Inside my Studio

While it's (relatively!) tidy I thought I'd show you around my studio, so welcome, come on in!

I've been at Cuckoo Farm Studios for five and a half years now and I've changed studio a few times as my work has grown. I'm now settled and I've been resident in studio 22 for two and a half years. It's a light and bright little room, upstairs in what was a bedroom in the farm workers cottage (Cuckoo Farm was once a Pig Farm). 

I'm not a very tidy person but it's a working space and it works very well for me. Although I don't get to spend as much time here as I'd like, it does really help me to have a dedicated working space away from the distractions of home and I enjoy being part of an artist community (there are thirty other artists working here in the converted farm buildings). 

 Here's a little look around!

My desk is an old school desk left by a previous tenant, complete with graffiti in the drawers! 

My knitting Machine, a Brother model KH890 Punchcard machine. 

I've just started making a blind for my window and I'll show you when it's done!

Pieces I've finished today

Here are some new knitted brooches I've finished this afternoon, between taking photos of Cuckoo Farm Studios in the sun (I'll share these with you later in the week) and drinking tea on the bench outside my studio (it's so lovely it has to be done!) Remember all of my pieces are available to buy, please get in touch!

A return to necklace making...

I've spent today in the studio working on some new necklaces which will have fabric embellishment. I haven't made any necklaces for a while because I've been mainly focusing on the brooches, but I thought it would be good to include a couple that tie in with the new collection.

The basic necklace is made from a strip of knit that I make on my knitting machine and then stitch around ribbon strung wooden beads. These necklaces were my starting point in jewellery making, having organically developed from their origins as parts of huge conceptual knitted hanging pieces (I will make a post on those at a later date, all will be revealed!) and they are something I like to return to and continue to adapt in different ways. Here is the navy one taking shape!

Stitching the knit around ribbon strung wooden beads

The base necklace ready to go, alongside the brooch that I would like it to match

I've spent the evening cutting out hundreds of tiny circles of  scrap fabric!

I coat the fabric "sequins" in fabric stiffener to prevent fraying

I'll hand stitch the fabric pieces onto the necklace over the weekend and post a pic of the results!

New collection in progress!

I'm currently making a new collection with a focus on my recycled fabric "sequin" idea as the main focus. I firstly came to the idea after having a move around in the studio and realizing how many materials I have that I never use, and forging a new determination to use them! I'm lucky that people know me as a bit of an avid recycling fan/hoarder (!) of wool and fabrics, so I get given lots of things and in that respect I'm never short of something "new."

The basis for the badge brooch is a self-cover button with the wire loop removed, and which I then cover with Tweed, Felt or Knit (I've tried using recycled Sari silk pieces, lace and other light weight fabrics but I find the heavier weight fabrics give a more substantial backing to be stitched onto).  I then hand cut all my little fabric sequins from any type of fabric that suits my colour way for that particular brooch, then coat them in fabric stiffener to prevent fraying. Once dry I can then stitch them onto the button.

It only makes a tiny dent in my fabric collection but I'm glad that I'm making good use of what I have, turning unwanted materials into something new to be kept and treasured! It's also been a good way to introduce more colour into my work- I'll always love and return to my white and cream but I'm pleased I've found a way I'm happy to use colour!

Some new colour ways (pre-stitching) using Harris Tweed off-cuts as the backing fabric

Harris Tweed Brooches

It's been a frozen day in the studio today, but Cuckoo Farm does look especially magical in the snow, even if I do get very cold toes! Lots of tea has helped me through the chill today though and I've been making new pieces that I'm going to add to my Folksy shop- look out for the Harris Tweed brooches coming soon!

I've also just joined Pinterest so I'll be having fun learning how to use that, I'll keep you posted!

Latest exhibition- The Minories, Colchester

To co-inside with Open Studios, The Minories Gallery in Colchester has an exhibition show casing a selection of participating artists, and I am very excited that my work is part of the exhibition! Lots of visitors to my studio over the weekend had said how uniquely it was presented, and today I popped into the Minories to have a look! It's always intriguing to see how other people present your work and this particular presentation has definitely inspired me for when I'm setting up displays myself in the future.

The Exhibition is in the lovely Garden Room at The Minories

If you're in the area I can recommend a visit to The Minories, as well as the variety of exhibitions and shop, the beautiful Georgian building and gardens are lovely to see in themselves. There is also a great Bistro so you can really make a day of it! Visit theminories.co.uk for details of how to get there

Cuckoo Farm Studios

Today I'd like to give you a little look inside my studio! I'm very lucky to have such a nice place to work in, and such a unique place too. There are about thirty Artists working in our community at Cuckoo Farm, Colchester, and it's really helpful to me to be working surrounded by like minded people.

When the inside of my studio is looking a bit tidier I'll post some more images!

Cuckoo Farm itself was once a working pig farm, and all of the studios are converted farm buildings (my studio is in the old farm cottage!) and because of this we are lucky enough to have lovely grounds around the studios (really nice in the summer, very cold but pretty in the winter snow!)

We have lots of arty things around the grounds at the studios

I'm very grateful for the opportunities Cuckoo Farm has given me since leaving college, and my studio is an integral part in the process of making my work.

Rings and Things

Today I've been in my studio (lovely in the sun!) working on a range of rings for a gallery- images to follow soon!

In the meantime, here are some images of the kind of work I sell at Spitalfields market on a Friday once a month (hoping to go on Sundays soon too!) Having been there in the winter wearing lots of layers it was so nice to go last week during the heatwave!

Felt brooch embellished with Swarovski crystals and glass pearls

Felt brooch embellished with spray painted found objects, Swarovski crystals, Freshwater and glass pearls and Black Onyx

Hand felted bead necklace, embellished with spray painted found objects

I've got lots of plans for my work over the coming months; I'm looking forward to writing about it!