Some recent drawings

I'm developing a slight obsession with crows, I see a lot of them on my travels to and from work and I think they are very interesting birds. They are really quite beautiful and yet there is something a bit sinister about them as we tend to associate them with death and darkness. I find this interesting as in my own work I like to create things that are beautiful yet have a sinister undercurrent.

Art Exhibition at the Cathedral

In Carlisle Cathedral at the moment there is an exhibition of art by adults with learning disabilities. One of the pieces is a large collage based on the work of Gustav Klimt that I did with a group of Service Users in one of the day services. It is all their own work and they showed great commitment and enthusiasm throughout the project.

A couple of quick pics!

I now have a camera but still not quite got round to the regular posts thing. Never mind, here are a couple of images of things I've been up to this weekend. Two tops customised with applique, buttons and lace trim and a shirt and tie made into a bag (or a bhirt.)

Felt Workshops at Penrith Crafts

Just a quick post to let you know that I will be running a short course in felt-making at Penrith Crafts (www.penrithcrafts.blogspot.com) in January. It will be over three consecutive Saturdays (16th, 23rd and 30th) from 11-3. The workshops are suitable for complete beginners and all materials will be provided. Please contact Penrith Crafts for more details, hope to see you there!

Pumpkin Party

I've been very busy the past couple of weeks with various crafting projects. My side kick Ella and I spent most of last week creating various Halloween decorations for Saturday's Halloween Pumpkin Party and costumes for last night's Guide Halloween party.

I think that this blog will get a lot more interesting once I get a camera and can document what I've been up to more easily. For now, here's a couple of shots of my prize winning pumpkin and our Halloween tree.

Tweet A-Line Skirt

I thought it would be nice to get some images into this blog so I borrowed my Dad's 'phone and took a couple of snaps of a skirt I've just finished. I got the pattern from BurdaStyle, which is a great resource if you like to sew or want to learn.

I made the skirt from black cotton twill lined with a lightweight floral blue cotton. I used bleach to paint a bird and swirl design onto the front and back pieces of the skirt before I sewed it all together. As I currently have no shiny pennies, I used materials I already had to make this project. To finish the skirt of I added some pretty buttons and buttonhole stitched loops instead of putting in a zip (beacause I didn't have one!)

Upcoming Exhibition

So, here is my first ever post! Over the past few months I've been working (somewhat sporadically I must admit) on some new work for the Winter Light Exhibition at Altrincham College of Arts. Check out their website http://www.altrinchamcollege.com/the-gallery for more information. I would give you some sneaky picture previews but I don't have a camera at the moment and most of the work is currently sitting in Manchester anyway.

The work I've been doing is all based around tatting and knitting, I'm interested in exploring the place of 'women's work' in art and how these traditional crafts have been both a solace and a prison for women. On the one hand they have offered a sometimes rare opportunity for self expression, the chance to design and create something either functional or decorative and on the other hand for many women they have been a chore, a necessity, keeping them tied to the home.

I also just find them fascinating and I am constantly amazed by the connection people feel with textiles, particularly something that has been hand made. These textiles become almost like a second skin, another layer of protection from the outside world. Which may or may not be a good thing.