Direct Print from Wood

 The first print; on a cotton fabric I rescued from a skip. Quite thin cotton.

I then took a second print, without adding any fabric paint to the wood. Fainter; but I think I can use it.

The chunk of wood in my garden, that I used as the surface to print from. I simply painted fabric paint onto it, and placed fabric on the top, then gently rollered over it. Of course, I'm now loking around my garden, to see if there's any other bits of wood around I can make prints from!

Collogaphy Prints on re-purposed silks

Using the silk from a sample book I rescued from a skip, I printed from one of my collography plates. 
A recent experiment of mine was to make a direct print from a chunk of wood in my garden. It's drying in the studio.  

Ursula von Rydingsvard

Wonderful exhibition at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
She uses commercially cut lengths of timber, and builds them up organically to make sculptures. The above 'mama, build me a fence' is lengths of cedar leaning against a wall. The wood has been cut, and drawn upon by graphite and chalk. 

 'Hemorrhaging Cedar', above, is a cast made from abaca paper (which comes form a rare species of banana). Von Rydingsvard makes a cedar-wood relief, then creates a cast. Hanging on the walls of the Underground Gallery, it looked like cloth; below is a photo of the cast, close-up.

A knitted coverlet, made by the artist's mother. Exhibited at the YSP. A connection to Von Rydingsvard's interest in the domestic world of women, and the peasant background she came from. There was a collection of farming, and domestic implements on show; objects she's collected over time. I loved this exhibition. A mix of grand gestures, massive sculptures, and smaller drawings. Showing a fascinating mix of materials (stitched cow's stomach, anyone?) and techniques. The exhibition's on until January 2015, so I'll be sure to visit again. It has depth, and layers which I think will lend itself to many visits. 

autumnal

Ivy growing up the ash tree in my garden. The flowers are an important food source for bees in the autumn.

The ash tree where said ivy grew. The ash tree that is gone. It had got way too tall, and I'm hopeless with heights, so couldn't get up a ladder to saw it back. So, very sadly, I had to get someone to come and take it down. I really hate chopping down trees! I've spent so many years planting trees; growing saplings from seeds. It breaks my heart to lose one. Especially when ash trees are now under threat from ash die-back. But; it was too big; and blocking out the light coming into my garden; so I had to take steps.
The bonus is for those of my friends who have stoves or open fires! They've been given a 'windfall' of ash logs. As ash wood burns green, and doesn't need drying before putting on the fire, I've been a very popular person! We've been raising glasses and toasting the ash tree; and they've been toasting themselves!

Sadly not home-grown produce; but gifts given from people at the textile group I go to. Buy pumpkin tomorrow for Hallowe'en. Seasonal produce; celebrating the season.
And we have gales forecast tonight and tomorrow. The wind's been blowing the leaves from the trees creating golden confetti. Me and Pauline took puppy Minnie out to Nostell Priory yesterday, and blew our cobwebs away.
I'm indoors now sweeping cobwebs away on ceilings and walls, as I decorate. The nearest I've got to using a paintbrush for months! I'm getting ready to hibernate; hunkering down in response to the diminishing light, and entering the darkness. Samhain on Thursday. Celtic new year; I'll be glad to see the back of this year; it's been a tough one. First, there's this darkness to travel through. One foot in front of another is my mantra.

A little Birdhouse In Your Soul

This is one of the bird boxes that Jon and I made a couple of years ago. One is hanging outside the living room window, and can be seen from the sofa in the sitting room, and was inhabited this spring; another is attached to a tree in the front garden; and this one has yet to find a home!
Now that autumn's here, and the leaves are falling, I'm hoping to find the perfect spot for it. Somewhere I can observe it, in case it becomes a home for new bird families. Being able to watch the birds fly to and fro this spring, as they fed their chicks, was wonderful. And all from the comfort of my sofa!
I didn't paint up to the entrance hole of the box, as birds sometimes peck to enlarge it, and make it more comfortable for themselves. Depending on the paint used (I used acrylics) this can poison the birds. So I decided to play it safe, and leave a gap.
The birds need all the help we can give them.
I've just heard on the news this week about thousands and thousands of birds drowning in the North Sea. Land birds such as robin and thrushes, somehow lost their bearings, and ended up out at sea, and were found drowned by sailors. Boats out to sea, found themselves used as perches by birds, who were exhausted, and needed to rest, before flying off again, desperate to find land.
See this for photos.

Hepworth Opening + Bobbin Holder

A few weeks ago I spent a couple of hours constructing a bobbin holder for my bobbins of sewing cotton (mostly polyester, it has to be said!).
It keeps everything together nicely, though I have more bobbins in a box.

I'm busy with lots of different things at the moment. Trying to get work ready for Saturday 21st May, the weekend when the Hepworth Gallery opens.
I'm putting up some work in the grounds of Westgate Chapel, where I curated an exhibition in May 2010, as part of that month's Artwalk.
This time it will be just me, and I'll be parking up my campervan, Blanche, a Volkswagon T4, which will be the 'gallery'!

In contrast to the Hepworth, which is a huge exhibition space, Blanche is a tiny space; so my exhibition is going to be the smallest exhibition of the weekend!
We'll be offering refreshments, and a chance to sit down and relax in the green oasis in the centre of Wakefield; the Chapel grounds.
Look forward to seeing you there. I'll be 'open' from 11am to 4pm.