Saturday, July 27, 2013

A Couple of Quiet Days at the Beach

Off we went for a couple of days at the beach, two grandmas, one daughter, and three granddaughters--a girlie party. The weather was lovely, the sea sparkled, and the beaches remained fairly empty.




While the kids dabbled in the sea, the grandmas stopped by the local brocante as usual. If I still made yarn, I would've bought the primitive spinning wheel.

And I'm considering the large, odd-shaped copper teapot sitting in the middle of the center table. Very heavy and unusual in shape.




My favorite remains the horse-
head knocker, however, I have nowhere to put it.







We celebrated a birthday with another one of those beautiful cakes that my friend makes.












This one was simple, elegant, and delicious. Everyone got a sugar high and bounced off the walls, including me.

Of course, I took along my stitching for lost moments of quiet time. I finished one wing of the Wing Cloth. 

The idea of doing a mirror image (although not an exact copy) annoys me, but the piece demands it.

So I'll now set it aside for a rest and work on something else for awhile.

Early in the morning I managed to find some sketching time while everyone slept. Looking out the window onto the beach at Hammamet (Tunisia): As usual, it drove me nuts to work so small and on paper, however, I was pleased that I had taken time in the end.
And while I sketched and then stitched I thought about a page for my textile sketchbook with turquoises and golds, and remembered four machine stitched shells I made a long time ago. It's time to use them.






Then, rather suddenly, things went topsy-turvy. While beginning to think about returning home after such a leisurely break, we heard the news that another political assassination had taken place in Tunis, so we rushed home. Funny how a day can start so pleasantly and end with such worry. A national general strike was called. Another page for the textile sketchbook is now required, a marking of the passage of major events...

Linked to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday."

21 comments:

Merilyn said...

Your sketching and especially your stitching is spectacular!!! Such fine intricate work!!! Those secondhand shops are incredible with what they stock!! The Birthday cake does look wonderful!!! Sorry to hear your girls' day out was contaminated by politics rearing its ugly head again! So much unrest lately.......

Norma Schlager said...

If I could sketch like that I would do it ALL the time. I love those shells and the wing piece, too.

LA Paylor said...

Oh I love the beach sketch. The black and white lines with the little bit of color.
I'd frame that today. I love a palm tree.
LeeAnna Paylor

Laura said...

Love the shells, are they done on machine or by hand?

Kim said...

I thought of you when I heard the news about the second political assassination, and decided to stop by and check in. We don't have internet where we're staying while in the U.S. but am visiting my daughter for a few days and she has it so I'm catching up.

Loved the sketch, and also the stitched shells. I'll have to read back farther to learn more about your Wing cloth, but I certainly like what I see.

No end to inspiration, is there?!

MulticoloredPieces said...

To answer Laura's question, the shells are machine stitched. What appears to be a dotted line is stitching from the wrong side with white in the bobbin and black on top.

Cate Rose said...

Your machine-stitched shells are so amazing...but then so is your applique work. Truly boggles my mind!
Hugs.

Linda A. Miller said...

Thanks for sharing your day. Love the delicate interlacing of the wing..Wow!

Mo Crow said...

How you draw with the machine is so stunning & thanks for the detail of how you got that dotted line... there is so much to explore in the land lines on cloth & you are truly a master of the art or should that be mistress...

Mo Crow said...

ah that should read the land of lines on cloth... is it sort of like finding the songlines in the weft & the weave...?

Susan Lenz said...

Hi!
Beautiful stitching! I agree with Norma, if I could sketch like you ... I'd sketch daily! Thanks for sharing ... especially those shells and their explanation!
Susan

Cathy Perlmutter said...

Your work is exquisite. Thanks for sharing.

Jodi said...

Where to begin. Your art/stitching always leaves me speechless. I just LOVE your Wing cloth, the sketch of Hammamet, and the shells. And the previous post of the those $4,000 vases on pedestals, etc.! Lovely, all! thanks for sharing, and thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting.
I hope you and your family are safe and sound, despite the political turmoil. xo

Deborah OHare said...

Amazing applique Nadia!!

Martha said...

I so love this layered applique that you create. Do you have online classes? Or could you give a hint as to how to layer applique in such an intricate manner? Or I will simply be content to gaze upon your art, mesmerized and in awe. martha dot myers at gmail dot com

Martha

Eva said...

Speechless. This is so perfect in every way.

Lynn Cohen said...

Oh my so much to respond to here. The sketchbook/orgainizer is a winner! Hope we get to see some of what you fill it with. Good use of those fabric scraps too! ;-)

Your fabric work is stunning!

And your sketching terrific. I do wish you'd join us over at Somewhere to Sketch blog and sketch in CA this month. who knows somewhere in the UK next month! You can put it down in your organizer to remind you! We'd love to have you. Thanks for following my blog. I want to follow you too.

Anonymous said...

what a packed post.. . hope you are safe and things have settled down a bit. I love the shells and your drawings are charming, but what I am really staying up to late here to say is how grand it is to see THAT WING in such a large photograph. Gawd it's beautiful.

Bonnie Hull said...

Beautiful work, of all types. I appreciate your notion of always working on something!!!

Katie said...

I love to see all that you're doing. The winged piece is amazing...can't wait to see the finished art.

Carole Reid said...

I'm so glad to hear you get annoyed at the thought of making the other wing! I can now take you down off the
peacefully creative pedestal. xo Carole