Salts Mill

A brilliant place to visit on a cold rainy afternoon in Yorkshire is Salts Mill in Saltaire (here is the official website).



It contains a large number of original artworks by David Hockney including lithographs, drawings, theatre posters and some of his composite photographs including a vast view of the Grand Canyon. I love Hockney's work - he has not been afraid to work across any perceived barriers in art, designing sets for theatres as well as experimenting with photography and photocopy printing.



There's a book shop on the ground floor plus a large selection of interesting art postcards. Upstairs there are homeware shops, independent jewellers, antique shops and scrumptious floaty clothes.

It's great to see an ex-working mill put to such good use, and so sympathetically converted.

Cheeky sheep

Best foot forward (arf arf).

I've made quite a few new shoulder bags to show you but there is so little natural light to take pictures that you will have to wait. Instead, here's this cheeky sheep from the Yorkshire Dales.

Norman Ackroyd

We had a cracking day out (Gromit) in Ilkley last weekend - it's a cute Yorkshire town full of characterful stone houses and interesting looking shops. A nice village for a wander, and all that dramatic scenery to walk in. Our main reason for going was to visit the Norman Ackroyd exhibition at the Manor House Art Gallery in Ilkley (pictured above).



Ackroyd is a Yorkshire artist and he does etchings and watercolours of landscapes from Yorkshire and from all over England, Scotland and Ireland. A disciple of Turner, he remains fascinated by the structure of the land and the material evidence of early attempts to cultivate and civilise it. We first became interested in his work when we visited the Royal Academy Show in London this year which had three of his etchings - one was a view of a small island off the west coast of Connemara, a very painterly vision of crashing seas and exploding spray. Most of the works at the Ilkley show are of dramatic seascapes and you can almost feel the cold salt spray and whipping winds depicted there.

This is one of the rooms at the Manor House with some of the pictures on display. The day that we went, a local artist called Lucia Smith had organised a day of activity for anyone who turned up - she encouraged everyone to make part of a collage inspired by the local scenery.

People used different methods to make their pieces, like crayons, paint or torn paper. A great idea for kids on half term; and a thoughtful response to the exhibition.

The exhibition is on until 18th November.

Lifted

There's nothing like the welcome you get from close friends. We are lucky enough to have some of the most fun and loving friends anyone could wish to meet. They live in a village somewhere west of Cardiff where children can play out all day long - surfing, body-boarding, riding horses, making dens in the woods. It seems idyllic. For the parents there are sacrifices but how we admire them for making them - the children will have such happy childhoods to look back on.



Here's another member of their family. I know for one that if dad could let the van sleep in the house next to him he would!



Southerndown Beach. We always want to come here every time we visit. It's a dramatic high-cliffed cove with sandstone cliffs showing all the strata of the country - the fat end of the wedge. Great oblong rocks lie on the beach with pitted surfaces and fillings like vast focaccia bread sandwiches. On an autumn day the wind from the sea is chill and salty and we collected driftwood for the fire, all gnarled and bleached and knotty.



Is there a happier moment than just throwing a stick for a dog?

Robin

We have lived in this house for nearly 5 years and a fat little hoppy robin comes back to the same corner of the garden every autumn. This one in the picture is a juvenile spotted by a friend in their garden a few weeks ago (thanks for the photo!).

Our robin makes a new nest every year from the twigs and bits and bobs around him that he vigorously and urgently seeks out and collects. He's making plans. He darts around among the branches of the yew bushes and the huge purple buddleia that also attracts the most enormous host of red admirals in late summer. Can it be the same bird who keeps returning? If so, how does he remember where we are?

Take some time this weekend to look up and out at what is happening in the natural world around you. Notice things. Ask questions.

Have a good weekend!

Bitsbox xx

Little tufts

A new bag has been born on this cold and frosty morning. It's one of my series of 'Book in a Bag' which I'm making for the up and coming craft events for Christmas (each bag contains a free book). This bag is 21 by 27 cm and sells for £20. It's made from a very good quality fabric decorated with little tufts of brightly coloured thread in a grid.



I'm calling it a book bag, but it could quite as easily be a knitting bag!



It's decorated with a vintage button, I think from the 1950s or 1960s, which is covered in a yellow fabric.

Stitched Stories

I visited the Stitched Stories exhibition last week at the Drumcroon Gallery, Wigan, with the artist Julie Allen. I would strongly recommend a visit if you're interested in seeing some beautiful inspiring work, some of it at the cutting edge of textile art. We both felt so touched and inspired that we couldn't wait to get home and start making. It's on now until 14th December.

The work on display is by four textile artists. Janet Bolton makes textile landscape pictures using very simple hand-sewing techniques. She uses pieces of fabric to create evocative scenes from her Lancashire childhood spent playing on the hills and moors; she may not have a definite picture in mind when she starts a piece but rather 'lets the fabrics speak to her' while composing her pictures so there is a definite spring of spontaneity in the work. She gives them wonderfully evocative titles such as 'Heading Back After a Long Day on the Moors' (my favourite) or 'Two Hares Listening'.

In contrast, Alice Kettle's work is monumental in scale. She takes on the Greek tragedies, interpreting them into wonderful sweeps of densely worked threads and felt. Her piece 'Argos' shows the mournful moment of a female figure carrying an injured fox - it's a powerful picture wrought in many tones of dark blue with gold thread etching out the features of the hands and face, and the tips of the hairs on the fox's back. She is bringing us an image that provokes a fundamental and universal sense of loss; we both found this piece very powerful. Her other works 'Odyssey' and 'The Song of the Lotus Eaters' are vast, thickly worked banners covering an entire wall each. Stunning; just the sheer scale of them is impressive.

Lynne Stein uses traditional textile processes such as hand and machine hooking and tufting, needle-felting and stitch to create vibrant three-dimensional work. Tactile surfaces of rough felt embellished with birds and flowers. Julie particularly responded to the many stitched birds which seemed so alive and pecking. I particularly liked 'Mermaid in Doc Martens' which perhaps needs no further explanation!

Liliane Taylor uses reclaimed fabrics to create autobiographical stories - old worn pieces of lace, embroidery and buttons magicked together to create portraits of the diverse roles of women today such as in her work entitled 'No More Tears' or 'Tread Softly on my Dreams'. (I cannot find a website for Liliane but I did find an image here in Embroidery, July 2006.).

Imaginative interpretations of our lives - journeys in thread.

Red dawn

I have some gallery reviews and recommendations for days out for you which I was going to write about today but I had to bring you these photos.

Not sure my little camera captures the epic grandeur of the scene over my neighbours' rooftops.

These were captured at 7.30 am - and literally within 5 minutes the whole thing was gone, replaced by a silver dawn.

A herring-bone sky.

Environment

It's Blog Action Day today and the theme this year is Environment. An estimated 7000+ blogs will be blogging today on the same theme. This will mean over 5 million readers will be reading blogs dedicated to the same subject - pretty powerful eh?



But what to write? Well, I've decided to make this a very personal blog today; I could nag on about reducing the use of plastic bags, giving up 'retail therapy' or being thrifty and choosing second-hand (or support British makers instead of Far East sweatshops). But I think you'll know all about these things - it's all in my archive.

Instead I want to tell you about the regenerating power of nature. When I was going through a life-changing, career-changing time a few years ago (what I mean is, I was just going through life), I felt bewildered and anxious about where my life was going. Someone suggested going for a walk in the park - I thought 'what a cliche' but did it anyway.

The park near my house isn't special in any obvious sense - it's just like any other municipal space - controlled planting, unadventurous choice of trees, tulips in regimental lines, clipped grass, concrete paths. I entered the park through the big stone gateway, wandered past the kids' play area and up towards the duck pond. Ducks and other birds were squawking away on the water. I realized I didn't really know what type of birds these were.

I walked round in a big circle, hands stuffed into pockets, rolling bits of thread or tissue in a fidgety anxious way - it was a chilly autumn day. I noticed where the leaves were up to in their cycle of life; the colour of the trees and the copper beech hedge - strong reds and oranges and lime yellows. There were chestnuts on the ground - I picked one up - how can a whole tree by inside one of these?

The cold on my face and the rhythm of my pace. After half an hour I felt much calmer but I'm not really sure why - I'd stopped twiddling with bits in my pockets but I hadn't really sorted out any answers to the 'big questions' for myself . But I had noticed the birds chattering to each other in the trees, the colours of the blue and white sky and my place in all this. The detail and the big picture. Somehow I felt refreshed and so I carried on going for walks and after each walk, I felt a step closer to being able to face things. It's a cliche but it's the healing power of nature - it's all out there - if only I'd noticed.

Limits

Every river has its banks.

Every ocean has its shores.

Constant expansion is not possible. When one senses that one has come to the limits of a situation - perhaps in health or work or a relationship - one should conserve energy in order to consider carefully the next step. It may be time for a change. This should not be viewed negatively but seen as a time for thought and preparation.

(Adapted from Deng Ming-Dao's 365 Daily Meditations.)

Blog action

It's Blog Action Day next Monday (15th October). The theme this year is 'Environment' and there will be 7000+ blogs (with an estimated 5 million readers) blogging on that day on the same theme - including mine.

Hope you will join in by reading the blog, maybe sending me a message if you have something to say either about my blog or the environment, or letting me know about the impact of the day of action on the news from where you are.

Harry Lamin

Just in case you were thinking about having a little moan about your day, please visit this brilliant blog first (from the Radio 4 website). It will put all of our day's into perspective. The blog consists of the transcripts of letters written by Harry Lamin during the Second World War. Harry's letters are being posted exactly 90 years after they were written so you can find out about Harry's experiences on the front line, and his fate by following the blog.

Harry was from Nottinghamshire and lived in Derbyshire. He was born in 1887 and worked as a 'laceworker'.

The letters are very powerfully written with simple (and consequently devastating) descriptions. The latest letter dated 3rd October starts 'I'm going on alright' but then proceeds to describe 3 days being shelled on the front line where his captain was killed. He and his fellow soldiers have just been given long trousers as 'we have had short ones all summer'.

It's just what blogging should have been invented for. As readers, we do not know when - or if - we will see another letter from Harry. Is today's the last one? And how must have that felt for his family waiting at home?

Alien abduction!

Curious effect of sunlight yesterday during a walk up Shutlingsloe - can you see that shaft of light falling onto the top of the hill? Looks like an alien abduction. It was really bright and sunny when we left the house but by the time we got to Macclesfield Forest, it had clouded over.

So whenever the sun did manage to break through briefly I tried to capture it.

The flash went off accidentally giving the middle horse-rider a strange halo effect. Either that, or she was in charge of the alien fleet. Thankfully she decided not to take us to her strange planet.

Little things

I bought this hand embroidered tablecloth from a new friend at the weekend. She had the biggest collection of linen I have ever seen - heaven! We shared mutual interests and enthusiasms while I gloried through pile after pile of beautiful work - it could fill a museum or gallery and what a fantastic exhibition it would make. More should be done to celebrate the quiet work of these industrious women from our history. The time, effort and patience that it took to finish these works - what was she thinking and feeling?



I'm not sure what type of flower has been used for the design above but this orange dahlia could well be an inspiration for it. Most of these patterns could be bought - tracing paper with a pattern transfer which was then ironed onto a plain linen tablecloth. These transfers were made of special ink that washed out once the embroidery was finished.



Thus you do come across quite a lot of these ladies caught forever collecting flowers in a basket. This one has been joined by a bird - who now sings perpetually.

I don't think the fact that the embroiderers used a pattern diminishes the achievement of the work. For example, creativity could wander over the choice of colours for the silks. There may have been suggestions for colours in the pattern books but I have seen enough of these to convince me that the women made up their own - quite often you will see a tablecloth where each corner pattern is done in a completely different colourway, adding variety and surprise. Little nuances in the designs show that they quite often went 'off road', inventing foliage and shadows and buds. This embroiderer was inspired by nature, sewing many more flowers and clumps of grass than expected.

I like to think of each embroiderer engrossed in her work, like the lady collecting flowers enjoying her morning - that feeling of time lost when whole hours slip by while your eye concentrates, the mind chugs on and the hands bring something into life. A blank page, blank linen becomes transformed.

Enjoy some little things in life this weekend.

Chinese rose

I made this red silk shoulder bag to fit snugly on the hip when worn across the body. It's the same details as the black and silver one I showed you last Wednesday (28 cm wide, £45). The red silk is embroidered with Chinese style roses and foliage. I've chosen a mixture of vintage silk and velvet panels in various shades of deep red and oranges. There is a panel of black vintage lace at the bottom of the front flap. Since this photograph I've added a decorative wooden button that has been carved into the shape of a rose.

It's lightly padded and I've used traditional quilting technique to put it together but with a modern twist. I like leaving open frilly selvedges on the bag and on the strap. This makes the bag itself nice and flat (no bulky folded sides) and gives it a punky handmade feel. All of the threads are captured by the embroidery that goes around and around the selvedges so the fabric won't unravel.

I now have three craft events planned for Christmas so I must get making (having spent quite a lot of time recently trying to finish off loads of DIY jobs around the house).

Sissy Boy

Some more fab shops in The Netherlands, this time Utrecht. Sissy Boy is a major Dutch chain of shops and sells clothes for men and women as well as homeware. The styling of the clothes is a bit like the Gap used to be - good quality casual but smart everyday wear.



Some silly knitted fellas lounging on a chaise. (Sorry they're slightly out of focus but I think I was laughing when I took this picture...)



This is the best shop for people who like trimmings. They have every ribbon ever made in here - new cartoon printed ribbon, velvets and silks of every width and shade, and a lovely collection of vintage ribbons, cords and tassled braids. I bought three metres of woven Chinese silk ribbon in sumptuous red, blue and gold plus some shiny vintage cord which I might use for handles for my Christmas handbags.

A coat

Is there anything like this in the UK? Would it need planning permission? This is in Leiden, The Netherlands, in a mixed back street of homes and little boutiques and shops. They must be good neighbours!

A wonderful shop a bit further down the street, selling fabrics, quilts and other homeware. Good for a browse and a dream.

The goddess inside

On a recent trip to Leiden in The Netherlands, we came across this little corner shop called De Godin in Jezelf (The Goddess Inside). The designer herself was there by her machine, sewing up one of her latest creations - a gold velvet dress, floor length with witchy points at the bottom and at the ends of the sleeves. She looked just like an elf in an old Dutch folk tales, and I felt sure that when I left the shop and turned around the whole thing would have vanished.



Her website is here. As you may notice, it's typically Dutch - cooky and quirky designs showing a vision and focus which has nothing whatsoever to do with conventional fashion. This attitude also shows in the range of shapes, ages and sizes of the models who are showing off the clothes. I found it really refreshing.



She was working hard; my friend bought a fantastic bright orange witchy cardy that the lady had knitted with fine yarn on chunky needles. On the way out, she passed me a couple of postcards.

The inscription said: 'Find the beauty within yourself and love it'.