Playing with clay and other adventures

Monday, 30 July 2012

Potfest in the Park 2012

My stand at Potfest between the lovely Simon Griffiths

and the lovely Gwen Bainbridge

Potfest Competition on the Lawn

Gwen Bainbridge

Elaine Peto

Mark Smith and Simon Griffiths

Mine

Christine Hestor Smith

Wayne Clark

Paul Young

Fiona Duckett

Wednesday, 25 July 2012

Potfest and witches 400 it's all go

Well tomorrow is the set up for Potfest and

today was the last day working on the cloak.

Am slightly tired which is probably an understatement.

Monday, 16 July 2012

Work in progress for the Witches 400

So this is a sneak peak at the work I am producing for the Witches 400 exhiition at the Platform Gallery in Clitheroe.

The piece is about Alice Nutter the only well to do woman accused of witchcraft in the Pendle Witch Trails held in 1612 at Lancaster Castle.

I have been using a black stoneware for the feathers which are hand stitched on to the fabric representing a crows wing, inspired by the landscape of the time and the fact she is now said to live at Crowtrees Farm, Roughlee.

There are a few other pieces that I will take pics when they are ready but everything has to be delivered by Wednesday eek!

Sunday, 24 June 2012

Witches 400 brick waymarkers

Well the last community workshop is over we had a lovely day in the 'bowels' of the Judges Lodgings in Lancaster working with 7 participants. We looked at the medicinal side of the potions and spells said to be used to cure the ills of the folk and livestock of the time by the accused. These will be stained and send back to the brick factory in Chesterton to be fired and then displayed at the Platform Gallery from the 28th of July 2012.

The blocks will then be installed on a new walking route from Barrowford to Lancaster to commemorate the anniversay of the Pendle Witch trials in 1612

I would like to thank all that were involved with the workshops from Slaidburn, Barrowford and Lancaster the results are so much better than I could of imagined.
I really am pleased and proud of all of you.

Can't wait to see them fired and installed.

more info for the project can be found here...www.witches400.org

Monday, 11 June 2012

after the show is over.......

Well what a day at the first Art Markets of the year. The show was full of amazing fellow artists I could of spent a fortune!

The day was busy with lots of lovely comments about the work. With one lady purposely striding up to say she must have one of my new Daisy chain vases and promptly bought it.

My 'Best of British' bunting went down a storm and was commented on by lots of fellow exhibitors. My flowers reflecting the red, white and blue theme through too. And someone even stole one of my strawberries from my fruit bowl, positive thinking for a lovely British summer if it ever gets started. My Daisy Chains and Daisy Daisy lines were displayed on pieces of green grass coloured carpet to add to the summertime feel.

I hope everyone who visited had a lovely day I came home with a James Green print of 'Gamboling Lambs' bought for me as a present by the OH. Bless him I did drop very big hints about a David Cooke hare but to no avail maybe next time ;-) photo to follow of that one.

I couldn't of done any of it without the wonderful help from Stephen who got a little stern when I picked up the heavy stuff but I soon put it down again.

He did make me speak to everyone who came over to the stand and to be honest it was a positive move as I am sure by saying they could touch the work I had a few more sales than normal. One lady commented that you are often not allowed to touch the exhibits and she then took great pleasure in picking up and feeling the ones she liked before picking her favourite piece and purchasing it. So thank you Stephen for that too. I may be trying that one again soon.

Friday, 8 June 2012

Art Markets this weekend at Holmfirth

So just finishing off pricing and final tweeking but I think I might just be ready for Sundays Art Market in Holmfirth.

10am - 4pm

http://www.artmarkets.co.uk/

Come and say hello

Friday, 11 May 2012

Helen Oxleys' Skin at the ACE Centre

So this week sees the start of Helen Oxleys Skin exhibition at the ACE Centre in Nelson. Helen is one of the artists at Higherford Mill displaying her brand new work for the first time in Lancashire.

"My work is primarily concerned with the creative process...the making of the piece becomes just as important as the final product. By pouring and pushing the paint through a tilted surface and letting gravity spread the liquid I aim to challenge the viewer to consider what painting is."

www.helenoxley.com

There was a good turn out and a meal afterwards so a good opening night had by all.

So a week after the open studios I am still recovering. It's been a busy week and there's more to come this week so I was glad of a day off on Monday with Stephen who worked the teas and coffees at the weekend bless him. So ice cream and candy floss was called for....

Even if it was a tad bit cold.

This weekend is open studios again but I won't be there so I tidied up and made a display with my lovely new shelves found at GB Antiques or 'The Shed Of Joy'

As Dylans' mum calls it. We met and foraged for displays for me and Gwens' jewellery as the next Nostalgia meets Design is not far away,

the 26th of May to be exact!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nostalgia-Meets-Design/103276353054252?ref=pb

Monday, 7 May 2012

Open Studios with Guests

The weekend at the mill went well with homemade cakes lots of art and visitors too. The guest artists Katy O'Neil and Dan Bridge made a lovely show amongst the resident artist at the mill and it was lovely to see their relatives and friends all supporting the weekends event.