Lots of fun....

They say that time flies when you're enjoying yourself, so I guess I have been. Ages since my last blog, mainly preparations for Cambridge Open Studios; as it takes time to transform my space I now open for all 4 weekends in July. It was a successful OS with lots of lovely, interesting people visiting from all over the place. I so enjoy meeting people who take time to travel out to the sticks to sleepy Steeple Morden and made new friends and useful contacts with other artists.

 I even managed to take a photo or two and as my sister came to help actually appeared in one!

I'd planned a day at Art in Action as I missed it last year, so Gina and I had a lovely day.

Of course I found the Printmaking tent fun and also loved the ceramics on display, purchase mades in both!

The willow weaving interested me as I was booked at Cottenham Summer school on a weeks course.

That was at the end of July and I really enjoyed getting to grips with a different medium. I've always wanted to try it and thought I must do it before my arthritus in my hands makes it impossible! Sue Kirk was an excellent, talented tutor who guided us expertly through the different weaving techniques and types of willow. I enjoyed the whole process but my hands didn't! They have flared up in new places and have been quite sore, but as I'm having a rest from even lino cutting for a while are gradually settling down.

The beginning of my round basket and it finished; roundish!!

It took me a day and a half, as did the following one which was very tricky!

The last 2 days were on garden structures and this sphere even came home one evening to work on!

It now sits in my garden along with 2 dragon flies which I haven't photographed yet.

A fun week and Barney and William have already found a use for one of the baskets, it was a helmet when they were playing racing cars!

Now I'm spending 2 days in Dorset before preparing for Folk East, a festival near Woodbridge. I'll be demonstrating screen printing on textiles for 3 days; should be fun!

During all this I have been preparing in different ways for my big adventure....more soon... but it involves walking.....

Sorry, this picture seems to have disappeared, here it is!

Walking in Cornwall

After arriving in heavy rain at Penzance and nearly getting blown away by force 6 winds, it didn't bode well for 9 days walking part of the south west coast path. We set off the next morning in full waterproof gear!

Luckily, the rain stopped by 11 and the day gradually brightened and layers came off as it warmed up.

Newlyn is still a busy fishing town.



Wild flowers everywhere, the sun shining, beautiful views and hardly anyone around., wonderful!

I loved this beach of huge boulders like giant stepping stones, fun to walk across.

A small scabious and masses of thrift.

I loved the spectacular views, the silence, the wind cooling me down, the towering cliffs, the many shades of blue in the sea, changing all the time. Just stunning, I felt so lucky to be strolling along in such a beautiful area.

My friend Sue and friendly dog we met along the way.

The ruined buildings in the tin mining area were interesting, no sign of a certain person galloping by.....

My favourite, so atmospheric. We sat and had our lunch here, then walked the path over the hill... more next time.

Cambridge Open Studios is here again and I'm opening my studio all 4 weekends in Juy. Very busy getting ready, new prints, new designs on tea towels, aprons and cushions and lampshades.

Birds and Flowers

New mugs and coasters

A new lampshade and lanterns

More cards to pack, framing, dusting, tidying, hanging... two days to go,

looking forward to meeting more lovely people.

I nearly forgot to mention this fabulous book

I have copies to sell at my studio, I haven't photographed my pages yet but one of my designs is in the introduction.

Great news

My son had a brain scan a couple of weeks ago and this week we had a consultation with his oncologist. Waiting has been difficult but it was brilliant news, all clear with no sign of regrowth of the tumour; so the radiotherapy did it's job, hooray!

The next scan is in February, so he can get on with his life and I can get on with mine! He has recently self published his book 'Blessed with a brain tumour' and will go to Oz and then USA to promote the book.

His positive attitude throughout has been inspiring. He will be holding meetings, talking at conferences, life coaching and continuing to write, which he has always wanted to do. A complete change from his work fund raising for charities. All very exciting.

My Cambridge open studio went very well. This year I opened for 4 weekends and I had a lot of lovely visitors with good sales. 

The only photo I managed to take, my sister!

Another good happening was in the post, the RSPB are using my hare design as a Chr...... card (far too early to use that word). 

 

They are calling it Leaping Hare. They pay me for the licence to use the image. Another charity are also using one of my designs but I haven't seen the finished card yet.

I've only 2 of my Hare at Burrough prints left, it was a variable edition of 35, using different colours for the fields and sky. Sometime ago I handcoloured a woodpecker print and thought I'd do the same with a black and white version of the hare. It was fun getting my water colour paints out. This will be sold as a one-off unique print. 

I really enjoyed a recent 2 day stay in York with 4 college friends, we met at Wall Hall College of Education inSeptember 1966 and in recent times meet up every year. It was my first visit to York, what a lovely place. 

 

Here are Mary, Carol, Miz and Barbara exploring the Shambles area.

We had a fabulous tea in the Earl Grey Tea shop as well as going on a river trip, exploring the Minster of course and the Museum. 

I couldn't resist this roundabout! 

I was lucky to have 2 helpers in the garden the other day, both growing fast, Barney is now 4 and William is 17 months; both great characters. 

Cambridge Open Studios

I've just about recovered from my open studio weekends, I was open for 3 weekends and apart from the 1st (Wimbledon!) I had lots of lovely visitors who were keen to know more about printmaking: so you do lots of talking! It was the 3rd and best year I've had, with a lot of new people visiting. I had kind people letting visitors in and serving drinks which was great. So well worth all the preparation and good fun.

The following week I was on a week long fabric screen printing course, the same one I went on last year. Although I do it at home it's always fun with like minded people and there's a lot more room at Cottenham Village College! I had fun playing and experimenting. This was a screen I had made up from a photo of willow bark. 

I then randomly over printed a small wood design in a lovely dark blue.

Some other pieces I printed will be used in a variety of ways, one or two will be tablecloths, some will be cut up - cushions, napkins and who knows what! The piece above will maybe be a dress or top, I feel like a bit of dressmaking! 

 

This is on a very fine cotton and will be a scarf.

A retro feel for this piece of fabric that I was given by someone in my village; I think I'll use it as a throw on a bed or sofa. I now have lots of ironing to do to fix the colours!

At home, Pepper continues to relax from studio duties, either on the sofa or on hot days he's found a favourite shady spot.

Outside, everything is rosy.



Bits and Bobs

Recently at the Curwen I had the chance to visit next door to view some of Mark Hearld's original prints; what fun!

 As well as showing us Mark's work, Jenny was explaining how the separations are done for a lithograph. That day Carrie Ackroyd was working with Michael Papworth on her latest prints. I love her work and met her at Art in Action 2 years ago, she kindly said I could take a photo.

Meanwhile, demolition is nearly complete at the conference centre.

My Open studio weekends were interesting as usual, I had similiar visitor numbers to last year. Tiring but good fun!

All clean, tidy and ready for visitors.

I was very flattered when a woman thought I had printed these lovely vintage curtains.... a recent purchase, a design called Maquis by Lucienne Day. In the winter, when I imagine I may have more time, I will unpick them, wash and remake with  interlining and lining.