Dissertation

After months of research, writing and changing my question on a weekly basis, I have handed my dissertation in and here it is!




 Having left a bit of the proof reading until last, I have since realised there are a few typos (oops) I hope this doesn't effect the final mark too much and although it was tough getting it completed towards the end, I am glad I did it and in fact enjoyed it!

Lovely Lustre (2012)

It's that time of year again, the annual Lustre event at Lakeside. I went with a keener and more inquisitive eye this year, looking at the display and quality of finish to the products on show. I was quite taken by the affordability of the wares and made a few purchases too!

I enjoyed talking with Christine Gray about her process of making these beautiful porcelain bowls:

The cast glass sculptures of Louisa Finch:

More glass sculptures by Samantha Donaldson:

Katie Gilliland's taxidermy inspired jewellery:

The attention to detail in Malin Winberg's work:

The simple yet effective designs of Jane Blease:

The technicalities and consideration applied to the work of Anna Wales:

The scaffold inspired brilliance in the jewellery of Helen Sutherland:

The illustrative delights in the textiles of Teresa Cole:

And the exciting ceramic drawings-cum-sculptures of Nicola Laidstone!

Nicola has an open studio event at the Shed 2 studios on 30th November -
I'm definitley going along to have a peek!

My purchases of the day were: 

these three bear embroideries by Natalia Kukiel...I wonder where they will go?

and a mug by Carly Dodsley - which I'm enjoying as I blog!

So all in all, it was another lovely Lustre and a pleasant addition to the work that I saw there last year. I'm keen to make it a annual visit and continue to support the new, local and inspiring makers that it attracts. Maybe I will be there one day? who knows....

Made In The Middle

I went along to the exhibition Made in the Middle at MAC in Birmingham last week. It was raining unfortunately so we couldn't make the most of the grounds but it was well worth the trip!

Before we even got into the exhibition there were some installations and displays in the corridors.

 I really liked this embroidery  Four Tragic Tales by Stewart Easton

This piece had been comissioned by MAC, 
50 Tiles by Sara Taylor  - I want them for my kitchen!

Jonathan Kelham had his Bookcase series on display

Clarke Gallery had this participatory piece as part of Allotment on show
There were four stacks of printed paper available to you in exchange for some words. I, like many others it seemed, did not exchange, only took this picture!

Full of midlands based crafts people this was a really great show!

There was a showcase of work by a number of young people that had taken workshops with the artists as part of Apprentiships in the Making here is work by Jennifer Collier's apprentice

some more of Jennifer's work

and I just love this!

I quite liked the composition of this piece by Stuart Ackroyd

Michelle Arieu is making paper-like porcelain pieces

that are just wonderful

Mandana Thompson is working with leather in an interesting manner

Clare Willard's pieces were simply composed

and Maggie Smith's nature inspired basketry was a delight

Having started ceramics I was really taken by the simple decoration and attentive mark making
on James and Tilla Waters range of small cylindrical forms

Karina Thompson's digital wall hangings were impressive

and Imogen Luddy's conceptual embroidery was incredible!

I finally saw Andrew Tanner's augmented plate in the flesh!

This is not the best photo but Esther Lord's metalware was beautifully etched

The marquetry of Gareth Neal was impressive

it worked brilliantly in large scale too!

Vanessa Cutler's waterjet cut glass was great

Anna Lorenz is making articulate metalware

Whilst Jon Williams is making pottery that looks like it moves!

Gill Wilson is working meticulously with paper construction

Anna popped up on show there!

Laura did too!

I liked Jenny Creasey's work - this display on the lightbox was particularly effective

*beautiful* glasswork by Charlotte Clark

*exquisite* paper jewellery from Li Chu Wu

and lovely textile jewellery from Yoko Izawa - go to the website for full gallery - this photo does NOT do the work justice!

I was also quite taken by the enamelling on this piece by Norman Cherry

The exhibition is on at MAC until 15th April then it heads to the National Craft And Design Centre in Sleaford - it is most definitely worth a visit!


To complete our day, because it was so wet, we head over to the Bullring and ambled around the shops. I saw these two in Urban Outfitters and felt them in keeping with the form and structure of the day so included them in this post!

industrial marquetry?

 and I just had to include this one - I have a bit of a thing for lighting!