pictures from the studio 2

Still in my gently-does-it frame of mind, I thought I would share with you some of the pictures the brilliant photographer Stewart Girvan  took last Friday afternoon of the studio and it's contents. 

I was in need of some new studio photographs and profile pictures, so I called in Stewart to solve the problem. Here is only a taster of what he shot, but I'm absolutely delighted with the results and can't wait to share more in the coming weeks. 

I love this close up shot of some sewing in action, the attention detail and focus on the stitching is great. 

This picture has become my new profile on facebook. I like the fact that i'm busy concentrating on my work and not trying to smile at the camera!

I love the angle at which this shot is taken, the edge of the table almost looks like a water line and my sewing machine looks like it's just floating on the surface. It reminds me of the analogy of a duck, calm and still on the surface but paddling like mad underneath!  

Happy stitching

Cat x

pictures from the studio

It's been a while since I've shared anything so I thought I would ease myself gently back into the swing of things with a few photos of the studio from the month so far. All have a nice bright and colourful feel to them, roll on Spring! 

Easter cards

On the table

Pencil Pot

being more artful

Now here's the thing, display as inspiration.

It may come across as procrastination, but i'm sure arranging your sewing equipment, tools of the trade, threads, needles, pins and scissors and especially fabrics in an aesthetically pleasing manner can be defined as productive. I do alot of this, my fabrics are arranged by colour and pattern. To all scorning friends or spouses, better or worse halves, the time spent organising your stash of crafting parafinalia should only ever be seen as useful. How else are you to find that delighted reel of raspberry thread if it's not placed seductively next to the lime green spool of silk. Or the exquisitely made fabric pinking shears if they do not sit well in the old wooden  tray that you rescued from the antique shop last week giving it new life and a new purpose?


In reality our lives are less like Country Living interiors and more like crazy turbulent happenings, with friends, family, children and partners all taking their bit. If we have time to do anything that helps us feel creative, if it's only appreciating other's artfully arranged equipment even better, I feel better just breathing in the bunch of blooming threads above. If we can do just a little bit of tidying each day ourselves then we feel as if we've made real progress!

In my reality things looks like this:

 
I definately could do better here in the display as inspiration stakes. I hope this little plastic tray of threads tells you that i'm busy doing other things, hopefully other creative things, than to arrange them nicely. Either way i'm inspired by the colours and their potential, one day i'll pick them up to use, but for now it's time to log back into Pinterest and breathe deeply in other folks artful arrangements!

Happy Stitching
Cat x

oh heck!

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

open studios

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

my creative space

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

my creative space

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!

splish splash

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!

studio photos

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?

outside the studio

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.

busy in the studio

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.