A fantastic day out

Lost in Lace...and I literally was...

This will be one of my click the link posts...

This week Mum, Dad and I visited BMAG to experience the Lost in Lace exhibition. The museum was buzzing (numbers possibly enhanced by visitors to the 10 daVinci drawings currently on loan) with a wide range of ages. We approached the LiL hall via displays of traditional lace, from BMAGs textile collection, and information about its history, techniques, and makers. Whilst interesting and informative it could not have been more different to our exciting experience in the main exhibition!

The information leaflet invites you to

'Step into a world of lace like you've never seen before. See how the patterns, materials and cultural traditions of lace are represented through radical new approaches by UK and international artists. Featuring large scale, theatrical and visually spectacular work, this exhibition challenges perceptions of what lace can be, involving the visitor in an environment where spaces become fluid and thread creates entirely new boundaries.' ...and we did just that - we were challenged to think out of the box (and in it in a couple of installations!), it was certainly theatrical and visually spectacular!

On entering we were mesmerised by the sparkling beauty and ingenuity of Atelier Manferdini's Inverted Crystal Cathedral glimpsed through the magnificently tall yet delicate  Cosmos Series by Naomi Kobayashi. 

There was an amazing video installation by Kathleen Rogers of a piece of black lace (donated to BMAG by Lady Cadbury) magnified by an electron microscope accompanied by a soundtrack of noisy silkworms munching on mulberry leaves.

I loved walking in and out of Piper Shepard's  Lacing Space exhibit enveloping and complementing the architectural structure of part of the hall.

However we were all blown away by Liz Nilsson's The latticed eye of memory. It was amazing on so many different levels and angles! Patterns and colours came and went as you walked around, up close or far away, shadows were cast and moved...you could see all sorts of images and they would change as you moved a fraction - just as the artist describes.

Each exhibit had a desk with information about  the designers and their approach, relationship with or philosophy about lace.  I particularly liked Reiko Sudo's definition of lace. Most also included a sample of fabric so you could add the dimension of touch to your overall experience.

I could enthuse so much more about each piece - however some of you local to Brum may wish to catch it in the next week  and I'd like you to form your own interpretations...
..alternatively  the Lost in Lace website gives you some glimpses of the background to the exhibition and fabulous artists..

I have a fascination for peering through holes (!)(framing the items within and beyond) and watching the patterns shadows cast on objects ...

this exhibition was a dream come true for both of those preoccupations - even the grates in the floors were a feature!

Quoting from  the booklet again  'The works in this exhibition play with the ideas around the holes, spaces, boundaries and structures that lace creates.'

I realise that this has been a text heavy post and without much space or holes! I regret not taking my camera as photography was permitted...but I will add a few lace-y images from my own archive..

The guide talks about lace continuously evolving -
and I can convincingly say it is..... and how cool is that?!

Appreciating Design!

One of my favourite occupations is to admire creativity - whether it be in the form of words (written or spoken), pictures (2 and 3D), sounds, textures, aromas or tastes!
I love catching up with blogs, facebook statuses, on-line crafty shops, and being antisocial with a good book!  I am intrigued by knitting and crochet patterns, inspired by tutorials, calmed by photos, delighted by illustrations, and prompted to think by musings...
I know how much time, dedication and thought is put into designing each and every  post, project pattern, perambulation, piece and product..

I have mentioned before that I have a scientific background, 

however, I might not have said out loud that my early attempts at  creativity were frustrated by the finished article not bearing a suitable resemblance to the fabulous image in my head! 

I know I have confessed to wanting to run before I can walk... 

and have been thinking about all of this a lot recently... in particular the fact that in the past I seem to skip the experimental or design part of a project entirely, in a sprint to finish, and consequently land at a less than satisfying final product.

I was enabled to appreciate design earlier in the year when I made a birthday cake - easy peasy..round cake, white icing and a green X  - sorted! 

It wasn't until I looked closely at the iconic logo that it is so much more than a green X on white! (Maybe I was subconsciously avoiding the white box that generates so many emotions and gobbles so much time!) 

I'm sure the multi-talented design team that produced the logo would have been disappointed in my dismissive initial impression, but I hope to rectify that by saying how much more I appreciate their work now that I have studied it carefully!

The silvery wool top was great to needlefelt with  - I'm not sure what it was as it came in a bag of mixed fibres from Sara's Texture Crafts....

It was a well received birthday card!

On another designer subject...the process of wet felting is liberating and I have been really pleased with all of my pieces so far, especially as there is still an element of surprise in the finished product.  Some fibres disappear when wet and slowly reveal themselves as they dry, some move or wriggle or wiggle and others change shape as they are felted. Colours blend and different tones appear depending on neighbouring hues.
I have been having fun designing and experimenting; choosing colours, techniques and textures for a project a friend has requested..this week she's hopefully going to see some of the ideas I have so far..and maybe I'll have the confidence to reveal them here too! I am hoping that the element of surprise will be reduced slightly in the finished piece..as I have another one of those fabulous pictures in my head....

In a bid to encourage my stages of  design-ability  (and to aid my sieve like memory) I do now have a bulging sketch book full of scribbles, hastily jotted notes of quantities, colours, things to improve and what worked well, and lists of what went where so the same item is not given to the same person twice!

Speaking of designers...Jenny over at love and peas* designs the most amazing mixed media and fabric creations...she is currently running a giveaway for a custom made embroidery...if you hurry you might catch it!

I'm off to appreciate some more designs...thawing footprints in the snow and snowpeople!
and later this week I'm going to (get) Lost in Lace at BMAG....

Astonishing Splashes of Colour!

...named after an amazing book by the fabulous Clare Morrall

I've been mesmerised by colours recently...choosing and ordering shades for a new project..watching the tones change in my current makes...viewing the vibrant sunsets and sunrises...and wearing my new trainers!!
Well, they are not strictly new..I've had them for a while, I bought them off the internet, the colour choice was made by the RW men, and they have been glowing like a Dr Who creation in the corner by the door ever since.
I decided I should embrace their vibrancy and headed off to the supermarket in my neon pink  footwear!

Its obviously very difficult to show the actual colour on screen or we wouldn't have had such a shock when we initially opened the box!
However I do love them..I kept glancing down at my feet whilst shopping, and have since cleaned the specks of mud and dirt off them - that won't last long!

My usual in front of the tv occupation (except during Danish subtitled dramas) has been flower looming. I have been using the wool I blogged about here..

  Knitcol by Adriafil 100% merino shade 60 Rousseau phantasy

I just keep winding the next flower from where  the last one left off but having used the whole ball a pattern seems to have developed...

maybe not as random as I first thought!

 The other very soft and fascinating yarn is
Rowan Colourscape chunky by Kaffe Fasset....100% lambswool 

in candy pink....shade 434 

Every flower is  different in shade to the next..some are very subtle and others less so...you can see the stages of transformation if you follow the photo below from left to right, right to left and left to right.... from purpley green through to purpley blue via orange and pink! All from a continuous flow of yarn.

Each contains flecks either large or small from the previous shade...some of the shades reminded me of  food...strawberry sherbets, raspberry sorbet, barley sugars...too many beautiful colours to put a name to..
the colours are so sumptuous up close...it really has been a pleasure to work with and I'm missing it now I have wound up almost all the hank.

I now have a deep boxful bursting with  blooms..next stage to needlefelt the middles and fulfil a suggestion from a while back..

Our carpets have been transforming into rainbows too...with odd threads of sari silk, fibre tufts, stray sock fluff (from new Christmas socks!!), yarn remnants etc...I suppose its a hazard of a colourful fibre fan!!

Random new thoughts!

The excitement in our house lasts through Christmas, New Year, Twelfth Night and beyond as we have a significant birthday in January. It has taken a while for things to calm down a little and for me to find time and coherent words to compose a post. Lots of things have been buzzing away and happening some of a woolly nature and some more random! 

I have been slowly emerging from my Christmas associated creative hibernation ...and have made a piece of poetry inspired wetfelt, and a needlefelted birthday card. Hopefully they will have their own posts soon.

In the meantime I have some newsy items to share:

 New beginnings:

An exciting independent wool shop, Fibre Flurry has opened close by.

It is a treasure trove of colourful (more than 70%) wooliness hosted by an enthusiastic proprietor.

There's lots of other items to catch the eye and regular knitting gatherings.

On my first visit I was very restrained and only browsed -  taking in the colours and textures as if by osmosis. I bumped into a woolly friend (who taught me to needlefelt...)I hadn't seen for ages and we had a bit of a yarn (hee hee).

At this point the wonders of the www come into play....

fairly recently Kate from Johnshaven (way up North) sent me a link to a Birmingham blog that happened to mention Fibre Flurry.

She also featured, a while ago, a handmade book on her blog (that her daughter had made...that was inspired by Jenny at Love and Peas*) that sowed a seed that I have been nurturing
soooo....I have been  back to Fibre Flurry and have booked (ho ho) myself onto a stab stitch book course.

OOOH how exciting...thank you Kate for the seed...

Lots of bloggers have been sharing inspirational words for the New Year...I have been pondering this (for a few weeks) and I am still searching for mine.

Going with the flow?....

I was going to have 'Go with the flow' (I know its 4 words).. aiming to be a bit more laid back..however as it also has connotations to following the crowd I decided it wasn't quite me!

Walking past the nearby Quaker meeting house a large bright red poster encourages passers by to 'Live adventurously' this is one of the  Quakers Advices and Queries

I think I might try to follow that advice sometimes!

Two of my bloggy friends Tracey and Jenny  are doing just that and have started new ventures. I would like to wish them every success as they continue to inspire and move their bursting creativity to another level. Must also wish Helen lots of success with her creating and selling ventures too! 

Perhaps there'll be others opening outlets?.....I'm hoping at least one stateside etsy shop might open sometime..?!

.....while I'm here - I'd just like to say: how amazing are the scents of hyacinths?!

maybe we'll have smellivision one day?! x

Twelfth Night!

Its all looking a bit minimal around here as all the decorations are down and the tree is waiting in the garage to be disposed of (hopefully before September like last year's - it didn't drop at all in that time!)

In my Being Creative Vintage post I talked about the groovy 70s decorations we embellished...well, as I gazed at Mum and Dad's tree there they all were!

....there was one that had a purple velvet band with pearly sequins and some of mum's tatting...it turned out to be lace...but there's tatting to follow!

a large one with  strings and a (made by mum) basket attached -  in which Santa perched in his hot air balloon, given to Grandad;

 and Grandma had a ...blue one covered in tatting and sparkles.

I found another that I had forgotten:

...tatting, lace, velvet, sequins and sparkles!

You can see where I inherited my love of crafty things!

.....As promised the favourite (post -war) decoration from my Grandad's tree...

my brother and I had lots of fun with this cheeky chappie!!

They are all safely packed away for another year....

Being Creative - Winter

When I first saw this topic, in the spring, I imagined sparkling white snow scenes, snow capped tree tops, snowdrops peeking through solid icy ground...how distant that seems at the moment! Although the wind is howling the temperatures are unseasonably warm!

So instead of posting my snowy trees...

....I will be registering a randomness of Robins!
We have some in the garden and they nest regularly - one family in the drain hopper by our back door. It was a delight to watch (and hear) the chirpy stages of their development especially when they poked their fluffy heads over the edge!

First up: some made by others:

a well loved commercial sample

Tracey's new to needlefelting beautiful bird inspired by Kirstie - I'm so proud to display your first fluttery felt on our tree!

a striking stained glass species by another good friend Vix. 
I love the texture in the brown glass and the shiny shadows it casts - if it is sunny!

one of my early broods - a bit basic and flattened over the years but the curly Wensleydale still fluffy!

 Remodelled and homemade wet felted brown feathers...something I only dreamed about this time last year!
 

 Class of 2011!

This little fella missed the mass photo shoot...he was the first of this years hatchlings and was put away to keep him safe, only to be found when all the others had flown the nest. 

I'm secretly quite glad as it meant we could keep him!

So this is my rather belated December Being Creative post...there's a new flexible format to Being Creative 2012 without monthly deadlines...great as I have been so late the last few months!
I've really enjoyed meeting new creative bloggy friends and being inspired by so many interpretations of  the themes. Look forward to seeing many of you again on Flickr...when I have got the hang of it!
Watch out for some more Being Creative blog posts too...but maybe more randomly!

Happy New Year!

Lots of new supplies....Lots of new ideas.....lots of new techniques to learn!

Very early new life in the garden.... these purpley blooms have appeared where our blue and white hyacinths were dumped....

A whole new bloggy year... to be creative!

I have had  a fabulous few months in blogland, 

I've made and been inspired by lots of new friends, and a few old ones!....

many thanks for all your support and amazing comments.

Hope you all have a happy, healthy, creative, successful and fun 2012!

 x