Last weekend I opened up my small but cosy workshop at home in Cheshire where I spend half my time making when away from the Jewellery Quarter as part of Cheshire Open Studios...
It is an annual event that has taken place annually in Cheshire for fourteen years. In 2011 it involved 61 artists and craft makers opening their studios, either as individuals or in-groups, over 3 weekends & this year it celebrates 15 years of Open Studios!
It is an annual event that has taken place annually in Cheshire for fourteen years. In 2011 it involved 61 artists and craft makers opening their studios, either as individuals or in-groups, over 3 weekends & this year it celebrates 15 years of Open Studios!
The event is spread over 4 weekends from mid-September to mid-October with an exhibition at Castle Arts Centre, Frodsham which will run for 6 weeks from 18th September to 2nd November
This initiative supports professional visual artists and craft makers who often work in isolation; enabling networking and mutual support and the project addresses the lack of contemporary galleries within Cheshire by promoting artists in their own spaces and encouraging new opportunities for residencies, commissions, selling, exhibiting and teaching. It is a unique chance to meet artists, to discover how and where they produce their work and provides the opportunity to buy from them directly at reasonable prices!
I am in a rural location onto of a small hill so it is very rare that the public get to see inside this little workshop, it was a wonderful weekend with lots of inspired visitors who took a step into my 'lost world'!....
Handmade bunting & hand painted signs decorated a marquee
The workshop was decorated with inspirational visuals
Work was displayed & for sale inside the marquee with a few commissions as well!
Inside was fully equipped with all my tools and equipment
...aswell as sketch books, CAD images and photographs of my working process
...from magazine cuttings & inspirational fashion designers from the French vogue
...to traditional gold work patterns of the 18th century
Many a customer signed the visitors book with some motivational comments...thankyou to all! & expressed an interest in workshops i am holding in the run up to Christmas
When it started to rain....guests didn't despair as there was seating hot drinks and biscuits provided!
...follow the yellow balloons and you will arrive at the hand painted sign!
A kind soul donated a beautiful bunch of fresh sunflowers to brighten up the grey cloudy skies!
...and theres a smiley me running some demonstrations to inspire and enthuse guests into the world of handmade jewellery!
