Please join me at my first Virtual Exhibition, a sign of the new kind of times we are living in. 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/SKYEGALLERYONLINE

 

I can also be found on facebook & instagram

 

https://www.facebook.com/emma.siedlecollins

 https://www.instagram.com/escskye/

 

 See you there!

First day at the SECC, Glasgow

I've had a great first day at the Exhibition Center in Glasgow at The Creative Craft & Scottish Quilting Show, where I get the chance to demonstrate, thanks to the organisers at ICHF. My theme this year is 'Between the Tides' a theme that will last me the rest of my life!

People seem to love the sketchbooks & I reassure them that if I can make one for myself, then so can they - it's amazing to be able to inspire oneself just by putting a few marks down, representing something you either see or think about & keeping it safely in a recycled book. It doesn't have to be perfect, in fact that word just isn't in my vocabulary & I like to reassure others of that.

I'm in with some good company which I find delightful - Jennie Rayment, Sheena Norquay,  Wendy Dolan, Val Hughes, Helen McCook, Gillian Cooper, Kerry Mosley & the Queen of Rust, Bex Raven. I'll be able to get round to see more of the lovely work on their stands tomorrow after 'settling in' today.

Also along the theme of Between the Tides is a workshop I'm doing nest week in 2 parts at the local college, I'm hoping it will run but peeps seem to be pretty busy at this time of year!

It's kind of an abstract bit of shoreline,  rock & sea or even sky!

I'm making a few sample pages in a BtT sketch book, for me & for the next workshop, 3 little sections which show a progression from sketch to stitch (or collage to sketch to stitch) with a collage in between - it's ongoing.....

I haven't done as much stitching as I'd have liked over the last couple of months but I did enter some local photos into a fundraising calendar competion!

I made a few sketch/collage a day pieces, I allow myself not to panic if it's not every day

I've done some bright 'relief' stitching, well, just for the hey!

& of course a few heart cards for Valentine's Day ;)

Looking forward to another funfilled day at the show tomorrow, & more stitching of course.

Time Passing

Sometimes it seems like a long time has passed in seconds, at other times a short time takes an age.  It depends how full to the brim that time is or how pleasant.

I seem to have started this year with a Monoprinting class at the local college &  delighted at being asked back, I have ended with a class at the same college. I sense a sort of concertina effect but in remembering details I can elongate the feeling.

Lovely work from all of my willing students -

I booked our local hall for a month of Wednesdays in September - I wanted to offer relaxing taster classes of Monoprinting

weaving on a frame

making background papers

and last but not least, some reconstructed fabric making

We got a lot done in each 2 hour session with potential to carry on at home as all these methods are very low tech.

I went to a couple of classes myself in the summer, one on indigo dyeing with shibori (I've mislaid those pics) & another on Botanical printing - so good to see it in action from an excellent teacher North Child in Plockton with my own eyes - now I might understand better (the scientific bits in) the books by India Flint!

the pic above is a 5x5 square out of some of the pieces - I've yet to put the little squares of paper into a sketchbook, I'm sure I will if only to stop them catching the breeze in the studio whe I open the door!

So now I'm working on some memory hangings. Its not an origional idea but the thought came to me as I was sorting out my parents house ready to sell in the Spring. There was 30 years of stuff to go thru which I managed in 3 stages before the house sold in the summer. I decided to hang on to some of it in a creative way.

My mother was ill so it was good to be able to be with her & my Dad, of course at these times & I did ask myself would I still be able to make a hanging if the worst happened? I spent the last 4 days with her before she died, 3 weeks ago. I did manage to stich a little with her, for her & I shall continue.

She loved herons so today I decided to see what would happen if I took a photo with my phone simply perched on the eyepiece of my DH's scope - intriguing I thought. So in her memeory, I say Merry Chritstmas & a happy new year that brings you alll you wish for.