Featured!

My work space has been featured on the Artists in Business Blog

I love taking a peek at where other people create. It has to be said that the vast majority of them put my little corner to shame! There are some fabulous garden room work spaces, converted box rooms, all sorts of things. I really do find them facinating.

If like me you wish to see more there are lots of Flickr groups like this one for instance :)
Apart from coveting other people's studios it's great for picking up storage and display ideas to help improve your own practice, or maybe thats what I tell myself when I'm lusting over beautiful attic/studio conversions when I'm meant to be working.
And speaking of working I have some vintage pin-up / show girl themed Tiny Tile Paintings which are almost ready for the shop I will post pics here soon.

From Where I Live

Here are the first two paintings from a short series inspired by the countryside where we live.

The walls and bridge are created with small stone chippings set in the resin. I took these along to a 'Ladies Night' event on Friday, I sold a lot of Tile Paintings, 'Heathered Hills' was especially popular - I took several orders for more. Both of these are available in my shop

I'm working on another new series at the moment too, inspired by vintage movie star / pin up imagery. More about that soon...

Have a lovely week!

Halloween Fun!

BOO! I confess I do love Halloween! Here in Haworth we have a well established Halloween Parade along Main Street which always attracts losts of visitors. Over the weekend lots of shop owners and local residents dress up and enter the costume competition.
This year we will be having extra good fun, we will be visiting Whitby for a few days and we will be there on the 30th October to see the start of the Whitby Gothic Weekend. In view of all of this I have got myselforganised early this year, with the children's costumes sorted out.
I'm not a fan of the scary horror film style costumes and some of the offerings from the supermarkets are way too gruesome for my rapscallions so here are a few of the things available from the talented makers on Folky
With just a couple of weeks left to Halloween its time to place those orders!

Star Light Star Bright Studs by Kitschen Sink

Gothic Annie by Northfield Primitives

Black Moustache Disguise from Lupin Handmade

Dracula Meerkat by Nifty Knits

Have fun!

Craft Fairs R Us!

Last year I attended a few really good craft fairs, fairs where the organisers believed in the ethos of quality handmade products sold by the maker. I also did several 'events' (I use the term loosely)where the organiser was only interested in taking a stall fee, showing scant regard for the quality of the products on sale and by default contempt for the customer. This was reflected in the number of people who visited and in sales.
But not this year! This year I have chosen more carefully, planned ahead, I have made written applications and waited to be accepted. Because I have made applications in January and February for some fairs that are in November and December maybe I hadn't kept an accurate tally on the number of fairs I've been accepted and paid for. Which is why I now find that I will be peddling my wares at 10, yes 10 events between this Saturday and the 13th December eeeeek!
So this Saturday, the 10th of October I will be at Ilkley Arts Market

I'm really looking forward to this! The organisers are great believers in the craft movement, Ilkley is a lovely place to visit and I will get to catch up with other makers that I haven't seen for a while, and maybe even meet a few more:)

So Ilkley Arts Market, Riddings Hall, The Grove, Ilkley

It would be great if you could make it! Good times....

....and to check out my events diary please click here

Friday Folksy Finds

Despite a few gloriously warm days Autumn has arrived. We spent yesterday tidying up the garden, and while the afternoon was beautifully mild and sunny, come 4 o'clock there was a definate chill in the air. I do love to be able to settle into the evening with the fire on and curtains drawn. I love Autumn, the colours suit me down to the ground, take a peep at the lovely autumnal things I found on Folksy today:)

'Falling Leaves' Garland by See the Woods Designs

Hand warmers in Heather by Hand Knitted Things

I love this colour! These would be perfect at fairs to keep me warm but still let me work.

Double Breasted Coat Tutorial and Pattern by Kitschy Coo

I wish I could sew, and really I think this is my motivation to learn! Pop along to Kitschy Coo's shop and you'll see what I mean. She also writes a very entertaining blog which carries a handy little gadget that allows you to buy patterns there and then. See, I mentioned that more of a reminder for me than you:)

Spalted Squares Tea Light Holders by Treecycle

These would look just beautiful glowing on the hearth on these chilly evenings.