going DoTTY!

I'm back at work, playing about with glazes again :)  This idea's been playing around in my head for a while so it was good to get it 'out' as it were!  After masking leaves, I added a number of coloured dots, inspired by some work I'd seen on Facebook. Whilst looking this up again, I came across a new blog to me: http://365tileaday.wordpress.com/.  Today I decided to decorate a couple of plates for my hall table, one for the Autumn, ready to showcase conkers, coloured leaves and fir cones,

and one for the Summer, inspired by one of Kelly Hennessey's tiles

The Summer plate is my favourite and I can't wait for it to come out of the kiln :)

On another note, here's the newspaper article from the yarn bombing I organised about a month ago now.  The article came out whilst I was away on holiday:

If you love meeting people, and want to bring a smile to your local community, I can highly recommend a bit of 'yarn bombing' ;)

WOYWW 110 - the clatter of my sewing machine

I really should oil it!!!  It's a good job you can't hear it, but I thought I'd share what I've been up to, seeing as it's Wednesday and that's what Wednesday's are for!!  Miss Julia likes to inspect our workspaces on Wednesdays, which is fine by me, I love to see what everybody's busy doing.

I've been stitching away on my fabulous Bernina, creating a collage for the Bean & Brush.  I thought it would make a nice addition to the history wall.

The postcard is a copy of one from the Birkenhead series.  George Birkenhead ran the post office [the Bean & Brush is located in the old sorting office] and two of his son's ran a florist shop next door, and became world famous for their ferns!

I AdOrE ferns.  I love the magical look of them when they are unfurling, the smell of freshness when you brush past, and the stillness of the woodland that they invoke.  Anyone else a fern lover?

What's on your workdesk Wednesday...errr Friday!

This was my workdesk on Wednesday, it's just taken me 'til now to post it!!!

I've been itching to play with some clay at work so went in early to have a go.

Helen, one of my talented ceramicist colleagues had been telling me about the wobbly pots they made at Uni which I was very keen to have a go at.

I smoothed it off a bit more after this shot, and the fun part will be glazing it after it's first firing...can't wait :)  I was even dreaming about clay last night!  [I have to say that the night before's dream featuring Robbie Williams was more entertaining lol]

Later, on Wednesday evening, I taught my second workshop at The Bean & Brush.  These are proving really popular and we've had to put an extra date in for the third workshop at the end of the month :)

journaling on a plate

 Well, a stand for hot things in your kitchen to be precise but you get the idea!  I spent the last couple of days on a workshop provided by the suppliers of our ceramic paints for The Bean & Brush, and I got time to PLaY :)

I've been wanting to try some of the art journaling techniques I use on paper on ceramic pieces instead, and yesterday was my opportunity.   Especially as I learnt how to do this using lace (not a great photo I'm afraid):

This was another technique that was on my list to learn!  So after decorating this plate I had a go at journaling.  This went in the kiln last night so I should be able to share the final look of the piece in the next couple of days.

Things are mad busy around here still - I'm teaching my first workshop for The Bean & Brush tonight.  It's full but if anyone is interested in doing it, please let us know as I'm more than happy to run it again.

Meanwhile, I'm also prepping for my exhibition at The Cubby Hole, Crewe which starts on 4th June.  If you're interested in attending the preview night the evening before though, please drop me an email and I'll get an invite out to you :)

the bean and brush family art cafe...

... is now OpEn!!!

The Mayor of Trafford came yesterday to officially open the art and craft studio upstairs. I got the job of doing a clay print of his hand, and as you can see, we had a great laugh!

Paul did a grand job with the photographic recording of our opening party and yesterday's Mayoral visit - take a look here if you'd like to play 'Spot Sarah'!!! In fact, the only person from my immediate family who doesn't feature in this gallery is my Dad - don't know how he escaped as there are shots of my sister and family (all five), my brother and family (all three), my Mum, and my husband and 3 children.  

Now to enjoy a much needed day off :)  Although I might just have to bob into work for a yummy coffee and cake later ;)

WOYWW 96

I've not managed a WOYWW for ages!  I've spent the day working on canvases for an exhibition on Friday - talk about last minute!!!  But somehow that's how I usually work best!

I've been busy trying to get my craft room into a reasonable shape before I start my new job and of course working on canvases this size also meant it was beneficial to get the room sorted before I started work on my exhibition pieces.

I'm still organising my really useful boxes, and really useful 'hat', but they have already made an enormous difference to the tidiness of the room!

Gluing the shelves in before turning this IKEA bookcase on its side has meant I have much more light in the room :)

I treated myself to a birdcage from Dunhelm this week.  I've wanted one for aaaaaaaaaages :)  Whilst researching weddings for wedding plate designs for the bean and brush I came across a gorgeous picture of a bride and groom with birdcages decorated with flowers and beads above their heads - the inspiration for mine!  Mine still needs more adding to it...

There are loads of other desks, and some rooms, to peruse over at The Stamping Ground :)

Big Day at The Bean & Brush...

...the kiln gets delivered and installed today!!!  How exciting is that :)  Unfortunately the building work is just in its final stages so we can't play with the kiln just yet.  I snuck in at the end of last week and took some pics.

Last time I was in this staircase wasn't there.  The kiln is going on the other side of the staircase, but the exciting bit is that the stairs lead to my new home :)  It's up on the mezzanine that we'll be doing all the creative, crafty things :)

It's really not easy to see from this pic but it's a good size space, with great light from two floor to ceiling windows.

This is next to the staircase and looks out onto the cafe, although this will be glazed for safety purposes very soon.   One of the things I really love about the building is the grey industrial brick.  It's GoRGeouS!

Each time I drive past the building has changed as the builders begin to work on the finishing touches. It's a really long, thin building and the mezzanine is right at the back at the end.  The whole building used to be the sorting office, with the Post Office on the main road at the front, until a larger PO was built across the road in the 1930s.  I'm really enjoying finding out the history of the building, especially as I grew up in Sale, and live only ten minutes walk from the Bean & Brush :)