Textile Art .

These are some of the pieces that sold at the Rodmarton Crafts Alive exhibition last week. It was so sucessful, a glorious five days to meet thousands of visitors and such a wonderful setting in the beautiful Arts and Crafts Cotswolds Manor house. There was so much to see on all three floors of the house and outside in the wonderful gardens. 70 Craftspeople took part and there were talks, demos, workshops and live performances. Well done Glos Guild of Craftsmen for staging such a celebration of Craft. I met so many lovely people, all so supportive and admiring the work. I am having a quiet week this week to come back down to earth! If you missed it you can go to the gallery at Chapel Arts in Cheltenham, open Weds to Sat 10 -4,  to see amazing craft for sale all year round.

 

David Nash at the Towner Gallery, Eastbourne.

 We went down to Eastbourne for a few days last week to visit my aunt and went to the Towner gallery to see the work of David Nash, I knew of his circle of growing trees that interlink and have grown to form a dome but not seen anything else. We both loved the exhibition and could have stayed longer to see the film several times over. The film showed an enormous wood boulder left in a stream in Waies, filmed over years to see its gradual erosion and journey.

 Pieces ranged from the monolithic to the intimate.

Loved this map too, showing his surroundings as words and personal observations.

Fresh Air Sculpture Trail at Quenington.

 I have had my friend Rosemary to stay and we have been gadding about seeing the local sights and last Friday we went to the sculpture trail at Quenington. It is a huge exhibition with lots to see but luckily there is a cafe for needed tea and cake! This is the pool room and a shot below of inside with my pictures on the wall. I have sold 3 pictures and the concertina book.

 Other pictures from around the extensive garden with the river running through it. What a lovely day out and if you go allow several hours to linger and take in all the work. I loved this paper boat called Hope but so much to see we may have to go back for another look.

Freshair Sculpture Trail - The Pool Room exhibition.

The exhibition has begun and despite the wet weather is going very well. I have sold Field Map (the one with the badgers), Path with Grasses and the concertina Field book. Hedgerow harvest has an interested buyer too so waiting to hear about that one. Phew! What a beginning. I have covered my costs now which is the first worry. We are going to visit on Friday with my friend and the weather is supposed to get better by then. Will take some pictures and post them but there are some splendid ones on Instagram @freshairsculpture2019.Look at the stories. This is my bit in the impressive catalogue. I sent 10 pictures and the book so there are plenty of replacements as things sell. Lots of wonderful sculptures in the garden and even in the river.

Fresh Air Sculpture Trail.

Fresh Air Sculpture at the Old Rectory, Quenington. Glos GL7 5BN 16th June- 7th July. Open 10-5.
www.freshairsculpture.com  for further details .Tel no 01285 750358. Parking is on the village green except for disabled parking by the house. There is a cafe in a marquee in the garden. £7.50 entrance fee.

Framed and ready to deliver.

Off to Quenington today to deliver 10 framed pictures, cards and the field book for the exhibition in the pool room as part of the Sculpture trail. The exhibition opens on Sunday 16th June- 7th July. It is a great outing so don't be put off by the fact that there is an entrance fee. The Old Rectory, Quenington GL7 5BN. www.freshairsculpture.com. I will take pictures when I visit. It is only a small exhibition space and there are lots of lovely artists exhibiting so not all my work will be displayed at the same time and when things sell they will be taken away. Ask Jo or a member of staff if there is something you especially want to see. The commission on all the works is 50% so expect prices to be higher. Sorry about the date stamps -still getting used to new camera!

What an amazing exhibition!

Phew! What an amazing week! We were overwhelmed by the number of visitors at Crafts Alive at Rodmarton Manor. I ache all over and shall sleep most of the week. If you follow this blog you know I am a tired-all-the-time person because of the M.E. I had in my forties. So my husband and my dear friend Rosemary supported and covered my stewarding when I needed a break. I popped home for a nap when I was there all day. Only being 15 mins away I could do that.

 The Glos Guild members and organisers worked their socks off to achieve this amazing event and thanks to them we had aprox 700 visitors per day. Less Thurs more Sun. Unfortunately I couldn't take pictures inside the house because they don't allow it. So here are the wonderful gardens and some of the sculpture trail.

 This little bronze owl was probably my favourite but the deer were also wonderful.See previous blog post. (Made by Caroline Bartlett)

 Dahlias in the walled kitchen garden.

 A little back door behind which I had my demonstration table.

 Peek out from one of those windows. Alice in Wonderland gaze.

My table set up yesterday to show visitors how the work starts - in my sketchbooks- and evolves, samples to handle and a piece in progress.
It was so busy yesterday! Over the week I talked to hundreds of visitors - what a lovely lot of appreciative people you were too. I was thoroughly overwhelmed by the kind comments, fans and long term followers of my work. Thank you all so much. I sold 6 framed pictures and the little Autumn sketchbook, 105 photocards ( could have sold many more but didn't have the stock) and 12 handmade cards. All the work I made for the exhibition-that-didn't-happen at Newark Park in the Spring sold. I still have my favourite little sparrow so he can go to the gallery when Alan and I recover our wits and energy. More another day.

Crafts Alive at Rodmarton Manor with the Glos. Guild.

 The work went up yesterday and last night the private view was very busy.

 Just a few pictures while it was quiet. This is my work in the corner of the drawing room. Lovely piece of furniture by Graham Ikin under my pictures.

 Tents on the lawn.

 A peek from the window.

Sculptures in the garden. These deer are delightful and perhaps the best kind of deer to have in your garden i.e. ones that don't nibble your favourite flowers. Will take more pictures when I am stewarding tomorrow and Saturday.

West Country Quilt and Textile Show, Bristol.

On Friday I went to the Quilt and Textile Show in Bristol and helped steward on my friends stand. Their title was The Colours of Africa. A few pictures to give you a flavour.

They had some of the African textiles that had inspired them.

Deborah Pawle is a weaver,

Li Hewitt a quilter and embroiderer.

These little box houses were made by Carolyn Sibbald and on the Brunel Broderers stand.

It was a great show. Plenty to see, lots of space to sit down in and no pushing through the crowds to see the exhibits. Plenty of visitors but more spacious. I really can't stomach the London shows any more that crush you between small stands. But that is just me a country mouse I'm afraid rather than a town mouse!

Preparations for Crafts Alive at Rodmarton Manor.

Making a few more cards and getting everything packed, labelled and sorted. It always takes longer than you think. I will be stewarding at Rodmarton Manor on Thursday 6th and Sat 8th. On Sunday 9th I will be in a tent on the front lawn demonstrating stitching, printing and painting on fabric. Another thing to sort out! I hope it warms up a little or I will be the one in a tent with all the layers of clothes on. Luckily just finished knitting a shawl so that will be another layer. Definitely Autumnal here now.

Rodmarton Manor 2.

 Yesterday we picked up the brochures for Crafts Alive at Rodmarton Manor. Today we are taking them into Tetbury to distribute about the town. Other members will be doing the same in the county.

 The manor has beautifully decorated drain pipes. Here is a monkey and my interpretation.

 I am making a few cards but it is slow progress.

Perhaps it is the weather! This pied wagtail because I watched a pair by Lake Coniston on holiday, bobbing and weaving on the edge of the water.