Did I tell You About My Moth Trap???

Well the Art Weeks is over for another 2 years and everything is disorganised all over the place in the house.  I will try and sort it out over the next few days.  I also need to sort the notes and thoughts I made whilst sitting in the church unable to get to my studio!  Of course the little spare time I've had so far to go in there I sit and find all the thoughts have disappeared!  Good job, I hope, I made notes!  I'm sure I'm not the only one who's brain goes into overdrive when you don't have the ability to carry things out and then blank the minute you can. 

I did have a group of GCSE students from a local school textile group come and visit which was interesting.  

One of my book sleeves inspired the church committee to ask if I could make them a Prayer Request book for the church, which of course I did, and it's already in use.

After three weekends, and the weeks between, away from home I spent a fourth weekend in the local garden centre exhibiting as part of a group for the village of Cranborne Open Gardens.  Just a glutton for punishment!  We are now at mid Summer and I feel I've hardly been at home at all this year.  I'm now staying as put as possible for a while. 

I told you about the moth trap they put out while I was staying at Kingcombe and the amazing moths that were caught.  John knows I have always wanted a trap of my own and he went and bought me one for my birthday!  

Early I know but it's National Moth Week next month and he wanted us to be ready.  We've had it out two nights so far. It's like a sunrise all night long it's so bright. This was the first night.  I did warn the neighbours!! 

The second time we put it at the top of the garden behind the trains as it has a really long lead.  You could still probably see it from space.  On reading up it's preferable to leave a few nights between each setting out to allow the moths to feed.  You're also less likely to keep catching the same ones then too.  Also the release is quite important and they really are a bit daylight dopey and then of course a good meal for the birds!  We have been releasing where there are plenty of hiding places and hanging around to keep the birds away.  Good job we have a huge garden! I'd feel so guilty if they were just an easy breakfast, birds are very sly like that apparently.  

Anyway, I will leave you with some photos of our star moths.  There were dozens of different ones, (we seem to have thousands in the UK!!!) and now I have time, and some bug pots, I will start to keep a log of what we find.  

Privet Hawkmoth

Elephant Hawkmoth

Small Elephant Hawkmoth

Poplar Hawkmoth

Emerald

White Wave

Burnished Bronze

Blood Vein

Plenty more we saw and I haven't logged but we're doing well so far, especially in the Hawkmoth department!!

Kingcombe and DAW

After coming home from Devon I had a few days to gather my things together for a residential course with Lynda Monk at the Kingcombe Centre. I've never been there before and was really impressed with the barn for teaching and the standard of catering.  The bedroom was ok, at least most are en suite, but my bed was a bit hard for me.  It was all far too exciting to sleep much anyway! 

Lynda showed us her techniques for making fabrics with Tyvek and Lutrador.

As you can see I had a huge pile of good sized samples to bring home by the time we had finished.  We did use some of them up whilst there too.  We also experimented with textured surfaces and paint effects. 

I'm almost finished with the tall vessel.  I've painted it fairly lichenish but need to add a few extra bits.  The bowl was a clever effect and several people have asked if it's metal.  It's not but you'll have to go on a course with Lynda to find out what!!!!  We also made a stitched book, which I had to help several people with but then I do make a lot of stitched books, and a Grandma's Boasting Book which is origami folded pockets.  

I'm now making some of the fabrics into other things including these screw spine sketchbooks. 

She is a full paced, non stop tutor and I've heard rumours that people refuse to go on a second course with her as they can't keep up!  I loved it!!! We were allowed in the workshop anytime so a lot of us started around 7am and often finished after 9pm.  The superb food was copious, fresh and very delicious with continuous tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits.  Good job there were lots of walking paths around the estate! 

On one night the wardens put out the moth trap for us, something I've always wanted as I love moths.  We had quite a collection of the usual suspects the next morning but, oh joy of joy's, we had a Poplar Hawkmoth!! So pleased to see something exciting. 

Isn't he beautiful?  

I seemed to be on a bit of a wildlife spree whilst there.  The first night I rescued a huge queen hornet from the bedroom area.  The following day a swallow had managed to fly in too so I had to capture that as well.  So amazing to see the beautiful iridescent colour feathers on it up close.  The next evening there was an escaped lamb which no one would go near but I managed to get it back into the field with its friends.  Oh and about a dozen bees needs rescuing from various windows.  All good fun.

Next event is the Dorset Art Weeks which starts this Saturday 26th May.  I'm pottering now as I think I have enough to show.  I've just about run out of time now anyway as the rest of the week is taken up with other appointments.  We're hanging Friday. 

Enjoy your week! 

Now Where Was I...?

After spending some time making samples for Brockenhurst I did put together this little book from a 1968, rather well used map of Dorset.  

It was falling to pieces along the mappish creases and so it naturally wanted to be pages.  I just added a few bits and stitched it together keeping all the lovely worn bits around the edges.  

There was also another couple of bags done for the Art Weeks.

I had a few scraps left over from the bags and, after pulling out my bitsa box, put together some cards in my Fragmental Cartouche style. 

Love making these!  Who needs to through stuff away. 

We had an amazing presentation of Elsa's Masters with Merit last week too.  I'm so proud of this young lady!! She has studied for her Masters at the same time as working full time, having two babies and training and running all over the place! Perhaps she's one of the ones who has found the secret door to another time dimension to fit it all in.  

Brockenhurst Needlework Fiesta went well.  Two days of stitchy, creative people can only be fun really.  Maggie Grey and I before the doors opened.

The Greys Mandala has had a few rows added.  Now at 32 inches.

 I've also started the new CAL this week in colour.  This is Cosmic and is 21 inches across at the moment.  

I'm sure the colours will grow on me as they expand.  I'm just used to dull! I did have to change the greens though as I found them a bit too off my taste.  I've put in much more earthy ones, chosen from some of the colours in one of the Batik yarns used so they do go much better to my mind! 

Finally, this week we have started the prep for the Dorset Art Weeks, 26th May - 10th June.  John has dug out the signage A frames and attached the new roadside posters.  I've been making up arrows and numbers.  

I'm not going to blink or it will be here!!!  

Have a creative week. 

March into April

Exciting post title I know but I can't think of anything else at the mo!

I've had a strange few weeks creatively. Not that I've been idle.

I put together another natural book. 

Gives reason for picking up all those odd bits I find calling to me. 

Despite trying it refused to have a proper cover mainly because it wants to sit like this.  Which is ok as it displays quite well. 

I have been making various pieces and samples for demoing at Brockenhust Needlework Fiesta again later this month and really struggle with what to show.  After hours and hours of fiddling about and mind changing I think I have come up with something that will work that isn't hot, smelly or takes too long to dry.  All things to be taken into consideration in such a close environment there.  If it works I'll be happy.  We will see. 

I also made another couple of Curio Compendiums to show with the others for the Art Weeks.  They make it more of a collection display then.  More places for all those ODD things I find.

This also included me making the smallest book I have ever created! It's in the top lefthand box. 

I have recently been pulled back into crochet.  I think the last I did was a bag in July and a couple of throws the year before.  This time I'm joining in a Crochet A Long (CAL) by Helen Shrimpton.  As a warm up I did one of her squares to see how she stitches and she has some amazing combinations.  this cushion I made using up lots of odds from knitting the Grand's cardies. 

I have just started her 2016 CAL called Mandala Madness in a King Cole Curiosity yarn that has a looooong colour change. They're supposed to be done in different colours per round but I fancied one of these in neutral greys.

It takes so much more concentration than just knitting in the evenings! There are 45 rounds done so far (36 hours worth), another 66 to go!  AND I could square it off after than if I chose.  I may stop early, depending on the size reached.  This years CAL starts in just over a week. 

In my efforts of trying to use stuff up I dug out my fabric sample books and an old bag pattern.  I tweaked it a bit and have been putting together some new bags for DAW too.  

Two made all bar the metalwork and bits, another two under the machine and several more waiting for cutting.  these always sell well.  The black and gold one I may even keep for myself! 

I've been having a few panic attacks about what I have to make for what's coming up and really not liking where I am with it all.  I have piles of stuff I just want to play with or finish or even start in some cases!  I took the decision to not do any more exhibitions after the one in September.  I may still do an Art Weeks or two but they are every other year and I don't have to do it if I don't want to.  I find it hard to keep producing items of a showable standard and I'm not the fastest creator.  I know there are some out there who can bang out work at a phenomenal rate but they have usually worked out a formula that works for them and, to be honest, I become so bored doing the same thing I become frustrated by the constraints.  I had the same problems when I was committed to doing my City and Guilds each time.   I will continue to flit like a butterfly rather than slog doing what I think NEEDS to be done. 

After having a bit of a moment last week I made lists.  Then I made lists of the lists.  When I could see where I was going and scratch a few things out each evening I made a mini list of things I wanted to achieve the following day.  I certainly started sleeping better knowing what needed doing just in small bites.  Then Saturday night I had a phone call asking if I would like to join 5 other local creators at a weekend long exhibition just after the Art Weeks.  Of course I said yes.  Now I have to slot in making a few more scarf pins and bags and hope I don't sell them beforehand! I'm sure I would still feel the same even if I hadn't lost all of January and February and most of March to the tumour but at least I'm still hear moaning about it! 

Once more into the studio......!!!! 

Art Weeks Under Way

We are now halfway through the Art Weeks and it has been really great.  I've met so many people, old and new, and many I 'know' through Facebook.  My comments book is positively bulging and it makes my heart sing reading it at the end of each day. 

Of course the ultimate buzz and compliment is when people like what you do enough to want to take it home with them.  I still find this a bit of a shock to be honest!  I sold out of the books that were for sale and have very few of my show ones left, and I could have sold a couple of those a few times too.  The covered notebooks went so fast I had to make more and, again, they are selling well too as are all the cards.  Strata went on the first day, the Piscine Parade has also gone along with Silver Light and the landscapes are going down too.  All amazing, all great for the charity.  (They are all on my website if you want to see which is which.)

I had some lovely reviews from Maggie Grey yesterday on Facebook too HERE  and HERE.  Honestly, if you've ever thought of doing it, have a go!  

Dorset Art Weeks 2016

We're under way!! 16 days of showing our stuff right across the county.  I've just finished day two and things have been going very well including out of the door to new homes.  All great news as my charities, Combat Stress and GSP Rescue Services, will be very grateful of the money raised.

The samples I made at the Brockenhurst Needlework Fiesta were converted into notebook covers.

A fair bit of stitch and beading later and they are already going. 

Our dining room converted into a gallery space.  

The displays look good even though we only have a fraction of Jan's jewellery as she is at Highclere (Downton) on the deer stand at the Country Show for the Bank Holiday weekend.

Not as many books this year, which has been commented on! I think I'm seeing areas where I can add to and also, perhaps, expand into some demos too. 

There are a couple of red dots where the new owners have agreed to let me keep the item for the time being.  Frosty Fields I could have sold at least three times today! The cards are going well too and I can see an empty space I will have to go and fill in a minute.

Can you spot the difference in these two pictures?

Yes, Strata has gone to a new home too.  A lovely lady who came for a couple of visits last time and bought several of my Marrotte dolls.  this year she made a beeline here straight away and bought it. 

I've had several return visitors in fact and it's so lovely to see them again.  I know of two who actually follow this blog too, thank you so much for coming along, it really makes my day!! 

I will say that last time, and this so far, there have been a lot of comments from people who specifically look forward to the textiles.  There aren't that many of us out there.  If you do make textile items and you have an Open Studios event, I believe most counties do, it is so worth while and rewarding to do.  Really consider giving it a go especially if you have a friend or two to do it with.  They don't even have to be textiles themselves, a mix of media is a great draw.  

I'm for a glass of something nice and a bit of planning for day 3 tomorrow!! 

I Think My Feet are Touching the Ground!

A couple of weeks ago I picked up these three after they had come back from being shown in the L'Artishe Gallery, Swanage.  The other two were nicely replaced with a cheque.  

We also had coffee with a few others who are taking part in this years Dorset Art Weeks (DAW). This meant swapping some brochures and flyers so we can point visitors in the direction of other artists in the area.  Of course this also means we have to have the brochures and flyers all ready and printed! These are the things that have taken up a lot of time, along with a few other meetings and swaps, the website, cards etc, but if they're not done no one will know about you and won't visit!  

I did manage to make a couple of these in the same proportions as the Erosion pieces above.  

I liked them so much I made a few more in a larger size too. 

Sort of a cross between the Erosion pieces and the hangings Frosty Morning and From the Gate the Furrows Run.  All the same technique with a few tweaks.  Nice to sit and add the hand stitching and beads.  

I have also made 50 metres of bunting!  The very bottom of our drive is shared and I wanted to be clear on which side we were as it's quite a long one and you can't see the house.  All made so much easier with a pinking blade in the rotary cutter.  I became rather carried away though and now have a large pile of precut, pinked, 8 inch triangles leftover! 

Never mind. 

I have also just completed a two week course with Dionne Swift on using sketchbooks.  You know how much I don't use them.  Well I thought I'd have a look at this course, like I had time, and see where it took me.  

Some beginning to bulge sketchbooks!  

I think I can use some of her ideas and take it further. That should be useful as I am adding to my notebook all the time and I'm already looking to beyond the Art Weeks quite eagerly with so far two exhibitions and a couple of regular shows in the pipeline!

Along with new Gelli plates and Thermofax screens on my desk glaring at me wondering where their chance will come I have had to learn a whole new finance program as the last one really didn't like Mac and was constantly bucking the trend oh and live life in general!  

I have been having quite a cathartic time on the computer as a whole.  I have cleared out well over 100 people on my Facebook page whom I really don't have anything to do with or anything in common. Not just hide them but totally unfriend them.  I was pleased to look through my list afterwards and realise I was left with those I actually do meet or interact with or have an interest in and can automatically recognise their names in a context rather than wonder who the hell they are!  I have also spent a few days unsubscribing to dozens of emails I no longer need and that has taken a huge weight off of that chore through the day of just automatically clicking them into the bin not even opening them!  

Now I've finally managed this post, and probably bored you all rigid, I'm off to paint some more signs and then, hopefully, off to the studio to finish some more pieces for DAW.  Less that 2 weeks to go now.  Don't forget, if you're in Dorset for the first weeks of June pick up a brochure and come and say hello! 

Have a great week! 

Phew!!!

Hellooooo!!! I'm back!!! Wow what a month that was.  The Dorset Art Weeks is now over and I think I've just about found my feet again.

There were a few scary moments at the beginning mostly to do with us being new at this sort of thing and not sure of what we were doing or if anyone would turn up!  The chapel was an interesting place to use, lots of seating should you need it and nowhere to hang anything.

It was also very cold and damp, it is over 900 years old after all, but we soon chased that away.  Jan also lives in a church so has hardly any vertical walls but she does have plenty of easels to display paintings on thank goodness.

To start with I think we didn't quite know how to approach things, which is daft as we've both been visitors to these events, where Jan was willing to dive right in and chat to people I held back as I'm really quite shy.  By the last week we were both so good at it you would have thought we'd done it for years!

These photos I took on my phone when I remembered to as we were setting up.  You can see how we put boards across the pews.  We also had three services while we were there but we could leave enough pews uncovered for them to use as there is usually only about 10 people attending.  Except the last Sunday when some others arrived and four extras turned up as they had been to see our exhibition and loved the chapel so much and, as one was a retired vicar, decided to come back.  It was rather crowed then but our vicar Mel was delighted!

There was quiet a lot of tweaking as we went along and, of course, as things sold.  Yes we had quite a few visitors, well over 200, and the visitors books had some really lovely comments in them.

Though the chapel isn't far from home I did miss John, the dogs, the garden and very much missed my studio! In the quiet times having access to that would have been wonderful.  We both did take things to do but it's not the same.

Will I do it again?  Most certainly! And I would do it from home next time too.

A lot of work went into producing enough items to show and I'm glad that the Dorset Art Weeks is every other year.  I'm not sure I could cope with it yearly!

On the last saturday there was a big BBQ at Sculpture by the Lakes, the gorgeous home and garden of Simon and Monique Gudgeon.

Plenty of people to chat too and places to take a stroll.

Views through the garden and statues beautifully placed.

Cedric!! What are you doing there in such illustrious company!!

Yes Cedric was sold and has moved on but not without a last farewell and a meet with his brother in beards Martyn.

There are still bits to put away and commissions to complete and I have a book full of lovely comments to remind me what lovely people we met.  If you were one of those people, thank you for taking the time to come and see us.  I was convinced I wouldn't sell much but the majority of things I was going to put on Esty did go, I made quite a bit for the Combat Stress and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance charities and I'm over the moon.

Finally a hello to a few new followers on here!!  I'm glad you found me.  Hopefully normal service will be resumed shortly!

Have a great weekend.



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