Thread and Thrift

Hidden Mothers

2012-01-23T14:13:00.000-08:00

I love these pictures of hidden mothers.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1264520@N21/pool/show/

Enchanted Forest

2012-01-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

I have just finished these two little collages/ stitched drawings which are off to the DLI this week for their display cabinets.

They are part of a series of work which I do called "Enchanted Forest"and which I will be teaching at The Hearth on Sunday March 11th. You will learn to build up a textile collage using hand stitching, applique and embellishment. You don't need to be able to draw a forest bird or animal as I will supply you with templates and lots of lovely fabrics to choose from. For more details on how to book check out the workshops section of my web site www.mandypattullo.co.uk. I love teaching this workshop so please do join me!

and here is a wolf that I spotted at the Great North Museum yesterday.Love the way the animals have now escaped out of their glass cases....

New web site

2012-01-20T10:12:00.000-08:00

I have set up a new web site. Check it out at http://www.mandypattullo.co.uk There are lots of pictures and an ABOUT ME section which explains where I am coming from.

Back

2012-01-13T12:37:00.000-08:00

Alice Pattullo at Cecil Sharp House

2012-01-08T23:36:00.001-08:00

My daughter Alice Pattullo is having her first solo exhibition in London at Cecil Sharp House. It opens Friday January 20th and runs till April so if you are planning a trip to London drop in and see it.

Check out Cecil Sharp's web site http://www.efdss.org for location and to see all her designs for their brochures.

YOU ARE INVITED TO AN EXHIBITION OF PRINTS AND ARTIST'S BOOKS BY ILLUSTRATOR ALICE PATTULLO AT THE HOME OF THE ENGLISH FOLK DANCE AND SONG SOCIETY, CECIL SHARP HOUSE.

OPEN FROM JANUARY - APRIL 2012

9.30 - 5.30 pm

CECIL SHARP HOUSE, 2 REGENTS ROAD, LONDON NW1 7AY

THERE IS A PRIVATE VIEW ON THURSDAY 19TH JANUARY, 6.30 - 8.30 pm PLEASE RSVP receptionist@efdss.org or 020 74852206 ext. 28 IF YOU INTEND TO COME.

Valentine

2012-01-08T13:11:00.000-08:00

I will be running a heart themed textile collage course on Saturday 4th February at the Pele Tower in Corbridge. For more information check out my workshops page on my web site

www.mandypattullo.co.uk

Sorting Out

2012-01-03T00:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas television viewing has given me the chance to have a good sort out of my trims. I know they won't stay like this for long!

The party has just begun

2011-12-31T11:58:00.001-08:00

in Newcastle

Cats

2011-12-16T02:47:00.001-08:00

I have just finished this applique picture which includes a piece of my son's jeans, my daughter's pyjamas and my husband's shirt. It is based on the shapes of some black lucky cats I was given. I liked the backs better than the front so turned my cats into white ones.

London

2011-12-12T01:53:00.000-08:00

We have been to London this weekend and I managed to see three great exhibitions. At the British Museum the 'Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman' was thoughtfully curated by Grayson Perry. http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/grayson_perry.aspx The British Museum is so full of stuff it was good to have a few special pieces handpicked and put into a context. Broken into areas such as pilgrimage, relics, maps, shamanism. I particularly loved the Asafo flag and reminded me of a fantastic show I saw at the Barbican about 15 years ago of these graphic appliqued political flags.It provided me a turning point in my practice which is still influencing me today. What is fantastic about the British Museum is that you can access images and descriptions of nearly all the objects online.

I did quite a few pages of sketchbook drawing which really makes you look closely at detail.

The last piece in the show contained Perry's largest sculpture which was a mixture of objects cast in metal from real objects in the Museum. At its centre was a flint axe head which is the starting point really of all making and craft, the first invention.I actually have a flint head like this of my own ( it probably should be in a Museum) which was dug up by my Grandfather with the plough on the farm at home in Norfolk. The Norfolk soil is full of them. It is one of my most precious possessions, I can't believe I actually own something which is Neolithic and about 3000 years old.

On then to 'The Power of Making' http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/power-of-making/power-of-making/at the V and A which neatly complimented Perry's exhibition but was about how contemporary makers and craftspeople are using tools and making and developing techniques.

We ended the day at the Wellcome Trust which is always challenging and inspiring. "Miracles and Charms" http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/miracles--charms.aspx was a rare chance to see votive paintings from Mexico and a superb collection of amulets carried around by Londoners in the past to bring luck and ward off evil.

An inspiring day and made me eager to continue making things!

Cashmere Cats

2011-12-02T13:56:00.000-08:00

After this Open Studio weekend I really must go back to some serious work!

My Open Studio Event

2011-11-28T14:13:00.000-08:00

My studio at The Hearth will be open this weekend 3rd and 4th December 11am - 4pm.

http://www.thehearth.co.uk will tell you how to get there. Lots of new gift type things for sale.

Christmas Fairy Workshop

2011-11-26T09:31:00.000-08:00

Come and make a Christmas Fairy with me at Corbridge's atmospheric medieval pele tower on Friday 9th December. This is a hand sewing workshop where you will learn some basic toy making techniques and have a fine old time rifling through lovely fabrics, trims, beads and sequins to create your own little family heirloom which can be used Christmas after Christmas.

The workshop costs £55 , includes all materials and a delicious lunch at the famous Watling's Coffee House. The workshop is organised by Delight and Wisdom www.delightandwisdom.co.uk so to book and for further information on access and facilities you need to contact them on (01434) 632818 during shop hours or email them at enquiries@delightandwisdom.co.uk

enquiries@delightandwisdom.co.uk

Recycled angels

2011-11-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

I have recycled last year's Christmas cards in to new mixed media pieces. These will be central to the rehang I am doing in my studio in preparation for our Open Studios Event next weekend ( 3rd and 4th December) See www.thehearth.co.uk for more details.

If you didn't get to see my Blues exhibition in the Autumn I will also have most of this for you to see.

2011-11-14T14:25:00.000-08:00

Now the Vintage Fair is over my thoughts are turning to Christmas and the Open Studios Event on 3rd and 4th December at The Hearth. Am starting to make a few new bits and pieces on a seasonal theme.

Today!

2011-11-13T01:50:00.000-08:00

2011-11-11T09:53:00.000-08:00

Only two days to go!

at the Royal Station Hotel, Newcastle from 9.30am - 4.30pm

Here are some little drawings from my daughter Alice alice-pattullo.com to tempt to you to come to this stylish event. Give up buying new and buy good quality and much better made vintage pieces. Jayne and I have spent months organising this event so please come and make it happen for us!

Textile Hub courses

2011-11-09T10:11:00.000-08:00

I am not teaching any more public workshops before Christmas ( though plenty in schools and with other groups). However the good news is that my Newcastle textile friends who form The Textile Hub http://www.thetextilehub.co.uk/ still have some places left on their courses :

Ali Rhind's Proggy and Hooky Mat Making course on November 20th

Fiona Rutherford’s Tapestry Weaving one day course on Saturday 12th November

and on Jane Frazer's Christmas decoration Course on December 8th

Why not book now to avoid disappointment?

New brochures and Gift Vouchers for Spring 2012 Courses will be available in:

Ali Rhind's Studio at 36 Lime Street during the Ouseburn Open Studios on November 26th and 27th 2011. Jane and Ali will be available to talk about the courses. Book early to avoid disappointment or buy a Gift Voucher for a friend or relative for Christmas. Ali will also have lots of her work for sale.

Programmes and Gift Vouchers will also be available at The Hearth Arts Centre, Horsley during the Christmas Market an Open Studios on 3rd and 4th December 2011 from 11 - 4pm. Myself and Jane Frazer will be selling our work at this event too.

Courses for Spring 2011 include:
Wedding Jewellery and Needle Punch Felting with Jane
Sewing classy aprons or up-cycling: a skirt with Cia
Tapestry Weaving with Fiona
Hooky and Proggy with Ali, including a special Valentine Course, ' Hook a heart for Valentines Day' and a 3D Proggy or Hooky Master class
Textile Collage or Recycled Sock Creature class with Me
and finally a Scandinavian Weaving master Class with Cia and Jane
More details will be posted on the web soon but in the meantime please contact us for details on any particular course and to purchase a gift voucher

Paper cut

2011-10-28T12:57:00.001-07:00

Applique piece inspired by a Victorian paper cut.

Mixed Media

2011-10-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

Surface Decoration; Autumn Texture

2011-10-25T11:00:00.001-07:00

There are still a couple of places left on the Surface Decoration; Autumn Texture course which I will be running on the weekend of 5/6 November at The Hearth.

Taking the beautiful colours, textures and shapes of Autumn as inspiration we will explore a wide range of surface decoration techniques to create unique mixed media pieces.You will learn to paint with dyes, use collage effectively, make rubbings and use simple printmaking techniques to build up rich layers of mark making. You can even have a try at cutting lino.There will be lots of practical demonstrations and you will have plenty of time to develop individual ideas to create really interesting work.

To book and for prices you need to go via Rebecca's web site at www.horsleyprintmakers.co.uk.

Hand stitched

2011-10-15T08:40:00.001-07:00

The Newcastle Vintage Fashion Fair

2011-10-10T13:47:00.000-07:00

During the last few months Jayne Turner and myself have been organising a Vintage Fashion and Textile Fair for 13th November at the Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle We are pleased to announce that we have now sold all the tables to vintage dealers from as far away as Liverpool and Perthshire who will be selling quality vintage items such as clothing, bags, jewellery, textile bits and pieces such as lace, buttons, haberdashery. Some of them have put links on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/the.newcastle.vintage.fashion.fair eg. Dotty for Vintage who sell vintage clothing in sizes 14 - 26, hurray for all curvy women! It is the first big event that we have organised so please come and support us by not only coming to it but doing lots of your Christmas shopping at it, even if you are buying Christmas treats for yourself. There is a £2.50 entry charge, £2 concessions.

Autumn Textures

2011-10-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

The leaves are starting to look really pretty. If you want to capture the glorious colours of Autumn then you could think about booking on to my surface decoration course on 5th and 6th November at Horsley Printmakers. This is a mixed media course and there are a few places left. For more details look at http://www.horsleyprintmakers.co.uk/courses.htm. The courses I am running in the Spring are also advertised on the printmakers site. I am particularly excited about the 4 day intensive Easter workshop on the Oriental theme.

Time to plant tulips

2011-10-04T04:32:00.001-07:00

Its getting to be time to plant tulips. I love looking through the Sarah Raven catalogue and ordering a few special ones each year. Just cut this off the drawing board. I did it really quickly over lunchtime during the last surface decoration course I taught. I just used up all the scraps in the style of the great Eric Carle ( he of The Very Hungry Caterpillar).

Pearly

2011-10-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

I haven't had time to do much of my own work over the last week or two as I have been busy preparing samples for an 'Enchanted Forest" workshop I have taught today and will be repeating in Rothbury next week. So because I haven't anything to show this week I will just have to show off my daughter's work instead! Here is one of her latest designs and check out her alphabet of superstitions which she has been putting on her blog daily for the last 2 or 3 weeks http://alice-pattullo.blogspot.com

Manchester Textiles Fair

2011-09-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Jayne and I had a wonderful time at the Manchester Vintage Textiles event. I was looking for old quilts and found some real lovelies, all Irish. This is an old one from County Antrim - I love the way the stripes are not quite straight and give it a liveliness that perfection would just not achieve.

This is a really unusual Crazy quilt which is made in blocks. Very stained but some lovely old prints.

A beautiful silks and satins log cabin top. Obviously hasn't seen the sunlight but some of the silks are barely there and mice had nibbled the edges.

The backs are as good as the fronts....

If you are jealous of my purchases soon you will be able to buy your own as Jayne and I have organised vintage textiles to come to Newcastle. There will be vintage clothes but lots of other rare, old textiles which you can only get through the specialist textile dealers we have hunted down. Put the date in your diaries NOW November 13th and tell all your friends. We want as many people as possible to come so we can run these regularly!

Footbinding

2011-09-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

Have been thinking of a shoe themed course for the Spring. Here is some work I did a while ago on foot binding. I think I did the drawings from the lotus shoe drawer at the fantastic Oriental Museum in Durham

The Textile Hub

2011-09-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

Not only is Waitrose coming to Jesmond but so is The Textile Hub! The Textile Hub will offer courses by professional textile artists in the heart of Jesmond at a venue above the wonderful 1901 cafe next to Jesmond Library. Jane Fraser, Fiona Rutherford and Ali Rhind have organised an exciting programme of courses which will start to run in November. Check out the web site www.thetextilehub.co.uk for details of what's coming and links to the artists' web sites if you do not know their work. I hope to be running a course there in the Spring

Tuesday Blues

2011-09-13T04:28:00.001-07:00

Monday Blues

2011-09-12T06:23:00.001-07:00

Sunday Blues

2011-09-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday Blues

2011-09-10T02:46:00.001-07:00

Friday Blues

2011-09-09T01:06:00.001-07:00

Thursday Blues

2011-09-08T02:27:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Blues

2011-09-07T08:56:00.001-07:00

Blue blogging

2011-09-06T10:49:00.001-07:00

You will be seeing a lot of BLUE on my blog for the next 2 weeks as I prepare for my next exhibition.

Goodbye OSS

2011-09-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

A few last images from my "Remember Me" exhibition which closed at the weekend.

Goodbye Old St Stephens, thank you for letting me in....

The garlands were hung/ weighted with hag stones. These stones from Norfolk beaches sparked many conversations about bivalves!

Details from dress

Old work newly displayed. Hint to other textile artists - find spaces to exhibit which are not cold and damp.

Paradise

2011-08-31T12:11:00.000-07:00

Today I have been to

in Scarborough, to see this...

I am a great fan of the nineteenth century novel ( British and American) and remembered being profoundly shocked by The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and its tales of drunkeness and debauchery. Its not as good as "Jane Eyre" of course but worth a read. Anne spent her last day alive going down to the South Sands on a donkey cart. Lucky her. I was too big to be allowed on this lovely donkey on Filey beach. So glad they were still there though and looking cared for and happy.

Thank you Cath

2011-08-30T23:52:00.001-07:00

Thank you to Cath who did the flowers inside and outside the Church for my exhibition. They were sensitively chosen to fit in with the colours of the Church and the textures and fabrics I had used.

Alice Brewster

2011-08-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

More on my maidens at mandypattullo.blogspot.com

Quiet Moments

2011-08-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

Very few quiet moments when the public haven't been in OSS but when there have been I have been sewing in the church porch in the sun. There can't be too many views from church porches like this one.

...... and look at what I found in the font when I took its lid off!

Old St Stephens

2011-08-28T12:11:00.001-07:00

Many visitors have come from far and away this weekend to see my "Remember Me" exhibition at Old St Stephens Church, one mile above Robin Hoods Bay. I am exhausted from meeting and greeting, though today 10 of us had a merry little picnic in the church porch and I have been touched by the warmth and support from the locals. It will be on till Friday night and I will be there again all of Bank Holiday Monday to talk about it. The rest of the week the exhibition will be manned by volunteers but if you really want to see me then ring me on my mobile number and I will try and come up to the church to see you as I am staying not far away. Here is what you can expect to see

50 garlands embroidered with names of girls who died young and single. The Maidens garlands hanging in the back of the church may have been made for any of them. I have made a flower for each girl out of papers, vintage materials and silks and from each hangs a single white paper glove and ribbons. All the girls are buried in the church yard. They are all "sitting" in the pews at the back of the church near the ghostly remnants of the original garlands and near a dress which is facing away from the altar. They never got to walk up that aisle as brides!

In the chancel area, hanging over the pews are embroidered blue runners telling the stories of boys who would have been the girls' contemporaries but who were also unmarried because they also died young, all of them at sea. Many many more boys died than girls but I have selected ones who had a good description on their graves of where they were sailing, or where they were drowned. Some local buys met their deaths as far away as Tasmania but most drowned in the North Sea on the route up and down to London.

Hand embroidering these tales became a bit of a chore towards the end but it was worth it because I have met many local people with the same surname, live in the houses of these families and have shared stories with me.

You will see my recreation of Janey Levitt's garland hanging back where it belongs up near the altar. Today has been very windy and it has been turning around nicely all day in the breeze.

Folk Art Applique Workshop

2011-08-25T07:34:00.000-07:00

There are still places on the Folk Art Applique course I am running for Kate Jackson at MAKE in Allendale on 18th September. The course costs £60 and includes a delicious lunch at the Allendale Bakery and all materials. Check outhttp://makerecycledcraftworkshop.bigcartel.com for details on how to book.

The course looks to American appliqued quilts, folk art and domestic still life for inspiration. You will build up a pieced picture using traditional hand stitching techniques - applique, piecing and embroidery using a variety of fabrics. I will be there to guide you in terms of inspiration, design and composition. In the one day course you should be able to complete a piece like this ( if you work hard!).

I like doing pots and flowers but I encourage students to come up with their own ideas. Here is some work in progress from the last course I ran ( from student Anna Nesbitt)

Detail

2011-08-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a detail of a collage on to an embossed paper glove. I have been making these to sell at my Remember me exhibition which opens on Saturday. See more images on my Memento Mori blog www.mandypattullo.blogspot.com

Fylingdales

2011-08-21T14:09:00.001-07:00

Old St Stephens, where my exhibition opens on Friday, is in the parish of Fylingdales. There is a terrific silent film about Fylingdales at the Yorkshire Film Archive Online www.yfaonline.com. It is an elegiac film made in 1955 by an unknown amateur but I hope it will make you want to visit. Type "Fylingdales" into SEARCH. The whole site is addictive with many rare films of times gone by, folk customs and traditions.

Photo Shoot

2011-08-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

Drove down to Old St Stephens today to meet the press and have a practice run for the exhibition. The church looked just beautiful in the sunlight. This is an unashamedly romantic installation in a romantic and atmospheric special space Great fun moving the maiden's dress and garlands around the church and lovely to hear Deb paying the organ from above. Please come and see it on August Bank Holiday weekend !

Remember Me

2011-08-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

Janey Levitt

2011-08-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

As part of my exhibition "Remember Me" which starts next Saturday August27th at Old St Stephens Church Robin Hoods Bay I have recreated Janey Levitt's garland. Janey was the last maiden for whom a garland was made, in 1859. For years her funereal memento mori was hung in the church but it disappeared during a period of garland conservation in the 1980s. Luckily Peter Brears had examined the garland closely and was able to come up with diagrams and notes as to its construction. I have followed these instructions carefully, using the correct measurements, stitch details and colours wherever possible.

I can't wait to see it hanging in the church!

Glandford Shell Museum

2011-08-06T13:41:00.001-07:00

Home to Norfolk and a trip to revisit The Shell Museum at Glandford (www.shellmuseum.org.uk). This is a really special little museum which was purpose built by Sir Alfred Jodrell and is home to a quirky collection of donated objects as well as shells and shell related objects. If you are visiting the North Norfolk coast and are interested in cabinets of curiosities then check it out. It is small and very quiet as visitors become totally absorbed in the displays.

Good for Gardeners

2011-07-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

I visited the most delightful place today full of tempting gardening accessories and plants. The Capable Gardener is run by Philippa Hodkinson who is a professional National Trust gardener and is responsible for the up keep of the Gertrude Jekyll walled garden at Lindisfarne Castle. Not only was she stocking locally grown hardy annuals and perennial plants but had a little shed stocking a range of covetable gardening bits and bobs which were displayed to perfection. The Capable Gardener is at Kirkharle Courtyard ( www.kirkharlecourtyard.co.uk ) which is close to Wallington.

Minsterley Maidens Garlands

2011-07-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

More on these on my Memento Mori blog at mandypattullo.blogspot.com

Scrap Books

2011-07-25T10:57:00.001-07:00

Someone gave me this leather bound scrap book today.

It appears to be late Victorian but the scraps have been pasted on to fabric pages rather than the usual paper support. The fabric is a cotton sateen and has been hemmed around the edges.

The pictures look as though they have been taken from books and there is some intricate cutting and thoughtful compositions

Many of the pictures look as though they are engravings which have been hand coloured.

This picture would make a great starting point for a Paula Rego painting!

I too did scrap books as a child and teenager. Here is one I did in 1970 when I was obviously an avid reader of Jackie magazine.

These pages remind me of the excitement of going to Chelsea Girl for the latest gear and spending hours at the 17 make up counter.

I still cut out pictures and enjoy organising them into inspiration books. So glad I kept this one from 1970!

Work in Progress

2011-07-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

I am working on a garment which will be displayed in Old St Stephens as part of my Remember Me exhibition. Its not finished yet but here is how it is looking so far. It has a long train of ribbons and rags which I hope echo the maidens' garlands themselves. I am writing some text to go with the show which explains the history of these extraordinary memento mori. You'll find it on my other blog at www.mandypattullo.blogspot.com

Transforming junk furniture

2011-07-10T06:37:00.000-07:00

Have just been to see an exhibition at Washington Arts Centre, Tyne and Wear called "Make Do and Mend; innovate-renovate-rejuvenate" Showing creative adaptations of existing objects for our times , it was mostly 3D recycling design or refashioned furniture. You can see an image and find out more at thttp://www.artscentrewashington.co.uk/production-details.aspx?id=80

I had missed the call for artists otherwise I might have submitted this armchair which I made for Delight in Design, a Designed and Made ( www.designedandmade.co.uk)exhibition a few years ago.

I picked up the chair for £15 in a junk shop

and transformed it in to this

using old head squares, given to me or acquired in charity shops.

I manipulated these into suffolk puffs which I sewed on to the contours of the chair

and did traditional hexagon patchwork in some areas which used up all the scraps.

I couldn't stop there and made a matching lampshade

Lace

2011-07-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

I have been collecting old lace bobbins for years. At one time I used to be able to do it myself but now I just like looking at them laying in a row and I buy lace that other people have made.

Hallelujah

2011-07-10T06:05:00.000-07:00

Hallelujah! I think I have just figured out how to embed a You Tube video into my blog.

Stow Brow

2011-07-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

Follow this link to read listen to the old folk song "Stow Brow". It was another starting point for my exhibition "Remember Me" at Old St Stephens. I will have sailors on one side of the church and maidens on the other. I'll post some images of the sailor's stories soon.

www.yorkshirefolksong.net/song_database/Amatory/Stow_Brow.1.aspx

There are times....

2011-07-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

Last Chance

2011-06-29T01:20:00.001-07:00

Its the last chance on Sunday ( 3rd July) to come and see my studio and work as part of the Art Tour. I will be actually working on my Maidens Garlands exhibition so if you are interested to find out more then come and see me!

Beyonce

2011-06-27T05:44:00.000-07:00

Am I too old to admit to just loving Beyonce?!

Remember Me

2011-06-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

In between teaching lots, working for the Arts project, running workshops in schools and opening my studio for the Art Tour I have been slowly making progress with my textile response to the Maidens Garlands . The flyer for the exhibition has now been printed so put it in your diaries now .

I have been making a really big garland ( more another time) and 44 smaller garlands for the young unmarried girls buried in the graveyard between 1800 and 1900. They have been designed to be hung over the pews. I have hand embroidered their names, year of death and age and each girl has an individual flower, sometimes made of paper. From these hang ribbons which echo the hanging ribbons of the original garlands ( look at my blog of 2nd Feb 2011 for photos), a white paper glove and a blue heart. The conservation report on the garlands indicate these may have been present so I haven't made these up!

The conservation report was full of these lovely little diagrams and drawings.

Fabric and paper rosettes were a feature of the garlands at RHB and also the beautiful maidens garlands at Minsterley so I have used paper for some of mine. Old letters, pages from Tennyson " In Memoriam", crepe paper....

Garlanded Girls

2011-06-24T13:40:00.001-07:00

I have been very influenced in the making of my garlands and flowers by these photographs of local Bay girls

Scarecrow Time

2011-06-15T00:08:00.000-07:00

Every summer it is a tradition on our allotment site at West Jesmond to make scarecrows. Here is a selection from this year. Mine is among them but I am not going to reveal which one as some are so much better!

The Art Tour

2011-06-01T14:05:00.001-07:00

The beginning of the Art Tour is only one week away and I am having a big tidy up in my studio in preparation for lots of visitors. Can I remind you that there is more than just textiles to see! I trained as a surface pattern designer and every now and again can't resist the urge to return to paint and print. Here are some mixed media pieces I have completed recently which celebrate the start of summer with a warm colour palette.

My studio ( Venue 25) will be open Sundays 12th, 19th, 26th June and 3rd July.

Every Thing's Coming Up Roses

2011-06-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

I have been making a new range of cards for the Art Tour using the original illustrations from an Encyclopaedia of Roses.

Black Irises

2011-05-24T09:10:00.001-07:00

My black irises have been magnificent enough for me to get my paints out. I will be teaching students these drawing and painting skills as part of the Flora and Fauna mixed media summer school run in conjunction with Horsley Printmakers ( www.horsleyprintmakers.co.uk). The course runs from Thurs 11th - Sunday 14th August.

Overlap

2011-05-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

Us Overlap artists are having a preview/ open evening on Monday 23rd May for an exhibition we have at Shepherds Dene near Riding Mill. It is not only a chance for you to meet the artists but also a rare chance to peek inside this beautiful Arts and Crafts house which is now a retreat centre. Details below.

Ben Nicholson

2011-05-15T06:34:00.000-07:00

I have been researching Ben Nicholson's work in preparation for a still life course I am teaching in July ( its also fully booked I'm afraid). Here are my mixed media/ print making responses to his work.

Textile Collage

2011-05-12T05:07:00.000-07:00

The Textile Collage workshop that I will be running at Horsley on June 25th is now fully booked and with a waiting list for places. If you were desperate to take part or if this date didn't suit you then don't worry I will be running other courses in the Autumn. Leave your email/ contact details in the comments box and I will get in touch with you when the dates are finalised.

Summer Breeze

2011-05-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

Its good to be able to have the studio window open..........

Dyeing

2011-05-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation

2011-05-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to THE GARDEN OF COSMIC SPECULATION at Portrack House in Scotland. This interesting garden was designed by Maggie Keswick and her husband Charles Jencks and is open once a year to raise money for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres. The garden is sculpted and controlled with earth mounds, lakes, bridges and architecture but I am not sure I really liked it much. I am more of a cottage garden sort of girl......

The natural landscape seems to be much more interesting and it was a joy to revisit a favourite coastal walk from Rockcliffe along to Portling and back.

Thank you Lizzie

2011-04-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

A cardboard box was carried into my studio this afternoon and look what was in it!

Thank you Lizzie

as I unpacked the very fragile pieces they just seem made to go with what I have been working on today. Hope to use them somehow in my installation at Old St Stephens later in the summer.

Absence

2011-04-22T10:58:00.001-07:00

More images and an explanation on my other blog http://mandypattullo.blogspot.com

Easter Open Studios

2011-04-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

Yet another reminder that all the studios will be open at The Hearth this Good Friday and Easter Saturday. Thats 11 artists and some guests in the Hall too! The cafe will be putting on easter edibles and Horsley Village Church and the Gardening Club will provide activities for children including

An Easter Trail
An on foot treasure trail
Hanging messages from an Easter tree
making peppermint creams
How to make an edible garden- an idea for a savoury treat as well as a sweet treat

All children's activities will be FREE!

Please come and see me and my work!

Green Man

2011-04-17T03:05:00.000-07:00

There are still 2 places left on the Myths and Legends collograph evening class I am running

on 4 evenings from 3rd May at Horsley Printmakers. See www.horsleyprintmakers.co.uk for information about booking.

Here is a Green Man I printed this week using the technique.

Semana Santa

2011-04-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

As we move into Holy Week I wish I was here

Rosie's village, Zuheros, in Southern Spain. We have spent many happy hours hanging about every day and into the night hanging about on the tiny streets of this village and have felt privileged to be onlookers and moved by the spectacle itself.Its not all visual, its the beat of the drum going on often all through the night and hearing local women spontaneously moved to sing as the virgin passes by.

Eggs

2011-04-10T01:29:00.001-07:00

Decorate some eggs for Easter

and hang them on a tree

or just eat them

or come and buy an original collograph from my studio which will be open on Good Friday and Easter Saturday all day

The Shop Floor Project

2011-04-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

Have a look at the Shop Floor Project's blog for today ( listed as The Shopkeepers Journal in Blogs I am following). My daughter has just embarked on a massive screen printing project documenting some strange British folk customs. This range called Country Pursuits is available exclusively from them. If you sign up to their e- newsletter you get some lovely tempting products appearing regularly in your in box.

Alice is also featured in May's Marie Claire with her Royal Wedding celebratory poster.. She is overtaking me!

MAKE

2011-04-04T13:17:00.000-07:00

There are still some places left on the "Precious Memories" course I am running at MAKE in Allendale on May 22nd. See http://makerecycledcraftworkshop.bigcartel.com for booking details. One of the big attractions of the course, apart from learning to bring together special sentimental items into a textile collage like this, must surely be the lovely lunch provided by the Allendale Bakery next door and a chance to work with a small number of other students in Kate Jackson's inspirational workplace.

Flower

2011-03-31T23:40:00.000-07:00

Shepherds Dene

2011-03-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

Have been hanging work all day within rooms at Shepherds Dene, a retreat house near Riding Mill. Shepherds Dene was built in 1906 and is an outstanding example of the Arts and Crafts movement, using high quality natural materials, which have stood the test of time. It is surrounded by 20 acres of gardens and grounds with lots of woodland and a walled garden.

The exhibition brings together the work of myself, Jane Veitch, Teresa Toms, Cathy Duncan, Kim Lewis, Penny Cuthbert and Jenny Mathers. We form the "Overlap Group" and meet every 6 weeks or so to crit each others' work. We each have a room or section of the house showcasing our work. The house is not normally open to the public though many people pass through it every day as it provides residential and day courses. We will be having an open afternoon and evening in May and June when you will be able to gain access to this wonderful house and garden and have a look at our work. I will post information at a later date.

Entrance to house

Looking out of the window from the Terrace Room where my work is hung.

On the Terrace

Many comfortable chairs and quiet places to sit all around the house

Lush William Morris carpeting

and original Arts and Crafts wallpapers

Spring distractions

2011-03-24T04:12:00.000-07:00

I am making slow progress with my Maidens Garland work because I have been spending every spare minute this week gardening in the lovely weather. I have completely redesigned my front garden and on the allotment have planted broad beans, red and white onion sets, shallots, gladioli and first early potatoes. I keep a mood board going on my studio wall which reminds me of what I should be doing........

Variations on a Theme

2011-03-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

Some new work made for an exhibition opening at the end of March at Shepherds Dene, a beautiful Arts and Crafts style country house near Riding Mill.

Newcastle Vintage Fashion Fair

2011-03-15T11:04:00.001-07:00

Some of you may remember the wonderful vintage fairs at the Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle. The last one was some years ago and vintage addicts like myself really miss it. Anyway instead of moaning about it fellow old things junkie Jayne Turner http://missjayneemma.blogspot.com. and I have decided to revive it ! We are at the stage of taking bookings and already have quite a number of quality vintage fashion dealers on our lists. For more information please click on the image and get in touch with us.

Myths and Legends

2011-03-12T03:56:00.000-08:00

I love Greek myths and legends and will be running a course in May using this theme as a basis for the development of original prints using the collograph technique. To find out more have a look on the Horsley Printmakers site www.horsleyprintmakers.co.uk where you will find information on the dates and also some images within the gallery section of collograph prints.

Those of us who teach courses for Horsley Printmakers and our students have a show called "Print to Impress" at the Biscuit Factory www.thebiscuitfactory.com at the moment. I was proud to see many collographs displayed from my evening class students who have made outstanding images on an animal theme. Also look out for my friend Zoe Robinson's sculptures of birds (though most of them seemed to have red stickers on last night).

This book is particularly inspirational.It was published in 1959 and illustrated by Alice and Martin Provenson

My favourite image - look at those toes!

Garlands

2011-03-02T13:20:00.001-08:00

I was passing through Lincolnshire at the weekend so called in a the Hub (http://www.thehubcentre.info). Up and down the staircases were a vertical paper garden/ garlands constructed by recent graduate Suzie McLaughlin. They worked effectively at bringing the outside in. I have been garland making too, making work for my exhibition later in the year in response to the maidens garlands in Yorkshire. I notice Suzie's were laser cut and stapled but mine are of course hand stitched and each flower is unique. I am using all sorts of papers eg. an old copy of Tennyson's "In Memoriam ", original Victorian letters . I am making one big garland to hang in the church and then an individual flower for each of my maidens.

Anyway here is Suzie's work

and here is mine

The hairy bits are sheep wool picked up from the graveyard where the girls are buried.

I used to draw

2011-02-22T11:20:00.001-08:00

I have been looking through my old sketchbooks and portfolios for examples to publicise a mixed media and drawing summer school I will be running in August. It made me realise how I have lost the habit of drawing. I intend to book some days off work and clear a run of days and re-immerse myself in mark making.

In the past I used to love drawing birds. As well as drawing from photographs I would buy hanging pheasants, ducks and pigeons from the Grainger Market in Newcastle and draw details till the dead bird got past its sell by date! Alas the days of being able to buy a fresh pigeon from the market have gone.

Precious Memories

2011-02-21T05:12:00.000-08:00

I am excited to be running a number of textile workshops in conjunction with MAKE recycled craft workshop next to Allendale Bakery. The first workshop is called "Precious Memories" and will be held on May 22nd . See the web site for more details http://makerecycledcraftworkshop.bigcartel.com.

There are only a few places so book up soon!

You will be making something a bit like this or the work I put on my blog on 29th November 2010.

Patchwork

2011-02-12T02:36:00.001-08:00

Back to Basics

Surface Decoration on Paper and Fabric

2011-02-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

There are still places on this course which I am running 19th and 20th February at Horsley and it isn't too late to book. Contact Horsley Printmakers at i nfo@horsleyprintmakers.co.uk and look at their web site for further information

Maidens Garlands

2011-02-02T08:07:00.000-08:00

I am at the research and development stage of a new body of work which is inspired by the maidens garlands at Old St Stephens Church, Fylingdales in North Yorkshire. The church which was built in 1822 stands on a hillside overlooking Robin Hoods Bay.

Maidens garlands, which are very rare, were carried in the funeral procession of a maiden.

I will be showing my responses to the maidens garlands over the August Bank Holiday weekend 2011.

I will document the process through a new blog "Memento Mori" at http://mandypattullo.blogspot.com. I will also use this blog to archive other work I've done on these themes. Don't look just yet though as I haven't had time to put anything on it!

Here is the beautiful church . Read more about it at www.visitchurchesorg.uk

Here are the 4 maidens garlands which are housed in a locked atrium within the church

More detailed views showing the ribbons hanging down

More information on the garlands and the pieces I am working on coming soon

Surface Decoration on Paper and Fabric

2011-01-24T08:36:00.001-08:00

I will be running another surface pattern course on the weekend of 19th/ 20th February in conjunction with Horsley Printmakers at The Hearth at Horsley.

Experiment in mixed media using simple printmaking techniques. Learn to paint with inks, using bleaching and resist techjniques to get suprising effects. Print in unconventional ways with embossed wallpaper, printing blocks and lino to create beautiful compositions. Collage using photocopies, tear sheets and printed ephemera.

There are a few places left but you must book by the end of this week. Look at the web site www.horsleyprintmakers.co.uk for more information and email info@horsleyprintmakers.co.uk to reserve your place.

The following work is all by students who attended my last surface decoration course.

Rag Rug Day

2011-01-18T06:26:00.000-08:00

Had a cup of tea with mat maker Rachel Phillimore yesterday www.racheltextiles.co.uk. She was telling me of a fantastic textile event which is due to take place at the Shipley Art Gallery Gateshead on Saturday 5th February. An event dedicated to rag rug making in the North East, there will be rugs for sale, rugs to see, rugs to make and rugs to win.

Meet Rosemary Allan, retired Senior Keeper of Beamish Museum and author of ‘From Rags to Riches’, go on a free tour of the Shipley Art Gallery, and enjoy some music with Trevor Reed.

Entry is free and refreshments will be available.

For further information contact the Shipley on (0191) 477 1495 or Room For You on 0191 213 8614.

I once made a rag rug myself through one of Ali Rhind's workshops. She will be there and you can see more of her work on www.alirhindtextiles.co.uk/

Here is my own rug. It is a great traditional recycling craft.

Fashion and Textile Gallery, Bowes Museum

2011-01-06T06:57:00.000-08:00

The new Fashion and Textiles Gallery at the Bowes Museum (www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk) is full of wonderful patterns, textures and embellishments. They have a Damien Hirst exhibition on at the moment but I must admit I got a lot more pleasure from looking at the textiles and ceramics!

Scrap Booking

2011-01-02T04:05:00.001-08:00

People often ask me where I get my inspiration. The answer is that I have lots and lots of scrapbooks. Over Christmas I have been updating my floral scrapbook which is one of the most useful as it gives me ideas for colours and shapes for both printmaking and textiles.

My imagery is stuck into an old "News Cuttings" ledger which I think I got originally from one of the Lit and Phil's legendary book sales ( www.litandphil.org.uk).

Nova Scotia

2010-12-30T12:49:00.001-08:00

For my fan in Nova Scotia

Recent monotypes

2010-12-30T12:29:00.000-08:00

I have been sorting some recent prints out today for selection by The Biscuit Factory in January. More to come.... I enjoy the painterly approach I can take in this form of printmaking which is a complete contrast to the more precise stitching I am usually doing.

2010-12-28T01:21:00.000-08:00

My daughter Alice Pattullo who is an illustrator based in Brighton excelled herself this year by designing and making all her presents. These are some of the ones I received. She is keen to accept commissions for product design so if you want to get her to design something for you then have a look at her website to get a taste of what she can do. www.alicepattullo,com

delicious chocolate traffles

A few bits and pieces to ward off evil

hand painted plate

marmalade

everlasting calendar