Sussex Contemporary art exhibition

The week before last was so busy as I had to deliver my piece, Sea-blooms and Oozy Woods to the i360 in Brighton for an exhibition of contemporary art on the theme Metamorphosis. I was so excited to be selected for this exhibition. The private view was on Saturday, and my lovely daughter accompanied me and obligingly took my photo.

At the Sussex Contemporary

Sea-blooms and Oozy Woods

I made this piece during COVID using a lot of recycled and found items. You can read about it here.

There is some amazing art in the exhibition, including some textiles.

Triffid

I loved this recycled denim sculpture.

Spine by Karen Lintott

This piece of felt with added embellishments is just yummy.

The detail in this photo was amazing.

Gas Holder, Black Rock by Rosie Good

I was delighted to see a Tetra-Pak print, as I’m running a workshop next month on this technique at Wey Valley Workshop.

Abandoned House

Detail

We were both in love with this doll’s house. There were roots through the table and branches out of the roof – amazing.

Collage of stamps

Magnolia triptych

This is the middle of a beautiful pen and ink drawing of a magnolia as the flowers emerge. Each image was dated and the three had been drawn to create a complete image of the tree.

Motley bug

Finally a bit of mixed media.

The private view was very busy, so I realise there is loads of art I failed to photograph, such as a fantastic Ming horse made of junk or a huge photo of the sea. I also failed to record the artists in several cases, so my apologies for the lack of credits.

The exhibition finishes at the end of this week, so if you’re in Brighton do visit, as it’s well worth it.

Making your Mark – our exhibition

Last week was very busy as I helped set up Wey Valley Workshop’s exhibition at Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre in Walton-on-Thames, and then stewarded on the first two days. It’s looking great with a wide variety of work.

I was delighted to sell my bag on the first day, and several other pieces have been snapped up.

Abstract bag

Here are a few highlights from the exhibition.

If you’re in the area, do come along and see us. We’re open every day this week until Sunday, 10am to 4pm. There’s free parking and a lovely café, plus you can combine it with a walk along the Thames

Experimental rag rugging

Today I handed in my work for our long delayed exhibition, which is taking place from 15th to 26th June at riverhousebarn.co.uk in Walton-on-Thames. The title is Adapt Adjust Amend, so I decided to do some rag rugging.

First piece in progress

A close up

I’ve used a load of felted wool from my stash, including jumpers and blankets. Then to add texture I’ve also used old silk ties and handkerchiefs. Some came from my husband when they wore out. He’s well trained not to throw anything out before first checking whether I might want it. Others came from my father’s house when I cleared it over 10 years ago. I love the texture of the silk, especially with the patterns creating a mottled effect.

Silk loops

Silk loops trimmed

My inspiration came from one of my doodles, which felt reminiscent of pebbles in sand and water. This dictated my colour scheme of mostly blues and some yellow.

Stitch detail

The pebbles were needle felted. Once all the hooking was complete I bound the edges in navy wool and then rather cautiously started trimming the loops. It’s always a bit nerve racking in case it all falls apart at that stage, but very little came out.

Doodle 1 and 2

Here they are laid out together. I’ve mounted them on a pair of canvases. When I stitched them on I managed to get their lengths a bit closer to each other, but they aren’t quite the same width.

To finish a couple more detail shots.

Ramster Embroidery Exhibition

It’s back after three years. I was stewarding today and thought I’d share some highlights.

All around a hedge by Isobel Moore

Summer Flowers by Olwyn Pearson

Summer Meadow by Rosalind Woodhead

Downs Landscape 3 by Mike Wallis

A Spectra of Reflections by Buffy Fieldhouse

Secret Garden by Lindsey Gibson

Spring Landscape by Jane Roskrow

Fractured by Julia Gahagan

Dutch Tile 1 by Ann Cooke

Seed Beads by Janet Gibbins

Bottle Garden by Jenny Parker

Folk Art 1 and 2 by Jenny Parker

Red Clover by Emma Rose Saunders

Japanese Anemone Specimen
by Emma Rose Saunders

As you can see there is some beautiful work in a great variety of styles. If you are near Ramster Gardens it’s well worth a visit for inspiration and pleasure. There are also lots of lovely things for sale besides the exhibits themselves.

Bottle Garden finished, and getting ready for Ramster

I’ve just dropped off my pieces for the wonderful Ramster Embroidery Exhibition. After a year’s delay it’s back on, which feels very exciting.

Ramster could be credited with starting me off on my textile journey. Before children, about 30 years ago, my father had lent us his car to go out for the day. We’d been to Petworth House and spotted the sign on our way home for an embroidery exhibition. I was blown away at the amazing art that had been created with stitch. Ten years later I began my City and Guild course and haven’t stopped since.

Bottle Garden

Here is the finished Bottle Garden piece, which I’ve blogged about previously. I asked my husband to build me a case to display the piece. As well as protecting it from dust and damage it creates the feel of a traditional museum case, which is the look I was going for. To enhance the look I got a little brass plaque made for it, and we reinforced the corners with some delightful embossed metal.

Brass title plaque

We ordered some perspex sheets from a site where you can get them cut to the exact size and then my husband made the case using some scrap wood he had. I hoard fabric and he hoards wood – we’re a perfect match.

Here are some details of the piece taken in the garden.

And some close-ups.

We are able to enter three pieces, and as I’m saving some work for the Wey Valley Workshop exhibition, which is taking place after a two year delay in the summer, I had to look around for some other pieces to enter. I found a couple of felt applique pieces I did last year. I’ve mounted them on a couple of canvases.

Folk Art Birds

Folk Art Flowers

Finally, I’ve been making a lot of jewellery recently. There’s a limit to how much I can wear, so I’m hoping to sell some of it. I went through so many ideas on how to present it in the best way. My final solution, and both the simplest and the best was to show them on a pin board.

Jewellery presentation idea

I used an old pin board, cleaned it up, painted the frame and then stuck on black felt to cover the ropey cork. I’m very pleased with the final effect. I must’ve had half a dozen other ideas before I came up with this. As this is such a long post I won’t go through all the ways I made my pendants and earrings. Maybe you can guess some of them.

Now I need to go and clear up the workroom, sometimes known as the dining room.