Those familiar with my work will know that much of my inspiration comes from the contrasting landscapes of the South Downs in England, the Spanish sierras, and visits to France and Italy.This post is really for a fellow blogger Wildsherkin who takes wonderful photos of Sherkin off the coast of Ireland. I promised to show images of work I made following a trip there nearly three years ago. Sometimes it can take me quite awhile to decide how I’m going to translate what I’ve seen, felt and drawn. Curiously a Textiles Centre where I’ll be exhibiting later this year has chosen my favourite Irish piece to put on their facebook page, so I’ve had some lovely comments from friends as well.

Here then are some of the pieces I made. So here are the Mountains of Mourne in the rain

and now the one chosen by the gallery, Mountains of Mourne in Sun

This one shows the Mourne’s highest peak Slieve Donard which I hope I’ve spelt correctly

What this trip gave me was a completely different palette. My usual blues, golds, lilacs gave way to the richness of an Irish spring.

And finally here’s a stitch detail from Mountains of Mourne in sun