Christmas Bauble Making Workshop!

I had lots of festive fun this morning running a Christmas creative workshop for children at Saltburn Artists Projects. Thank you to everyone who came along. The batik baubles and textile decorations produced were fantastic. Well done everyone!

Preview a success!

The preview for ‘Off the Shelf’ and open studio night was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who came along to see us. Don’t forget that the exhibition is still on and runs until the 8^th of January 2012, so if you have not been yet there is still plenty of time. It’s a perfect place to finds some unique gifts for Christmas!

Also coming up on Saturday the 10th of December, 10am - 12noon, is a Christmas creative workshop for children. Pop along to Saltburn Artists projects and create your own batik baubles and textile decorations with myself. Festive treats and hot chocolate will be served. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. The workshop is FREE. However you must reserve a place by contacting Helen on 01287626060 or helengaunt@saltburnartistsprojects.org.uk. Hope to see you there, it will be great fun!

For more information on exhibitions, workshops and events click here - www.saltburnartistsprojects.org.uk

Off the Shelf Preview!

The preview for this years ‘Off the Shelf’ is tomorrow night, 18th of November, 7-9pm. ‘Off the Shelf’ is an annual selling exhibition held at Saltburn Artists Projects. It features over twenty local artists, showcasing a diverse and eclectic collection of artworks including painting, glassware, ceramics, jewellery, printmaking, textiles and photography.

Tomorrow evening is also open studios. Come and join us for a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie! Studio tenants, including myself, will be opening their doors to the public. This is always a fantastic opportunity to see the creative processes, speak to the artists and have a chance to purchase unique hand made artworks made by the Studio tenants.

Exhibition runs from 19th November 2011- 8th January 2012

Gallery opening times: Wednesday – Sunday, 12 noon – 4pm

Featured in the exhibition, and available to purchase will be work from my latest collection of Silk cushions and wall panels. The collection is inspired by a mix of geometric patterns and improvised drawing creating very colourful and intriguing individual designs. Take a peek –

100% Silk
Batik and hand painted

Explorer Ships Completed!!

The ships are finally up on the wall in school, and are looking fabulous in full sail! Take a look -

Jewellery Pouches!

These luxurious hand made jewellery pouches are now available to buy at ‘Designed Silver’ in Redcar. Choose from a selection of hand painted silk with silk lining, or silk with sumptuously soft cotton lining.

Perfect for Christmas, make a gift of ‘Designed Silver’ jewellery even more special.

http://www.designedsilver.co.uk/

School Banner Project!

Over the last few months fellow studio artist Glynis Johnson and I have been working on a textile banner project with pupils from Newcomen Primary school. The banners are based on their four house groups which are named after explorers. These famous explores are Sir Francis Drake, Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Richard Grenville and Walter Raleigh.

Design and Development

Inspired by the explorer theme we wanted to create four explorer sailing ships using withes covered in a papier mache. The banners would then become the sails.

Each house group/explorer is represented by a different colour. Working with this idea the sails on Drake’s ship would be mainly blue, on Sidney’s red, on Grenville’s yellow and on Raleigh’s green. Using fabric crayons a map of the world was drawn onto each main sail in their corresponding colour. Incorporating a variety of different techniques the children then added animals, sea creatures and sailing ships to the banners. Image maker was also used to add images of nautical implements, ships and the explores themselves.

The final stage was to batik the waves of the sea onto the banners before carefully hand painting on the colour.

The children did an amazing job and worked really hard on this project. The result is brilliant. Well done pupils of years 5 and 6!

The ships are going up on the wall this week which is very exciting, however there is still a little bit of tweaking to be done.

Watch this space for images of the finished ships hung in position where they will be on permanent display for many, many years to come.

The Sketchbook Project 2012 World Tour!

I really enjoyed filling my little Skechbook and tracking it as it went on tour as part of the 2011 Sketchbook Project Tour. This is why I have decided to take part again. Next year however, when my new book is completed it will not only be touring America but it will be touring the world, stopping off in London as well as Austrailia. To find out more information about about the project and the tour click here - http://www.arthousecoop.com/

My sketchbook arrived a few weeks ago and already I am half way through it, filling the pages with monochromatic patterns.

Corsage Cards!

A selection of new boxes and cards are now available to buy at 'Designed Silver' in Redcar, including these Corsage Cards. I am currently working on ideas for a range of Christmas gift packaging, so watch this space.

www.designedsilver.co.uk

Commissioned artwork!

My latest commission is this cut-work artwork, completed just this week.

A4 Size. Cut-work and fine liner pen on card.