Magnificent Pearls......

I have made no secret that I have not had anytime to create and have changed direction with Mimi Pearl. 

I hadn't made a piece of jewellery in an age......but when one of my Magnificent Seven friends asked me to make her a necklace for her 40th birthday celebrations, I couldn't say no.  

This necklace is lovingly handmade with freshwater irregular pearls, sparkly crystals, rock crystal and sterling silver.  Finished with a love heart toggle fastening and long charms to drape down the nape of her neck.  I wish her well to wear it!! 

 

Yvonne Mullock Quilty Quilts......

It's no secret that I love quilts.  There is something so comforting about them.  They are endearing, historical and made with love. 

Artist Yvonne Mullock has put together an exhibition entitled Quilty Quilts which can be seen at the Western General Hospital Gallery in Edinburgh until 30 September.

Yvonne has recently been working alongside a quilting community on the remote island of Fogo. Featured in the exhibition are quilts made on the island,  some of them dating back 70 years. 

Yvonne is currently artist-in-residence at the Western General Hospital working with Artlink developing craft-based projects with staff and patients, including quilitng. 

Last week I popped along to the Gallery where Artlink was holding one of its Crafty Lunch hours (every Wednesday between 12 - 1) where you can join in with artists, get crafty, have fun, socialise and hopefully learn a new skill.  Amazing!

One of the projects she is working on just now is a collaborative quilt made from recycled hospital uniforms.  Whilst I was there people who had signed up for the Crafty Mission were dropping off their quilt "flowers" that they had hand stitched together from a hexagon template.  I cannot wait to see the finished result!

To find out more about Yvonne and her Quilty Quilts why not have a look at her Quilty Quilts blog.  In the meantime, here is a snippet into the exhibition and the Crafty Mission....

Yvonne admiring someone's handy work

Here's one I made earlier....a crafty missioner showing off her piece

A previous collaborative quilt

 Quilts from the exhibition........

Curiosities at the Edinburgh Festival....

The Edinburgh Festival has commenced!  The streets are full of performers, theatrical types and millions of  tourists.  Every year we go to see something but without fail we potter around the Grassmarket and High Street just to soak up the atmosphere at different times during the Festival.

Yesterday was raining, but despite the miserable weather  the crowds were out in full force. We started with a browse around the pop up market at the Grassmarket, were I bought a cute vintage tin for £2 and fell in love with the male torso mannequin which I couldn't afford! He would have made a cute addition to Headless  Edna and Leggy Peggy, no?  After aquiring a mask from Costume Ha Ha for a Masquarade party I'm going to later this month, we pottered up the hill to the Royal Mile to mingle in the crowds.

Here's just a snippet of some of the curiosities we saw.........

Halfway point.....

So far this year has seen an incredible amount of change in my life.    I started the year out all geared up for new beginnings and I couldn't have wished for more. 

My Edinburgh Half Marathon was planned - which in May I completed in 2 hours and 21 minutes (a fabulous achievement from one who detested running 6 months before, even if I say so myself!).

Whilst Mimi Pearl was going from strength to strength, I had lost momentum and interest in designing jewellery, and was quite frankly fed up of stockists swallowing most of my profits.  I made the decision to stop making jewellery, and concentrate on textiles and my real passion...sewing.  At this point I had no real outline of which way I was taking Mimi Pearl, just I was taking a back step for the next few months. 

Then at beginning of March I started a full time photography position, a job which I was delighted to get - working term time for a great company, which fitted in with Mia and Jonny's school hours.  Not only that - I get to take photographs every day!  I was learning new skills and getting to grips with working full on five days a week, training for my first Half Marathon, and running the house left me little time to concentrate on the direction of Mimi Pearl.   

Now I am in the Summer holidays, I have had a break from work and catching up things and here's where I am at the halfway year point with Mimi Pearl.....

I am in the beginnings of designing textiles to show at the Line Gallery (my one and only stockist) and will hopefully be exhibiting my work at some point later in the year with Artlink as  I have done in previous years. 

My designs will focus on abstract florals and feature cushions and blankets.  Whilst florals are normally depicted in bright and  vibrant colours, I will continue to work with what I love best and that is a soft muted pallete. 

Inspiration is coming in many forms, from my photography, to graffiti and nature.......this image was taken today and I hope to incorporate it into the blanket I am working on.

xox