Open Studio and a New Mouse

Its a lovely day on the Island and I am just getting back into the normal routine of studio life now that Open Studio is over for another year. I had a wonderful time chatting with new visitors and those who come back year after year to catch up and see what I have been up to in the year since they saw me last.

A certain Periwinkle mouse made quite a stir with his antics, he checked out a new fish tank and thought that would look great on a shelf in the studio.  I on the other hand thought that it might be a bit large

Mice it seems become bored quite quickly, I found him checking out the shopping trolly on Pink Jen’s stand!  A tad small for his bahooky me thinks.

He is a very cheeky little mouse!

 

This year’s venue was new which is always a risk, not just that the venue might not work as well but also that people miss you.  We needn’t have worried we were as busy as ever and we all agreed that the event was as successful as any other we have done.  It was very warm on the Sunday afternoon so after we had packed up we all went off to the pub for a cold drink and a chat.

A certain someone came too and quickly downed his cider. Talk moved quickly to next year and for the first time I found myself feeling unsure about it. Its true we all have said this in the past but this time I had a real sense that I didn’t want to do it again for a little while. Taking stock of everything now,  I still think that it is time for me to make a change and next year I am not going to be part of the Open Studio event. I have other plans that I will share as soon as they are fixed in place.

 

Pumpkins & Berries

So What’s Next?

The Summer is moving on a pace and the I am already thinking about the mellowness of Autumn.  Pumpkin and Berries is one of the pieces that I designed for Open Studio this year.  I love the mellow yellow and the glistening berries made from lovely Czech beads.  This is a wall hanging made from beautiful quality wool-felt.  I love the 3D feel to it. For once this might be a piece I keep for myself.

We are going to the mainland to visit our daughter who moved over just 3 months ago.  It will be lovely to stay with her and find out what she has been up to.  She has plans and says I should bring my sketchbook!

I can never get passed the rhythmical nature of laying stitches into or onto fabric, so I will be sewing and creating just the same as always.  My focus being on gentle, slow work and not the madness of a machine or an event deadline.  Of late I have also re-discovered my knitting needles, never the master knitter, but I still enjoy what little I can do.

Check back for more news from the studio a certain mouse and the creative things I get up to.

Su

 

 

 

 

Image Therapy!

I have been thinking for some time that I should have a proper logo designed by someone who knows what they are doing!  I thought that my shop, Facebook page and Instagram accounts should all have the same look about them so that when people come across them or are searching for them they would realise that they are all the same studio.

Meet Periwinkle Mouse, I think that he is a bit cheeky and looks like he is about to run off with that needle and thread!

Why a cheeky little boy mouse and not a pretty little girl mouse?

I have had a little crochet mouse on a shelf in my studio for a long time. He is definitely a cheeky boy and comes along to events as part of my stall set-up.  He has his own rocking chair next to his goldfish bowl, yes you read that right, Periwinkle has a goldfish bowl and His cactus to which he is very attached.  I love him and he always makes me smile, so I couldn’t have chosen anything else.

Thank you Michelle at Heartfelt Illustrations  for bringing my cheeky mouse to life. I had never done anything like this before and was worried that I didn’t really know what I wanted.  Michelle took me through the process step by step, explaining everything and tweaking things until we got the right image. Between us and within the space of a day, my Periwinkle Mouse logo was created.

I then thought that if I have a logo my main sites should also have a banner that ties them all to the same studio and to me.  I chatted to Michelle and she quickly created the lovely banners you can see on my  Periwinkle Embroidery Studio Facebook page and also on my  Periwinkle Studio Instagram Page.

I am so pleased with what she has created and feel that my little business now has a bigger presence on social media as a result.

I have also used my new logo to produce some cute pin badges that will be available at Open Studios and you never know could appear in a package if you choose to buy some of my work from my shop.

So now it is a bit cooler, I am going back to my studio to finish off the goodies I will have for sale at Open Studio on the 14th and 15th of July.  Go over to my Open Studio Event page  here to find out all of the details and if you want to share so that all of your friends know, that would be great too.

For those of you who can’t attend the event, join the Periwinkle Facebook page here for an online event I will be running after the Open Studio event closes!  Lots of goodies will be available, don’t miss out.

Enjoy the lovely weather, I hope to see you at Open Studios, or online at my Studio Page.

Best wishes

Su and Periwinkle Mouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open Studio 14th and 15th July 2018

Dorset Button Sunflower

The summer has finally arrived and the longer balmy days are here.  I love this time of the year.

The Open Studio is a chance for micro-artisans to show and sell their work to a large audience.  I have been part of this now for 5 years and greatly enjoy the event and of course the opportunity to sell my work to a wider audience than just on line.

My studio is very small and with the best will in the world only a few people can visit at one time, so I opt to join several other artisans and show at a venue.  This year I will be showing at The Quay Arts in Newport. This is a fantastic opportunity since it is the central art gallery on the island and has a lovely cafe and bar which attracts all sorts of people.

I am not going to be exhibiting alone, I will be alongside:

Jan Elliott – Textile Artist – her first Open Studio even Jan will be showing her lovely textile art.

Clare-Louise Sandell, Glass Maker  – Clare-Louise has a small studio where she creates the most beautiful and contempory glass that would grace anyone’s home.

Tracy O’Brien – Yarnsmith – Tracy creates beautiful things using the softest of yarns and the lovliest of knitted and crocheted stitches.

Pink Jen – Silversmith – Jenny’s work is sublime, she creates works of delight in Silver.

I am so looking forward to this years even, a new venue and lots of new work to share, sell and talk about and to meet up with friends and maybe meet a few new ones.