Saturday 13 October 2012

A taste of the Knitting & Stitching Show

I'm home! Had a fabulous break, tired from traveling, but refreshed - I needed it.
I'd normally talk about things in Chronological Order saving the best til last but this time I'll start with the highlight of my time away; the last day (not counting friends & family visits, of course!)

I've been waiting for months to get to the Knitting & Stitching Show at Ally Pally - I realized that I could just catch the first day of the show on the last day of my holiday & spurred on by the possibility of seeing the work of          Cas Holmes in real life, I made it happen.


 I asked permission of course for taking photos, introduced myself as a follower of her work, book & blog.


She was very busy along with her friend & collaborator Anne Kelly


but still made time for all the young students around - I include myself in that lot ;)


Being a follower of Cas' work I was quite amazed at how much I hadn't seen before,


 I mean I think every piece was new;  absolutely stunning & magical in real life!


 I took some pics of them on their cameras & just managed one on mine


 I desperately wanted to touch her work, very carefully of course, & on a technical aspect


 see how the work was hung - very tight to the top of the work, a thin quilting sleeve


 & hers are softer to the touch than I manage, I probably use too much pva or acrylic wax to attach & seal the work




 she was inviting people to join her in making little squares, above - I like a good square - then they'd get strung up & taken to each of her shows. I sat down & made one, didn't photograph it ;(  & I can honestly say that 10 minutes was the one serene & calming few moments of the day! It was desperately hot & airless.


 I got a pic of Anne by her 2 pieces of work before she left. While Cas was rearranging a sign just outside her stand, leaving me in charge.....ME! some of Anne's students came in & said 'look, it's Miss's work' Imagine having a 'Miss' like that to teach you at school!


Some more beautiful smaller pieces of work including books, oh so lovely.

I can't really do justice to the excitement I felt seeing this work in person & having a chance to talk to Cas; I'm sure I could have asked so many more questions but it can get quite overwhelming, from both sides, I imagine & I just enjoyed absorbing it all. Completely inspiring & so great to meet them both, thank you!  I'm so looking forward to the book coming out next year ;)

Well, again, the best first, not last. Tho certainly there was so much more amazing work there.


You first saw on walking in the Embroiderers guild North east Region work - above & below


 called 'Mining a gold seam' I hope you can read the names on the cards.


Then I decided to walk round half of the suppliers hall - I love the bottom right particularly


 I should have gone straight to the exhibition bit as it's exhausting in the crowds, Stef, above.


Oliver Twists, my fave bit top right (can't find a direct link)


Then look at this a nettle knitted short jacket! lovely. I asked everybody first could I take a pic & blog about them. 


 Oh, I'm inspired to put more flowers in my work by this wonderful piece by Jill Denton I'd honestly never seen her foxgloves before!


& fun & happy mixed media pieces by Sue Dove (I saw sue but can't be sure the google links are her, anybody knows, please tell me ;) ! - theirs was the first stand as you entered the exhibition bit.


 I met Frances Pickering, too busy looking to take a pic & Lynda Monk's work, above, demonstrating on Art van Go's stand.


 Jean Littlejohn & Jan Beaney very busy people being greatly encouraged to go off for their break by their tireless DH's, just caught them.


but I'd never seen the work of Judy Merchant, just wonderful


Can't resist a circle, can I? If you go to the show tomorrow, the last day, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


I've more, but this is enough for one day, I think. Here I am, home to my very own pot of gold.......
ok so I was fiddling with the camera & missed the most amazing rainbow.....! darnit!



16 comments:

Suztats said...

Sounds like a wonderfully inspiring day!

Heloise said...

Good that you had such a great day at the K&S show. Beautiful photograph.

Chesterbrook Academy Elementary said...

What a beautiful post.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful artwork.

Nellie said...

What a wonderful trip you had! I can sense your enthusiasm and pleasure by reading your blog!

Margaret Garrood said...

I was there on Thursday- Cas Holmes work is so inspiring!
This is a link to Sue Dove's Facebook page- she is from Cornwall
http://www.facebook.com/#!/sue.dove.31?fref=ts

ArtPropelled said...

The last photo is absolutely breathtaking. I enjoyed Anne Kelly's 2 pieces. Thanks for the introduction.

suziqu's thread works said...

Oh Emma what a stunning exhibition especially of Cas's textile work - it is just so delicate - I love it.
Thanks for sharing all of these and I am sure you had a wonderful time.
I have to say that is such a beautiful photo from home. Oh the colours!
Hugs,
Suzy

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all the photos,it must have been a great show!
Cas is a gret artist isn't she!

Anonymous said...

You got to meet the superstars of the UK fiber world. Lucky you. I, too, adore Cas Holmes and Anne Kelly. I am sooooooooooooooooo jelly that I live so far away! xox

Su said...

It was a wonderful show wasn't it. I too loved Cas's work, so inspirational. Well lots of it was actually, but her style just inspires me more. Managed to miss the Jill Denton display though - daft bat that I am!

Kim Henkel Creations said...

WOW how exciting to see this work in person. I am a HUGE fan of her work. Thanks for sharing all of these images, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them. All so magical and inspirational.

Linda Vincent said...

Fab post Emma...I re-lived it all again!!
Maggi and I had a lovely time chatting with Jean Littlejohn.
Love that last photo too....
XX

Lynette (NZ) said...

So envious - you've met some of my fav artists :-)

jackie said...

That is a lovely 'show' of the show for those that couldn't get there, and those like me who were too tired to remember much of what they had seen.

Anne Kelly Textiles said...

Hi Emma
Just caught up with you! Thanks for the lovely comments and pictures and see you again! :) Anne

Cas Holmes said...

long overdue comment Emma..it was so lovely to meet with you...your photos of where you live are stunning and thanks for the kind comments on my work Cas :)