Nov 2014 – helen sill

Nov 25, 2014

Eckythump

So, Sarah this is what I got up to…..

I have had an amazing time at the K & S in Harrogate. So many people came to the Graduate Show Case. I loved our eclectic group and will genuinely miss my fellow exhibitors – Olly Mason, Georgina Bellamy, Caroline Bell, Harriet Stiles, Chris Woodcock, Hanny Newton and Maria Boyle. I think we were a pretty great group. It would have been great to keep going if I only wasn’t so pooped and really rather worried if we had an extra day that Maria was going to turn into a reindeer.

Reindeer migration in northern Yorkshire... — Reindeer migration in northern Yorkshire…

I spent rather a lot of time talking to the ladies from Hue who were exhibiting in the next stand. I ❤️ Hue! So glad we were where we were!

Lots of lovely people were interested in my work and stopped to chat and listen to me! I am glad I made lots of themsmile. My pink ladies really tickled some people.

Fortunately they kept me so busy I didn’t really have any time to leave my stand and buy stuff with money I do not have. So that was a rather large positive. I did however manage sneak off to buy some lovely threads from Oliver Twists and some gorgeous silk from The Shuttle, as well as some rather nice dyed hessian from another stand which I’d never seen before. The woman who sold it did a rather great rendition of Mama Mia. Lusting after Ernest Wright and Son scissors ..sadly no left-handed pairs at show so they will have to wait. Please support this amazing company which is the last hand-made family run scissor company in the UK. I’ll take orders if I ever manage to make it to another show! Ernestwright.co.uk

Left handed..free postage...hmmm? — Left handed..free postage…hmmm?

Great that people supported me by buying my work. To the lady who wanted my ladies. You know who you are ….please get in touch if you still want them. You asked first! And to the lovely lady who bought my Le Bon Maman .. I am so sorry if I appeared rude, I was just rather shocked! Enjoy.

Flagging on the last day and I went to visit the Lower Hall. Totally lifted my spirits and recharged me till the close of play Sunday. What a fantastic atmosphere. Great to see lots of women doing! Had a great chat with woman who runs fashion courses at Harrogate College and Audrey Hollingworth – stunning work. Else where on the TG stands it was great to have another chance to see more of the bits I missed at the other shows. The graduates managed a bit of added value too – everyone deserves a triptych and a chocolate bunny.

I could not get over the kindness of people. Want to say thank you to all the lovely, gorgeous, generous people who enabled me to get to, from and stay in Harrogate …you know who you are. I could not have done this without you.

…and the best thing I learnt from a fellow artist….? To save my children from choking I must bite off the corners of all their chocolate bars….classic!x

Next?

Back at uni tomorrow…got an essay to write, some beautiful fabrics arrived from Japan while I was away so need to experiment with. I have loads and loads of ideas for new work. Looking forward to exhibiting at the society of designer craftsman – 25th Designer Crafts at the Mall in London which opens on the 8th January 2015

ps I am a Geordie.

Nov 18, 2014Nov 23, 2014

Round three….ding ding..

just a quickie before I head off to Harrogate tomorrow for my last turn with my stand at the graduate showcase for the Kntting and Stitching Show with the wonderful Alison Hulme…if I manage to find her place that is…at 5 am in the morning, she’s not convinced but I am fairly confident! Well relatively. Been madly trying to get things to together. Excited and a bit sad that it’s all coming to an end.

Hope to sell some more things in Harrogate before Xmas so that I can buy more materials to experiment some more…have a new direction to go in now which is great….watch this space…I am still looking for my scarf Caroline! I have some ideas….I’d better sell some stuff otherwise going to need extension or watch out for table top sale outside my house.

Ps I stood on the stage at the Globe in London yesterday and quoted Shakespeare…that’s definately going in an artwork some where…I bite my thumb at thee! Now there’s a slogan to put on a piece of work. Rather better than the conversation I had with my daughter yesterday about swear words….had an interesting discussion about reclaiming some female anatomy words……anyway I digress…also managed to see Richard Tuttle textile thingy at the Tate – afraid it didn’t do it for me at all! Very disappointing!

pps managed to actually make it into new shop which has opened in Petersfield called ‘sew creative’ lots of workshops on offer and lots of materials and threads to buy…always good. I will take you in when you come up Sarah ……we’ve also got to go to ‘the garage’ which is amazing!!!

ppps watchout for talk in Hampshire with Rozanne Hawksley coming up in June 2015 organised by new textile group ‘room6’ more of which later. Right work to get to then bags to pack..help I need a suit carrier…has the Mad Canadian got one?

Nov 11, 2014Nov 23, 2014

The need to draw

Missed my life class at Chichester last week due to Dublin and this week due to Harrogate which I’m trying to get ready for. My beautiful Bernina jammed so looks like I may have to have a plan b…or c as my plan b needs a service.

Went to life drawing in Petersfield last night it’s been a while but I got one okay one at the end that didn’t look like a mutant alien …here are the good and the bad. See if you can guess which is which!

Okay I know pretty obvious. Yes they are in chronological order……would have liked another hour at least to do that last one. That could be my prep sketch only had 40 mins…lovely model….going to miss next week too as taking school children to London. Oh my! Anyway it’s helping me with my essay a bit…which is about drawing. Need to remember the name of the drawing I want to use in my essay next…ah the joys of short term memory loss! Anyway off to update my sketch book not keeping it properly at all ……have got lots of bits of paper to stick in it and scribbled ideas.

Kim Thittichai mentioned me on her blog..thank you Kim! Hot-textiles.blogspot.co.uk (Does this mean I can now say I am a famous, internationally exhibiting artist?) Still waiting for Mr Cross Stitch…!)…her photos look great…pleased she took some of my work cos I didn’t take any! Oops! Anyway sketchbook calling…..anyone know a good Bernina fixer?

Nov 3, 2014Nov 3, 2014

out of the ashes….

Right have decided to bunk off college today and try to get head together and assimilate Dublin and the way forward.

Not too skint to avoid indulgence at Empress Mills! See Sue - am still experimenting with new thread! — Not too skint to avoid indulgence at Empress Mills! See Sue – am still experimenting with new thread!

Does white wine and soda mean I qualify as bonfide artist?

Loved the experience but it was a hard slog as I’m really worried about money. You can happily survive on surprisingly little, however a scone for lunch every day ain’t that great.(Free jam and butter!… does this mean I truely am a great artist or do I need to drink pastis?) Fortunately Caroline is great at coming up with fantastic budget hotels. Not many places I am used to staying bring you fresh milk on demand!

I have been rubbish at taking photos. Actually I quite like to just look and soak it all in, but that’s no good for you – is it Sarah – cos an odd photo here and there would be quite good wouldn’t! Sorry. Also when I have tried to search for some online very little of it allows you to copy. I think perhaps as everyone is worried about people knicking their ideas. So, sorry! Will tell you /explain about it when I see you.

Fantastic to meet some great textile artists that didn’t get the opportunity to talk to in London and also good to meet the Irish contingent. Textile art is alive and well across the water. Some inspiring work. If I had money I would have bought Amy’s collar and Rebecca’s hare – Graduates From GMIT.

NCAD also doing amazing work as well as the the arts council, especially loved the work produced by second year Limerick students in collaboration with Electric Sheep. I want that coat! They are auctioning it for Oxfam which is fantastic. No photos! Sorry! I also loved the women of Finglas… keeping crocheting alive and separately, I had a very interesting conversation with a woman from Newcastle which included croched vaginas! Fantastic! Hope you are continuing to worship at the alter of Grayson!

Thank you Jo and Jean it was great to meet you. ( I love textile artists!) I really loved having the time to look round their exhibition space properly. Quite beautiful work. Jean also showed me another way to use to use markel, her drawing is quite lovely. Was too scared to have a go on the big space with art van go. Really hoping to get asked back another time so that I can have a proper go too!

The Dublin Phoenix

I had the best time thanks to Kevin and Viv at art van go …..don’t think I could have kept going if it hadn’t been for them letting me use their lovely papers and jelly plates so that I could print to my hearts content. Definitely needed a good distraction – art therapy. Am now in love with jelly plates, locti and Japanese lens paper! An amazing way to spend a Sunday morning! They will never know how much were a life saver!!!

Apart from doing some amazing printing from a found objects and work to make from that, I now have lots of food for thought from one of the fashion scouts who suggested making garments from my pieces. I really like this and am going to explore! Lynn…help!!! Note to Caroline … scorpion appears to have gone missing so it’s going to be interesting when FLybe actually find it!

I need to say thank you to all the amazing people who stopped to talk to me. Your comments were lovely and I loved the craic!

Especially thank you to Arthur – I hope LauraLyn charity does really well and I am definately exploring the burglar alarm idea for my boxes…if successful I won’t forget your royalties!

Right roast chicken to make for the kids and archers catch up…

Ps Georgina it’s absolutely no good telling me about expensive fashion brands I can’t afford. I do however expect a FROW seat and free garments from your first collection

PPs I can’t leave petersfield Caroline, I just bought a Betty Jackson top for 4 quid from a charity shop!