IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN ...........

Just a reminder to everyone that we will, of course, be at the forthcoming Knitting and Stitching shows at Ally Pally, Dublin and Harrogate, so if there's anything specific that you'd like us to bring, just give us a call in the shop a few days before and we can put it aside for you at the show.   

Incidentally, have you ever wondered what the gallery looks like when we are preparing for the Knitting and Stitching Shows.  Well, even if you haven't I'm going to show you.

Mmm, not quite looking at it's best.  Unlike Viv, who always looks lovely, even when she's got her "where the-****-do-I-start" face on.

Kevin wasn't looking his best either as he's just getting over a bit of a cold serious case of man flu, so I've just included his elbow.  

He's very busy though, I'd hate you to think he was slacking even though he is very poorly.

Anyway, rest assurred that all of the  AVG crew are frantically getting ready for the first round of the Knitting and Stitching Shows,  at Alexandra Palace from Thurs 10th - Sun 13th October

For more info on this Show CLICK HERE

After that, at the end of the month, it's off to Dublin for K&S at RDS Dublin from Thurs 31st Oct to Sun 3rd November

For more info on this, CLICK HERE

And finally, at the end of November it's off to Yorkshire for K&S at Harrogate from Thurs 21st to Sun 24th November.

For more info for the Harrogate show, CLICK HERE

If you've been to the Knitting and Stitching Shows in either Dublin or Harrogate in the past few years you will probably already have come across the Artists in Action feature.  And for those who haven't, here's an explanation of what it's about.

Artists in Action

First introduced to the Knitting & Stitching Show at the NEC in 2008, the Artists in Action Studio has become a regular feature of the Dublin and Harrogate shows.   The concept is to show practicing artists at work, as though in their own studio, so visitors can catch a glimpse of the artists’ journey from initial idea through to resolved body of work. 

Each artist will have their own area within The Studio – three in Dublin and six in Harrogate – with white wall space to display ‘work in progress’ as well as finished pieces.   They may be in residence for the duration of the show, or they may use a space for just one or two days, but the timetable will reflect an exciting range of creative disciplines such as fabric painting, dyeing, printing, papermaking, fabric construction, mixed-media and stitch.  

The artists - some of whom you will know as established tutors or exhibiting artists, some as new-comers to the show - will be examining options, exploring ideas and working through processes.   Inspiration could come from previously worked themes, from their own sketchbooks and source material, or even from other artists in the Studio and the materials provided.   Programme in several visits to the Artists in Action Studio during your day and you will be able to observe the developments, as well as learning about methods, materials and techniques.   By displaying their personal working methods the artists hope to encourage a better understanding of the artistic flow, including those inevitable (but vitally important) rejected ideas, as the creative journey follows its twists and turns.

Artists involved in Dublin include:

Caroline Schofield

Jacki Sleator

Eithne Carey

Maeve Coulter

Students from the National College of Art & Design

Artists involved in Harrogate include:

Kim Major-George

Jonathan Korejko

Pauline Verrinder

Amanda Hislop

Alice Fox

Lynda Monk

Jo Lovelock

Hilary Beattie

So, hope to see lots of you at the Shows - but if you can't get there and are local to the Studio, do call in to see the current exhibition of largely botanical work by SHULI HAN running until Sat 26th October.

Shuli Han, from Shanghai, China has been living in Knebworth for about six years.  She is a member of the Herts Visual Forum and trained in China as an architect, but her first love3 has always been painting.  She will be in residence in the Gallery on Saturday 12th October.