The Stitchery of Catherine Hill, a Lancashire Lass
A visit to Oxford Street isn’t complete without popping into Soho for drinks and a spot of shopping.
Around 200 artists were nestled side by side in the longest adjoining marque I’ve ever seen. Ceramicists were in stands next to jewellers, next to mixed media and textile artists. The place had an amazing buzz of energy, chatter and creativity and it was crammed full of shoppers just like me.
My aim for the day was to catch up with my textile friends, check out their latest work, make some new acquaintances and then browse and indulge in some shopping.
I spent some time chatting with very talented Linda Miller, Viv from Hensteeth, Janine Pope of Mudrabbit and Ella Robinson, before chatting to other artists whose work I adored. I really did quite a bit of chatting.
 |
| Marna Lunt – Textiles |
 |
| Anya Keeley – Mixed Media |
 |
| Claire Read of Little Burrow Designs – Mixed Media |
 |
| Lucy Gell – Printmaker |
 |
| Amy Denton – Ceramic Jewellery |
 |
| Sue Brown – Printmaker |
 |
| Kirsty Elson – Driftwood Sculptures |
 |
| Liz Cooksey – Textiles |
 |
| Elizabeth Loveday – Textiles |
 |
| Jane Ryan of OPI – Mechanical Toys and automata |
 |
| Kate Whitehead – Textiles |
……I bought some unique artwork made by Anya Keeley – ‘The Mill’ – my new little Lancashire Cotton Mill.
 |
| This beauty came home with me. |
… I loved this vintage mobile cinema (called Audrey) who was showing the most wonderful black & white Pathe films all about textiles, fabrics and crafts – I watched the Cashmere Story.
< |
| Audrey the Vintage Mobile Cinema |
….. gathered some new inspiration for ongoing projects and did lots of shopping.
 |
| Linladen Embroidery – of course I bought some! |
 |
| These goodies came home with me |
What a fantastic day out – It’s already in the diary for 2017.
I can’t wait for Art in Action later this year!
I’ve just heard that 2016 will be the last Art in Action ever. So sad. Such an amazing event that will be sadly missed. This year’s date is already in my diary, but I wanted to show you how brilliant last years event was.
……..Art in Action 2015 was as a sunny and inspiring as ever.
The Show was held on part of a working farm at Waterperry. There was plenty of space for parking and for the twenty plus marquees that were bursting with every artistic talent imaginable.
|
| This fabulous Sculpture was at the entrance to the Show |
I had a wonderful day out with a fellow ‘mad textile’ girlfriend. Our first port of call is always the Textile Tent – so much talent! I loved chatting to the artists and finding out about the techniques & materials they used. It was a perfect time to check out if they had spaces on future workshops. Between us we managed to chat to every wool, textile, embroidery, illustrative, printing and clay artist at the Show – that’s lots of talking!
 |
| Maria Boyle – Embroiderer |
 |
| Bridget Bailey – Millinery |
 |
| Carol Naylor – Embroiderer |
 |
| Harper & Carr – Clothing |
 |
| Roanna Wells – Artist |
 |
| Bobbie Kociejowski – Weaver |
 |
| Trude Timlin Brown – Weaver |
 |
| Wendy Dolan – Embroiderer |
 |
| Work by Wendy Dolan – Embroiderer |
 |
| Kirsten Scott of Elsa Cappelli Hats |
 |
| Amanda Wright Embroiderer of Goat Street Gallery |
 |
| Helaina Sharpley – Wire work Artist |
By the end of the day, we were on such a high – our feet were killing us, our shopping bags were full and our heads were bursting with ideas. A perfect day.
We couldn’t wait to get home and try out some ideas for ourselves.
I can’t wait for Art in Action 2016!