Glitter Arti

I'll be at the Atkins Building at Hinckley tomorrow selling my jewellery and books sculptures at Glitter Arti.

This is a new event so we shall see how it goes.

I have created some paper baubles especially for my Christmas audience. Maybe I will see some of you there.

Why don’t you… [re]design Christmas?

20 Good and Gorgeous make it yourself (MIY) designs suitable as festive decorations or gifts are being compiled into a digital book.




Following a recent shout out for a re-design Christmas MIY book I have successfully secured a page which is the brainstorm of re-design

re-design will be showing the book along with the finished artifacts at two prestigious events.

Handmade in Britain
Chelsea Old Town Hall, 27-30 October 2010

Eco Design Fair
Islington Town Hall, 4-5 December 2010

Please check the websites for further information

Knitting support for the boys

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Over the years I have developed a really good relationship with my neighbour Margaret. In the past 18 months or so she has returned to knitting. Her grand-daughter Jade has been studying a Fine Art Degree in Manchester, which she finishes this year. So you can imagine, the creativity she experiences from her grand-daughter and her neighbour must eventually have a knock on effect.


Over the course of Jade's time at university she has knitted some weird and wonderful creations. I think partly due to this and our many creative sharing sessions Margaret has decided to show her support for England by knitting a flag and showing it in her front window. I have to giggle when she shows me her new creations as they are so humorous.

I did notice yesterday that she now has two flags..... must take a new picture. Watch this space.

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'e' exhibition, energy producing kinetic sculpture

DANDELION

Art Republic - Molly Fletcher and Tom Wilkinson

On Friday 17th June I attended the preview night at The Natural World Centre, Whisby. Although it was a long drive, I felt it was definitely worth attending. I took my little boy who is ten and he thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the various pieces.

'Exhibition of Kinetic Sculpture 2010 – 2012 Introducing an Exhibition of Kinetic Sculpture, ‘defined by motion’, focusing on sustainability and environmental impact. A three year project investigating the links between sculpture and renewable energy with the ultimate aim of developing beautiful sculpture with energy producing qualities. Involving Artists, Sculptors, Engineers, Designers, Inventors, DIY’ers, Students and School Children....' Mark Clarke, event organizer.

There were some very interesting pieces as well as a selection of eco/sustainable work by artists for the Design Factory. I think undoubtedly my favourite piece was the 'Dandelion' which was spun round by the wind and looked like a Catherine Wheel with sparkles. Click on the link to view the sculpture in action.

Whatever happened to Fairy Cakes?

I came across this advert whilst in my local building society. Although I have acquired all 3 of the free recipes, I was a bit disappointed with the mention of cupcakes. When I was a child it was Fairy Cakes. This conjured up something light and magical and quintessentially English. Cupcake on the otherhand belies something kitch and heavily laiden with colour and decoration.

So what has happened to our traditional 'Fairy cake'? I think I need to do further investigation into the origins of our delicate treat.

New Zealand Book Council - Go West

If I had to choose to strive towards a new skill I think it would have to be 'papercutting'. Have a look at this video and you will understand why.

Making necklaces at the Autumn Centre

This is a regular group I work with at a local Day Centre. The challenge for me is to find things that we can create in an hour using recycled or reclaimed materials. The group wanted to have a go at making jewellery so using memory wire we did just that. Each time we meet up I challenge their small motor skills.

Travelling Exhibition

Following the success of the Stanza Poetry Festival I have been asked by the Programme Manager, Susan Davis to have some work displayed in a Craft Pod (scroll down to Craft Pod then click on launch gallery) that will tour around the area for a year.

This has been yet another super opportunity to develop some new work. I've created three sculptural pieces which I have entitled, 'Ruffle Beads'. The inspiration comes from the Elizabethan Ruff. Whilst working on these pieces I came across some 21st century versions of these ruffs made by a very talented lady on Etsy, it is well worth taking a look. She had kindly allowed me to use an image of her work within the Craft Pod.

The chance to have my work published in a book

This is such an exciting opportunity. I had an email with the information forwarded to me from a Uni friend and the Design Factory. It was a short deadline so I needed to move fast. I decided to send images from the Stanza Poetry Festival I was part of earlier this year. These pieces were made especially for the event using a poetry book. The edges are silver gilt and in the centre there is a swarovski crystal.

Sarah Kelly will be writing the book on paper jewellery for the Design and Make series published by AC & Black Publishers. Other impressive jewellers including Kathie Murphy, Joanne Haywood, Lindsey Mann and Sarah Keay have all written successful books within this series.

Easter Flowers

Today I have a craft workshop with my 50+ group at the local day centre. They will be having the usual Easter meal and instead an Easter Bonnet parade we have been asked to provide table decorations. I showed the group how to fold and arrange tissue paper to create beautiful blooms. One lady thought we were making decorations for St Patrick's Day as I had used white, yellow, orange and green papers. I guess it would work for both.

Kusadama Workshop at the Beetroot Tree

I had an absolutely wonderful day yesterday. I ran a Kusadama workshop at the Beetroot Tree, Draycott. This was to compliment the current exhibition entitled 'Grammar & Heather' which I am a part of.



Five lovely ladies attended and they were all very enthusiastic and keen to learn the versatility that paper can provide as a material of choice. There was a free flow of ideas from everyone and I feel we all gained a great deal from the day myself included.

More images can be seen at Flickr.

For all you chicken lovers out there.............................. Here's Cluckie

Do you know I really need to stop myself from taking on board random things to do. My latest was Chux Tux. I am a member of Freecycle. I love to think that I am doing my bit to stop things going in the landfill and prolonging the life of inanimate objects at the same time. Over the years I have given and received some great stuff.





Back in January I read a post requesting Wool and Knitting Needles. These are the posts that usually interest me as I have a stack of wool and a good collection of knitting needles at the ready for anyone who would like to learn. On this occasion the lady in question was very ambitions and wanted to not only learn to knit but to make 6 Chux Tux (jumpers) for some battery hens she was giving a home to at the end of February.

After tracking a pattern down online I realised that it would be a bit difficult for a beginner to do. So I offered my services. They had to be ready for the end of February in time for the hens arrival. Along the way my son's class coincidentally did a project on battery hens so the lovely lady, Bex, allowed them to name one.

You've guessed it Cluckie.