helen sill @mycathasniceboots

Jan 17, 2015Jan 17, 2015

Desperately seeking Claudia…

well we weren’t really but after a very cultural day out in London we found ourself with this lady on the red carpet! (We start with a German Woman we will end with an Italian Woman..bear with me)

So how did it all happen …well out and about with Glasto Girl, stop one was the ICA and the Bloomberg Contemporaries – some interesting and very memorable stuff …nothing that totally got me…apart from the sandcastle which was rather fab – the six year old would have loved it too…

Rubbish photo of Jonathan Meir's fab sand castle , it was big! — Rubbish photo of Jonathan Meir’s fab sand castle , it was big!

…..a lot of video stuff which I disliked intensely, great space. Julie Verhoeven – Whiskers Between My Legs – interesting (and some great disco music) sound, video and textiles installation….but made me feel very negative, totally get what she’s saying but I prefer the celebration, I think we get knocked enough..

Then on to see my piece at The Mall Galleries. What a great space. Have also added exponentially to my learning curve – the reason it didn’t actually make it on to the wall at first was I’d put the flippin back on back to front! So a big thank you to Dawn Thorne and her bag of nails and big hammer. I am now up and I am officially hung in my second London exhibition. Lots of lovely stuff to see at the galleries and I’ve actually sold… a card for three quid ….so not going to be booking my flight to Antigua just yet…

Next stop afternoon tea at the National Gallery and on to the National Portrait Gallery to see my mate Grayson’s work….strangely he hasn’t called me about my box yet.

Desperately running out of time we legged it back to the National to try to see The Rokeby Venus cos I want to include it in my next piece. My favourite thing in the whole world to do is to think of one great painting run in to the National, ask where it is and go straight to it without looking at anything else….(a bit sad but it makes me happy).

the Rokesby Venus Velasquez — the Rokeby Venus Velasquez

Anyway I digress… The Rokeby Venus was attacked by suffragette Mary Richardson in 1914. (Did you know women weren’t allowed in to the National Gallery afterwards without a man to vouch for their actions and ladies needed to remove their muffs incase they were hiding knives therein… amazing is that!!! And here endeth the history lesson.)

Great bit about suffragette history- totally coincidental in the national portrait gallery…all my art work is fate!!!! – Anyway absolutely loved Grayson but sadly the Rokeby Venus is on flippin loan to Belgium or somewehere! So sadly have to make do with the iPad version for the time being!! Also no time to see Freud’s gift of Corot’s ‘Italian Woman’ (having a bit of an ‘anything connected to Freud’ is fab phase) so have included here especially for you in this blog …watch out for her as she will appear with my next pieces along side Venus, the heart and its workings.. don’t ask it’s Y6 biology and it just seems to fit….in keeping with all I am trying to say..it comes from the heart! Anyway if you are still following this Sarah, off we meandered to Shaftesbury Ave to see Les Mis which was great!( I didn’t like the film but the stage show was fab!) and as we traipsed towards Wardour Street we came across a film premiere and that’s how we ended up on the red carpet with Claudia of course!

I love days like this, loads of inspiration, I have had to be surgically removed from my sketch book to write this blog and it’s taken a while…….another small daliance is that I am also am totally stressing over my new mobile phone contract…..totally boring all the people I know with tariff options and irrelevant hand-set facts – so have to put a phone in my work somewhere.

No finished bits to show but here are some backgrounds that I am going to stitch into and see what happens..still planning to make my ladies into triptych and also to make a coat!! Oh and I made a purse and it’s

shocking..terrible zip insertion won’t be able to show Lynn..but I love it!!!

P.S. I have got more stuff to say about Romsey Abbey but it will keep for another day.

GG and me.... — GG and me….on the red carpet

Col, take that... — Alicia and Col, Take That…also on the red carpet with us…

Jan 5, 2015Jan 5, 2015

Of mice and (wo)men…

the best laid plans that is!

Not my drawing but a reminder to ass la/le petit suree to my narrative — Also a reminder to add la/le petit suree to my narrative and my sketch books!

Hello my avid followers, you may recall me trying to courier something not tres easy well you’ll never guess what? The flipping place was shut when my package arrived hence the title of this blog. However the lovely chair of the designer crafts promised me to fear not and assures me there will be someone to take delivery when my work hopefully returns to the gallery on Monday. Meanwhile my piece is floating in courier ether in Lambeth somewhere and I have not one decent photo of it! New Years resolution /note to self : start to record decent images of work! (Will let you know what happens tomoro Sarah as I bet you’re dying to know!)

By the way Glastonbury girl assures me her daughter is 4 and not 5 which totally explains why my courier experience was a nightmare (?📖!&**) not sure I get this but there you go.

Been helping out with the wonderful Phoenix Juniors and the amazing ladies who run this group have loads of fab ideas! The kids who come along are soo lucky!!! I of course try out/magpie/nick as soon as I’m home. Rather fortuitous that I am trying to patch stuff together anyway! Now am going to experiment with drawing into the fabric and also transfer images onto it..watch this space..my narrative cloth making continues. This is the start of something that I made from scraps that were thrown away….

I just want to end this blog by saying happy new year to any one who’s reading, and thank you to everyone who came to see my work this year. Here’s the woman in red her self…sorry for not posting sooner..are you reading me?

And a special thank you to Flashman and Prosecco Girl who did actually make it out of Weatherspoons to see my work…which was no mean feat Weatherspoons in Harrogate is actually rather lovely!…..sorry J you’re going to kill me for posting this but no one reads my blog so don’t worry!

Meanwhile been busy in my kitchen… I mean my studio …thought I’d trial a free month of Netflix so whilst the children were occupied …I have been trying to create….see what I mean about the photos?

room 6 news: Rozanne Hawksley has confirmed she will be our speaker on 13th June 2015 . It will be an afternoon talk. Possibly cake involved somewhere too! Details to follow. Soon.

Ps you would not believe me if I told you how many times i kept getting thrown out of WordPress trying to publish this and guess what? Today is now tomoro..I’m off!

Dec 31, 2014Dec 31, 2014

It’s never easy …

(no, not being green)………..trying to do anything with a 5 year old and six year old in tow. After several weeks stressing over my book for designer crafts show (starting on the 8th january at the mall galleries.. I will be there on the 17th!) please go!

I have one picture in the ’25’ exhibition…should be good! …I finally destroyed my original piece and remade it into another book form but one that was more appealing, better and easier to display. Also I love it!
Never happy with first one ..saw it as a stepping stone. Obviously I want it to sell cos I’ve run out of cartridge paper and need more supplies….. but it won’t be disastrous if it doesn’t cos it looks rather lovely in its gorg perspex frame…sure I can find a home for it….. Anyhoo after getting that all right and several weeks stressing over how to get it there…der…

that’s the way to do it.. off we all toddle to whsmiths..me the 5 year old sleepover guest and the 6 year old permanent resident…fill out the DHL forms….no mean feat when you’ve forgotten your glasses and are trying to keep the 5 year old and 6 year old in sight lines…reminiscent of herding cats…end up buying several other small items as said 5 year old and 6 year old keep looking at me with bambi eyes…we are now the proud owners of a sound machine..actually it’s quite appealing more so then the numerous soft toys that were waved under my nose, felt pens and a rather nice set of false moustaches..yes Glastonbury Girl, (GG) your daughter just told me she had to have them!!! Please! …meanwhile the woman behind the counter is not particularly impressed by chaos being caused at half eight in their otherwise quiet shop…anyway parcel goes..here’s the receipt ..no not putting in photo as keep losing the blog!

woohoo….
then so does the 6 year old …..straight down the flight of stairs clutching his laughing machine and me down after him… I manage to wrench my shoulder trying not to follow and also stopping him from rolling down the whole flipping lot…5 year old not involved thank goodness! Honest GG!

Anyway we are now home and breakfasted and patched up. Parcel has gone! Hooray! Just hope it gets displayed! Meanwhile I still haven’t managed to get my machines to A and E ….the place POrtsmouth is open on Monday again. We went down at the start of the hols…6 year old and 11 year old going on 23 in tow via Southsea beach, the Tenth Hole, Fabricland and Next ( for that essential dad Christmas hat purchase) so we all had a nice day out..despite the machine mender being shut…….
Other good news…my essay is in – I managed to decipher the intricacies of the electronic university hand in process.. not easy ..and afraid not on my own, am bezzie mates with all the staff on the chi uni help desk.. well at least I help keep them busy…oh and then I had to resubmit as I hadn’t referenced all my images….

……other than that I fed nine for Christmas, am making sample materials to make my sample garments with

and am panicking a lot about all that I haven’t done.

Also I now am the proud owner of

Thank you Santa x

…and I have been to Harry Potter World..now what the flip is all that about? Sorry just do not get!…dressed the 6 year old as minion so easier not to loose….

23year old and minion in the very reasonably (not) priced cafe alongside the very reasonably (not!!!) priced gift shop

PS Sarah sorry this wasn’t last night I got in to my stitching! x

PSS oh and I’ve paid my car tax but not my uni fees ..yet!

PSSS and I have eaten my body weight in chocolate and cheese….xx

PSSSS mad Canadian has given me fab new iPad cover! Feel v v posh!

This is is not the iPad cover..but it could be!

Dec 10, 2014

Displacement activity 957

yes, I have got an essay to write but this is so much more fun! (It’s art honest Jim but not as we know it.)

oh and archers catch up……

oh and ordering Xmas presents…Amazon is a DANGEROUS place.

4000 words later…. Well I have a beautiful Xmas tree and 4000 words of gobledigook…off to refine…..

….and I didn’t get round to taking my machines into intensive care…oops!

Dec 8, 2014

My oh my…it’s been a while…

and no I haven’t fallen off the end of the earth since my last post and the end of the k & s. I have been busy!!!!! Honest! Been looking at my silk and my Japanese fabric..a lot! Scared to touch it, it’s so beautiful! But I am going to attack with scissors and machine over the Xmas hols honest..I have an idea..Watch this space….sometimes you just need to

Oh and I’ve been helping out at Phoenix Juniors. I am now an expert at Suffolk puffs and angelina application.

Oh and I’ve been working.

Oh and trying to write a three and a half thousand word essay..scheduled to finish on Wednesday…I hope!

Oh and I’ve been totally panicking about the designer crafts at the Mall…need to work out how to display…I have some ideas. Very close to cutting up my work and reassembling it? Is that allowed?

Oh and I have been been to see the turner prize nominees…had a fab night. Mind you I’ve got to be honest I don’t think I’m going to win in the next two years. I am rather good at writing arty b**locks, but afraid that my arty b**locks is quite accessible. Arty b**locks at the Turner.. well I lost the will to live after the first couple of sentences of artists’s statements. Maybe I am just not highbrow enough but I do like people to know what my stuff if about… If they want to of course…maybe that’s where I am going wrong? Anyway I predicted that Duncan Campbell would win. Does that mean some thing? I liked the video and all the work was of an extremely high standard and beautifully presented…from everyone. The print maker was nice too but none of it really got me. ..or blew me away. No Anishes, Antonys or Graysons I’m afraid. Being a rebel I pinched a comment card. Coming to an art work near me soon.

Been life drawing……all day to day..they look s bit alien like again but at least my man looks like a man..have thrown in the woman from last week too…

And got another class this evening. Can’t wait. Byex

ps this is my studio space….I am doing a Diane and taking up as much space as possible to try to not get relegated to the depths below !

pps oh and I’ve sold some more work.

ppps Oh and just in case you area following this Gary like you say you are..not convinced my self..like but what the hey…left handed

Ernestwright.co.uk…….hint hint!

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

pppps and making Christmas cards and going to the aspects gallery in Portsmouth who very kindly provided me with materials to make said Xmas cards whilst the delightful children were graphitting on the walls..they were supposed to be..honest!

ppppps still haven’t heard from Grayson! Will just have to settle for going to his exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery when I drop my Mall stuff off ..

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

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!

Oct 30, 2014Oct 31, 2014

It sure is grand…

Caroline, Barry Flanagan hare and me...Dublin — Caroline, Barry Flanagan hare and me…Dublin

Having an amazing time at the RDS in Dublin. Caroline has picked a great hotel in Sandymount. Went to the National Gallery, after set up,to soak up some art and get inspired.

Peasant wedding Pieter Brueghel the younger

nano's dream Gerard Dillon — nano’s dream Gerard Dillon

Liked this exhibition, lots to see. Having a good think about I might use this work to inspire my work. Liked the Yeats…now why didn’t I buy a post card of his work?)

Meanwhile my son has been exhibiting at the Tate in London…

Live at the Tate modern Nathan Dowdeswell

Also really liking that you can buy a sarnie and a cake at the spar and then sit outside said shop in a rather nice seating area and really have your cake and eat it so to speak…no extra charge! Much better than the pot noodles I was expecting.

Lovely speaking to lots of people and seeing all the other graduates work. If you go to the knitting and stitching show gallery my work is on the website! Fantastic! Fame at last!

Georgina is trying to persuade us to take in some drum and bass tomorrow. If it starts at 6pm and I can be tucked up in bed by 8pm I’m in!

Nearly sold a book! X

N.B to Gary (or as Margo Ledbetter would have said nota bene) yes I do actually know what drum and bass is and when I u-tubed the band it sounded a bit more like jazz reminiscent of Camberwell Jazz club circa 1990’s rather than Pendulum.)