A Grand Day Out - Ruthin Craft Centre Autumn Gallery

Susan O'Byrne

 Lovely day again at Ruthin, sun was shining on a splendid autumn afternoon.  Their autumn exhibition is in three galleries but we went to see a favourite's solo show in gallery three.

Susan O'Byrne's new show is Five Sisters and a Family Tree, in it she explores experiences of childhood with reference to her grandma's five sisters and the family tree of her immigrant German relatives to Ireland.

The Five Sisters are a collection of half size deer and sheep in porcelain with her trade mark patterning in slip.  The patterns are intricate stencils that are fractured and reapplied to give a crazed pattern placed perfectly on the sculpture.  This is a really comforting exhibition, beautiful and gentle.  There is a fairy tale quality to the work and they are very accessible.  Accompanying the Five Sisters are a collection of life size birds, from finches to majestic crows, whose patterning is subtle and delightful.

Susan O'Byrne

The Family Tree is an eclectic collection of exotic animal heads, again in patterned porcelain, each introduced with the name of one of her German relatives.  All kinds of animals are represented from a tarsir to an echidna, all in a highly realistic form but with her gentle touch very approachable.

I really enjoyed this exhibition, there is no aggression here, you are not challenged but invited into Susan's imagination.  The sculptures are beautiful and well finished and just a pleasure to engage with.

Price is not something I would mention often but if you are in the market for a lovely original I was amazed at how reasonable her work was.  There were pieces from as little as £40, even the little finches were only £95.  I would love to own one of her works but with the cats porcelain is not a good idea.  If its on the wall out of reach fine but I now only have wooden or bronze ornaments because over the last fifteen years they have broken everything else!

W for Wallpaper

The main gallery, gallery one, was showing W for Wallpaper.  A collection of craft made wall papers including pieces that where hand blocked or hand cut as well as digitally manipulated pieces.  There is even a sample made up of machined cross stitches to form a relief pattern.  Some of the hand cut blocked wallpapers where simply art in themselves, with subtle colour and stunning detail.  My favourite however was a wallpaper by the Scottish company Timorous Beasties.  The detail was fantastic and with a ten metre repeat you wouldn't get bored but maybe on just one wall.

Timorous Beasties

There was also a lovely collection of silverware in gallery two by the very talented Julie Blyfield.  Here was jewellery and vessels all very delicate and with a great finish.  A small collection but with the lighting I couldn't take any pictures but well worth a visit.

If you find yourself in the area it is all free, with talks and workshops coming up at very reasonable prices.  Becca has signed on to a workshop with Susan O'Byrne for only £60 that includes lunch would you believe, excellent value and she is very excited.  There is a collection of artisan shops and a really pleasant cafe who do a great fish platter and a good cup of tea, it makes for a very good afternoon indeed.

Friday Folksy Find - The Long Tailed Tit

Hello and welcome to this week's finds, I am sneezing my way through this post so please bear with me.  Such glorious Autumn sunshine and I have caught cold!  I am working on a new idea of a bird doll, a little girl bird with wings and in a little dress that reflects her plumage.  My choice for this doll is the long tailed tit.  These characters turn up in my garden everyday mid afternoon and raid my shrubs for spiders and daddy long legs.  They twitter and argue in a great family gathering, stay ten minutes and then move on.  I simply love them and their wonderful gregarious personalitie, so I have based my first bird doll on the long tailed tit.

This has led me to look for artists who have also been inspired by these cheery lads and lasses.  I have found some lovely and diverse work and I hope you enjoy them.

Elizabeth Murray

This lady is a North Yorkshire jeweller and designer working in silver and enamel.  I think this little bird just encapsulates the long tailed tit.  So little there but you know what is implied.  Very delicate and very lovely.  This lady works in silver and currently only features her botanical pieces but take a look, they too are very lovely,

ArtyEmily

This is a card taken from one if her wonderful embroideries.  ArtyEmily is Emily Tull from Kent and her embroidered pieces have such soul.  The shop is an eclectic mix of all kinds of designs and ideas but her embroideries shine.  They are available as art cards such as this little titmouse and as original embroideries.  Her hares are just brilliant, she captures movement, texture and spirit all at once.  Take a peak at the shop it is worth it.

The Cotton Potter

I utterly love this lady's work and have purchased pieces in the past.  The Cotton Potter is Emma Verner-Webb from Norfolk and I think she is currently one of the best artist working with bird sculpture.  She constantly changes her designs, materials and approach.  Somehow with just a little twist here and a little tuck there it is a blue tit or a robin and she just catches the spirit of the bird.  I particularly like the long tailed tit and love the floral highlights.  Check out the tweed chaps as well, really worth while.

MyBearHands

MyBearHands is Sally Haysom, an illustrator who makes delightful jewellery.  This little brooch is from her British Bird Collection.  It is taken from an original illustration by Sally that is printed onto wood and then laser cut to shape before finishing.  Really young and quirky, would look great on my daughter's denim jacket.  Have a peep at the shop, not all birds but all unusual and very different.

Sally Ayling

Love the simplicity of this design and the fact that this artist uses old tins to make her most individual jewellery.  She doesn't just use tins, but acrylic and other materials, really interesting.  It's great how she finds tins to reflect plummage and feathers. The centre of brooch is walnut to which the tin is riveted and the piece is backed by a silver pin. All kinds of birds made using such an unusual technique.

Hope you have enjoyed this selection, lots of interesting pieces with such diverse techniques to explore and such a dainty subject.  If I can make my own little bird doll work I would love to share her with you, I'm on my third attempt but it seems to be working this time so fingers crossed.  Enjoy the autumn sunshine and my warmest wishes.

Tuesday Talent - Salley Mavor

Salley Mavor

 This incredible needlewoman is Salley Mavor from Falmouth Massachusetts.  She studied at Rhode Island Design School and works with thread and felt to create three dimensional scenes of birds, animals and delightful little people.

It is her birds, however that leave me speechless.  Her wonderful piece, Birds of Beebe Woods is just amazing and is currently touring the US. You can find more details of the birds at her website - www.weefolkstudio.com, where you will also find other pieces in detail, her books and more wonderful felt creations.

Birds of Beebe Wood

Female Cardinal

The American birds can be very different than our own, the robin and the goldfinch particularly but the nuthatch, crow and wren are just as we find here in the UK and sadly we never get cardinals which are just my favourite of the birds shown here.

Male Cardinal

Salley says that "A needle is my tool, thread is my medium and stitches are my mark,"   which is a wonderfully lyric way to describe her stunning work. If you visit the website, on the 'About Me' page is an engaging video entitled Rabbitat which looks closely at her work, her methods and her style.

It is a pleasure to share this amazing needlewoman with you all and please visit her website for even more treasure.  My warmest wishes.

Goldfinch

Crow

A Grand Day Out - Bowes Museum, County Durham

A View of Bowes

What a day we had, the weather was wonderful, we were all in short sleeves it was so warm.  Bowes is an enchanting place to visit, the house itself is magnificent and stands proud on a hill surrounded by formal gardens.

It has all the amenities you come to expect now in a major tourist attraction.  Excellent shop and a lovely tea room serving most enjoyable lunches and afternoon tea - I can personally recommend the Red Velvet Cake, scrummy but, our real reason for visiting was the Yves Saint Laurent Exhibition - Eternal Style.

This is a major retrospective of the great man's work, featuring a host of originals, toiles, embroideries and design drawings. It was most enjoyable and surprising to find an exhibition like this outside London and I cannot hesitate to recommend this to anyone remotely interested in fashion or embroidery.

 All the great iconic images were there, the Mondrian Dress, the dresses inspired by Picasso and Matisse.  The trouser suits and embroidered jackets, the homage to Van Gough's Irises was just amazing to see.  It is a great collection.  The entrance is so atmospheric, the museum's wonderful marbles with black sheer fabrics in front that have copies of Saint Laurent drawings in white.  They have also married couture pieces with the historic clothing from the museum's own collection of costume to show how period pieces influenced major collections.

We were lucky enough to see Savage Beauty at the V&A in the summer, which was mind blowing.  Alexander McQueen growled and roared at you with his genius, there is no less genius with the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition but rather than growl it purrs at you and the word you think of is elegant - it is classic style.

 Should you wish to see this most excellent collection, the exhibition is open until 25th of October 2015. It is well worth the effort and of course you can visit the rest of Bowes and even see the Silver Swan that swims with little silver fishes up a river of glass rods, probably Bowes most famous piece. I have included just a couple of photos to whet your appetite, there are actually over fifty pieces in the exhibition plus toiles and sample pieces. The attention to detail is just stunning and some of the embroidery was breath taking.

....and if you manage to get to Bowes do try the Red Velvet Cake!

  

Friday Folksy Finds - Folk

My work has recently been described to me by a lovely American lady as Folk Art.  I had never thought about it like that and this led to my new banner and for me, a new way of thinking about what I like to do.  The new banner, Folksy banner and new business cards are all thanks to Becca, who said I needed 'branding' - so there you go.

Thinking along these lines, I have had a look for 'Folk' pieces on Folksy this week.  Some describe themselves as folk artists and others I have chosen to think of as folk art.  I hope you like them as much as I do.

Ali Bali Jewellery

I love this little silver bird and for me this is a quintessential folk image.  Many people make this little bird in fabric and felt but she has such charm here as a silver pendant. Ali Bali Jewellery is made by Alison Reid working out of Edinburgh.  There are some delightful pieces on her shop, check out the acorn and oak leaf, lovely.

Chris Hagan

I can tell you nothing about Chris Hagan but I adore the work.  It is based on American folk art and medieval beasts.  This is Angel Stag and comes as a limited edition print.  This is an illustration but has a strong collaged feel to it which I really enjoy.  There are some beautiful and unique prints in the shop and well worth a peep.

Dottery Pottery

Dottery Pottery is Sarah Duke Ceramics and there are a host of decorative delights on her shop page.  I think this little folk art apple is just adorable and I am sorely tempted for my new work space, but if your taste runs more to folk birds there is a great selection.  Very pretty and with a great finish with a real folk art feel.

Flossie Limejuice

Flossie Limejuice is owned and run by Shelagh Pickford and this talented lady has made some of my all time favourite items on Folksy over the years. This delightfully prim miss is Miss Muffet who is accompanied by her spider.  I am big fan of prim and a reader of PRIM magazine from Stampington. Miss Muffet would fit in with the American idea of super prim and I am sure she would go down a storm.  Primative folk art is huge in the states but check out Flossie Limejuice for more home grown folk art - love this lady's work.

Fir Tree Knitwear

For hand knits this is a great shop, lots of styles to chose from and very good prices.  I particularly like the socks, all kinds of folky patterns and so well done, but there are mittens, hats and scarves as well as a few homespun pieces.  Check it out for some well earned winter warmers.

Well these are my Folk Finds for this week, when you start to look there are a lot of folk artists out there making wonderful work.  I hope you enjoyed my selection and the warmest of wishes.

Tuesday Talent - The Quiet Revolution

Long Tailed Tit

 This a new section of my blog, every Tuesday I want to share an artist that I really enjoy.  This first week is London based illustrator Claire Skully whose work you can find at www.thequietrevolution.co.uk.

She is seen in galleries around London and has worked on many exciting and unusual commissions, that you can view on her website.

I find the detail of her bird pieces, which are part of the Bejewelled section of her site, just stunning.  I adore the fiddly detail and strong graphic elements of her work.  I feel that she can but the lines just as she wants them and that there is nothing arbitrary about her construction. They are some of the most original depictions of birds that I have seen recently.  Claire's Bird Roots, shown in the Nature Drawing sections of the site, is so subtle and so beautiful that I cannot tear my eyes away and keep following the lines to find hidden elements.  There are a series of these excellent drawings all different and wonderfully intricate.

Check out the website as there are a myriad of gems to visit, looking at the exhibition section you are amazed how big these intricate pieces are.  A real find and a site I will visit over and over.  Please enjoy.

Bird Roots

Blue Tit

A Welcome Return

It took a little longer to set up than expected but it's great to say hello again.  Becca got a first in her BA(Hons) in Contemporary Craft and is just about to start her MA in Ceramics back with Dave Binns at UCLan.  She has now taken over the cabin and made it her own and I have my little nook back in the house.

I am back to work now and getting my teeth into some commissions, some Christmas work and a project of my own with my perennial favourite 'birds' - long tailed tits at present.  I have wanted to make Bird Dolls for a while, not dolls shaped like birds but bird headed and winged dolls in little dresses. Got a bee in my bonnet about them and I want to work them out.

The idea is to use more embroidery on the dolls, which is what I trained to do and something I love working at.  I suppose I want to work to suit myself and less with a commercial eye. I am thinking seriously of applying to do a Masterclass Certificate with Tracy Franklin at Stitch Business in Durham, to get me back on track with all the ideas and designs in my head.  Still working with dolls but working on embroidery as well.

My change of location seems to have given me a change of perspective.  I will be writing regularly now, after such a long break, trying to share my work and ideas and the exhibitions and events we get to see.  Speaking of which, if you happen to be in Dartmouth - three hundred miles away from us - Becca is part of an exhibition called Rising Stars, at the Coombe Gallery. It's a showcase exhibition of selected graduates of 2015.  We are 'popping down' to see it in October but if you are in the area it is worth seeing.  All keep well and enjoy this autumn sunshine.