Textile Illustration

house keeping

2012-01-14T13:46:00.000Z

Happy New Year to you all!

Firstly, I just want to say many thanks for reading the blog during 2011 and I hope that you will continue to dip in and out as you please this year. I'm feeling particularly good about 2012, it's got a good vibe about it already, twenty twelve, twothousand and twelve, feels nice flowing off the tongue. I'm strangly comforted that it's an even number as well.

I thought I would start with a little reflection and fulfilling a promise I made to share with you the commission I undertook at the start of December, at long last here are the promised photos of the double trouble commission I was working on before Christmas. I do apologise for the delay, but I think I can be forgiven being caught up in the little festive season of Christmas and the New Year!

So here's "Sydney Harbour"

and "St.Ives Harbour" (Cornwall, Uk)

I'm delighted with the finished results. I feel that I've upped my game with the level of detail, scale and perspective in each piece. I'm especially pleased with the quality of the stitching in the Sydney piece, the bridge was a real challenge and it had to be perfect, I only had one go at those cable lines and they had to be straight! I don't use pencil lines for guides and so stitched free hand.

Trying to capture in fabric such a recognisable landmark as the Opera House was a concern, the iconic sail like roof tops in particular presented a unique visual puzzle. By using different white on white or white on cream patterned fabrics I was able to suggest successfully the different angles and shadows on the roof line.

My favourite aspect of the "St.Ives" piece is the overall colour palett used reflecting the pelucide light that has drawn artists to the town for centuries. The quiet and subtle colours all suggest the sun's warmth caught in the fisherman cottages that line the harbour town.

My next project is another commission. The client wants a textile illustration of Crantock Beach here in Cornwall. They saw a piece I made last year (below) of a line of washing overlooking the sunkissed beach and really liked it, so i'm going to do another piece specfically for them without the washing, and possibly from a different view point. I love the research stage of a project and can't wait to get out there and sketching!


"Crantock Beach" (c) C.Rowe 2011

Thank you again for reading. I hope you have a wonderful year.

Happy stitching, Cat x

one or two things

2011-12-03T22:43:00.001Z

Firstly, the double trouble commission is coming along nicely and i'm really pleased with how they are both taking shape, in fact i've very nearly finished, just the few final touches tomorrow and I should be there.

In the meantime I thought you might like to know that during advent i'm having a little giveaway over on my website. With every order placed during December I'm giving away one of my little cupcake or birdie brooches as a small thank you to all my customers and followers through out this past year.

It's something new, but something nice I can do for you!
Happy Stitching this weekend
Cat x

oh heck!

2011-11-24T22:38:00.000Z

My next challenge is a double commission. The client lives here in the UK but is from Australia and wants a pair of textile illustrations as a Christmas gift. The first picture is of the Syndey Opera House, it's partner picture is of a subject much closer to home and is of St. Ives in Cornwall (almost down the road from me).

The opera house is going to be the tricky one, all those gorgeous folded sail-like roof tops, it's going to be a real challenge but one i'm looking forward to tackling, but keep your fingers anyway!
I'm going to make the outline drawing tomorrow and make the pattern up so I start the piecing on Saturday.
I'll definately keep you posted on how it progresses.

Happy Stitching

Cat x

winter warmers

2011-11-01T18:11:00.000Z

Recently I have been doing a bit of housekeeping on my website. I have to admit it has been rather neglected in recent months, but as Christmas approaches I wanted to tidy it up for any visitors that may pop by. This leads me onto my Christmas grotto on the site, somewhere all those Christmas themed cards, patterns and brooches can live in harmony with each other.

I am delighted that after a month or so of work on my Christmas designs that they have been printed and were delivered to the studio last Friday. Possibly for about a hour I was more excited that they were delivered rather than having collect them, which would have involved trekking across the County in my car during half term week. So a big thank you to Mr Printer for making that happen.

The designs were inspired by Scandinavian winters and Christmas decorations and I include them below.

Starry Night, C.Rowe 2011

Peaceful Wishes, C Rowe 2011

Both designs are available to buy on my webiste in packs of 10, (5 of each design) so have a look here if you're interested.

My next step is to keep tidying up the site, there's still lots more to do, I want to add several new products including new patterns, brooches and kits. Remove any dull bits and replace with sparkly fresh text so visitors always have something interesting to read.

Thanks for stopping by and happy Autumn to you all.

Cat x

working on inspiration

2011-09-30T13:38:00.004+01:00

Its a month to the day since I posted last and I have felt blogging guilt for not doing so. I have wanted to post sooner but as you know other stuff happens like life, family, friends and other art commitments. Plus I still haven't got into the swing of writing everyday, something that I hope will develop over time.

I also don't want to post for posting-sake, i'd like to think that however small each entry on my blog it has its merit and reason for being there.

I am working on something though. It's a collection and I'd like to get outside and take some more pictures. Photograph other things that don't just live in my studio (not the creepy crawly kind), although I do have a rather large spider behind the plan chest. He's so big I think I might have to give him a name.

Until after the weekend.

Cx

from the sketchbook 2

2011-08-30T19:23:00.005+01:00

Here are a few more pages from my reclaimed molskin sketchbook. A collaged combination of maps, pictures, drawings, text and fabrics all stitched together on my trusted Bernina sewing machine. I'm quite pleased with these and how they came together. I really love the palett of colours and textures, all evocative of summer holidays, short getaways and escaping to the coast.

joy of the everyday

2011-08-24T18:40:00.003+01:00

I'm feeling freshly motivated and joyful for the small inconsequential things that we encounter each day. Things like...

Freshly baked victoria sponge cake,

New sketchbooks,

Lawns,

Table linen,

Coconut rice,

Bank holiday weekends,

Sparkly light shining through leaves,

Sea charts,

Old photographs,

Egg cups,

Spoons.

cheep cheep

2011-07-19T12:03:00.001+01:00

I'm now on twitter, now this expeirment will be interesting! follow me @ catrowetextiles.

sew enchanting

2011-07-18T15:31:00.004+01:00

This weekend i've been teaching a Textile Illustration workshop at Sew Enchanting, the cutest patchwork, quilting and knitting shop in Ashburton, Devon.

Sandwiched inbetween a gorgeous Lingerie and Clothing Boutique. I love the look of the little row of shops, the paint colours, bay trees and the line of bunting outside. The workshop is above the shop and is the perfect space for small classes.

The view up West Street from Sew Enchanting. Ice cream anyone?

open studios

2011-05-31T13:50:00.007+01:00

A few photographs from the open studios this week. For once it's looking very clean and tidy.

open night

2011-05-29T11:03:00.007+01:00

Pictures from the Private view of my Open Studio week:

Such lovely folk!

Lots of nibbles and glasses of wine.

Lovely, you can't beat a string of brightly coloured bunting to cheer a place up!

More art anyone?

My studio is open all week 28th-5th June, 10am- 5pm except the 2nd June until 7pm.

2011-05-15T19:34:00.007+01:00

Friends are brilliant.

Especially those who love to write letters. Four such wonderful letters arrived all together here at the studio.

I wanted to share how goregous they all looked once i'd opened them up. (I even love their envelopes).

This handmade card was made by my very talented friend Fiona. Her cards are wonderful and I have a treasured collection.

Sometimes things get a little tough and it was at one of these moments that these dropped through my post box. Reassuring words and packets of postive messages the timing was perfect. The amount of thought and care that goes into writing a good letter cannot be appreciated enough.

They went straight up on my pin board as they made me so happy.

Thank you x

open studios

2011-05-06T15:49:00.006+01:00

The Garden Party (c) C.Rowe 2011

What have I been doing since the end of March.... really no posts in April, what happened to my aim of at least one a month?
Work mainly. I had to hit the studio hard with some long hours of work on the lastest Birthday card range for Art Press and I've been working on two new series of work, two, yes two, it felt right and happened quite naturally. I didn't realise how busy it would make me! Oh yes and I managed to fit in a trip to Paris and London where I took SO many photographs my camera and I were fit to burst with excitement, but that's a post for another day.

These two new series of work started from drawing lots of pictures of gardens, flowers, plants, greenhouses, ponds and gardening tools and living where I do in Cornwall the seaside just crept in, as it always does, so the result is two series running along side each other. Some just feature gardens but others are of the Cornish coastline with subtle hints of gardens in them, the odd agapanthus plant, bench or hedgerow.

This work will be showcased during Cornwall's Open Studio event at the end of this month.

Open Studios Cornwall is in it's 7th year and has over 200 artists, across all art disciplines, taking part. It runs for one week at the start of each summer, 28th May - 5th June, and sees artists throw open the doors to their studios.

It is a marvellous opportunity to meet the artists behind the work, see where, and sometimes, how it's made, dicuss their influences and inspirations and buy the work directly from them, an enriching experience for both artist and art lover.

The Open Studio event really showcases the best art that Cornwall has to offer, breaking the mould of traditional Cornish art with an electic range of contemporary work from a diverse pool of resident artists. The unique event is the brain child of Creative Skills and takes art lovers on a tour of unseen Cornwall, from remote cottages and chapels to beach side studios and historic buildings often away from the well trod tourist path.

This is my 3rd yr taking part in Open Studios and it's the highlight of my year. It really is a wonderful opportunity to meet people who are interested in what I make. It can be very daunting opening up my studio space to complete strangers, but everyone who has visited me here at the studio has been lovely and always so full of enthusiam. I have started to build up real personal relationships with those who have bought my work, making so many wonderful new friends, something that doesn't happen when you sell through galleries.

My opening times this year are: 28th May - 5th June, 10am - 5pm, except the 2nd June until 7pm.

Find the studio here via my website

It would be lovely to see you if you can make it.

C x

just the card

2011-03-25T15:58:00.003Z

My creative endeavour this week which i'm sharing with all those amazing folk at kootoyoo, has been involved in the making of my next range of occasion cards for the fantastic card company Art Press, who are truely eccentric about art! I've been designing for them for the last year and it has been a really wonderful experince and I feel very lucky to work with them.

Busy Baby Days (c) Rowe 2010

I feel like i've climbed another mountain today and i've actually added the beautiful Occasion cards that i've designed to my website.

Tiny Pitta Patta (c) C. Rowe 2010

I've designed and am in the middle of making the next range right now, but felt so excited about the one's that have already been published I wanted to share the moment!
I promise to post more photographs of my current work, but you know how it is when your camera is in another place in the house to you, you've a freah mug of coffee to hand and your chair is really too comfy to leave!

my creative space

2011-03-17T17:20:00.018Z

Having a back up plan .... my creative space as pictured above, is this week void of my sewing machine, which is being serviced, nothing unusual i'm glad to say. It wasn't making funny noises or missing stitches, it's just gone in for an annual service to keep it healthy, running smoothly and all things ship shape and tickety boo.

But it has meant that i've got to use my trusty older Bernina. This is where it lives in my studio full time I don't pack it away, it's always out, just in case. It has it's own spot light, thread box and tool kit.

Here is a close up of the little shelves I use for all it's bits and pieces, it could do with a lick of paint. Perhaps that'll be next week's project. Don't you just love kilner jars! These ones here have my precious collection of prized pearl buttons in them.

This is the space where my usual Bernina sits, gazing out across the table top of fabrics to it's older counterpart in the distance.

I couldn't resist putting up a few pics of the bright cotton reels and fabrics in the studio. They all look so yummy together, I could actually just sit and tidy them up all day, arranging them into different classifications.... dark to light, spots, stripes, florals, geometric, vintage, new..... the options are endless. Rows of potential projects!

For more wonderful creative spaces and inspiration go over to kootoyoo. A truely wonderful place where crafty folk meet each week to share their latest projects and inspiration.

Happy stitching.

Cat x

from the sketchbook

2011-03-03T13:18:00.014Z

This week i've been keeping it small. Time just seems to fly past and i'm always trying to find ways to capture the moments, minutes and ideas that might just make the basis for a great piece of work.

It's also been ages since I posted any of my sketchbok pages and thought it would be nice to share some today.

The pages are taken from my pocket sized notebook (3 1/2 inches x 5 1/2 inches) an old molskine diary that I chopped up once it became out-of-date. Bound a selection of new pages of my favorite watercolour paper (300gms rough) and re-housed them in the old covers of the molskine diary.
I found this way of recycling and reusing notebooks to be a really satisfactory way of guaranteeing the perfect sketchbook. They feel and sit perfectly in my hands and fit like a dream into their own pocket inside my handbag.

I always label my notebooks and sketchbooks clearly, I would hate to loose one. So each one has my name, address and number in the front. I always date them too, I love knowing when I strted one and when I finish it. They sometimes live with me for so long, they become best friends and witnesses to everything, some of it will inevitably end up in their pages.

Lists, i'm forever writing them! I find they help make sense of everything that i've got to do and i'm able to prioritise work and ideas.

Oh! The wonderful Japanese MT tape, an incredible range of multi coloured and decorated masking tape. Looking at the little rolls together in their box just makes me happy! I think if you just google that, a list of suppliers in your country should appear. It took me ages to find a UK supplier and I know there are several now.

Doodles: a very important part my sketchbooks, I'm forever just jotting down ideas and pictures, they don't have to be wonderful or beautiful, just help me to remember what tickled my fancy or caught my eye!

If you have any questions or suggestions to help capture those moments then please feel free to email or post below.

Happy Sketching,

Cat x

from the studio

2011-02-23T15:24:00.010Z

So this week I can happily announce that the little jars are full!

Each jar contains all the fabric someone needs to make each deisgn. Each comes with the pattern, full instructions, pattern pieces and stitch guide as well as enough fusible webbing. They really are a labour of love.

My next task is to upload them onto the website with nice descriptions and great photographs. So in preparation i've been playing around with my camera and some of the made-up jars and have taken some fun shots. I'm just trying to be a little bit more creative with my photography as well as creating informative pictures I want them to tell a story, entice you to look closer at their contents.

I felt a little like David Bailey positioning them in my windowsill, i'm sure I got a handfull of funny looks from my neighbours but I choose that window as it is well lit, flat (it helps, Cornish Cottages are known for their lack of straight walls) and painted white, the perfect neutral space in which to take photos.

I really am passionate about these little fellas, they are such a great way to help kick start your creative impulses. Just a quiet nudge in the right direction, learning a new skill and encouraging your artistic endeavours too. It's a win win situation!

All of the designs are available as Patterns only if you decide you've got enough fabric at home already, I know i've got enough to insulate a loft! All of the above can be found on my website textile illustration.

textile illustration workshop at cowslip

2011-02-22T18:13:00.009Z

Towards Launceston and the castle.

This weekend I had the pleasure of teaching a workshop at Cowslip workshops in Launceston, Cornwall. Set a little outside the town Cowslip's views back across the valley are stunning and I always find lots of new things to inspire me. From the fanstastic flavours of soup served in the organic cafe or the fabulous selection fabrics available from the shop it is always a delight to come back time and time again.

Everywhere you look there is something to attract your attention, from teapots and old boots used as plant pots to small white bird boxes hung from beams and branches.

Cowslip Quilt (c) Jo Colwill

This weekend's students were fabulous and I always feel that it's a real pleasure and privilage to lead a workshop here. It's a joy to meet such lovely people who all share a passion for textiles and fabric.

I definately recommend a visit!

my creative space

2011-02-10T16:38:00.006Z

Creative space at Kootoyoo,

I thought i'd join in this week and post what i've been up to and share my space with creative folk around the globe.

My life has been full of spure-of-the-minute moments today. Random meetings in the middle of the supermarket, family and friends, little ones and cake (everywhere) and strangest tasting tea (I'm sure it was meant to be earl grey!). But isn't that what life is, the best laid plans of mice and men?

'My creative space' therefore looks entirely different to how I'd imagined it would look when I came to share it with you. This is the nuts and bolts of my studio, tiny pieces of fabric, out of control and trying to be tamed!

This weeks mission has been to make up more Applique kits of my textile illustrations, these kits are fantastic as starter projects or as a helpful nudge in a creative direction. Packaged in simple kilner jars they really are scrumptious things, and look more like jars containing sweeties than pieces of fabric.... well who can resist sweeties!

So I should be further on with them than I am, but hey, I've had a great day and enjoyed lots of wonderful company and i'm still smiling!

Happy Stitching!

appliqué patterns

2011-01-28T11:58:00.007Z

I'm delighted that at last I can announced that I've got going, done some work, and have finally listed my collection of applique patterns. The whole collection of five designs are all influenced and inspired by Cornwall, the coastline, it's seaside and it's countryside lifestyle.
Also included in the range are two gorgeous interior views, one with vases of hedgerow flowers and the other of afternoon tea with cake! There's nothing quite like a good cup of tea and a slice of chocolate cake with sprinkles!
All the patterns can be found and purchased through my website: www.textileillustration.co.uk

The next addition to the webshop will be the lovely Applique Kits which all come come packaged up beautifully in glass kilner jars. They all look too nice to open and use, more like sweeties in a jar than fabric.

splish splash

2011-01-23T10:32:00.008Z

Some nice cheerful colour for January.

Ooh there's something so satisfying about new painting materials, brushes, paper, paints. It's been nice to sit down and splosh paint about. I've been really drawn to bright colours this week, perhaps that's all to do with the short days of winter and craving a bit of yellow sun!

I've been really inspired by some good old colourful paintings too, above is one of the big disk paintings of Patrick Heron, (Forteen Discs 1963). As well as the gorgeous birds of Artist Barbara Karn (see yesterday's post).

Roll on longer days and spring!

something bright for the month of January

2011-01-22T23:10:00.003Z

Meet 'Floozy', she's a bright and beautiful bird! Just what's needed for the dark grey depths of January.

Painted by Barbara Karn (www.barbarakarn.co.uk) Floozy has a bunch of equally gorgeous and exuberant feathery sisters and I urge you to look at the full collection on the fabulous website listed above.

I can cope with the bright crisp cold days of winter, just not so well with the rainy ones, but with something as attractive as Floozy on my wall i'm sure the dreary days will just fly by!

all the lights

2011-01-05T16:14:00.004Z

It's the twelfth day of Christmas and all the decorations have come down and have been packed away in boxes for another year. This also includes some of my fairy lights, but I cannot relinquish them all.
I came across these gorgeous photos of some lights on the very talented Irene Suchocki blog, eye poetry. Her photographs capture the simple beauty of strings of small white lights so eloquently, and far better than my words ever could. So here's a new year's cheer to all things enchanting, and to strings of little fairy lights left up all over the world for yet another year!

yummy things

2010-12-17T12:29:00.006Z

I've recently bought the most fantastic double sided wrapping paper from a gem of a local gift shop Gift, I've subsequently had a look at the company's website and it's full of truely scrumptious things. Check their blog out here: House Doctor. I can't wait to use the wrapping paper for friends and family's presents this year, I always love wrapping presents up as much as I love making or buying the gift itself.

on the highstreet

2010-12-06T19:18:00.004Z

This is a picture of me taken on Sunday holding one of my Christmas cards in my local branch of Waterstones, I've finally arrived on the highstreet! You can see some more of my textile illustrated designs along the front row of the display rack (by my knee). The card in my hand is one of my all time favorites, and of course it's a robin! This cheeky chap is stood ontop of an old fashion postcard with a sprig of mistletoe in his beak.

An enlargement of the Post-Robin in question!

More of my Christmas designs are available through my website or through Art Press.

christmas card designs 2010

2010-11-05T11:06:00.006Z

My Christmas cards have finally arrived, Yipee!

I'm delighted with the way the two designs have turned out. The first is a rather cheeky chappie, a robin sat ontop of his own watering can waiting for the snow to arrive. The second is a delightful stocking stuffed full of parcels, ready to be opened on Christmas morning.

I absolutely love Christmas, spent with family and friends and enjoying mulled wine in front of a roaring fire and these two pictures, made in my usual style with tiny pieces of fabric stitched together, remind of all those things.

Now for the sales bit! The cards are available to buy from my website in packs of ten cards, five of each design or as single cards. I hope that if you do buy a pack you'll enjoy sending them to friends and family as much as I have enjoyed making them.

beautiful buttons

2010-10-01T18:38:00.008+01:00

I am just so in love with these gorgeous reindeer buttons from Australia. They are lazer cut and carefully hand painted, hand painted! They are so small, the details on them are minute I totally admire the skill and the patience of the person who made these fantastic creatures. What's more there is a whole range of wonderful buttons to adorn your craft projects with from birds and bees to houses and dovecotes.
These little beauties came from a local craft shop, Coast and Country Crafts and Quilts. But i'm sure you can find them on the web. I'll keep you posted when I do!
I'm not sure what i'm going to do with them yet, probably prop them up on my table and look at them adoringly for a few weeks until I decide.

stationery heaven

2010-09-29T09:44:00.007+01:00

My "Congratulations on your New Baby Card" is now for sale on Paperchase's new website.

I'm so excited that it's been picked and represented on their site. I love Paperchase and have to go into any branch I come across. I love their main flagship store on the Tottenham Court Rd in London inparticular as it has three floors of the most fabulous selection of cards, sketchbooks, notebooks, wrapping paper and general stationary supplies, I love it all and now I'm part of it, be it a very small part.

Here is my card for sale in one of their stores!

I even have to go into their small platform-side booth at Paddington Station before I board any train home just to make sure I have plenty of supplies for my creative activities on the journey home to Cornwall.

getting the hang of things

2010-09-28T16:01:00.004+01:00

Since breaking my wrist for the second time this summer I've tried to be good and keep a left-handed only sketchbook endeavouring to do little creative 'somethings' each and every day.

However I have been slack at keeping up with it. I have found it hard at times not being able to do the things I would normally do with my right hand (mark making that would be second nature), and although this leads to interesting and exciting work, really there is no excuse for not doing something!

I have started another tiny sketchbook, a spiral bound 4x4inch 'pink pig', in which i've tried to capture bits and pieces from our French holiday.

Mimosa August 2010 (c)C.Rowe

I've started here with a little sepia pen illustration of the house we stayed in and the dates of our holiday. It needs colour now and i'll probably have to refer to my photographs, of which I took lots so that should be straight forward.

I have also made lots of little collages from the pictures I took, postcards collected and other bits and pieces saved. It's a more achievable form of art work at the moment and I get a lovely sense of accomplishment in creating smaller pages. I just loved the colour this outhouse door was painted, just so French and elegant in a shabby chic kind of way. The whole house was scrumptious and very inspiring to stay in. I felt very fortunate and it was just a shame not to have made many drawings or paintings out there.

Festival of Quilts

2010-08-21T15:18:00.003+01:00

A selection of the purchases I made at the Festival of Quilts this week. What a show and wow so many wonderful new traders to buy fabrics, threads, buttons, trims and work from. I've come back brimming full of ideas and new projects.... must finish off some of the half started/half completed quilts first!

handmade

2010-07-29T14:46:00.005+01:00

I came across this great website, online magazine and blog dedicated to making all things Handmade. The magazine is full of beautiful images and really useful information, as well as connecting makers. It helps with advice and resources for it's members, and promotes the handmade online.

What a fantastic find!

le jardin

2010-07-16T18:07:00.010+01:00

Just a few photographs taken today in the garden. It never fails to inspire, sculptural, fresh, tactile and it has the most stunning palette of colours, I adore it.

The onions have gone to seed.

Sweet peas and honeysuckle.

Poppy heads and artichokes.

left handed life 2

2010-07-14T15:39:00.004+01:00

Sweetpeas from the garden 10.7.10
Agapanthus 10.7.10

More drawings using my left hand, mostly flowers again i'm afraid but they are so bright and cheerful and seem so forgiving! I've tried drawing things with harder lines and edges but they all appear as if they've been drawn on a boat in a force 8 gale!

left handed life

2010-07-06T16:30:00.004+01:00

Two weeks ago yesterday I broke my right (drawing hand) wrist and have been in a cast since. After the shock of not being able to use my right hand to do any of the things i'd usually do, having taken for granted these things for 29 years, i've been learning to use my under-used left side (I have most definately been right sided dominant).

It has been the most unusual and frustrating experience, marks, lines, shading that I would have normally expected to or were used to making using my right hand I couldn't reproduce with my left. I have had to go back to nursery school and learn to write and draw all over again.

Until I can cut up fabric again with a pair of scissors ( I could go out and buy a left-handed pair) i'm just sticking to practicing and playing with pen and ink.

The images above are my first attempts at drawing and colouring with my left hand... it's been akward, annoying and very frustrating but some how rewarding in the end as I hope through the process of using my left side more, to become a more even and balanced creative person.

new designs

2010-06-18T10:36:00.004+01:00

http://www.art-press.co.uk/id5.html

My latest range of Birthday designs for Art Press have just been launched including these rather delightful designs. Bunting, cakes and floaty dresses form the basis of these femine and girly cards!

donna wilson

2010-06-04T11:35:00.003+01:00

http://donnawilsonsblog.blogspot.com/

This woollen maze by Designer Donna Wilson is fabulous. So tactile and colourful, my five year old self just wants to go crazy and run around it! Having only taken up knitting recently this piece really appeals to my magpie eyes. It's definately inspired another scarf (which is all I can make at the moment!).

studio photos

2010-06-03T13:01:00.004+01:00

The good luck tea cup and saucer from my sister. I like how the paint chart on the wall behind it looks like a Cornish flag, feels appropriate.

I love the yellow of these fresh tulips, they always make a room look so cheerful. I think they look lovely against the backdrop of my framed textile art works.

Another shot of the studio festooned with fresh flowers. I adore the pink and yellow combination of tulips and lilies, why does this combination always seem to work?

cornwall today feature

2010-05-22T11:03:00.003+01:00

I'm delighted that my work is featured in this month's (June's edition) of Corwall Today on the Cornish Cravings page. The feature is focusing on Artist's and Craftsmen that are taking part in Open Studios at the end of May, beginning of June. It's a lovely little write up about my textile illustrations and when my Studio is open to the public.

"Seaside Special
Cornish beaches and harbours are captured brilliantly in the textile illustrations and collages by Redruth based Cat Rowe. She draws on a range of media, from fabric and paper to stitches and ink, to add a host of charming detail that is instantly reminiscent of coastal life. Framed work is available alongside a range of limited-edition prints and cards.
Falmouth Harbour II, £95. Exhibiting at Studio 1, The Lofts, Gweal Pawl, Redruth, TR15 3AN. Open May 29th - June 6th from 11am to 5pm, late night opening Thursday until 8pm. For more details, www.textileillustration.co.uk"

delicious new designs

2010-05-19T22:35:00.003+01:00

St.Ives, Still Life. (c) C.Rowe 2010

My new card designs have arrived! Hot off the press there are five designs in the range and all have wonderfully domestic and cheerful themes to them.

All are available to buy on my website www.textileillustration.co.uk , i'm really delighted with them, you can definately can see the influence of all those days spent by the seaside in Cornwall.

still lives

2010-05-17T21:49:00.009+01:00

There is something so very charming and lovely about a nice flower arrangement on a windowsill, preferably with a lemon or cup and saucer in the foreground. Perhaps with some small items of everyday life arranged as well.

These are some of my favorites at the moment.

Winifred Nicholson, "Flowers in a Jam Jar", c.1928

Gwen John, "A Corner of the Artist's Room in Paris".
Michael Coutts, "Spring Light"

outside the studio

2010-05-13T11:36:00.006+01:00

It's all looking nice outside my studio today. I now have two lovely blue pots of plants just outside my front door. Agapanthus (my absolute favorites), a palm, hostas, a type of daisy and strawberries (I had three last year). It really cheers the place up and will be a welcome sight for visitors during Open Studios week.
It's a nice spot in which to enjoy a coffee first thing in the morning. The sun warms this little area up and for a couple of hours is a very charming place.

open studios in three weeks

2010-05-09T18:03:00.003+01:00

The website is live. check.
Cards are at the printers. check.
Private View invitations are ready to send. check.
Leaflets and posters are ready. check.
Frames are on order. check.

Work is in progress......

blossom

2010-05-06T10:11:00.012+01:00

I took these photos of an apple tree in blossom this week. I've always loved this time of year when everything is blooming and life is springing up all over the place. The petals all look so delicate and charming and this year i've learnt of a Japanese tradition called Hanami, when a picnic is taken under the blossom of an apple or cherry tree. The idea of this really caught me and i've been looking out and spoting trees in bloom since.

Perhaps because spring flowers are all so pretty and come in such a graceful pallet i've found these influences creeping into my recent work and i've just finished a set of new greeting cards which I hope to post later this week. The designs all seem to have flowers in them and all use a fresh and light range of colours. Quite delightful.

going live

2010-04-30T13:13:00.003+01:00

My website is now offically online!

Bunting in the Harbour (c) C.Rowe 2009

I'm probably more nervous about this than I should be. There were no big bangs, champagne corks or party poppers. The site's looking great and I'm now really pleased with how it looks and can't wait to keep it updated with new textile illustrations, art works, cards, postcards, prints and brooches.

busy in the studio

2010-04-27T21:17:00.007+01:00

Outside the V&A, Saturday 24/4/10

It's been non stop this week, since I got back from London. I went up to see the V&A Quilt exhibition, which is excellent and would recommend it to anyone who has a keen interest in Quilts or related Textiles.

I've been writing invitations and flyers for the Open Studio event that is being held during the week May 29th - 6th June. Getting all the necessary information down in a relatively small space is quite a challenge. I'm nearly there!

The website's nearly up and running and i'm really excited to see this go live later on in the week, all fingers and toes crossed!

My new range of cards are at the printers being proofed. It's a key moment to see how they have turned out. The designs look so different once they've been translated into the card format. It's a slightly new departure for me as they are all square designs rather than the usual 6 x 4 inch format that I have favoured up until now. Watch this space.

Open Studios Catalogue Launch Day

2010-04-13T17:26:00.008+01:00

It's here, the new catalogue for this years Open Studio event in Cornwall has arrived! It looks fantastic, over a 140 participating Artists across all disciplines are throwing their doors open to the public between 29th May - 6th June, (Cornish schools summer half term holiday).

Here is my page in the catalogue with one of my Textile Illustrations as an example of my work. Each page is really well laid out and is clear and easy to use.

I'm going to be open every day between 11am and 5pm, including a late night evening on the 3rd June till 8pm. Ideal for those artists unable to visit other studios during the day and people working normal hours.

I'm really excited about this year's event and the arrival of the catalogue makes it real. Only 6 weeks to go!

evening on the water

2010-04-09T22:11:00.007+01:00

Last night turned out to be such a stunning evening. I've started to notice quite wonderful patterns in nature and have been trying to capture soom of these with my camera.

The fields looked like they were quilted with the rows of plastic covering the crops. Dark stitching on white fabric.... some inspiration there me thinks. For some strange reason all the undulations of the hills were really exaggerated.

The water became a sheet of glass as the wind dropped off and there wasn't a ripple as the sun disappeared from view. The local moorings are still empty with very few boats in at present, the marker buoys look like strange floating creatures bobbing on a opalescent sea.

Phew. Made it back to the mooring without hitting anything! It's too close for comfort in the marina and I have to close my eyes as we sail alongside the pontoon, of course i'm not steering at this point and only offer squeals of encouragement as we gracefully dock. Off to the marina bar for a large glass of cool New Zealand white!

it's beginning....

2010-04-07T12:12:00.004+01:00

My friend gave me these daffodils on Monday, they look and smell just like spring. Thank goodness it's finally arrived. The studio looks and feels so much nicer with flowers in it. The poor cheese plant has suffered greatly over the winter and my orchid finally stopped flowering, it had been in bloom non stop for 18 months, I'd be tired too if I'd been in flower all that long!
The daffs really cheer the place up and at last the sun is shining.

1st April 2010

2010-04-05T15:29:00.002+01:00

Wow, I love this beach, it goes on for miles and miles and is dog friendly. A challenge in Cornwall to find one post Easter weekend. You can just make our Poppy's nose, I think she was probably as excited by the walk as I was! It was definately a day for blowing the cobwebs aways and putting the world to rights.

dolly pentreath

2010-03-30T17:02:00.007+01:00

A Cornish lugger anchored in the fishing town of St Ives, Cornwall. The Dolly Pentreath is the inspiration for the sailing boat in one of my recent textile illustrations, Tea by the Sea. When ever you visit St Ives you will most probably see the Dolly Pentreath sailing out around Smeaton's pier towards Porthmeor beach and the Tate. She has beautiful red sails and is instantly recognisable. The sea looks so calm here, I can just imagine lying in the bottom of the boat and dozing in the warmth of the sun, sheltered from the breeze. Aah, Happy days!

more lovely little books

2010-03-22T18:57:00.007Z

These are the second batch of little books. The bottom two books are covered in the Chiyogami Japanese papers. I have also bought some gorgeous red and yellow bookcloth that I really want to try out, i'm just looking now for the right paper to combined it with.

I love the second photograph with all the fore edges of the books, they all look so lovely together.

lovely little books

2010-03-20T18:36:00.007Z

Here is a selection of the single signature, half cloth, half paper hard bound note books I made in a fit of creativity last night. They are approx 5"x5" inches and contain 10 sheets of really good quality cream writing paper.
I'm half way through the next batch, which include some very nice teal coloured Japanese Chiyogami papers.
They all look so lovely next to each other and i'm now loathed to part with any of them!

personalised birthday cards - january

2010-02-06T17:26:00.002Z

Here are the first batch of personalised Birthday cards for this year. Each one takes a little thought and time, but are so much fun to put together.

lovely handy pegs

2010-01-24T18:18:00.002Z

Continuing the handmade present theme for 2010, i've decorated this everyday household item with some bright fun papers to create a upbeat and hopefully useful gift. A handy pack of 8 pegs all covered in a different papers, wrapped in celophane and tied with natural threads and a heart stamped gift tag who wouldn't love these? Cute and useful!

precious treasure

2010-01-22T17:40:00.010Z

I felt like Amelie Poulain when my friend gave me this box on wednesday, what was going to be inside? The most delightful treasure, like a window looking back on my friends childhood I was transported back to her first sewing class, she was 10 again and stitching her green needle case catching buses home from school and making dresses for her dolls.

I loved the tin, it depicts the most beautiful snowy scene and evokes so much joy. I found it difficult recently standing in all the ice and snow we've had in trousers let alone the crinoline dresses the ladies are wearing.

Oh what a discovery! Fabric (pale blue), instructions from a doll's dress pattern. A pre-printed fabric doily ready to be stitched, lace ends, two balls of wool (pink and turquoise).

Carefully unpacking the sewing box I discovered that it had been carefully lined, such painstaking care had been taken. It was delightful, all the little bits and pieces from unfinished projects. Odd end of embroidery threads, the smallest piece of red ribbon... could it be a sash for a dolls dress?

Pins, needles, buttons (four, unmatching), beads (two, yellow), a fantastic vintage tape measure in a gorgeous retractable red case (once brand new), pencil (still sharp), dress poppers, reel of elastic, half a reel of blue thread and three thimbles (all decreasing in size).

I have been imagining all of the possible projects that could have been made with this sewing kit, perhaps I could have a go at finishing some of them, or be inspired by the potential that's still waiting to be used.

daily patterns

2010-01-15T18:50:00.003Z

I love these pebbles which have been pressed into the paths at a local garden, the patterns which they make are just lovely and remind me of handstitched quilts and textiles. Simply beautiful.

i heart buttons

2010-01-07T19:05:00.004Z

Todays project, whilst stuck at home by the snow, has been to finish this rather fetching heart button badge. Made from felt, vintage buttons, it has a simple pin on the back for a fastening and is stuffed with whatever i could lay my hands on. Its a little on the large size but can easily be passed off as a statement piece! Fab.

challenge one for twenty ten

2010-01-06T18:40:00.009Z

I like challenges so here's one for twenty ten: inspired by the credit crunch state of my bank balance this year i'm going to see how many presents I can make myself. Personally I love handmade gifts and I reckon that, with a little organisation and astute planning I can make the majority of birthday and anniversary gifts. I will give myself a 'phone-a-freind' clause, which is if I can't make what I want to give and can find someone who can, then i'll still be supporting the art and crafts industry. Yay me.
To start the year off above are a couple of lovely handmade envelopes which happen to be environmentally friendly, recycled and 100% good for the planet as well as my piggy bank.
Wrapped up in packs of 6 with some natural thread, these are a practical yet fun gift to give, perhaps give a small book of stamps with them to any impoverished students.

mmm, cupcakes

2010-01-05T20:50:00.000Z

My sweet tooth has inspired the making of these rather cute badges. They look great all layed out like this together. Pretty.

2009-11-04T17:11:00.001Z

The joy of my thread box.

artist's statement

2009-10-28T09:27:00.000Z

I've just sent a small collection of work off to a Gallery in Leicestershire which needs to be accompanied by an Artist's Statement.
Just glancing at a handful of posts and articles on the net indicates how challenging this task is, with artists expressing all their anxieties have about writing about their own work. At least I don't feel alone. I have written artist's statements in the past, but with each new exhibition of work, its a good idea to keep it up to date and fresh. Your work changes and evolves so should your statement.
This small collection of work is inspired by Cornish fishing villages and i'm really pleased with how the work has turned out.

a new blog

2009-10-19T17:27:00.001+01:00

This is my new blog in addition to my website www.textile illustration.co.uk as I thought it would be an interesting idea to have regular insight into my creative practice. I hope it will be a good way of keeping folk updated with my work, forthcoming shows, craft fairs and workshops.

Please bare with me as I add content and set up the blog. Thank you for your patience.

long pieces

2009-10-19T17:23:00.000+01:00

I've been working in the studio today on a couple of long applique pieces for an upcoming show. I've managed to hand piece them both today but its taken me a while longer than usual as they are slightly more intricate.