Such Sadness

Yesterday was heartbreak for me, as I had to make a very hard descision about the sweetest little friend who had been with me for 16 years. Sooty was such a special little person...I have had and loved cats all my life, but never quite like this....it is so painful.I still have his lovely brother William, but feel bereft....I dont usually share such personal things, but perhaps it will help by writing it down.

Sooty just 10 days ago...I never dreampt that he would get so ill so quickly.

Exciting Moves & Projects, so too busy dear friends to blog

Dear blogging friends...I shall continue to be absent from Blogger for a while, as I am working on a large progect which seems to have grown in size as it has evolved, and of course there are approaching deadlines. I'm also in the throes of giving up my studio, as the time and energy spent in getting there....two buses and a three quarter mile walk, has now become counter productive, so I decided to sacrifice my sitting room and am turning it into a studio...that one can sit in of course. This has meant the distribution of the Victorian sitting room furniture...apart from the sofa and wingback ( which wont go through any other doors), between the kitchen and the bedroom of my small park home. On the positive side, I now have a bedroom free of computers and paperwork....all in the studio to be now, and my kitchen has the lovely victorian dresser with the Staffordshire Dog collection all staring out at me, and the Georgian round to table to gather round on my best Eastern rug....very smart now! So far it has taken two weeks....a complete "inhouse" move, and tomorrow a friend with a 4x4 and trailer is going to start the transportation of all that is in the studio. Along with all of this, my sweetest little 16 year old feline friend is poorly, so am feeling a bit heartsore ( a good South African expression) at the moment. However, it is also an exciting time as I JUST KNOW that it is the start of another season in my artwork, and by having everything here at home,when I am inspired I can just carry on as everything will be to hand...and as I only share my home with the cats, I dont have to stop unless I want to. Also....when one of those horrible "blocked" times arrives, I will just be able to go and do some gardening to get away from it. In the meantime, here is another glimpse of a small part of the project....I shall put images of the finished work here when the exhibition opens in October...and will also add more little fragments as I get time.

........and another

Just a little sample to see how things work together.

Another "Fragment" of the new work

I'm ready now...at last, to start work on the front of the "Hope Chest". The top, sides and back are almost finished, and now I have worked out the contents of two of the drawers....the third still is a bit of a mystery, but will evolve as I go along. I never plan everything, prefering to let it grow and evolve as I go along. It always develops from an emotion, and the "story" I am writing about the specific piece of work. Pictured here are some of the early 1900 hand assembled Tape Lace motifs, with some beautiful old mother of pearl buttons which have inspired the initial design The buttons have all been chosen for their sheen and iridescence and are very old ones.... I seem to have collected a very large amount of these over the years, and at last shall use some!

Little Fragments of New Work For an Autumn Exhibition

Im working on quite a large project for an exhibition due to open in October, and will say more about that nearer the time. Up until then, just a few small fragments ( my "pet" name for the last 3 years work) will appear, as sadly I have learned now not to show too much untill it's actually on show...but its exciting and quite demanding, which is always good as then I stay focused :) Well.....that is the general idea!

Promise Boxes: Blessed Be The Ties That Bind

Alchemy 2 Exhibition, Slackspace,Colchester 2012

Here is a body of work I recently exhibited locally; it was a deviation from my ususal textile based work into paper...all vintage paper, and a very personal project. I really enjoyed working on something that was so different, but there were similarities of theme as this was all about family and the links between an Aunt, Mother, Father, Brother, Sister and me. I am going to try to copy and paste the written piece that went with it...to save myself going over it all again...but first some more images.

The Story of the Promise Boxes In 1973 I was given an old “Promise Box” by my mother, which had originally belonged to her sister Lottie in the 1920s, who died at quite a young age. It travelled to South Africa and back with me, and has been a small constant in an ever changing life by giving words of hope, inspiration or encouragement …always seemingly at the right time. “Promise Boxes” were very popular in the early part of the 20th century, when revival meetings saw many people coming to the Christian faith….Auntie Lottie and my mother were two such people, and I was to follow in their path, later on in my life. They were “chapel” rather than “church”, so I grew up hearing the old gospel hymns and the choruses so popular in the 40s and 50s, most of which were contained in the well-known Hymn Book of the time: “Sankey’s Sacred Songs and Solos”. The copy of our book was written in Tonic sol-fa, perfect for playing on the little old organ we had at home, although unlike my sister, I never learned to play. The hymn book had become redundant....but was a link to the past which could not be easily be disposed of, with such a history. Alchemy2 has provided me with the opportunity to recycle the Hymn Book by making it into a “Promise Box” by use of its pages which contain treasured memories of old songs, whilst it still remains the container of these…but now in a different way. Recycled boxes have been used to contain more of these pages, which all now have a hand written promise from scripture on a little scroll, whilst an old photograph album acts as a visual reminder of the original box, the history of its owners, and some of the old promises which have been shared and loved by us down through the ages.

My Broadband Problem!

Just when I was ready to come back and show you some new work, I lost my broadband connection. So far it has been 33 days and "they" still haven't got to the bottom of it. The Dongle I've been loaned has such poor coverage that I cannot upload images and pages are taking 5 minutes to load, so I can't "make a comeback" untill it is all sorted out....so frustrating.

Too busy to blog!

Yes...sadly too busy too blog at the moment with 4 projects and deadlines, and also talks to give.
Its like the "buses" story....you wait for one and then two...or four in this case come together.
I went through that scary "dry-desert" time for about 8 weeks before Christmas when real creativity seemed to have deserted me....all I could do was wait in faith knowing that eventually it would return, and it has.

Treasure Arrived...a new season...and musings.

Arrived today ... a lovely collection of broken faux pearl necklaces, bought for a new project; all damaged bar one which I imediately put around my neck....inspiration is starting to return after one of those desert-dry times.
I seem to have had lots of ideas whiring away in the background, but no motivation to carry them out...that made me question the ideas themselves, as I am usually passionate about what I do.
Realising that the passion was just not there for all, has helped me to focus on the one alone, that is firing my imagination and creativity at this time, and has also given me fresh perspective on my work for EAST which is not comming from my usual subject...
I still have some issues over the source, but shall hope to resolve them as I go along....I think it's because it is a slight deviation from what I call my "real work", but also I think I am into a new season where instead of just concentrating on one thing, I may need to have "several irons in the fire",
We have so much to learn as artists, dont we, and I think one of the things is to recognise the season we are in...I always see things in seasons.
I also get very intense and probably "think too much"...then I end up with a bout of depression and have to pray my way out of it before the mist lifts!

Japanese Inspiration for EAST

I've been a member of EAST ( East Anglian Stitched Textiles) for a whole year now, and am now working on some panels for the 2012 exhibitions.
At first I found it difficult to break away from my "Exquisite Poverty:Fragments work...which is ongoing and wont be shown again untill I have completed three new additions; however, I have revisited an old degree project which was inspired by Japan and am now working on a two and a half foot panel to fit into an antique red laquered frame I have had put away for years.
I shall be aiming to make two smaller panels to go with this one, but matching the frame will be nigh on impossible, but I shall "cross that bridge" when I come to it.
I am still using the repetitive straight stitching that is always a part of what I do...and was initially inspired by Sashiko, and also the antique mother of pearl bird brooches, but am now also utilising the fragile carved bone sticks from a broken vintage fan....it is all really an experiment, but we shall see where this journey goes....here are some fragments of the panel,so far:

Beautiful Things

My lovely orchid had dropped a bloom on the table, near to this wonderful hand embroidered 19th century whitework hankerchief which arrived in the post yesterday....and I had to play for a while.
This kind of embroidery is a favourite of mine, and I never cease to wonder at the amount and quality of the work.
They rest on the cover of my workbook, which is a 19th century ledger...the cover of which is a work of art in itself.

Conversations with Garments

At last I have been able to get down to the studio, now the horrible fluey-thing has gone, but just to do some photography of a few more antique garments which are going onto ebay this week....this is how I fund the studio and my artwork.
I thought that the clothes look as if they are having conversations with each other....the sideways ones that is....but perhaps I am being too fanciful!

The padded silk Kimono is from the early 1900s and is in very poor condition, but still very handsome and interesting....it is in conversation with one of my art-dresses.

The Edwardian Opera Cape is in much better condition, and I am in two minds whether to sell it or not....the trouble is that once I take a photograph of something that I have had for a long while, it seems to look different, and the cape looks lovely next to the art dress too...but I only have a certain amount of space, so there are several considerations.

Happy New Year, from my home to yours

Time with family and friends has been wonderful through Christmastime, and now the year is nearly done. I've had a break from my artwork, but will will be starting again next week, and then will be putting new things on my blog....but for now, here are some quick glimpses just taken of my home...taken with the flash in the evening, so a little "cold looking"...but here are some "old friends" anyway.

Some glimpses from both the sitting room...and the kitchen of my tiny home.
Wishing all of my blogger friends a peaceful,happy and blessed New Year xxx

Silence for a week....and a dove

Just to say that I will be blogging again as soon as I have got my talk and slide show finshed for Embroiderers Guild on Saturday....what with doing this, and selling my vintage clothing collection on ebay, I have had little time for anything else, but I will soon be back with ideas that are "simmering", and some lovely photographs....I'm looking forward to making again, now that I have gone through that "flat dessert time" which hits us all every now and then...when creativity seems far away and one wonders if it will ever return....but we should know that it always does.

A dove of peace and some cherubs....detail from a small stitched panel.
I have had some very peaceful, quiet days writing the plan for the talk...it is about my work, but also about my life, and I am now sure that the book I have wanted to write for years is going to happen, and I'm aiming to start it after Christmas....

Amazing Arts & Crafts Shoulder Cape

This is such an unusual late 19th century shoulder cape, which I havent had very long.Never having seen anything like it, in all my textile collecting years,I took it to an expert who agreed with me that it is most likely an Arts & Crafts movement piece on account of the gothic style inscription in Latin which reads "nothing is impossible for man"...it may have origins in the "Glasgow School", so I am going to send images to someone who is an expert in that region.

The fabric is silk satin...very fragmented now and faded from what may have been pink, to a dull gold, and the cape is heavily padded. The embroidery is all machine applied, and the garment is quite stiff and heavy.

It is shown on my Victorian "Blouse Stand" which still has the original damask covering...age stained, but is missing the wooden handle from the top.

It is such an unusual garment, and the suspicions so far, are that it was made for a special event...but of course it is all guess work.

Lila, my disgraceful studio doll

I guess it's the time to be busy, but I seem to have been much more so lately. I've been selling vintage dresses on ebay for Christmas fundraising,planning my talk and presentation for Embroiderers Guild next week,going to exhibitions, talks and starting to think about Christmas....and planning some new work too.
I havn't been in my studio so much through all this, but when I was there this week, we had a journalist from the local newspaper visiting, talking to us and taking photographs, down at Cuckoo farm Studios. It was an interesting morning, and I took some photographs of an interesting Victorian Short Cape that I have.....and also of Lila...my discraceful doll who sits in the sketchbook corner.

This is Lila...a 1930s Boudoir doll who has seen better days and who, inspite of all attempts to clean her up refuses to "come clean".

New Project....a new challenge

I've decided to add some 3D pieces to the "Exquisite Poverty: Song of the Shirt" work, as I may be exhibiting it further away from home next year and am quite excited about the prospect of challenging myself to make things I havn't attempted before, but which I think will add another dimension to it.
I'm not going to say too much at this early stage, but the first piece I shall be working on is a "chandelier" which will combine left over fragments from the shirting quilt, with Victorian lace.
I have had the gilt metal frame of an original 19th century light shade in my shed for about 5 years...only rediscovering it on cleaning out the shed recently...and it was then that I suddenly saw it as a centre for the original roon setting. I am also thinking about a small chest and footstool, but one thing at a time, as the remains of the quilt are so little now.
I have been a bit "stuck" as I had intended to start a whole new work...but have felt that the EP:SOTS work was not quite complete...especially if I am offered a larger venue. If I can produce the three new pieces, I think I shall be happy to start a new journey.
Here are some images of the antique frame as I start to dismantle the remains of the old fabric.

The gilt frame and the inner ring which I have unscrewed to remove the fabric.

The lace hem from a Victorian petticoat, and some scraps of the vintage shirting.

The outer gilt frame...this is a large piece measuring about 18" straight across.

Halfway through taking the fabric off the inner frame....it has been oversewn with such tight, tiny stitches and I wonder if i will be able to do so well.It was also completely wrapped in fine tape which has now rotted away with rust...I will probably have to re-bind this.
I never really plan exactly what I am making as I prefer to work on intuition and let things evolve...it has been the best way in the past, but I think I shall have to plan the layout of the fabric due to its' scarcity now....and I think the writing from the poem should be visible on the inside; lots of things to think about when I go to the studio tomorrow.

Sooty helps to put the garden to bed for winter

I always feel a little melancholy when it is time to re-pot plants and take them into a safer place for winter. Autumn is such a lovely time for colours, but I'm so aware that winter will follow and I love the sunshine.Never mind...today I had Sooty's company as I started to put the garden to bed, and we had a lovely time in the October sun.

Sooty helps to put the garden to bed and sort out the cat-mint.

"Have we got enough cat-nip to get us through the winter? I'd better just check".

"Have I got it right?....what do you think"?

"Yes...I'm content with that....we can rest now".

Enjoying the Autumn Sunshine

While I was busy with the camera taking photographs of vintage clothing and lace for ebay ( yes....it's time to fund my studio work again!),William and Sooty were enjoying the autumn sunshine comming through the window...I guess at 15 they deserve just to laze around all day...and all night now, but Sooty actually attempted to climb a tree this week-it's a long time since I've seen him do that, it must be this Indian Summer we are having for October and long may it last.