Been Here and There....

Quite often in my diary I have everything hit in a short space of time, and then no appointments. So once again I find myself in the space of eight days with a mix of textile art experience.

Firstly, local Embroiderers' Guild branch meeting.  Guest speaker was Wendy Smith on Goldwork.  Wendy is a friend to our Branch as she used to belong before moving out of the immediate area, and many of us, inc me studied City & Guilds Embroidery alongside her.
So as well as all the beautiful work, and the mass of knowledge Wendy shared, it was a nice catch up.

Few days later and its the monthly meeting of The Material Girls.  So much exciting stuff, planning and sharing.  Its hard sometimes to feel I should belong when out of bags and folders appears this amazing work.  I'm consolidated on two ideas, just need to think of something else - well I have, just not sure it would fit in, or just my mind racing away.  Probably change that idea a zillion times from end product anyway.  The other two pieces are on at least version three.

On way home I went to see a textile exhibition, well nearly got to see it.  Hrrumph.  Popped in, asked to be directed elsewhere, which I was, said OK I'll be back in few minutes, only to get back and find sign on door to say "popped out for 30 minutes".  So wish I could have done a scene like in Pretty Woman - mistake, huge.  So I had to settle for look through window.

Next it was to the Conference of Eastern Region Textile Forum.
Someone always has to drive a long way as its a big Region to cover - but this time it was my turn to be local, bliss.  Upcyling the theme.  Guest speaker Lisa Tilley who breathes new life and purpose into vintage bags and china.
We also had a hands on practical.  Each of us had to make a newspaper bag and fill it with five items.  We were then given someone else's bag plus an inspiration pack and had to turn it into something.
This is the bag I collated for someone else.

I don't believe Suzanne was impressed by the sticks and tea bag!

In turn I received this one

and very pleased that I managed to use all 5 items in my make!  A n d  a piece of the newspaper!

Paperwork is out for the next ERTF selected exhibition.  "Order and Chaos" - so will have to think about that, and already noting for 2016 diary.

Whilst at the Conference DH was in Norwich and visiting the Castle Museum, so he was told, you must go and see the Lorina Bulwer samplers and bring me back a postcard!  Click the name to take you to the BBC tv programme.
Glad to say he is well trained and obliged.

A complete mixture of things in such a short space of time.

Eastern Images - ERTF Exhibition

Well last post you saw one series of work, 7 wall pieces.... but that is not the only set of things I've made.  You've seen sneaky snippets, time now to show you the whole.

The Eastern Region Textile Forum, holds a selected exhibition every two years or so.  Selected by an independent guest Curator.  So this body of work was actually completed for submission by photograph last September. So its been a while to keep hidden.
The topic of this Exhibition was 'Eastern Images' - which covers anything within the Forum area or far afield to the exotic East.
Many years ago a textile artist told me, 'you only ever need about 5 topics/themes to work on, and they will last a lifetime'.  So having never tried this out, I thought, give it a go.  Living a few miles from the Estuary, what better than Beach Huts.  I have made some previous work with this inspiration, and now it was time to revisit and try some 3d versions!
So for the ERTF Exhibition I made 5 huts.  These suit my liking for things which are the same, but different.

The design, construction etc are all pure me, no using someone else's templates.

some of the design stages

I measured, cut, constructed, photographed and pondered the little buildings for ages.  Eventually I found size, shape and detail I was happy with, which seemed to look OK... I just hoped my copy paper mock ups would work when using the intended paper.  There did need to be a bit of wiggle room, but hard to measure a 'smidge'.

The Huts are stitched, perhaps minimally in some cases, and in others there is hand stitching and embellishment.  Some are painted, some printed, some distress painted... another thing to work out how to do without buying the fancy made for product.

As a collective I've called them  Waterside Parade.  My imagination is sparked, and on the list for returning to the topic is the character of each Hut.... who, why, what, stories to tell.

So having made two sets of of things, which somehow have come out a bit girly colours, I'm surprised to think I'm the one who has done that.... so doesn't seem like me at all.  I may own kittens but I don't consider myself pink, frothy frou frou at all.  Need to venture to the dark side.....

The exhibition continues until 7th March... and I will be at the venue on a Meet the Makers Day on Thursday 27th Feb - click here to the website, poster with full details.

2014 Here I come!!!

Time rolls on and here we are start of a New Year, time to think of hopes and dreams which may become a reality.  A reflection on previous year, thoughts of what to do better, explore further, yes even abandon or adjust, personally and art wise.
But I try to keep this for my textile life, so...

2013 saw a new development for me... a set of work, and not one but three, poss four, depends how you define a body of work!!
I always see my pieces as inter connected, but have never tried to make a cohesive group, so closely similar, before, nor to set out with the intent of X number in the set before a needle has been threaded.  And yes I did struggle with the spirit to keep going.  This is mainly because after making one, the itch is scratched.  One of these sets is 99% hand stitch, which will make some of my friends faint... they think I only use the sewing machine, whilst I think I use anything and everything I like!  Perceptions? Oh to see ourselves as others see us... scary.

To 2014 - and my arty plans

~ Exhibition for ERTF opening Feb - items already made, tick.
~ Exhibition at Textiles in Focus, Feb with The Material Girls - items 90% made, little tick!
~ Potential Art Trail submission, yes also Feb deadline, sigh.  Ideas, and possible items, not enough for even a tiny tick yet...
~ Further Art Trail submission, usually around May, ideas only.
~ Next topic for The Material Girls - in early research.
~ Me inflicted on my EG Branch - I've made lists!!!
(Look on the listing on the right of this blog for quick references)

If submissions accepted that will mean displaying work in June and Sept and any other adds ons as part of process.
There are other possibles... but at the moment I'm coming down on the No side.  I know I would like the project, can do the project, but think I need NOT to do the project!  Its not the doing of, or discipline needed, I'm finding hard, but the switching of my head from one thing to another, thought wise. I think I need to allocate time out and recharge a bit. Instead I need some fun input, things which really don't matter and provide joy in the moment.
After writing this in draft, twice in one day I came across similar ideas. One person said their New Year Resolution was

"Do Less - but Do It Better" 

Then there was the magazine article, taking the ideas from the 5:2 diet and applying to other areas of your life, restriction/cutting down on something for two days, be that internet use or watching tv.  Personally I can easily manage 5 days of cutting down on hoovering!  I go with the theory that if you squint you can't see the dust!  Heck just take your glasses off....
So to bring some fun, I made myself a Holiday project... and here it is.

A Boast of Bunting!

I hope you will keep me company, here or on my Facebook page, for another year of mixed media textile adventure.

Wishing You A Very Successful Happy Arty 2014
 





Exhibiting News

Well its been Happy Dancing time here.
The submission I put forward for a selected exhibition has been accepted.  This means however I can't share it with you, as yet.

Eastern Region Textile Forum

"Eastern Images"

Rhodes Gallery

Bishop's Stortford    Herts

7th Feb - 7th Mar 2014

 

Luckily the piece is actually made and ready, because also in February and just a little further North, I will be showing other work as part of The Material Girls exhibition at Textiles in Focus.

 

Textiles in Focus

Cottenham  Cambs

21st-23rd Feb 2014

 

So I have those as definite going forward end dates, but..... there is also one lot of research about to start for one project in 2015, and.... dates scheduled in the diary for another research trip for another project also showing in 2015.  Not sure about the second one yet, as in need some brain space before thinking about that one.  Spirit is often very willing, but reality is something else.

 

There had been a hiccup with blogger, but seems fixed now, so I have added the updates to the righthand column for easy future reference.

 

Oh and something to show, as I can't show items for pending Exhibitions.   I had made these for the Rochford Art Trail, but possible not very clearly seen in my photos of my window.

 

Little simple Beach Huts - machine stitched and individually painted, on Khadi paper, mounted on 4" canvas.  Each  stands on its own mini easel.

 

Plus I have these... actually I think I have a total of 36 of them, they were scattered on the sill at the Trail.

 

Hopefully photos will enlarge if you click on them.

 







ERTF Conference and Opportunities

What a great day out on Saturday - except for the minor detour in getting there.  Brain fog, early start, been before easily, but this time missed the correct road.  Too busy nattering with Juliet, and the sat nav woman lies!   But the main thing, still there in time for refreshments.
So where was I?  At the ERTF Conference in Cambridge.  First on the Agenda was a discussion about the group, the what and the how and it came down overwhelmingly that the style of Conference is very much liked and important, as its not what any of us get from our own specialist organisations, plus networking, meeting up with others.  Its so nice, and provided lots of chatter and howls of laughter throughout the day.
The topic this time was Marketing Your Artwork - which if you break it down to your own personal level there was a lot of information to be useful.   Jenny Langley our own ERTF Member gave a really good talk about her work, during which she referenced several times how a previous speaker's words had enabled her to take her work forward.  It was really helpful to see how the initial information had worked out on the practical level, making a positive move in someone's art life.
Karen Jinks talk was also very enjoyable, and right at the level of this is real and how you do it, not some airy fairy arty words.
Like most I suspect I came home exhausted and buzzing.  I've also stated my intent to try for the ERTF Exhibition - work to be made there then.
Inspired by the weekend, taking steps onwards I've put this in hand today.  I did have a meeting about 10 days ago re an opportunity, new environment for me.  So today went for a further meeting and its now a done deal!   Small and local, but new venture for me, so a new experience! Will say more in a few days.

Window in the Library

where we had excellent freshments



Creating, Sharing and Laughing

Well its been a busy kind of few days.
Having been ill for a week with one thing I had a few days well and came down with a stinking cold.  But I decided I wanted to work on an idea and needed it to take with me at a meeting where we stitch.
Warning to self: Never ever bother to get on the sewing machine when brain is full of fog.
The brilliant nod to Lynda Monk which was in my head certainly didn't pay off,.  Straight lines were anything but... I had hoped that the addition of paint would improve it, but no, still don't like.  And its got even worse with the addition of beads....

Friday I was out on a textile get together with friends. Invited by Chris, there were about 11 of us for cake, chat and laughter.  Amongst them Lynda, Juliet, Miriam, Janette, who have a web presence.
Lynda, generous as always gave us each one of her postcards... she has nothing to fear I can tell you from my above efforts adopted from her latest book.
The discussion was textile likes and dislikes, interesting.  Some people tell such a good story behind it, we howled with laughter.  But amongst the dislikes:
~ huge requirements list which need a wheelbarrow to carry to the venue and then you only use 3 items, or sometimes none of them!!!  We've all had that experience I think.
~ things like dyeing or paper making which of itself is OK - but the disporportionate amount of time then needed to do the clearing up and putting away.
~ impulse buys of threads which are beautiful but fall off the spool and knot as soon as opened.
~ impulse buys of fabric which is beautiful but hugely expensive, just because the tutor brought it.
~ sharing things with others when you've kept them pristine, turn your back and they've been opened, unravelled, spread out all over the table.

Its said that we learn more by our mistakes, and some of those present keep these things in a prominnent place to remind not to do that again.

Monday I helped to take down A Taste of Textiles at Maldon.  No sales for me, but not a surprise.  But it seemed well received on the whole.
Tuesday one of my stitchy meetings, Kathleen who has moved to Herts, came down to see us.  She travels by bus and left at 6.40am to be with us. So good of her to do that, and we had a lovely catch up.

In my capacity as ERTF web person, I've added the next Conference details to the web.  "Marketing Your Artwork with Karen Jinks.  Please check it out, open to non Members.  The conferences are not of the subject type you normally find for textiles.

Saturday I'm off to the local EG - its a practical stitchy afternoon, a surprise in waiting. "Out of the Comfort Zone"

And next Tues its Material Girls so need to bash on with my project.

I have 4 regular textile meetings but they all happen within approx 12 day space, which should mean the rest of the month I can get on with things, cough....