Busy Times

Well as per usual in my world, everything is quiet, then it all happens, and comes in at the same time.

I had assumed that my local Art Trail was not happening this year, as applications are usually due in during May.  So a surprise in August to get an invite to apply with only around 10 days to deadline.
A change in organisers and the event is much smaller this year, and with short gaps between application, deadline and Trail date.  I settled for using old works.
As always never know where it will be on show until venue is allocated.  So its turn up with work and see what fits.

20th-27th September 2018

Rochford Art Trail

Venue 12 Beehive Tea Rooms

South Street

22nd/23rd September 2018

Art Exhibition and Sale

Village Hall

East Hanningfield

and others and some portfolio pieces

In another week’s time I can judge the benefits of either.  Meanwhile I’ve heard about another Art Trail, which may take a different format next year.... seems many are having a rethink.

Oh and as well as the above, my name was selected to receive and review a book.  I have to put the review on Amazon.

Coming Soon

Next Exhibition from The Material Girls.
This is a new body of work, not seen before, lots of personal stories entwined with when the Hall was a Nursery.

Sampling the Samples

When stewarding its often a good idea to be doing something, so as to engage with people.  So I decided on some play, a furtherance of the postcard pieces I've already made.

previous makes

Quite ironic I have another sample made, given that I have been on a clearing out spree.

Actually the decision to sort was made months ago, but so far the neglected pile on top of the cupboard transferred to a neglected pile on the floor.

It has long been my intent to sort my City and Guilds Part 1 work, however its in the loft, so haven't got to it.  My Part 2 textile work never went into the loft as it was contained in A3 folders.  Such a volume of things we made.  My friend's husband always used to say we did more work for City and Guild Embroidery, than he ever did for his PhD in Astro Physics!
Part of the reluctance to sort, is not only the time and effort, but the finances expended, on presentations folders and all sorts.  Ssssh best not to mention out loud.

So let's do it.... one pile to keep - one to bin - one to photograph to keep a record and then bin.

I started with my Research Project, doubt I've looked at it in years.  Made the fabric covered folder.  Opened it up 18 A3 pages, indexed, bibliography, beautifully presented. Heck there's reference to a supporting folder of info, what is that?  Where is that?

Looked through it all, and its all gone in the bin.

Our Part 2 tutor gave us additional projects, not part of the course requirements.  We had to take our Research Project topic, find a book title which matched it and design a book cover.  Looking through, I'd forgotten about the other additional related project.

Design a Container.

So there it was, ideas, technique samples, full size patterns, in more than one option -  but the piece was not actually made.  Big pile of stuff again, and for nothing other than the practice of doing. No hard earned log book ticks!!!  (Any CandGers will know about the precious tick)

Rest of the folders were my textiles samples.  Piles of them.  Actually most went in the bin without a second glance.  The simple reality is I don't reference them.  I do know the techniques, I am capable of remembering, and some I can't see me ever wanting to do again.  I don't need pages of fabric dyeing samples using procion, acid and direct dyes with multiple fabrics and threads.   I remember a lesson in dyeing fleece, and the awful pong of devoré.  Setting off the college fire alarms when we used a mini oven to warm heat mouldable foam.  Heck, found a bag of beads which we had learnt how to dye ourselves..... like I'm repeating that any time soon.  We made our own from resin too.  I bought resin - it went hard..... in the tin!

dyed beads

Only a couple of pages will be photographed before binning, and I'm keeping very little.

This play sample, because likely it can never be made again, by anyone. 

Its metal chocolate wrappers which are heated to change colour.  Chocolate no longer comes in coloured foil, darn it, research excuse gone.

Needlelace and Stumpwork will never be my thing, but this technique sampler is so neat, stitching precise, even, and a face which looks like a face, and the wired hand, sooo tiny. Have to keep it just to prove I did it!

I think that's 5 x A3 folders duly sorted, I've put things into one single A3 wallet folder, and even that may get further editing in due course.

Part 1 stuff is in the loft... along with the Part 2 countries and history tomes, and likely the huge back up folders for the assessment pieces.  Hopefully they will find their way to be sorted shortly.

However as paper is my love.... I am not ready to discard all the samples made for my Paper Art qualifications.

Its not been painful to dispose of, I don't need this stuff as evidence as such of my achievement.  Part 1 may prove more taxing, it was such a very important opportunity in my life, start of a long held dream.  When it comes out of the loft, smelling musty, somewhat dusty and housing spiders, likely decisions will come easily!

Rochford Art Trail - My Pieces

First of all, managed to get new window setting photos, not easy with glass cubes in a window, but here they are:

Left window

Right window

To the pieces.... 7 completely new pieces made especially with the Trail in mind, all of which involve circles in some format, including the 8th piece which is not featured here, a book made from circular pages, seen in left window image.

3 small canvases 8" sq

Floret 1

collaged paper background, covered in machine stitch

machine stitched lollipop flowers with mono printed pattern - lace embellishment

Floret 2

collaged paper background covered in machine stitch, stenciled background

machine stitch lollipop flowers, with mono printed pattern - lace embellishment

Floret 3

collaged paper background covered in machine stitch, stenciled background

machine stitch lollipop flowers, with paint techniques

Candy Stripe

16" x 12" ready to be framed

mono printed paper, machine stitch, rusted metal heart embellishment,

with additional paper hearts and circles

Small Art Works - or as I called them Postcards

Each is 6" x 8" this selection can work portrait or landscape

have a high quality cartridge paper backing, suitable to write on

posted at own risk, but suitable for framing.

Each has a mono printed background and overall surface machine embroidery

hand stitched parabolic circles

All of these items are for sale, please email me for further information

Beverley@bevfolkard.co.uk

The Trail continues until Saturday 27th September

after which time purchased artwork may be collected

I will be stewarding again at Venue 1

11am-1pm on Thursday

Variety of work on show, glass, pottery, printing, charcoal, oils, water colours

Come and say hello.

Rochford Art Trail NOW ON

Busy busy busy... teaching engagement, visited the Trail Art Market an AGM, followed by a very full on meeting with The Material Girls, lots of things going forward, more deadlines and ideas needed.

But the big news of the week....

Rochford Art Trail

now on

17th-26th September

My work is in Venue 11, Mendoza Opticians, where I have been before.  Its a window display so no need to go in, and can be seen outside of opening hours.

You can download a copy of the Trail Map here.   Or pick one up from one of the Venues.

I will be stewarding at The Rochford Hotel.  Following on from last year there is a pop up Exhibition here from Monday to Thursday, see the map for specific hours.

Stewarding at

Venue 1

The Rochford Hotel

Monday 12noon until 2pm

Thursday 11am until 1pm

Entrance to the Hotel is via the Back Lane car park.  Driving to the car park take the roundabout into Rochford, which is after, or before the Horse & Groom pub.  Immediate left into Locks Hill and that takes you into the car park.  The Hotel is situated next to the driving exit.

I've been to the Launch Event today... given an interview about me, not something I find easy at all, but it gets a little better every time you do these things..

So as a teaser, here are some partial images from my window display.  Everything this year has turned out to involve circles.....

Small 8" sq canvases

Comprising collage of various papers

machine stitching, monoprinting, surface decoration and may be some lace!

Hopefully the images will enlarge if you click on them.

I continue to make my Small Art Works (or Postcards)

6" x 8" suitable for framing, but have paper backing for writing.

There are a couple of other pieces too

Alas I need to retake my window photos.  Too much reflection, not helped by the white van parked opposite.

Please visit the Trail, everyone works so hard to make it happen, and there is such a variety of art in all forms.  Look at the Map as there are extra events, as well as the displays.

May be I will see you at my stewarding sessions.

Sunday Share - 12. 4.15

If you follow my Page on Facebook, then you will know I have a Sunday Share, with a photo of my work.
I started this back in November, in response to seeing another's work.  I looked and thought hang on, people love that, and I have work in a series of that ilk, hrrrumph, I'll show it off.
So from 2nd Nov 2014 to end March 2015 every Sunday I've shown a piece of my art.  I do have more I can show, but partly felt like a change and partly some things need to remain hidden until exhibition.

So last week from beginning of April, I decided to switch the share and to take a look through my Sketchbooks.

Last week, I showcased this.

At first glance it might appear to be a zentangle, but actually it isn't that at all.  Its actually all about working out how to offset a square within a square so it appeared to move around.  The pen patterns were only made as a way to distinguish the individual squares so I could see them!  This dates back to 2011 and quite why I wanted to know how to do this, I've no idea, as I never did anything more with it.

This week, I've shared this, dating back from 2001:

This is me... I'd love to have the Sketchbooks of gorgeousness I see others have.  But my sketchbook keeping is really very very practical, often contains lots of diagrams and measurements.  I can visualize things much easier in my head and constructing, than in any form of paint, collage, drawing.  I've never worked it out, why what's in my head doesn't come down my arm into a pencil and paper - but does if I use fabrics and threads.  I'd still love the beautiful books, but have to settle with knowing that's not me, just far too practical for my own good.
So the above was made - likely why there's a tick!

Its black velvet, with a page from a book, overlaid with wooden sticks and machine Or Nue over the top  Took ages to sew in all those ends, and as if that wasn't enough - there are two more!

I hope my non pretty sketchbook sharing, will help others in weeks to come, who thought, as I did, that I HAD to produce the colourful, arty handwritten, inspiring, bulging wow factor  books.  So please visit my Facebook page for the briefest of info on Sunday Share, and the intent is to add thoughts behind the pages here.
See you soon.
Facebook     My website.

Magazines

I would love this posting to have something pretty on it.... but alas nothing to show to you.

I might finally be getting some time back for creating, and yes, today at our EG meeting I did take out a needle, whoah, almost needed a lesson it what it was used for!.

I have been spending money... renewed my subs via the EG for Embroidery magazine.  I've been taking it since 1992, sometimes there are issues not so good, but I can't for the moment imagine not having it.  I also decided to renew my sub for Quilting Arts.  Hesitant, but also feeling the need to keep something going, and I get it via digital sub, so not so much money.  I've decided not to renew the sister magazine, Cloth Paper Scissors, although I've had that since Issue 1.   I went online to discover that the last issue of The Bonefolder has just been issued.  Its a free online magazine for the book arts.  So downloaded that to complete my collection.  Alas bit disappointed with my other book arts magazine.  Dogeared  it stopped publication a while back, but with the promise that all subs would be honoured.  Well I am still owed FOUR magazines.  As I wrote recently discovered that another issue has been published, available as an e-mag.  Well I've done as requested, sent in my info to get my copy..... nothing.  Chased it up via another direction...... nothing.  I won't quite write this off, dealing with the wrong person, if I'm owed something I won't let go without a big fight, and I've barely started on this one.  Someone hold my coat!!!
Oh oh oh, we have a new laptop, hooray.  Went into that well known, usually out of town computer shop, to buy, from the usual 12 year old staff member.  Him indoors asked about a particular model and got the ever helpful duh response!!  Well what about this one, sorry can't sell you that one.... oh OK then in the words of Pretty Woman, 'big mistake, huge' - no sale for you then.  4pm ordered a laptop online from a large none electrical store - next day arrived 1.30pm and via FREE delivery!  Obviously in these dire financial times, some people want your money!!!

Catch Up Time

The Art Trail is over for this year - but I am pleased with how things went. My venue host was lovely, and tells me that visitors did look and wanted to buy work there and then, but that's not quite how the Trail works. If you were one of those people, do get in touch, I'm sure we can work something out. Bevtextart@aol.com

Sadly I was not successful at the Essex Open - not surprising. Textile Art is accepted but there are usually only 4/5 pieces to be found amongst the five rooms spread over two floors. Still there's always next year....

Knit One, Stitch One plans are progressing. The poster is finalised and awaiting copying for distribution.

I'm busy making my piece for the ERTF, Romance in the Store Cupboard project - hearts and love letters feature. That will be on show at The Shop in Cambridge in September. In the meantime next week the ERTF "Moving Forward" exhibition opens at the Warner Archive, Braintree, see previous post for details. There's an article on the Archive in the latest Embroidery magazine.

This is a detail of one of my Heart Series pieces, there are six - of this style, this one is Hearts & Flowers.