Open Studios at the Bramble Patch, Weedon - the PLAN

Well - OK - I haven't got a very detailed one .. although Steph has done a spread sheet for us. But I have had 'thoughts' and 'ideas' about what might be fun to share with anyone who comes along. I know both Steph and I are often asked about how we get from initial inspiration to a finished piece of work, and I think we are both going to be working through that process in some way during our three days at the Bramble Patch. Sorry if you are doing nothing of the sort Steph - you will obviously have to now.  So - I am planning  some new work for an exhibition I have next March, called the Shape of Nature and would like this to be a continuation of some pieces I have already made. I've decided to start with this boy 'Bulrushes' (another thought provoking name from me)

This was an early quilt for me, but I still love those shapes and I also found a lovely pile of sketches I had done from some photos of bulrushes .. which included this sheet:

 

These are aimed at being either separate mounted works, or possibly triptychs. Another group I have just joined has a challenge where we are making pieces in squares - so I thought I would go for these square designs, both for practice and a bit of possible multi-tasking, as the theme for that group happens to be Nature .. handy! I could do them on plain backgrounds as in the original quilt ,, but I fancied a bit of detail in the background. I also fancied a moon as in  my latest Orientation pieces .. 'Many Moon's ... I do find that ideas feed into one another. So I have collaged down these three backgrounds:

 

Left:

 

 

Centre:

 

and Right:

 

 These don't look very exciting yet - but hopefully they will. I've started quilting the backgrounds and will then be adding applique layers on top: 

 

 

The original is in a very subdued palette - especially for me, and I fancy using a rather more fauvist approach to colour on these ones - and (finally getting to the point) that is what I will be doing as part of the open studios. Using my sketches, I will be cutting and applying the applique to these pieces ready to stitch.

 

I'm also planning some different work, still with the bulrush theme, so will be cutting some stencils, making some stamps and also using thermofax screens to create some fabrics and papers to inspire further work. I'll hopefully also get a chance to start using these to build some new designs and collages. Can't wait actually - Annes wet room is such a gorgeous place to work. So if you can manage it - do pop in to see us .. lots of room, lovely shop and free coffee and bsicuits .. what's not to like?? - hope to see you there  - Hilary x

 

 

Exhibition, Open Studios and shopping

I went to the Bramble Patch in Weedon last week and whilst there was able to have a look at the exhibition of work by Jan Hassard, Steph Redfern and myself. It has been there throughout August and will be there until the end of the month. I am clearly a bit biased - but talking my own work apart, the work by Jan and Steph is beautiful and well worth a visit .. don't forget your camera. Here are a few images:

This one by Jan is called 'Strata Dreams' I find her use of colour thrilling

 

Another one of Jans - 'Grecian Door' - glorious colour again

 

 

This is  'Lasers in the Jungle' by Steph Redfern ... I love it

 

 

and my first favourite of Stephs quilts - 'Red Tree' ... I studied this for my C+G course with Design Matters - and I still love it

 

 

 

And an old favourite of my own - 'Alliums'

 

and lastly, this one - one of my earliest quilts and quite different to my normal work I think. This was based on a piece of Vintage Fabric and apart from the dark green fabric, is entirely hand painted .. it is too long to hang at home, so it is a treat to see it out

Steph and I are having an Open Studio next week at the Bramble Patch - Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Steph has been making list and plans(??) - I am hoping she has done some for me too. I think we will be basically making materials and then working designs and pieces using them - well that's my rough plan anyway .. so do come along and see us .. we are friendly and it will hopefully be interesting and fun.

Oh - I mustn't forget the shopping. I have now got most of the products I had at the NEC into the shop on my website www.hilarybeattie.co.uk - so if you have mailed asking when they would be there - now is the answer! The only thing I am waiting for is stencils - which completely sold out .. so I will put them on as soon as they arrive .. I've ordered some extra patterns too, so do keep looking.

And lastly before I go and feed a hungry man-  Steph and I  also managed a day out last week. We called it planning for the Open Studios - but actually we went to the Winterbourne Botanical Gardens in Birmingham - which are just stunning and pootled/gossiped and drank tea. I took over 300 photos and will post some (not all - I promise) next time - but for now - here is one of Steph .. looking happy and gorgeous as ever! - talk soon - Hilary x

 

 

 

 

No apologies .. lots of pictures - lots, but they are glorious. Make it Personal Master class students at FOQ

It has taken me all afternoon to up/download these pictures and sort them for the blog. I have whittled them down a bit, but the work produced was really so amazing, I want to share as many as possible. This is what you can do with some simple tools and a bit of time ....

 

First a few classroom shots: Jane and Jenny with Karen, Bernice and Janet in the background

 

 

Sandra and Dee

 

 

 

Alison P, Alison D. Kaye and Margaret

 

 

Bernice and Janet 

 

 

Alison and Margaret

 

 

Ness and Gaye

  

 

Jenny (doing her scientist impression) and Karen

 

 

As you can see - they are all intent on their work and creating some lovely stuff. We made stamps and stencils and then used them, together with thermofax screens, dye and paint to colour cloth and paper ... here are pieces with paint but before dyeing

 

This is  Gilli's - unfortunately I missed her off a lot of shots as she was sadly suffering with a bad neck, so could only do a limited amount of time .. but these are some  glorious prints made using a vintage fabric as inspiration

 

 

Janes gorgeous leaves and flowers

 

 

 

Karen was printing over some commercial papers - with great results

 

 

 

Alison P's wonderful stamps and stencils based on flower images

  

 

 

Sandras materials based on sea and beach huts imagery (plus a brilliant seagull)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lovely piece using architecture as inspiration

 

 

 

 

Rolling paint onto  a stamp

 

 

Some lovely printing from Alison P from flower inspiration 

 

 

 

And then we went in with the dyes!! Straight over the paint, giving stunning resists

 

Bernice was using coast as inspiration and here show glorious tropical colour choices (although she wanted duck egg blue!) 

 

 

 

Architecture based materials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flower based materials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seaside based materials

 

 

 

On day two. the girls used their prepared materials and started to work in to sketchbooks or straight to fabric, working on designs for future work:

 

 Karen

 

 

 

 

Margaret

 

 

Jane

 

 

Jenny

 

 

 

Margaret 

 

 

 

 

Ness

 

 

Karen

 

 

Alison D

 

 

Jane

 

 

Jenny

 

 

Bernice

 

 

Janet

 

 

Gaye

 

 

Janet

 

 

And finally - at the end of the day, we laid out all the work to look at .. it was truly glorious collection of colour, pattern and form.

 

Kaye

 

 

 

Dee (left) Sandra (right)

 

 

Sandra (l) and Karen (r)

 

 

Sandra (l) and Karen (r)

 

 

Karen (l) and Gaye (r)

 

 

Gaye (l) and Alison P (r)

 

 

Gaye, Alison P and Alison D

 

 

Alison P

 

 

Alison D

 

 

Jenny

 

 

 

Jane

 

 

Ness

 

 

Margaret

 

 

Margaret

 

 

Bernice

 

 

 

 

Dee 

 

 

 

Sandra

 

 

 

Karen

 

 

Alison P

 

 

 

Ness

 

 

Janet

 

 

 

 

How could I leave out any of those? The group worked incredibly hard, staying until 6pm the first day and many back at 8.30 the following one. The work produced was outstanding - without exception and I really hope all of the girls will carry on with this, and move some of these unique designs in to finished pieces - and maybe enter them at FOQ next year! - Hilary x