2018 Already!!

Happy New Year

Here we are already good way through first week in January.

Last year was quite full on, lots achieved and done, but not always to my personal satisfaction.  Record keeping of all sorts has gone amiss, inc in blogland.

I won't say its a Resolution to write more, but let's just say the intent to do is there.

2017 saw

The Material Girls with FOUR Exhibitions

John Harle at second venue

Essex Environment shown at two venues

and a very successful Exhibition Goodnight Children Everywhere

My Embroiderers' Guild Branch

held a very successful Exhibition

then there was the National Day of Stitch

which was packed out all day

and I received a Certificate for being a Member for

25 years.

On a personal level

Once again had work in Rochford Art Trail

September, October and November

saw attendance at Workshops

Art Van Go

Seth Apter

Dali Graham

Phew, a lot there,

2018 may be a quieter year as lots of organisations seem

to be taking a break.

I do have plans and commitments to things, and await notifications of

any new opportunities.

September Whoosh

September was mega busy, it always is, but this year seemed exceptionally so, at one time 20 appointments booked in.  It gets more complicated for a one car household, having to work out logistics.
So let's take a look at it, in pictures.  Hopefully if you click on they will enlarge for better viewing, click on any highlighted links too.

First week of September attended a Workshop

Art Van Go

Now I think I've done 2 of these in the past, may be 3, but years ago.

Its play and experiment with paint products.

The following week it was time to set up

Rochford Art Trail

The next week with the Trail still on

time to set up and open

The Material Girls

'Goodnight Children Everywhere'

at Rainham Hall

In amongst lots of stewarding, here and there and trying to keep track of

where I'm doing what, and him indoors with his own art display too

So on Sunday 1st October everything was down.

OK so its now October, but the finish to the mad rushing about

on the Monday night, 2nd Oct

Seth Apter Workshop

50 Ways to Leave Your Layer

This was about base layers and how to layer up
so both of these samples may have a way to go,
but it was about process.
I loved this workshop came home buzzing with excitement.

I've had lots of thoughts comparing the two workshops at either end of this busy time., both with backgrounds, different approaches. There were differences in content, product, delivery, lots of similarities and differences.  I may commit my thoughts on these to another blog post.  So watch out.

Now that October is here, The Material Girls have one more Exhibition for the year at Loughton, which is all in hand.  Otherwise breathing space, which is good, time for the ideas to pop and be acted on, instead of a lot of reaction which is how its been of late.

A Studio in Action

The Material Girls latest Exhibition.  Actually the work has been ready for months, however the allocated space still isn't, and so Plan B was put into action, and we have arranged a display to not only show the work, but also give background to the creative practice.
There are other photos on The Materials Girls, website, blog and facebook pages, and also we have a new Instagram account.  Please visit, Like, Share, and do return as more images are added.

Here's a selection of over views from my day stewarding, to give you an idea.  Details of my pieces will follow on another posting.

Open 11am-3pm until Sunday 28th February

FREE - closed Monday and Tuesday

With the Compliments of Capt. John Harle 17-28 Feb

August Disappeared Somewhere

Wow, can't believe so much time has passed since I last blogged.  Just really not in the right frame of mind for things.  However, the art work hasn't stopped, just needed some space, and the blog/Facebook etc fell aside.

So, we continue with our work in The Material Girls - lots of things going forward to be considered.  We have a new logo, which you will see on future publicity etc.  Its already up on the website and blog

Our current project involves working with the National Trust.  Go to The Girls' blog and look through past posts, where you will find taster images of the work we've prepared.  More likely to follow.  We've attending meetings, and are party to a lot of 'behind the scenes' preparations, its certainly opened our eyes, in all sorts of ways.

You can see an image of my work on the blog - but here's another - there are other pieces, but I'm not even going to sneak a look at those yet.

In the meantime Rochford Art Trail is fast approaching, and work is still ongoing for that.  Ideas not a problem, just wish I had a studio so I could lay everything out.  Working in a room which is not totally my own has its limits.
But to keep you guessing on this one, here are some backgrounds made.

And there's been another one of the usual "can you just".... ha, but I'm getting the hang of this, always expect there to be another 'something' whatever the event.  It could be another make, it could be additional stewarding, it could be a photo needed.

Oh, and on the never ending quest for suitable light for using with the sewing machine - well I've hit the 'buy button' again today, and so we will see.  If not, I will soon open my own light store.

Please support The Material Girls, via, their website, blog and Facebook pages.  So much work being put in to Exhibitions for you to see,

Don't forget to add the Rochford Art Trail to your diary, 17th-26th September.

Please check in with me, via my website, and my Facebook page too.

Ting ting, change here please

And breathe....

Now moving into a new phase of creativeness.  I have been the ERTF Website Manager for the past three years, its a role I've now handed over to my friend Janette. What an experience and huge learning curve its taken me on.  From day one of it being a helping and managing role, to writing out website design briefs and doing much of the background stuff to aid making a new website entirely.  Certainly not what I anticipated, doubted I could do. I've learned so much, and doing that has supported me through some dark times. But time now for it to move on to another.... fresh eyes to see what's needed next and time for me to put back into my own.  My poor little website has been much neglected, and sometimes doing for others your own things get pushed down the pile.  Its time for them to regain their priority.
So I still have my physical post-it notes... and the puter ones attached to my home page!

Excellent talk at the April ERTF Conference, on Photographing your Textiles.  Hints and tips and a really nice helpful speaker in Dr Chris Thomas.  See his view of our day here.

Saturday really good talk at the Embroiderers' Guild meeting, and not a stitch in sight!.  Liz Trenow talking about her 11 generation history with silk weavers, and the stories behind those experiences which have evolved into novels, a collaboration with Lynne Edwards to inform a book and provide possibility to make the quilt described within the pages.  It was fascinating from all sorts of aspects, and much enjoyed.

The Material Girls are now moving full steam ahead (or more likely full sail ahead) with their next project.  A collaboration with the National Trust.  This is taking me in a whole new direction, and part of the reason I joined the group in the first place, for challenges.  Our brief for this project is very tight, and someone said to me they couldn't work like that, so prescriptive.  I thought about it, and realised that actually I already have my 'freedom' via the work I do as myself, so I don't feel confined or squashed by this project, because its a compliment, or different aspect, to how I work elsewhere.  I'm changing in subtle ways too for The Girls... I love love love my 8x6 notebooks, it was finding the size of notebook to suit me, that freed me up in terms of using.  But my notebooks for these projects have moved into A4.  Not entirely comfortable with that, but with so much research to do, let's give it a go.

The sun is out, my tree is full of blossom... as I'm no good at realistic imagery in my work, nothing better than nature itself, so here's a photo.  And today, I'm going to do some arty play.