Yesterday I went into the fridge and found....

This on my shelf:


It would be fair to say that my housemates are a little strange, and apparantly come bearing polish gooseberry jelly.

In other news, this little lady is the subject of my attentions at the moment.

She is still in progress though so its not time for her grand unveiling yet!

Artsite 3

Anyone in Hereford (or otherwise) would be wise to visit Artsite 3, a wonderful temporary christmas shop right next to the cathedral and information centre which showcases the work of local contemporary makers, and its SERIOUSLY good stuff! I'm doing a couple of days owrk down there and selling a few things (almost all of which have sold now). The last of my current dolls are there and hopefully soon I'll have a few knitted head phones too. Its open until the end of December and really worth a visit!

A quick update...

A quick insight into my new project...




Mysterious, no?

Await but a few days and all will be revealed! But for now, let me introduce you to the other labour of love that the Scouser and I embarked on last night...

THE MINCE PIE BISCUIT MILKY PLATE OF DEATH

Oh yes... we spent an hour pulling change out of the sofa so that we could get in our pyjamas and eat cake...

That is a packet of mince pies, a packet of cookies and a tin of evaporated milk, all baked to perfection! Yum yum.

In our defence we are students. STUDENTS. And yes, he is still wearing the wolf suit.

I am feeling a little disgruntled.

I had a tutorial/group crit yesterday. For the last few weeks I have been developing a ceramic figure and I was finally getting to a place I felt happy with when this bombshell was dropped on me "Is it craft? Because if it isn't craft then you're in the world of art and you have to stand up to artists, its not as easy as craft"

... well. I have lots to say about that, but I will spare both you and the keyboard the majority of my rant.

In essence, why oh why must we compartmentalise everything like this? Can a piece of work not just be what it is? Who decided that Tracy Emin's textile pieces were art, or that Grayson Perry's pots are craft? My work has a thought out idea and concept behind it, sure, but shouldn't everything have some cognitive function backing the design process, or are we going to class everything with a meaning as FINE ART now? ANd whilst I'm on that, whats wrong with using a craft medium to produce artwork, why not blur those boundaries more, maybe one day they won't be there any more and students like me won't feel pressured to chop the head off of their models, hollow them out and turn them into a novelty cookie jar just to fit into someone else's opinion of art vs craft.

I'm really quite annoyed about this.

Any opinions?

Long time...

... no see, eh?

Well this past (internet free) month has been rather exciting, what with a total change in direction, various crafty events and not to mention the start of a new term. Georgia and Rosa have been sold, and there are a few more dolls on the way for a craft fair in Hereford coming up, details later, I'm not sure on them myself just yet, and then I will be stopping making them. Not because I don't enjoy it, but because I have a new love: LIFESIZE FIGURATIVE CERAMICS. Muhahaha.

Now, I have two questions 1: Does anyone know where I can get hold of some antlers and 2: How in the world am I going to attatch slip cast ceramic antlers to a 5 foot something clay woman? Well, really I think thats a question for the ceramics Technical Demonstrator. But seriously, I am in desperate need of antlers! Something I never thought I'd say.

So that is life as I know it for now, as soon as I have the first naked lady out of the kiln (if I can ever fit her in) then I shall post photographs, until then I'll be concentrating on the three projects, two essays and two presentations and one craft fair I have to do before christmas. Why can't student life just stay easy?

Update!

Here are the dolls which I am displaying at the Small Gallery until the end of October, they are £65 each, and yes, I am open to commissions! So, here are the introductions:

Luke

Sadie, who can sit on the edge of a shelf or on a flat surface,

Georgia, based on the painting I did a little while ago,

and Rosa, who's body is made of feathers.

This doll was made for my good friend Rhiannon's birthday and is based on her,

A roundup of all the girls (and boy) so far!

Also, I had to include this as it is adorable (well, it would be without the tobacco anyway), I finally finished Gaz's fleecey wolf onesie, it even has a tail! ... Shame that the chest hair makes it look like a prop for a 70's erotica reproduction of Little Red Riding Hood.

Just a Quick Post

I'll elaborate on this further when I have more money to spend at the internet cafe, but anyone wanting to catch a doll or two would do well to go to the Artisan Yarn Gallery in Capuchin Yard in Hereford from the 9th of September, and for the duration of H.Art week as I am having a little teeny exhibition. Photos to come!