“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)

“Don’t Go Chasing Polar Bears”

Some more old work from my portfolio today; because as usual my camera has run out of batteries, I really must get a set of re-chargeable ones…

This cat is an experimental sample on an old woolen blanket which came from a charity shop and is really lovely to work with, I’d love a big winter coat made from one. I think I dyed this piece using heather or elderberries, while the leaves and cat are digital prints from original watercolour sketches.

I had the words from Paul McCartney’s “Waterfalls” stuck in my head all day, for some reason it reminds me of watching TV at my Grandma’s house in Nunthorpe in about 1970-something!

Here in the present day I hear the Designer’s Market went well and there’ll be another in December. I missed this one so I’m going to make sure I get to the next. I’m trying to live up to the Buy Handmade pledge this Christmas so a trip to the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate is also on my list later in the week.Talking of Christmas, the news today confirmed Trevor Swales predictions, earlier in this blog, that there will be a honey shortage this year. I’m going to have to seek out some of Trevor’s heather honey tomorrow before it all disappears.

Well, it’s not quite igloo weather here but there is a bit of winter forecast for later in the week- meanwhile it’s time to move the seasons on in the design world.My last twelve Fall/Winter designs got sent to the U.S. last week so now I have to start some for Spring which should brighten up some dull winter days.

My friend Jane has fineally got her website up and running thanks to Lynne at Bamboo Webdesign. Jane has just finished a commission for client in Westerdale who wanted two large canvasses depicting the gorgeous views from his house overlooking the moor.

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.

Singing in The Rain

What a grey and miserable Midsummer’s Day. I’m sheltering in the kitchen before I have to go and do a bit of farming while my neighbours are on holiday.

Anyway, here is a cheerful character to brighten up a wet afternoon! Hippy Doll is a true vintage, circa 1967, I don’t know what my mum was thinking when she made this for me(!) but let me say she has been a fantastic role model, particularly her inability to sit up straight and her mad curly woolen hair!

I’ve finally sorted out my room and found a home for all my work… under the bed.I have an interview on Monday so I’ve been trying to put a portfolio together.Unfortunately I also found a crack in the wall through which you could actually feel the wind blowing..I thought it got a bit chilly in there!

The piece above was one of the designs for digital print that didn’t work out properly. I wanted to use it as a background to stitch into. Below is a design for a skirt that I made last year using my favorite heat transfer technique and layers of inkjet printed organza.

 

Well, I must go and brave the weather now. Just time for a quick recommendation…have a look at the work of Penny Macbeth who is Jane Thorniley-Walker’s sister. She does amazing portraits and makes wonderful flamboyant clothes and textile art. What a talented family!

 

A Walk in the Woods

I’ve just got back from a lovely evening at the opening of Jane Thorniley-Walker’s exhibition at Mount Grace Priory where the paintings competed sucessfully with the amazing surroundings.
We walked down from the village through the woods which were full of Bluebells, Forget-Me-Nots and my favorite wild garlic flowers. No bears to be seen but there was a family of mice which hopefully didn’t all get eaten by the owl that was hooting on the way back…
Later, Becky let us have a go with the “Bat Detector” which means you can hear the bats as they flutter about overhead.I got talking to a friend from the village who told me about her upcoming exhibition with the Designer Bookbinders in London.Angie studied Textiles but has since become a well respected bookbinder and has published books on the subject which I hadn’t realised ( Angela James “The Handmade Book” New Holland Books) Not for the first time I felt so lucky to live in this place which is not only beautiful but full of wonderful creative and inspirational people.

Meanwhile, Two days left to tidy up sketch books and finish sewing and putting things together. The dress above is a final piece,discharge printed wool serge, applique and embroidery with chiffon layer. The book cover is by Angela James.
Wish me luck!