What a wonderful WASPS weekend

I should be heading for my bed (it's been a very busy weekend), but while I'm still buzzing from the WASPS open studio in Selkirk this weekend I thought I better let anyone that couldn't make it know what they missed out on!!

This was my display (above) within the communal space that is inside the industrial unit that Wasps occupies in Selkirk, to keep it in line with the other artwork being showcased (which is mainly framed artworks) I kept it sleek and simple and tried to display my tea-towels like works of art instead of kitchen linen. I took a few orders for my tea-towels over the event, which is great, and will be busy busy over the next week fulfilling those orders.

Here is a sneek-peek into my working space where all the magic (!) happens, it's looking very clean and tidy which has to be said isn't a common occurence...especially when it comes to the way I work!

This is a picture of the wonderful activities which were on offer for kids and adults alike, everyone went away very sparkly. Overall there was over 500 people through the doors which was an amazing turn out and it was great to see loads of familiar faces (as well as meeting some wonderful new people too). Thank you to all those that could make it along, it's great to know that WASPS is supported throughout the local community! There was great performances from two local folk bands and plenty of yummy cakes too which altogether combined to create a fantastic weekend, I'm now going to sleep for a week!

'Prints of the Orient' Update

The event down in Margate has pretty much only just begun and I'm updating you on it already (I couldn't resist). I thought you might like to see a few images of Qing furniture and stationary mixed up with my illustrative/textile take on the wonderful land that is Hong Kong.

The cushions and tea-towels I have produced for the event are all inspired by a trip I took to Hong Kong at Christmas time in 2006 (it was to see a lovely friend and if she's reading this then she'll know who I'm referring too). It was an absolutely wonderful experience and one which I'm very fond of and have loved capturing onto my textiles over the years.

Other artists at the event include the wood-cuts of Dawn Gray, which even from this picture look impressive so I'm sure they would be a delight up close.

I'm a big fan of mixing old and new concepts and I think Qing Art have really managed in their shop in Margate. Don't forgot it's all part of the Pushing Print Event and I'm sure you have not heard the last from me on the subject just yet!!

Freshly Blended

Just a quick mention that Freshly Blended (a blog dedicated to the creative inspirations of graphic designer Nicole Lecht) blogged about Papa Stour back in July and included my work as one of three designers inspiring her creative lifestyle. To check out the specific blog about me, Libby Day and CLO then click here. To check out Nicole's brilliant blog and it's daily updates then you'll want to click here. Enjoy!

'Prints of the Orient' Exhibition

Throughout October, GraceInk Design will be showcasing Hong Kong inspired interior furnishing products at the Pushing Print Event taking place in Margate. The work was selected by Qing Art based in Margate to work alongside their own collection of home furnishings and furniture, which is a beautiful selection of throws, tables, lamps and cushions bursting with colour and pattern from the Orient. The website is well worth a look if you can't make it to Margate yourself...check it out here! (I'm saving my pennies for one of the beautiful throws)

And below, I finally managed to transfer my hand-drawn birdcage design onto screen and here are two of the finished results below (that are currently making their way to Margate), this design has become so popular that it's also adorning tea-towels and notebooks and I'm sure in the near future a whole host of other products. The notebooks will be on sale from Saturday, launching at the WASPS open studios!

WASPS Open Studio

The weekend after next (2nd & 3rd October) is the annual WASPS open studios which is happening Scotland wide and will be showcasing some of the artists and designer-makers Scotland has to offer. I'm based at WASPS in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders, where there will be live music, cakes and plenty of inspiring artwork and artists...so if you live near by why not pop along or see if there's a studio closer to you!

Craft Residency Masterclass

Back at the end of June I headed off to Oban to teach screen-printing techniques to a group of pupils from schools across North Lanarkshire. As a follow up they came over to Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels to do a two day masterclass within the fantastic facilities there with two wonderful technicians and me (of course)!

The students got the chance to print images they had created while in Oban, including textures created from seaweed and slate picked up from the beach and images inspired by the shoreline and terrain around our base in Oban. The fabrics created will be cut into pattern pieces and made into shirts to be showcased at an event in November alongside a range of shirts from Heriot-Watt's campus in Dubai.

They got the chance to use a whole range of printing inks, dyes and adhesives including devoré (which burns away fibre), foils, hand-painting, pigments, opagues and puff binder. There were some amazing colours and patterns created which will go onto to make the coolest skirts.

And if you pop back to my original post on the Craft Residency back in June you'll see a picture of this artwork of boats (above) being drawn, which the student turned into the prettiest hand painted silk scarf.

Arrows at the ready...

What a busy month September has been so far...my feet have hardly touched the ground. The weather has been a bit up and down of late but just over a week ago the sun shone for the annual Archery Competition happening at Abbotsford House (home of Sir Walter Scott) near Galashiels in the Scottish Borders. As well as the usual bows and arrows flying about there was a lovely little craft fair taking place which I took part in.

As well as my usual bits and pieces, I've just recently finished an old/new design (old as it was originally for digital, new because it's now on screen), which I have been using on tea towels in duck egg blue above (it's the birdcages). More of the tea towels along with a whole host of other bits and pieces will be making their way to Pushing Print in Margate at the end of this month...check out www.qingart.co.uk News and Events for more information on that or check back to my blog in the next few days for a separate blog all about it!

I also had to include a picture of the fantastic birdie pegs one of my sisters brought back from France while she was on her travels...they will be making theie rounds to all the other fairs I'm doing in coming months because as well as looking cool they also come in extremely handy!

And just to finish, one of the towers on Abbotsford House with it's Scottish Flag flying, it looks like an ugly grey cloud is gathering behind but it stayed dry all day, just the way I like to exhibit my work!