Julie Arkell at Cowslip

Well last time we spoke I was very excited because I was off to Cowslip and the Make Do and Mend workshop.

Cowslip is the loveliest of venues and is a real sanctuary for me. It is the only place where these days I can sit and sew without feeling guilty about work or the children or housework, all things that, at home, take me away from sewing. My creative energies these days are spent making my website beautiful and sourcing lovely fabrics.  So, 2 days away from all this was bliss!

Firstly there was the wonderful Julie, an inspirational lady who I have been longing to meet.  She didn't disappoint and was every bit as lovely as I had heard she was.

I knew that another lovely lady was going to be there as well and I was really lucky to sit next to and spend some quality time with Hen.  We had a lot of fun together!  Do pop over to her blog and see her lovely photos of Cowslip.

When I arrived I was tapped on the back and when I turned round I was so surprised to see Pennie!  Pennie and I have know each other for about 7 years now and first met at Cowslip on the Janet Bolton Workshops. We went on to do 4 more workshops together.  She lives in Sussex and I in Devon so it was always so lovely to meet up every year and catch up.  Sadly I haven't been able to do the Janet Bolton workshop for a few years and  have missed her. I had no idea she was going to be there so it was a wonderful surprise and I enjoyed catching up with her news.

There was a charity event going on at the same time so I was asked to bring my fabrics and have a pop up shop at the farm along with Lizzie and Linda who were there with their beautiful French treasures.

So, on to the workshop.  Firstly there was Julie's beautiful work.  They were displayed on pieces of vintage children's clothing.

 

Her Tic Toc watches.  

and her whimisical creatures

The first day we made brooches based on WWII brooches that Julie had seen in the Imperial War Museum's exhibition, using wool, fabric and felt flowers.

This was my one.

After we had finished that we made fabric flowers based on a brooch Julie had made

The flowers were to look like they had come out of your Grannie's attic with a worn and washed, floppy look.

I started with a ragwort and then made a daisy and a poppy.  I can't tell you how time consuming these are. Julie makes it look easy!

 

I then added another flower and a label.

 

After ageing, they now look like this

They are still a work-in-progress and I have much to do to finish it.

I was constantly drawn to one of Juie's characters and kept coming back to it all weekend.  It had the word 'why?' embroidered on to her skirt. With her floral dress and red shoes she had to be mine. 

I had such a lovely time, Julie's advice and inspiration was priceless and if you ever get the opportunity to do a workshop with her I urge you to do one!

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From Fabrics Scraps

Tomorrow I am going to meet a lady who I have been wanting to meet for a long time. Cowslip Workshops has long been a sewing sanctuary of mine, I have been going there for about 11 years now, and this weekend I am going to attend a course run by the wonderful Julie Arkell!

So today I have been sorting out fabric scraps, ribbons and buttons, ready to take. It's hard to know what to take and what to leave behind!

They started out like this

but after ironing them I got to sorting them into piles and then they ended up like this

So here is my basket, all packed and ready to go

I shall be back to let you know what I made!

p.s If you can, come to the Cowslip Workshops tomorrow as Jo is having a charity sale and tea party. I will have a stall there. Lizzie and Linda will also be there with their wonderful French textiles. Pin It

Happy, Smiley, Half Term

This  week has flown by. It has been a wonderful half term, made even better because my eldest had a week off as well so we all got to spend some time together.

We went to stay with a friend in her beautiful home in Lyme Regis and were thoroughly spoiled as she is the best hostess. We were fed with gorgeous food and lounged around in the sun (yes sun!!). She has two lovely boys and the sweetest dog, so the children were very happy and we had the occasional trip into Lyme, mostly to visit the Town Mill Bakery and Susie Cole (so I was happy!).

After staying in such a beautiful and immaculate home I came back to my shabby chic house, the emphasis being on the shabby part, and decided that I really needed to get my house in order. It is a never ending problem, with the career I have, that my house is often cluttered, disorganised and sometimes chaotic. I dream of having a well ordered house with everything having a place and the 'less is more' ethos so that  just a selection of my favourite things are own show. I came home determined to do something about it and get a little order in my home.

Well Friday was a whirl of house cleaning, laundry and supermarket shopping to restock the bare pantry and by Friday evening I was feeling pretty happy with myself, so much so that I decided to bunk off from my new Domestic Goddess role and visit the SMILE exhibition!

The exhibition features 13 different makers working in wood, textiles, pottery, metal and ceramics with the same narrative - Smile. 

Two of the artists featured are Janet Bolton and Julie Arkell.  I have attended 5 of Janet's workshops and will be doing a two day workshop with Julie in the Summer so this exhibition was a must for me.

Lucy Casson's metal and fabric characters are just delightful

The little people working on this chair reminded me of Borrowers.

 

Craig  Mitchell's ceramic pieces are exquisite and humorous

Lindsey Mann's amazing jewellery, each with instructions for use

Adorable sculptures by Abbott and Ellwood.  I especially liked the Lost Adults tent!

Janet Bolton's work was a joy to see, as ever.  I could not photograph the textile pictures as the sun was shining brightly on them and they were behind glass.

 

I was delighted to see her new work, featuring small objects placed in boxes. These 3D  pieces are a new departure for her and one I was pleased to see, not least because I had seen the small toy animals before and knew that she had bought them in Honiton, en route to our course at the Cowslip Workshops. It was so nice to see them having a starring role!

 

Last but by no means least, Juie Arkell's whimsical characters.

 

Just divine!  I can't wait to meet her.

The exhibition is on at the gallery in Frome until 20th March and then it travels around the UK.  Do try and catch it if you can. If you aren't able to, I hope you have enjoyed these images.

On our way to Frome we have to pass through the town of Shepton Mallet.  There is a certain shop there that I have wanted to visit ever since it opened over a year ago now.

 

Yes it's the wonderful Nostalgia at No 1, run by my friend Niki.  

I haven't managed to get there before as I usually go to the Shepton Mallet flea market on a Sunday when Niki is having a well-earned day off, actually not a day off but a day sourcing new stock!

It was everything I thought it would be and more. Niki has such exquisite taste and has filled her shop with her beautiful and unusual finds as well as her own gorgeous creations.  I was spoiled for choice!  

The way everything is displayed is just mouthwatering and, in addition to her good taste, you can see that she has a background in shop display.  If you haven't been already, do go, you will be so pleased you did.

 

So a lovely week, I'm sure you'll agree?  What did you do?

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