TV Shows and Exhibition Experiences

Hello all!

Well I think we've finally had summer! Hopefully that week won't be all of it though, however, it has been nice to break out the sun cream instead of the rust remover!

I said I'd tell you all about the Flameworks exhibition that my husband, artist David Muddyman and I have had our work in this week.  The summer exhibition was entitled 'Pushing The Boat Out' and it co-incided with the Jazz and Blues Festival and with the Classic Boat Regatta so there has been plenty to see in the Barbican, Plymouth.  The venue, Relegacy Gallery, was a really lovely space with a gorgeous garden to show off some of the outdoor sculptures and a light and airy space upstairs. We've popped in a couple of times to see how sales were going and sadly for us, they could have been better.  Maybe the sunshine drove prospective buyers to the beach instead!  The staging of the exhibition by Flameworks personnel was superb, with Pimms and strawberries and cream at the private view. I would just like to say a big thankyou to them.

It was also lovely to meet a couple of new members, Rebecca Crawford and Peter Lanyon.

This brings me on to TV shows.  We're suckers for contemporary art and whenever we're on holiday we spend our time looking in galleries.  An artist friend recently told us about the BBC2 programme Show Me The Monet which aimed to find artists from around the UK to sell in the Mall Gallery, London.  Anyone could enter and the finalists had the opportunity to come in front of a panel of 3 experts who would then critique their work and if 2 or more of the panel voted for a piece it was put into the gallery for sale.  As a show I've really enjoyed it, but the very last episode made me more than a little bit mad!! A silversmith from Cornwall, Abigail Brown, introduced her magnifient three dimensional silver sculptural piece http://www.showmethemonet.tv/artwork-show15.php and was told that it was just decorative!! I work with silver and I cannot begin to imagine the hours, the skill, the precision and the passion involved in producing such a piece from one flat sheet and then to have to listen to experts as they decide 'it's craft and not art and therefore isn't right for the exhibition' - my heart went out to her. Ever since I've been wondering about how on earth we break down these barriers between art and craft.  Any ideas anyone?

So, what have I been up to this week?  Well, exciting news from Hung http://www.hung-inverness.co.uk/ who are selling my work apparently faster than I can get it to them - they have put the latest jewellery into a pop-up gallery Crochte http://www.crochte.co.uk/.  This means that for the first time I get to sell alongside my good friend Mhairi Wild who featured on my very first Collaborative blog and we've stayed in touch through email, Facebook and Twitter ever since.

My work on show at Crochte

Also in my latest news is that you can now find my work at Boo Gallery, Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire http://www.boo.uk.com/

So what else has been happening?  Well there are some new aluminium designs on the way! I will introduce the first one this week and it's called Parma Violets - let me know whether you like it!

So I'll see you all soon and if you're in the vicinity of the Tavistock next Saturday - come and say hello to me at the Craft Market in Bedford Square!

My Twitter Support Group!

Hi folks!

Well what a week it's been! Times, they are a changing...... they could write a song about that I reckon....

Last week I told you about my submission to Flameworks Art2Go Christmas Exhibition at the Royal William Yard, Plymouth.  Last time I entered this I turned up on the night to see a few of my items displayed and felt a rush of pride, and when I had an urgent message to contact them on Tuesday I thought the worst.  Not so!! They want even more so last night was spent sorting, coding, labelling and pricing lots more work for them to choose from today.  The downside of this was that I completely forgot to attend a pre-arranged Twitter party at 8pm.  I was one of 2 birthday girls and I forgot to go to my own party!!! How lame is that?!?

This brings me on to this week's subject matter - Twitter.  Now I know some of you will be sitting there shouting get a life at the computer screen, however, I figure if you're reading this, you're already half way there yourself!!

The fact is, I blooming love Twitter!!

This week has been a rollercoaster, with potential plans afoot to change my whole lifestyle and as well as the support of my husband and family, I've found great props in a couple of my Twitter friends.  Yes, I know it's strange because we've never met, but we do support each other when we can see that it's needed. Emails have been flying back and forth as well as tweets with ideas and plans - you see what could be better than bouncing ideas around with people of a like mind? It makes perfect sense to me, because often, we can't rationalise something and we get bogged down by it, but someone else comes along and offers a simple solution and off we go again.

The party organiser last night was Sarah Marks from http://www.tiny-gems.co.uk and she makes gorgeous sparkly wedding jewellery and heirloom bouquets and is a bright and chirpy tweeter and along with Tara from http://www.daisyicecreamvan.co.uk who serves the most amazing goodies from her vintage van at weddings and events, we regularly meet up on Twitter to give our very knowledgable opinions on Strictly Come Dancing and anything else we all happen to be watching!

There is one person who's given me her time and ideas tirelessly this week though and that's Sarah from http://www.sljewelleryandaccessories.co.uk and she makes stunning bespoke bead and wire jewellery.  We've emailed and supported a lot and she's decided that I need a plan of action!! Her help has been invaluable and many months ago she spent time explaining a lot of SEO jargon to me as well. I really hope that you'll go and visit the websites of all these lovely ladies and buy lots of nice things from them.  If you're in Wales, look out for SL Jewellery - she may be teaching somewhere near you soon!!

Ok I'm off now to deliver my jewellery to the exhibition - come and visit if you can - photos next week!!

Exhibition Time

Hello again! Hope you all visited Rare Notions after my blog last week!

Well this week it's been all systems go, pieces of jewellery have been finished, listed, coded, labelled, packed and finally today they've been delivered to their destination.  It's time for Art2Go 2011 - Flameworks Christmas Exhibition!! I visited the exhibition last year but wasn't involved personally and I saw some wonderful work on display.  This year I have submitted jewellery for consideration for this year's show.  It's a real thrill to walk in to the opening night and see your work on display as I did in a previous year.

There's a real variety of contemporary work available to buy and for anyone who hasn't been before it's housed in the stunning setting of Royal William Yard.  To find out more visit http://www.flameworks.co.uk.  Art2Go 2011 runs from 26th November till the 10th December. Make sure you take the time to visit to finish/start your Christmas shopping and you'll be able to buy some really unique presents!

Flameworks is a Plymouth-based creative arts facility which has communal workshop areas available for members to hire.

Just a short blog from me this week as it's a been a busy old time and I'm a little bit sleepy!!

See you all next week!!