ArtShades

Cheltenham map table lamp

h.Art was pretty full on this year and I didn't really have the opportunity or head-space to make any shades from scratch.  I did manage to finish this half-shade using a reclaimed OS map of Cheltenham.

 

It has a lovely vintage feel and the town was perfectly placed on the map to enable a bit of symmetry with the stitched lines.

 

I walked along Cheltenham's famous Promenade only yesterday.  It's a lovely Regency spa town which will soon play host to The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival from 8 -17 October 2010.

Herefordshire Art Week 11-19 September 2010

With the children back at school my focus has swung to h.Art which is almost upon us - starting on Saturday 11 September and running through until Sunday 19 September.

 

There are 111 venues open this year, with over 200 artists and makers taking part.  It is a wonderful way to explore the county of Herefordshire, see behind the scenes of artists' studios, meet designer makers and see how they create their work.

 

Once again I will be joining Jenny Pearce, the willow basket maker, at her lovely rural home in Canon Frome - Venue 14 in the East of Herefordshire (for your copy of the 38-page colour brochure visit www.h-art.org.uk). 

 

Next week I'll show you some of my new work created for h.Art, but right now I must get back to my sewing machine......

Have a great weekend.

 

 

From Pembroke to the New Forest

I've been working on map lampshade commissions lately having sourced the required vintage maps.

I've completed two drum table lampshades using 1950s Bartholomew's maps, one of North Pembroke and another of the New Forest and The Solent.

 

Huddersfield and Shrewsbury will feature later this week.  It's improving my geography no end!
 
 
 

Spring Gardening Show Preview - Malvern Library 31 March - 29 April

The display cases at Malvern library will be featuring work by ten members of the Worcestershire Guild of Designer Craftsmen throughout April, giving locals and visitors to the town a preview of the quality of craftsmanship they can look forward to seeing at this year's Spring Gardening Show. 

 

With metalwork and jewellery by Sharon McSwiney, scarves by Alison Dupernex, willow work by Jenny Pearce, ceramic jewellery by Janette Mackinnon, boxes by fine furniture maker Mary Marsh, silver jewellery by Ettore Consorte, ceramics by Heather Barningham, beadwork jewellery by Sam Hemming and lamps by me, there's a little taste of the variety of Guild work you can expect in the Wye Hall at the Three Counties Showground in May.

    

The original Edwardian library building was extended and refurbished in 2006 and now offers a light, open contemporary space.  The display cases are downstairs beside the cafe 'Bloem in the Library' which offers Fairtrade teas and coffees, home-made cakes, lunches and afternoon teas.
 
Malvern Library is on Graham Road, Malvern, WR14 2HU and is open from 9am to 5.30pm Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays with late opening from 9am to 8pm Tuesday to Thursday.

Photo Credits: 1) Sharon McSwiney, 2) Alison Dupernex, 3 )Janette Mackinnon

 

PS  I'm taking a break from my 'Bloom of the Week' and 'Three Takes ....' series over the school holidays, feel free to look at past entries by clicking on the pictorial links in the sidebar.

 

 

 

Three Takes .... on a colour palette

This week's quick creative experiment had to be really quick as it's half-term and time to think is scarce.  I briefly contemplated getting the boys involved too, but decided I'd leave them building a camp in their bedroom (complete with a mattress slide).

Whilst browsing the books in Oxfam recently I spotted the unmistakable blast of colour that is Clarice Cliff.  Although I have never felt the urge to own any of her pottery, I have admired her work since I was quite young and was drawn to these Christie's sale catalogues from the 1990s.

  

Sat on my desk, the patterns and colours kept pulling me in so I thought I'd have a little play with colour.

 

First I messed about with the paint palette, re-arranging the colours as I pleased (I accept that watercolours are not the ideal medium with which to recreate the bold, solid colours Clarice Cliff favoured!).

Clarice Cliff often outlined her designs in black, but I quite liked the softer effect of white paper showing between the colour blocks, so made a stitched sample using a white paper on top,

cutting away to reveal the colours beneath.

If I had more time I'd take this further, so I'm sure I'll return to these catalogues and explore more concepts.  My half-lamps are often described by customers as Art Deco in style so I might design a few lampshades with more obvious Deco patterns.

Hey, it would be fun to design one to complement a customer's own Clarice Cliff collection.  I'd enjoy that.