A fabulous contrast between light and dark       The clocks have changed - it is getting darker earlier. It's the time of year when  you want to start snuggling in, getting cosy. There is a definitely nip in the air. Time to get out the thick jumpers. The light is changing, getting more dramatic as the days are getting shorter. Because we have so much rain in Ireland, and of course on Loop Head where I live, we have the most wonderful displays of light and colour. The day can be dark with glowering grey clouds, then the clouds part and a shaft of sunlight hits the green fields, Wow!! I love it. 'The Last One' - Mixed media and collage This is one of my latest canvases interpreting the local cows ambling up the low incline on the way to milking. It is one of my favourite sights. I find the rhythm of rural life here very comforting. Another great sky And my interpretation in painted fusible web and newspaper The huge skies and ever changing light will be inspiring me forever

 Sample by Julia Zagar Well my first live Zoom didn't go too badly at all. I had 14 lovely ladies in the group who were great fun, and were patient while I learned how to 'pin'. There weren't too many hold ups and I think the flow was there. Zoom can never replace being the same room with your students, but it was a good second best as it was in real time. I have now discovered there is a 'spotlight' function that will help us all see one students work. Who thought we would all be learning all these new skills? A fabulous torn sample that works so well as the colour palette chosen is analogous/tones of one colour with silver highlights. It took a long time to set up for the workshop. Trying to think ahead. The students had a list of materials to paint and collect together before the workshop. The workshop was A New Starting Point, so we were working with painted Bondaweb, painted papers, gilding flake and transfer foils. The worst thing was not being there and b

 A fabulous double print on the page of an old book.  The third one day workshop at The Harbour Gallery on Jersey was a fast paced version of The Journey. The group worked really hard and produced some fabulous designs. The Journey is a design exercise I developed when I wrote, developed and taught the 4 year version of Experimental Textiles in what seems another lifetime ago. I have taught this exercise as far afield as Australia and New Zealand. It always gets great results. It is also in my book Experimental Textiles, named after my course.      The 7 Journeys all lined up together.    2 sections taken from the 7 Journeys hanging on the wall.   We also played with the 'expanded' exercise that I love. Great for getting students to look at 'the spaces in between'. Taking sections from The Journeys with 'L' shapes and tracing paper. Creating original designs. Starting to cut the printing blocks from the designs. I

 Cutting Edge Textiles A very hard working and exciting group based in Ngaruawahia.  I had been looking forward to seeing Margherita Alan again. We first met when she attended one of my classes at the excellent Quilt Symposium in Palmerston North in 2015. Since then we have be organising this workshop and the one following.  Finally we are here - and it has happened - what a fabulous 2 days we had. The workshop was The Journey into Printing Blocks.  Just look at the size of the room we had to work in - and all the materials and tools were so organised, just brilliant.    Margherita is on the far left of this photo - she could hardly contain her excitement over the 2 days - she was a joy to watch.  The group getting stuck into The Journey.  Starting to build up the lines and marks.    Admiring the finished Journeys all lined up together.   The Journeys.  The Journey is my own design exercise that I developed teaching Experimental Textiles. I