Slate Cutting Masterclass

Today was my first Masterclass in cutting slate and punching holes. We started with some welsh slate before moving onto the Spanish slate. Needless to say the welsh slate is harder!

I'm quite pleased with how it went even though I feel I have a long way to go!

I also now possess the proper cutting tools to continue with this and explore using slate in my mosaics.

Running And Sculpture at Kedleston

I decided to forego my usual Sunday lie in this morning for the Jog Derbyshire run at Kedleston Hall and I'm so pleased I did!

Over the last year or so, I've come to realise that every second is precious and should be lived to the maximum of enjoyment, a mindful approach to enjoying whatever you are doing in that particular moment.

So my joy this morning when my two favourite occupations were brought together, running through countryside surrounded by beautiful scenery and sculptures.

So not a run for me to get a personal best but definitely one of excitement as I stopped to listen on the Hear Here sculptures and to take the off photo.

I'm rather looking forward toJune's run already!

Craft sessions invite.

I've been looking around my house and current studio in anticipation of packing for my move and have realised that I have lots and lots of STUFF!

My house will feel really rather big and spacious after I move the big boxes of wool, clear the desk of framed artwork, empty the sideboard of fabric and remove all the broken plates and bits of ceramic off the windowsill... and that's before I've even got to my current studio!

Having realised how much art and craft resources I possess, I thought it would be nice to share some. So how about a coffee and craft session when I'm in the new studio? I could set up materials for people to rummage through and see what inspires them. I'd be interested to know if anyone would be interested in joining me for a session where we just play and explore with what is too hand, an expression session? I would be there to guide and offer suggestions with a small charge for the materials. If you fancy this or have any ideas for something you want to try, let me know and I'll see what we can do!

New Studio Announcement! We're moving to Cromford Mills.

Oh the unbelievable excitement!  I went with Emma Parkins today to sign a shared lease for our studio in the Cromford Mills complex.  Emma runs Junky Monkey an ethical art company who provides workshops in a wide variety of settings.  We have a lot of similar values and our working together compliments our styles, not only in how we live, but our belief systems and lifestyle.

We have lots planned together, not only in approaching schools to run workshops but to run some events in our own space, Unit 2, Building 16, not a very artistic sounding name, but with the massive variety of artists, such as Laura Ellen Bacon and Rachel Emmerson already in situ, we both feel ready to join this creative community.

This really came about because of my decision to say yes through March to opportunities offered to me.  It has really opened my eyes and widened my horizons by deciding to be positive for a whole month, I have decided to keep with the saying yes to opportunities, because it has really worked well for me.  It has made me happier, more excited about life, more open-minded and in touch with what I really want to be doing.  I've also been reading Marianne Cantwell's Book and doing some of the exercises on how to be a Free Range Human, living your life as though you love it.  Because let's face it, to paraphrase Alan Watts, it's absurb to be doing a job you hate to pay for a house and life that you are never in, while teaching our children that this is the way to live.  So I finish with Watts's question that stuck in my mind...'If money were no object, what would you do with your life?'  I am taking small steps to make money no object and loving every minute of it.

Our Window is just up there on the left...
 

Our Room with a View...

Time to celebrate with coffee and cake in the wonderful cafe.


 

Latest tiles

These are my latest little pieces of work, currently at the framers...

I spent Easter weekend at the seaside and came back with a bag of flint and driftwood. I'll be exploring what I can make in the next week.

Positive Project.

I have been working on my own secret project, I've challenged myself to say yes more often. If an opportunity, event, challenge comes up that I'm invited to join, I'm going to say yes to it.

I decided to start this through March, but not to shout too loudly about it because that may disturb the natural process and alter the discourse with others. I often shy away from things because of fear and shyness, so this will be a real challenge to me.

So 10 days in and the most major thing I have said yes to, is sharing a studio with a friend. I'll keep this blog updated with how things proceed and what else I say yes to. If I continue with this, I may start a blog of its own, but for now it's going to quietly tick along.

Advice needed!

I've been thinking about how I could run a mosaic course. I'm basically self taught in this discipline and work in an instinctive manner.

This means I don't put any design onto paper, I do use some paintings or collages that I've made, but not in any 'design' way. They are purely inspiration. I'm not sure what is expected from a mosaicing course, would an element of design be expected? Or could I teach from a purely 'see how it goes' method? I usually put my main pieces down and see what works, then work tiles, glass and beads around them. I play by moving the shapes around. Would this work as a workshop? I'd also be interested in how I could develop a community project and I'm not sure where to start with this. Any advice or thoughts would be welcome!