Harrogate 2012

Well what a day...
Arriving early, for a change, we waited outside in the wind (but luckily no rain) getting excited in anticipation of what wonderful things lay waiting for us inside...we were not disappointed.
The morning was spent in the first hall looking at the exhibitions. Sue Walton's work was a stunning as ever and her collaboration with  Ann Small was the first treat on entering the International Centre.

There was something for everyone from very contemporary textiles to more traditional techniques. 

This delightful book by Betty Pepper was beautiful. The End of Forever is part of the Hand Stitch Perspectives exhibition. The mixture of materials and book worked really well. I love the window with the butterfly in and the seed pod detail on the necklace.

62 group @50 was an exhibition I was looking forward to seeing and again I was not disappointed... 

The delicate mixture of paper, cane and thread by Ann Goddard in Hang by a Thread is stunning. The lighting creates fantastic shadows and it reminded me of a pine cone.

 

Sumi Perera  - Lines exploring space- was a detailed concertina book mixing text, image and stitch...

Jane McKeating's -Flash Fractions- 

Audrey Walker's Still Life was a fantastic use of hand stitching to create a lovely G and T

The Textile Art Group (TAG) had a lovely exhibition, but I love the series of work titled 'Six Small Pieces' I love the idea of creating 6 pieces on a theme in preparation for a larger piece.

  

In my own work I love using found materials but have never considered, until now, tea bags. The colours of Barbara Cotterell's work was very delicate and I loved the fact that there were samples you were welcome to touch.

Cas Holmes is someone I have admired for a while, but this is the first time I have seen her work first hand. The beautiful layers and mixture of techniques was more beautiful in the flesh.

After looking at all the work we then went on to look round the stalls and had to do some shopping. The selection of fleece from The Wool Room was fab and I had to get some, so new pots on the way soon. They are based in Bradford so no doubt I will be paying them a visit soon. 

I also love the work of Sandra Meech so had to buy her book Design to Stitch. I have already read Drawn to stitch, so an early night will be needed to start reading this one. 

All in all a fantastic day and one of the best shows I have been to recently. I wish I could go again but you can have too much of a good thing...here's to next year xx