Pam Holland Designs and Productions

The important things in life.

Its early morning and the best time to catch the family at hom e so I've been on the computer for a while already.

I have the slippers on that Mum sent me once, (not to be seen in public but great for travel) and they are a comfort away from home.

Messages about 'Quilter versus Artist' from another group on the internet reminds me of all the things I think of and value as an artist.

I imagine you all feel a similar way, but when I am in a situation with people who ask what I 'do' or even  long term friends who consider my life frivolous and can't understand my passion for art, photography, quilting....  that's when I draw on my inner sanctum and  and retrieve my consideration for those who ask the question.

I saw this statement recently.

"I relate to everything—history, photography, and even my own emotions and creativity—through my expression of art. It just feels like a natural part of me, and is the language that I want to speak in and communicate with."

But it's not understood by all and........ am I concerned?..... not really.

There are more important things in life really.

I'm proud to be a 'Quilter' if someone thinks I sit home and sew patches or make tissue box covers and my life is an extended hobby. That's OK too.

I know who I am and I am very comfortable in my skin I don't feel the need to make others understand.

 

painting houses

The beginning of a set of houses to be printed on fabric.

My Fanciful British House.

Cats on their carpets

I left the hotel in Dublin at 6.30 am yesterday and arrived in Hot Springs around 2.00 am Dublin time.... it was a long day.

The lady next to me slept all the way.... I drew and read.

Sleep was hard to come by last night so I'm taking it easy today.

Just a little grocery shopping, washing and catching up on TV and the computer.

Miss Tilly wanted the cats to write with their tails... so this picture is of the cats on their carpets writing letters from Bamma to Miss Tilly and they are taken by flying  fairies all the way to Australia.

And these are houses I saw in England and Ireland.

Traveling, traveling.

I've been on a plane for the past 8 hours. Now I have a break before the next flight.

 

Blessed again

Sure I got blessed again as I left the Taxi this morning...

I LIKE this Irish custom.

"Bless your hands"

I've got so much to catch up on and not enough time.

I've been working on the computer for the past 3 hours and still not finished all the projects yet.

But, I had a great day today...I met with the most wonderful group of ladies and with the wisdom of those who quilt we shared ideas.

Miriam was the most wonderful hostess and when it came to cuppa time it turned into a full meal.... just delicious for this Aussie who has not had home cooked food for a while.

We had sausage plait, a Chinese meat dish, pavlova and lots of other yummies.... the calorie count went out the door !!!!

What lovely ladies.....I loved their warmth, their accents, their sense of humor and attitude towards quilting.

Thank you so much, it was lovely meeting you all.

I was touched when one of the ladies grabbed my hands and said "Bless your hands" it was the nicest compliment. I've never thought of my hands being part of my creative force.

I wanted to experience an Irish Pub but it's a bit difficult going into a pub on your own when you don't drink. I was walking down the road near my hotel and music resonated out the doors and window and beckoned me in.

I went in tentatively and it was full of children, adults and teenagers so I immediately relaxed, bought a diet coke and sat down to enjoy the music. So share it with me.

The Irish Pub from holland on Vimeo.

I sat there for an hour or more enjoying the ambiance before moving on to another restaurant to sample the Irish lamb stew and yet more live music. I love it.

I have to share the door of the lift in the hotel....!!! it took me a while to realize he was painting the door.

"Bless your hands"

 

 

The book of Kells

The book of Kells.

Yes, that's where I went today.

Now I have seen the original and it took my breathe away.

The Book of Kells (Trinity College Dublin MS 58) is celebrated for its lavish decoration. The manuscript contains the four Gospels in Latin based on a Vulgate text, written on vellum (prepared calfskin), in a bold and expert version of the script known as "insular majuscule".

The place of origin of the Book of Kells is generally attributed to the scriptorium of the monastery founded around 561 by St Colum Cille on Iona, an island off the west coast of Scotland. In 806, following a Viking raid on the island which left 68 of the community dead, the Columban monks took refuge in a new monastery at Kells, County Meath. It must have been close to the year 800 that the Book of Kells was written, although there is no way of knowing if the book was produced wholly at Iona or at Kells, or partially at each location.

So I had to come back to the hotel and created my own image.

it's so crude compared to the original.

I studied the page shown today (supposedly they turn it to a different page each day) I think I was about 1 foot from it and I couldn't see all the detail. Its so fine, you need a magnifying glass to see the intracy.

How did they do it by candle light.

How did they draw such intricate patterns on calf vellum and with pens made from swan feathers.?

It defies description.

From the sanctity of Book of Kells you walk up into the library.

It takes your breath away to see such a magnificent structure.

The beautiful leather bound books that carry so much of their history inside their covers rest casually on the shelves of huge wooden bookcases.

you can't take photos of course so I found this video that shows a little of what I saw today.

 

Tomorrow I visit the quilters.

A chip off the old block - re blog.

I just found this blog at the bottom of my page.... I almost forgot it happened... thank goodness I documented it.

 

Tilly had a sleep over last night.

So you copy Bamma and get up in the morning...and  first thing you do is a little Drapplique.

via pamhollanddesigns.typepad.com

I found this blog recently.... I love it.

Birmingham continued.

When I was in my 20's I designed an outfit similar to this much to my Mums horror, but she did make it... in fact I didn't use paper pattern for the lining between the sheer fabric... I used lace. I thought I was the 'ants pants'

This piece is made by Annette Claxton and the title of the piece is Coat of dreams. She was selling it.... I would have purchased it if I realized that.






A unique quilt made by Sally Smith. The title of the quilt is 'Flight'

Linda Gleave is the name of the maker of this wonderful piece... I love it.

This Quilt is just lovely and reflects my enjoyment of kantha embroidery.

Made by Veronika Chambers, named Class of '99

I took photos of almost all the quilts and I will save the rest for my video.... I hope you enjoyed sharing my trip with me.

 

Interesting things to see.

My goodness. I slept well and dreamt the most amazing things.

A bit like Miss Alice Isabella.

I collect blue willow and I use it daily. There is something special about using nice plates... I even confess to having a special tray with a hand embroidered cover and wonderful china for my morning coffee or TV snack and similar for our dinner table.

However, some of my china is English blue china like this one... my heart skipped a beat when I saw this in an antique shop.

So I had coffee and scones in this lovely tea room AND it was served on fine china. (made in china)

The ceiling the Deans Chapel, St Marys Church Warwick.

The church foundations date back nearly nine hundred years, being created by Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick in 1123.

Love this image.

But now it's time for breakfast and a new day... I will continue my review of Birmingham tonight.