CD sizes mini crofts!!

Well lots of bits and bobs this week, all however with a theme.

Over the past year I have made more steps to get myself 'out there' and this has been paying dividends!

I have submitted four CD sized pieces for the Inchmore Gallery winter exhibition.

This is a lovely idea where mini artworks are displayed inside clear CD cases. The finished pieces are all priced affordably and make great Christmas gifts.

I visited the gallery last weekend and met Jane Owen Inglis the gallery owner, both to drop off the CD sized pieces and three other large canvas collages which were accepted for their winter exhibition.

mini crofts

Inchmore gallery Inverness

cd sized sewn crofts

the Inchmore is a beautiful airy gallery converted from a lovely old church.

It has a wonderful presence and sense of history and is set near the shores of the picturesque Beauly firth in northern Scotland. I am delighted Jane was so enthused by my work and really appreciate the opportunity to show my work in such a fantastic setting.

The winter exhibition opens on the 22nd of October. I will post details nearer the time for anyone who fancies a trip to a lovely part of the world.

My mini crofts are made from sewn paper, silk and some fabric paints, a bit of everything in other words!

Finally as a little teaser here is a WIP photo of one of my pieces which will be in the winter exhibition.

Work in progress

I will share the finished Mr Fox soon, he does look a little different now in his full winter coat :)

New work in Junction arts gallery Aberdeen

 Been a busy few weeks and a couple of weeks ago some new pieces of mine travelled over to Aberdeen to a lovely gallery in Aberdeens city centre called Junction Arts
So happy to be forging links with Aberdeen and the east coast as my youngest daughter lives and works there.
Elaine the gallery owner was particularly interested in my sewn paper croft houses.

So I've made a few wee bits for her to show, some backed onto wood panels, some stretched and framed.

Also in the gallery is one of my mosaic croft pieces made from paperclay, a type of papermache.

Thank you Elaine for giving me the opportunity to exhibit in your lovely Gallery!

Thistles and salt air and a Seaeagle

  I just love thistles, perhaps it is their colour, that gorgeous purple pink, perhaps it is their resilient nature, whatever it is, I never tire of them.
 This time of year they cover the wild landscape. This canvas was finished a few weeks back but I haven't had time to blog it, or several others I have finished recently.  I don't know if it is just me, but since relenting and setting up a facebook business page I seem to struggle keeping up with doing both a regular blog and facebook posts. I resent feeling I am spending too much time on line so I set time restraints on how much I devote to such stuff. Is this wrong? Am I the only one out there struggling to multitask social media? Blogging was always my main love as it forms a sort of visual diary. It is a journey of words, thoughts and inspiration. Do you do both? If so which works best for you.

 Below is a close up of the rich textures of paper and paint.

I made it to fill a space vacated by my sea eagle at Skyeworks which happily flew off to a lovely new home.

 Below the door frame gives you an idea of size of my new thistle painting. I like working on these letterbox shaped canvas. Gives landscapes an interesting perspective and leaves lots of space for all the textural elements I want to add.

Thistles are everywhere and I photograph them all the time... I'm not sure I need any more thistle photographs but I keep on taking them!