what do you think

This is one of the 5 drawings i produced to illustrate the Christmas sales pages for the lovely Selvedge magazine a couple of years ago. The story to it was 'the night before Christmas' so i pulled out the wonderful array of hand made stockings my sister-in-law and mother have made over the years, filled them with goodies from the Selvedge Dry Goods Store and scribbled away with my little boy of 2 months laying next to me doing what small babies do. Thank goodness he was so good.
The Selvedge team are inviting people to vote on which their favourite illustration has been over the years so, have a look and vote if you wish.

into the wood

I will be showing at this rather lovely pop up shop, Into The Woods which will be open over the month of May during the Brighton Festival.
It opens on Saturday the 7th, with weekend opening hours being 11am - 6pm and Monday to Friday 9am - 1pm. As well as having some wonderful work they will be serving light refreshments so come and have a look and enjoy something nice to eat too.
Mia Underwood, aka Woodfolk , is the lady behind it all and a jack of all trades she is. I am the proud owner of one of her fantastic swan scarf and my boy has a wolf scarf and he has been know to be found howling at the moon whilst wearing it.

Busy, busy...

Here's a photo of some necklaces that are about to be soldered which i made during March, a marathon month of making jewellery day and night in my rural workshop in Wales. I did managed to get one afternoon off with a trip to A&E to have a saw blade removed from my left index finger.
We have now moved back to the West country of England and it's time to get printing.
All of my shows for the year are about to start with my first in Brighton for the May Festival.
I am starting a 10 week printing course next week so watch this space, and come and visit the shows to see my new screen print and jewellery.
I also received news last week that i will be exhibiting at Origin in London this September which is rather exciting and Luster in Nottingham during November as well as Made by Hand, held in Newport Wales over December so there's 2011 set out.

Paper things

Here is a taster of some of the other 25 works by different maker that my 'Dearest Nones' screen print (seen at the top of this posting) will be exhibited with at the 'First Anniversary - Paper' exhibition running from the 5th of May - 30th of July.

Jenniefer Collier, the talented paper artist will be holding the event to celebrate the first year of her having opened Unit Twelve, a gallery and workshop space where she also runs courses from in Tixall, Stafford.

The paper spoons you see above, (i am a sucker for utensils) are by Magie Hollingwork and the stitched picture post card is by the brilliant Julie Arkell who doesn't waste her time in the world of computing, too busy with her mad world of little creatures and such. Though you can start to see more of her finery at Loop, a rather lovely wool shop where Julie runs workshops and sells her work too.

Rabbit Calf...

On leaving my old studio i was presented with this fine gift by the lovely people of Cross Street which i am extremely touched by & pleased about as it is made by the very talented Sophie Woodrow. I already own one of her pieces & have been hankering after another so they chose well. I will keep saving my penny's & hope my collection shall grow a little more over time.
Here are a couple of photos of it, my son has decided it is a rabbit although on Sophie's site it is titled calf. Anyway here it is getting out & about in Pant Yr Heddwch...

The end of an era, 1999 - 2011

The lovely Cross Street Studios...
i was offered a space at Cross Street in the September of 1999 having graduated from Brighton University, not quite knowing what i was going to do but i was going to continue making. It has been a brilliant place to work full of fine folk and central heating!

Next door to the studio is where jeweller, Lalia Smith & mosaic artist, Anna Tilson run Cross Street Workshops.

Here are a few photos of my old little space...

A new view...

So a new year and a new view. After 11 years at the lovely Cross St. Studios i have fled to Wales for the winter and the beginnings of spring to work in a breezy barn in Pembrokeshire. My view has changed some what from the back streets of Hove to trees, fields, a car that runs on vegetable oil and visits from the donkeys and sheep every now and then.
I haven't spent loads of time at my bench yet as i am having the joy of reworking my website which should be ready soon. Once done though you will be able to purchase my work with a few clicks and none of this trying to hunt me down from one county to another as seams to be the situation now.
If you do need to get in contact with me just email on info@racheleardley.com