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.

Little Makes

Mhmm, I think I live in a time vortex, blink and lost days, ha weeks.

Domestically I'm not in a routine which is conducive to intentions, and there is a lot of "today I'm going to..." and it gets sidetracked, 5 minute tasks taking hours, and the wretched Data Protection stuff, not only having to answer endless emails for myself, but sorting things for organisations I belong to.

For the first time in years I'm not participating in any Art Trails.  Not all of my making.  Having done so and enjoyed the whole process, I feel a bit lost over it all.  So I've been looking around to see if there are any other opportunities.

I have come across one, which is open to me, because I've enquired, but is also an entirely new process, to me.  One of these display work for a weekend and people buy there and then. Applications aren't open yet, but its on my radar.

I am also making something for a US based project, which I hope to share on the blog later.

I have finished off a couple of little pieces made at my Embroiderers' Guild Branch meetings.

First one, we had an afternoon inspired by Lynn, using scarves found in charity shops.  Lots of variety for end results.  I picked up some pieces and a single A4 piece of Khadi paper and made this:

Tore the paper in half, joined it back together and added some scrunched fabrics to make this little sample book.

Our most recent practical workshop was led by Jo - stitching on paper.  Now that makes my heart sing!
Lots of options, this is my finished piece.

Not how it originally started.I did some stitching on the map, but didn't like so cut it off.  I then cut out the paper flowers from the printed paper and stitched those on.
I've always wanted to paper cut a map, and having seen someone else do it, I decided to do that to remainder of my map.  As luck would have it, it fitted back together with the piece I'd stitched on.  So coloured in the patterned paper and overlaid. Not much by way of stitching, but several techniques.

Most of the group stitched parabolic curves, but I've already done several of those, take a look.

Paper and Pages of Books, Events and Inspiration

Well the tidy desk soon became a mess again.

Covered with papers, buttons, paints, glue,

with the window sill occupied too

more paints, paperwork etc

So next tidy up will be when I lose something.

So what have I been doing.... well the Embroiderers' Guild Branch Exhibition is now over.

Lots of lovely work, met up with those not seen in a while and new faces too.  Please come along to the Branch.

The Spring Open Exhibition where I had one piece in, has also ended - told there should be another around October time.

I've entered the Rochford Art Trail - waiting for my venue.  Someone asked me how many years it had been going, well.....this will be Number 9.  I've been in every one, inc the pre-Trail tester exhibition.

I've also sent off a Statement of Intent for an Embroiderers' Guild event, but so far nothing more than that is in hand - pile of paperwork on window sill, its in there somewhere.

And now yesterday info on another local event, which I will have to be quick on, if I want to enter as deadline is only 10 days away!.

Toddled off to see a couple of things.  Up to Norwich to look at Turn the Page Exhibition, which is nothing but book art.  Lovely. Click on the link to see images from the event on their Facebook page.
I've seen some of the Exhibitors several times, can recognise their style. I saw a first time Exhibitor who clicked with me, Paula MacGregor.  One of these spooky muzak things, as I'd been working on 'found poetry' or 'found stories' - been frustrated by my efforts though.  If you don't know, its where you take original text on a page and highlight words to make something else.  I've managed to turn Charles Dickens into a daring burglary and escape by plane.  But my means to reveal this aren't as I'd like.  Paula's work showed me I could have a different viewpoint of this.  It felt much more comfortable to see her interpretations.

Keeping with books, I went to see friend Juliet's work with the group she belongs to - Seven.  Wonderful collection of Art Journals.  They had some common elements to use and/or techniques, but each gave their own interpretation to the artwork, in gorgeously well expanded accordion books. bursting with colour.

I'm currently doing lots of book things, ideas aplenty, hope it doesn't look like I'm copying because some of my ideas have been in existence prior to seeing others work.

I had better post this, before I lose yet another week and nothing gets done here.

How Dead End Ideas Become Reality

So whilst its all so fresh I thought I'd show the piece I made for The Material Girls, the why, a bit of how, and what.

When we were given the brief of Environment, I thought 'oh dear' - I'm sooo not good at real, and a visitor last year made comment on the artistic interpretations of real design sources.  Of course it IS artistic interpretation, but it set up a dread inside.  So on my 50 minute drive home I'm mulling this all over and trying to think how on earth as a primarily abstract person can I do this, and what environment.  A short distance from home is a traffic light controlled one car width road, I stopped in the queue, to my right are fields, in front of me a railway line and right next to me, on the left, right beside the road, a Churchyard.  Still contemplating, the thought went through my head "what a dead end project this will be for me" - one more glance left and then lights changed and off home.  At home the irony of my thought at that place struck me - and ting, I could chose Churchyards.

So off on adventures to investigate local churches, and take photos.  Had several lovely trips out, time spent chatting with a volunteer groundsman, local dog walkers, and one very isolated church in a one street village, was suddenly interrupted by a group of walkers appearing over the fields, who were very bemused at my taking close up photos of lichen.

Discarded Memorials

Overgrown graves

And then amongst all my images I found the inspiration

And who better to be inspired by then someone who makes 'pots'
and Essex born - Grayson Perry.

So I constructed my pot, from card and calico

Abandoned any hope of being botanically accurate with my plants
as I've said, I don't do real...

Free machine stitching on paper - lots of paint of various colours and layers,
touch of crackle medium, and this emerged.

Him indoors loves his photography, and playing with images
So this original image

became this

I don't think Grayson will be troubled by this effort.

Having been swamped by too much realism, its time to immerse myself
back into the abstract, and just go where the mood takes me.

Combining the Mix

I like my blog, I use it as a means to record my arty thoughts, to log an idea, or work, which gives it a date.  I have several blogs I follow via Bloglovin - they vary in topic, textile art, collage, mono printing, papermaking, bookbinding, and even quilting, which seems at odds for a totally non quilt making person.

Of course you follow what interests and these days so much intermingles,  I can find myself led to others by a style, or a wish to know how something works, or someone with similar or compatible interests to my own.

So whilst enjoying reading other artistic thoughts and processes I came across a sentence this week which set me off thinking, oh dear, can't deal with this.

I call myself a Mixed Media Artist.  I stitch, so how to describe?  Its a topic which often goes round and round amongst fellow creative stitchers.

Artist - would be ideal, but then its more of a Painter association I feel.

Embroiderer - well yes, but in my head I think of the precision of goldwork, exquisite fine detail stitching.  Not the clumpy random exploits I offer up.

Textile Artist - for while I was happy with this one... and it is the way most of my genre choose to describe themselves.

However, for me it didn't seem quite enough, just not quite matching.  Paper is my fabric of choice, and I prefer paint to dyes, I like hand and machine stitch.  I might use beads or bbq sticks.  Us creative stitchers still find prejudice and lack of understanding as to what our techniques and skills can achieve.

So Mixed Media Artist seemed to be a better fit for me, and open more doors.

So here I am settled with my label, not giving it any more thought, until this week.   There it was... should not refer to it as Mixed Media.... should be known as Combined Media.  Arghhh like that trips off the tongue any better.

I like Mixed Media - kinda fits me... chuck it in together, mix it up and see what comes out, and call it art darhlink!!

Well I have overheard it said – you know which one Beverley is… she’s the one who makes the weird stuff!

Embossing powders, Frantage - hand stitching beads

Papers, stamping and machine stitch

Hand made paper, stitched seams

Machine stitch, paint effects, paper beads, ephemera

Artist Book Fair - Sat 14th Nov 2015

Well its almost upon me - my first ever Artist Book Fair.

Let's step back for a moment...

I've been making books for years... not sure if I made creative books as a child, I know I filled exercise books with 'writing'.

I've been making stitched bindings since 1979... over 35 years, goodness.  Working in the legal profession documents were stitched together using a Japanese Stab Binding.  Must have made hundreds.

Forward in time to studying City & Guilds Creative Embroidery, Part 1 (links to the story of which can be found via the Qualifications tab above)

For one of the assessment items I wanted to make a book, but alas my tutor would not allow it, so I didn't get to progress in book arts.  The exception being that each of the 10 Preparing Working Designs had to be presented in different ways, so some book construction skills came in handy for that.

Finally for Part 2 studies, I got to make my book.   It was a bit 007ish with a compartment behind handmade pages.   Plus a whole host of books to hold research and samples.

Over the years I've been on many workshops, books are an ideal way for creative stitchers to show their skills.  A tutor may well have one of her own amongst the wealth of goodies to look at, let alone the sketchbooks where you might find the addition of pockets, windows, fold outs etc.

Such bookbinding workshops I have been on tend to fall into two categories - the creative content/decorative covers based on a skill set or theme where the binding method has minimum complexity - or the construction, looking at a means of holding pages together, the latter is a rarer occurrence in my experience.

So far, for me, its the construction which has appealed.  I like the technical challenges, yes even the mathematics!  I have boxes of examples.

I have shown off my books, making as part of exhibitions, but books tend to need a table/plinth for display, and not every venue has that.

There you have it, how I have arrived at the Artists Book Fair - joining in from the other side of the table, having been a keen viewer of many wonderful creations, which stretch the conventional idea of what is a book.

In addition to each Artist's display they have been invited to make books in a Matchbox - voted on by the viewers.  There's a chance for you to win a prize as a voter, and the winning artist also wins a prize.  Yes I have entries, but no, not showing you them, vote for your favourite and just may be, it might be mine!

I'm looking forward to indulging myself in all things booky on  Saturday... not to mention artisan cupcakes!!

To find out more, you can visit the ArtbookArt website or their Facebook page - lots of enticing images appearing.

Come and say hello.

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.

Sunday Share - 31. 5.15

Well that's another week whizzing by....

From the sketchbook, we have this.

This just screams deliciousness at me, for all sorts of reasons.  Really love the green colour palette combo.  But this is all about having played with stitching paper together, why not cut holes in it!

I have made pieces which exploit this.

Strata

made in 2010

close up detail

More recently another technique from this sketchbook page, was put into use for the mini canvas/easel items for the last Material Girls exhibition.

Oh look its hearts, same as sketchbook, wonder why....

Its spooky muzak time again, (or is it really just in the subconscious and that's why I picked first image) - about to stitch some more holes!!!

I will try to be back with a posting during the week - but so much as to remain a secret, I'm going to have to find a way to tease.....

Beverley

Facebook

Sunday Share 10. 5.15

I was about to put the last sketchbook back on the shelf, when I stopped to flick through it.  This sharing situation is obviously something I ought to have done before because its reminding me of techniques and things from the past.  I'm guessing this is around 2008, as that is the date on following pages.

So this time I stopped at this double spread.

The papers are various from my stash which may not be totally cream or white, from memory it included a very soft dusky pink and a beige, just part of a collection from when you buy a box of paper for £5.
They've been coloured with Brusho.  Slosh on the colours, red, blue, yellow, stack them up as you go and it all intermingles and mixes.  Leave in the pile to dry.  This is the result, marks and random pattern.

Having decided on paper as my USP a long time back, one of my self torments is should I stitch on paper as is, or is it OK to make it stronger with a support of some kind, ie would that be solving an issue or cheating?  Answer not yet decided upon.

It is possible to stitch on paper without any reinforcement of any kind, and that is a whole challenge of its own.

These samples were going back to my roots of learning dressmaking and challenging myself to stitch seams in paper.
Another reason why I stopped at this page flicking through, as I totally forgotten about these pages, and seams in paper have been on my mind a lot lately.

I did make something more creative

This is using one of these gorgeous packs of small pieces of handmade paper.  Never quite sure what to do with it, and so it remains in my sample box.

Wonder what memories and ideas will be found next week from exploring the past.

I share images on my Facebook page, so if you don't want the 'behind the scenes' observations, Like my page and see what pops up.

Beverley

#artchain Challenge

If you are not on Facebook, then you won't know that there are times when sharing something takes hold.  This time its a means to share and get your art known to others.  There are a few variations currently on Facebook, but this is what I was nominated for, #artchain

1 piece of artwork each day for 5 days

and nominate another person each day.

Here's the opportunity to share more detail:

Day 1

This sample dates back to around 1994 (or earlier)

so its not quite the beginning of my journey of stitching on paper.

Its my own handmade paper with fleece included.

Dyed with Dylon dye

Woven papers dyed and coloured with acrylic wax

Feathers and machine stitch.

This piece is included in the book "Beginner's Guide to Papermaking" by Heidi Reimer Epp and Mary Reimer.  I actually have two items in this book, but 3 images, one being used as the full page background image for the gallery chapter.

Day 2

Purple Prose
Two books in one.  Pages fan out in one section and revolve in the other
Various samples attached to thick 'plasma' plastic
Fan element fastened with rivet.
Revolving section rings through holes
Inspiration:  to combine book constructions and the colour purple!

Day 3

Heart Mosaic
Looking around I found many artists have a favourite motif/colour.
Deciding I needed something, I chose the heart motif.
I've made many pieces with hearts on, over the years, overall my best sellers.
This piece is purchased handmade paper, with machine and hand stitching. As well as shell and metal heart buttons, you will find hidden outline stitched hearts.

Day 4

Secrets from the Attic
Made for an exhibition this is a suitcase full of things I like.
Two different styles of books, map inspiration, large postcard format, envelopes and small postcard, pretty things such as flowers, bunting and a tassel.
Hand and machine stitch, bookbinding, melting and burning, many techniques, and of course, lots of paper!
I wrote out an entire story purely for myself, on who could have owned the contents and why.
Its an idea I'd like to do more of, and I have the suitcase of course......

Day 5

Tudor Rose
Inspired by my location.  The Boleyn family owned the local Hall.
Oh and look carefully the petals are hearts....
Not the first piece made using this technique
White stitch on white paper, with paint added.
The background has at least seven colours in the process.
Its a technique I enjoy (beach huts a recent result) and am pursuing further.
Future work also involves stitch and paint.

I hope you have enjoyed this little insight into my art pieces, thoughts and processes.  It all connects into the whole, even though it may not look like it.  Please comment, it helps to know you are not talking to yourself!  You can of course check out my work via my website - if you are on Facebook, please visit and Like my page.

Thank you for visiting.

Beverley