Belper Vintage Fair

I snuck off to have a good look round the Belper Vintage Fair today and it was well worth the visit. Not only did I buy some lovely goodies, I bumped into a friend who I haven't seen in a long time and we had a catch up. She was selling jewellery and bags that were just beautiful, so I was really blown away by her generosity when she donated some beaded knecklaces to my mosaic projects.

I also picked up a couple of rather lovely brooches.

Tools for drawing and loosing control

Part of the inspiration behind the Exploring Creativity workshops is to challenge the participants to let go of the idea of perfection.

We are taught to reproduce perfect images for our perfect worlds, when in reality, life is far from perfect. So as part of tapping onto our subconscious is to let go of the ideal of the perfect image and trying to put that onto paper.

One of the activities I'll be using is to challenge the participants to use tools that work in their own way, they don't conform to being held and controlled.

Next weekend I'll be heading into the Peak District to do some coppicing in a willow labyrinth, I'll be bring back some moon fuelled willow to cut and shave into quills and pens. Anyone who has drawn with willow twigs knows how loose our drawing will be!

Exploring Creativity Workshops at Studio 61

The dates have been set for my next set of workshops on Exploring Creativity at Studio 61 Gallery in Leashaw.

This workshop is something I am passionate about exploring further and gives me the opportunity to put into practice some of the Mindfulness techniques I've been learning about on my life coaching course.  I believe that everyone is creative, whether it is in the art they make, the food they cook or the clothes they wear, how they decorate their house or how they live thier lives.

I plan to explore different ways that we can tap into our inner imaginations and let go of the idea of the perfect image.  We'll be using tools that challenge our perspective of drawing perfectly, adding colours that expand our palettes and using beautiful papers to explore the shapes that we have accessed from our unconscious.

I'd really like to give each participant something to take away with them to keep exploring this further in their own time, but this depends on how organised I am at making some paper!

There are 3 dates to choose from and I'll be repeating the workshop with similar activities, coffee and tea are available from Studio 61 and I'm really looking forward to working in such a beautiful setting.

So, if you fancy a morning of exploration, drop me a line on my email at purpleshedstudio@live.com and I'll get back to you!

Playing with textiles

The past couple of weeks has seen me playing with my embellishing machine and returning to a much loved pastime of making felt textile pieces.  I love textiles and have been neglecting them for far too long.

So here are my endeavours from the last couple of weeks.  I 'm now planning on turning some of my paintings into textile pieces.  Luckily I took  a lot of photos before I gave away a whole stack of paintings last week and I now have a big empty area in my studio to fill with new work. 

It felt really good to give away or swop a lot of paintings, very lightening and refreshing!

Button Moon Cats - Raw silk, merino wool, man made fabrics, buttons and beads
 

Button Moon Cats - Available at Studio 61, nr Matlock

I've also been cracking on with my latest commission, a beautiful mosaic mirror in reds and greens, which is a challenge for me as my colours are more like the ones above.  It also has text as requested by my customer.

You can see more of my textiles and mosaics on  my Facebook page.

Come Draw With Me at Studio 61

Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending the morning at Studio 61 in Lea, near Matlock.  I was asked to facilitate Come Draw With Me, a drawing session that is taking place every Thursday morning (10.15-11.30am) as Ruth Gray, who usually runs the session had caught the lurgy that is invading Derbyshire at the moment.  At this rate we will have to take ourselves up to Eyam and into quarantine.

It was a quiet session and I managed to catch up with a commission I've been asked to do for a mosaic mirror.  It was quite lovely to sit in a space, surrounded by beautiful items and just draw.  With no telephone, no internet, no housework or other materials shouting for my attention.  Just me, some paper and pencils and an hour where I didn't do anything else.

Come Draw With Me is running throughout October as part of the campaign for drawing and Karina's Studio 61 is well worth a visit.  She has lots of events planned, including a ladies pamper evening and a christmas shopping evening. 

You can follow this Link to go straight to Studio 61's website.

Ruth Gray, Jenny Oldknow and Me - all cosy in the snug at Studio 61

Why the Make Me An Offer Sale...

Why am I having a sale where people can get my artwork at rock bottom prices?

Several reasons....

I don't like selling my work.
I have a lot of artwork.
I have limited space.
People tell me they have no money but love my work.
My dislike for capitalism.


So basically, if anyone likes a piece of work, they can have it for a donation.  I will not be offended if I only get offered a £1.  This isn't about the money.

I feel that lately things have got too focussed on money and this is my kick back to it.

I want to keep making because I enjoy it not because I want to make money from it. 


So if you really truly enjoy a piece of my artwork and woudl like it, then offer me something. It doesn't have to be money, it could be a piece of your work, your time or something else you can do... just put it out there and see what comes back...

To view the artwork on offer follow the link to my Facebook page.

Getting a little bit personal.

I want to write a really personal blog entry. But I'm not sure how to proceed.

My life has taken so many changes in the last few years, I'm not where I thought I'd be, but perhaps I'm where I need to be.  Along the way has included a lot of ups and downs, medication, self medication, no medication but misery,  a lot of loneliness and a lot of wonderful friends made, lost and refound and kept.

I finally found my place where depression is not welcome, but sometimes comes in uninvited.  I might only allow him to stay for a day before pulling on my running shoes and challenging him to keep up.  But sometimes he will stay for longer, taking a part of me, turning it to stone and locking me into my own head, leaving me feeling that I've lost part of myself along with the car keys.

He's been visiting for the last 20 years of my life and I am only just learning to accept that I have to acknowledge my occasional visitor, I just don't welcome him with wine anymore and but insist we have an early night.

My ego is of a size that I want to make my world about me and in learning to accept myself for who and what I am.   I've also come to the realisation that if anyone chooses not to accept who I am then I can't do anything about that, because that is more about the other person than it is about me.

While I don't let this part of my life define who I am, it is after all, just an extra with one line, I'll talk to anyone who wants to chat more about this subject and how it affects the lives of those around us.