Exquisite Knitting

This is the work of Bethany Mitchell ... she sent me a link to her website and I was inspired by the exquisite (and playful - do check out her website) possibilities of textiles. It makes me want to fast forward my learning in the arts of knitting and crochet!

Rawr

I realise every week the incredible mess-capacity of teenagers! However, they have also managed to created some rather beatiful and inspiring screen prints. This has been quite an ambitious project as I imagined that the majority of them would have experienced screen printing at school (as I did). I was wrong.

This is Yasmin's canvas bag - not alone in being a great achievement for a first screen print!

Ophelia

My Wednesday Art Club (5-8s) are looking at the Pre-Raphaelites ... and this is Emilie's Ophelia. I'm afraid I fall right into the trap of a thousand artists before me, in loving the intuitive beauty of children's drawing. Even further, I was blown away by the care Emilie put into this, having spent a term and a half encouraging her to slow down and take a bit more time over things!

I Digress

I am working on a project with writers and illustrators, I Digress, inspired by the Grosvenor Pub in Stockwell. This is one of my sketches from last Autumn at the pub, and some of this collection are becoming a starting point for my I Digress work.

Respect to Chris Ofili!

I saw Chris Ofili for the first time when he was shortlisted for the Turner Prize. I still find it thrilling that it's creatively acceptable to like this guy who, in my opinion is more about visions of beauty and thought than about revolutionary concepts. Today my favourite room showed his twilight scenes: moments of moving through the jungle in the dark, the dark blue shadows and rustles of other people, leaves and animals crossing your path...

Anyway, watch this space, I feel like making an Ofili-esque extravaganza of my own!

Evolving Water

I've been working on an evolving textile hanging - the kind of project that has no end but can be finished at any time. It started with a rag rug wave ... then it acquired a knitted centre ... next, perhaps, a woven orca-type design. Who knows?!

Headbanger Badge

I've discovered the joy of designing badges! This badge I made for Emma, who paddled upside down (in her kayak) the Graveyard section of the Upper Tryweryn river in North Wales. I like the names of the different features and drops on the rivers we paddle, and the sense that only other paddlers would identify with the terms as kayaking names. More badges to come ... ?!