'Vase of grasses' wallhanging in hand dyed fabrics with railfence pieced blocks, hand painting(grasses), Markal paintstik(vase) and  hand quilting, guided machine quilting and free motion machine quilting.

Les Echappées du Tour de France a Tarascon sur Ariege 15/07/2012.

         Team Sky a la tete du peloton.  Bradley Wiggins en maillot Jaune et Cadel Evans juste derriere.

Sky Team support car.

Plenty of spare bikes. 

La Caravane was exciting too!

Une belle journée!

Bastille Day al fresco.  

 

 The imposing Chateau de Foix just visible in the background.

This fascinating garden is made up of a series of narrow terraces clinging to the mountainside.  There are orchards made up of apricot, plum and cherry trees, strings of vines and even a grotte carved out of the rock on one of the higher levels.  

Ski resort Pas de la Casa, Andorra today.  Strange to see cows on the slopes instead of skiers!

The photo above and the one below were taken in more or less the same spot, at different times of  the year!

Quelle jolie plante!

 

 

Garden Party this afternoon in Les Cabannes.

Concert and art exhibition in La Placette des Arts, Tarascon this evening.

More work in progress - Hand dyed fabric blocks using the cut and come again technique - merci DMTV!

More poches pendantes and Humbug bags complete with tassels.

Lizard version with hand painting.  Below - painted grid detail on lower front edges.

 

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Tassel added to free motion quilted cushion front.

And a bat on the doorstep!

These are a few samples of recent classes chez moi in Tarascon.

The scissor motifs were printed using a mouldable foam block.

Basted ready for hand echo stitching.

Linear machine stitch to add colour, texture and durability as this version is to going to become a bag.

Markal Painstik paper cut stencil central motif.

Hand echo stitching using hand dyed thread.

Another paper cut stencil motif using fabric paint, layered with tulles.

Hand echo stitched motif using variegated thread then free motion machine stitched background.

Yesterday started off hazy but cleared up by the time we set off on a lovely walk in the rolling hills near Montgaillard, just outside Foix, Ariege.  

Zoé below loves water and managed to get in whenever the opportunity arose!

This is one of many big beetles we saw keeping busy in the undergrowth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

L'Ensemble Choral de L'Ariege

Concert par La Foundation 'Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp'

de Michigan, USA.

A 70 strong choir of enthusiatic youngsters was accompanied by a pianist and led by Michael Klaue, orchestra of Hamburg University. 

It turned out to be a wonderful combination!

L'Eglise de Ste. Quitterie, Tarascon sur Ariege, an atmospheric location with amazing accoustics.

Impressive stained glass windows.

View from on of my favourite benches.

Hidden treasures in the middle of  Tarascon.

Carving alongside a doorway.

A few photos taken on recent walks around Tarascon sur Ariege.

 Fun on the river.

An Orchard in Ussat.

La  Rue Naugé.

Yesterday's walk at the Col de Port.  There's a selection of relatively flat routes to take once you reach the first summit.

 

 

These may look like black specks in the sky but they are in fact Griffon Vultures (Vautours Fauves), magnificent creatures!

 The spectacular Col de Port is a short drive from Tarascon sur Ariege in the direction of St. Girons.