artist

Last week, in a charity shop, I noticed some vintage linens, tray clothes, napkins, table clothes. All were pre printed in blue, with floral designs ready to embroider. The colour of the blue used for the printing reminded me of the blue dye used to print the fabric Toile de Jouy*. Holding this thought I decided to embroider on a piece of Toile de Jouy, just enhancing part of the print by picking out flowers, hats etc with beads and embroidery.

I like to try any craft and the opportunity to try batik couldn't be missed. I spent the afternoon at my friend Susie's, she has the batik wax set up. Being a novice I found it difficult to be precise drawing with the wax. I found simple bold shapes were easiest for a beginner like me. I had one or two mishaps, wax going where I didn't want it to go and spillage! I think now I have tried it and know its possibilities and boundaries next time I would do a better job. I am quite pleased with my first attempt, mistakes and all.

On Wednesday we were without home phone or computers, a branch from a neighbours tree fell on the telephone wire and severed it. This morning BT engineers came promptly at 8 am, we are back online! Good service BT, well done.

The photograph, above, I took in the garden, it's the seed pods of a very unassuming iris (its flowers are brown and purple), but its berries look like strings of shiny orange beads.

I received my Artist Trading Card swap, it arrived in the post from Kathie in Massachusetts. I love it! It only measures 67cm x 89cm, but it's a work of art in miniature.

I went to the market early this morning and saw this 'lost' glove on a wall, covered in a hoary frost. I like to take photographs of 'lost' items, a mitten, shoe, sock, scarf, hat or a toy. Usually a kind person has put it on a wall, railing or seat, in a prominent place waiting to be reclaimed and reunited with its owner. I then saw the artist Tracey Emin had the same thought. She had taken it a step further by having the 'lost' items cast in bronze and cold painted then placed around Folkstone.

I love these paintings of my expresso coffee pots Ashley painted. Below the second painting is an ash tray we bought in Las Vagas. We don't smoke but we couldn't resist how kitsch it was. I framed it to remind us of our family holiday. We bought it from Bonanza, The World's biggest Gift Shop. What a lot of tat in one place. They had armed guards at the entrances and exits, madness!

I first saw Caren Garfen's work at her degree show in 2007 at Hertfordshire University. Caren was doing the same Applied Arts course as my friend Chris. Looking round the degree show Caren's work stood out for me. Her display area looked like an ideal of domestic bliss. I saw it as a laundry room with clean crisp white embroidered cotton tea towels. I think because my background is in graphic design I was drawn to the simple linear designs she employs to illustrate her work. Outlines of familiar domestic appliances silkscreened on to cotton.

I enjoyed the Knitting and Stitching show for lots of reasons, and seeing textile artists work is one of them. There was an area at the exhibition showcasing the best creative talent from this year's textile and applied arts degree courses. All the work was interesting but the artist that stood out for me was Claire Moynihan. She studied at the University of Hertfordshire, a local connection. Claire said , " I am primarily a three dimensional felt designer, working with locally sourced, un-dyed Alpaca wool.

I went to Sue Gaffney's open studio this afternoon. Sue has a workshop in the garden an ideal place for her to work and create beautiful objects. On display and for sale were some of her very stylish and individual bags, corsages, framed pieces and greeting cards. Sue is very approachable and welcoming, she conveys her passion for sewing and even goes into schools to teach children to sew, it seems to be a neglected subject. Sue can be found at 50 Normandy Road. Opening days are Saturdays 20, 27, September 4 October 2-5pm. Wednesdays 17, 24 September, 1 october 11am-3pm.

Last week the local paper ran an article about a stencil on the front of the doomed Odeon cinema. Their hope was the artwork was by the graffiti artist Banksy and this would be a lifeline and save the building. It's sad the art deco building isn't worth saving on its own merit. It hasn't just appeared, it has been there for well over a year. Should it matter if it's a Banksy or not, we really know it's not the art it's the money it might be worth. Banksy's artworks are often satirical pieces of art on topics such as politics, culture, and ethics.