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!

Adventures with Fair Isle part 2

My adventures in learning Fair Isle have continued today, in a beautifully sunny studio (seeing the sun makes everything that much better!). 

Following on from my last post, I'm at the starting point of developing a new collection. I'm not sure what direction this project is going to take me in at the moment- all I know is that my ultimate goal is to produce a new jewellery collection. Also, although I'd like Fair Isle to be the main focus, I would like it to be a little different. So today I've been experimenting and recycling! I've cut fabric strips from an old lace skirt, jersey fabric from an old tunic top and strips of blue mock silk scarves that a friend kindly donated to my cause and used these to knit in Fair Isle patterns. Here are the results!

Ok, so the first attempt at the seed stitch using the lace and the scarf fabric wasn't a great success, but I love the way the lace has knitted up

This is a seed stitch pattern that alternates two coloured strands across the rows- really liking this effect. I need to try this with more contrasting colours and fabrics so the effect stands out much more

A three coloured pattern- I will experiment with using different fabrics in this way to highlight the pattern more clearly

Adventures with Fair Isle

 I've always wanted to try Fair Isle knitting, so I'm now teaching myself with a view to creating a Fair Isle themed jewellery collection at some point later this year. Although I've got a punch card knitting machine that allows me to create similar pieces, I wanted to know how it's done by hand, so I can then decide what direction to take the collection.

 These samples were my first attempts- I did get myself tied up in knots a bit at first and they're not the neatest pieces at the moment, but I am enjoying it- I find stranding the yarns quite therapeutic! I set myself the goal of challenging myself and also learning new skills this year, so this is my start on that!

How To... Embellish an old jumper

If you're anything like me, you'll have clothes you haven't worn for a while hidden away in a drawer, or perhaps something you bought on impulse but have never worn and it's taking up space in your wardrobe. Well, this year I've decided to get more use from what I already have- I can't always afford new things and I'm also conscious of waste, so they'll be lots of customizing and re-inventing of my wardrobe from now on!
This is a quick D.I.Y way to update an old jumper...

1). You will need...

An old jumper, beads/gems/ other embellishment materials of your choice, thread to match your jumper, sewing needles, scissors

2). Stitch beads around the neckline

Choose your arrangement of beads and stitch around the neckline of your jumper. I've decided to up-cycle the plastic pearls from a broken necklace. This is a really versatile project- you could use what you have in your beads/buttons/bits and bobs stash, or you could buy new embellishments from a craft store.

 Just three or four stitches through each bead should be enough to secure them in place. Here I've just added one row of beads, but add as many as you like, or make a pattern! The world is your oyster here.

3). Add your gems

If you don't have any gems to hand or you'd prefer to use something else, you could use buttons or large beads, or any other embellishments that would go with your theme. There are no hard and fast rules, you're going to wear it so go for what you like! I've chosen these lovely star sew on gems

4). And you're done!

It really is as simple as that- one jumper saved from a life at the back of a drawer and a fun and cheap update to your wardrobe!

New stockist- Things British, London

I'm very pleased to tell you that you can now find Louise Dawson Design jewellery in Things British, in Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, London!

Things British showcases the work of Designer Makers from all over Britain and aims to re-engage buyers with British designed and made products- a concept that has been lost among the mass production on the high street. I'm really happy to be part of this as the Things British ethos is something I really believe in.

Check out the Kingly Court shop or their other shop at St. Pancras International station, located on The Grand Terrace and discover something wonderfully different.

Bookmark Display Cards

 Today I've been making bookmark display cards using pages from magazines (I can't bring myself to cut up a book!)

A couple of times lately  my bookmarks have been mistaken for unusually shaped brooches, so hopefully this will solve that problem! I'm going to try out several ways of displaying them to see what works best.

In case you're curious, I'm currently reading the new Bridget Jones book "Mad About the Boy." I heart Bridget Jones!

Take a look at more of my bookmarks in my Etsy shop

The Hazel Gallery

There are exciting developments afoot for the creative in Colchester! Hazel Gallery opened in 2013 and  focuses on contemporary art and craft from local artists and makers. It is situated in a former newspaper  kiosk at the old bus station in St Botolph's, Colchester and is part of the St Botolph's Waiting Room Project, which forms part of the development of Colchester's Creative Quarter. As well as a cafe and bar, the waiting room is home to studios and workshops for artists and regular creative events.

 Fellow Cuckoo Farm Artist Lucy Hook-Child set up the Hazel Gallery and I was interested to know her motivation and inspiration behind this, so I interviewed Lucy to get some behind the scenes details!

1). Tell us a bit about yourself- have you always been an artist?

I have always enjoyed art and have been creative since I was little, my mum even saved my first paintings from playgroup and to be honest the colour palette isn't far off what I use now! When I left secondary school I went straight to art school. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do to start with, I just knew I wanted to learn more about art and design! I now have a studio at Cuckoo Farm where I create a lot of my own work to sell in the gallery.

Lucy's lino printed greetings cards which are available to buy in Hazel Gallery

2). When did the gallery open?

After spending the summer at the old bus station preparing the two old kiosks, Hazel Gallery opened in October- there are photos on the gallery website of how it was transformed. Hazel Gallery is part of a wider project at the old Bus Station, St Botolph's Waiting Room, which also houses various other creative projects, plus a bar and a cafe run by local chef Charlie Stoker.

The transformation of the newspaper kiosk to gallery!

3). What was your inspiration/motivation for opening the gallery?

During my time at Art School I had the idea of opening my own gallery/shop, but it wasn't until much later that it actually happened. I had been teaching art and photography for almost 6 years when faced with redundancy, and I decided it was about time to give it a go.Marc De'ath, one of the project leaders at the St Botolph's Waiting Room project had seen that I had been previously running art fairs alongside teaching and offered me the opportunity to set up and create a space for local artists and makers to present their work. I had gained a lot of contacts through the art fairs and the first artists and makers represented in the shop were previous stallholders.

4). Why is the gallery named the Hazel Gallery?

I named the gallery after my Grandmother, Hazel Hook-Child, she was the other artist in the family, always encouraged me to do artwork and was pleased that I chose to do a degree in Art and Design.

Mixed Media on Wood by Lucy Hook-Child

5). What has been the highlight/favourite moment in running the gallery so far?

I have had such a positive response from visitors to the gallery and I also get to organise events from here. We had a good turnout for the first event at The Waiting Room, a Christmas Fair and a fantastic vibe and atmosphere to the day, with artsists and makers booking pitches and selling their work, live acoustic music and and special Christmas food and drink from Charlie.

6). What's in store for the future? Are there any events coming up? 

There are several events coming up over the year. There will be seasonal art fairs at the waiting room starting with a Spring Arts Fair, which will include even more stallholders, plus art/craft workshops and demonstrations, Hazel Gallery open as usual as well as live acoustic music all day. Plus Hazel Gallery has several late night openings in collaboration with other happenings at St Botolph's Waiting Room

Thank you Lucy! If you're in the area please do stop by and have a look in the gallery and a have a drink in the Waiting Room- be part of the creative development of Colchester! Find out more on the Hazel Gallery Website