Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone! I am looking forward to a busy 2011 and can't wait to set to work on all of the new ideas I have for Country Living Spring Fair and British Craft Trade Fair. I have started by writing a list as usual......it just makes me feel like I have made a start! I am making only 2 new years resolutions this year:

The first is to not take on too much....easier said than done! I am prone to loosing track of how much I have achieved and concentrating a bit too much on what I haven't and this can cause me to try and cram in too many things. The Christmas break has been a good opportunity to look back on the past few years and see how far I have come; 2011 is a year for enjoying where I am now and really getting the most out of my creativity without putting myself under too much pressure.

The second is to try and blog more...this is a recurring theme! I am going to attempt a new post a week (at least) to try and form a visual diary of my year; what I have created, what has inspired me, who I have discovered and what exhibitions and events I have been a part of.

But for now I am calling it a day. It's been a really rewarding day working with teachers from Reinwood School prior to my creative partnership project there this term but a full on start to the year...bye for now.

A Few New Pieces

Just thought I would share a few images of some new work. I have had an informative and educational day with Yvonne Grist on her photography workshop at West Yorkshire Print Workshop in Mirfield. It was a lovely group and we spent the day chatting and learning how to photograph artwork for our websites...it does get quite addictive though!

Finestra Gallery

Here are three new pieces of work now available from Finestra Gallery in Kirkby Lonsdale, they are all 34" square framed pieces. The photographs don't show up the detailed stitching but you get the idea!

Inspiration

I took quite a few photos in Scotland, here are a few that have inspired a new collection of work that I will be starting work on in the coming weeks....

Scotland

I'm back! After the summer holidays I was thrown straight back into work with Christmas orders to complete hence my abscence from here (again) but a relaxing week in Plockton, Scotland has recharged the batteries and it was such a beautiful place I thought I would put some photos on here. The picture above was the view from the house that we stayed in and it was the most peaceful setting with sea otters on the island across, seals in the water and pine martens in the garden...we couldn't have hoped for anywhere better! The village of Plockton was just across the water...

....with it's excellent seafood restaurants and a lovely little gallery. We had a drive to Applecross towards the end of the week and the view along the coastal road were amazing....a truly relaxing and inspiring week!

August News

Even though it's the school holidays there's still lots going on.....after a lovely day feltmaking at Roberttown J&I Summer School I spent a lazy long weekend in the Yorkshire Dales and called in at a few galleries in the area. Stonegate Gallery in Low Bentham is full of gorgeous fused glass artwork, made by the owners, hung alongside artwork by a selection of other artists. The gallery was a pleasure to look round and is in such a beatiful location it's definitely worth a visit. Finestra Gallery, Kirkby Lonsdale was my next stop and they have a lovely new range of work by Rachael Taylor which is now definitely on my wish list! Finestra Gallery have recently had an exhibition of my work and I was really pleased to hear that the work had been well received and that my large statement piece had sold already....looking forward to creating some more large pieces for them very soon. The weekend was finished off with a gorgeous meal in the Dog and Partridge...perfect.

So it's back to it now and I am looking forward to collecting some prints of my work from Ali White ready to hand finish and stitch in preparation for HOST....pictures soon.

Where has July gone?

I always hope to blog more....it never happens! So here is what has been going on in July....I have been asked to produce some prints which I will hand finish and stitch so I have been busy creating some work for those, I am also aiming to have some fine bone china cups made with my work on...images of these in the next month or so! I have done a commission for a retirement present and am in the process of creating a bouquet of felt flowers for a rather special couple getting married in the autumn. Two workshops have taken place, a mixed media and a devore, and only this morning a badge making session with children at the arena centre in Dewsbury. I am busy getting ready for HOST which will see my studio opening for the first time in September and also the busy Christmas period and Country Living Spring Fair next March (I will be organised!). Oh and a very successful Holmfirth Artweek has been and gone and work is still on show at Gallery 49, Bridlington and Finestra Gallery in Kirkby Lonsdale.........so it's no wonder I never have time to blog!!!