Lost in the Wood

Needle Felted Anatomical Heart Brooches   Needle Felted Love Rats Love may very well be in the air, and all around etc but for me this February is mostly about the radishes (amongst other crochet foods). More on this in a while. Santes Dwynwn (25th January) suddenly loomed out of nowhere this year, despite all of my well formed making plans, and had to be written off as a not-at-all-grabbed opportunity. I felt only marginally better prepared for Valentines Day. There were quite a few 'Things I Could Have Made More Of But Ran Out Of Time'. Not to worry, let's celebrate things I did manage: a few anatomical heart brooches (in 2 sizes) and three 'love rats'  which all scurried off to Mostyn gallery shop (Llandudno, North Wales). 'Not Holding Together', detail Sticking with the cardiac theme, I've been working on a new needle felted anatomical heart piece in an artier vein (pun intended). Here's a little peak of 'Not Holding To...

Roll on 2015 Perhaps I'm pushing it but since we're still in January, I think it's still just about appropriate to wish you all a very Happy New Year! There's so much to say about 2014 that I'm not sure I can really face going over any of it and presenting the highlights. Lazily, and probably wisely,  I'm going to opt out of a thorough review of the year. 2014 had wonderful times, professionally (tv feature, art exhibitions, encouraging sales etc) and personally (fun stuff & holidays) but weird and distressing personal things too that upset the always delicately balanced emotional applecart, although it all proved interesting (to me) at least. Large mugfuls of mulled wine with a friend who appreciates these things The Dome, Edinburgh. Always spectacular decorations. Christmas at home in Edinburgh was an absolute delight and proved a much needed relaxing and joyful end to the year. Being loose in a city with it's late night bars & sparkl...

Surrounding myself with appropriate deckchairs @ Edinburgh Book Festival Life as a self-employed artist is an often precarious existence which constantly feels a bit hand-to-mouth on the financial front. However, what it lacks in stability is more than compensated for on the flexibility & freedom fronts. Seduced by the lure of freewheeling round Edinburgh at the height of festival time, I happily decamped to the Capital, clutching a (very long) shortlist of shows I wanted to see, mentally prepared for spontaneous adventures and with a slightly ridiculous amount of wool & felting supplies (intended for efficient between show crafting). Twenty days of stimulating sights was the intention and despite inevitable days when I just couldn't face the weekend crowds, worried about the impact on my credit card or was too jaded to bother seeing anything, it basically delivered. Shows: Of the 18 shows I managed to see these were the highlights: Underbelly, Richard herring,...

Slate Teapot by Dave Stephen There's already lots of reasons to love little Caernarfon town but this week introduced a shiny new one. Just opened on Monday, Siop iard  https://www.facebook.com/iard is a lovely shop/ workshop /gallery at 7B Palace Street, Caernarfon. Artists Ann Catrin (metalwork sculpture & jewellery), Angela Evans (contemporary jewellery) and Dave Stephen (slate guru) are selling their work and you can have a peak soon at them creating in the workshop area as well. They are also very happy to chat about the current programme of crafty courses ( (held at Parc Glynllifon, c.15 mins drive away) and book you in to any you're tempted by. I  first discovered I loved making things by going to various iard courses a few years ago so I highly recommend trying one (or a few) for inspiration, fun or the start of a whole new creative career! http://iard.co.uk/ Slate Cake by Dave Stephen While, predictably I'm enjoying browsing the new jewellery,...