Bank Holiday Monday and odds and ends

I wondered if it was a good idea to have a stand at Ashwell Show, I was feeling tired following hosting a family lunch party on Sunday, having returned from a holiday on Saturday; however it was a sunny day, I had an assistant all day (what joy not having to load/ unload my car myself!!) and I like supporting local events.

No pictures as I forgot my camera but I was demonstrating lino printing and during the day had plenty of interest. For me this isn't a big selling opportunity, after all, it is basically a horse show but I was fortunate to sell 3 unframed prints as well as a lot of cards, so was pleasantly surprised. Another bonus was how easy it was packing my car -  last December I changed cars. Reluctantly I parted with my much loved very sporty Audi TT and became the owner of a sensible Audi A4 estate. Back to a family car now there are 2 grandchildren and the extra space is great for going to art fairs.

The sun certainly brought large numbers of people to the show, the proceeds all go to village organisations. I saw lots of people I knew, met new people, booked someone to come on one of my lino classes and advertised my open studio days, open with Herts in September.



A few photos from my garden....

  

Mr. Tibbs playing ball.... 

and Barney made a hat for William from an envelope.... 

he didn't seem to mind!

I was given some greengages yesterday, so made my favourite jam, so yummy sucking the jam off the stones, memories of my childhood when my mother would sit us round the table with a plate of sticky, jammy greengage stones; a great treat. 

Festival of quilts

I went with friends for 2 days to the festival this year, as 1 day never seemed enough. We stayed overnight and I really loved having 2 whole days to enjoy all the fabulous quilts, browse the trade stands and book stalls. There were many beautiful quilts on show, here are some of my favourites.

This was Night and Day by Mike Wallace made with self dyed fabrics, pieced and quilted.

Below is Green Copse by Helen Howes; stitch, piecing, print and dye used. 

People by Ineke Berlyn; machine pieced, applique, dyed, printed and drawn.

I loved the work by Karin Ostergaard; Inspired by nature.

This was called Birds sing, some scream; it had a lovely textured look.

Above is Full Circle, a vibrant piece by Marianne Mohandes which held great meaning for her and all of us who have someone in our family with cancer.

I really enjoyed the Wiolan exhibition by 3 Dutch textile artists, particularly those by Willy Doreleijers; no photos allowed.

Red Stones 2 by Dianne Firth was maybe my very favourite - so difficult to choose amid an array of beautiful work. 

Another beauty, A Slight Murmur of Starlings by Janie Harvey-Douglas. 

It was fun staying overnight! 



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.



Preparing for Cambridge Open Studio

No time for blogging recently, life has been extra busy with family and lots of preparations for this yearly event. I am open this weekend (and the next 2) and had some lovely visitors yesterday but know that this afternoon most people will be watching the tennis; so I expect it will be quiet.

Maybe Barney will take up the sport!! I think my raquet is a bit big!

Back to printing, some screen printing in progress, I produce a range of cushions, tea towels and aprons.

 I've done some exciting printing on paper this year after a non-creative phase, I'm proud of the hare print, lino on screen printed backgrounds. When I stay with a friend in Leicestershire we see hares close up in the field at the back of the house and that was the inspiration for this print. The landscape is beautiful, I've shown some favourite trees and the little empty cottage on the horizon. This is the inked up block, a stage I always love as you can see begin to see how it will work out.

It's a variable edition of 35 and I'm using different backgrounds and colours, I think this is my favourite,

but I also like this one.

I always enjoy open studios, it's fun meeting people, gives me a very good reason to dust and make my studio presentable! and it's as if you run a little gallery for a few weekends!

There's a quiet place to sit by the side of the house, just right in this hot sun.

The trials and joys of printmaking!

After a day of fairly successful results at the Curwen Print Study Centre, I decided to continue my Perry Green ideas at home. It made me realise how much preparation is involved before you even start printing.

Careful cutting of some masks and blocks.



My lino blocks based on Henry Moore's wonderful sculptures at Perry Green, which I visited last summer with Gina. I'd achieved some good prints of both ladies and wanted to play around with some over printing. Lady 1 (who may be given a name as I'm rather fond of her) was fine; I wanted her to stand out more. Unfortunately the paper I used to mask her was too thin (lesson learnt!) and she came out with measles, so no good! Wish I'd left her alone!

I should have stopped printing, but continued in the same unfortunate way; too much ink, not enough ink, smudges etc.

I did end up with 3 good prints, but it was a reminder of how difficult it is!

Last night though came the joy when I was playing around with more Perry Green ideas. I mixed up a lovely brown by mistake and printed on some screen printed backgrounds that I did ages ago. What fun when the creativity just flows.

This is my favourite and I'm treating myself to an extra day at the Curwen on Monday, can't wait!

Two more favourites! William and Barney.



Lino class

I had a great day teaching lino cutting and printing on Saturday with Jill, Jenny and Clare. I wonder if they were as tired as I was that evening?! I do love this teaching, it's such fun helping people to bring their designs to fruition. You always learn from your students as well, so it's an interesting process for all.

Luckily Jill, Jenny and Clare all liked cats, as Pepper aka Tibbles aka Mr. Tibbs wanted to meet everyone.

Here's Jill cutting her block.



Clare inking up -  a delicate balance to get those really thin layers of ink; Jenny taking a closer look!

Jenny cutting her words, back to front of course so that they print the correct way round.

Jill turned out to be the hand burnishing Queen, taking great care to get an even print. We loved her lady cycling along with a goldfish in a bowl.

 

Clare looks after hedgehogs in her garden, her little hedgehog was delightful.



Jenny did really well cutting her letters, here's the resulting message in red to match her kitchen.

Pepper was also tired with his day of lots of attention!

It's a hard life!