A very foggy drive up to Cambridge yesterday for my FET meeting.  Lovely to see all the girls and catch up on news, as I have missed the last couple of meetings.  Morning started off with everyone showing what they are planning/working on.  This was followed by Pauline showing us how to create an interesting background and embellishment.

Then as it was the last meeting this side of Christmas, we had our party.  Everyone bought a plate of food to share, mmmmmmm!!!!!
A sunny drive home listening to my music.

Exciting news.

I had some good news today via an email from Pauline Verrinder, our mentor for FET, we have had confirmation that our next exhibition will be at Art Van Go in February.;0) We wont have long to get our work together with Christmas on the horizon. Talking of Christmas though I would rather not, when I went to the Nursery last week for some plants they had there Christmas grotto already in place-far too early!!!!!!!

FET exhibition

We managed to leave on time to get to Maldon, which is quite a miracle as we were waiting to find out what Kezzy was up to. She was talking about meeting friends in Billercay but as that all fell through, she went down the stables instead. In Maldon, these young men were guarding the Town Hall.

Christine, Ann, Jenny and Nickie worked very hard on Tuesday afternoon getting the work set up. For a small town it was surprising how many people were looking at the exhibition while I was there.

Lee was busy explaining a technique to a student doing fashion design degree at Colchester. She might be coming to our EG too!
Hubby then needed food- so off to a local cafe for homemade cake and coffee, they also happened to sell fabric there too!

Tomorrow

Off to two exhibitions tomorrow. The first one is our FET exhibition in Maldon, Hubby has asked if he can come with me.
In the afternoon, Nickie and I are going to the preview of EAST's exhibition.
A great way to spend a Saturday!!

Maldon

Not all the FET members could make the 2nd visit to Maldon to view the Maeldune Centre, (Margaret and I gave a guided tour to some in May). Pauline was very happy with the venue, much bigger than she had remembered it to be. It all so gave me another chance to view the exhibition by Octopus. We had morning coffee and lunch in this lovely restaurant close by.

When I got home, there was just time to decorate the strawberry and mascapone tart before going to Chris's for the evening.

My son Rhodri and his girlfriend are in Milton Keynes for the Prodigy concert.

Snapping away!

It was such a misty morning first thing, I couldn't see to the bottom of the field. But by 10 the sun was out and the roof came down on the car, the first time I have been able to do this since I got it last October. This is where we are having our exhibition in September. The centre is known for its embroidered hanging depicting the history of Maldon.

Before visiting the Centre we had a coffee as some had had quite a long journey. We went to the Kings Head and in the courtyard was ............

This plaque in memory of the gentleman who had lived here and weighed 44 stone! Just look how many people fitted into one of his coats.

I couldn't resist taking this picture of the menu, I thought I might one day, print some of them onto fabric.

After measuring up the centre we took a very slow walk down to the Prom, passing this dear little cottage smothered in Wisteria. Mine is still in tight buds.

As it was low tide the Thames barges were moored up, which gave us plenty of scope to take photos.

This tyre was on the deck of one of the barges, such neat rope work!

A fish and chip lunch, and we took lots more photo's, we spent quite a bit of time trying to catch a seagull in flight on camera, I managed to get lots of blue sky with just a tail feather in it. LOL!

This figure is a tribute to Byrhtnoth who led the battle against the Anglo Saxons, there was not enough path to take a photo without the sun being in the way.

Lots more photo's of the swans and cygnets, but I am only posting 1, so as not to bore anyone.
Love the reflection of the swans in the water.

On the way home I stopped at the Reservoir to take some photos of the trees reflecting in the water and couldn't resist taking one of the cow parsley. I had to lay on the grass verge to take it, I don't know what passing motorists thought!

I took 199 photos today, a lot I deleted but some I have been able to use for my art course.

Tonight I have done some work on my Hudertwasser style quilt. I should be doing my hanging for the exhibition but I need some hand stitching to take to my Mothers next weekend.