Working weekend

I've been down to the studio at the bottom of the garden to put the heating on. It's the first morning that I've really felt the chill in the air.  It's a peaceful space despite all the mess! I'm preparing myself for a busy few days as I finish getting everything ready for my exhibition, 'Patterned Presence' at Sock Gallery, Loughborough.  We set up on Tuesday, ready for the opening on Wednesday.

I'd like to say that I am calm, but I am not!  I have framing to finish, prints to mount and wrap.  I need to check the inventory, and I still have pieces to stitch and my 'Wow' piece to start and finish!  Now there's an admission!  Still, if it doesn't work out, maybe no one need ever know......

Sold!

Sunday at the Holmfirth Art Market was bustling with people enthusiastic about buying work and enjoying the creative buzz. My new print range was well received and cards and ceramics sold well.  The very talented ceramicist Karen Howarth, won best stall and with her winnings she bought the piece above, 'Hamlet'.  It's a part of the Yorkshire series that I have been working on and I'm very happy that it will live in Yorkshire.

I had a lot of interest in my workshops, and for those of you who were asking, all the details are now on my website.

Yesterday I was exhausted!  But the enthusiastic response I had to my work is all I need to get me through the last stages of preparations for my exhibition at Sock, Loughborough.

Tile commission

A lovely friend asked if I could turn one of my pieces into a set of tiles to be used as a panel in their new kitchen.  Here are the eighteen tiles, making a panel measuring 60 x 30 cm. I think they are going to look really effective.  I'll let you know what they look like in situ when they've made their journey to their new home.

Platters back in stock

I've just put these platters, still hot from the kiln, in my Folksy shop.  My ceramics are currently featured here and here and my work has been written about here.

Feeling the love

I've listed these coasters in my Folksy shop......hope you are feeling the love. xxxx

Folksy

Sun Ray coaster

One of my ceramic coaster tiles has been featured on the Folksy blog!  I've also been featured for Folksy Friday here.

Sun coaster tile

How exciting!

Derbyshire is covered in a lovely blanket of snow.  School is closed and we've been out with a flask of soup and a good old fashioned toboggan to see the deer at Wollaton Park.

Whilst I was out I nearly sold out of coasters in my Folksy shop!  It's going to take me a week to make some more.....so please be patient.

Hope it's snowy and beautiful where you are.  We've just lit the stove and have a bag of chestnuts to roast.  The boys are playing with lego and looking forward to snuggling up with books and a hot chocolate.  I've just got the box of winter books out that I store in the cupboard the rest of the year. 'Poppy Cat's Snowy Day' and 'Oliver's Red Toboggan' are favourites.  Sometimes the world of Soulemama seems a million miles from the chaotic roller coaster of our daily lives, but right now I could give her a run for her money!

Something I wanted to share was this.  Such beautiful piano music....perfect for watching the snow fall.

Welcome to the winter!

Leaf range

Chrysanthemum cup and saucer

Tree of Life ceramic coaster

My full range of ceramics is now available in my Folksy shop. I hope you find something you like. x

Holmfirth Art Market

Here is my stall at Holmfirth Art Market.  It was a whirlwind day.  My work was well received and I sold well, both original art work and from my new range of ceramics.  The event was superbly organised and well attended with a great retro feel provided by lashings of bunting and a 1940's and 50's music collection.  If only every Sunday could be so inspiring and enjoyable!

See the film here!

Sneaky peak

What a great pleasure it is to bring you a sneaky peak of the ceramics I will be launching at tomorrow's Holmfirth Art Market.  Hope to see you there!

V&A ceramics

I felt like a did a trolley-dash visit to the V&A.  I was so hungry for inspiration and found it at every turn of every corner.  I hadn't really expected to feel so excited by the ceramics.  I was greatly inspired by all the glazes which reminded me of the way the ink travels on my paper collages. I also remembered my Foundation tutor who suggested I pursue ceramics.

When I saw this charming article in World of Interiors I felt the inspiration to make bowls.  Irene Feesey has led a handmade life and her home is a gallery of her talents.  Her bowls are papier mache and I find them frail and beautiful.  I think my paper based work would lend itself to decorating a paper based bowl.  With this in mind I dined on ideas in the ceramics gallery.

I felt I wasn't the only designer to have been inspired by the ceramics.  World of Interiors also featured a new range of ceramics by Richard Ginori called 'Broken'.  She must surely have stood in front of the dish above.  It was a great gallery to be in; laid out so you could see through to the conservation areas and see work being prepared for display.

If 'transparency' is one of our era's buzz words, then theV&A has certainly become more transparent.  It is as if it has been turned inside out and all areas are now accessible.  As a visitor from outside London, I will certainly frequent the virtual gallery online and access information on the ideas behind the exhibitions. 

Also see:

Toki no Kumo