Hepworth Wakefield

This block of concrete is the new Barbara Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.  Inside is definately better than outside!  Finding the museum is easy, finding the entrance to the car park is a major expedition as all the brown road signs lead anywhere but towards it.  The bridge across to the museum is long and it moves - if you have a nervous disposition don't go over on a windy day.  However there are interesting things to see from up there ..

Like this sunken boat amongst other more upright ones.



No photography allowed inside the Gallery but lots of exhibits, from Barbara Hepworth of course, but also Henry Moore, and more modern artists.  Also work by Ben Nicholson, Mondrian and works by other modern artists.  Well worth the time to visit, entrance is free. 

If you are going to Wakefield then be sure to pop to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (just off Junction 38 M1) where there are more Henry Moore sculptures to see, lots of other exhibits set in a lovely country park with sheep.  Free entry too. And all surrounded by the wonderful Yorkshire countryside.  I am not biased.  Much.

Creatively wise, I have been making bags.  Some more successful than others.  None totally original - Group photo to follow.  On a happy little note, one of lifes little mishaps meant that I missed my Take That concert in Manchester and I mourned.  Happily I have now secured two more tickets and will be off to Wembley with an equally wrinkly friend soon.  Our birthday present to ourselves. 

Taster class

I went to the Wool Day at unique cottage studios and embarked on a taster session with David at strawberryglass
I chose 5 pieces of glass offcuts and arranged them.  Then we smoothed the edges, applied copper foil and soldler.  As easy as that!  Hahaha.  With some repair help from David, I managed the piece opposite.  The design faults are mine.  I need lots of practice but I do like soldering so will make sure I get plenty.

Sempringham

St Gilbert of Sempringham  founded an Abbey.     Princess Gwenllian daughter of  Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last ruling Price of Wales before the English conquest (also known as Llywelyn the last) was taken to the Abbey when she was 18 months old and kept there until she died aged 54.

Until recently she didn't even have a memorial.  
















The church is all that is left of the Abbey complex now, even the original village has disappeared.  It is a strange looking church, with two definate halves, and evidence of major alterations in the stonework.

This is one of the gargoyles high on the tower

This Mutant Ninja Turtle was on another corner of the tower.

I searched around the ancient grave yard and found lots of poignant images including this treasure, a winking sun bathing angel.

I was playing with my new camera.

Marti Pellow in Jekyll & Hyde

Me and Claire went to see Jekyll & Hyde on Friday.  Wet Wet Wet were Claire's number two favorite band when she was a young teen (sorry boys, but George Michael won her heart first).  This was always going to be a special treat but extra nice because I was poorly last week.In a small provincial theatre, I had no expectations, but OMGoodness. Marti Pellow can sing!  The whole of the cast were first rate, top class stonkingly good.
There were no bells or whistles with the set, nothing to distract from the excellent performances. Except for the script being displayed on two electronic boards either side of the stage.  It was possible to have half an eye on the board and the other one and a half on the stage though.  I didn't spot many differences in what should have been said/sung to what was written :)
This is not a jolly musical, it has dark themes and dark mischief.  At one quite dramatic point, the words on the board said "music builds to crescendo" and I couldn't help myself - I giggled just as a throat was slit.  Of course I suppressed it, but then with shoulders shaking and a slight bouncing up and down, I snorted.  The woman behind me had seen the same thing, I could hear her giggling.  Claire looked at me and started.  The woman sat the other side of me, glanced over just as tears of trying not to laugh started to leak, she started to snigger too.  We all managed to get control of ourselves just in time for the dramatic climax.

We clapped as the cast took their bow.  One or two got a cheer and a whistle too.  Then Marti walked onto the stage.  We stood, we clapped, there were whistles, a true standing ovation.  And Marti cracked a grin of pleasure.  Now we cheered, we stamped, we clapped, we whistled and shouted and he laughed.  A true Marti Pellow smile.  The women in the audience looked at each other and grinned.  We were happy, he had made our day.  We didn't get an encore though :(

Honestly, Marti can sing, very well.  The duet of Lucy and Emma was as good as anything I have ever heard. I would go again without hesitation.  If you get the chance, go.

Trying to draw again

I bought a copy of this book, from Amazon I am ever hopeful that I will miraculously be able to draw once I get my hands on a new book.  Hahaha

I disregarded the instructions in the first chapter and attempted to draw my own dogs instead.  Here are two quick sketches (that took me all day to do!).  I think I have captured the curly scruffy essence of Murphy and hopefully some of the delightful hairyness of Kizzie Whizz.





He is white, curly, scruffy, with most of his beady black eyes covered by curls and he has an adorable little brown nose.

Kizzie is milk chocolate coloured but has a blonde face.  She has a beautiful heart shaped nose.  A very scruffy dood, with long hair on her face and ears and curls in places.









I am going back to the book now and will follow the instructions this time.  Cats though, I have never looked at cats, except when they are running away from one or the other of my dogs.  I have no idea what I think they look like :)

Inchies

 Inchies are finished and mailed off to swap partners.

colours and bits and bobs and a circle or two

 I made some backgrounds ready to make my inchies for the swap at cloth paper studio.I seem to be inclined to sew circles at the moment, although these were stitched using one of the built in patterns from my pfaff