May 2009

It's lovely being in my workshop just now, lots to see as I look out of the

window.  Plenty of nests in the garden so lots of busy birds feeding their

young.  Speaking about birds, I had a busy start to the month when I was

asked if I could make straw finials for a roof that was being thatched.

Problem was that the thatchers were almost finished and they needed the

finials within the week.  The request was for a duck and two ducklings.  I

have never made a finial for a roof before but I was up for the challenge.

I spoke with a friend of mine, Amanda Davis, who is a thatcher and got some

good pieces of advice and then just had to go to it.  I surprised myself

with how much I really enjoyed working on these pieces and I found it very

difficult to pack the ducks away and get them posted off to Perthshire.

They have gone to a lovely place called Lochearnhead www.stayatbriar.co.uk

This month has been filled with commissions for all sorts of different items

which has kept me very busy.  I did manage a couple of days away in Galloway

where I visited their Spring Fling event, where I was able to go and visit

other artists and craftsfolk in their own studios.  Some very talented

people out there. I enjoyed meeting Lizzie Farey, willow worker, she has

some very new ideas which I find inspiring www.lizziefarey.co.uk.  I also

treated myself to a piece of pottery from Hannah McAndrew

www.thebarmpottery.co.uk

All too quickly I was home again and back into the workshop making pieces

for Taste of Grampian which takes place this Saturday, 6th June and then for

the rest of the month I will be plaiting like mad to get some stock together

for the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston which takes place later on in the

month.  I will also be at the Portsoy Boat Festival at the start of July so

another busy few weeks ahead.

April 2009

I can't believe we are into May already.  It's been a busy year and the bookings are coming in fast.  There seems to be a real interest at the moment in traditional, handmade products. The straw work fits into so many situations

from purely a decoration for your own home or gifts to give friends and family

to decorating venues for weddings, decorating shops, art galleries and museums. I think this is the best part of this job, not knowing which direction you will be going in next.

I spoke last month about Cathy Ward's exhibition for the Apex Gallery,Portsmouth.  The photograph here shows the finished pieces inside their Victorian Glass Domes.  If you want to see more then here are the links, www.catharyneward.com and www.ward-wright.com

I am taking part in the North East Open Studios event again in September.  As

well as having my studio open, I will be exhibiting at Art at St. Mary's in

Inverurie too.  Check out the website for times etc. www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk  At my own studio I will be on hand to give demonstrations during the event as well as letting you have a go for yourselves.  If you are keen to find out how to get started this craft then come along and find out during this event.  

If you can't wait until September then I'm demonstrating on 13th June at the

Tarves Heritage Project, Tarves, Aberdeenshire and again you will have the opportunity to have a go yourselves.  If you would like to organise a workshop with a few friends please get in touch.  One group who did just that was the Grampian Spinners, Weavers and Dyers Guild.  We had a lovely weekend last week learning lots of traditional plaiting as well as looking at some more contemporary ways of working with straw.

This week I had a request to make a roof finial for a thatched roof in

Perthshire.  This is something I have never done but hopefully next month I will

be able to show you a photo of the end result.  Watch this space!!

I'm also preparing for the Taste of Grampian event which is held on 6th June

near Inverurie. www.tasteofgrampian.co.uk This is a very busy event usually and a lovely day out.  Please say hello if you see me in the craft marquee.

March 2009

It's great to have the lighter evenings again and everything is growing fast

in the garden.  I love being in my workshop and watching all the goings on

with the wildlife.  The birds are very busy at the moment and their songs

are lovely.  My friendly frog has returned to the pond (well it is a

glorified bucket!!) and  the red squirrel is still coming to the bird table.

I have to keep reminding myself to get back to work!

I've had a very successful workshop this month with about 20 youngsters

between the ages of 8 and 16.  What a lot of talent we have in our young

people, it was a very enjoyable day.  I have also given a couple of talks to

different groups, I like spreading the word about the versatility of straw.

I have also been working on 7 designs for a London based artist, Cathy Ward, for an exhibition in the Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth.  Cathy designed her own pieces and I loved turning her ideas into pieces of straw work.  The photo is of one of the designs.  The exhibition is called Tender Vessels and is on

from 18th April - 14th June.

Details can be found here www.aspex.org.uk

I had a great craft fair at Airyhall, Aberdeen during March also.  The next one there will be a Christmas event (can you believe it)

Keep an eye on the website: www.aberdeencraftbazaar.co.uk.

Lots of different crafts and really nice, enthusiastic people.

Feb 2009

Working flat out at the start of the month meant that I finally got all the

pieces finished in time for London Fashion week.  In the photo you will see

a design that I usually make in straw but this time I made it in leather

with quite a nice effect.

No time for a break and I was onto my next commission, a few pieces for a display in a new bakery in Cumbria.  This was for the More? Artisan Bakery famous for it's award winning Muddees. www.moreartisan.co.uk

Then straight onto working for Mark Hearld, an artist from York.  The swag

in the photograph is one of the pieces I did for him for an exhibition in

the Scarborough Art Gallery, this exhibition runs through until early May.

I am amazed at how busy things are, the bookings are coming in for workshops

and for Fairs, keep an eye on my diary pages to find out what is on.

This is a lovely time of year to be out in my workshop.  The birds are very

busy and the garden is coming to life.  We had great excitement this month when we had a red squirrel come to visit the bird feeder just outside the workshop door, he has continued to come most days and stays for about an

hour each time.

Only problem is that it slows the work down a bit as I have to stop and watch.

Jan 2009

Well here is my January news from a very snowy Inveramsay.

What a fantastic start to 2009.  Usually January and February can be quiet months but certainly not this year.  I have been working flat out to

complete the order for J W Anderson, fashion designer, in London.  I am

almost at the end of it now. The photo this month shows over 100 acorns that I made for this order.

I have  been approached by two different artists this month to produce

pieces for their exhibitions in the coming months. I really enjoy the

challenge of working on something new and trying to convert  ideas that the artists have into straw is exciting. More news on this as I work on their pieces.

My pieces at The Creel Inn, Catterline will come down today, it has been

very successful exhibition. It is a good setting for the straw work.

The website continues to be busy, customers are now turning their thoughts to weddings and are now ordering horseshoes, favours etc in readiness of the big day.

The next few months are beginning to fill up with workshops, talks and demonstrations.  Dates for craft fairs are beginning to come in too.  Keep an eye on my diary page.