Tuesday, 27 January 2026

WOYWW 869 Scribbly trees and crochet

Hi all, I’m joining in with our weekly bloghop care of Sarah’s Craftshed
I hear our Neet is out of hospital so I’m sending healing hugs to you Neet!
Here’s my desk at art class:












And my completed Kent Winter Landscape, of Princes Parade, from a photo by my friend Chris Farrell, which she very kindly gave me permission to use. 
I’m happy to have painted Prince’s Parade as I was part of the successful protest against it being used for luxury housing. 

This week we’re doing graphite and watercolour study of an egg and eggshells in an egg box. 
My crochet slipover is progressing and I’ve now started the scary part of decreasing in pattern for the neck. 
 Bella’s supervising and sends you all purrs. 




And finally…..




I’ll be round after art class so put the kettle on!
Hugs
Lynnecrafts xx






Tuesday, 20 January 2026

WOYWW 868 Scribbly trees and crochet colours

Hi all, it’s bloghop time again courtesy of Sarah’s Craftshed. Sending healing hugs to our Neet who, I believe, is still in hospital. 
My desk shows the work in progress of my winter landscape. Claire has us using twigs and feathers to scribble trees, using only flat brushes, and keeping to a restrictive palette. Mine is mainly shades of blue and eventually orange. 
The greys are ultramarine or indigo with burnt sienna. 
I’ve applied gesso in the foreground but I’m working down to it. We’re working in the style of an artist called Michael Morgan. 
Here’s a link to a short extract about him from the book Watercolour Innovations by Jackie Simmonds.

I’m still working on B’s slipover and have moved onto the front. I’ve photographed them both together with a red mark to show where the front is up to. 


I’m using one of my Mum’s old knitting needles to organise my colours. They’re all variegated King Cole Prism yarn, between Stylecraft special yarn in silver (though it looks more cream to me.)


















These yarn bobbins are helping me keep the yarn untangled. (I guess ‘in a robble’ must be Potteries dialect for ‘in a tangle’ as even Brian said he hadn’t heard of it.)
Bella is supervising as ever and sends you all purrs. 






















And finally…
I’ve been guilty of this but I did tear myself away from crochet and art to do my tax return. 




 





 Jokes seem ever more essential these days. It’s getting so that even this crazy film by Peter Sellers seems more sensible than the news:


I’ll be round to visit after art class - put the kettle onπŸ˜€
Hugs
Lynnecrafts xx

Michael Morgan


From Watercolour Innovations by Jackie Simmonds.

LMC

Tuesday, 13 January 2026

WOYWW 867 textures of snow, and heart-shaped pillows.

Hi all, I’m here for our weekly blog sharing care of Sarah’s Craftshed, firstly sending healing hugs to our Neet, who’s still in hospital, I believe. 
My art class desk is fairly empty this week as we were drawing our winter landscapes. Claire showed us examples of textures created with gesso, though, which have made me reconsider my subject. 
I’m not sure it will be clear in a photo, but Claire showed us how to create texture with gesso. That’s made me think that my friend,Chris’s photo of Prince’s Parade might be interesting to do, with its crunchy snow. 

On Saturday, I spent a happy afternoon with Ethelburga quilters. Once a year, they have a day of making heart-shaped cushions for people who’ve had breast surgery, which are donated to our local hospital. They’re heart shaped to be easy to tuck under the arm. 
Most are expert sewers, with fancy sewing machines, but I do the stuffing and hand-sewing of the stuffing gap. Is there a technical term for this gap, Jan?
We made 76 cushions, and the organiser, my friend, Liz, took 10 more home with her to finish. 

It was a nice afternoon and they appreciated my caramel Florentines, with apricot, mixed peel, pistachios and almonds. I’ll make them again and will remember to take a photo this time! πŸ˜†
Bella is still supervising my crochet. She sends you all purrs. 

And finally…
Mine are secured with spectacle cables these days but I know how this one feels!


I’ll be round after art class. 
Hugs
Lynnecrafts xx

Tuesday, 6 January 2026

WOYWW 866 Winter art and managing colours

Hi all, 
I’m joining in with our blog hop care of Sarah’s Craftshed and sending healing hugs to Neet, who’s still in hospital.
Art class starts again this week so I’ve been finishing my collage annd watercolour cornucopia. The masking fluid has been on it for a month so I used my Frisk maskaway rubber to ease it off (foreground). It’s surprisingly effective. 

I’m pleased with my painting for once, and we’ll see what our tutor says about it tomorrow. 

This week we’re starting winter landscapes and we’re only allowed to use flat brushes. 
I’ve found a photo I like for a reference.
 Though these are pretty too, if a little busy.  


However, I’ve just checked my notes and Claire specified Kent winter landscapes. I’ve this one from my friend Chris. I’ll print a few and see what I can work on in class. Whenever I think landscapes I always prefer the Peak District, though, it’s home. Chris’s photo is from last year, at Prince’s Parade, as we’ve only had a tiny snowfall so far this week in Kent. Stay safe and warm if it’s worse where you are. 

Brian’s slipover is progressing slowly. I got too ambitious with the amount of different yarns and it got into a robble. 

I’m carrying the yarn up the side and have now restricted myself to two bobbins of yarn plus the cream. I’ve wound alternate lengths of yarn onto 2 bobbins with magic knots and it’s easier to manage. 



Bella is in deep winter relaxation mode, she sends you all rather sleepy purrs. 


And finally …



I’ll be round to visit after class so put the kettle on. πŸ˜€
Hugs
Lynnecrafts xx