Helfa Gelf Teaser #1 Introducing Evie...

Evie

My, it's been a busy week (and a bit). Last Friday, I was fortunate to go to a session arranged by Helfa Gelf http://www.helfagelf.co.uk about marketing for artists. I learned quite a lot of useful things (which I hope to put into practice) and met some lovely artists whose work I definitely want to know more about. The day was facilitated by Jo Quinney, PR & marketing guru http://qmpr.co.uk/ who clearly knows her stuff, is very approachable and works a lot with artists/ creative types (her diplomacy and sense of humour must help a lot with this).

Also, I've enjoyed a jaunt to visit the folks & friends in Edinburgh. As well as A LOT of relaxing in the greenhouse (then garden, sitting under the apple trees when it just got too hot), I've been gatecrashing a weavers guild AGM to hear an entertaining talk on adventures and textiles in rural India (with many fabrics ingeniously crammed into a tiny suitcase for our perusal); enjoying a fantastic belly dance show (as always, it makes me want to immediately seek out a class in North Wales although I'm very rusty); not come last in a fiendishly comprehensive Filmhouse quiz and enjoyed quality time with the parents including a shoe buying frenzy and the traditional Hobbycraft browse with Mum.

Now back home, the reality of deadlines has hit hard & I've jettisoned the Galeri open art competition (too little time, will try next year, starting much, much earlier!) and given myself a stern talking to about progress made (not made) on my ambitious and fabulous (in my head) set pieces for the Helfa Gelf art trail. Much to do but looking forwards to it all coming together (in that mysterious way that theatre productions suddenly work or 'Grand Designs' homes create tear jerking triumphs from the jaws of building disasters). Not to worry, I've drafted in help, here she is, Evie! Named after  'The House of Eliott' character (enjoyable 90s tv programme set in an Edwardian fashion house), she's the more risque of the two mannequins. Her sister Bea (of course) is participating on another, future project and is currently modelling a very fetching 1920s style dress that one day I hope to fit into.  Bea has quite sinister hands (and no face beneath her mask) so I may have big plans for her come Halloween.

Crochet cumber & tomato sandwiches

Evie has kindly volunteered to assist me by being in a 'mixed media installation' which she thinks sounds a little pretentious but will go along with it on the proviso that it'll add to her portfolio and possibly help her break out into films (talkies, she's a modern gal). She's pictured here during a break in costume-fitting having a crocheted tomato sandwich. Yesterday was a bit of a lacklustre day (poorly husband, me in a weird, frustrated mood etc) and what I fancied making were crochet sandwiches, so I did and was quite impressed with my efforts! This wasn't as random as it probably seems but will in fact be part of Evie's set, working title- 'Who Drank All The Pimms?' (no, not really).

Thanks for reading x