For The Fallen performance and banner installation and Walking With Giants Parade

A little bit of a catch up after a very busy couple of months! 

Well the installation of the banners at Campbell park in Milton Keynes started brilliantly. It looked fab and the weather seemed to be contempt (apart from the stakes being stubborn and not wanting to go into the hard, dry ground!). Practice run went great with lots of onlookers, with the rose being edged with poppy filled meadow flowers it looked magical! 

But of course when it came to the real thing, the clouds drew in (as you can see from the panorama below...) and of course the wind and rain came with them. It looked like we might just pull through when the biggest gust of wind swept through and pulled so many of the banners from their posts, all flying through the air just as the heavy music hit in for the performance, and the rain came hammering down. 

People commented on how magical and eerie it was, but of course having the artist head on, I felt the wind and thought of the banners, trying to grab them as they flew through the air, so missed viewing it as it happened! 

All in all though I really did have a fantastic day and great experiences, meeting wonderful people along the way! Thanks to everyone who came and a big well done to everyone who contributed in one way or another :) I've seen just a small part of how much hard work has gone in, so can only imagine the amount of effort from all parties, and in the end it looked amazing!

Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.

Well, this past week I've been in Manchester, house hunting! Eeek :) Looking forward to moving in July. It's getting close now! A brand new beginning.

As well as this, I've been having a gander at places to possibly sell work in the future. I stumbled across an absolute gem, the Manchester Craft and Design Centre. There was some gorgeous work there, and so many opportunities. Two floors of stunning little boutiquey-workshops, as well as an arty coffee shop sat right in the middle, soaking up that buzzing atmosphere. Such an inspiring place, with so much going on! I'm so glad I found it!

So I thought the evenings in the hotel would be a good time to cram work in for my dissertation, so I spent most of my evenings spread out on the bed, typing away and trying to remember where I found the bits of information floating around my head! It was definitely well needed, and I managed to get so much done, I can't quite believe it! 

And of course having our student style, make-shift dinner from sneaked breakfast muffins and butter, with the cheapest ham known to man, and of course popcorn, haha.

At the end of everything we decided to take a lovely country route home, seeing all the natural world again, and finding a fabulous place to have lunch - which did the most amazing puddings! We had to share one and bring a couple home, they were just too good!

And with Easter literally hours away, I'm sure there is only going to be more caloricious indulgence! Especially as I could hardly not make Easter nest cakes now could I!

Happy Easter!

...for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.

Well it's up and running! And how beautiful it all looks.

Had a marvellous time at the Bees & Weeds private view at the Old Fire Station on Friday night with everyone. Such a great atmosphere, and a lovely way to be able to take a step back and actually see our work away from the hectic rush of trying to get everything done and looking fab! 

The bike-seat covers in the window are brilliant fun and I noticed they are really getting the attention they deserve from passers by.

It's great to know how much has already been sold (although that means more hard work on our end!), and lovely to hear the positive comments and interest from everyone so far.

I want to say a big well done to everyone who's managed to put work in. I've seen how hard everyone has been working in the recent weeks to get to this point, and how much pressure everyone's been under, and trying to juggle everything, but it's definitely paid off! I genuinely cannot wait to see what you produce and do with yourselves in the coming years! And a big thank you Pale Blue Dot (Jane and Neil) for making this all possible, doing the footwork and being a great support (and of course taking lovely photo's! Haha).

If you get the chance, do pop along to the Old Fire Station shop in Oxford. It's a gorgeous little shop full of handmade treasures, contemporary pieces and unique gifts. Something for everyone.

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.

So today I spent my day in Oxford at the ginormous John Radcliffe Hospital in their Brain Bank for part of the Brain Awareness Week.

It was a fab day, really interesting and full of information. Getting to see human brains and the differences between healthy and diseased brains, getting to see what happens to donated brains - I can't rave about it enough!

I should probably say my Final Major Project has taken me down the route of the brain and that is why I've accumulated this new interest. But even without my project being about the brain, everything I'm learning is of huge interest to me - and things I think everyone should learn about.

There is so much going on over the next week, I'm gutted I just don't have the time or funds to go to them all! But do check them out, something for all ages! UK events Oxford events

I'm looking forward to stretching my brain over the research to come, and hope the Brain Bank gets more donated brains to continue their thoroughly fascinating research! (I just have to mention) Who are especially hoping for autistic brains to further their knowledge of the disorder as has been the case with parkinsons and alzheimers in the past.

There is history within us all.

Ready and waiting! Having been so overwhelmed with the amount of work I'm doing for my final year recently, I've finally found the time to post my finished banner! Now I'm just trying to find the time to take it down to Milton Kenes! 

I can't believe how much I enjoyed this project. On paper, no one would have put the two of us together, but I've thoroughly enjoyed the process and making! I feel like that is what this year is all about for me, exploring new ideas and stepping out my comfort zone to really push myself.

I just can't wait to see it up now!!

History is trapped within everyone

Since the Christmas pop up shop, I have been thinking about and working on a piece for the Westbury Arts Centre's upcoming exhibit in Milton Keynes on the First World War, a lot more.

I have chosen to use WW1 song lyrics, images of my Great-Grandfather and images of boots and puttees as part of a banner. I've slowly been learning more and more about my family's history through this project, and am now thoroughly intrigued, wanting to know so much more.

So I thought I'd give you a little sneak peek at what I've been up to today, after learning a lot more about my sewing machine through necessity, after 3 days of frustration, I finally got through the barriers and am back on track!