Sneaky Peek

Here's some sneaky pics of work which will shortly be coming to a place near you.

Surprise at the weekend, when I realised for three days in February I will have work on show in 3 Exhibitions at the same time!!!!  Wheeeee.  So if you want a tour that weekend, you need to go to Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, Cottenham in Cambridgeshire and then Saskatchewan in Canada.... all details are over on the right.

The Canadian exhibition is a further venue for the touring collaborative work made by The Material Girls here in the UK and Articulation in Canada - "Bridging Waters - Articulated Materials"

So here's a look at some of my work to be on show.....

To be found at Bishop's Stortford

8th Feb-7th Mar

web link

These will be at Cottenham

21st-23rd Feb

web link

The Materials Girls will have a shop

with artist made goodies for sale

Would be good if you could come along and visit - and don't forget I will be at Cottenham on the Friday.

Let's make a book or 10....

Books - love books, promise not to buy more but I do.... but also love making them.  I don't do it as often as I'd like purely because display purposes not always shelf display.  However, I have a plan for wall mounted 'books' - but you will have to wait and see if that happens.  I particularly like construction, more than content, all of the following are made using different binding techniques.

So let's share my big books with you.

First there was this one:

18cm long

 

Then there was this one:

36cm long

 

And now I've made this one:

65cm long

this will be at Textiles in Focus

 

Oh dear, hadn't realised pattern developing here, doubling in size.  Might need a lay down now.





 



Coming next....

I can't believe we are so far through January already!
Yep I am still here.  My "do less but do it better" is kinda twisted at the moment.
A committee meeting due 27th was brought forward to 13th, so that meant planning up the creek.  Had to divert to do paperwork for that, and of course having been to the meeting received more tasks to do! But..... its my last committee meeting, so that will free up some head space.
We had a photography meeting at The Material Girls... our latest pieces for showing at Textiles in Focus.  Click on the link to go to the blog for some taster images.  Following that meeting, I've some more paperwork tasks to do, and perhaps more making.
I am going to be stewarding at Textiles in Focus on

Friday 21st February

So I think it was essential that I popped to the shop and purchased a supply of lime green Post-It notes, so I can actually see my list of tasks.
I also had one of those moments of needing to be a child, and bought a pack of 30 felt tip pens for the grand price of a £1.  I remember getting one of those ginormous packs which seemed to be about 2 yards long, as an Xmas pressie.  Wonder if today's kids would be so thrilled!
Oh The Material Girls are now on Facebook - click this link and please Like us.
I am working hard, no nice pics to show you, so something from my collection I think...

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