Felt is a Four Letter Word

Time Shifts

2011-07-31T14:13:00.001+01:00

I began writing this blog as a way to express myself creatively. I love using colours, photographs both of my work and of my inspirations to describe my professional world to anyone who happens to take a look.

What I do not want to do is use this blog to chronicle my personal life. I don't have a problem with those who do choose to do this, and I follow several wonderful blogs where this is achieved with absolute perfection. It just isn't me.

Recently, I have given over a larger part of my creative self to other endeavours which have not made it onto Felt is a Four Letter Word for that very reason: they are personal changes for me, but they have no space here. I am not going to stop writing on here, but I can see that my recent posts have been humdrum and haphazard, so this is more a note to explain to anyone who follows me: I'm still here, but for a while things are going to be slow.

Soon I am sure that I will pick up where I left off, carry on with fashioning my world around me and showcasing it here, but for now I can't make that commitment.

Watch this space.

Reasons to be Cheerful

2011-04-30T16:27:00.000+01:00

Spring in the air means this lovely view above me as I walked along the riverbanks to university on Thursday. The more I look at horse chestnut leaves, the more I see wonderful shapes emerging - stars, flowers, geometrical perfection in nature.

Another reason to smile: this photo on the front page of my Saturday Guardian this morning. I can't claim to have been avidly transfixed by the television yesterday - I tend to ignore the weddings of total strangers - but this photo I think is rather lovely. It reminds me of Raphael's cupids.

Thank You

2011-04-10T12:30:00.000+01:00

Thanks to all 10 lovely ladies who came to my nuno felting class yesterday! I had a great time and I hope you all did too.

You all made some fantastic felt - and impressive progress - and you helped me to feel more inspired after working with you.

(I am sorry for the lack of pictures on this post; my camera decided yesterday morning to go on the blink, and needs to go away for repairs.)

Giveaway for World Book Night 2011

2011-03-04T11:04:00.000Z

This is the first giveaway on my blog. I am not giving away something of my own, but 48 copies of Philip Pullman's Northern Lights as part of World Book Night 2011.

Interested? I will be walking along Hadrian's Wall, beginning at 2pm on Saturday 5th March 2011. I am going to start at Housesteads car park and walk along the Wall towards Steel Rigg. If you would like a free copy of this award winning, awe inspiring, best selling book, all you have to do is be there (and look out for the woman in the pink coat staggering along under the weight of 48 books in a hiking rucksack) to claim one.

I'd love to see as many of you as possible!

Spring is Sprung!

2011-02-26T21:18:00.000Z

I saw some fresh snowdrops on my way up to the cathedral in Durham the other week; spring is on its way now and there's no doubt about it. At last. It feels like it has been such a long winter and I'm ready for a change.

When I got to the cathedral, I found this rather fascinating piece of glazing. Most of the Galilee Chapel (at the west end of the building) is glazed from pieces which have been reused from earlier medieval glass. The story goes that they came from windows in the Chapel of Nine Altars (at the east end of the building), but were blown out in a storm, swept into baskets for a couple of centuries before being releaded to reglaze the Galilee Chapel amongst other places. So this complete mish-mash of coloured designs is entirely fortuitous and wonderfully random. Can anyone else see the rabbit?

As the long evenings remain fixed in place for some time yet to come, February for me is made more bearable by judicious use of lights. This rather blurry shot was taken through the lense of a pair of valentine's day novelty glasses which make all spots of light appear heart shaped. The heart in this image is in fact Chris' wedding ring.

Never one to be outshone, my dad on his birthday. The massive quantity of tealights around the tray? He still insists on having a candle for every year. And a good thing too!

Finally, in this most assorted of musings, these clouds formed as the sun was going down this evening, and I think they look amazing. I love images of moody skies, they are so inspiring.

Coming up for Air

2011-02-06T19:31:00.001Z

It has been a long winter, and I have neglected many things in my hibernation state, including this blog. But now it feels like spring may just be in the air, if quietly, and things (including me) are coming slowly back to life.

Early December saw us installing this beauty, which swiftly became Meg's best friend.

Whilst the weather outside continued dark and snowy, the birds flocked to the new feeders we hung on the washing line. This is the first time we'd had a goldfinch in the garden.

And for the first time in almost 20 years (I think), the Tyne froze over.

We passed the winter solstice, Christmas came and went, and the days, though short, were at least bright. Frosty light transmits so clearly, and when I got outside it always felt worth it.

There were even occasional patches of colour in the smudged charcoal palette of late December.

Mostly though, we all stayed indoors.

Then New Year passed over. I made some rather grand resolutions, sang Auld Lang Syne and promised myself 2011 would be a momentous year.

January whizzed past in a flash, but not without my walk with Dad; this time we went over to Alston, and marvelled at the spectacular light washing over still snow covered Pennine hilltops (for those of you unfamiliar with the area, Alston is the highest market town in England I believe). Click on the photos below to see them properly!

It was a bitterly cold day, with signs of winter still departing everywhere around us, but after so long inside four walls it just felt good to be out again.

This amazing moss was growing outside Alston cemetery; a brilliant glimmer of acid green in the grey and blue day.

But that's not all I have been up to since last I posted. For a few weeks now, I have been planning my teaching schedule for next year, and I am very excited to announce that I will be teaching Nuno felting at The Garden Station on 9th April! It's going to be a lovely course, in a really beautiful location, and I am looking forward to being able to pass on this most versatile feltmaking technique.

Click here for more details. I can't wait.

Another Snowy Day

2010-11-28T23:41:00.000Z

Having learned how to create simple lino and wood cuts with Jo Westgate a couple of months ago, and being still a wee tiny bit not keen on going out into the snowy abyss that is the village, today I set about trying out a new skill Jo told us about on that (warmer) September day. I don't know if it has a technical name, but basically I sought my inspiration...

(It looks better in the flesh, promise)
...next, I drew my design onto the lino...

...and began to cut out different bits, printing over each layer with a different colour as I went.

Of the seven prints I have made, this one is my favourite (click to see larger image as usual):

Hooray for new tricks!

Snowed in in Northumberland

2010-11-27T15:38:00.000Z

It has been snowing since Thursday. On Thursday morning, my train journey to Durham looked like this:

By Friday, a further dusting of snow meant the view from the hill above the house was this:

There were some fabulous clouds gathering above the train station.

By today everything has been changed again, and now my world looks like this:

I am almost snowed in (the roads near us are sort of clear, but those in between aren't, and there is a huge pile of snow behind our car courtesy of the plough) and very happy about it for now.

Chris and I have made time for regular walks up the hill to survey our snowy kingdom.

And there's more forecast for tomorrow.

Learning to Look

2010-11-26T00:22:00.000Z

Although I make my creative living through felt, I am always on the look out for ways I can improve my artistic skills in other areas. Sort of like running my own arts foundation course (I have no formal art qualifications).

A couple of weeks ago, Jane organised a life drawing day. I'd never done any life drawing before, and was keen to try it out. Below are some of my first ever life sketches:

They look a bit skewed on camera, but I am a little proud of them.

On another note...

I have just run off the first load of this years' Christmas card design. I made the lino cut at the weekend, after putting out our first bird feeders. Birds really sum up this time of year for me, as they suddenly become so visible when all the background noise and colour of the summer has been turned down.

Getting Above it All

2010-11-16T21:22:00.001Z

Autumn has come (and somewhat passed) in the past couple of weeks. This tree was pointed out to me by my friend Pam (thanks Pam!) in Durham. What gorgeous autumn colour!

As well as beginning the second year of my MA, I have taken to the hills, and recently completed a gorgeous walk in the Cumbrian fells.

Alongside a small group of fellow all-weather walkers, Dad and I conquered the Fairfield Round.

The Fairfield Round begins in Rydal, a sleepy hamlet in deepest Cumbria. Climbing the hill behind the village (past Rydal Hall and the Coffin Route) we very quickly rose into clear skies and glorious sunshine.

As we climbed, the clouds drew in. The views were still stunning (in fact, even more so once moody shadows of the encroaching weather were being thrown across the hills) as we toiled towards our highest peak at over 2.800 feet.

The landscape at the top was barren, alien and beautiful. Having risen above the orange bracken, we clambered amongst loose stones to the oddly flat plateau.

Then the clouds appeared lower. This next picture is thanks entirely to my Dad, who despite standing in the same spot as me, managed to capture the sunlight and drama of the day when I couldn't.

Until the view vanished, that is. We struggled along like gorillas in the mist for the first part of the descent, offering vague condolences to walkers we met going the other way until the wind moved the mist off...
...and we saw this!

One of the things I always love about walking in Cumbria is the plethora of dry stone walls. Where lowland farmers might nowadays rely on a barbed wire and wooden post fence, in Cumbria many of the dry stone walls are not only still standing, they are kept in impeccable repair.

The Fairfield Round utilises eight Wainwright walks, and I can't recommend it highly enough for a long Cumbrian walk.

Plus, there's a lovely pub in Ambleside when you have descended.

A Walk in the Woods

2010-10-31T19:47:00.000Z

This weekend Chris and I went to see the autumn colour at Allen Banks before the leaves drop. It was awesome. I think I am going to be felting in autumn golds, greens and yellows for a while.

Nothing much to report other than that I'm afraid, but I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Losing Time

2010-10-24T21:23:00.000+01:00

Well, October is nearly over and this is my first post of the month. Why so late? Because of this:

We had a holiday. This was our first holiday in a very very very long time. We went to Galloway, and stayed in a cottage near Isle of Whithorn, all alone for six whole days. It was bliss.

Isle of Whithorn is a quiet place to visit, with one of the strangest petrol stations I have ever seen.

Once we had had a quick ganders at the local social scene, we spent most of our wee break just lying on the grass by the sea looking out at nothing in particular whilst the warm October sunlight encouraged all the tiny biting thingies in the grass to come and snack.

I loved this angular jutting rock, just off the cliffy coast. It was so dramatic watching the waves engulf it in spumes of white in the oddly milky misty light we lived through every day of our visit.

And when we got back to our (did I mention how quiet and lovely it was?) cottage, I utilised my newfound wood cutting skills and made a woodcut homage. As wood cuts print in reverse, it looks like the waves are coming in from the harbour and speeding out to sea, but this is not the case I promise.

This picture below was taken on our last evening of splendid isolation. We are back in the real world again now, and I am already missing the tranquility.

And the mists.

And once I got back to reality (with a bump), it was time for the Wallington Food and Craft Festival. I didn't manage to take any photographs on the two days I stood behind my felt stand, partially because I was too busy but also because I was too cold, but here are some snaps of the drive over to the event through a rather fine and frosty mist-laden morning.

And that takes me to now. October is almost gone, and I'm not quite sure where I put it.

New Tricks

2010-09-30T23:07:00.000+01:00

The sunflowers are still braving the early autumn mists, briefly glowing in the sunlight before it is softened by another rolling cloud of dewy vapour.

The entire valley was filled with low cloud this morning; visibility was down to a few feet until I emerged onto the hillside above. What a view!

Dropping back down into the valley felt strange, colours hazy, outlines dulled where moments before they had been clear.

From outside my parents' house I watched great scads of white pouring like liquid nitrogen along the opposite hillside, catching on trees as if they were made of a substance more tangible than water droplets.

All very inspiring stuff. In fact, yesterday I went on a lino- and wood-cutting printmaking course with Jo Westgate at The Garden Station. This is my very very first attempt at a woodcut, and I am just a little chuffed at how it turned out.

I hope that once the splinters and cuts on my hands have healed I might try and make another woodcut, and when I do I will take my inspiration from today's weather.

Pay Close Attention

2010-09-26T18:44:00.004+01:00

Dad and I went for a walk along this long-abandoned disused railway line near my house. What began as a walk eventually turned into a funghi and lichen hunt.

We found so many different varieties; so many shapes, sizes and colours everywhere we went.

As we didn't know enough about the mushrooms to feel safe eating them, instead we became fascinated with their differing forms.

Shapes you would think unlikely to belong to the fungus family began appearing.

Some dramatic in structure, creating perfect architectural shapes just inches from the ground.

Some look more poisonous than others, naturally. It's amazing what you can find on a walk in the woods.

And if anyone out there can identify any of these mushroom and lichen varieties, do comment and let me know. I am curious.

Sudden Changes

2010-09-25T18:40:00.004+01:00

Autumn has landed with an unladylike thud this year. No gentle descent with balmy days giving way graciously to the odd cool breeze, light shower of rain or dewy morning.

No, this year autumn arrived on the back of a gale force wind lasting two days.

And then it settled. The days got intantaneously colder, the encroaching nights marched on and the gale became a stiff northerly breeze.

So autumn is here, ready to stun an unsuspecting audience with glorious sunsets, breathtaking arboreal displays and intricate patterns of frost and mist in the valleys.

I love it.

A Sneak Peak

2010-09-19T22:28:00.005+01:00

These are a few shots of what I have made this weekend for the Wallington food and craft fair in mid-October.

10:09 At Langley Garden Station

2010-09-10T18:35:00.008+01:00

Wednesday dawned like this:

Unperturbed (in fact, a bit inspired), I set out with my handful of prints and originals to...

(Thanks to Mike Winstanley for the photos) Yes, Langley Garden Station!
LGS is a former train station platform and waiting room transformed into a glorious garden, enfolding a sumptuous café and exhibition space. From today until 3rd November, my work will be hanging there alongside three other gorgeously talented textile artists: Anne Kinniment, Mandy Pattullo and Lizzie Sharman. LGS is run by Mike Winstanley, and is open Friday-Monday (inclusive) 10am-5pm.

My photos have come out rather badly, but here they are:

Originals

...and prints!

Do drop in and see. Entrance to the Garden is free (but donate if you can).

Oh, and Mike's ginger parkin is to die for. I promise.

Those Magnificent Men...

2010-08-31T21:39:00.009+01:00

If a picture tells a thousand words, here is a short story:

Over the Top

2010-08-25T19:40:00.005+01:00

Dad and I went for a walk, and it was amazing. We headed south across the hills, and were stunned by the abundant display of glorious heather.

These dry stone enclosures were spaced along a ridge overlooking the more verdant valley to the north. I am always upset by shooting, and these are probably shelters for shooters to pick off the wildlife from behind the safety of a stone wall. Whilst we were there, we saw a sparrowhawk, a buzzard, numerous skylarks and a heron. Wildlife 1:0 hunters.

Our descent into the next valley brought us alongside startling grey rocky outcrops, as the heather dwindled.

We almost always find derelict houses on our walks. They stand testament to a time when many more people lived off the land, and whilst they cry out for redevelopment, there is an odd beauty to their decrepit, pigeon-filled hulls.

If I find time to do one thing each month that isn't work related, I try and get out for a walk with Dad.

Blue, but with Orange and Purple

2010-08-16T08:53:00.006+01:00

August is often a low point for me; the fresh spring greens have been burned into uniform leathery shades, the fields are going over and there are more dead than live heads on many of my favourite flowers as the nights get longer again, signalling the close of summer.

I feel more inspired by berry shades, and the deep oranges I look forward to seeing as autumn, that inspiring, changeable and stunning season begins to peer over the horizon. Orange, purple, acid green; texture overtakes colour as I work. This pot and scarf sum it up for me - less the strange soft-focus effect my camera has chosen to adopt in this photo - and they will form the basis for the work I will be making for my stand at the Wallington Food and Craft Fair in October.

As the evenings get longer, and inevitably cooler, we decided it is time to hang some proper curtains. This is another first for Chris and I, as all of our previous homes have come pre-curtained. We have shivered through many a winter with inadequate insulation at the insistence of a landlord that the unlined curtains provided are ample enough. Not so this winter.

Armed with the takings from Art Tour, we set off and ordered curtain fabric and lining to suit us, and one of my tasks this week will be to make them up. I know curtains are not difficult, but I am not very good at sewing accuracy, so wish me luck!

Red Roses, Yellow Sunflowers

2010-08-02T22:36:00.002+01:00

It started with a lovely old Lancastrian Rover.

Enter bride, groom, guests and abundant flora. The theme: Sunflowers (the flower of happiness).

Congratulations Rachel and Daniel.

Thinking Back and Looking Forward

2010-07-27T19:27:00.006+01:00

I have begun working in my studio. It is liberating being able to spread my wool top out whilst I work.

My current project even allows me to coordinate my carded top mixes with my tea breaks. Genius.

Today was lovely. Chris and I have been walking together most days this week, and this evening we headed up the valley, sat on our favourite bench together, then walked slowly back down the hill homewards.

I collected some flowers from the hedgerows (only a couple of thistle sprigs and some cow parsley; I leave the rare stuff alone) and Chris found me the bird's egg whilst I was taking pictures of the valley. I am introducing a bit of colour into my studio at last.

My mum gave me this book as a new studio gift. It is a gorgeous compendium of autobiographical writing carefully bound up with the most fabulous illustrations by one of my favourite authors. I grew up on the Alfie and Annie Rose stories Shirley Hughes wrote and illustrated.

I have had a rollicking good time in my studio and the hills this week, and better yet, three years ago tomorrow is a very special day for Chris and I...

And so to Work

2010-07-25T12:48:00.003+01:00

It has finally happened! After weeks of tdying, sorting, stripping and rehanging paper, laying flooring, and managing to cover myself in an inordinate variety of gooey materials, my new studio is complete.

When we moved in in May, the soon-to-be-studio was carpeted, with horrendous textured wallpaper and some natty window dressing.

Now, it is a clean, bright and vaguely waterproof area in which I can make felt.

Chris helped me with the laminate flooring, and had a go with a paint roller, but the room has ostensibly been my project from start to finish.

I have learnd a lot of DIY in a hurry, and am now looking forward to feltmaking in my own space. The cat is banned, and I can spread my work out without having to clear up in time for tea. Ever again.

Hooray!

Shed Envy

2010-07-16T10:59:00.002+01:00

I went to visit the studio of a fellow artist yesterday. He works in chalk pastel, and like me has a deep love of colour. Aside from having a wonderful body of work, his studios are to die for. Yes, studios. In the plural. He has built a whole range of outhouse/sheds - some interconnected - in which he works.

I love these jars of coloured powders so much. He has them everywhere, ranged along windowsills, crowded into corners, and with fantastic collections of pots, boxes, bags, cupboards, tiles and rugs on every surface. It is studio heaven.

And the first thing you see when you go into one of the studios is the long strip of brightly coloured felt, pinned onto the wall, he said to remind him what colour could achieve.

I made that.

Who's That Trip-Trappin' Over My Shop?

2010-07-15T09:27:00.004+01:00

It is a question that deserves an answer.

But first, where have I been again?

As usual, university work has kept me away from felting and blogging, but it is the summer break, I handed in my final assignment for the year last Friday and I am now officially Half-Way Through my MA! I feel a great sense of achievement, but more importantly, of calm.

The newly discovered concept, "Free Time", has allowed me to branch out into other ventures, such as:

Laying a laminate floor in my soon-to-be-studio, and stripping off all that horrid textured wallpaper. That part was fun.

Watching the weather move across the valley on changeable mornings from the cosy vantage of the window at the top of my stairs.

And last but not least, running my first ever feltmaking morning workshop at Katie's. Amongst my super brilliant and incredibly talented students, the gentleman on the right is David of Middle Cottage Diary. The session went really well, and the combined efforts of six feltmakers on one table made an odd rumbling noise, causing questions in the shop below. (Thanks Katie for the photograph!)

So who was trip-trappin' over my shop (well, actually Katie's shop)? A hoard of feltmakers!

Reasons to be Cheerful

2010-06-27T11:49:00.005+01:00

Art Tour finishes this evening, and though it has been an incredible experience, I am looking forward to getting my weekends back.

Over the past four weekends, I have met with friends and strangers, who have come to see me and discuss art. I have had advice, guidance, praise, and even the gift of two whole fleeces, which I must now learn to treat. One is a jacob, one a massam. They both smell strongly sheepy.

Here are a few things that have kept me going through June:

The allotments beside the train station in my village. I have loved to walk past and eye up the poppies.

Mai Yu, Adriaan and their gorgeous custom tandem. They are two cyclists I met in the pub whilst watching the England-Algeria match. I told them all about Art Tour, and lo and behold, the next morning there they were. They have been cycling from the Hague where they live, and plan to cycle across Newcastle-Carlisle, then take the ferry across to Ireland, cycle anti-clockwise around the coast, get the ferry back across to Holyhead, head across country and get the ferry back to Holland. Most impressive.

The Corbridge poppy fields. I see them every time I head in to work or university, and I love them.

Finally, these roses have been coming out in droves in our new garden. Hooray for summer!

Good Idea Hunting

2010-06-14T22:01:00.010+01:00

Art Tour Weekend 2 has been and gone, and I was going to write all about it, but then I changed my mind.

When I began this blog, it was with the intention of writing about my work, and though describing Art Tour definitely falls into that category, I want to explain how and why I do what I do.

I am a visual sort of person. The one who always has a camera primed and at the ready. This is how I find my inspiration. Felt is my medium, so I can't just strap an easel across my back, pick up a paint box and head for the hills. I have to bring my ideas home and work on them indoors.

I am always on the lookout for interesting colours, textures and shapes.

Often a photograph will be destined for use, only to be superseded by something entirely different. More frequently, I will spot some small detail in a photo I have taken almost by accident, like the way water becomes almost solid and glasslike as it ripples across a barely submerged stone.

Or I will be surprised by how many shades of green there are, even when it's raining.

Sometimes it is simply a case of find a subject, and make it into felt.

At other times, I compose elements of a photograph into my preferred image.

However I begin, I am constantly surprised by what I end up with.

Art Tour - Weekend 1

2010-06-07T22:07:00.006+01:00

What a weekend that was! Art Tour 2010 got going on Saturday (following my preview on Friday night) and I have to say I am still exhausted. Here are some photos of my exhibition, sorry some are a bit dark.

First, my felt artefacts for home and person:

Next, my felt pictures. I was entirely and utterly nervous about showing these for the first time, but I have had so many wonderful, encouraging and outright uplifting comments, it has been splendid.

And here is my very first Red Dot. I have another now, but the first is definitely the strangest and the best. I have sold work!

But fear not, it is not over when the fat lady of Art Tour sings on Sunday 27th June. Oh no. Whilst visitors have three more gorgeous weekends to come over and explore my Open Studio (details of which can be seen here), when the curtain falls at the end of June, I will begin teaching!

Yes, I am going to teach 'Get Started with Felt' at MAKE recycled craft workshop on Saturday 10th July. Places are limited, so book early! Click link for larger brochure image.

Time Travelling

2010-06-04T06:42:00.006+01:00

It is officially open! Katie's MAKE recycled craft workshop had its opening bash last Saturday,

and here are the cupcakes I made for the occasion. Honestly, you can't beat a good cupcake.

Whilst we have been enjoying some rare Northumbrian sunshine, I took a day trip to Corbridge for some colour inspiration. Corbridge is a fab town to mooch about in, with oodles of independent shops, gorgeous tea rooms and splendid views. And stripy walls, too.

I saw this magnificently blowsy pair as I ambled along the hawthorn-lined road from Corbridge train station.

Also this week, I have done a spot of time travelling. Yes, I went to bed on Tuesday aged 23, and woke up a whole year older - in only one night - on Wednesday. I am 24.

I had a fantastic day. Chris provided the floral accents:

and I finally managed to get out into the bare front garden and plant out some of the things I've had in pots for years. From right-left, I planted: a strange bush variety honeysuckle, golden hop, climbing yellow rose, jasmine, climbing honeysuckle. Oh, and a couple of sunflowers. And a campanula. It will look amazing.

Art Tour is now just over the horizon, as it kicks off tomorrow morning. Come to Studio 20 on any Saturday or Sunday in June to see my latest, gloriously colourful, tremendously tactile felt objects, PLUS felt pictures inspired by th garden. Not a felt fanatic? Christina Mingard's ever popular acrylic paintings are also on show, plus giclee prints, cards and a veritable treasure trove of gifts.

Not enough? I am also going to be teaching feltmaking for beginners at MAKE on Saturday 10th July. Book with Katie to avoid disappointment!

We Are West Tyne

2010-05-28T19:37:00.006+01:00

Well, for those souls of a more curious persuasion, the chap in this photo was spotted on the side of Moss Menswear in Newcastle. The building appears to have been a cobblers from 1812-1965.

Lots of things have happened since I was on here last, and if you can bear to read on, there will be pictures aplenty.

We have now moved! I have my own studio, and we are back where the midges roam free (and hungry).

On our last night in Newcastle, we saw this little fellow scrambling about in our back garden. It's good to know someone will be keeping the slugs in check.

Apart from being amazing on the inside, our new place of abode also has some fairly natty garden space. So I found these beauties at Haltwhistle Plant Fair just up the road, and whisked them home post haste. I'm not sure what most of them do yet, but I am determined to find out.

Yes, I know I have odd toes. Reader, I promise not to inflict shots of my feet on you if I can afford it.

And days after packing up our lives and moving it across the border into Northumberland, I had to go back to uni, where I saw this stunner of a horse chestnut outside the library.

Finally, back to the present. Or, more correctly, the recent past. Today has been productive. I have spent some of it walking in the ever beautiful Allen Banks, taking faux-artistic shots of trees, sunshine, all that original stuff. Do click on the pictures for a better view.

Today was also the day these stunners finally arrived:

Yes come one, come all Art Tour 2010 kicks off next Saturday (5th June) and continues across every weekend in June. Entry is free, and what's more, we lucky few who are exhibiting in West Tyne have put together our very own postcard. Pick one up, come and see us, and we will stamp and sign it. Who knows, it might even be worth a bob when we're all rich and famous...

Right, I am off to make some of my world famous (I wish) mint-chocolate fairy cakes. For why? Come back soon to find out...

Findings, Endings, Beginnings

2010-05-14T21:05:00.006+01:00

I found this lovely piece of carving on Northumberland Street in Newcastle. I will give a prize to anyone who can locate him.

In other news: The papers are signed, the checks have been done and the waiting is over. Chris and I got the keys to our new house today. Yup, we are First Time Buyers. We are also moving back to the countryside after three years living in the city. And, best of all, our new house has a room I am going to turn into a studio.

Here she be! I am utterly and entirely excited about creating my very own workspace.

Currently, I work on our kitchen table. This is of great benefit to Meg, our very personable cat, who gets to jump on me (and consequently my work) at whim, but not so hot for me and Chris, expecially come meal-time. I promise those of you who have never eaten breakfast from a table covered in sodden towels, you are not missing out.

This is the view from my studio, looking west. Yes, that is countryside in the distance (!!!)

And what studio wouldbe completed without its complimentary eighties throwback sticker?

As we drove back to Newcastle (our bed is there until Wednesday), everything felt so colourful and full of life. My somewhat shaky moving-car-photography skills won't really convey it, but the May landscape effervesces.

Ahh.

From Tiny Acorns

2010-05-09T09:34:00.002+01:00

I have begun making felt balls. They are simple, pleasurable little objects. I can mix in as many colours, and make them as large or as small as I like. My first was brown and green, which gave me an idea...

I thought it looked a bit like an acorn. So my next one was turned into an acorn.

How's that for a tiny idea?

Auriculas

2010-05-05T21:18:00.004+01:00

Look what my dad is growing!

I love auriculas. And, unlike dandelions, they won't annoy the neighbours. Everyone needs a potted sculptural masterpiece to call their own.

From an artistic perspective, the word 'auricula' means 'painted'. What luck!

Silkscreen Printing Tutorial

2010-04-30T09:24:00.010+01:00

Welcome to my kitchen table, and my first tutorial: Silkscreen printing.

Silkscreen printing is an incredibly dynamic, magically messy and superbly rewarding printing technique. I got my basics from Bill Quay's Clare Satow, and have been trying to improve my own technique ever since, so here goes:

To begin, you will need:
A wooden frame, covered with a piece of silk, or synthetic gauze, such as organza or tight-weave net curtain,
Newsprint,
A scalpel,
A Pencil,
Masking tape,
A paintbrush (optional to mix paint with)
A squeegee (I'm sorry I don't know if these have a proper name, but they work in the same way as a window cleaning squeegee)

Tack the screen together using push pins to hold the fabric as taut as possible (this is very important).

For this demonstration, I will be printing on fabric. If you decide to do the same, you will need to mix the ordinary acrylic paint with a textile printing medium in a 1:1 ratio. This medium will bind the paint to the fabric, as well as making the paint go further.

First, draw your design on the newsprint. Once you are satisfied with the image, use the scalpel to (carefully) cut out the shapes. You only need to apply a light pressure with the scalpel, as if drawing with a pencil. Oh, and use a cutting mat. I forgot to put that in the frst picture above.

Once you have cut out your design, tape it to the underside of the screen frame, place it over the surface you want to print on, and apply a generous dollop of the paint-medium mix. Hold the frame down firmly with one hand, and drag the squeegee across the template, spreading the paint evenly.

Once you have done this, carefully remove the screen, and admire your handiwork.

Newsprint will eventually begin to deteriorate, especially if your design has any fiddly bits in it, but you can generally get several prints out of it. Enjoy having a good play with your design!

Once you have printed to satisfaction, leave your fabulous work to dry. If you are working on fabric, you will need to iron it after drying before the piece can be washed.

Enjoy!

Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where dem birdies is?

2010-04-29T12:40:00.002+01:00

Just a short post before I head out to work. Look what I saw yesterday on my uni walk along Durham riverbank!

They are my first of the year!

The Future's Pear Shaped

2010-04-27T15:32:00.005+01:00

As I'm meant to be working (Days until deadline 3 - 0 Essays completed), I thought I'd have a potter about outside, and look what I found!

Not many people like dandelions, but I really do. I love the way they add a touch of fresh yellow glamour to an otherwise boring bit of lawn. I know you will probably all think I am bonkers, but before you decide, take a look at this:

If you look closely (click on the picture to enlarge), you can even see tiny bits of pollen on those gorgeously curly bits (stamen?). I know this is not a conventional thing to like. I am, after all, a kind of gardener - or so I like to think as I potter about in the soil for fun - but there you go, I've said it: I like dandelions. Please don't hurt me.

These beauties, unfortunately not from my garden - but from a kerbside nearby - are grape hyacinths. Aren't they amazing?

But, for me today has some even bigger news than dandelions faring well and grape hyacinths flowering on someone else's patch.

Today.....

Chris' pear tree in-a-pot has blossomed for the first time! Actually, it had a silly moment last November and grew a few blossoms then, but December arrived and put it in its place. This is the first spring blossom we've ever had from it. Isn't it lovely?

I hope your gardens are all doing swimmingly too!

Merino and Old Lace

2010-04-24T19:22:00.002+01:00

Well, I've been playing about with a few bits of fibre on the kitchen floor this afternoon.

Having recently become the proud new owner of a rather torn but otherwise lovely cotton lace tablecloth, I decided to try incorporating it into my feltmaking, and I must say I am rather pleased by the results so far.

One lace-felt scarf drying on my washing line. Hooray!

Felted Toys for Birthday Boys

2010-04-11T15:55:00.003+01:00

Meet Eugene.

Sometimes

2010-04-07T20:51:00.006+01:00

Every once in a while,

it feels good to break out of routine. To do something...different.

To experience colour in a new way, to feel rebellious (when I'm not).

To see

and do

something nice. Simple and nice. And yet nothing at all.

Playing With Colour

2010-04-06T09:55:00.002+01:00

It's been a bit grey and colourless here for the past few days. When we went to the countryside, it was a veritable riot of colour and light, and I felt inspired to really jazz up things back at home.

So I've been making again...

I had a go at making one of these here, and now that it has been tried and successfully tested, I have made some more. My test subject requested that I make the stem shorter, but keep the handy loop, so here are my new look for 2010 egg cosies.

Guarding the Frontier, Or, How to Walk Off Sunday Lunch

2010-04-04T20:48:00.005+01:00

Well it is Easter Sunday today, so we decided to join the masses and head outside for a chocolate-fuelled adventure in the wilds of the Northumbrian countryside.

First, we went to this fabulous cave of wonders, where am sorry to say I forgot to take any photos. The best thing to do therefore is to go and visit it yourself.

Next, we headed on over to the house I grew up in, teamed up with three fifths of my immediate family, plus my grandma and auntie and sauntered out to this charming hostelry for lunch, which we then had to walk off here:

The light was stunning!

Look at the extravagance of lichen growing on Hadrian's Wall! It is simply delightful.

And in the distance, a strikingly rusty-looking farm building caught the light (and my eye) as we looked down from the top of Steelrigg.

Hooray for spring weather!

New Pots

2010-03-28T12:32:00.003+01:00

We went to an acoustic session in Oxfam Books on Hood Street in Newcastle last night. They hold a half-hour mini session at 5.30 on the last Saturday night of the month, and are well worth going to for the yummy (vegan) cake alone. Last night's offerings included gin and violet cupcakes, rum jam tarts, and a delectable cherry-and-almond-rich bakewell tart. And the music was nice too. I forgot to take the camera, or there would be photos to back up my claims of fabulous cake. Sorry.

I have been making again...

these are rather large pots. They were made from the same template then separated, so they are sort of Siamese Pots. I lined the interior with a hefty combo of ramie fibres, tussah silk and blue faced leicester top, so when they dry they will be wonderfully lustrous and soft.

Here is Meg to show their actual size.

It is a lovely day here, I hope you are all going to make time to get outside and enjoy the sunshine!

Table Runner

2010-03-25T12:50:00.002Z

Yesterday, I made a length of felt fabric using some of my favourite spring colours (red, pink, orange, yellow and fresh green).

Once I'd spent about four hours on my hands and knees on our kitchen floor soaping, soaking, rubbing and rolling - a special mention must go to my mother-in-law, Ann, who so generously provided me with a massive length of net curtain not so very long ago - I had an 8ft long piece, ideal for my new project idea:

A table runner!

Busy Busy

2010-03-21T22:51:00.005Z

The last few weeks have been a bit of a blur to be honest, but on Friday I finally handed in my essays and came home to get on with some serious feltmaking.
Once I'd been to work.
And cleaned the house.
It's amazing how much filth can accumulate in one small house when its two occupants are both up to their eyeballs in deadline fear. Our place had suffered, and I know this is going to sound insane, but I actually set to work scrubbing the bathroom tiles with a massive grin on my face at the pure, unadulterated joy of having the free time to do it. Result: one spangly bathroom.

And as for making? Well, with all that cleaning and soap dispensing, I have only managed a few minor makes, and my main achievement this weekend has to be this rather delicious Warm and Spicy Potato and Mango Salad that we had for tea, shown here in my favourite pink melamine mixing bowl.

To make (because I heartily recommend a warm salad to ease into spring):
Chop and boil about four potatoes
Meanwhile, mix together:
1 avocado, diced
1 mango, diced
Lots of lettuce, chopped/torn
1/3 cucumber, sliced
3 spring onions, finely chopped
A couple of carrots, sliced
1 punnet cherry tomatoes
A handful of chestnut mushrooms, quartered or sliced

Once the potatoes are boiled, rinse them and put them back in the pan. Do not throw joyously in immediately.
Mix together:
1 tsp honey mustard (I prefer seedy, some go for smooth)
1 tsp honey
Juice of 2 lemons
A good shake of Herbes de Provence1 chilli, finely chopped. I used a dried kashmiri chilli, which I rehydrated by mixing it with the mustard-honey-lemon juice, but use whatever form is your favourite

Pour this juicy mix into the potato pan with the aforementioned spuds. Put the lid on the pan and shake it like an exquisite cocktail. Now you can mix it with the rest of the salad, stir and serve, ideally topped off with a couple of slices of grilled halloumi.
Photograph.
Devour.

And to add some joy to my rather text-heavy post, here's a photo of some light-up rubber ducks. Enjoy.

And Excellent Socks Shall Rule The World

2010-03-06T20:33:00.007Z

As I haven't been able to make it onto here in a while, I thought I'd begin by showing you some of the things I have been up to for the last few days. Basically, I have been pouring all blood, sweat and tears into completing an essay on the subject of 'Graffiti and its Implications for the Understanding of Literacy in Early Modern English Churches'!

These are my favourite Big Pink Socks. They kept me going throughout.

Here are some AMAZING hogback tombstones, which have been cemented into the floor of a church in North Yorkshire. As part of my course requirement, I get to go on lots of lovely fieldtrips to places like rural North Yorkshire to look at church archaeology (and drink tea in splendid surroundings). For those of you not from North East England, hogback tombstones are unique to the North, including Cumbria in the North West, and have been known as far down as Lancashire. They are Anglo-Saxon in date. And rather cute.

And what have I been making?
More cosies!
This is a cosy for red wine, to keep it at a nice temperature on slightly chilly spring picnics. Very important, I'm sure you'll agree.

And this is a cosy for eggs. Apologies for the picture, I took it at my parents' house, as Mum has very kindly agreed to trial it for me.

Another poor photograph I'm afraid, but these chaps are felt lanterns. You need a battery powered candle (felt is non flammable, but it will stll scorch, just like human hair), and they are a lot of fun. I have named the tall one The Lighthouse.

Commission Complete

2010-02-22T21:48:00.004Z

I haven't put anything up for a few days for a couple of reasons. I put my back out the other day, and anyone who has tried to make felt with a sore back will tell you that it simply is not possible. It's surprisingly frustrating not being able to do what I love because of my own body, but it got better and I got on...

...and completed my latest commission for a lovely lady who has ordered things for me in the past. This tea cosy is for her mum's birthday, and I hope she likes it.

Apart from that, university has been demanding a bit more of my time, and will continue to pile work on me for the next few weeks, but I shall endeavour to keep updating as and when I find/do something exciting. Here is what my lecture walk looked like today; snow with sun!

For David

2010-02-18T13:58:00.010Z

Click on each picture for a larger image

Everyone Loves Linocutting!

2010-02-15T08:11:00.006Z

Chris and I had a lovely day yesterday; we walked through Allen Banks...

...then took refreshment and had another brief saunter around Catton...

...where we saw this sad but beautiful old car. It felt joyous to be back out in the countryside again.And on a work note:

I want to try and incorporate printed images into my felt pictures, so I have taught myself to make linocuts.

What do you think of my linocut sampler? (Click on the image to enlarge it!)

New things!

2010-02-12T21:58:00.004Z

I've designed a new thingy!
But what is it?

A wizard's party hat?
No.

A tent for bohemian fieldmice?
No.

Mug cosies!

My dad is always leaving cups of tea to go cold whilst he works here, so dad, this one's for you.

Paper Magic

2010-02-12T08:32:00.002Z

So this is completely brilliant and must be seen!

Rethink Scholarship at Langara 2010 Call for Entries from Rory O'Sullivan and Simon Bruyn on Vimeo.

Form, Colour, Texture

2010-02-10T17:15:00.004Z

Here are some pleasing things I have seen recently:

Bright red flowers on a white windowsill

Sculptural lines in tree bark

Light and clouds reflecting off the roof of the Sage, one of my favourite buildings in Newcastle (well, Gateshead really, but you get the best photos from the Newcastle side of the Tyne)

I'm working on a new craft project at the minute - more when I have something to show!

My Cat the Anarchist

2010-02-09T20:56:00.004Z

This is our cat, Meg. She isn't a big cat, but this large gourd makes her seem even smaller. I made the gourd last autumn, and it has become something of a beacon on my trade show stalls.

As you can see from this next picture, Meg is quite fond of paper, especially attacking it. In fact the other day, she reached a pinnacle of paper savagery, and gained our eternal respect:

She ate our winter fuel bill.

Good cat.

What I've been up to...

2010-02-07T18:47:00.003Z

I haven't put up any pictures of my felt in a while, and this is because I've been working on a new picture, using the colours in this post. I would like to keep the whole image under wraps until I have decided to exhibit it, but here is a section:

And it was based on these beauties:

Having primroses in the house has made everything smell gorgeously sweet and springlike. I love it!

I had a nice surprise the other day, when this lovely lady came into the shop I work in. I have followed Katie's blog for a long while, and am a huge fan of her work; go and visit if you haven't already.

New Camera

2010-02-03T14:40:00.011Z

We got a new camera! I love our old camera, but it was too large to be able to carry about, so today I enjoyed being able to take it out with me.
Here are some of the things I saw on my way to and from my lectures this morning:

The best thing about this shot of the Cathedral is the little building below it on the riverbank. It is the Fulling Mill Museum of Archaeology.

I saw some really interesting graffiti on this gorgeously coloured concrete wall.

Durham has several splendid bridges, and this one, Prebends Bridge, was reflecting so well in the water.

A stalwart of the Durham riverbank: a cormorant. As I live in a very built up part of the world, I love to catch these small glimpses of nature on my lecture walks.

And finally, a sight I thought I wouldn't be able to see for another few weeks:

Beautiful snowdrops!

Why did the foxes cross the road?

2010-01-31T19:34:00.002Z

It has been an eventful day. And a good day too.
This morning, I set off from snowy Newcastle and headed over to my parents' place to give my first proper felting lesson! Marilyn was my test subject, and she was lovely, patient and understanding.
We each made a piece of flat felt, but I forgot to take photographs at the time. To make up for it, here are some *slightly dark* but gorgeous scenes from my drive back home to Newcastle:

Marvellous skies!
Marching pylons! (Aren't they fabulous in silhouette?)

Structural treelines!

Huge landscapes!

I really miss this part of the world.

And, on the way home, a pair of foxes ran across the road in front of me. They made it to the other side safely, and disappeared into the undergrowth. It was a privilege to see.

Feeling Springy

2010-01-28T11:21:00.004Z

I know it's still January, but I feel like spring is in the air, so today I am working in these marvellous spring colours. Who knows what I will end up with..?
And don't you love the way the fibre looks before felting? I certainly do!

An Inspirational View

2010-01-20T23:16:00.002Z

I take my inspiration from the world around me and the amazing people and places I see. Here is Tynemouth beach in the snow. Enjoy.

2010-01-20T19:03:00.005Z

As I'm now all set up, I thought it's high time I put something about me and my work on here, so here are a few images...which sheep do you prefer?

I have made the ordinary looking one out of masham wool top, whilst the other is a pure flight of colourful fantasy. I do like colour on these cold winter days.

And this pot was inspired by pictures of coral in sunnier climes than our own.

Whilst I love all seasons, when it's just wet and grey outside, I do find myself longing for spring.

My First Blog

2010-01-18T21:35:00.003Z

Hello!

This is a new experience for me, and I have been humongously helped to get this far by Chris, my wonderful and patient husband. Gosh.

Well, hello (again) my name is Cat, and I want to join in with the fabulous world of blogging, which I have followed witout joining in for so long.

I also have an ulterior motive: I want to entrance everyone with felt. Wonderful, tactile, colourful felt. I am a textile artist who works mainly in this fab medium, and I will use this blog to keep anyone who's interested updated on my latest work and exhibitions, as well as describing my world.

I hope that whosoever stumbles upon Felt is a Four Letter Word goes away feeling inspired, or at least cheered by my ramblings, and I look forward to meeting lots of new people.

Ta-ta for now,

Cat
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