Reporting for duty!

Dear Reader
I am sorry I have left it so long without a report but life, as they say, has got in the way- big time.
I thought long and hard about an aspect of Cornwall that would really grip me and keep me interested for the two years we have to work on it. I wanted something I didn't know a lot about so that I could have the pleasure of researching and exploring, so I chose Cornish moors and heathland. I have never been a great fan of the moors - a bit bleak or the heaths - too samey, but dear reader I was so wrong. I have borrowed several books from the library, bought some, walked on the moors, taken photos and generally immersed myself in all things moory and heathy and am amazed at how much there is to look at. From blogs to in depth archaeological studies, through suggested walks and websites, there is a wonderful world of untapped information for me to enjoy.
I started my work by preparing some good quality watercolour paper by various ways of colouring it - rag rolling, sponging and cling filming the wet paint into pooling. I will be making my own book to use as a scrapbook/ideas journal and have chosen quite a large format- almost A3 landscape. I am not sure yet how I will join them together but have plenty of time to think about it.
My first page is about some of the amazing fungi I have come across. Apparently this year is an exceptionally good one for all thing fungi and I have seen toadstools and mushrooms of all shapes and sizes. Some Beech trees at Golitha Falls (where my camera battery ran out five minutes after I got there!) were covered in beautiful orange/tan/russet fungi.
 I saw these beautiful fly agaric under some conifers last week and just had to use them in my work. I made some potato prints - not too successful, and some pizza base prints - very pleased. Here are a couple of photos of work in progress and today I will start writing on the page!

Thank you for reading the blog
Call back soon, it is our monthly meeting next week and I will encourage the Maids to leave a message here.
pip pip
Margaret




Work Table

Golitha Falls.
Just on the very edge of Bodmin Moor this is the most beautiful place to visit but wear good boots!  I love the reflections in the water and can see great possibilities for textile art work here.


close up of the prints on paper and various fabric