Brampton Valley Way Mosaic Way Markers

I am currently working on Marking a Fine Line creating a set of 12 mosaic Way Markers for Back To Books to be sited along the Brampton Valley Way, a cycle track on the site of a former railway line in Northamptonshire. The designs are inspired by photographs taken during walks through and around the Valley Way during B2B's Tracing the Tracks project last year. I have drawn up all the panels and am making six myself, working with groups on three panels, inviting B2B members to my studio / shed to spend a few hours laying on tiles. You can see the designs here

I am finding that working in my shed / studio is lovely, the layout needs further refinement but now the weather is improving and the light lasts longer I can stay out there working for long stretches. Charlie whippet, is also enjoying our new location!

The project has been funded by Northamptonshire Community Foundation and Midlands Cooperative Society. 

I will be doing a drop-in session at Brixworth Country Park on May 27th from 11 - 3 where we will be working on one of the panels. I hope some of the visitors will come and join me! This will be a drop in session, panel is 1m x 2m so 5 or 6 people at a time can work on it comfortably.

Opportunities for participation will be posted on the Back To Books Blog  

http://myrighthandwoman.blogspot.co.uk/

Routes To Roots

I spent one of the Easter holiday weeks working on a project called Routes to Roots with Corby Community Arts at Pen Green Research Base creating screen printed banners, silk paintings, drawings and flags to hang in the Centre and to be part of their 30th Anniversary celebrations. 

We decided that it would be a good idea to up-cycle the printed fabric tubes made during New Vistas, Wider Horizons Big Draw project as the existing prints of Corby as seen from the Cube would add an extra texture to the banners. I was also very inspired by this blog post :-

http://unstructuredmaterial.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/mendrs-symposium-work-event.html

and am trying to work with materials I have that could undergo a change of function, rather than just buy more. This is also particularly helpful when materials budgets for projects become tight.

The hall in the Research Base was an ideal space to work in as we were able to draw, print and paint with enough room to circulate between activities. We had space to hang the work to dry and were able to get an overhead view of our progress from the balcony above.

We asked participants to make a drawing or stencil of their house, to think about the journeys they take to and from Pen Green and to remember routes followed and roots put down, either old or new.

We used a wooden textile block to print on flags and create a base for embellishment with sequins and glitter glue.

It was a hectic, happy week with parents, children and staff all joining in to be creative together!

Grandfather and Grandson printing flags together

Grandfather and Grandson's hands

Press Record

Godmonkey Skyhook Alagamation member and musician of many bands Mark Brennan has been hard at work making the Deeds Not Words CD a reality. Here is a glimpse of our recording session, where Mark had infinite patience with us!

There will be two performances involved in the launch of the CD - one on the 31st of August at the White Ark Festival and one on the sat 29th of June at the Core .  Here is the List of some of the performers 

1. Naturally Speaking
2. Michael McIntyre
3. The Godmonkey Sky Hook Amalgamation
4. Craig Garden
5. George Reilly
6. Cretin 77
7. Family of noise
8. Lauren Herbert
9. Faye Georgia Brennan
10. Posh Fuk
11. Wild Grace
12. The B-Movie Britz