I feel a blog challenge coming on!

I've been thinking since the start of 2016 about blog challenges. I really love the idea of daily drawing challenges and there are some amazing people on Pinterest posting every day on 365 or 30 day challenges. Wow, what a great idea but one I baulk at, just on the basis I'm too disorganised. A jewellery tutor of mine did a daily challenge of making simple 3D drawings, they ended up being exhibitied together with her jewellery and it all made perfect sense.

So, it's taken me two and half months to work out a challenge that I can do and one that it not so demanding I end up throwing the towel in. Mine is a leisurely paced (and encorporating a late start!), monthy challenge with the express aim of using the vessels I have collected from various charity shops over the years. As the photo shows, they are a motley crew. I would like also to have a technical side to the challenge too. My sketchbooks are full of ideas that never see the light of day and they often have a technical element that blocks me from following through.

The first one will be around creating a gradient by dyeing the crochet cotton. It will involve measuring and estimating the length of thread per row and then carfeully graduating density of colour. You can see why I've not got round to that particular task ;) Do stick around and see how it works out!

Stunning feature on mould

I'm delighted to be included in a wonderful article on mould and art in the prestigious 'The creators project', a fascinating blog hosted by Vice magazine.  It's great to be presented as an artist rather than crafter and to be in such illustrious company as Daniele Del Nero and Antoine Bridier-Nahmias, I was admiring Antoine's work just last week! here's a link to the blog article >>

http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/en_uk/blog/6-mold-artists

New year - new skills

Happy new year to everyone! I've promised myself this year I would make tentative steps towards trying out natural dyeing techniques. I've had a book on lichen dyes for a while and am lucky enough to have family living near woodland which hosts some impressive lichens. My first consideration was 'ethical' collecting, a new concept, and as yet (with the lichen pictured above) I have gathered just what has fallen onto pathways and verges.

Serendipitously, I have just discovered Bristol is creating it's own Natural dye garden, how wonderful is that! here is a link to their page >>  http://www.thenaturaldyegarden.uk . I have grabbed a spot on the 'Shibori dyeing with local natural dyes' course, with Flora Arbuthnot, which I am really looking forward to.

Very best of luck with all new ventures and adventures in the coming year!!