Sue Brown at Hope & Elvis

Sue Brown

Last year I went on a Gym Arabic Transfer workshop with Sue Brown at Hope & Elvis.  Sue Brown is a printmaker from Cheltenham (famous also for driving a 2CV - which you might catch a glimpse of later in some of the pics!)  She specialises in collagraph printing which involves making a collage of design elements as a print block which she can then print from.  And her work features lots of birds!  Here are some examples of Sue's work...

Examples of Sue's Work

Examples of Sue's Work

At this workshop Sue was sharing her expertise on the gum arabic transfer printing technique.  For this you need gum arabic, a wooden spoon, some laser printed images in black and white (very important) together with some papers and textiles to print on.  And some oil based printing inks.  Sue particularly likes Hawthorn inks!

Essential Tools - Gum Arabic & a Wooden Spoon

Laser copy of a photo

Lovely vintage papers to print onto

And of course, a cup of tea...

Reflecting on my first results with a cup of tea!

We printed onto lots of different papers and textiles and also did lots of mark making experiments with textured wallpaper, bubble wrap, white acrylic paint, magic foam which you can use to make your own printing blocks and different inks, wax and bleach.  See all the pics below...

That car again!

Prints drying (and a glimpse of Sue's 2CV)

My gum arabic transfers

My mark making

My booklets showing all techniques

Sue had showed us how to make some of our samples into simple booklets just by folding, cutting and gluing.  And here are some examples of everyone's booklets showing a combination of all the techniques we tried out...

Everyone's work

It was a great workshop - thanks, Sue!

Hope & Elvis, which is on the Welbeck Estate near Worksop, is a great place to go for a workshop.  There are great tutors, loads of materials to use, a friendly atmosphere (thanks to Louise Asher, who owns Hope & Elvis) and fabulous lunches provided by Magie Hollingworth (which are a highlight in themselves!) Check them out!

Story Book Dresses with Jennifer Collier at Hope & Elvis

Jennifer Collier - Cup

I'm a great admirer of Jennifer Collier's work so I was delighted to be able to go to one of her workshops.  I was also delighted it was at Hope & Elvis which has a friendly atmosphere, great materials, fabulous lunches, plentiful tea & coffee thanks to Louise Asher, the owner.

Hope & Elvis

Paper pioneer Jennifer makes her wonderful sculptures from vintage papers and stitch.  Her work is original, contemporary and with the papers she chooses, weaves a narrative through her finished pieces. 

Jennifer brought along examples of her fabulous work...

Jennifer Collier - Coat & Dress

Jennifer Collier - Cup

Jennifer Collier - Technique
Samples 

We were making Story Book Dresses and in doing so Jennifer showed us machine and hand stitch techniques, including paper patchwork, covered bindings, button loops, covered buttons plus picot stitch and a needle lace edging.

Jennifer Collier - Examples of Story Book Dresses

We could choose from both Jennifer and Hope & Elvis's materials...

Materials

Jennifer showed us a few techniques at a time and let us try them out.  There were templates available so we could fit our techniques to the size of pattern pieces we would need for our dresses later.

Templates

My selection of papers...
 

Vintage Papers

The first technique Jennifer showed us was pleating...

My Pleating

We also made covered binding and button loops...

My Button Loops & Covered Binding

and pockets.  Mine is embellished with a paper covered button and some (very inexpert) needle lace...

My Pocket

I did a little better with my picot although I have to confess this was my second attempt...

Picot - My Second Attempt

And then it was time to put it altogether.  We even got to make a hanger to hang out dresses from...

My Dress - Back

My Dress - Front

It was a great workshop.  I didn't quite finish my dress in the time although most other people did so I completed mine once I got home.  Jennifer was really helpful and approachable and happy to share her techniques and top tips with us all - thanks Jennifer!

Jennifer Collier

Thanks also to Louise & Ruth from Hope & Elvis for looking after us all and to Maggie for a great lunch!  Check out the workshops on offer at Hope & Elvis here.

A Day with Jane Bevan at Hope & Elvis

My assemblages

I have recently spent a fantastic day at Hope & Elvis on a workshop with Jane Bevan.  Jane is an artist who uses natural and found materials such as thorns, twigs and bark. Employing the techniques of tying, stitching, twining, coiling and binding to her materials, Jane makes small sculptures and vessels.

Work by Jane Bevan

We started the day looking at Jane's work for inspiration...

Work by Jane Bevan

We then went for a walk and collected some materials to use.  These are some of mine...

There were all sorts of fab natural materials provided for us to use too...

And a great selection of threads...

And then we set to work.  Here are some pics of work made by other workshop participants...

And you can see what I made at the start of this blogpost. And this too...

It was a lovely day.  Thanks Jane!  

Hope & Elvis is a great place to go for a workshop.  There are great tutors, loads of materials to use, a friendly atmosphere (thanks to Louise Asher, who owns Hope & Elvis) and fabulous lunches provided by Magie Hollingworth (which are a highlight in themselves!) Check them out!

Julie Arkell Workshop at Hope & Elvis - Part 2 - Show & Tell

Somebody's Hero & the Savage Beast

Our workshop at Hope & Elvis, with the lovely textile & mixed media artist, Julie Arkell, finished at the end of day 4.  After all Julie's help and guidance we were ready to show our creations.  I made "Somebody's Hero and the Savage Beast" together with the bird and the tree. Here's a selection of what was made by everyone else...

Annette

Barbara F

Barbara

Carole

Jane

Jolene

Katie

Kim

Mandy

Rachel

Sarah

 

Simona

Trina

Vanessa

What a fab course and weren't everyone's creations great!  It was amazing to see the variety and the different approaches everyone took.  Read more about the workshop here.

Thanks, Julie!  And thanks to Hope & Elvis (especially Mandy who was making sure we had everything we needed).  Can't wait to make some more!

Julie's exhibition "Away, Away" is still on at the Harley Gallery until 8 January 2017.  Do go and see it if you get the chance