A Year ago.

February 2012 saw us hard (very!) at work on the Gallery; much heavy lifting and block breaking done!

Elaine makes a breakthrough! Feb. 2012

the transformation today: Feb. 2013

Today we have done some rather more subtle re-modelling, by adding a 'comfy area' to the Gallery:

the new 'comfy area' by the window

looking towards the Mournes

extra seating for 4

what better way to spend the afternoon?

the view out the window

Felting at the Turnip House

many thanks to Frances, Margaret, Betty and Anne  for a great day's felting. The sun shone throughout. making the work go cheerily by. 

Included at no extra charge, was a Red Kite flypast, fantastic!

Here are the beautiful outcomes:

samplers - out of this world!

in the flow

iPad pouch #1

iPad pouch #2

Bag with flap

small bag

bag with flap

Scrabo Quarries

Meanwhile, whilst Elaine and her group are working hard in Newtownards town Hall, Charlie and I went for a walk in Scrabo Country Park 

It was a stunning day, and the dramatic scenery was more than a match for the weather - fantastic place, go see it if you can, we'll be back!

Scrabo Tower peeps over the Quarry edge

The view out across Comber estuary and Strangford Lough

lingering fruits

from footpath to airstrip: Newtownards Airport

in the South Quarry

one man ....

into the North Quarry

details of funghi

along the old railway

the North Quarry - positively Alpine!

Newtownards. Elaine is in the Arts Centre, the tower on the right
(built out of Scrabo stone by the way)

Happy Boy!

North Quarry from the viewpoint

Charlie spots - friend.. or foe?

The south Quarry showing rock intrusions

The tower at the South Quarry

Felt Making at Ards Arts

 It is now week 6 of the 10 week Felting course at Ards Arts in Newtownards.

Elaine is guiding a group of intrepid would-be felters through the mystery and magic of the art, and results are looking good:

2 dimensional piece: wet felt with needle felt ornament

picture progression 1: wet felt

picture progression 2: initial needlefelt embellishment

picture progression 3 final picture

brooch: needlefelt on knitted felt

a selection of brooches

3 dimensional work: pots made from shetland fibres

pot with pebble adornment

pot with needlefelted wensleydale fibre and purple pre-felt

Raymond

Raymond, our dear friend of over 25 years came up from Dublin  at the weekend.

Much chat of times old and new, many of the world's problems sorted out into the wee small hours.

Much to remember, mourn and celebrate.

Even more plots to hatch, plans to make!

Rejuvenated, exhausted, we launched ourselves into the week.

His gift to us now proudly stalks the gallery: Visitors welcome!

You can see more of Raymond's amazing work on his websites:

Forms of Life 

KinghanEye

Mourne Ice Age

The snow, now clear of the fields lingers in the Mournes, picking out every detail of the track of the ice which one scoured them

here is a montage taken this evening of the Mourne Mountain range as we see it:

The Red Kites were our constant companion today, wheeling against the mountain.

Famine Fields

The snow is on it's way fast, washed by torrential rain, and temperatures at a dizzying 4 degrees Centigrade!


Remnants of snow lie against the ditches, and in the hollows, picking out the ghostly traces of the ancient famine fields, dug by hand to grow the potato.

these stripes,made by the creation of 'lazy beds' lie on land not cultivated since the 1840's - the famine years

Add caption

this is the steep slope down to the river - used only for grazing now

traces remain even on this lower field,  normally invisible highlighted by the snow