The party has just begun

in Newcastle

Cats

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

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

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

My Open Studio Event

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

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

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.