Purple and Green

Last week was pretty tough as I got rejected by the AA2A Scheme despite having “a strong application” and being asked to apply again next year ( congratulations to Heidi Turner though). I’m now having a bit of an identity crisis as I set myself to thinking which way to head next. Do I concentrate on freelance fashion design or pursue the opportunities that have been offered for exhibitions? I have a problem with calling myself an “artist” so, hmmm.

So, I managed to get this piece finished last week but don’t think I’m going to be able to get it framed in time for the Saltbox this coming weekend. I’m quite pleased with the colours and textures; I really would love to make a winter coat out of this wool, with panels of rich embroidery and print.

So, now that I’m not going to be able to use the college’s print rooms I’m going to have to save up for some more heat transfer paint and ideally a small heat press. I’m also toying with the idea of getting a “Gocco” printer…but first I need to build up my motivation and confidence somehow, then everything else will start to go right ( ??!)

( Reading: “Hard Boiled Wonderland and The End of the World” Haruki Murikami, Listening to : a large rat or something thats chewing up the attic !!! “System 7 “at Thimbleberry)

“When You’re Falling, How D’you Tell Which Way Is Down?…”

Ok, I know it’s been a while…is anyone still reading? I stopped saluting at magpies in the hope that my luck would change, and it has , in strange ways; though not always in the ways I’d wanted.

These pictures are from an exhibition being held this weekend in Jane Thorniley-Walker’s newly revamped shed. It’s in aid of Street Child Africa and will hopefully be the first of many.

Here is the work of Heidi Turner and below are some of Jane’s landscapes.Jane also showed some lovely mosaics one of which is an owl which I would have loved to buy if I was a bit richer.

Meanwhile, it looks like a few galleries are interested in showing my work later in the year so I’m hoping to pull myself together and get some new work done.

Please keep reading, I will try to be a bit more reliable in future! x

(Reading: ” The Bedroom Secrets of The Master Chefs” Irvine Welsh, Listening to: “When You’re Falling” Afro Celt Sound System)

Return of the Bear

I’ve been so busy lately I’ve been neglecting this but I took a day away from the sewing hoop on Friday to visit the Fashion and Embroidery Show in Harrogate. Cleveland College of Art and Design had a stand there promoting their Textiles courses and it was a lovely surprize to see that they had chosen to use some of my work on the stand. Nice to see that red bear dress again after a few months and still quite like it! The stand seemed to be doing a roaring trade in collage packs, buttons etc. so it looks like 2009’s graduates will have a fortune to spend on their degree show!

I went with Heidi Turner and whilst loitering around the Bead Merchant choosing pots of delicious looking beads she introduced me to James Hunting whose work I’ve admired for a while. Such intricate and totally gorgeous stitching but also lovely expressive “drawing” of figures that seem infused with emotion.

Take a look at the rest of his work on his website, its fabulous.

It was also good to see some familiar faces from college; Rebecca Hawkin had a stand there,sponsored by Medeira, where she was showing examples of her delicate floral embroidery.

Well, I’m off to eat some more biscuits and do a bit more stitching before a well earned trip to the pub!

Alban Elued

Happy Autumn Equinox! ” The Earths Cycle of Celebration” by Glennie Kindred suggests this is a time to “connect to your inner pathways,rest, re-charge, slip out of time ,dream awhile” This seems like a good idea so I’ve lit the fire and I’m sitting with a big mug of coffee, a stack of biscuits and some half done embroidery. Actually, rest is the last thing I’ll be getting as I need to finish another six design samples by Wednesday, in time to catch the post, and I’ve had to take on a few shifts at the pub due to extreme credit crunch!

So today’s offerings include a sketchbook page and a product board from my Lonely Hearts project.Lately I’ve been digging into these old college sketchbooks for new inspiration and feeling quite jealous of friends who are still at college and just setting out on new projects and shiny new sketchbooks!

Now I’d better get on with some work so I’ll leave you with these beautiful images of the work of Heidi Turner. Heidi is another of Osmotherley’s creative stars along with Jane Thorniley-Walker,Angela James and Lynne Hugil. She won the Hand and Lock prize in 2006 and is now working on commissions and teaching as well as being a constant source of support and inspiration.