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.

Catherine Knight

I first saw Catherine Knight's work at her MA show last year. When it came to picking the first artist to show in the gallery space at the University Campus I picked her, partly because of her links to Bath Spa Uni, and also because I love the way she works from old photos, which is something I do a lot of in my work. So almost entirely selfish in choice, but I think it's going to turn out to be a good one as when I met with Catherine the other week she was full of enthusiasm for engaging with the students and using the gallery space in new ways.

There's just a few more days left for the shows at Frou Frou, and The Mythical Beast Sweet Shoppe, and then i'm on to opening a new exhibition that Claire and I are joining forces on again- this time we're a few doors down the road from where Calm Air All Ice version 1 took place, and we'll be filling the windows at 204 with planes, pom poms and pegboard.

Still missing miss_jen

3 years ago today my good good friend Miss_Jen died. I miss her so much still, especially when there's cake around. I started this blog just over three years ago too- I can't believe it's been that long, it all seems like yesterday.