Experiments

On the May bank holiday I visited Lindisfarne (Holy Island) and picked up this miniature standing stone (it’s lying down here, but it really does stand)

With a view to scaling it up in the future, I increased the fossil mark to fit on the 4"x4" loom, and wove with the bone needle I made on a day course at the Weald and Downland Museum (using flint tools!)



Second version, with the mark woven at 90 degrees to the warp, giving a better curve.

I plan to use Ritual Landscapes and Standing Stones as the ‘model’ for my PhD studio practice in the first instance, so this all feeds into it.

Hoorah!

Splodge inspects Lemminkäinen!

More work on Geode II today - now on panel 7 of 14.  There is a new urgency to this as (drumroll......)

I have been offered (and accepted) a place at UCA Farnham for a practice-based PhD, starting in the autumn.  

I am, of course, extremely excited, but slightly apprehensive too.  I will need to be very organised and use all my time wisely; this has not always been my strongpoint!  

Back in the Groove*

*(=studio)

I have acquired a new studio assistant; Tapestrybrits Aphraminta Splodge joined us here on 22nd March.  She and Doglet are each coming to terms with the existence of the other.

I have spent quite some time rearranging and streamlining things in both the studio and the rest of my home, including the creation of a writing nook.  You may remember that a couple of years ago I applied to do a funded PhD and was unsuccessful (or maybe I did not blog about it); I have rewritten the proposal (hence the writing nook), sent it in three weeks before the deadline (I know, I can’t believe it either!), and I have been invited for interview on May 1st!  I am delighted to have progressed a stage further than last time (at a different institution).  

With one thing and another, my studio time had been constrained, and not very productive in terms of new ideas, BUT I have just had three really good studio days (and another one tomorrow); new work done, and loads of ideas to develop further.  I love the creative process; when choosing to be disciplined and do something, anything, leads to so many possibilities.  

Oops!

A scaled down phot that you you can actually see!

Lavington Plantation, West Sussex

Another tiny (5 x 5 cm) tapestry from the Purl and Loop Wee Weaver.  I am still experimenting with textures and map making.  I am teaching two courses at West Dean later in the year; April 17th using a tiny loom as a sketchbook, and July 10th making a tapestry cuff.

‘Geode II’ is still in progress on the Ashford Loom (aka Aragorn)........