I do enjoy using threads to showcase their beauty. Embroidery allows for texture, shapes and character of each lion I create to come alive on the fabric.
A single thread can say so much, showing a giant in an ever changing world its beauty and strength. I even captured a photo of myself with a crazy lion hairdo. The lion image on the lemon fabric is a new piece I am currently working on, still a way to go but steadily coming along .

As summer slipped into autumn , I gathered my paintings and creations ,I have many journals filled with notes, ideas torn from magazines and even small art drawings. I get so many ideas I really need to keep in my journals and note books and then from there I plan out an idea and get to work on it.
Now that I am on almost near the end of my RSN certificate in embroidery, I can enjoy less study and more free time to explore ideas. Winter keeps me more in doors and gives me less time in my garden which I love.
Cosy fires, woolly socks , dog snoring on his bed are all part of winter evenings but I always have a book or some small embroidery in my hand.
Soon it will be time to fill the house with Christmas decorations but that’s for another time..

I took a walk to Colclough Walled Garden located beside Tinern Abbey Wexford. Here in the Victorian Vinery/ Orangery which has been restored, It is the perfect setting for my small embroidery pieces which represents nature. It was a beautiful walk down the lane to Tintern Abbey and I was glad for the shade of the trees as it was warm in the sunlight.

The beautiful trees create wonderful dappled shade and gave me lots of inspiration for new works. The winding paths lead to the walled gardens which were created over 200 years ago by the Colclough family.

We are very fortunate to have such a beautiful and historic Abbey and gardens so close to our cottage. The village we live in , Saltmills was once nearer to the Abbey but was moved nearer the bay by the Colclough family.
The embroidery pieces that I have on display in the walled garden are of flowers, hare, mushroom and of course the sea. I have also placed a 3D beaded frog which sits on a cushion along side my framed works.
I will at a later date be embroidering in the gardens , where visitors can view embroidery works in progress.
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So while the sun shines if you visit Wexford, do head to Tintern Abbey and it’s beautiful walled garden.

Now as August comes to a close , I reflect on an amazing summer. Hot sunny day, long warm nights and journals bursting with new ideas to explore through my creativeness. I spent many days of study and stitching on my embroidery work with The Royal School of Needlework, Hampton Court London. Improving my skills and knowledge of the subject. The weather allowed for much Plein Air painting and walks along the seashores collecting shells. It very much was a summer of living outdoors and being close to nature. 
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I worked a lot in oil paints this summer, enjoying their ease of flow and power of colour. My fingers are a little sore from lots and lots of embroidery work but I have created some very tiny and very large works for autumn events.

Although the weather is cooling down and the trees are changing colour there is still so much pleasure in making my art outdoors. From my garden studio I can watch the tide ebb and flow . Exciting times lay ahead and with seasons change new art is created. 

As the weather has now begun to warm up it’s time to plant up the potatoes and get the garden going. We may still have a chilly night but I started a lot of seeds in my poly tunnel and they are already peeping through the soil.

My garden is very important to me as I get a lot of inspiration from it for my art and craft creations. I can look down to the sea from my garden and hear the breaking waves in a storm. So many insects use my garden and we have lots of hens and ducks enjoying it too.
I love to fill the garden around my art studio with things I make and paintings also. I love to enjoy what I create and they fill me with joy and peace. I love filling hangings baskets with flowers and pots with plants to place around my garden art studio. I also have a small pottery shed were I make little items for my garden and home.

I love my little seat outside my studio were I can sit and admire the
view. The clay face in the above picture is of a Green Lady I have made for my garden, I am waiting on her to dry and then bisque fire ready for decorating. 

it is an exciting time planning my garden but also my mind is filled with new ideas for art and crafts, lots of new embroidery designs and sculptures I want to create in my garden.
So it’s time to get up, get out and welcome spring.

Well I feel as today is St Patricks Day I should share my green dragon with you all. I have been stitching home for a long long time. 
His body was created from paper mache  and then cover in felt on to which I had stitched threads waste and spool ends. These were over stitched with lots of gold threads and beads. His eyes are glass dolls eyes and he has double wings. I created the wings from wire, find nylon and hot glue with lots of glitter added for fun.

I enjoyed embellishing my dragon which I still have to name. I love making little creatures who are fun and people in general seem to enjoy them. I am always planning bigger and stranger creatures so you never know what this summer may bring.
Happy St. Patrick’s day to you all ?☘️?

Canvas Module.
A few weeks back I began my canvas module with the RSN online. I choose to recreate , well try to , Lady Lavery who was on the Irish bank notes. I have always liked the image as it reminds me of my childhood and once been given a five pound note with her image on it.
Once I was all set up  I was excited to get sewing as in this piece I could use wool, embroidery threads and even add embellishments.
I did a number of drawings and eventually created a simple version of the image and set to work on it.
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Canvas work has a vast range of stitches , some with multiple names. They can look complicated in diagrams but my tutor Heather Lewis is very good at breaking it down and guiding us through it. 
it is important to try some samples of stitches, well actually lots of samples as you need to ensure you count the correct number of threads to stitch over. I all too often have got it wrong and had to rip back to correct my mistakes.
Canvas work takes time and a lot of counting. You also spend a lot of time setting up seven or eight or more needles with eight to twelve blended strands. And then do not forget to take notes for your own reference and for filling in your assessment at the end of the module.

My piece is slowly coming together and I feel I am making progress. I am preparing my mount card but feel a little nervous about stitching the canvas on as it is not very easy to fold. This will be one area  I feel I will need guidance from my tutor with.
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Through a WhatsApp group , our online class chat and share photos with our tutor and each other. Photos allow you to zoom in and see those mistakes that the naked eye misses. I have gotten to know to other ladies in my group and it’s nice to be able to chat and help each other.
So I shall carry on stitching and keep you all posted.
Chat soon.