24 July 2009

My favourite art shop.......

Is Heaton Cooper in Grasmere - Lake District.

It's small and perfectly formed.

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You can just see it though the door.... it stocks just everything you need (and more you don't actually need but would like to have).

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Great delivery service too... the parcels arrive wrapped in brown paper which somehow makes them very special.  Their web site is here.

22 July 2009

Stonehenge

A morning stroll around Stonehenge - in the pouring rain with masses of American, Canadian and Japanese tourists...... but just to prove that you can capture the spirit of the stones even with all the people around.  I did want to sit and sketch but believe me it was absolutely drenching rain.

The end photo shows it as it really was!

 

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21 July 2009

More from the Summer school

Janice asked me about the summer school - we are a group of textile artists - some teachers and tutors, some have written books, most of us blog and we all belong to a private Yahoo group.  Some have met before but we have never managed to get together for a week.  Unfortunately not everyone could  make it but 13 of us did (one ran off early before I got a picture), we came mainly from the UK, but also France and Austria.  The group also has members in the USA, Australia and Sweden.

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Throughout the week we all shared our skills - Paulene showed us how to print and we used her pasta machine which worked really well.  Here is a leaf print I made - I loved this.

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This was our main workroom.

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Sara showing Liz either crochet or spinning.

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Gill demonstrating the Docucam in the second room.  During the evenings we could sit in here watching DVD's, crocheting and often drinking a glass of wine.  Nothing was too planned, nothing was obligatory. We all got on so well and there was much nattering and laughing.

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It was very sad to leave and less said about the journey home the better..........

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Pictures from Stonehenge to follow soon.

16 July 2009

Summer School Day 4

The days are going far too fast.

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Controlled chaos, we all have laptops / notebooks as comforters.

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The best Green Man I’ve ever seen – in his autumn colours

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15 July 2009

Summer School

 

Some pictures from the Summer School retreat in Wiltshire…. guess what I’m making?

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A display of some peoples previous work

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The beautiful setting

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Avebury

One of the most special places in England – a stone circle and the most wonderful trees.

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13 July 2009

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What happens when 13 textile artists who met on the internet get together?

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They get the computers configured for the web :)

9 July 2009

Dyeing time

Take small pieces of several types of silk... one length of rayon (for another tunic) and one large length for a commission and one pre-made cotton tunic.  Soak in soda ash for an hour then drain.

 

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Make up the procion dyes with water and urea.

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Dye one batch black.

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Dye another black + purple + raspberry (this is the combination for the tunic and rayon length too).

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Cover table tops with polythene and lay out fabric, liberally sprinkle with dyes.

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Swish around and leave crumpled.

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Wash and dry.

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Hope Anne likes the final result!

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Use up the dye to paint a piece of lutradur - for the inside of a new "tower".

8 July 2009

New hair colours, new tunic, new samples

Well I told the hairdresser I was bored and wanted something more dramatic.....
yes that red is erm....very red/orange. 

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Finally something for myself.... Amy Butler Fabric - perhaps I could have placed that large flower a little better - at least its not central to any major body area!  There are another two of these - one sleeveless made from cotton which is being dyed tonight and one using hand dyed rayon (still work a in progress).

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I've enjoyed playing with lutradur, tyvek and finally some stamping with acrylic paint.

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A play with markals and a blending stick.  Just for the hell of it.  That's good to be able to do.

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