Pam Holland Designs and Productions

BBC News - Bonnie prince sewn up in tapestry

25 July 2010 Last updated at 19:18 ET Share this pageFacebookTwitterShareEmailPrintBonnie prince sewn up in tapestryOne of the longest tapestries in the world has been unveiled in Prestonpans. A Scottish artist has unveiled one of the world's longest tapestries, in East Lothian.The work, which has 103 panels, each 1m (3ft) long, charts Bonnie Prince Charlie's journey from South Uist to the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745.About 200 volunteers from all over the world stitched together the design, which was created by artist Andrew Crummy, who was born in Prestonpans.The finished tapestry is about 100ft (30m) longer than the Bayeux Tapestry.That work depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England in 1066.The Prestonpans tapestry, which took about 25,000 hours to stitch, tells of events which led to the Jacobites recording a victory against the government army loyal to the Hanoverian king George II. Andrew Crummy said Bonnie Prince Charlie had a "magical" appealMr Crummy said: "It all started when the Baron of Prestoungrange came back from seeing the Bayeux tapestry and he said to me 'why don't we do a tapestry that depicts the Battle of Prestonpans?'"But the baron said 'I want it to be one metre longer than the Bayeux tapestry' and I foolishly said 'that sounds like a good idea'." Mr Crummy said the tapestry ended up being much longer than the Bayeux tapestry as the design was added to during production.Despite this, Mr Crummy, said he did not think it was the longest in the world.He said: "I have been told it is not the longest. I am pretty sure it is the longest in Scotland. It is more about telling the story as a quality work of art."The designer added that the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie had a "magical" appeal which drew a wide range of people to it.After touring Scotland, the trust which commissioned the work hopes to create a permanent home for the ­tapestry at the site of the battle.

via www.bbc.co.uk

I think you might find this interesting too

It's hot.....!!!

Newsflash.....

It's going to be 100 for the next 5 days.

We're already inundated by bikers and the sound of the bikes thundering through town is a low rumble and continuous.

Digital to textile: eight views

Gwen's mother had been a nurse and touched many lives. She was a charismatic person that was adored by all. In order to convey that, I decided to used multiple images stitched in bright colors.

via digitaltotextile.blogspot.com

This is another site I thought might be interesting considering that I love a challenge.

Morning everyone.

I'm getting a dab hand at cooking in my small oven... I was able to add some protein to the diet today.....!!!!!

I cooked an egg, added tomato and I feel quite domesticated...

This is a photo of the prisma pencil sharpener I mentioned in the last post... It works well, and doesn't chew the pencils....this one travels with me, I got one for my buddy and I will take one home.

I'm rather fussy about the way my pencils work and as I mentioned I'm taking the ones I purchased yesterday back to Hobby Lobby.

  my working space.

I'm using "Ink tense" (pigment ink pencils) on this piece.

Now some quilters, create the image with quilting first and then almost 'paint' the pencils on.... I prefer to do it differently.

I want it to look like a drawing... I want the colors subtle rather than looking too intense...

In this picture, I colored the image with the pencils and then wet it with a tiny brush to produce the applique.

The photo is behind and the applique in front...it's not bright and garish, but realistic.

I traced my drawing of Minnesota onto the fabric, a tight weave fabric. I didn't wash it prior to use...I need the sizing in the fabric to assist the  smooth flow of the pencil.

On the ink tense site, they wash the fabric prior to using it... can't work that one out, I tried it and it made the fabric harder to use and the ink didn't take as well...

OK, I'm off to check out the quilts stores in the area and then work all afternoon on the book....

A short note

The blog was playing up tonight...so I decided to finish some other work...

The weather here is just wonderful for me... most folk would find it too hot, but I love it.

I managed to get a lot of work done today. Accommodation booked in NY, class info to South Africa. Accommodation in London and Bangkok.... I'm on a roll.

I checked out the availability of fabric and other supplies  today and caught up on business.

I purchased some flesh colored prisma pencils and I'm taking them back... I realized the tin had been opened...and every time I tried to sharpen them, they broke.... so I wasn't happy.

I found the prisma pencil sharpener I talk about in my class in Hobby Lobby...

I bought chicken and prawn salad in the supermarket. Bagels and yoghurt so I'm set for a few days of retreat.

I've taken over a lounge to work in and I have a huge table to set things out and I got quite a bit of illustration done...

It's like having my own studio...

In the meantime...I'm a little homesick and needing a hug from the grandies.....

Week 35

From the first photo I took I wanted to make a block with the dragon as the theme.  So thus begins the dragons.  There are lots of carvings of dragons on the pagoda and all are a little different from the others, in fact there are five different dragons and this is the first.

via carorose.typepad.com

This is my friend Carolyns Challenge this week..... just super.

A day off.

I'm having a day off scheduled work today.

I am tired, but I did walk around Hot Springs and I'm rather impressed.

Great galleries, gift shops and restaurants.

I spent the morning walking through this venue... it's huge and I can see great potential. There is a lot of work going on with the renovations and the opening will be in October.

A lot of space, accommodation, pool, spas, and set in a neat town.

 

 

These are just a few of the things I saw today.... It is rather hot here... and I think I need to go down town and take a bottle to get some spring water, you can get it from a fountain in the main st... there were about 10 people there this morning with big containers gathering water...

I stopped for lunch at Whole Hog cafe

It was delicious.... I have enough ribs for lunch and tea....

I visited the bath house and also a great gallery....

Gallery of photos taken today.

Capturing the day

I woke before the alarm.
4.45. And a new day begins.... I will travel  all day today.

There's an art to packing the bags and that is all done a day or so before I leave... 

I'm paranoid that I will leave something behind, and I do occasionally.       I get really cross with myself.

It's chilly, 51 degrees. And I need a sweater for this first part of the morning. There are just two people eating breakfast and they talk in hushed tones...

The coffee is awful and I dislike these foam cups with a passion...

I have my own in the bag... But they are packed.

It's hard getting the morning pills down.

It was an hour drive to the airport, the mist was rising from the surface of the lake.... The sunlight flowing over glowing fields.  I wanted to jump out and take photos, but I was composing as we drove...  I had to be happy with mind photos.

I just had a short time to wait for the plane and I had a light breakfast and began working on the "R"..... I got stuck.... R for?...... Rose, RALF..... He's in the story so I guess it's

RALF.

It's time to keep track of the calories after the past few weeks.... So that was the next task... I always begin with good intentions, do it for a few days and then miss a few days....!!! Then... OK, I'll start again  next week.!!

I'm high above the clouds, it's magical, the blue is iridescent. 

There is a dog under someones seat..... He's upset..

I would be too if I was shoved under a plane seat in a plastic container.

The iPad allows me to do this in all sorts of places. I have my earphones on and listening to Vivaldi. The drinks cart is wending it's way up the aisle.
I'll drink my coffee while listening to the Orchestra playing just for me.

How lucky am I.

This was the route I was on once when the tyres burst on the plane on take off. We had to land on the rims (or whatever they call them on a plane)... Sparks flying.
It was exciting and impressed the teenage grandchildren.

whoops the coffee is so hot I don't think I will drink it all before we land.
No 2 foam cup for the day and it's only 9.15.

I can see the outline of Chicago and there is an announcement of our next flight gate.

I have a 2 hour wait till my next flight.

I LOVE airports, people are dashing past in all directions. Old, young, cowboys with great boots and hats, children and
What is their story?

I miss a lot when I sit in the club... All I get to see are people talking into their computers and phones.... I get a little annoyed by that. I don't want to hear all about their business.

Outside the doors of the club is much more interesting.
There is often a scrabble to get the available power points... Some folk even sit on the floor, you have to be careful not to trip over their legs.

I saw a Chinese lady almost sleep brought her gate call.

The flight was just 90 minutes from Chicago to Little Rock Arkansas...and I worked on my book on the Ipad all the way.

As I walked out of the plane a huge bank of heat hit me... it was stifling. It felt like it was almost 100% humidity.

I picked up my black car and with GPS ready... I was off.

I've never been to Little Rock before, so I'm interested in everything.

It was 2.30 pm and I was feeling a little hungry.... suddenly I saw a sign for Cracker Barrel and I thought..."that's it."

I was introduced to Cracker Barrel many years ago by a dear friend who has since passed away....The food is comforting and it reminds me of Della We played this game when we were there.

 

Just as I left the restaurant, it began to rain... the storm was ominous and I made a quick decision to take shelter in the nearby Wal Mart.

The storm was huge, lightening and the sound of the rain continued for almost an hour and a half....

I bought supplies for my suite and then braved the rain.

It's a bit nerve racking driving somewhere unfamiliar in the rain... but it began to subside and I congratulated myself. I turned the radio on to loud country music and the spirits soared.

The countryside is stunning... I couldn't stop to take photos, but needless to say I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to do so.

Suddenly it turned black again. Everyone had their headlights on and down came the rain..... fortunately I only had 7 miles to go, so with the other cars on the freeway we crawled along in procession....! whew.

Now we there is a flood alert....!!!!

I think I attract these situations...

It's pretty darn quiet here  at the moment... but there is the annual HOG motorcycle run, over the weekend...I'm going to find myself overrun by bikers....

That's my day.... time to cook dinner.

 

I'll try to capture the day.

The Television is annoying the heck out of me tonight.... so with a flick of a switch, I can turn it off and listen to music as I write the blog.

It's my last day in Michigan...

Saying goodbye to friends is always a little wrenching.

But supper with good  friend Dave in a 50's diner -  with music to match the decor helped.

 

I love these places.

  I just can't help myself.....!!!!

Then his fiance arrived and we went to whimpys for  ice cream.... what a lovely, uncomplicated way to finish a day.

I was sitting in a cafe at lunch time.... just watching life around me. I was going to write down what I saw, but to be honest  I was tired after a 5 day event and just couldn't will my mind to do it.

So with Ipad in hand tomorrow I'm going to see if I can "capture the day" with word and images....

Being Me

BEING ME.

For as long as I can remember I've lived in my own private world. I'm never bored and very seldom lonely...

When I'm on the road I'm surrounded by the most wonderful people.... however, there is always a time in the day that I sit quietly and work by myself and classical music takes me to a quieter place.

I've discovered a wonderful CD on I tunes, I've listened to it constantly for the past week. The music is just beautiful....

I listen to this type of music when creating the Bayeux Quilt and when I'm writing.

Listen to the music.

Recognized during her lifetime as one of the finest composers in Italy, Chiara Margarita Cozzolani spent her entire adult life within the four walls of the musically famous convent of Santa Radegonda in Milan. Contemporary accounts describe the huge crowds that filled the exterior church of the convent to hear the angelic voices of nuns singing Cozzolani’s passionate and ecstatic music.

It's been a great week.... lots of creative process.

A lot of laughter and sharing of experiences... 

13 years at the same retreat is a record for me.... I just love it..

I silently listen to the banter in the room... "can I borrow some of your, um..... forgot the name  thread",

"Yes, if you can pronounce it you can borrow it"

I filmed today, talked at length, had dinner with the gals and attended a very famous annual event here in Grayling Michigan.

It's the annual AuSable  canoe marathon.

The attire was striking.

 

The crowds gathered in their thousands and waited expectantly.

The starting gun fired and the 90 teams had to sprint about 1/4 mile to the start.

That's me for the day.......