Busy doing nothing...

So much for good intentions of blogging every Sunday...  Four weeks in, and already I'm two weeks behind!  Although I do have an excuse - Dad had an operation on his foot last Monday, and while it's nothing major, I've been living between two houses while he recovers.  Mind, I suppose that doesn't really excuse missing the first week, does it?

I had a lovely week off work last week, except for the living-between-two-houses thing.  My birthday, a glorious spring week, and nothing much to do except walk the dog and enjoy the sunshine!  Yes, I could have been getting on with college work, but deadline is still a comfortable way off, so I thought it would be nice to have some time to relax.

Of course, relaxing, with me, certainly doesn't mean doing nothing.  I did do some college stuff, but mainly I did more toys.  Can't claim credit for the ideas on these, but still...  This one came from Linda Kopp's "Plus-o-rama," a book I fell in love with a few years ago.  Of course, I did have to change it - it only vaguely looks like the original.  And then I changed it some more, and made it much smaller, stuffed it with dried lavender, and called it "a skellington to hang in the closet".  Many thanks to my beautiful AussieSister who made a chance remark one day that set me down that line!

There's also the ever present crochet now, too.  I honestly do feel like I've forgotten something if I leave the house without a hook and a ball of wool!  This week I did two zombies and an elephant.  Oh, and I'm part way through a dinosaur.  Again, not my designs, but I figure it's helpful to follow a few patterns before I start creating my own - figure out how they work!  Pictures of those will follow...

The Biscuit Factory

Yesterday was a visit to the Biscuit Factory in Newcastle, with Lesley.  As part of the course, we need to be checking out art galleries, and so we decided that the Biscuit factory would be a good place to visit.  There was plenty to look at, and lots of different art forms were in evidence, from the usual paintings and prints, to bronze and wood.  There was a lack of "textiles", but a lot of both glass and ceramics, which were all very interesting.  The jewellery was also interesting, and although there was nothing that really appealed to me personally, I could at least admire the work that had gone into the pieces.

There are a large number of artists displaying and selling in the Biscuit Factory, and although it's actually a small place, it's not cramped.  I cannot possibly name all of the artists on display here, but there was a few pieces that stood out for me...

• Stephen Beardsell, a glass artist, had a lot of pieces on display, but by far my favourite was his "tree fungi sculpture" which is a real wooden log with glass mushrooms "growing" out of it.  Sells for £3100, so I don't think I'll buy it for my garden!  http://www.stephenbeardsell.com/
• Ceramics from Chiu-I Wu stood out for me, although Lesley was not as impressed.  I love the big shapes, and the simple detail.  "Thoughts" was one of my favourite pieces on display from this artist.  http://www.chiuiwu.co.uk/home.htm
• Probably one of the best ceramic artists on display, for me, was Mark Dally.  The pieces on show from him were all black and white, simple forms, slip-trailed.  For someone who always wonders what to do with a ceramic form once it's made, looking at his work gives me some inspiration - with some (a lot?) of practice, maybe I can create something so wonderful, from one simple technique?  http://www.markdallyceramics.co.uk/Home.html
• Another favourite piece was "Watermother" by Fidelma Massey.  This one would only cost me £4920, but at least it's not so big that it would need to go in the garden...!  All of her work appears to be based on ancient mythology, which I love, and the greens and golds are perfect for the subject.  She works in both bronze and ceramic, and some of her pieces are absolutely stunning.  http://www.irishsculpture.com/

If anyone's interested in visiting the Biscuit Factory, the website (http://www.thebiscuitfactory.com/) has all of the usual contact details and maps, etc, to help you get there.  I will point out, for those of you who don't know Newcastle, that there is a one way system in place around there, so watch out!

I also need to warn you all...  There was a severely huge, extremely disappointing, lack of biscuits.

And in the Beginning...

Writing a blog...  Something I've thought about in passing a few times over the last few years.  Then today at college, Eyv tells us it's now a part of the curriculum.  Guess it's time to give it a go, then!

So, where/how to start?  With me, I guess!

I'm currently studying Applied Arts at Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD), and I'm in the third year of a part time Foundation Degree.  If I get through this year, and one more, without going completely insane, I get to wear the daft hat.

So, what am I doing at college right now?  I'm studying irons.  Yep, that's right.  The domestic iron.  Why?  Well, we were all given a domestic item at the beginning of the year as a starting point, and pretty much let loose to do as we wished.  And I got the iron.  Well, it was better than the nailbrush!

I've made quite a few irons so far, in various materials.  Copper, porcelain, tea towels.  I'll put some pictures up soon, when I have time.  For now, I'd like to request some help.  No, not mental help.  Honestly, I'm looking at irons for a college project!

What I'd like everyone to do, if they don't mind, is a rubbing from the bottom of your iron.  You know, hold a piece of paper over the iron plate, and scribble all over it with a pencil?  I'm collecting them, and although I've got a lot, I'd like even more.  If you could do it, and send me a copy, I'd really appreciate it!  Just so you know what I mean, here's a picture of one I've already collected...