Next week I will be exhibiting with the Worcestershire Guild of Designer Craftsmen at our annual Christmas Show. We've moved it from Worcester to Number 8 Community Arts Centre in Pershore this year.
If you'd like to join us at the Preview on Thursday evening (19 November) and haven't received an invitation by post, please email me.
I was due to deliver the collection of map shades to the Gallery today and thankfully it was a bright morning which enabled me to take a few photos before I packed them into boxes.
These three shades were made using an old map which was mounted on cloth. It was quite stiff which meant I couldn't roll the edges over the frame as I usually do. So I used a gingham binding on two of the shades,
but on the third I experimented by stitching a sheet of plant-fibre paper across the entire surface of the map and then cutting out 'windows' (a technique known as reverse applique that I use to create patterns in my non-map shades). The vertical lines reinforce and hide the folds of the map and the horizontals allowed me a hem to roll over the frame.
These shades have an aged look which is particularly appealing when illuminated. I think they'd look great in a study.
For those customers who are map enthusiasts (or buying them as a present for someone who is) I have made little swing tags with details of the map I've used.
I also took along a table lamp with a more contemporary feel
and a few ceiling pendant shades
with rolled edges
I'm happy to work to commission if you'd like a lampshade made from a map of your local area. Feel free to email me.
As I mentioned here, The GreenStage Gallery in Bishops Frome commissioned map shades for their Christmas exhibition and they are nearly complete.
They asked for one large pendant shade to hang above the reception desk and so I managed to lay my hands on two consecutively numbered OS maps from the 1970s which were still in sheet form and unfolded. I have joined the two together to make a whopper 20" diameter by 24" high. This is the only lampshade of the collection that uses a non-local map and is left un-appliqued. Its is of Edinburgh and its environs.
All the others feature Herefordshire and Worcestershire and are appliqued with plant fibre paper to add definition and to hide the major fold lines.
My young son astutely pointed out that they are not my usual style and of course he is right. They are a diversion from my normal colourful stitched-and-cut patterns, but the next two shows will see a return to my signature style.
The show runs until 10 January 2010 and is at
GreenStage Gallery,Morning skies
and evening skies
seem to be getting ever closer. Help!
I'm creating a body of work for the Greenstage Gallery in Bishops Frome and I am surrounded by old maps.
I have tried to source as many local ones as I can to make into lampshades for its Christmas Exhibition.
This is an old Bartholomew's map mounted on cloth.
The colours are soft and muted.
Some of the old OS maps have stronger but just as beautiful colours, with a lovely vintage feel.
I really like the cover designs of the Seventh Series maps of Great Britain from the fifties.
I may try and make swing tags using an image of the cover for each lampshade.
I'm still at the planning stage, so will show you some finished shades in due course.