Stuff

I like your ideas Aussie Jo. Jane Wild and I were wanting to call our Paper, Metal and Stitch book 'Stuff and What to do with it'. Lots of the stuff in the new book is based on frescos, both Isobel and I are quite hooked on them. In fact it is quite remarkable how we both keep coming up with similar design sources, without discussing them. Our work is quite different so it doesn't matter too much. I do love Isobel's laminating techniques - here's a little sample of a sketchbook wrap I finished today. You can't see it but there is some text laminated to silk paper here.

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Isobel is great to work with and you are right about her earlier books, Carol. You are no slouch on the work front - I love the article you've written for the next Workshop on the Web. Amazing art books.

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Yes, Heather - it was great work at Windsor this year. It was so encouraging to see the City and Guilds work looking so strong. I talked to Margaret Walker from C&G and she says that there are lots more smaller establishments and individual teachers setting up c&g classes, rather than Adult Ed. Good if that proves the way to go.

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Good to meet fabriquefantastique and welcome aboard.

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It is so hot here and Smudge is roasting in his thick coat. Lots of it is spread around the house - I could knit another cat. This morning he was sitting panting under the cherry tree when a bird fell on his head. I don't know which of them was more surprised but Smudge wasn't slow to grab it. The poor young fledgling had a breakneck tour of the house and garden with Clive and me in hot pursuit. We did get it away from him and it flew off, so I hope it survivved. I bet it thinks that the world outside the nest is a scary place. This afternoon we rescued a frog from the jaws of hell and then Smudge went for the hat-trick and attacked next-door's dog - a large spaniel. This time it him who needed to be saved from the jaws.
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We are having another try at house selling. The guy came to take photos and I forgot to put away my sewing machine. Which was on the table in the 'breakfast room'. (We didn't know we had one of those, we call it the little room off the kitchen, or the thingy room!)

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So my Bernina is immortalised on the Right Move site, for all to see.

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Not getting excited - we caused the last property crash and have every reason to believe we'll cause another one. I'll keep you posted.

The Windsor Experience

I was very flattered to be asked to open the Windsor textiles exhibition yesterday evening. Flattered and scared stiff - I love doing talks but speeches are a different thing entirely. Personally I feel that they should be very short but when it's such a big occasion they can't be too short. Anyway I did it last night and it seemed to go down well.

I have to say that the work is wonderful this year. The higher education stuff is always great and this year is no exception. I couldn't take many photos as I was on my best behaviour (aka chatting a lot) but did manage to take this photo of Alex with her wonderful 'pods'. It was based on a bush, covered with webs, she saw in Canada. If anyone has been watching Springwatch this week, you will have seen a similar effect where caterpillars had completely covered a bush with spun webs.

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Here is a detail.

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Mary wondered what could possibly be hatching and came up with the idea of the pods. There is also a sequence showing the pods as they 'ripen', complete with gooey drips down the wall. The final creature is left to the viewer's inagination.

I loved Glenys' crisp monotonal work with very clever use of the embellisher. She is sending me some photos of that, plus lots of other exhibition photos so I will show you them later in the week.

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Gill made this amazing structure to be placed in a garden. Shuna Rendell, who makes the most amazing baskets (among other structural pieces), is one of the tutors on the course and her influence showed here in the wrapped withies. I do love the idea of a piece designed for a garden - such a clever idea and the weathering would change it gradually, so it was always different.
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Her drawings were lovely too - this one inspired the finished piece. It was light filtering through a gate.

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The City and Guilds and Advanced Workshop stuff is also very strong. So, more on Windsor soon.

Thanks for all the messages of back sympathy. I do seem to be fully operational again but I'm taking it a little slowly. I'm working on more stuff for the book I'm doing with Isobel Hall. The working title is.........

Mixed media surfaces for jewellery, books, bags and quite a lot else.

I want to get across the fact that the book has lots of Isobel's amazing mixed media jewellery (which is so unusual) but still get across the fact that the surfaces can be used in lots of other ways. Any ideas, anyone?

Traps and Trips

It’s been a funny couple of weeks since the last blog. Just when the tum cleared up the back went. It was just like the standard comedy show sketch – I was bending over a patio pot when this terrific pain shot through my back and I couldn’t move. I thought I’d have to spend my life as a garden gnome, glued to the pot. Anyway, Clive got me indoors and I’ll pass over the next few days. I got a lot of hand stitching done.

The exhibition finished at Highcliffe and I sold a piece of work and lots of books – quite a few sales were made, which is pleasing when you think of the financial situation. I met some interesting people when stewarding.

Had a great weekend in Kent doing a talk and demos for the local Guild. They were very enthusiastic and we had a lovely day but, boy was it hot in that hall! Here are some pics from the weekend:



On the way up on Friday we had lunch at a National Trust pad - Ightham Mote. It was a lovely house and the weather was just right.

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I'd done a bit of research on the web and found us a good place to eat in the evening. It was like being on holiday again, but without the getting lost.



The guild was very well organised - they had sales and traders and I did demos in the morning, then lunch and the talk in the afternoon. I thought their sales wall was a great idea and it was quite empty by the end of the day.

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The cakes, oh the cakes (I'm dieting today).
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The Young Embroiderers were a very lively group and I had a good chat with Ashleigh and Autumn. I've fuzzed their faces, for obvious reasons.

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The talk went down well, although it was very, very hot. We had a little break part way through for doors to be opened and water drunk.

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I do think that making a day of it is a good idea for branches. Yes, it's a lot of work, but everyone said how good it was and I'm sure that lots of tutors would be glad to do a few demos or show their work in depth.

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Jane Wild’s group, Studio 3 had a wonderful exhibition - we went this morning. She is using more colour (she is very assured in charcoal and drawing) and says she is feeling her way. Looks pretty good to me already - I'll get pics soon.

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At last I’m working in the studio again. Deep joy, can’t stop - back soon.