tour of the south west

Here's where we stayed. Egyptian House, Penzance.

We've had a week away in Devon and Cornwall. Visiting family and exploring the coast.

View from the top flat of the Egyptian House. That's the sea and St. Michael's Mount in the distance, honest.

Betty having had her height recorded at Tate St. Ives as part of Roman Ondak's installation.

Barbara Hepworth's tools at her workshop in St. Ives.

The Minack Theatre.

The causeway to St. Michael's Mount.

Stopping off for a picnic at Stonehenge on the way home.

ikat dressing gown

I finished making this dressing gown for myself a couple of weeks ago, but taking photos of me modelling it has proved tricky as I don't look my best first thing in the morning. I've gone for the washing line option instead.

The fabric is a beautiful ikat design I found in John Lewis. It's so soft. I used nearly all of the 3m I bought. I hope they've still got some when I next go, as I'm kicking myself for not buying a little more for a summer top.

The pattern is from my old dressing gown that had been worn to tatters. I cut along the seams and laid the pieces out on the new fabric. The seams are flat-felled so the whole gown is essentially reversible.

mini bunting dress

With left over fabric from Betty's bunting dress I've made a little version for Kiki, her Cloth Kit doll.The pattern is traced from the dress she originally came with.

betty proof laptop cover

To try and prevent Betty from bashing my laptop whilst watching Ivor The Engine episodes on Youtube, I came up with this. Made from the packaging from a vinyl record delivery it slips neatly over the keyboard.

oh dear, the allotment

Not much time for sewing or knitting recently. I've pulled my finger out and am attempting to regain control of my sorry looking allotment. I've been timing my visits with Betty's morning nap. I can usually get an hour and a half of work done before she wakes. Then, the only thing that keeps her happy is soaking herself with the hose pipe.

My studio has become a green house.

I'm also making the most of the light evenings, going up again after dinner for an hour or so. It's hard to capture the amazing sunsets over the sea.

I'm very excited to be taking part in this next month. See the website for more details. It's going to be a really interesting mix of experimental improv., film and art. How will my ceramics sit alongside all that!?

UNWHITSTABLE

a day of improvised music and art

2 July 2011 : St Peter's, Whitstable

featuring

Vicky Hageman

Neil Henderson

Robert Jarvis

Aleks Kolkowski

Mat Manieri

Liam Noble

Evan Parker

Polly Read

Mark Sanders

John Russell

Roger Turner

Matt Wright

* * *

St Peter's Church, 66 Sydenham Street, Whitstable CT5 1HL (map)

Doors open 2pm-5.30pm and 7pm-10pm

Tickets available at the door
£6 for afternoon or evening concert (£5 concessions)
£10 both concerts (£8 concessions)

Refreshments will be available

90 minutes direct train from London St Pancras or Victoria

* * *

"Evan Parker has made no secret of his enthusiasm for the acoustic warmth and fidelity of St Peter's, an 80 year old church in the Kent coastal town of Whitstable. It has become his performance and recording space of choice, and this relaxed day of music making, hosted by Parker, made it easy to understand why. St Peter's is spacious but sounds intimate and free from distracting echo. Light and airy and close to the sea, it was just right for a six-hour event on a warm summer's day that celebrated improvising as a mode of sociality, while delivering some of those magical experiences reached only through open and spontaneous playing" - Julian Cowley, The Wire, October 2010

bunting dress

A sweet little dress made from baby cord with applique bunting and Liberty print bias binding. The Pattern is NewLook 6692. Part two of my Kids Clothes Week Challenge.