by Leonie Andrews

Stitching on The Camino

We’ve been back from our walk on the Camino de Santiago for some weeks now and I have finally started to sort through the photos. Another thing that brings back many memories is the stitch journal that I took with me.

My stitch journal was made from some cleaning up cloths left over from my gelli printing. Along with some threads I took with me and all sorts of bits of string and a lot of other stuff I found along the way I added to the fabric.

I didn’t stitch on it as much as I had hoped to, but, often at night, if I couldn’t sleep I would work on my stitching.

I have now put a video together of this piece of work which you can see here. I hope you find it interesting.

by Leonie Andrews

A visit

Ancestral voices unheard. Pervasive shouts of ‘make a silly face’ selfy talk.

Sit on the grass itself. Notice rabbit poo – no rabbits in sight.

Five breaths. Inhale and release.

Offer – nutty bar and paint water.

Unspeaking ravens watch.

Tune in your eyes, a light pass then shadows. Dry faced lichen stones.

The formalities done with. Mix the paint again.

Hands strike across the page. In that place we dance.

[Observations made when painting at Stonehenge, 21 August 2023]

by Leonie Andrews

Stitch Journal

I have started a new stitch journal, something to occupy my hands when I need to stitch, or just need a distraction. I have made a video showing the journal on my YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/OUVZ0ZZBoBA

Most importantly it is with me as I travel through Spain and the UK. While I have not been able to stitch on it as much as I would like, some additions have been made.

What happens on one side is reflected on the other side.

Most recently I spent time at the archaeological site of Castro de Castromaior, an Iron age Fort and one of the most significant historical sites in the Northern Iberian region. Here I sat and stitched while admiring the stone walls of the ancient buildings, a technique which is still being used in local village houses.

My video at Castro de Castromaior,
Galicia, Spain
30 June 2023
by Leonie Andrews

All quiet …

You might be wondering why everything is so quiet on the blog front. It’s simple really. I am currently walking the Camino di Santiago across Spain with my partner. I am posting to other social media channels and I have run out of steam for the blog. Sorry!

We are sketching as we are walking. We walk up to about lunchtime, find our accommodation and then go out sketching in the afternoon .

The church at San Juan de Ortega
Looking from our hostel to the church tower in Villafranca Montes de Ocas
Abandoned buildings in Redecilla del Camino.
The entrance to Burgos Cathedral

If you are interested in following our journey we are both sharing our sketches on a dedicated Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092387762574

I am also sharing, a more or less daily dump of photos on my Instagram page (at) leonieandrewsart.

by Leonie Andrews

February already! Yikes

I have had so many things to post this year, that I never quite got around to posting. So I will do a quick scan through the photo gallery and see what I can find.

Mainly I have been preoccupied with an embroidered piece for a group show in July. We had to get our draft writing and photos in very early as there is a book to be published to accompany the show. Very exciting indeed. So sorry no finished shots until the exhibition is open. However I did make a short video of me stitching on this piece.