The Contemporary Craft Festival 2012

It already feels like ages ago, but this time last week I had just set up ready for the Contemporary Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey, Devon.

Steve very kindly made the dresser for me which really set the work off, though it weighed a ton and I don't fancy moving it too often!

Was all the hard work worth it? It certainly was....I had a cracking time, and lots of sales too!

What was especially nice (apart from lovely feedback and lots of customers despite wind and rain) was that it is fairly local to me, so there were lots of familiar faces....including a few from school which I hadn't seen in over 20 years!

As you can see from the website, the work was of a really high standard and was truly inspiring for exhibitors and customers alike! Hard to pick a favourite, but here are a few...

Beautiful ceramics in pretty colours by Suet Yi

Anya Keeley's stand was dream-like (couldn't resist this spoon fairy!)

Love Katrin Moye's intricate pattern and use of colour!

And Julia Jowett's wirework dolls were just exquisite.

Thanks to Sarah James and her team for organising such a fabulous event! I really hope I can take part again someday!

10 days to go!

Just checking in with a quick post, I am still beavering away making for the fair!

Plenty of red, white and blue....appropriately enough for this lovely long Jubilee weekend!

 

This jaunty lighthouse is made from driftwood and reclaimed nuts and is loosely based on the one on Plymouth Hoe...

 

More experimenting with text. The colour of the roofs above remind me of the orangey ones in St Ives, so I stamped "As I was going to St Ives" along the bottom....and given the piece some gorgeous blue "sea"

This little row is made from a leftover piece of oak beam we used above our fireplace...

...as was the one above. I have added a new detail: a little birdhouse!

...made from tiny bits of driftwood and a small rusty tack.

Lots of cottages and washing!

Another slightly bigger birdhouse with rusty metal roof.

Plus I have been pricing up stock, tying labels on bags and ordering postcards. I am delighted with these latest ones from moo.com

Well thats all for now. My next post will probably be after the fair, so I will make sure I take plenty of photos of my stand!

TTFN!

We all scream for ice cream!

I have been so busy these last couple of weeks, but it's only now as I sit down to write a blog post that I realised how much I have managed to get done (all for the Contemporary Craft Fair in 4 weeks time!)

I am starting to see cottages in my sleep!

I have my own model village in my studio!

This terrace fits nicely into a display hole in our lounge!

And an idea I had just this morning....it's a pub! Maybe called The Ship...

The sign is made from a tiny print of a painting by my favourite artist Alfred Wallis. I used sellotape over both sides to make it sturdier and to stick it onto the overhead nail.

I was lucky enough to find this perfect little bit of wood at the beach earlier in the week. It really didn't take much effort to turn it into a little boat. Less is sometimes more, don't you know?!

Do you recall the washed-up boat we discovered back here? We are still finding pieces from it on different beaches along the south coast of Cornwall. I decided to use this large piece (quite clearly part of a boat) for the basis of this large piece of work.

It has the same "slipway" as other bits I have used previously..

I love the subtle hues in the paintwork...and the crackleglaze makes it look like stonework.

I scratched a couple of ladders into the varnished section to break it up a little.

I also started experimenting with some text! I bought some metal letter stamps ages ago, but didn't really know at the time what I would use them for.

You may need to click on the above image to read the words!

"Promenade" is closely based on Preston seafront where 61A is located!

And lastly, a little driftwood terrace which takes its title from a Madness song!

Phew, I feel exhausted!! I may take the weekend off. I hope you have a great time, whatever you are doing!

Polperro

 Not an exact replica, you understand, but anyone who has visited the picturesque Cornish fishing village will know of its higgledy piggledy houses and quirky old bridges. I was completely led by the materials in this piece, mainly the large "bridge" part, with its cut-out bit (exactly as I had found it on the beach!)

 I added steps and a slope on either side of the bank, and a piece of wood with several layers of blue peeling paint serves as the river.

 It was only after I had attached all the houses that I realised that should the inhabitants step out of their front doors, they might get a bit wet! But asthetics won over practicalities in the end!

 I have been making lots of cottages (only 5 weeks or so until the Contemporary Craft Festival - eek!)

This one is a bit special, as it has a rusty tin roof (again, exactly as I found it - holes and all)

 

And finally, it is my mums birthday tomorrow. She has had so many cards from me these last 4 decades, I worry about giving her the same thing twice, so I set about something new this morning. Following the new camper van and caravan designs, the next stop is the ice-cream van!

I hope she likes it. I may add it to my range later in the year.

Thanks for reading and for all your lovely comments lately!

Church Street

Just a short post this evening, I only wanted to show you something I made this afternoon...

A little driftwood street, complete with its own church!

I have actually had this L shaped piece for quite some time....just waiting for the right time to use it!

The hole (which I am imagining is the bell tower) was there already: the cross I made from two rusty tacks, bound together with metallic thread.

But the most interesting thing about this sculpture is the long piece along the bottom. I have quite a few bits like this: it is hardwood, with lovely rounded corners. Can you guess what it was part of originally?

Can you guess now?!

Yep, it was a deckchair! I think I am going to keep it this way around, just to make it a little bit more interesting!

Delamore Exhibition

Exciting times lie ahead! Next month, I have a couple of collages in an exhibition! This is a pretty big deal for me, as I haven't been involved in an exhibition since my degree show....18 years ago! That makes me feel VERY old! The annual exhibition is run by Delamore Arts, it runs throughout May, and judging by the website it is going to be a cracker. I dropped my work off last week, and the grounds alone are beautiful: the magnolia trees are in blossom and there will be various sculptures on display in the gardens, as well as a whole variety of delights inside the house.

I have 2 pieces on show: this one of Mevagissey

...and another of St Michael's Mount.

 It'd be nice if someone bought one!

If you are in the area (Ivybridge, South Devon) I recommend you check it out! Details are on their website.

Meanwhile, I have been making more cottages

...and lighthouses....

 

...and here is a present I made for my sister-in-law! Driftwood and acrylic on canvas.

Also, I just took delivery of some new greetings cards today. They are all from my original collages, including the ones in the exhibition. They are available to buy from my website. 

Thats all for now folks! Have a great week!

Happy Easter

Leaving it (typically) to the last minute, yesterday I made...

...some tiny driftwood birdhouses...

...some teeny beach huts...

...and decorated some polystyrene eggs with the boys...

...and ta-da!! We have an Easter tree!!
Hope you all have a great Spring break!