Out & About: FAB Arts Big Draw

Saturday saw our fourth Big Draw in the village.  The theme this year was ‘Drawing the Future’ and we had a number of different activities for visitors to try out.

 

 

 

I spent most of my time helping people dress peg dolls in clothes of the future and creating little wish houses.  I had drawn out a couple of templates of houses for people to cut out, draw on to decorate and glue together.  We also had strips of paper to write your wish for the future on, which was curled up and sealed into the house, so no one else could read it. 

It was very tempting at the end to have a sneaky peek at the wishes, but we resisted.  The little houses were all placed together to create our village of the future.  It was rather chocolate box as these were the easiest templates for me to make, but I think, in reality, most people want to live in that kind of house, rather than some challenging architect designed, difficult to live in building (though I’d love the chance to try for a while... but maybe only if it was self cleaning!).  I like watching programmes like ‘Grand Designs’ where people build their dream houses and much as  many of the appeal, I do find myself thinking but who is going to clean that glass roof?

We also finally used up my collection of milk bottle tops to make mosaic panels, which will hopefully go outside at some point.  I need to do a bit more testing to make sure that the glue will last etc.

October is the month for Big Draw events across the country and a condition of branding your event as a ‘Big Draw’ is that it has to be free.  Do check out and see if there is one near you as they are lots of fun.

In my studio: this week

This week I’ve spent almost five full days (or at least school days!) in the studio, which has been lovely.  Although nothing is finished, I thought I would share some of the things I have been working on which are still in progress.

Dyeing fabric

 

I have lots of fabric dyeing going on.  Some in bags, some in tubs, some in tubs and some in buckets.  The first round is complete and now I am making paler colours by using up the excess dye.  Ruth Higham suggested using the pure cotton sheets from Asda  as they dye really well and she was right.  The fabric is lovely and it ironed beautifully afterwards.  I did do something rather silly though and bought a fitted sheet rather than a flat one by error.  I thought I had been checking carefully too!

I have also been painting sketchbooks with the dye to create some backgrounds.

Coffee Cup Patchwork

I started developing a new workshop this week about making patterns and 3D paper piecing.  This is the first sample underway.  I now have the pattern ready and can start piecing next week.

The Big Draw 5 October

I have been charged with planning two of our activities for the Big Draw event FAB Arts is running on Saturday 5 October.  If you are in the Balfron area, please come along as it is a fantastic morning – drop in anytime to the McLintock Hall between 10am and 1pm.  We are going to make paper buildings and I was trying out patterns for them.  We are also going to make mosaics using the huge collection of milk bottle tops I have been accumulating over the years.  I am really excited by this one as if it goes well, we can see about making it into a large scale community art project to go outside in Balfron.

Article on Loch Lomond Quilt Show for Popular Patchwork

I finally crafted my piece on the Loch Lomond Quilt Show for Popular Patchwork – a bit later than normal, but the last few months have been really hectic, then followed by the post-hectic migraine cluster slump.  The feature includes this lovely quilt, 'Fire and Ice' by Frieda Oxenham.

Frieda Oxenham, 'Fire and Ice'

These are just the main highlights.  I’ve also cut a stencil, made a papier mache piñata for a birthday party (still to be filled and painted), sketched and written about several ideas and planned next month’s City & Guilds weekend, checking out lots of fun drawing exercises.  I’ve got next week planned out already – let’s hope it is just as productive and who knows something may actually get completed!