art in unusual spaces

I found it's pretty difficult to take photos of an art instalation that's supposed to be viewed by looking through a peephole. The glass is shiny and full of reflections, the light inside is dim (and my camera phone is probably not the best tool for the job) but anyway I had a go...


Perhaps you can get an idea? A glimps. And I quite like the legs walking past in some of the reflections... I wonder how many people stop to peep...


The exhibition is in the Georgian Arcade in the Merrion Center, Leeds (ie. round the back of Morrisions :) ) until the middle of January.

sunday.

Oh I'm sure this poor blog is feeling very neglected. It's not that I haven't been making things, it's just there seems to be no day light for taking pictures, no time to find the cable for unloading, no words in my head.

Most of the christmas making is done; chutneys and shortbread and crudge (like fudge but gone wrong, kind of hard and sugary...) fabric baskets to pack it all in, snowflake cards, needle cases and pencil cases. Christmas decorations consist of 6 tissue paper snowflakes threaded onto cotton and half heartedly tangled at the window. Some clementines on a plate. Perhaps next year when the curtains are up and the pictures are up and the kitchen is done (and we haven't both got colds) perhaps then we'll have a christmas tree. A real one, to plant in the garden afterwards and bring in year after year.


It's snowing and it's beautiful. Crunchy.

house

Still no curtains. But there are curtain poles now, and a carpet too. Getting there...

album

A photo album made for a friend; 50 pages of soft but sturdy paper, sewn concertina spine (to create extra swell so the photos won't force the covers open), grey and black bookcloth covered hard covers, rounded spine.

I wanted to keep it really :)

experiments...

instalation practice (or as I call it, playing with books...)

done.

I finished the boxes I was working on last week...


I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out. I supose the pressure of having to please someone else raises my standards, and although it takes longer and is more stressful, its worth it when it turns out better. I should try harder more often...


I've been so quiet here because I've been spending every spare minute getting work prepared for an exhibition, which I helped to install yesterday. The exhibition is part of 'Art in Unusual Spaces' and my work will be visable through little peep holes in the windows of an empty shop... I made some new boxes, with hidden draws. And after the opening on Thursday (I'll be at work :( but all are welcome) I'll show you some pictures...

boxes in progress

The first tray, made from grey board and mount board, is a bit of a tricky covering job, but I do like a challenge (most of the time)...


The other side is a bit more straight forward, just a bit taller than usual to accomodate some extra sheets...


And next the covers are sent away to be foil blocked (I can't do that myself. Maybe one day...)

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Procrastinating. And eating apple crumble for dinner.

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This time last year. Orange trees from my old living room window.

outside

Sometimes I forget summer ever existed. But being safe and warm inside, with a log on the fire and saag paneer bubbling away on the stove for tea... its not too bad at all.

press

My friend gave me a book press today. Someone gave it to him and although he makes books too he gave it to me. He is very kind indeed.


I can't wait to put it into action (I just need someone to help me carry it up the stairs...)

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Do you ever feel like theres too many things going on at once, too many things to do and you don't want to do any of them?


I've got too many things on my mind. I don't know where to start. I just want to hide really (maybe I'll go for a walk instead)

Those little ladybird larvae from yesterday are making me feel all itchy. Turns out they're harlequin ladybirds, an invasive species that eats native ladybirds and other bugs. They also bite! If you see any in your house or garden you should tell the harlequin ladybird survey people as they're monitoring the spread across the UK...

Anyway, I made a new book. It's square and grey with a paper lable. Can you tell what my favourite bookcloth and paper combo is at the moment?! This book is one of my biggest rounded spines yet and making it was a challenge, it took a couple of remakes to get the spine fitting just right, but I'm pretty happy with it. There was a point where I nearly gave up, just couldn't work it out, but pushing myself to have one more go was definitely worth it. It opens like a dream. I think if no one buys it I might keep it for myself... do some sketching :)

sunday

After crazy winds yesterday blowing away my washing (and the foam underlay we accidentally left outside and then had to recover from the park down the street...) today all is calm. I wonder if it was the wind that brought these strange little creatures to my garden...


I never knew ladybird babies could look so scary!

Brighton was lovely and sunny, a happy few days...


The wedding was also lovely (but now I'm nervous!)



The poem across the top is by Robert Burns...

O my Love is like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Love is like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in love am I;
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry:

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.