Rachel Capovila: December 2009

Artist & Facilitator

I am a freelance artist based in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in the North West of England. I have worked within the performing and fine arts for 20 years. Initally I worked within the theatre as a performer and on production. Then moving on to a street circus group that performed around the UK. I did my degree BA(hons) Fine Art at Uclan. For fifteen years I have collaborated with local arts organisations, worked on youth community projects and in schools running a variety of creative projects. I am currently a member of North Lonsdale Embroiderers Guild, Blue Tarn, a rural womens artists collective and Trident Textiles, based in Furness. I am always working on a variety of small scale projects including photography, textile and mixed media. Although my favourite thing is meeting and talking to interesting people!

Monday, 21 December 2009

Momiji Contest Winner Announced

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

Thursday, 17 December 2009

Snow on Coniston Old Man!

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.

Thursday, 3 December 2009

Momiji Update & Furness Shoreline Quilters Guild Christmas Meeting

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!

The Custodians Cottage 1999-2006

A couple of us set up this project at the custodians cottage in 1999 by Furness Abbey, with no money and only our tools. We were a group of artists and crafts people who wanted to pass on our skills to young people. Funding from the Heritage Lottery fund then enabled us to programme events and bring in other crafts people to run workshops too. We ran workshops two evenings a week and on the weekends. The building and our displays were open to the public. The project is now closed but this link, click the image, will take you to the facebook group set up by one of the young people. Photos and articles are available to browse.