Rachel Capovila

DOG BLOG!

2012-01-05T10:17:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy lately with a couple of dog projects. First one being a Dog Blog which is yet to go live. I have been informally photographing and interviewing people and their dogs around the area. It has been a brilliant learning curve and I have met some fantastic people and of course dogs! I intially was interviewing the people face to face and then photographing. The idea then being that the person will get a cd with any images once their interview is published on the purpose blog I am setting up. Now I am emailing the person to fill it out and then visiting them to photograph them. I was ending up being at peoples houses for hours just talking about dogs! This all kicked off when I got my two rescue Jack Russell Terriers last Summer. I have always had dogs but my husband hasn't and he kind of does not quite get why people have dogs so it went from there really. There is no money in it but I have built up a little network. Which is invaluable. Although through this project I have gained other commissions for photography and for potential business for the other project.

This is Farah, a dog trainer in Newton-in-Furness, with one of her stooges Ticana aka Teeks, an american bull dog. To know more about her go to www.elitek9s.co.uk.

Above is Troy, a German Shepherd from Morecambe, with his family.

The other dog project has been helping my cousin set up her business in doggy clothing and products. We have had a couple of months making and trying out doggy coats and accessories. Some been successes and others not so much. Basically we have been trying to design and make 'made to measure' dog jackets. Anyway from the various prototypes my cousin has been able to determine the direction for her business 'Little Dog BIG'. It will hopefully being starting up trading by next month. Most things are now in place. I have now been able to take a break from the sewing machine too.

I had sent off an embroidered postcard with the guild for the Olympic 2012 Games. This was part of a country wide project amongst the guilds. Each guild was given a participating country, ours was San Merino, then we had to produce at least 15 postcards (specific sizes and colours) which portrayed that country. Then they were sewn together to produce a hanging. My card was a hand embroidery on blue/purple silk with vines, Forget-me-nots and pink Cyclamen. The Cyclamen is the national flower. See North Lonsdale Embroidery Guild Blog for current projects.

Once I get the Dog Blog up an running I will be able to concentrate on my textile project for Blue Tarn. Blue Tarn have a exhibition in the Autumn at the Beacon in Whitehaven but I have not properly started on my pieces yet. So need to get on with it. Plus need to make head way on some personal pieces I want to do with my other group Trident Textiles. Or though a name change might be happening. The group would like to be more inclusive to other artists.

Quilt Sent Off to The Great Northern Quilt Show 2011

2011-08-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Unbelievably the Tsunami quilt has been sent! I have been ill for a while and felt really lethargic and disinterested so at one point it was touch and go if I was going to finish it. It turns out I have a thyroid problem and anaemic! No wonder! So in the first weekend of September the quilt will be exhibited alongside others at Harrogate.

It mesaures 23" x 33" and has a bias binding on the edge with the required 4" sleeve on the back. There are technical faults with it but I have learnt alot whilst doing this quilt. Like do not quilt!

Ideally there would have been a lot more water droplets on the big wave creating more of a 3D effect. Anyway I have more detailed photos to upload later. It is now onto the next project! Recently I went up to Whitehaven with my camera to get some shots for possible work for next years exhibition at the Beacon in Whitehaven.

Projects to be Finished and New Ones to Begin!

2011-07-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

The Firebird quilts have been returned and they do look better than I remembered! I had to get my entry and statement in for the next project I am working on. This quilt is for The Great Northern Quilt Show in Harrogate, this September. I am entering the themed cateorgry 'Beside The Sea'. I prefer to do this at the moment so I can really get to grips with the medium and taking part without worrying too much about what to actually do!

Initially for this I thought I could do a nice art deco poster style scene or a saucy blackpool postcard type but changed my mind for something more current and potent. The recent Japanese tsunami in March which devasted so many people lives. Those images of the towns and cities, peoples homes and of course the nuclear power station disaster which flooded our news channels for weeks were very eye opening.

There are a series of famous Japanese 18th century wood block prints of different views of Mount Fuji. The sea features in many of them, the most famous being 'The Great Wave'. I had decided to update this image into a quilt.

The simplicity of the design yet dramatic effect lends itself to fabric and stitch. I made out the pattern, chose the fabrics and thread that would allow me to make a modern version. Once I had made the pattern I decided not to follow the original faithfully, in fact I did not look at it. I wanted the sea to be muddy and allow the viewer glimpses of drowning houses, cars and boats. Complete devastation and debris. Make it difficult to tell where sky, land and sea meet. Instead of Mount Fuji it is now Fukashima the nuclear power station. I printed onto fabric various old texts and photos showing that some part of history and heritage has been lost. However, the use of the Japanese flag rising sun symbol shows revitalized life and hope. I have much more work to do on it. It is just in its 'about to be embellished' state, before sandwiching it.

I have used applique and reverse applique with heavy machine embroidery. There is a lot more to do with the crest of the waves, they are heavily wadded and will have a dramatic 3D effect when complete with droplets and debris coming out of the scene.

At first I was concerned the subject matter may be too recent and morbid but soon dismissed that as I felt it was more worth my while to highlight the disaster then to work on something that did not mean anything to me.

I had applied to be part of Blue Tarn, a rural womens' artist network in Cumbria and after a couple of months I had found I had been accepted and attended my first meeting just recently. It was great meeting the ladies and getting to find out about what they do, their work and more importantly their wonderful workshops! So inspiring for me! There are lots of things in the pipeline most notably a two month exhibition next year at The Beacon in Whitehaven. So lots of new things to gear up for and even more interesting is the actual networking opportunities now available to me through this group. So excited!!

Firebird Journal Quilts Published!

2011-04-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

I previously entered my work into a journal quilt competition and I knew they were being exhibited in various places for the Spring Quilt Festivals 2011 and Quilts UK 2011. Ardingly, Edinburgh, Exeter and Malvern. I did not expect to win my first competition or anything but secretly hoped something would come from it.

Anyway this morning a package arrived with the enclosed magazine 'Fabrications', April/May Issue, and letter informing me that my quilts had been featured in the review alongside the winners! I was thrilled especially when I saw the quality of the quilts entered. Most newsagents and Tesco have a copy of this so feel free to nip in and browse to pages 6 to 11!

So although my friends sometimes laugh at my sewing and being a member of the embroidery/quilt guild, as it is seen to be old fashioned, it brings me joy and some rewards although not always in the form of this!

Spring Quilt Festivals Are Under Way!!

2011-03-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

The Quilt Festival season has started! I have seen the adverts in various national quilting and sewing magazines. Three shows down and two more to go. It was Ardingly in January, Edinburgh in February and this month has been Chilford. Next month is Exeter and then onto Malvern for the Quilts UK Festival at the Three Counties Showground. I have no idea how my quilts have done other than they were accepted to finish off at Malvern, as not all entries go to the end due to space allocation.

I am now working on the next small art quilt which is for The Great Northern Quilt Show in Harrogate in Novermber. I am entering the themed section which is 'Beside The Sea' this year. I have drawn up my ideas and selected the fabric. It is a case of making the pattern now. Will share images further down the line.

At home I have also been doing some dodgey rusting experiments on fabric. I have trays of vinegar sodden fabric in rusty metal trays around the house and garden. So far very limited results so I am continually tweaking. No pictures yet as the results are poor!

Lastly I attended a workshop at Lanternhouse International last Tuesday with Creative Futures Cumbria's, Hank Williams. It was for creative practitioners and agents requiring useful coaching skills for when working with teachers in schools. It was brilliant to see how Hank worked but also a very useful networking session for me. I met up with people I had worked with in the past before having my son, so it was great to be talking projects rather than baby stuff!

Ski-ing and New Projects

2011-02-17T05:46:00.000-08:00

Just back from our annual ski holiday. This year it was just us three in La Plagne, in the French Alps. The hotel was the Terra Nova in Plagne Centre. It was different not being a group of friends but still a great holiday. Alex our son loved it! It was really hot too, so apres ski in deck chairs was particulary relaxing! Took lots of photos for possible future projects. The Bellecote Glacier scenery was just amazing!

Now it is on to new projects for me. I have finished off all little jobs I have had pending like my friends posh cushions to match her curtains. So I started doing a bit of a clear out the other day and found the Koolade sachets that I had bought at last year's EG regional conference. They are an American flavouring you add to water to make pop but they can be used to dye fabric like wool. They were really cheap and I thought worth a try but had forgotten about them. Anyway having just bought an old fashioned wool blanket to do some dry felting with, I thought to do an experiment.

It was easy enough to mix it up and put in a bottle. Once the wool had been soaked for a while in a bucket of water I just squirted the solution on. Then the fabric was put in a bowl and microwaved for 3 mins. Once cooled it was thoroughly rinsed and left to dry. No fuss and no other ingredients.

The dye is quite bright and you would need several sachets if you wanted to make a solid deep colour. I was going for a more painterly look. However, the coloured wool can become a really good basis for some project in the future. If I was to use it again I would get more sachets and perhaps experiment using resists aswell.

Spring Quilts Festival UK 2011 - Art Journal Quilt Entry

2011-01-21T02:49:00.000-08:00

I have finished, sent and had accepted my two A4 art journal quilt entries for the Spring Quilts Festival UK 2011. I am entering the Art Journal Quilt section. The theme was 'Fantasy' and two had to be entered no bigger than A4. It is a competition but will be exhibited at the various venues aswell. I will get it back sometime in June.

Going with the theme of 'Fantasy' I chose to do a Firebird and a Firebird Feather. I felt this would give me freedom to be creative with fabric and texture. I printed my own text onto sections to add deeper meaning and fantasy. I used mainly silk but included cotton that I had dyed used procion dye and then embellished with acrylic paint. Sections were appliqued and then free motion machine stitched. I used sequins and glitter thread to embellish the feathers. I quilted the silk background to the felt wadding using machine stitch too. The backing is a black linen cotton mix that has a 3" sleeve and label. A satin bias binding was used to finish it off.

I wanted to convey a deep yearning of love through texture and layers, the layers representing our lives and dreams which are never fully revealed. The Firebird in many cultures represents deep longing and the wish for something better. The Firebird Feather is often sought as it is believed an owner of such a feather could have three wishes.

Exhibition Comes Down!

2010-10-26T06:15:00.000-07:00

Whilst I was doing my invigilation stints at Artgene I managed to learn a little more about their Design Cafe. It is really interesting and would love to join them on Sat 11th Dec for their walk, it starts at the cemetery and onto Sandscale Hawes Lousey Point for a meal in one of the black huts! A few weeks just before that artist Sophie Mellor will be doing a presentation about how her project in and around Barrow has gone. That is in the cafe itself on Wed 17th November at 7pm. The concept of the cafe and activities are described in the following link;

Artgene Design Cafe

However, we took the exhibition down today. We packed the photographs away carefully in paper with labels. They may be going onto another venue. So watch this space for that. It is always sad when taking down an exhibition or display that you have been involved in, even when not as an artist. It marks the end of a period of intense activity which usually was extremely interesting and involved bonding moments! Although there was problems along the way in regards to my prints and narrative, it does not detract from the enjoyment I had from being involved in the project. I also had the opportunity to meet new people and strengthen old acquaintances.

On with the new projects now and finishing off little textile projects that have been ongoing at home. I have to finish off scanning my old 35mm slides onto the computer so I can prove I have done stuff in the past!! I have been asked to give a talk at the college to students about work since my degree. Scanning the slides take ages and I have so many!! I wish I could afford to send them off to be done by a company somewhere! Plus they are a bit dusty despite being packed away quite carefully! I have tried blackmailing Nic, my husband, but he is not having it!

Oh and nearly forgot we are off to Manchester in two weeks for the weekend and to see Linkin Park in concert. Looking forward to a baby free weekend! Oops did I just say that! Bad mother! Although here is a photo taken by Nic of Alex, 2 years old, on a ride on the pier at Blackpool on Sunday. As you can see he loved it!! The lights were good but the same as ever!!

Scream if you want to go faster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Article in The Northwest Evening Mail!

2010-10-22T04:19:00.000-07:00

Well the exhibition made it into the paper but got my name and Alex's name wrong! The article written was ok but not quite accurate either. The photographer who took the photo's spent a long time trying to get pictures of my son pointing at the exhibits! This is Nic's photo of him doing the same. It was still nice though. At least he had his favourite 'digger' coat on!! Plus he was with me on the walk for my project!

Exhibition Narrative

2010-10-17T03:23:00.000-07:00

As I could not display my narrative for the exhibition I thought I would put it here for people to read. Thanks to Nic for getting photos of collage at the gallery and of the preview evening.

The Old Line

Artistic Statement

Come rain or shine my mother and I would cycle the old line after work. We would start at Buccleuch Dock and cross the causeway at Cavendish Dock onto the line which is now the Westfield Nature Trail and finish at Roa Island. Along the path we would meet many people cycling, walking the dog, fishing or jogging. Over time we would recognise people and say hello and see new faces discovering the line.

This whole area has been given a new lease of life. Now the path is extended at both ends, the walker or cyclist can find themselves amongst an Industrial landscape with deep rural hills and a stunning shoreline. Seasons come and go and show us what nature has to offer. Sea birds feeding in the marsh, berries on the bushes and bees being busy.

I decided to revisit the path on foot with my camera for this project and look again with fresh eyes. I met many interesting people that were willing to be photographed and chat to me. The collage of portrait, landscape and detail are all connected and give an insight into what the path has to offer and the people who enjoy it.

Photographic Collage Narrative

The fisherman was at Cavendish Dock with two friends and had been there from early morning. They fish there often and know the area well. They catch Carp on a regular basis and told me how they use their bait. They caught a few when I was talking to them. At the point when this fish was caught, the traffic on the road to one side and people walking by all came to a standstill waiting to catch the glimpse of the Carp. Only a small one this time, although I am told the dock does contain carp as big as 30lbs.

I met the cyclist by the gas terminal, his new bike set aside he was sat on a bench he had knocked up, eating bright orange Sea Buckthorn berries he had picked along the path. His hands were stained from berries he so obviously enjoyed. They were everywhere along this stretch, bursting open as they were so ripe, with their sweet citrus aroma filling the air around. He told me how he uses the path every day and likes to sit on his bench and look out across the marsh to the sea. He knew a great deal of the history of the ‘old line’.

I was very lucky to meet the boatman and his dog Alfie. I was on the sand by the Roa Island causeway car park photographing an old skeleton boat, when he appeared from his boat. The tide was out and he had his waders on and his little dog in a bag, saving him from sinking into the muddy sand. Alfie, a Jack Russell is a rescue dog and was a little nervous, he explained to me. The man had bought his boat to do up and eventually sail around the Scottish Isles. He told me how much work he had done so far but that it was taking longer than he anticipated. He works on the boat every day.

TRACES Exhibition at Artgene

2010-10-15T02:41:00.000-07:00

Been taking part with Signal Films, as one of 12 people, in a series of digital art photography workshops over the last couple of weeks. Artist Rebecca Lupton, who is based is Manchester, ran the workshops. The theme given was Traces with a view to Barrow and regeneration. I decided to take photos along the 'old line' path that I used to cycle a lot. The path has now been extended at the Buccleuch Dock end and at the other you can carry on to Roa Island.

I took photos over 2 days, one day walking with Nic and Alex, using our compact camera, very sunny afternoon too. The other using Signal Films Slr camera, it was an dull and overcast day with showers. Photos from both days were used in the final selection for the exhibition. I met people along the path and asked if I could take their picture and most obliged. I also took detail shots of foliage and structures. I liked the cross-over of Industrial and nature on the path and tried to capture that.

Technically alot of my pictures could have been better with use of a tripod and setting it up better beforehand. However, I was walking miles with a two year old and I often had to just take the photo quickly so as not to hold people up. Taking pictures of strangers was new to me!

Back at the office and looking at the photographs for editing was difficult, because I had taken 'snapshot' style photos I ended up with over 800 to select from. I decided to display portrait along with detail images. I chose three of my favourite people and associated detail. Apart from cropping, no photoshop was used on the images.

Displaying my work was always going to be slightly tricky as I had opted to make it into an informal collage using gallery pins. I wanted the combination to look right and flow for the eye. I think this affect was achieved in the end. I would have preferred to have had my narrative displayed with the collage but it was decided that it would have looked out of place alongside the other artists work. I was pleased overall.

The exhibition preview was Thursday 14th October, it was well attended and people seemed to enjoy the event and the talk by guest artist Miskha Henner. The exhibition is at Artgene in the Nan Tait building, Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness until the 24th October 2010. It is free and open to all.

Click here for Traces Blog

Busy Summer!

2010-07-19T04:45:00.000-07:00

I have away camping and to London to visit family over the last few weeks so I have not had much time to work. I have even missed a few guild meetings because of this! However, I did manage to make a summer skirt from a piece of remnant material in my stash for going away with. Just a simple 6 panel a-line with a side zip and narrow waist band. I used a vintage 1970's pattern. Looks good I think.

While in London I managed to get to the Tate Modern to get a glimpse of new work, which is always inspiring. What was really great though was that Nic and I got a private tour of the Houses of Parliment. Nic's cousin Andy works in IT for the House of Lords!! We had drinks on the House of Lords cafe terrace overlooking the river!! Got some good photos too!

Another thing Andy's wife Fanoulla has just set up a charity in memory of her mother who died last year. It is called 'Forget-Me-Not' and it is in aid of Dementia. She has upcoming events like a Gala and Ball. She is needing stuff to raffle. So I reckon I must be able to make a few things for her to raffle. Plus I am currently designing and making a little evening bag for her. It is made from violet silk and I am embroidering a 'William Morris' inspired woodland image with forget-me-nots on it. Inside I am going to put this quote from 'Evangaline' by Longfellow.

"Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of Heaven,

Blossom the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels."

Exhibitions & Sewing

2010-05-22T07:14:00.000-07:00

The collaborative of work including my brothers through Signal Films had opened on Thursday evening with the preview. We all turned up like the Dingles or the Clampetts as my brother says and ate and drank everything! It was great. Eddys work was used in the publicity material and was in the Evening Mail. It was the best there and so many others thought too. Although everyones work was great.

Its on at Forum 28 until the end of next week I think.

I have also started looking at the photos I had been taking of things around Barrow to see how I can ake work from them. I have made a new 'mock up' handbag using on the boats in the channel.

So I took this photo of the boat in the foreground and made simplified sketches until I was happy with an overall design. The boat although not entirely like the original was clearly the same. Then I set about looking through my stash of scraps of vintage fabric to make up the boat in applique form. Then I cut out the bag using my adapted pattern. I chose Laura Ashley white spot on blue fabric for the bag itself. Using 'misty fuse' I stuck the fabric boat onto the bag.

Then I free-motion embroidered onto the boat and fabric with my sewing machine using cotton thread to animate it to life.

The resulting bag is cute and very usable. I lined it in a heavy cotton as the outer material is not very thick. I included a 'wash label' and design label. Although these are old fashioned and don't really suit it. I would like new labels.

I used a magnetic fastening on the tab opening but sewed a large vintage red button on the outside for decoration. I also used vintage buttons for the tyres.

Just right for a little jaunty shoulder bag for essentials. Plus it is a boat that exists in Barrow.

What a lovely day!

2010-05-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

Went for a quick drive around Walney Island today in the sunshine while Alex slept in his car seat. He was shattered as he had stayed at my mam's last night with his cousins. We drove up to the lighthouse carpark but did not get to walk up to up as Alex was still asleep. I took a few photos of where I was able to see the light house. Got some of of Piel Castle from there too. My little camera is not good enough for far off shots unfortunately. I now want to go back and do it again with the better camera and Alex awake!

Walney Channel from the Promenade

Walney Lighthouse on South Walney (image taken from internet)

Photographs Around Barrow

2010-05-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

Today I went around Barrow getting quick images for my 'Barrow Bags' idea. The photograph is a starting point to make a 'iconic' Barrow landmark into a textile image. A fun image. There are lots of beautiful scernery around the area which I could use later but I want to try out town and dock stuff first. My brother Eddy came with me and took a few himself. He has done well with his own photographs and work lately through Signal Films of Barrow. He is part of a collective exhibition at Forum 28 next week. He has a short animation about a 'brain'. One of the images is of Birkrigg Stone Circle with added extras in 3D. It is really cool. This image was used for publicity. I want him to email me it so I can put it on here with a link. In my Radio Cumbria diary I mentioned my brother and I doing the workshops and this is the result. The exhibition is called 'Classics vs Futurists' at Forum 28 starting Friday 21st May to Saturday 29th May.

Too Much To Do!

2010-05-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

What a busy family we are................

I have been really busy with all kinds of projects and trips. Skiing in Morzine went brilliantly, we arrived in time for lots of new snow. Alex loved it. Our friends who were new to skiing had a brilliant time too and are going again! Just when I thought no one read my blog, BBC Radio Cumbria got in touch asking me to do 'Little Cumbria' based on my blog! So I tootled off to the studio to record a week in the life of me. It is not direct from my blog but certainly includes crafty things. I had to laugh at my broad accent though. They sent me a cd of the recordings after it was aired. See link for the full show.

Link to Little Cumbria Monday Show
Link to Little Cumbria Tuesday Show
Link to Little Cumbria Wednesday Show
Link to Little Cumbria Thursday Show
Link to Little Cumbria Friday Show

I also attended the Embroidery Guild North West Regional Day in Manchester with fellow guilders. There were stalls selling a variety of goodies. Two speakers plus a committee guild update. Competitions and work to look at. The lunch was rather nice too. I really enjoyed it. I had to try and finish off some pictures for our guild exhibitions plus dig out some old ones. I did not manage to really do that as time was against me. I did find an old fashioned tree embroidery i did years ago but it did not go into the exhibition either. Below shows the lichen embroidery I had started, I also madel ime green lichen on water soluable fabric to go over the blue but got fed up!!

I am now back onto making housey project stuff like doorstops, cushions and tablecloths. I have found a lovely arts and crafts pattern book which would make lovely finishing touches. I really want to explore my kooky Barrow bags. Images of Barrow appliques onto tote bags or anything really. I might be able to sell them through the tourist info shop or made in cumbria. Need to make up a batch though. Images will be more like cranes, subs, lighthouses, seagulls and fun local sights rather than the obvious lakeland scenes. I have made a couple of mock ups in material scraps.

Other family stuff have involved taking Alex with his cousins to Ducky Park Farm at Flookburgh with Nic and my parents. It was a great day they loved it. Especially the tractor ride and the animals! Alex also had a trip on the Lil' Ratty at Ravenglass and totally loved that too, so he is now tractor and choo choo mad!

New Sewing Machine

2010-03-17T03:57:00.000-07:00

Just managed to open and check out my new super duper sewing machine! It is great but a bit complicated so it is going to take a while for me to get used to it especially after the old one i had!

It is a Brother Innovis 350 SE, it is the same as the 400 but apparently this one is cheaper. It should do above and beyond my needs at the moment. What I am hoping is that I can improve on my free motion embroidery and get to use special designs on my home deco stuff. It has over 200 stitches!!!!! There is a internal panel that i can lift up and choose a pattern by inputing the code into the computer bit!

Catching Up Time

2010-03-16T04:57:00.000-07:00

I have not written anything for a while for a couple of reasons. The computer broke, then my husband is on it all evening every evening and I have been very busy. I have been to the North Lonsdale Embroidery Guild a few times and love it! Started my textile art class at Kendal Brewery Arts Centre and loving that. Been doing digital art workshops with Signal Films in Barrow. Been doing lots of outdoors stuff with my brother like ghyll scrambling up Church Beck in Feb in the snow. I fell in and it was rather cold to say the least but I felt like a hero afterwards.

My son Alex turned two and started pre-school for one morning a week and has to wear a uniform. Looks really cute but was not happy about it! As seen here afterwards at his yiayia's house. He loved the nursery though.

It was my husbands 40th birthday last Friday and we went to Liverpool for the weekend. I hired a swanky appartment in Liverpool One. We had a couple of great nights out and did a bit of shopping too. The best was seeing the Mark Rothkos at Tate Liverpool though. I love the old bits of Liverpool mixed with the new!

In two weeks we are skiing with friends in Morzine in France for a week so really looking forward to that. The Winter Olympics has fired up our juices and we really excited. So as you can see I have been busy.....ooooh I almost forgot to mention my new sewing machine arrived and it is great. A Brother Innovis 350 SE. Love it. It is my 40th birthday present 3 years early from my husband. So I m super busy with that too. I have a couple of exhibitions coming up through the guild.

Snow, snow, snow....

2010-01-18T07:55:00.000-08:00

We have had lots of lovely snow and my 22 month old got to experience it properly this year before we go skiing at Easter. He tried out all his new gear whilst playing on the Glebe in Bowness-on-Windermere last weekend. I have finished his quilt at last too! There has been no QG or EG due to snow so bored!

Momiji Contest Winner Announced

2009-12-21T16:18:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately I am not the winner or indeed a finalist of the Momiji Couture Contest. These were announced on the Momiji blog on Sunday at 4pm. It turned out to be someone called 'Felt Mistress', whose blog I follow actually. I loved the doll and I felt she deserved it. Photos of the finalist dolls will be published later on. Click on the link to look at the winning entry and read the interview.

http://lovemomiji.com/momiji-blog/1

Snow on Coniston Old Man!

2009-12-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

I went for a walk with my brother Eddy today up to Beacon Tarn from the Blawith end. It was a cold but clear day. It snowed as we walked up. When we got up to the tarn we were thrilled to see that the snow had settled on the Old Man and Dow Crag. It is days like this that make us feel glad to live where we do. Although I have to say very rainy dark days don't. Although those type of days are typical and define why we are called the 'Lake District'! It was my first sighting of local snow this year! It was a great day.

Momiji Update & Furness Shoreline Quilters Guild Christmas Meeting

2009-12-03T03:38:00.000-08:00

Checked out the blog for the Momiji Contest I had entered last month. It seems they are well on the way to finding their final 10 dolls. What gave me a bit of a thrill was that in the photo accompanying the blog was one of the judges marking some entries. I could tell that my doll is the one at the end by the judge! I know it does not mean anything of course but I was thrilled...as anyone would be!

http://www.momijicouturecontest.blogspot.com/

Last night my Aunty Anne and I attended the last guild meeting of the year. Everyone had to take some food to share, a christmas card and a fat quarter of fabric for the secret santa. The Christmas project was to make a table runner or placemats. I did not have time to do anything unfortunately. The entries are laid out so we can view and then vote. I particularly liked the one that came third.

We ate and drank, played quilt bingo and did a christmas carol quiz. The average age must be 70 but I really enjoyed it. I like talking to the ladies and gleaning lots of new sewing tips! We were given the list of next years speakers too. Quite a lot to look forward to!

HMS Astute and finding the Embroiderers' Guild

2009-11-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

I made this cute stuffed submarine (with googly eye periscope!) as a tribute for my husband Nic. He works for BAE Systems and this weekend the HMS Astute left Devonshire Dock, Barrow-in-Furness for Faslane in Scotland with its new crew. So it was exciting for the team to witness this new chapter in the project. Nic managed to get some photos and video of the sub leaving dock. There was a big spread in the local newpaper too. Go to this link and scroll down to see video and interviews. http://www.nwemail.co.uk/ All the rest of the lads in the office now want their own stuffed submarine with googly eye periscope!!

I am having real problems finding a local branch of the Embroiderers' Guild. The nearest was the South Lakeland and Furness now has folded and the next nearest I can find is Keswick. The national competition for the Embroiderers' Guild deadline is in Feb 2010 and I would like to take part but via a local branch. In this search I find that many local craft guilds have folded. For example the Cumbria Craft Guild used to be a fantastic group and would exhibit every year at Grizedale, they too are no more! Living in a rural area is fantastic but it can end up isolating those who need to network.

So I guess I will just have to do it through national membership for now. The competition theme this year is 'Shelter'. I am also a member of a local quilters' guild but again I am considering entering the national exhibition next year, 'Festival of Quilts' at the NEC in Birmingham. These fairs are good because it gives the artist a chance to exhibit but also to network. On a last good note for me, Nic and I are off to Glasgow for the weekend. Leaving Alex with his grandparents. So looking forward to visiting the galleries and a few watering holes!!

http://www.embroiderersguild.com/

http://www.quiltersguild.org.uk/

It got there!

2009-11-03T03:57:00.000-08:00

Just checked out online if the doll got to its destination. It was delivered the day after posting! That is good I can now relax. On with the next project now. Working on a mixed media painting for a competition next year. Details to follow.

Posted off the Momiji Doll!

2009-10-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe the mammoth task I have just performed! I managed to make the doll in just a week and got it sent off special delivery on Monday hoping to beat the postal strike and then i learn that the deadline has been extended!!! Typical! At least I have done it and i am on with the next thing now.

Momiji Contest

2009-10-21T16:24:00.000-07:00

I am an avid textile hoarder (carrier bags and boxes oozing out of everything possible cupboard), and love reading sewing/quilting mags and look forward to sitting in bed with a brew and a fave mag. In one of these mags was a comp for making a momiji doll. It was open to all but particularly textile artists. Momiji are little friendship dolls that are all the rage recently. The idea of the comp was to get one off dolls into a haute couture catwalk in LA. The finalists would end up with a mag slot and some contacts in the business. BIG PROB for me was I had only read it last week and the closing date in Fri 30th Oct 2009 at 5pm! So I have had just over a week to design and create it. Days are out cos of my son so I get a couple of hours in the evening these days to do work. Although I am not particularly happy with it I am glad to be entering it because it had pushed me into action again. Check out the dolls and the comp www.lovemomiji.com/couturecontest

Recently I have had a spurt of ideas and had been experimenting with some fabrics and paper but this is confined to the evenings. I don't have the studio space either which is frustrating as it means tidying away everything each time. Considering making under the stairs into a little cubby hole for stuff. The Summer House was a great space but the light was poor and it was too damp for paintings. I wonder if I could justifiy an extension just for a studio?

How I am going to get started again?

2009-06-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

Wowee! At Last I am seriously thinking about what work I am going to do after having a baby! I don't mean the boring mundane stuff I have had to do for years alongside the 'loves' of my life. The Arts are a lifelong passion. Particularly the theatre, fine art and textiles.

However, the geography of where I live is not particularly arts cosmopolitan so unless your work is main stream you have to have a job to 'fall back on'!! Mine has usually been a youth project worker and barmaid! Nothing wrong with either of these but I am not always cut out to be these things!

My great great aunt back in the early 20th C was a barmaid and her sister, my great grandmother always maligned her as 'a jumped' up barmaid'! Meaning she had ideas above her station, believing herself better than she was. I can identify with this great great aunt and in fact it has become a family joke between my mother and I.

I am a jumped' up barmaid but I am lots of things. I have worked in many areas and I call it 'life experience', it informs my work!! Hee hee!

Over the past couple of years all of my projects have been stunted through lack of motivation and now a baby. I now want to make more of an effort to get interested, to make something and consider how to market it. I think this is something I really need to do to keep myself sane!

At the moment I am finishing a few sewing projects, a quilt for my son, bridesmaids dress and some alterations for friends. Once I have got them out of the way I am going to get cracking! I need to go small scale first of all so that I be in the home and it is has to be fairly easy to pack away. So ideas are now brewing!