Back in the studio...

Dipper
Machine embroidery and fabric paint on cotton. 2018

Over the past couple of weeks I've been able to get back into my studio a bit more and it feels really good to be working there again. We've had quite a stressful few months for various reasons and I haven't had much time to focus on my own practice. I had a look back through my book of knowledge (the notebook that contains all my thoughts, to-do lists, projects, ideas and so on) and I kept seeing 'need more time for my work' so I'm really pleased to finally be able to spend a bit of time on my own practice.

Dipper (detail)
Machine embroidery and fabric paint on cotton. 2018

Dipper (detail)
Machine embroidery and fabric paint on cotton. 2018

Mr. Stitches and I try and go for a walk every day as it has so many benefits for both mental and physical well-being and on one of our evening walks last week we saw three dippers together. I often see them along the river but usually only one at a time. I'd been thinking for a while about doing a dipper portrait and seeing them on our walk prompted me to actually get on and do it. I decided it would be a good project to get myself back into working in my studio.

Design drawing

I began by drawing out my dipper, I only make portraits of birds I've seen because it's important to me to observe and then capture a bit of their character rather than just what they look like. I love the way the dipper moves and the way it suddenly disappears underwater, it always seems as if it's been swept away but then it pops up again, fine and unharmed. To create my drawings I do use photographs and reference books as well as any quick sketches I've made whilst watching the bird to supplement my memory of the bird.

Work in progress

Work in progress

I then used my sewing machine to 'draw' my dipper onto fabric. I started with a black outline and then added some hints of other colours. I didn't want to put a background in, as I very rarely do, but I did want my dipper to have something to perch on so I added a rock and some swirling water so it wasn't floating in space. At this point I hadn't decided whether or not I was going to add any applique or paint; I was keen to experiment a bit with paint and in the end this is what I decided to do.

Rook
Machine embroidery and fabric paint on linen. 2016

Often when I use fabric paint I use the paint first and add the embroidery over the top but for this piece I wanted to do the reverse. I made a portrait of a rook a couple of years ago using this technique and I've been thinking about experimenting more with it recently. I wanted the result to be quite watery and for the colours to bleed out into each other and the background. I wanted to do it this way partly to evoke the watery world of the dipper but also to suggest the fragility of the bird and it's environment; our wildlife and environment are under so much pressure and I wanted to comment on this.

Sketches, books and work in progress

From sketch to drawing to finished piece

I really enjoyed making this piece, although at several points I considered abandoning it as it wasn't going quite as I envisaged. I'm pleased with the way the fabric paint has worked and I think this might be an interesting idea to explore further in other pieces. As an added bonus I received a message asking if the piece was for sale after I posted a picture on Facebook. It's always a nice confidence boost when someone wants your work on their wall and I'm delighted that the dipper will be going to a home where it will be appreciated!

Summery Summaries: Part One

Tatting, Tullie Textiles
May 2018

It's happened again; despite my best intentions I've ended up being really busy and have not kept my blog up to date, oh well. I keep this blog for a number of reasons, the primary reason being that I find it a really good way to review and reflect on what I've been doing. It's also a good way of sharing what I'm doing and on a practical note of keeping an easily accessible record. I enjoy writing posts on here, regardless of whether or not anyone reads them but I do find that when I'm busy it tends to be one of the first things that falls off the to do list. I can then sometimes find myself in a situation where I want to write about something but feel that I must write up what I've missed writing up before. To get around this I've decided to do a couple of summary posts; that way I'll have a record of what I've done but won't feel like I must write up everything I've done since the last post in great detail and I'll be able to get back to blogging about what I want to when I want to. That's the theory...

Suffolk Puffs, Stapleton WI
July 2018

As always I've been busy with my regular groups at The Heathlands Project and Prism Arts but also with lots of other projects. These include my Tullie Textiles group, workshops and other bits and pieces. I've done a couple of sessions for different Women's Institute groups this summer; a talk for Carlisle's WizCraft group and a Suffolk Puff demonstration and mini workshop for Stapleton WI group.

Suffolk Puffs, Stapleton WI
July 2018

Suffolk Puffs, Stapleton WI
July 2018

I'm always a bit nervous about working with WI groups as there are women there who have far more experience and skill stitching than I do. However, so far it's always been a lot of fun and everyone has been very receptive to my ideas and we've had some really interesting conversations. It was interesting doing my talk for the Carlisle group as it was a good opportunity to review where I'm up to with my work and have a think about what's next.

Crazy Creatures from KS1 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

Crazy Creatures from KS1 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

Crazy Creatures from KS1 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

Earlier in the year I was invited back to Wiggonby School to run a couple of creative workshops for the children. This is my third year running sessions for them and I always enjoy it, it's a very friendly school and I'm always very impressed with what the children create with me. This year I worked with Key Stage One in the morning making crazy animals from recycled materials and then in the afternoon I worked with Key Stage Two making wildlife portraits with fabric pastels and stitch. They all created some fantastic work and I think it's really good for the children to have the opportunity to try something different.

Wildlife Portraits from KS2 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

Wildlife Portraits from KS2 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

Wildlife Portraits from KS2 at Wiggonby School
April 2018

I run a monthly group at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery called Tullie Textiles. We meet on the second Sunday of each month and each session I choose an object from the museums collections to look at and I demonstrate a textile skill or technique. It's a lovely group, really friendly and I always look forward to the sessions. Some of the group have been coming for a few years now but we also get new people coming in which is great, I love it when I'm demonstrating something and then some of the more established members help newer members. I also really like that one thing tends to lead to another and it gives me a great opportunity to try new things and then share them with my group!

Standing Wool samples, Tullie Textiles
September 2018

Fabric Tassels, Tullie Textiles
August 2018

I think that's enough catching up for now. Hopefully I'll do another couple of catch up posts soon and then something resembling normal service can resume. Or not!

Time to Play

My Stitched Collage Box from a workshop with Anne Brooke

As usual I've been busy with all sorts of different projects including workshops, an exhibition and a new and expanded role at Prism Arts. All this activity has left me feeling stretched a little thin and in need of a bit of a pick me up. Like many creative people it can be difficult to find the balance between your personal practice, the work you really want to do and the work that pays the bills (not to mention having time for a personal life.) I like the variety of my work and enjoy all the different aspects but inevitably there are times when the balance swings too far in one direction and this can be quite stressful.

Anne demonstrating and a selection of her boxes

Making the basic net for the box

Stitching the net together

Because I've had so many deadlines recently it's felt a bit stressful and like I didn't have much freedom in my work, I've had to work on particular projects in order to meet these deadlines even if it wasn't what I really wanted to be working on at that point. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, I find a deadline helps focus the mind and can make me more productive but sometimes it can be a bit too much. Hopefully I'm now entering a slightly quieter period so can focus a bit more on what I want to do rather than what I have to do.

Cutting and sticking

Cutting and stitcking

Stitching

This also means a bit of time to play. Artists in particular often talk about play and it can seem like an unimportant, frivolous activity but actually play is really important. Children learn the skills they'll need in later life through playing; as adults we tend to neglect this side of our lives but it's important to keep playing as it helps you to keep learning. Of course the type of play changes, now play for me means trying different techniques and ideas in my art rather than hanging off the monkey bars (not that I was ever very good at that!)

Stitching

Main box and lining ready to be joined

A really good way to make sure you get your creative 'playtime' is to go on a workshop. One of the reasons I enjoy being part of my local branch of the Embroiderers Guild is that it gives me the opportunity to take part in lots of different workshops with lots of different tutors. I try to do as many of the workshops as I can because you never know what you'll learn and it's good to challenge yourself to try something different. It's also a good way to pick up teaching tips for when I'm running my own workshops! I've been programme secretary for the past two years at the branch which has given me a chance to book some really interesting and exciting workshops.

My box (front)

My box (top)

My box (side)

For our October workshop I'd booked Anne Brooke, a very talented textile artist based in West Yorkshire, to run her 'Stitched Collage Boxes' workshop for us. I was really looking forward to the workshop and it was even better than I expected. I thoroughly enjoyed the day, a chance to try something a bit different without the pressure of making a piece for anything in particular; just for fun. I felt so relaxed making my box, Anne is a really good tutor and shared lots of hints and tips but also left plenty of room for us to do things our own way. Everyone's piece is different, reflecting our own tastes and interests.

My box (side)

My box (side)

My box (open)

One of my favourite things about this workshop was that involved several of my favourite activities; first one being cutting and sticking. I love collage and really enjoyed playing around with different materials and layouts before moving on to another of my favourite activities; stitching. I also enjoyed the challenge of thinking about how a flat piece would look when it was made up into a 3D piece. I'm really pleased with my finished box and it's given me some new ideas of things to try as well as being a very enjoyable activity in itself. After my playtime I feel enthused and excited about getting back into my studio and creating new work.

All the boxes made on the workshop, ready to be finished

Reflections and Resolutions (sort of)

Blackbird Singing. Lino cut. 2015

As Christmas and the New Year rapidly approaches I find myself, like most people I imagine, reflecting on the year and making plans and resolutions for the next one. Overall I've had a really good year, I think the fact that it seems to have gone so quickly reflects how busy it's been! I'm starting to feel really comfortable with myself and feel like I'm doing a pretty good job of getting the balance right, not always of course but overall this year has been a lot less stressful than previous years and so I've enjoyed it more! I've worked on lots of interesting projects, met some lovely people, been to some lovely places, made some good art and craft work and generally just had a nice time.

Bird workshop with Key Stage 1

Needle felting at Tullie Textiles

Lino printing with my Prism Arts group

For next year I would like to carry on having a nice time and largely doing what I want but the main area I would like to develop (as in most years!) is having more time for my own work. I am fortunate that I spend the majority of my time working on creative projects and I love what I do and it pays the bills. Sometimes though I find my own practice slips which can be quite frustrating. As always balance is the key so I will keep trying and sometimes I'll get it right!

Embroidered Goose

Embroidered Goose: Detail

Embroidered Goose: Detail

Over the last couple of months I've been blogging less regularly, largely because although I have been busy with work it's mostly been bits and pieces and planning for things. I wanted to get a post in before Christmas so I thought I would just do a little round up and reflection of some of the things I've been up to as this seemed to fit in with the idea of reflections and resolutions.

Embroidered Bird

Embroidered Bird: Detail

Embroidered Bird: Detail

I have lots of exciting workshops lined up for next year so one of the things I've been working on is making samples and example pieces for these workshops. In February I am running a workshop at Tullie House based around embellishing printed fabrics, this has given me an excellent reason to work on some more of my stitched birds. This in turn has led onto some ideas for how to develop my own artwork, I have been drawing birds directly onto plain fabric and painting them and the next step is to start embroidering them. I'm excited about this and looking forward to seeing how it all works out...

Drawing on Fabric

Painted and ready to stitch

I have also been experimenting with my drawing a bit more. I almost always work in pen on paper with continuous line so I am trying to be a bit more experimental. This week I have been playing with ink, early days but I think this could lead to some interesting drawings.

Inky feathers

Inky feathers

Inky feathers

For my birthday this year we travelled up to Dumfries and as well as generally enjoying ourselves and having a nice break we visited the Gracefield Arts Centre. I was really impressed, I thought the spaces were beautiful and the exhibitions really interesting. I particularly enjoyed the Frost and Fire exhibition by Circle Arts and felt really inspired and enthused about getting into my studio and making my own work.

Birthday treat: Weekend away

Sunny winter walks

So, a good year has been had and I'm hopeful for another good year to come with lots of making, exploring and visiting. I hope you all have a peaceful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!