SNOW WEEKEND

The snow stopped play this weekend as I was due to run a sketch book workshop at Hampen. Rather than risk everyone travelling I have postponed it to March.

So I have spent the weekend experimenting in my icicle edged shed.

These experiments in enamel are still like sketch book pages,

not quite resolved,

a bit rough around the edges. But I am pleased with the iridescence I am achieving with the raku fired copper and the success rate with firing on the digital transfers.

I have decided to experiment with backgrounds for the Ladies and Gentlemen,

then popped into a frame, adds an extra dimension.

 

 

BUTTONED UP!

I have been having a bit of a play inspired by an email I got from Pat Johnson from the BSOE.

There is a call for entries to artists and makers for The Button Project in Macclesfield.

All the information can be found at http://www.barnabyfestival.org.uk/news/call-entries-%E2%80%98-button-project%E2%80%99-exhibition

I love buttons and the idea of an exhibition about buttons in June sounds fantastic. It will be in the Macclesfield Silk Museum as part of the Barnaby Festival. 

So what would be more appropriate than moth buttons for a silk museum?

I can't wait to see this exhibition, June seems such a long way away as the snow falls outside.

FROSTY HAMPEN

The snow has set in here in Cheltenham causing mayhem...how does Scandinavia cope?

But on Wednesday Hampen Factory where I teach printmaking

was a bejewelled winter wonderland.

So pretty.

So inspiring.

COLOUR?

Pat Johnson from the British Society of Enamellers has been interviewing me about my work for their on line magazine. www.enamellers.org

 One of the questions I was asked was,

" Looking at your pictures, I see that at least two of the images are in colour, but they all look black and white. Are you only using black and white enamels?"

I don't know that it was this question that prompted me to spend today working in my new sketch book, 11 x 15cms?

Or the trip to Bovey Tracy delivering work for the Get Fresh exhibition, www.crafts.org.uk

where I was inspired by the ceramic work of Clare Mahoney?

Or is it a left over from the Christmas decorations that are now coming down?

Or perhaps a new colourful me for 2013? We'll see!!

HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS.

I have spent the last day of 2012 in the shed making enamel sketches.

Four pieces of steel covered in flux and white enamel.

Gold and silver leaf,

and my favourite transfers.

They could be straight out of my sketch book.

 

"Hope" is the thing with feathers-

That perches in the soul-

And sings the tune without the words-

And never stops-at all-

 

And sweetest-in the Gale-is heard-

And sore must be the storm-

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm-

 

I've heard it in the chilliest land-

And on the strangest Sea-

Yet, never, in Extremity,

It asked a crumb-of Me.

 

Happy and creative New Year.

 

(for Carolyn)

 

DECK THE HALLS

It's that time of year again when we do not question the dragging into the lounge a live tree.

Or question the taste of the things we adorn our houses with.

Up go the familiar decorations that connect us with our childhood Christmases, or

distance us from them in the determination to do something different and yes Rudolf does that for me.

                                      
                     I am still striving for the balance between vintage and contemporary, but I am comforted by the fact that if I do not get it right this year, I can have another stab at it next Yule Tide.

This year my annual fairy swap with the lovely Caroline McCatty is themed Frosty Fairy, her frosty fairy is on the right and I still think I get the better end of the swap!(http://carolinemccatty.blogspot.co.uk)

 

Thankyou to everyone who has stopped by to view my blog this year and thankyou for the encouraging comments. Happy Christmas one and all and here's to a creative New Year.

WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

What gets me into the Christmas mood? Not the endless assault on the ears from Slade and Wizard, or the queueing at the tills to buy socks, hankies and other items where only the thought really counts. 

It's when nature wraps itself in a blanket of ice.

Tuesday and Wednesday covered the Cotswold's in a crust of frost that twinkled on the edge of things.

 And provided me with inspiration that I could not ignore.

So once again locked in my shed, ignoring the call of the sellotape and the pile of unwritten cards

I  indulged myself with some sketch book work.

These rook drawings are 9 x 9cms and may be ideas for enamels.

Inspired by the festive season (I am not a complete humbug) these drawings are 18 x 30 cms.