wooohooo!

I've just put my MA application form in the post, which means I can cross one thing off my very long to-do list! I have an interview next Friday (the 13th- eek!) at Falmouth so i'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that it all goes smoothly. I'm so glad i'm not having to put a big portfolio of my work together- i'm applying for the Curatorial Practice MA, which means no big presentation of my work. It has however just occurred to me that maybe I should be getting a little bit stressed out about the actual interview...

But before that happens there's this:

Claire and I (and Becky too) will be on hand tomorrow to teach you the fine arts of monoprinting, badge making, knitting and pompom making. It costs £1 per adult and 50p for kids- all ages welcome, my nephew was making badges before he was 2 years old so we do mean all ages! Claire is also going to be a MISI down at Paintworks- because she is a crazy fool that likes to take on much too much...but say hello to her if you see her there, and maybe offer her a cup of tea too!

Call to artists!

As part of my new job curating the gallery space here at college i'm delighted to let you know that we are putting out a call for artists to submit proposals to use the space next year. Here's the details:

Where: Bath Spa University Gallery, Weston College- University Campus

When: 1-12th Feb and 1-26th March (both sets of dates include time for installation)

Who: Artists from any discipline that have completed a BA (hons) degree, or higher, in their subject area within the last five years.

What: Current work, or work made in response to the space- visits are welcome at any time to view the gallery. You will be required to deliver an artists talk or workshop.

Contact: Please apply for gallery information, including plans and images to Camilla Stacey, Weston College, University Campus, Loxton Rd, Weston-super-Mare, N. Somerset, BS23 4QU or email manukenkun@yahoo.co.uk

Deadline for proposals: Friday 15th January 2010

We can't offer payment, but we can offer free mail outs, e-fliers, free space and invigilation.

Windows 204

Claire and I teamed up again for another show- this time we had a window each at 204 Gloucester Rd, Bristol. We originally thought of showing here months ago, so by the time it came for us to actually install our work we couldn't really remember exactly what we'd put in our proposal. Turned out though that our installations were pretty much spot on- although mine wasn't as fully developed as i'd like, I still think it's a nice little show. Can you guess which window is mine?

I filled it with things from my house- I joked that I just picked things up as I walked from the bedroom to the front door, but that's almost the truth. I was asked if I missed the objects while they were away from my house and I have to say you can't even tell they've gone- there's still so much STUFF here!

I think at heart i'm a shop keeper- I really enjoyed running The Mythical Beast Sweet Shoppe over the summer, and the here shop and gallery before I left Bristol. Maybe one day i'll have my own shop again?

Knitting in the library!

Not only do I have a fully functioning camera again, I actually have something to post about too. I only picked up my replacement camera yesterday so I haven't had time to really find out how to use it, but I didn't let that stop me taking lots of photos at the 'Inspirational Knitting' workshop that I went to today. Run by Suzie Johnson in the Uni campus library this was a really nice way to spend a day- took my mind off all the other things I need to be doing right now and re-acquainted myself with knitting needles and (posh) yarn.

First up Suzie gave us the chance to rummage in the big tubs of yarn to pick two colours

I went for a fairly classy combination, but mainly because someone else had beaten me to the hot red that I had my eye on.

Our first task was to knit a little test piece in two colours

Then we moved on to the surprisingly complicated task of making balls of multi-coloured, multi-textured yarn. Lots of us could be heard counting out loud at this point. Suzie provided inspiration by showing us images of work by Kaffe Fassett, and assuring us it was really easy to knit like him.

A selection of Suzie's produce...things to inspire us to make our own masterpieces.

And here is mine! It's as if Kaffe himself had popped in and done some knitting. Ok, maybe he was drunk and blind and couldn't remember how to count when he was doing it, but it's sort of the same.

And here's the group's offerings- neatly piled on some knitting books.

Suzie runs knitting workshops from her home and sells yarn from her front room...i'm looking forward to going round and seeing just how many balls of wool one woman can own.

Art and Craft @ 204

Claire and I are joining forces again to put on a little show at Windows 204, Bristol. As well as the window space we are going to use the shop to run some arty crafty workshops on November 7th. Come along if you want to try your hand at monoprinting, badge making, knitting, pompom making and probably lots more! All workshops will be £1 for adults and 50p for children to cover materials. We will also be running a raffle to win a lovely blanket that hopefully will be knitted over the duration of the day- Claire and I are going to start off with some squares we're making ourselves but we hope lots of people will join in and help create a collaborative piece of craft, that's cosy too.

Much more updates soon I promise- i've been struck down with migraines since I stopped drinking diet coca cola 9 days ago, so everything's going very slow at the moment.

cross posted from The Mythical Beast Sweet Shoppe

Our last day and the weather decided to be specially gloomy for us. Not only was the weather sad we were shutting up shoppe, but the lifeboat was out- we watched it come back to the island in pretty horrible rain and wind.

As you may remember I stood on my camera the other day, which means I can't actually see anything until I get home and plug it in to the computer- hence some slightly strangely framed photos.

A poor rained on, twisted arrow that once pointed the way to the Shoppe

Even the Gorgon's were sad today

All empty- this is Becky helping to pack away the last few things from the Shoppe.

Knitting in the library!

I was so excited when I heard about a new venture at Uni that I ran down the corridor and up the stairs straight to the library to book myself on to an 'Inspirational Knitting for Students' day workshop that will be taking place later this month. I had no idea that the librarians were secret knitters, and not only have they arranged this workshop with Suzie Johnson, but they've decided to set up a knit and stitch club every week starting in November.

I could KISS them it's made me so happy! What i'm not so happy about is the fact that the club is timetabled for when i'm in lectures, but i'm hoping that there may be a way round this. As the weather is turning so grim I have been feeling the urge to take up knitting again, and the thought of meeting people at Uni who want to knit too is really exciting. God I never thought i'd be this excited about KNITTING!

I'm also excited about wrapping up things at The Mythical Beast Sweet Shoppe- just two more days to go and then I hand over the key and return the sweets to their rightful owners. The exhibition at Frou Frou ends this weekend too, so if you haven't been able to see it then you've got one last chance to get along and see work by Cathy Cullis, Karen Ruane, Lou Trigg and Joetta Maue (and me), it really does look stunning and I hope it's the first of many collaborations with Rebecca the shop owner.