Westhope Group

The Westhope Group meets once a year at Westhope College in Shropshire

Knitting & Stitching Show, NEC

The Westhope Group have one of the gallery stands at the Knitting & Stitching shows this year. The work is based on a theme of Divergence, grounded in centuries-old techniques but challenging the traditional view of lace. The general view shows some of the work including pieces using led lights, wire and felt.
Ann Wheeler's Undulating Form.
Sue McLaggan's Graffiti Neckpiece.
Caro Quarini's hanging, Memory,

Embroiderers Guild Auction

Twisted Threads, who organise the Knitting & Stitching shows are hosting an auction of donated textiles to raise funds for the Embroiderers Guild. They have limited the number of items in the auction to 200. These items can be viewed and bid on on their website and at the Knitting & Stitching shows. Items vary from ethnic and antique pieces, through works from ordinary members to pieces by famous textile artists. each piece has a reserve price. I am currently bidding on a piece by Ann Wheeler.

Northampton Museum Store

My daughter was visiting the Northampton Museum Store to look at the use of lace on shoes. As her knowledge of old lace is limited I was asked to accompany her to identify any lace she might find.
The most relevant pair (left) were on display in the Museum. Red leather and Chantilly lace (machine made). M.E. Sablouiere, Paris. Made for the great exhibition 1889, they won a gold medal.

Modernism in St Ives

St Ive School of Painting

To coincide with the September Festival St Ives Rotary Club help a 'Spot the Artist' charity sale at St Ives School of Painting.

Kurt Jackson - The Tamar Dowr Tamer

Kurt Jackson's latest exhibition, The Tamar - Dowr Tamer, opened at Lemon Street Gallery, Truro on the 6th of September.

It follows the river Tamar from source to sea through all of the seasons. Works include vast mixed media canvases, intimate pencil sketches, sculptures and three-dimensional pieces.

My favourite piece was the extremely evocative Tamarstone Wood (above right) 100 x 100cm Acrylic, ink, oil, wood and twigs £10,500

I am always taken by Kurt's collections such as Source Box, (left), 17 x 10 x 13cm, found objects and pencil, £850.

There were few of Kurt's signature seascapes in this show but the tidal reaches proved a rich source of inspiration. St John's Lake, June 2007, (right), 57 x 59cm, mixed media.