Returned from Mall Galleries

Ceramics by Pam Schomberg

I have finally returned from the The Society of Designer Craftsmen exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London.  It has been a great experience.  The Society have been incredibly helpful.  They offered a workshop on Finance for designer makers and had a one to one mentoring session.  Mine was with Pam Schcomberg which was really useful.   Pam gave me a whole list of ideas to follow up and I found her very gracious,  extremely knowledgeable and helpful.

I have been researching her work this morning while looking for images to show you on my blog and was interested to see that she is influenced by textiles in her work as she commented "My father was a tailor, as was his father and his father before him.  I work as if I'm working with fabric.  I cut out patterns and I join them."   The tailored look is evident in Pam's work from the buttons, collars, seams and edges which are carefully joined to make distinctive articles.

It is interesting to think how we are all inspired by a huge variety of things.  I am back from London and looking forward to drawing, sketching ideas and photographing images that intrigue me.  Many people have asked me why  I was drawn to be so interested in telegraph poles and pylons.  They love the images but have not noticed them in their garden or on the roads.   But that is the exciting thing about art we all see things in different and make us look at the world differently.

Finally I am pleased to say that I was awarded a Distinction by the Society of Designer Craftsmen.  Very proud.

Mall Galleries, London

Mall Galleries

It has been a very busy few months since the Harrogate Knit and Stitch Show.  I have been preparing new work for an exhibition The Society of Designer Craftsmen are hosting at the Mall Gallery in London.  I finally went down this weekend to deliver the work and help set up the exhibition with other new members.  The gallery is in a beautiful area of London and the perfect space to display work.  The exhibition includes a variety of craft pieces ceramics, glass, jewellery and textiles.  I met some wonderful fellow craftsmen and hope to meet some more when I go down to help with stewarding this weekend.  If anyone is in London over the next couple of weeks it is certainly worth visiting as there is some lovely work on display.

Goodbye "Transformer"!

Transformers

I have had a really busy week since coming back from Harrogate and not been able to find time to write up my blog!  

I have had to say goodbye to my 6ft "Transformer" piece which is making its way to its new home in Dublin.  I hope its new owner enjoys it as much as I did making it.  I know its going to a lovely home.

Its funny how attached you get to your work.  Its great if people want it and appreciate it.  Being an artist can be a lonely profession and you don't know how people will respond to the work when it goes out into the real world!  Going to a large show like Harrogate is great because you get positive feedback from people.

From Ally Pally to Harrogate Knit and Stitch Show

Graduates from Alexandra Palace Knit and Stitch Show

I am looking forward to seeing all the other Graduates from the Knit and Stitch Show in Alexandra Palace in Harrogate this week.  Everyone was so friendly.  Some of us were able to go to Dublin but not all of us but hopefully we will all be at Harrogate.

Dublin Knit and Stitch Show

Section from one of my Painted and Stitched Quirky Telegraph Poles

I have just returned from the the Dublin Knit and Stitch Show where I was exhibiting in the Graduate Showcase.   I had a wonderful time.  The people were wonderful and it was great to meet the Irish Graduates and catch up the graduates from the London Show.

I will be blogging about some of these when I have organised my photographs!

Dublin Knit and Stitch Show Preparations

Machine Stitch and Paint

I have been making preparations for the Dublin Knit and Stitch Show.  Looking forward to it but nervous as I am flying!  I will get over it.  The past few weeks have been very busy working on various projects that have arisen from the Alexandra Palace Show.

Sorting out commissions and also last week I went to see a colleague who produces hand-made wallpaper she is interested in doing a collaboration with me on a range of exclusive stitched wallpaper lengths.   Very exciting.   I shall keep you informed of our progress.

The Infinite Idea

Detail from my work inspired by  The infinite Idea

I am back in the studio after a busy week at the Knit and Stitch Show.  It has made me eager to get on with some work.   I have been asked to join with a Conceptual art project called theinfiniteidea@theinfiniteidea.   It is the inspiration of conceptional artist Jane Orange.   She has created an installation at Neoartists Gallery (follow the link above to see her work) involving twelve eggs.   She has appoached twelve artists to respond to her installation in whatever medium they work in.  It has got my creative juices thinking again and I was pleased to be asked to join in and stand along so called "fine artwork".   It is a bugbear of mine that textiles are considered as craft rather than pieces of art and I hope to break down these barriers which have already begun to fall.  Grayson Perry has helped build up the interest and standing of textiles with his ventures into tapestry.

I am thinking of doing a series of twelve pieces in response.