Sun & rain

Although we had the wrong kind of weather today, we still managed to produce some great sunprints. Jane, Anne, Louise and Louisa joined me for Cyanotype Essentials at my studio. I never ceases to fascinate me how a group of people given the same materials will create such different outcomes and I love the way we all work so differently... I suppose that is one of the reasons I teach.

I am having a little break from workshops for a brief period as the workshop planned for Harewood House next week is being postponed until later in the year. I hope to be updating the website soon with some further dates in Saltaire.

Fading / shimmering

a tissue of vague shapes

playing shadows

fleetingly illuminated

Patches

Patching together fragments of memories - moments in time.

Actually feeling quite happy with how this work is developing.

I couldn't quite explain it but suddenly realised that sometimes when you spend a long time fighting to find the right thing it just happens without thinking... and that's okay!

Spinning the web

Well I have spent a good deal of tinker time on this but finally I have managed (fingers crossed) to put my online shop together. You can now buy my cyanotype weed postcards online. I am hoping all the web magic works okay so please let me know if you spot anything odd.

If you pop over to my website you may also spot I have a couple of new workshops listed. There are five places on each so it's first come first served.

Playing with sunshine and shadows

On the way to the studio today I dawdled to play in the shadows, which cheered me up after a bad week.

This weekend I will be joined by a couple of other folks to play with making prints using sunshine and shadows. It should be the perfect weather for it.

In search of the sun

Not much sun but still making sun prints.

Some beautiful weeds discovered on the streets of Saltaire.

Postcards from Saltaire

These are some of the little postcard prints I have been making ready for Saltaire Arts Trail, which is just a couple of weeks away now. I am hoping to create one hundred prints, but we shall see...

These little cyanotype prints are all made using 'weeds' from around the World Heritage Site of Saltaire village and will create both individual snapshots of place and time, and as a group, a kind of map of Saltaire flora.

Come along and see how many I manage to make during my special open studio event, 25th-27th May.

Some might call them weeds

I have been working on some little cyanotype prints that will be on sale at the Bowery during the exhibition. They are all printed using plants I find growing in the cracks of the pavement or by the side of the road, I suppose you might call them wayside plants or some folks might call them weeds. To me they are exquisite and worthy of more detailed inspection.

I will also be developing a special series of prints to exhibit in my studio as part of Saltaire Arts Trail ... more on that another day.

Studies in blue and white

Work in progress.

Blending colour and cloth with stitch.

Specimens

Representing hope and new life.

If you would like to have a go at creating cyanotypes like these I will be running a taster session on 27th April. Or to learn the full process and experimental techniques the Cyanotype Weekend course runs 8th-9th June 2013. Book online or contact me direct.

Abundance

Contemporary Botanical Embroidery

Observing, drawing, making marks, stitching... thanks to Jasmin, Sara, Sharon and Cath for joining me this afternoon, it was lovely to have your company.

... hope you enjoyed the cake too.

Review, Reflect, Revisit

Returning to some old work I am reminded that my practice has gone full circle, returning to themes and processes I explored as a student.

Autumn florals

I still have a couple of places available for next Saturday's 'Contemporary Botanical Embroidery' workshop. If you fancy spending the day stitching and observing plants forms please get in touch.

Preparing

 

... for a Cyanotype Taster workshop at my studio this Saturday. I am feeling pretty excited about teaching the first workshop in my own studio.

Roses from Rosemoor

Beautiful and too good to waste, at RHS garden Rosemoor in Devon I found these huge bags of deadheaded roses and prunings.

Rose petals, leaves and marigold petals to go into a fabric bundle.