A reminder…

…about the pop-up gallery in Wooler.

We open on Friday at 10am.

Am so excited – please come and say hello!

London–Part five

Benin Bronzes - they form one of my favourite pieces in the museum. 
I have a lot of African Fabrics to use up (the pile is becoming embarrassingly large), so here I was looking for African links and inspiration. 

I wanted to stay for another day just wandering around being amazed but I had to run for a taxi and jump on my train.
Back in the Autumn to see the V&A Ballgowns exhibition (and back to the BM too).

London–Part Four

British Museum

Shakespeare; Staging the World – a wonderful, wonderful exhibition.  No photos allowed unfortunately.  I saw some truly amazing pieces from the Tudor era and beyond. 

Afterwards I only had time to visit the African Galleries, which were almost empty.  I thought London was supposed to be heaving with tourists in the summer?

London - Part Three

 

Courtauld Gallery.

I was so hot when I arrived here I headed straight for the cafe and a glass of cold elderflower.  Then, after almost cooling down, I headed inside to see a notice telling me the aircon was broken!  It was throwing out hot air.

Oh boy, was it HOT in there.

Advantage – hardly any other visitors, disadvantage – fairly obvious. 
I got to the point where I had to leave before I fainted.

The drawings exhibition on the top floor was well worth a visit, sometime I love drawings more than the finished paintings.  You can see much more “life”, the gestures, marks, the thoughts of the artist.

London - Part two

A lovely, but VERY HOT walk across London from the Tate Modern to the Courtauld Gallery.

I love walking London, so many exciting things to see;  the Globe Theatre, gothic door of a Theology Library, Middle Temple, the Shard, Millennium Bridge, the Royal poster and the Olympic Rings.  I was really proud to see those rings!

London–Part one

Tate Modern – my favourites (absolutely favourite of the whole gallery?  Rothko, I surprised myself)

and a bookshop to spend an eternity in…..

Festival of Quilts 2012

 

Yesterday I had a great day out at Festival of Quilts, spent much of the time with my mum which was wonderful.  I met up with lots of friends (including Carol of Textile Tales) and saw some inspiring work.

Though I did plan to go back today I have decided not to (I’m sitting in my hotel room supposedly writing essays in peace and quiet, not blogging *shush*).  Why am I not going back?  Because I saw everything I wanted to see….. (and I don’t want to spend anymore money).  There seems fewer quilts on display (not surprised with the cost of transporting them – bring back the local collection points please).

There were some really fantastic exhibitions, for me the European Quilt Art always wins approval, Cas Holmes was inspiring (though my machine stitch could never be that “messy”) and a new discovery in the graduate showcase Alice Fox.

Today I’m wandering over to meet a friend for lunch and as I write I wonder if I will pay the £14 to go back and have a look at a few exhibitions again?  I will see how it feels, as I really DO need get to 7 essays completed by Monday so I can play with my son! (two are complete, two need checking and three need writing).

Here are my pieces in the show.  Never easy to get a good picture.

They didn’t win anything of course, I’m not “quilty” enough for that and that's fine with me.  I like to be me.  Know what I mean?

Tree Of Life, hand dyed cotton, beading, machine and hand embroidery (see I didn’t say “quilting”, that says it all!)  Very difficult to see the intricate work on the centre panel,

Coastal Tower inspired by Bamburgh Beach.  Silks, hand and machine stitch and beading.  The second tower I’ve displayed at FoQ.

Flight of the Swallows.  Acrylic paint on canvas.”Quilt as you go”.  Suspect the judges will not know how to mark this against their criteria and there will be lots of “fails”! Its my favourite of the three works and it does not fail in anyway to me.  Its a pictorial quilt; three layers held together with stitch. 

Time to get ready to meet a wonderful friend, unfortunately I will miss this friend and this one as they are visiting Saturday and Sunday.

The next exhibition

Along with two other artists I’m opening a “pop-up” gallery in Wooler (rather than opening the studio).

Do come and say hello.

Poster / leaflet design by moi – am very pleased with the results – most enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

A walk by the sea…

Wondering about the history of these old houses.

Memorial to the fishermen who died in the 1881 great storm…though for me its a memorial to the women and children waiting for their men to return every day.

Beautiful cliff walks and the pots on the harbour wall.

I knew I shouldn’t have gone into Florin….

I also purchased a new bookcase… well, sort of a bookcase….. well, more a table that can be used as a bookcase…… erm…. it seems to have an item attached that reads “Singer”….. 

Need DH’s help to bring it home tomorrow.

Oophs.

Summer (at last!)

 

Gave a lecture in Newcastle today on “The Story of Silk” – lovely group, lots of familiar faces.

I finally got my painted nails on display, my white trousers out of the wardrobe and a new tunic top - a snip from the Boden sale.

And finally my hair seems to be long enough to do what I want with it.  I was about to chop it all off a few weeks ago.

The grass is cut, the garden furniture has been washed and the paths swept.

Not a bad day.

Embroidery History

Stitching and blogging are rare activities these days as I read, read and read even more for the course I’m studying. 
Then its getting down to writing; 6 essays to prep in 12 weeks is rather tough going.
To say its going to be stressful over the school holidays is an understatement.

So for now, the blog is rather on hold.

But I would like to direct you to this excellent post found on Textile Blog about embellishment which it states:

“Collins Thesaurus makes an addition to the word embellish by adding: decorate, enhance, adorn, dress, grace, deck, trim, dress up, enrich, garnish, ornament, gild, festoon, bedeck, tart up, beautify.,”

Read about embellishment, decoration and tarting up here.

Imho there is nothing better than time spent tarting up using stitch and beads.

Also a reminder of my other website which details the History of English Embroidery, which you can find here.

Stitching starts again in September.  Normal service will be resumed – eventually.

Don’t ask how I managed to get this “reflection” on the image.  I have NO idea!
Taken at Traquair House on Tuesday where I spent a wonderful day with Frieda Oxenham hunting out hidden artwork, playing with UV torches and eating lunch OUTSIDE.  Yes, lunch.  Outside.  In Scotland.  In July 2012.  An achievement in itself.

Great fun sharing the experience with a friend.  Thanks Frieda

Right, back to middle-range theories and analogies of past and present…. or rather the present and the past……..

“Like a circle in a spiral….”

 

“…Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning reel
As the images unwind
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind…”

Thanks to the Computer Design Textile Group for the information to create this picture – taken at Middleton, Northumberland last week.

This green and pleasant land…..

The garden is just loving this rain.

Rain, rain, go away…… come back another day….

The garden is both lush and battered after the storms on Sunday evening.  I’ve chopped the damaged lupins and foxgloves down and have read that they may regrow this summer.

My favourite flowers are looking stunning around the studio.

At least we can have fun in the rain.
(Late Sunday evening paddling!)

The studio is almost back into working order after a major tidy up – shelves and a cupboard have been liberated!  Success!

This rain is getting me down though – can’t even be bothered to get the cameras out after their clean.  The iPhone is becoming an invaluable quick, handy photo tool.

Kantha

Today I went to Bridge of Allan (near Stirling) for the World Textile Day.  I can’t think of anything better to do on a soaking wet, foggy, misty June day. 
The highlight of the morning (and the main reason for going) was to hear John Gillow speak about textiles.  He has travelled, collected, traded and written about textiles since 1969.  I could listened to him for hours.  And then more hours still.  And then all the next day, the information behind the cloth is just so interesting.  He has written many books on textiles (they are on my book shelf) and I would love to read a book of his travel stories.  A biography I suppose.  I wonder if he has thought about this? or if anyone has suggested this to him?

I fell in love with this Kantha from Pakistan.  The top left corner is folded forward to show you the blue backing.  The more I look at it the more I think I am going to hang it on the wall behind the sofa.

I feel a real connection to the woman (or women) whose work I admire.  The quilt has come to a home where it is very much appreciated and loved.

On Tuesday I had a conversation with some good stitching friends (hello!) who have seen my work from the beginning…..and a comment was made that I had left behind the Indian inspired work I started 10+yrs ago and am now working in more neutral and natural colours.

After todays healthy dose of Indian, Pakistani and Afghan textiles I can tell you I am heading back there.  The spirit is rekindled.  I intend to carry on with plans already formed regarding the history and landscape of Northumberland (here) ….. but I intend to indulge in colour and Kantha too.  Like old times  - (here and here).  I can already envisage a combination that blurs the the two styles even more than at present.

My good friend Frieda took some wonderful photos during John Gillows talk.  My little camera is being fixed and I couldn’t remember how to turn the sound off on the Nikon SLR and its far too loud! – so head over to Frieda's blog and see those photos – click here. 
We handled some wonderful pieces of textiles from around the world.   One thing – you cannot appreciate the small size of many of the stitches….. so tiny, so precise and worked with such care.  Frieda and I were amazed and delighted.

Life

Whilst walking on the moors the other day DH said;

“How can there not be life on other planets.  I mean, just look at the amount of life here…… life just….. DOES”.

Now I might not have that exactly word for word but I know exactly what he meant.  One of the reasons I get on so well with my DH is that we are both biologists with a deep love of the natural world.
Life is so abundant and so utterly beautiful. 
It colonises every tiny part of this wonderful world and reinforces my belief in the theory of Gaia.

Doddington Moor

With DS away on a play date DH and I took Daisy up into the hills, just 5-10 minutes drive from our front door.

Northumberland is aptly named
”Land of the Far Horizons” 

Above – looking towards the Milfield Plain (lots of hillforts and henge monuments here)

Above view from the Ringses Hillfort.
More information here.

Above – one of several cup and ring marked rocks on the moor.
Information here.

Remains of a stone circle, 5 stones, only one still standing.
More information here.

The bluebells were truly stunning. 
A wonderful surprise hidden in the bracken.

We vowed to do more of this hillfort and stone spotting very SOON.

Bailiffgate Exhibition

Have you been wondering where I am?

Blogging can once again resume as the exhibition at Bailiffgate Museum Gallery in Alnwick is now up and running.

When I typed the catalogue I was truly shocked to see I had 70 (yes seven zero) wall pieces, 10 towers and four costumes. 
All for sale, apart from the costumes.

I popped in this morning to add the finishing touches and tonight is the preview and the mayor will official open the show.

So here are some pictures for you.

Enjoy!