GARSTANG ARTS FAYRE

As part of the Garstang Art and Music festival I was at Garstang Arts Centre on Monday 29th August. I would like to say thank you to everyone who called in and said hello. I had a brilliant day and will be returning to the fayre next year- lots of constructive feedback that I can use to develop both my cards and my work. I hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as I did (despite the weather) and please feel free to leave a comment or email me. I would love to hear back from other visitors!

DOLLY DOORSTOP

Yet another member has been added to the sycamore doorstop/stuffed teddy family (although this one is a present for a friend so is not a permanent member). This is one of the trickiest pieces I have completed, as the stuffed arms and legs always seemed to get in the way! She is also filled with pebbles from the beach rather than rice, as mum got sick of me using up her supply! Never mind, she looks fairly even as I passed the stones with teddy bear wadding first.

WELCOME HOME

One of my sisters has just returned from a long stay in Scotland, in the Highlands, where our uncle has a quest house (the same one that stocks and sell my postcards). Anyway, on her return Claire and I decided we needed some banners to stand at the station with as she got of the train, so I made two; 'Welcome' and 'Home'. This way they can be re-used! I am pretty happy with them and Rach loved them. A sucess alround, although we nearly missed our slot as the traffic was bad, so we had to run through the station in order to stood on the platform as the train pulled in!

CATH KIDSON CUSHION

This cushion is out of the Cath Kidson 'sew!' book and I absolutely love it! The pattern shows the cushion as flowery blue and pink but I preferred green as it will match my bed spread and will look very sweet sat there. I am really pleased with it, I think it turned out very well and it was relatively easy to make and didn't take too long. Any thoughts?

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE FAMILY

No not babies, but new additions to my doorstop/ stuffed animal collection. My sister requested a chicken, so I made her this little rooster doorstop which was very fiddly but totally worth it. Hopefully she will think so too! I added a zip to the bottom of the rooster, as I wasn't sure how else to be able to remove the stiffing, plus I need to learn how to do these things, especially if I want to move on to making clothes! I also wanted to be able to remove the rice which is waiting it down, seen as it is mum cooking rice and she may want it back (don't worry the rice is inside a completely sealed plastic bag so it is fine to be cooked and munched). I also made this lovely little frog doorstop for a relative who likes frog, another success I think. My other sister has requested a stag of some sort, although I have a feeling she may be getting it in the form of a cushion and not a doorstop (simply because the thought of sewing all the antlers and stuffing them and turning them inside out makes me queasy) and I would also like to make a dolly doorstop for a friends birthday that is coming up. Have no fear! I will keep you posted! All comments and feedback are welcome.

THE FINAL CUT

These are the finished pieces from my artist in residency week at the Blackpool Grand Theatre. The week in my opinion went very well and I have enjoyed experimenting my technique- the rigid architecture and straight lines contrast well with the more feminine lace and buttons. I also experimented with drawing with the sewing machine, working over white lace (usually I coffee stain and die the lace) and a more simple background so that the outline of the building would stand out. I also believe that focusing on sections of the building, rather than the whole facade worked very well and is in my opinion more effective, as it only gives you a glimpse, an insight into the building rather than telling you the whole story (so to speak). One more piece will be on the way, I am simply sewing the last few beads onto the roof- just adding a bit of glam (it is the theatre after all!). The circular one is definitely my favourite- what do you think?

WORK FROM BLACKPOOL GRAND

Over the last week, I have been completing work inspired by the exterior of the Blackpool Grand Theatre. By tomorrow, I will have finished all the pieces, as tomorrow is the end of the week's artist in residency, which is very exciting! There will eventually be an exhibition, but we have yet to decide on a date. Perhaps next week. Anyway, I am very pleased with this weeks work- the stitch and architecture has worked very well. I like the contrast of the firm lines and the soft lace, they go surprisingly well together. Any thoughts?

THE BLACKPOOL GRAND

Since Monday I have been at The Grand Theatre in Blackpool creating work inspired by it, as part of an artist in residency week. It is so much fun and I feel as if the work is going quite well as well. On Monday I mainly completed photographs and backed the canvas's with paper and then began working and sewing the outlines today. We are planning an exhibition of the work, but not too sure of the exact date yet, next week or the week after I think. The date will be posted as soon as I know when it is.

The building of the Grand id beautiful, very old (and looking tired in places) but a great space with so much history, I think it's beautiful and I love the pineapple on the top (a sign of wealth in the Victorian era). Today, the pineapple seems a bit odd as we are so used to having them but it's all part of the history of the Grand and Blackpool.