Where did November go?????

I can't believe my last post was September. I've been so busy this month and thought I'd better write another post today or it will be December and another month will have gone by. Lots has been happening.

I did my first ever craft market this month in Shropshire with 'Made in Shropshire'. It was hard work but great fun and a good learning experience. I spent weeks printing and then sewing the pieces into finished products.

It was hard to know how much stock to make and which items to concentrate on. In the end I made lots of everything and hoped for the best.

The next task was the stall itself. I looked at as many other markets as I could get to and looked online to get ideas about how to display my work. This was fun but all takes so much time when you are desperately trying to make stock!

In the end I was quite pleased with how the stall looked and had lots of very positive feedback from customers and other stall holders.
I was very lucky that it was a beautiful sunny day. I'm not sure it would have been as much fun had it been pouring down. Made lots of sales and had great feedback.

Since that Market I've been busy drawing and working on new prints. My prints can be seen now all together on a new Etsy shop  www.etsy.com/shop/janbrewerton

My plan for December is to really concentrate on my paintings which have been neglected recently.

A day in London

 This week I spent a wonderful day in London looking at works of art and being very inspired.
 I started at the Mall Galleries to see  Bite : Artists making prints. This was a great show of printmaking in Britain today. All the work was selected from open submission and provided a really varied show.

In the afternoon I had the privilege to visit the studio of Albert Irvin, an artist whose work I very much admire.
His studio is in an old school building with very large windows which fill the space with light and air.

Some very large canvases fill one wall 

Tea time!

Four pint beer cans which are used to perch work on while in progress. They are a work of art in themselves.

Albert's painting smock with years of accumulated paint!

The man himself. Hard to believe he was 90 in August!

Great day out.

I'm up in Shropshire for most of this week, using the time here to catch up on exhibitions I'm keen to see. Had a great day today going up to Oriel Gallery in Wrexham to see a fab exhibition of prints by Anita Klein. I've liked her work for years but haven't seen any in the original for ages. The show is on till the 29 September

This was my favorite and wish I could have bought it! Maybe one day!

From Wrexham I went up to Ruthin to the craft centre there which is such a great exhibition space. (also has a great cafe!) There was a really good show of Wendy Ramshaw's work with some fantastic pieces.

I love this piece

And this.

The Wendy Ramshaw show is on till the 9 September 

To end a perfect sunny day I had a cream tea at Erdigg, just outside Wrexham. The Gardens were stunning.

This week's inspiration

I am a terrible hoarder and love to travel- probably not a good mix!  I've been trying to clear up a bit this week but just spent hours looking at things I'd forgotten I had! 

I love the wrappers of these White rabbit milk sweets.

A 1980's chinese magazine with some lovely images

'La mano' postcard by Bizarrworld

One of my favourite books when I was little. Published in 1963, it's full of incredible things to make.

I love the cover of this 1958 Chinese edition of Balzac

New designs

Fish cushion. White on Natural 100% Linen

                                                             

Pigeon cushion. Grey on Natural 100% Linen

                      

 Clasp purse. 18cm x 14 cm Grey on Linen

Zip Bag. 20cm x 15 cm Grey on Linen with leather trim

Clasp purse. 18cm x 14 cm Red on White cotton 

Purse lining. 100% cotton

I've been very busy today making up my new range after all that printing I did last week. I'm using lovely quality linen and its a joy to work with. My designs use images that are strong and characterful but avoid sentimentality. 

Graphite series

Mincer (image size: 64x50 cm) in graphite

Hand Whisk  (image size: 63x43 cm) in graphite

Can opener (image size: 50x24 cm) in graphite

Small open scissors  (image size: 22x25 cm) in graphite

Small closed scissors  (image size: 17x25 cm) in graphite

Crinkle cutter  (image size: 43x24 cm) in graphite

Strainer spoon (image size: 57x32 cm) in graphite

Fork and spoon  (image size: 55x26 cm) in graphite

I've finally finished a group of graphite drawings that have been on the go for ages. They began because I was looking at some old kitchen utensils from the 1950's and 60's. I started to collect a few of them and now I have lots more that friends have donated. In fact I have enough to do another series when I can find the time. The drawings are quite large.

Printing sessions

I've spent the last couple of days getting lots of printing done. The new linen I'm using is lovely to work with and gives a good final result. I've printed my Pigeon design and the new Fish, both of which have come out really well.  Now I just have loads of sewing to do to get the final pieces ready!