Studio Tidy Up

Back in Victoria I decided to tidy up my studio.

First I put away everything covering my work tables.

I rounded up all the loose yarns and threads, sorted them by colour then put them away in my thread colour- coded boxes.

I did the same with all of the fabrics I had accumulated over the past year.

I have a set of colour-coded fabric boxes I use for teaching.

I topped up those with fabrics and put them in storage.

This is a good start to my studio tidy-up.

Otters & Cream

A leisurely walk beside the Otter River....

 

...ended with a Devon cream tea at the old flour mill. 

We confirmed this was the best Devon cream tea in the land.
I had mine with a delicious pot of nettle tea.

R & R On the Devon Coast

After a demanding graduation week in London, we spent a relaxing and rejuvenating week on the Devon coast, based in the idyllic beach resort village of Budleigh Salterton.
I like that the woman is wearing the same colours as the beach huts are painted.

 

 

 

Beach art using the famous Budleigh Salterton beach pebbles. 

The vernacular Devon boat

A picture-perfect village.
Again, those soft English colours.

Life Bucket Item - Check

One of the items in my 'Life Bucket' is to attend a production at Shakespeare's Globe as a groundling in the pit.
We managed to get tickets and met up with Bob and Ingrid after our day of exploring the South Bank.
Henry V is a play I don't know but it didn't matter. I wanted the experience and to know if Shakespeare really did write lines specifically directed at the groundlings.

We went in early and I got a place beside the stage.
It was perfect for closeup views of the costumes. At one point I had to lean back to avoid being swiped by the bishop's heavy felt cloak.

Bob got a seat in the heavens.
He knows the play so enjoyed the good accoustics from his perch.

Ingrid got the last seat in the house - in the gentleman's section, with a padded stool and erotic paintings.
She also knows the play and had the pleasure of the actors facing her when they delivered their more bawdy lines.

Meanwhile, Ron had to endure the pit. Here he is enjoying the intermission, the only time groundlings were allowed to sit. One young man beside me fell over during the performance - a wheel chair appeared and he was whisked away. I had the stage to lean on so the 3 1/2 hours flew by.
It was a wonderful experience.
I can take it out of my Life Bucket.

Southwark Cathedral

On the Queen's Walk beside the River Thames is Southwark Cathedral, the oldest Gothic cathedral in London. It has been a place of worship for 1,400 years, since Anglo Saxon times - says the sign out front.

 

 

It has the distinctive flint and sandstone walls.


There are lots of classic Gothic elements to admire.

And scary gargoyles.

 

One must always look up when being a tourist.

Tourists on the South Bank

We were disappointed to find the Fashion & Textile Museum closed for a month while the next exhibit is installed.
But we did find one of the Mayor of London's Art Boxes.

Telephone boxes have been painted by well known artists then placed throughout the city.

We found 2 more that day.

 

 

In Calgary artists painted cows and left them all around the city.
Here in Victoria painted orca whales are found in unexpected places.

Tourists in London

Visited this operating theatre that has been hidden away for a 100 years and only fairly recently been rediscovered.

 

It is in the bell tower of a decommissioned church.

 

 

I'm sure Damien Hurst got inspiration here.

Speaking of Damien Hurst, just down the road we found The White Cube gallery with an exhibition of his work.
His work is all around London while the games are on.

Exploring The South Bank

The next day I was free from stewarding duties so Ron and I explored the South Bank area.

 

 

 

We used the new Shard building to keep our bearings as we explored

 

The perfect place to stop for lunch while drinking in more history

Ron pronounced the bangers and mash to be excellent