Half Way Through Helfa Gelf!

Evie looking regal (back view)

Weekends in North Wales are stuffed full of interesting arty things to see/ visit at the moment as the annual Helfa Gelf (art trail) is in full swing across 5 counties. So far, me & Evie (see pic) have enjoyed our first time involvement in it. We've been very lucky to be sharing a lovely light & airy studio with two other colourful artists in Y iard (the yard), an idyllic old courtyard of restored workshops at Parc Glynllifon (near Caernarfon). Many artists are opening up their actual studios/barns/workshops/ spare rooms for the public to potter in but others, like us in Unit 9, are renting space for the month. There's definitely some advantage to this, a cluster of artists are presumably more likely to be visited especially when there's a cafe selling huge slices of tasty cakes in the grounds, the Black Cat Cafe. I recommend the ridiculously gooey beetroot & chocolate brownie (just not for a first date, bit too messy/ undignified to eat on such an occassion). This surely must have helped account for the intrepid souls who did brave last weekend's miserable soggy weather to turn up to see us (many thanks to all who did laugh in the face of the lashing rain). Also, Evie really didn't have the space she needed to look appropriately regal and was dispirited by having her legs removed to allow her to be wedged into a 2 seater sofa in my workshop at home. In her new spacious studio surroundings she reports being fairly satisfied with her ability to not only to have all body parts present but to be in a position to welcome visitors with her amusing & slightly sinister presence.

Unit 9-Alison & Gwen looking industrious

There's still TWO WEEKENDS of Helfa Gelf to go & hurrah! the weather forecast for this weekend is pretty good so people of North Wales (Gwynedd particularly) please come to visit us! Evie is too
imperious to say much but do come to hear Alison Engelfield's fascinating explanations of her paintings (both their multi layered construction and their inspiration & meaning) some concerned with 'Conscentious Objectors' as well as jollier fare such as 'The Fashion Dilemmas of Time-Travel Had Them Confused' which is my personal favourite and a host of characters inspired by carvings by Welsh slate miners & Cornish folk art. If you're very lucky her two dogs will turn up at the end of the day, both are adorable & very smiley.

Super-cute felted boots by Gwen Owen

You can also explore the colourful world of felter and painter Gwen Owen. I happily imagine a room full of rows of her tiny felted boots in a surreal & beautiful version of 'The Elves & the Shoemaker' (please note there's not a room of boots, oh that there was, but you can see a couple of gorgeous pairs here). You may catch Gwen demonstrating some wet felting & if you're lucky she'll spray you with the watering can for added excitement (perhaps not, no promises). As you can tell in the above pic, we've made ourselves very much at home...

Y iard

In the world outside Unit 9, you can hop across the courtyard to visit the combined talents of Creu (7 artists working in various media), featuring the much coveted contemporary enamelled jewellery of Lora Wyn, the sweet textile art of Sioned Hywel & more Gwen Owen. Also, a visit has to take in Ann Catrin Evans' forge with it's menacing hammers, scarey pliers and unknown but intriguing tools on the walls (& often in use). Here can be found sculptural work by Ann Catrin,  beautiful pieces of contemporary jewellery by Angela Evans and playful & practical slate artworks by Dave Stephen. The artists can also be tracked down to their shop in Caernarfon (Siop iard) where more of their pieces can be admired & as they'll be a captive audience you can speak to them as long as you like! A new & very welcome addition to the courtyard is David Ramsell's 'All Washed Up' driftwood art shop/workshop. It's a treat for the eyes & I can easily imagine some of the driftwood hooks which incorporate ornate spoons & forks eventually making their way into my little cottage (have to sell a few more crocheted rabbit heads first though).

Next time: dipping my little painted toes into the world of needle felting workshops...