Monday 5 May 2014

Fabulously messy studio, plus the show that caused it

I have one of our favourite treats here .. messy studio pictures .. so get a cuppa and settle down to gloat and relish ..
SO here we are .. just inside the door and looking right.. to the 'wet' area
 .. can I even get in?
 
 
 
I've managed to get about 2 ft .. and the view is not improving ...
 
 
another couple of feet .. and still deteriorating ..
 
 
am ashamed ..
 
 
poor Thelma .. abused as ever .. no wonder she sometimes smokes on the job ..
 
 
storage system breakdown .... (and yummy driftwood)
 
 
got to the table .. it is under there and turned round .. oh ...
  
 
 
 this is my washing up system .. I put them in to 'soak' and then to 'drain' .... several days ago - fortunately we have a dishwasher in the main house .. fear I am a slut
 
 
 
 right .. back out of wet area and turning right into collage and stitch area ..
  
 
not much of either is going to get done on here ..( a plus side here is I have been looking for that green spray bottle for AGES .. obviously it is only visible on photos)
 
 
or on my Janome .. hiding under here ...
 
 
or indeed on my HQ16 .. buried under here ..
 
 
and round to the right .. into the 'office area .. honest .. that is what it is .. there are 3 printers under there somewhere
 
 
useful sitting area with pathetic attempt at organising list .. I suspect I lost it after item 3 ...
 
 
desk .. and facebook on in the background .. I do tend to forget and leave it on like this .. so if I appear to be there but ignoring you .. this will be what is going on. What a bad desk .. must have majorly untidy mind then ..
 
 
Hope that was enjoyable. It isn't for poor Stephen, who is a very tidy man (weird) - I know it makes him physically traumatised having to even look .. poor soul. But it just always happens when I am manically busy running up to a show, exhibition etc. So lets have a few pictures of the exhibition. This was at the British Quilt and Stitch Village at Uttoxeter, where Traplet very kindly gave me a HUGE space to show a gallery of work .. these are first thing, before the punters arrived
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and here is Stephen .. happier and keeping the shop area organised and tidy. Shows are a real eye opener for him .. he is always surprised how much people know about him (he doesn't do Facebook and so has no idea!) He does a great job and I couldn't manage without him ..  
 
 
 and here are a few images of the latest pieces I have completed .. some very last minute!!
 
A Feminine Touch .. 1 to 4
 
 
Beauty Matters 4 to 7 
 
 
Shape of Nature 1 & 2 
 
 
 
Beauty Matters 8 to 11: Willow 1 - 4
 
 
 Jugs 9: The Artists Jug
 
 
 
As you can see - it was a great opportunity to get some good photos whilst they were all hung up on white backgrounds .. thank you Angela. So I now have some good images for the website, where I will be updating all the galleries very soon with new work and pieces for sale.
 
I have been so busy this year and seriously have not had a day off since Christmas .. so after the show, I had a lovely day at Harlow Carr gardens, with a good friend. It was bliss to just potter in the sunshine, chat, eat buns and not work .. although of course I took a lot of photos, which will no doubt make their way into future work. I will post lots of those .. but for now .. here is a favourite .. some beautiful anemones. Thank you for visiting .. talk soon - Hilary x
 

 

19 comments:

  1. I think your workspace just about has the edge on mine, and I've been tidying up! Trouble is my workspace takes over most of the house ;-) Where would we be without our lovely supportive partners? Mine likes order and tidiness to and tries without success to inflict it on me. I love the anemones too and like someone on FB said we only have anemone blanda in our garden. This is the second time I've written this comment, the first one got eaten so apologies if it resurrects itself.

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    1. sorry about eaten message Julie .. my blog does seem to have peckish days .. a good supportive partner goes a long way in this world without a doubt and always pleased to have confirmation that others are just a messy as me xx

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  2. I feel positively angelic with my chaotic but smaller workspace! But you should see the mess Daughter No 1 creates!

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    1. you are of course an angel Hilary .. goes with then name! xx

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  3. I don't need to show pics of mine now... can just say ditto! :-)
    Might take a pic when it is all sorted.

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    1. agreed Diane .. cant be tidying and be creative all at once .. got to choose .. and that's a no brainer! xx

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  5. Mines a mess but I would go nuts if it went that far. And I'm very much not a tidy freak! I do like logic and sequential though so all the pile would have to be piles of the same thing. Ish. No OCD just an itch to scratch.

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    1. I know Amo .. I don't like it myself when it gets SO bad .. but it just seems to happen! I like a good piling system .. and feel that if I ever carve out enough time to install one, that would work well for me. You can see that I already have a natural affinity for piles (glad that comment is not on FB .. would no doubt prove irresistible!) xx

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  6. Hilary, I once knew an artist who painted pictures of the brambles in his garden because he said it was easier than trying to dig them out. I wonder, if you are trying the same method?!! Not that I am any tidier - I just don't take pictures of my mess - I just despair!
    I loved seeing your work posted here. The background texture of the willow pieces is fantastic. And what a difference just a bit of hand stitching on the beauty maters and shapes of nature makes. Of course, it is your artistry in knowing just what to stitch where that does it! I wish I had made it to the show to see them all. A bit too far and I was ill. I've been trying to find pictures of entries and prize winners on the web. I entered the wall hanging and won 2nd and I'd love to see the other winners. Do you know of anyone who has taken pictures and will post them? Anyway, congrates on the exhibition - it looks fabulous. And bon courage with the tidying up!!

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    1. Oh - congratulations to you!! I think you were beaten into second place in the wall-hangings by Pauline Barnes .. who makes exquisite work and tends to win loads of things .. so no shame there at all. What a shame you were poorly and couldn't come and see your work with rosette (always makes me happy). I do hope you are feeling better now. I would go to the BQSV website and see if they are posting images .. I bet they are, either there or on facebook. Big hug lunging at you xx

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  7. I love your blog, Hilary - you are so human and make me feel so much better! But just look at the beauty that comes out of your chaos. Wish I could say the same!

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  8. Thank you Wendy .. and yes, I am very very human I fear! What you need to remember is that most of us don't see the beauty in our own pieces .. only in other peoples. You have something unique to put in this world .. and out of your chaos it will surely arise, as long as you let it!! xx

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  9. Forget what your workspace looks like. Creating wonderful work and teaching flows from you. You seem to be doing what is right for you. I tidy my area when I am lacking inspiration, tidying is not good in my eyes.

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    1. I forget myself how bad it can get sometimes Irene .. and your point is exactly right .. we all have to work in the way that suits us .. I don't necessarily like this scene! .. but it seems to be a necessary part of my creative process .. xx

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  10. It was a great space at the show - you were going full pelt in the demonstration when I popped in. It was great to be able to see a range of your work, close up. It was a really good show.

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    1. Thanks Sarah - yes, Angela and Traplet did me proud with that space .. it was lovely for me to be able to show a range of work .. and interesting to see the progression mapped out on the walls in a way. It is a lovely show .. and I'm hoping I can get a space next year .. better get mailing xx

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  11. Hi, you have made me feel a whole lot better about my room, I really really must. The work is stunning as always. This is a bit late as we have been in Spain and then France(lots of photos - back to reallity and THE ROOM before I start!
    Sandra xx

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