The Dales, Vets Pet Portraits, Knit and Stitch and Huddersfield

On Friday after work, Mike and I braved the weather and went up to the Dales. Over night it snowed and Saturday was a beautiful sunny morning with blue skies and gorgeous winter setting- certainly a source of great inspitation. We decided to come home early in case the weather took a turn for the worse. On the way back, I wrote a list of all the people who might be able to help me with referrals for my soon to be fledgling business (one of Dougie's ideas). I'd been set the task of thinking of 100 people - thought I'd be only able to think of about 12 but it turned out to be remarkably easy- so one thing ticked off my v long list of things to do when attempting to become a textile artist! I'm pleased we came back when we did as my very handsome guinea pig Boris needed to be taken to see his favourite vet Uncle Peter for a check up and a repeat prescription.

I took my pet portrait into my friend's John's gallery in Barnsley http://www.jkwood.co.uk/ for framing and also for an image for a print to be taken. Can't wait for the call to say it is ready for collection!  I would post a picture, but I've not quite got the hang of that yet! Its applique on a calico background and I am rather pleased with how its turned out.

I've also been trying to get some pictures of the guinea pigs for my next pet portrait project, but Boris, Smudge and Flo in particular are a litte camera shy. Photographs to follow post technical break through.

On Sunday 50 ladies set off from Barnsley to the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. I hadn't been for a couple of years and I was really impressed by the exhibitions. I particularly liked the work of Janet Browne http://www.janetbrownetextiles.com/ and bought an oyster catcher (an applique one!) from her. I also bought a small picture from Tania Sneesby http://www.taniasneesby.blogspot.com/. I would like to be Tania when I've grown up artistically! I also really loved the exhibiton of  the work of Julia Caprara
 http://www.jctextilearts.com/about/julia-caprara/ just wonderful stuff. I love the bright colours and the richness of her work- definitely something to aspire to. Well the snow came down whilst we were enjoying Harrogate. Everything came to a stand still and we arrived back in Barnsley 5 hours after we were due to set off from Harrogate- all part of the adventure!

This morning Mike registered me for a website too! Nothing on it yet  but give me time! http://www.textilecraft.co.uk/. Its free to set up to encourage businesses to get on line. Worth a  look at http://www.gbbo.co.uk/.

And finally..... I have worked out how the UCAS website works and have accepted my unconditional place at Huddersfield University for Textile Crafts starting in Sept 2011. I continue to do excited v well indeed!

Saturday, Sunday and today

On Saturday, Mike and I called in at the Cooper Art Gallery in Barnsley, which is holding its Christmas exhibition of crafts and was was also hosting a craft fair. One of the artists with a stall there caught my eye. Tanya Palmer is based in Holmfirth and produces wonderful free motion embroidery like the image taken from her website above. Well worth a browse: http://www.tanyapalmer.co.uk/

On Sunday we went to my Mum's 80th birthday party, but had just enough time before hand to call in at Kisko/Fabric Guild in Leicester http://www.fabricguild.co.uk/. This is a fantastic shop and highly recommended, opening on Friday and Sunday mornings every week. I was looking for a fabric marker pen which does actually disappear when its supposed to. The Maderia Magic Pen I have been using; great for silk, but resolutely staying put and busy being purple on white cotton, needs replacing. My friend Janet has lent me a blue marker pen which disappears completely when ironed and is excellent, but was sourced from France and is hers, so I have purchased two different marker pens to trial. I also bought a fabric eraser which has worked really well at removing silver marking pencil.

Whilst there I also managed to pick up a few more odds and ends-it would be rude not to! Including some materials for my latest project which is animal portraits- next on the list to be done are my guinea pigs!

I saw a lady standing in front of the threads trying to stop herself from picking them up and saying to herself out loud "Its just so tempting!" I know to my cost that it is!

My most exciting news so far this week has to have been this morning when I logged onto the UCAS site to check the progress of my applications. I found that my unconditional offer from Huddersfield had been registered. There was much dancing around the house and celebration! I am so excited about the prospect I can hardly contain myself! So in September, 21 years after my first student experience I will be studying again but this time for Textile Crafts- yeahhhhhh!

Planning to stitch

I currently work as a town planner/programme manager/project officer. I chose planning originally because I had an interest in geography and I knew I would get a steady and sensible job. It has provided steady work but, as with many people, this is set to change and 21 years of constant employment is due to end in the next few months. Knowing this was on the way prompted me to start to work with a life coach, Dougie, to plan what I am going to do next.

Over the last few months, with the support of my wonderful hub Mike and with Dougie's help, I have discovered that what I really want to be, is a textile artist and I am hoping that I will soon get confirmation of a place on the BA (Hons) Textile Crafts course at Huddersfield University- my fingers are crossed! There has been some angst about such a departure from my current career and the cost of  studying for a degree, but despite all the thinking, talking, analysing, calculating and alternative plan formulation, I come to the same conclusion -that I want to study for a degree in textiles to help me achieve my ambition.

I hope that this blog will form a journal of my progress.