Here are some of the exhibits I particularly enjoyed seeing at the exhibition "Coastlines" which finished today. It was only on for a week as the gallery only had that short timespan between exhibitions. Two weeks are better but a month is best.
Made by Tessa Mendez from Feltunique. I loved the shapes and colours.
This ceramic bowl was asking me to buy it and take it home.
Made by Maria Nordgren, Momentum Pottery. The texture on these bowls reflected sand lines.
The quirky birds were made by Rachel Bower a willow weaver.
This lovely kimono was made by Jan Reid. Dyed silk and hand stitched.
So much work by all the exhibitors.
Just a small selection of the super work on display.
The seagull will be retired now and I have space ready for him in my new home.
Spent a day at Edinburgh Fringe and the Book Fair.
This band is such fun to watch and hear. Great selection of old musical instruments. An hour sped by.
Some sights from the Book Fair
Peter Rabbit was a great favourite with both children and the adults.
Who has lost his very large head?
Much need refreshments between talks.
Tackled another part of the garden. Need to get the rest of my plants out of their travelling pots. Finding it hard going.
A very busy week.
Please look in next week as I try to at least locate a sketch pad and some crayons.
BYE BYE
Lots of visitors and child minding this week so a rush to get everything ready for opening of exhibition.
1 sold, 8 to go. A real buzz on opening night and quite a few sales. Gallery happy.
Have started digging up the grass. Planted large Hosta, it was screaming to get out of it`s travelling pot.
The soil is terrible so I am lifting a small piece of grass putting on loads of compost and planting one of my pot plants. This is really the wrong soil preparation but I need to get the plants into the ground. Found it a bit daunting to dig up all the grass in one go.
Balloon flight passed over the garden tonight.
I am ready for a cup of tea and an early night I think.
If you look in next week I will have some pictures of other peoples work from the exhibition. Look out for the felt stones.
BYE BYE
Managed to finish this last piece " Lunan Bay " These little stones were collected from a walk on a local beach.
My matching rings were designed from this beach.
Have lost a stone and must get it repaired.
The gallery looked very large and empty. Fusation members will be handing in exhibits throughout the day. When we arrive for the preview on Friday the gallery space will be transformed. I hope.
Mood board to go into group profile folder.
I still need to add writing. Computer working again but printer will copy and scan but not print. I should have moved to the woods and lived a techno free life!!!
Friend bought me a sweet little colander and I have bought kitchen gadgets to match.
A lovely workman has turned up and assured me he can make my garage into a bright functional studio. I can hardly believe it is going to happen. Very very excited. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan.
Glad I made the deadline for handing in day.
Oh and I have lost 4 lbs. Walking and no midnight snacks of toast and cheese or bowls of icecream.
This photo tells the story of a disaster but it had a happy ending.
Looking in next week to hear about the exhibition and the preview.
BYE BYE
Getting ready to hand in work for Coastline exhibition
Attached the small pieces to a background. Will hang as a 9 piece patchwork but for sale separately.
Have stitched back to long coastal piece. Curved needle and pliers needed, fingers still blistered.
Cabinet of Curiosities is going as well. The seagull is looking forward to another outing.
The exhibition opens on August the 13th. If anyone is in the area please look in. The Barn Gallery is situated within the grounds of a lovely retreat, great grounds and a beautiful walled garden.
Curtains definitely on hold. Have told them Winter, dark nights, cold days they will have my undivided attention. Hope that holds them.
I continue with my courtyard upgrade.
Have not yet sourced interesting outdoor dishes so far only seen rather naff plastic ones but have bought 2 cushions. Planned to make some but these looked good and were in a sale.
Do you like my bench and table? I painted them in the middle of packing. Mad or What! I wanted them to look good, going to their new home.
The fabric birds are outside to see how they weather.
Have no room for them inside. Still exploring studio space but a garage conversion is the most likely
option. Watch this space.
Next week I will be attaching labels and hanging rings always last minute things to do. Must find the bubble wrap.
Look in next week when I will be breathing a sigh of relief that pieces have been delivered to the gallery on Sunday 7th.
Very special postcard from America has just landed beside the books so he has found his place in my new home.
BYE BYE
No contest. Garden of course. The move had one van dedicated to plants and they needed to be settled into their new home.
Started on the small courtyard as it seemed manageable. One shrub already there so mine planted round it.
Lots of cutting back ivy etc. The soil is rubbish. Missing my garden soil, with its years of added farmyard manure and compost. Resorted to buying organic manure from the garden centre. No smell!
Table and chairs a house warming present from my daughter- in- law. Perfect.
Have already eaten breakfast and lunch sitting out.
Plan to treat myself to some outdoor dishes, so watch this space.
The curtains will have to be patient.
This is my homeless art material. Exploring possibilities for studio space. Have unpacked, with help from family and friends, so many boxes.
These still to be unpacked. More art material. I think they are breeding in the garage.
Where are the contents to go? Will I ever find scissors, glue etc. again and where oh where is my Gesso?
Big changes - moving into a smaller home but content to be in a small town with essential shops within walking distance. Joy of Joy a family garage round the corner with lovely people to look after my car.
Thoughts.
Living one minute, one hour, one day at a time. Trying to ensure I enjoy a useful, fulfilled and therefore a happy life.
Keep healthy- get this extra stone off.
Keep focused.
Nurture my family and friends.
Count my blessings.
Please look in next week and leave a comment.
Do you find the content interesting? Are the photographs Ok?
Check out my new regime to see how I plan to get that stone off.
See how the courtyard is progressing.
BYE BYE
My thinking for this piece of work was my reaction to the images of refugees trying to cross into Europe. Quite shocking. Fences were being erected along borders. Keeping people in. Keeping people out.
I never get a good photo of my long pieces
The spaces between each piece of fabric represent the difficulties faced by the refugees as they try to cross border
The Fences were pieces of wood painted and distressed by leaving tied to a fence at the beach.
I still have to stitch on the backing but the main part is finished.
The clock is ticking and time for house move is very near.
I am sorry I will miss harvesting my gooseberries. When ripe they are red and so very sweet.
Next post will be from new area, new town, new house.
BYE BYE
At last some time spent working on the "Coastline" piece.
Had lunch and a business meeting last week with the group Fusation.
Realised how little time I had before the exhibition. I was planning to use a piece of acrylic to back the piece but so far had been unable to get it cut. The Potter who was hosting the lunch is having a new studio built ( envious ) Lovely worker said he would cut it for me. Back home, no excuses, got started.
I have used strong tape to hold the fleece in place then I will lace the back to stretch the work. This thin fleece is ideal as a backing.
Coming together at last.
Add the "fences" and backing. End in sight.
Feel a sense of relief as does the work. It was afraid it was being packed, in pieces, in a brown box.
I did not present any work to be juried for this exhibition. Caught up with house hunting and packing. I will be stewarding on the 20th 2.00/ 6.00. If you are around please look in. The biggest textile exhibition this year. Not to be missed.
Saying goodbye to my garden.
New home, new horizons, getting ever nearer.
BYE BYE
