Six months ago when I agreed to all my deadlines they seemed to be quite easy to accomplish...I now have two weeks to meet 3 deadlines and even though I have had six months notice I still find myself working late to meet them. Is it an artist thing? My time management? Or is it when you start creating the ideas keep coming and coming and you just don't seem to be able to stop!
The first deadline is for Durham Cathedral through the artist group-Interface Arts. I have a series of drawings and photographs based around the Northumberland Coastline-this particular series focused on the sea grasses that I love to walk through. Even though they are only a few centimetres high one the drawings that I did of them was 150cm x 50cm. I then took a photograph and worked in Photoshop to design new images ready for Fabric Digital Print then Stitch.

 

Once the images had been printed I began to embellish them with machine and hand stitching...I wanted to keep the stitching quite light so the original print could still be seen quite clearly.

 

 

The original painting was in full colour but after some experimentation I decided to keep two drawings in greyscale and two in full colour.

 

 

The exhibition opens 20th November and runs until 9th December in the Galilee Chapel in Durham Cathedral.

 



 

 





A new exhibition will be taking place in St Marys Church, in the beautiful market town of Barnard Castle. I have been collaborating with two artists/designers Rebecca Hawkin and Rebecca Errington to bring you 'On the Surface...an exhibition of Design, Print & Embroidery'.
We are having a preview and artist talk on the 26th November 6.30pm to 8.30pm-a great chance to meet the artists & designers and ask them about their work-and of course there will be tea & coffee and some delish homemade treats!

So the third and final posting on Yarndale! On the Saturday it was simply impossible to leave my stand it was so so busy, and once again, thank you to everyone who came to say hello and all the lovely comments-it really makes it worth while when you can share what you do and know people enjoy it! So on the Sunday I did manage a very quick walk round, and even though I would like to talk about all 150 exhibitors it is  simply not possible but what I do suggest is you put the date in your diary for Yarndale next year!




I first met Anne Brooke at Art in the Pen and then she accepted my invitation to exhibit at an art gallery that I managed last year, she sold one of her pieces within three hours of hanging! So I just had to go and say hello. As a textile artist she applies her skills not only to pictures but creates vases, cards and many other beautiful productss-her website is www.annebrooke.co.uk.



Then just a few stands (pens) down I met Jackie Lunn, a textile artists working in felt...more gorgeous work...loved the colour and the variety of her work. Then in the pen next door to me was Lucy Storrs who had travelled up from London to share her felt pictures.  Unfortunately I could not import pictures into my blog but please visit the links to see their work.
And finally-Jenny Pepper. A felt textile artist based in Yorkshire, she runs regular workshops so take a look at her website for more information!

 

Everyone was so friendly it made such a difference to the weekend but now I must go and get back to my work for a textile exhibition in St. Marys Church in the beautiful market town of  Barnard Castle from 26th November...more information to follow!!!

Well I'm afraid this is Yarndale-part 2... I received an email from a lovely lady called Ingrid-along with some photographs she had taken of me! Ingrid was the first person that I met when I walked into the cattle mart on a very cold Friday evening....and to be honest I have not stopped smiling-like her gorgeous makes she is bigger than life and so funny, friendly and helpful!

Ingrid Wagner

And so the photographs she took of me-and yes it was a little nippy in North Yorkshire hence all the layers

This is my first tailored jacket I made whilst living in Oxford-it is over 15 years old-proof that British Woven Wools are simply the best! It was the first time I had paid a lot for my fabrics....£40 per mtre!!

My new menswear collection....I think 'Im getting there....



...and I think Ingrid would kill me if I didn't show you this one-I genuinely have a problem with my photo
being taken and that's why you don't see many of me!!

Well autumn is really here at last-lovely chilly mornings and gorgeous colour to inspire. I have just returned from a brilliant weekend in Skipton, Yorkshire. The event was Yarndale and it was the first event of its kind and yes it was all about wool! I thought I would take a chance to promote my workshops and my new collection of waistcoats as I use British wool and tweeds as much as I possibly can. I can honestly say I have never seen so many people at an event on BOTH days, met some amazing people and my fellow exhibitors where fab! Oh.....forgot to say....it was in a cattle market!!

This picture is a little fuzzy-I was a little tired after unloading!

I had a double pen-one side to show people what I did and one side for my demo's-I think it looks ok!

Love my steps-made especially for display  by Endeavour Woodcrafts

A few weeks ago I decided it was time to go to the seaside!! I am very lucky to live here in County Durham and I can be at the coast within 40 minutes-something I missed very much when I used to live in a city.
So car packed, my little dog Molly on the back seat, and my map-just in case. We headed to the beautiful seaside town of Saltburn.....and what a fabulous surprise we got when we arrived....its was Saltburns annual Food Festival.
 

The weather was perfect and it was so busy! It was great walking around with all sorts of food stalls along with some really nice antique shops and the not forgetting the charity shop where I bought yet another old table cloth. I cant help it the cotton is simply the best-dyes beautifully and a dream to embroider!

 Then I heard some old time music and some amazing laughter....and turned around and saw this fabulous site...
Jean and Morag, Tea Ladies. They were riding around on their bike with an old gramophone record playing serving up tea and being very very funny!

Then continuing down the street more music playing-and more shops. I could imagine even in bad weather this will be a great event-its in my diary for next year!

Then we headed to the sea-Molly was desperate for a paddle. I have been coming to Saltburn since the age of 2 and I love it. I have seen Saltburn change over the years but now I think it has found its place-its great for the Arts & Culture, a fantastic beach to walk on and plenty of Fish & Chips to end the day...well you cant go to the seaside and not have Fish & Chips!!

 

Life does throw some funny little curve balls at you. A few months ago I arranged to go to a trade fair in Birmingham, and ended up spending a night in a convent-which I will admit was (1) not something I was expecting or  (2) looking forward to....but I do like surprises...it only turns out that we were in the company of some of the original midwives that 'Call the Midwife' was based on.

From this encounter my friend Jacqui and I agreed to help in the conversion of  an unused bakery in the convent to a community room. At this point I need to digress...for those of you conjuring up images of  dark rooms, long habits and silence....you could not be further from the truth......it was like going round my mates house only without the cocktails and wine!! So a few months later I find myself in the convent again-much to the amusement of my friends and this is what we did!

 This is what we walked into! Sister Ruth's daughter-Christina Willets - had the vision and the knowledge to get it this far (along with a lot of help from the nuns and volunteers). Jacqui and I were so surprised at the colours-it was a designers dream! So we got the table outs and decamped-with kettle and biscuits!
The sewing room... this is what it looked like when we started.....funny I don't have any 'photies' of what it looked like after a couple of hours....we were of course extremely tidy!!

 So the first drapes and yes Jacqui being very glamorous in doing so!!! And one of Jacqui's creations...(there are more pictures but my camera died!)
 So after 3 whole days of stitching, eating and sleeping...(oh and yes half a days window shopping on Sunday in one of the most amazing shopping streets I have been too - I felt like I was in another country-the colours-the fabrics-the smells.....totally amazing!) We completed the room...and once Jacqui works out how to use her new camera I will have more photographs to share!

 



So now its the end of July and what a fabulous month we have had! It has been so busy for me with lots of talks and workshops, a brilliant contract making banners for the Lindesfarne Gospels, a trip to London and great holiday in Northumberland! But now its back down to work...well if you can call creating and making and exhibiting and teaching work......
So where to begin-probably with my initial shock of getting off the train at Kings Cross, London. I have been going to London since the age of four as my Father worked for British Rail and we had 'Freepasses' to travel any where in the country for free-so I have seen many many changes at Kings Cross over the years, from it being a dirty station with prostitutes waiting patiently for business outside, along with tramps begging for money to this-for more images check out The Guardians feature.




I could not believe my eyes-and then I went into St Pancreas....
London for me is total inspiration there are a couple of haunts I visit regularly-such as the V&A museum-and their new Fashion and Textile display-I spend hours in here, sketching, note taking and not forgetting a visit to the book shop....








Then from the V&A off for a bit of shopping-
one of the best things about  London-it simply does not close-all the shops open until 8pm or later...a fab shop is The Wholefoods Market. Three floors of heaven for foodies out there!
So the end of a long day and head back to my 'last minute.com' accommodation in Euston to find a fabulous little Nepalese Restaurant. Looks a bit, well, dodgy, from the outside, but the service and food was amazing! Totally recommend it!

Well my goodness me-what does happen to time...this time last year I had just started working in an Art Gallery -all nervous and excited and its now a whole year later and I'm leaving-all nervous and excited again for what is around the corner. The plan was to take some time off.....I really need to get to grips with my diary planning. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me over the year, but especially all the artists and designers who have trusted me with their work. It has been a very successful year, and WE have proved that people do LOVE art-they must do-sales increased month on month-despite the horrible weather and a broken leg...and visitor numbers trebled.........so a big THANK YOU to everyone. So what will I do now......

First get my work to the new exhibition organised by Interface Arts.
Cafe on the Green in Durham City is a lead into the Lindisfarne Gospels coming to Durham this year.
They are  fabric digital prints, embellished with stitch. The image was taken from an original painting I did a couple of years ago of Coastal Grasses on a holiday up in Northumberland-one of the most beautiful coastlines in Great Britain.

Then on Saturday I will be doing a Talk & Demonstration on Screen & Transfer Printing at the DLI Museum and Art Gallery in Durham City. I will be bringing along samples of my work, lots of different types of equipment & materials so you can see first hand what you will need to get yourself started. Then I will do two demo's on both techniques. The talk starts at 2pm until 3.30pm(ish) and it is free but museum entrance fees still apply. It is a great museum and well worth a visit-plenty of parking too!

Then its time to start concentrating on a brilliant new exhibition in September. This started out as a little exhibition to celebrate the fantastic artistic talent we have in the North, it is now turning into an Art & Design Festival-three main venues,  a gallery, a church and a town hall, over a month and there will also be a programme of events of music, poetry and talks. We had an overwhelming response to our 'call out for artists'.Thinking we would get about, well you know, about 20-maybe 30 responses......so now we have 85 expressions of interest....so my goodness what a celebration it is going to be. Lindisfarne Gospels-1000 Creations. To keep up to date and see what artists & designers are exhibiting click 'like' on the FB page. I will keep posting here too-plus if you would like to be a part in this exiting exhibition-contact Lindsey@lindseystarbornart.com.

And then I'm off to Manchester. London, Oxford and Cambridge-all in the line of duty of course-essential research......and maybe a little holiday......before I begin the research and planning for my solo exhibition in 2014......and then my workshops......and then........

Photography-how many of us take a zillion pictures, then have to go through them, then delete 90% of them!!! So I decided to bite the bullet and go on a Photography course!
David William of Calico Images  who ran a Product Photography in Barnard Castle, it was a small group of 6 which meant we learnt so much! 

                



 

 



The best part was how we were shown
that Photography did not have to be too
expensive-greaseproof paper to make the
light subtle ... table lamps as 'under lighting'...
tin foil to help with reflection...

 

 

 

This one is still a little fuzzy and the light is not great but I like the layout. I use a little Digi camera and I was told to put it on the macro setting that way I can take up really close pictures. It is also best wherever possible to have the camera on a tripod so a Gorilla Tripod was purchased and use the timer button- this eliminates any wobbles.....

 

Then just to make sure we remembered everything...we were given a great handout...and an email address....and telephone number.....big mistake me thinks!!!






I cannot believe the sun is still shining-nearly a whole week and I managed to squeeze in a bit of gardening!! But not before a thoroughly enjoyable evening at Darlington Arts Society.

A lovely friendly group who meet every Wednesday, very relaxed and

they do quite a few exhibitions.

 

I was invited to do a talk on Screen Printing. So I took along a few bits and pieces and also did a couple of demonstrations.


This screen was exposed in my little Print Shed with a hologen light-the neighbours do wonder what I am doing especially as I have a bath in the greenhouse to wash them off!










Here you can see how the Pigment is pulled through the
screen using a Squeegee. You need to test your screen to see how well it prints before you begin your final printing, and also count the 'Pull thru's' to see how many it takes to produce a good print. This all depends on the type of printing pastes you are using and your fabric.





I do try and show people how they can do things on a smaller scale too Thermofax Screens are great if you are just starting out on Screen Printing. I also try to save money wherever I can-here I use an old plastic loyalty card instead of a Squeegee-the results are just as good! You can get your own images onto the Thermofax Screens or you can buy their custom made ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the many highlights this week was going to a great little Folk Club in Newton Aycliffe and seeing to Eddie Walker. This is only the 2nd time I have seen him but he was fab. He's not your usual folk singer more 'ragtime folk' if there is such a thing!! The clip I have attached is one of his songs that I love but a lot of his songs are seriously upbeat.....and an amazing guitar player!
We were introuduced and as he was a local lad it was nice to hear his stories...including the one where as a child he visited North Road Works & Bank Top Station.....and he has wrote a song about the Railways.....I couldnt believe it...so I started talking about my new exhibtion...a small world....

Then I had a lovely ride up to Berwick-just past actually. The weather was beautiful and I had forgotten just how beautiful the coastal route is. I was  visiting The Border Textiles Group and I was made to feel very welcome and the lovely lunch and fab cuppa on my arrival was worth its weight in gold!

So the latest news...I am proud to announce I will be doing my first solo exhibition in 2014! I have been very lucky to secure a space at the Head of Steam Museum, Darlington, County Durham.
It will be a little emotional as before it became a museum it was known as 'North Road Works' and it was where my Dad had his first job! 2014 will be the 10th anniversary of my Dad leaving us-and I could not be more grateful to David Tetlow for allowing me to have my exhibition there.

 

North Road Works Erecting Bay about 1920-1930



David then introduced me to Sarah Gouldsbrough, Access and Learning Officer...to which we both said 'I know you'! After various questions ...are you an artist, an embroiderer, lecturer, did you work in Marks and Sparks.....no joy...until she spoke of her husband being at artist....and it turns out we had a college in common!! Sarah then took me through a door......how many times have I wished to see behind the scenes....what goes on behind closed doors......and then I was shown the history of North Road works.....


Research....what is it?
When I was teaching I could not understand why my students were not too keen on reasearch  ... in my book this is reading, visiting galleries & museums, drinking fab coffee in a fab cafe and watching the world go buy, visiting cities and towns, going to the coast, scrabbling around in skips and junk yards......I suppose if you changed the word....to lets say... exploring....investigating ... looking ... observing...maybe then it would not be such a scary thing!! Mind you once they realised they could go off into the town for a few hours they soon got the hang of it......

High Force Teesdale

Walk to Monmartre France

Newcastle Upon Tyne

For all those Bookworms out there ...
So how many books can one person have.......dont ask as I can hear the floorboards creaking under the weight as we speak. Books, as with fabric, are an addiction to me. I have always loved books! So I thought I would share some of my favourites now and again....it could take some time as I know I will never get to the end.....as I just keep buying more!!




Margaret Rowen, Published by Search
Press

I bought this particular book as my friend Jess Kinnersley has her beautiful embroidery work in it.....but then when it arrived it turned out to be a very good book. Brillian clear instructions on stitch and lots of simple design ideas to get you started!

 

 

 

 

My goodness me will this horrible weather never end. I decided to go out for some fresh air today and was nearly blown away! Lets hope all of those who are having it really bad are coping and my thoughts are with them....and lots of posstive thoughts for warmer weather!! So what can you do on a cold day.....

I could play 'Find the Sox' with my gorgeous Molly-she is very quick and getting them as soon as they hit the bedroom floor!

                                                                    

And you cant tell her off when she looks at you like that can you!!!

Or I can get get some of my old embroidery out and try and work out how I am going to develop it further.....

So along with all this stitching you need some inspiration-so what a great excuse for a day out in Durham. I have known Janet Rogers for a few years now after meeting her through an arts groups and now she has her beautiful gallery and studio in the heart of Durahm City. Crushed Chilli Gallery has a beautiful collection of Art & Deisgn for sale and along with her fabulous workshops its definately not one to be missed!




The light in the gallery is fantastic perfect for every kind of art the colours and textures make me think of far away places-wishing that the sun will come soon!

Taking some vintage floral fabric-I had the hard task of deciding whether to keep it as a whole or cut it up to create a new applique design. Holding this beautiful piece of cloth in my hand-I knew I had to make a decison......but when I relised it had been lovingly cared for in my fabric box for ten years........the decison was made for me!







I tend to use Bondaweb for my applique as the fabric was quite heavy then I embellished with stitch-simple stitches to highlite areas and I avoided machine as I wanted to keep the effect quite light!