Summer Sizzler Exhibition

Just a small preview of the fabulous work that is currently exhibited in the gallery - all from the Tyttenhanger Painting Group,

Jill Rolfe -

Malini Croxson -

 Jenny Stratfold -

and  Donna Chamberlain -

The exhibition is on now and runs until 4th September.

Gina Ferrari Workshop

A few weeks ago, my friend Lynn, as mentioned in previous post, and I attended a lovely machine embroidery workshop entitled  'Stitches and Doodles' with tutor Gina Ferrari a few weeks ago.

(See more of Gina's work on her blog HERE)

(I did mean to post pictures of it straight away, but you know how it is.....)

Gina showed us examples of the things we could achieve with the machine 'doodling' technique she was showing us.  The notebooks would make fab gifts for arty friends -

Whilst for the more romantic amongst you -

and then for the Domestic Goddesses -

Or canvases to adorn your walls -

The students were wide ranging in Machine Embroidery experience - my friend Lynn, as a couple of others, had done little or no machine embroidery, and there were others who had done loads - but trust me, you always learn something new from Gina.  

Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of Gina demonstating Machine Embroidery - she must have been unusually camera shy, so I'll have to use this recent off-duty photo of her -

(Gina's the one on the left)

I did, however,  remember to take some photos of the samples and 'work-in-progress' that the students produced -

A record of the day -

Lynn took to machine embroidery like a duck to water (I nearly typed 'horse to water' but I think I was mixing my metaphors)

 - this is all her own work ....

and in fact, when I next saw her at AVG she showed the book cover completed

 

See what you can achieve at a Gina Ferrari workshop!  

Gina will be back at AVG on Tuesday 9th September, teaching another Machine Embroidery workshop using collaged fabrics.  If you look at her blog you'll see some brilliant bags that she has made with this techniques.  Make a note of this one - it's an addition to the Workshop Programme!

It would be lovely if you left a comment - then we'd know if anyone is reading this - thanks!

Angie Hughes workshop

On Thursday, my friend Lynn and I were lucky enough to attend an Angie Hughes workshop entitled "Inspired by Klimt"
Firstly, Angie showed us some examples of her work using the techniques she was going to be teaching us.
A panel, inspired by a Klimt Steamer

A bag in the making -

And another one - nearly finished -

Using velvet, bondaweb, transfoils, sweetie papers, glitter and sparkles we created a background.  Ironing has never been so much fun -

In fact, AVG regular, Pammie wasn't able to tear herself away from her iron for most of the day ....

Bless!  Maybe we should all rally round and drop our ironing off to her at home, just to keep her smiling?

After lunch, it was time for Angie to demonstrate machine stitching, 

Then we were let loose to embellish our own creations.  And her are some pictures of the results -

A lovely day, thank you Angie.  And for those of you who missed the workshop, Angie Hughes is back for a two day workskshop on Wed 24th and Thurs 25th September entitled 'Further Explorations in Velvet' - and don't worry if you haven't previously explored velvet - this course is suitable for beginners and for those who attend last years 'Exploring Velvet' workshop.

Another year older .....

Altogether now .....
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Viv, Happy Birthday to you!

Spectrum Exhibition

As you may have seen in the current workshop programme, we are currently hosting an exhibition of work by Spectrum - a group of textile artists mentored by one of our popular tutors, Gina Ferrari.

Yesterday afternoon they held an afternoon tea party private view in the gallery

There was a real buzz all afternoon, with lots of great comments about the work, so if you are passing do call in and see the exhibition.  And in case you are unable to get here, here's a very small selection of the work 

For more information about the exhibition, and the tea party - and the vast amount of cakes consumed - 

click HERE

Oh, and I should also remind you to come and say hello to us at the NEC for the Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch exhibition from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd March.  Blimey, that's this week, we'd better get cracking!

New Workshop Programme 2014

The all-new Workshop Programme is out!   

And it's not just any old workshop programme - it's a very special

2014

Twenty-Fifth Birthday

WORKSHOP PROGRAMME

1989 - 2014

CLICK HERE for the new programme

Not only is it crammed full with fantastic workshops led by inspirational tutors, but it also covers the whole celebratory year.
Go on, take a look and get booking to join in the celebrations xx

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.