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Season's Greetings

December 18, 2012, 10:35 am
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Seasons Greetings to all my on-line followers
and a Happy New Year
 
 
I am at wonderful West Dean where the weather is getting cooler but the sun is sharp. This is the shadow of a tree on the lovely flint walls.  An article reflecting my practice, life and home appears
on-line at:


Cas Holmes – The Grass is Greener
 
After a busy Autumn a few weeks 'break' is welcome before preparing for a busy Spring. Am looking forward to meeting up with friends in Australia in March and working on some new pieces over the next few months. See you in 2013.
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Witch Hazel and welcome to 2013

January 3, 2013, 4:15 am
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Yippee The Witch Hazel is out in my garden. Spring is round the corner.


 
After a very busy last few months 
of 2012 with the Knitting and Stitching Show I finished my teaching year at West Dean in mid December. The break has been spent quietly at home taking a breather. I went for a few walks over Mote Park and on wet days made some sketches of pots on my windows inspired by things seen in and aroundWest Dean College in Chichester when teaching in December.


I am preparing for my Australia trip in March and for an exhibition in a monastery in the Netherlands in February and an exhibition based on envelope art in Germany. I have made a series called Land Maps.

Detail on exhibitions and events page.

Now back to the sketches before teaching begins next week. 


Land Map Fenland
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New Year thoughts

January 10, 2013, 3:18 am
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The end of 2012 was a whirlwind, Urban-Nature  at the Knitting and Stitching Show in London, Harrogate  and Festival of Quilts, Birmingham in addition to my regular teaching and workshops.  I had a few weeks down time over the Seasonal break and preparing for 2013..which is the calm before the storm of activity. I am currently planning to exhibit some of the work from Urban Nature over the next two years in Europe and the UK starting with 'Stitch' anexhibition in a monasteryin the Netherlands and a group exhibition 'Envelope Art' in Germany.This is before my next teaching tour in Australia 2013 (with a brief break in Hong Kong on the way). I also have workshops coming up in the UK, West Dean,Germany and France as the weather warms and bookings  are being taken now. (see the pages Workshops and Education) on this blog for more information)


Over the seasonal break, I made some small pieces. I was quite ill the beginning of 2012
02 and spent time looking out of windows,with the damp weather, I found myself once again drawn to my window and pots and making studies and drawings. I also went for a few walks in the park outside my back door and took in the lovely winter sunshine.My new blog, Magpie of the Mind covers some of these snippets which  cover aspects of my creative process and links to other sources of creative inspiration.


Finally, I await the design briefs for 'Connected Cloth', co-written with Anne Kelly, textile artist. so you could say I might be busy.

More information moreon: www.casholmestextiles.co.uk 
Red Bowl and Wayside Weeds
Red Bowl (detail)

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workshops and exhibitions coming up in 2013

January 21, 2013, 2:23 pm
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I have a number of courses coming up in the next few months. I list a few here but please check out my Workshops and Exhibitions page on my this blog for information of courses in the UK, France and beyond in 2013:

22-24 February 2013,New Ideas from Old Textiles, Further information from: Liza Jones or Pam Gilfrin, Anglia Leisure Learning, Tel: 020 7834 1066
http://www.anglialeisurelearning.co.uk/courses.html.   

A few images from a recent one day sketchbook workshop with the 'Textile Workshop'. Looking at work in progress, Green flower stencil pages by Hilary Holden below and Purple doorway by Tina Sharp. Thank you to the group who kindly allowed my to photograph the pieces in progress.
 
Back in Australia in March-May 2013. Workshops in Melbourne are full.  Due to demand spaces available at Bonnie Beggs Textile School 21-24th April 2013 (3 days) see: http://fibrearts.jigsy.com/textile-school. I am also at Open Drawer in  2-4 April, Melbourne.

Finding New Narratives in Textiles at Quilter Insel with Juliette Eckel in Germany in June and Preniac in September

Red Madder 105 x 105cm square
I am also really thrilled to be in STITCH! International "needle- art" of top artists  from the 9th February in the Netherlands at Karmelklooster Drachten,  Envelope Art at Quilt Star, Freiburg, until end February 2013, and the 5th European Quilt Triennale moves to  Museum Zons , Rhein kreiss Neuss until 7.4.2013.www.kreismuseumzons.de 
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STITCH! In Netherlands and Canadian Quilts in Maidstone

February 2, 2013, 1:55 pm
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I am delighted to be taking part in STITCH! International  which include works byJoyce van Dongen, Barbara Broekman (Amsterdam)
Tilleke Schwarz,  Cas Holmes, Rosie James, Louise Baldwin,GB, Iska Jarnicka,(Poland,) Anna Torma, Canada)

9 February 2013 - 28 April 2013



Exhibition – Quilts, Comfort from Kindness, Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery

Saturday 16 February – Saturday 23 March

Anna Mansi Talk

A display of quilts donated by the Canadian Red Cross to the bombed out families of Britain in World War II. A story of selfless endeavour to provide warmth and comfort to thousands by the women of Canada.This is  going to be well worth a visit and a testament to the warmth and friendship still found between our nations. I have loaned some artifacts to this exhibition. The main exhibition is in the Bentliff gallery with other pieces in the cafe and costume gallery.

www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk/

This piece, Roses of No Man's Land (shownon display at Rochester cathedral,)will be displayed in the costume gallery in a showcase Exhibition - Peacing Together
 
Stitched textiles have a resonance, they connect with the past. These works by Cas Holmes, on display in the costume gallery, were produced with reclaimed textiles. They connect through the material from the past to the present

Saturday 9 March   ADULT WORKSHOP 10.30am-4.00pm 

Peacing Together, Framed MemoriesJoin textile artist Cas Holmes to create a hand stitched paper artwork imbued with memories.

Booking required, £30 per person, please call
01622 602850 to book.

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Bluebell in the Embroiderer's Guild Collection

February 20, 2013, 11:10 am
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I am delighted to have my work represented in the Embroiderers' Guild Collection of the United Kingdom. Given this piece celebrates fond memories I have of my father it is significant of  childhood memories and special times in Norfolk woodland.




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Framed Memories

March 9, 2013, 2:06 pm
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I have had a whirlwind week of workshops finishing with a really good day at Maidstone Museum in the 'Framed Memories' workshop. Taking inspiration from family and personal images, and the patterns of stitch in the wonderful Red Cross quilts in the Quilts, Comfort from Kindness exhibition in the Bentlif Gallery participants made the most wonderful samplers in paper and cloth.
The piece on the left is a work in progress by Anna Mansi who is the organisor of this wonderful touring memory of quilts. Images of the workshop pieces by kind permission of the students.
The exhibition continues until Saturday 23rd in the main Bentliff Gallery and a small
installation of my work in the costume gallery.


 

I also ran a Drawing for Textiles course at West Dean College. Examples of students work can be seen on my workshops and education pages. These samples of stitch and mark in progress are by Linda Bundfuss and Helen Mason.

Working in collaboration in this way is an ongoing part of my practice and is reflected in my forthcoming book about collaborative textiles,  'Connected Cloth', which is co-authored with Anne Kelly. It will be available from 3 September 2013. This announcement comes at the same time  I am informed that'The Found Object in Textile Art' is out of stock at Batsford/Anova and will need reprinting for a third run. 
Natural Histories exhibition at Farnham Maltings Cas Holmes  Giant Hogweed (background), Anne Kelly, Whole Moth Tablecloth (forground).
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Textiles, Tales and Touring

March 30, 2013, 6:00 pm
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I am waiting at Hong Kong airport for my connection to Melbourne. I am off on a teaching tour of Australia which starts in Victoria (details of workshops are on this blog). While away I will be keeping a visual diary on my Magpie of the Mind blog. Feel free to have a look.
The above image is from the Temple of Tin Hau near the Causeway Bay side of Hong Kong Island.

Aside from the sights and sounds..I have been amazed by the number of sparrows who readily alight around people closely when eating. Have eaten a lot of Wan Tan (fish ball noodles) and got used to Chinese tea. I am unsure how, and if this may find its way into my work (inspiration not the food..though I have been collecting wrappers). My father was a national serviceman during the Korean War and it is exactly 60 years ago he was in both Hong Kong, Japan and of course Korea. He was nursed back to health after being badly injured by nurses both in Kure, Japan and in Hong Kong. I have picture of him at the cemetery dedicated to combatants of the second World War based on Hong Kong. So the connections are there.

While away, waiting for the book I am working on with Anne Kelly, Connected Cloth to go to print.


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Lest We Forget, Anzac Day

April 25, 2013, 3:13 am
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It has been a privilege to be a guest in Canberra during its 100 year Celebration as Federal Capital City. More so an honour to participate in the Anzac Day services at the Australian War Memorial. My father served alongside Australian Soldiers during the Korean War 1950-53. Sometimes known as the 'forgotten war'. He talked about his Australian 'buddies' with affection and always remembered 'Queenie', an Australian Nurse who looked after him when he was badly injured.

I visited the Korean memorial as well as sat with the families as part of the service. A veteran who served in the Papuan New Guinea Volunteers and his wife (and new friend) was my guide for the day. Part of the warmth and generousity  I find typical of the Australian spirit extending to a visitor from another shore.

Below are a few images of the day and I finish with an image of 'White Cross' dedicated to my father (and now in the Museum of Art and Design New York.). I will update with more news in my next blog and you can catch my Australian journey on Magpie of the Mind.




 Images in and around  the Australian War Memorial





The Korean Servicemen's Memorial along Anzac Parade




White Cross

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From Autumn to Spring

May 9, 2013, 4:49 am
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I have just returned from five weeks of workshops and sight-seeing in Australia and am still playing catch up. It has been great to come back a warmer late Spring in the UK following a warm Autumn in Australia. You can see what I have been up to on www.magpieofthemind.blogspot.com

I spent the last few days in Perth resting, beach walking and dyeing scraps of fabric  which is just as well as it has been all paperwork and organising since my return to the U.K.

I have several workshops coming between now and the Summer including participation at Art in Action with West Dean College where you can take part in a short workshop and see other artists at work. I will also be happy to discuss my course at West Dean including this year's Summer Course in August where I will be exploring some of the processes I used in my work seen in Urban Nature at the Knitting and Stitching Show last Summer.
See my education links on this blog. 


I am also exhibiting from 7-23rd June at the Shed Gallery, Tunbridge Wells as part of South East Open Studios

Red Bowl (detail)
The 5th European Quilt triennial continues its tour. See exhibitions link on this blog. For further news and the planned exhibition later in the year of Urban Nature.

 


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A Sense of Place

May 25, 2013, 3:10 am
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I recently returned from Australia, where the weather was just a tad warmer.But, despite the rain and cold, I am pleased to see the Wisteria is coming out and the garden is starting to bloom with a promise of Summer. 
 
Taken today


Sketch made last Summer
I am delighted  to have been invited by Textileartist.org to write another article about my recent experiences in Australia,Finding inspiration for textile art. You can see bits of my day to day activities and even sketches of a deceased Wattle Birds.

Wattle Bird in progress 2 Finding inspiration for textile art by Cas Holmes
Work in Progress. Wattle Bird.
A related article Sketch to Stitch  looking at other aspects my design processes appears in Stitch magazine August/September issue.  I am taking part in exhibitions in the UK and in Europe in June including Open Studios so will have a busy June.
Missing the warmth (heat) in Australia, my friends on the 'Big Island' but glad to be back.


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South East Open Studios

June 3, 2013, 1:03 am
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Shed Gallery


Cas Holmes Anne Kelly, Ruth Kelly, Gill Newson, Jenny Newson , Karl Simmons 

I am delighted to be exhibiting at the Shed Gallery in Tunbridge Wells under the kind invitation of Anne Kelly. Opens on Saturday 8th June. It is an excellent opportunity to meet all the artists.  For opening times and directions see www.seos-art.org/artists/casholmes
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Time for Reflection

June 27, 2013, 1:57 am
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Willowherb and Jug private collector
As I approach the end of the teaching term at Adult Education I am looking forward to a little time to do more of my own work and reflect. I was delighted to sell 'Willowherb' above and to receive the following comment from the new owner:

I'd just like to write and say how pleased I am to be the owner of one of your works, at last. It has a personal meaning for me having known you and admired your work for a long time. Willowherb is hanging over my mantelpiece. Somehow it's presence has made the house feel even more like home.

The first part of the year so my working and playing in Australia and as I move towards the second half of the  year I am looking at preparing for my exhibition Urban Nature at the Beaney in November as well as the launch of 'Connected Cloth, co -written with Anne Kelly.

Part of the exhibition in the Beaney is the collaboration Tea-Flora-Tales and there will be an opportunity to contribute in a drop in session scheduled for 30th November. I am so appreciative of the contributions received so far reflecting the individuality of everyone involved. A few are shown below.
I do have a few workshops to run during the summer including Summer School at West Dean and a one day workshop at Artworks Milton Keynes but otherwise I have time to do some art in the garden and stitch. Here's to a lovely summer everyone.
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Summer Stitching: Work and Play.

July 28, 2013, 9:38 am
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Watering Can Small Sketch

July has been a scorcher so far, watering can in great need. I have just completed my last day of teaching at Adult Education until the Autumn term .I am at West Dean shortly delivering a Summer School'Tracing Shadows' in August and teaching in France in September.  Hoping to find more time to sit outside, enjoy the weather, and stitch and sketch. As Autumn approaches, an article  'From Sketch to Stitch' appears in August/September Stitch Magazine about  my approach to linking drawing with stitching. You may recognise a few pieces including Tea-Flora-Tales in progress.

Bluebell quilt featured in the magazine will also be displayed as part of the Finest Stitches exhibition in Macclesfield Silk Museum. I also have a piece in the 5th European Quilt Triennial at Festival of Quilts but sadly cannot get there this year.

 Finally I have a had this wonderful comment to me and more importantly my native Fenland and Gypsy roots by a most fantastic writer Sarah Salway in her Writer in the Garden blog.

This is what Grandad Holmes said when replanting flowers in the veggie patch:

I will always plant some flowers as we need flowers to feed our souls as well as vegetables to feed our belly.’ 








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New Beginnings in the Autumn and Reflecting Back

August 29, 2013, 2:00 am
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Soon it will be the end of Summer and Autumn begins. This is often the start of  'New Things' for me. I have been working on my second book 'Connected Cloth' with Anne Kelly and it has finally been released. We are delighted with the publication and everyone wants to 'handle' the cloth cover before delving inside when we show it around.


A related touring exhibition starts at Cranbrook library gallery on 4th September. You can order the book from the publishers Batsford/Anova, get it at good bookshops and on-line.

I start teaching again at  Adult Education in Maidstone at the end of September when the new term begins. A small exhibition of my work Common-Land is on show in the common room to mark the new book. This work celebrates the local river and park in my Waterland series (not previously seen in Maidstone, and some new winter inspired pieces and. (Thank you Adult Education and to my amazing line manager). There is a good coffee bar there too during term time.

Display case at Adult Education. Sketchbooks and some examples of Tea-Flora Tales collaboration in progress for my exhibition Urban Nature at the Beaney later in the year.


I am in France running a workshops in September and my course at West Dean at the end of September is full.Finding time to squeeze in the practical work though and have enjoyed the Summer to start some new pieces for shows next year.
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Art Quilt Award 2013

October 13, 2013, 6:16 am
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I am thrilled my piece Kentish Milkwort is currently on show at the Art Quilt Award 
The works of international quilt artists will be exhibited from October, the 12th to November, the17th in the Turbinenhalle of the Nordwolle-Museum. Germany alongside a wonderful exhibition by Jette Clover, 'Text and Textiles.'

 
Kentish Milkwort

 'Common-Place' is still on show at Adult Education Common Room Gallery Space. St Faiths Street Adult Education Centre, Maidstone until 21st December. Meanwhile Anne Kelly and I are exhibiting together in a series of exhibitions 'Connected Cloth'to mark the launch of our book by the same name. Currently on show at Strood  (until 18th November) and Cranbrook (until 23 October ) libaries. I am busy getting ready for my show at the Beaney later in the winter  and am still being sent contributions to the ongoing piece Tea Flora Tales. I will update later but thank you to all who have kindly sent work in to me and you are welcome to contribute a piece at a 'meet the artist 'session planned for 30th November.


Red Berries (detail)


Finally, I am planning a workshop tour to the USA.  I have two 'open'  workshops coming up in the next month with Cowslip in Cornwall last weekend in October and  a three day workshop at West Dean College first week Details of November are on the Workshops and Education section on this blog.
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Urban Nature at the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge.

November 7, 2013, 12:59 am
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Urban/Nature  has its first showing since the Knitting and Stitching Show last year and includes new pieces as well as the installation Tea-Flora-Tales. Based observations of the local environment of Canterbury and Kent generally. I look at our connection to the world around us, where our sense of personal and urban space meets the ’wild’ landscape. 
There will be an opportunity to take part in an ongoing installation Tea-Flora-Tales  at a Meet the Artist session on 30th November 11.00-3.00. 
This exhibition will be opened by special guest, Richard Moyse from Plantlife UK. who will discuss the organisation's work and the importance of preserving our wildflowers, verges and wild spaces. 
The exhibition continues until 12 January 2014 and entry is free

The Beaney House of Arts and Knowledge, Canterbury Kent CT1 2RA

Saturday 30 Nov 2013 to Sunday 12 Jan 2014

Other events

I will exhibiting small works in 'Gifts from the Forest'  with Stour Valley Arts from Saturday 23rd November to Saturday 21st December
Unit 3, Park Mall, Ashford, TN24 8UU, www.stourvalleyarts.co.uktel. 01233 664 987 

My exhibition 'Common-Land'continues at Kent Adult Education St Faiths Street Maidstone, Common Room Space, until 21st December

I am also running a  Winter Watercolour workshop with Maidstone Museum Saturday
14th December 2013  for young people.

For all other exhibitions and events see the pages on my blog.






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World of Thread Interview and The Beaney

December 2, 2013, 1:05 am
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Detail Spring Snow

I am delighted to be included in World of Threads Festival Interviews which has come out just at the start of my Urban Nature  at the Front Room,Beaney and also includes a mention of Connected Cloth. A feature article also appears in Maggie Grey's Workshop on the Web on making modular work.

My exhibition opened on Saturday 30th November. Many thanks to Richard Moyse from Plantlife UK for opening the exhibition and giving such an inspiring talk about the work of the organisation in conserving wild flowers and plants, and to all the visitors who came to say hello and contribute to Tea Flora Tales. You can still make your piece for this installation which will next be shown in Europe.The exhibition continues until 12th January 2014.

Norfolk Weeds Cas Holmes (left) Anne Kelly (right). This piece is included in our book Connected Cloth.

Detail of Canterbury Bells
Detail of Poppies. All profit from sales of these cards will go to Plantlife

For details of all other current exhibitions including Gifts of the Forest with Stour Valley Arts see my exhibitions page
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Old Year's Night and New Year' Day

January 3, 2014, 10:01 am
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Welcome to 2014 all. In Norfolk we call the last day of the year 'Old Years Night'  2013 was been a busy year starting with an exhibition and workshops in the Netherlands and Australia, publishing my second book and touring Connected Cloth with Anne Kelly (Found Object in Textile Art was also printed for the third time) to ending the year with my show at the Beaney in Canterbury (which finishes on Sunday 12th January)Wonderful review by Mather Crockatt of the Huffington Post.
I have  met some amazing people and seen some wonderful things which lift my heart during a year full of ups and downs.


 
2014 does not look like slowing down. My travels continue in the UK and beyond. I am producing new works for a guest artist show at the 20th Anniversary Carrefour Européen du Patchwork / European Patchwork Meeting  in September.  (The 2014 event will be posted to the website in March.) Tea Flora Tales will be shown here and it is steadily growing and raising awareness for Plantlife's work. 


I have exhibitions in Europe and Australia starting with  Architextur’ Elles from March 8 to April 21 - St Peter's Court Room -Rue des Fossés Saint Pierre 72100 LE MANS



 
Working with others remains important to my practice starting with my course at West Dean in February is full and I am roaming to the Netherlands and the USA as part of my teaching  programme.

Regular details are posted on this blog. So here we go into the start of the year.
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Spring Sunshine and Wet Earth

February 9, 2014, 7:57 am
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I have just returned form a wonderful few days in the Netherlands full of bright sunshine. Great to see sun in the last few months of downpours.



 
 I forgot my sketchbook, shame on me, but made one with paper kindly donated by students and managed to fill it! I call it my 'waiting drawings' sketchbook, as sketches were made while waiting for cakes and coffee, or a train or filling time while trying to get to sleep. Come to think of it, an awful lot of them were done whilst preparing to eat it seems!



I am exhibiting in the Netherlands later in the Autumn/Winter at the Lace Museum and am so excited and came home with lots of lace scraps.

Meanwhile, I have been working on pieces for my exhibition Places, Spaces and Traces at the European Patchwork Meeting in Alsace in September. Below is a detail 'Alphabet' from a new series '40 Yards'
You can get involved  beforehand with Tea Flora Tales as it grows which forms part a the collaboration within the  exhibition.( I will post more details when the information is live on the EPM website in March). 

Here are some contributions from my Dutch friends made while teaching at Zijdelings



Up and coming exhibitions in the next two months:

February - Cuttings and Bridges -Connected Cloth with Anne Kelly, Trinity Town and Country Gallery, Tunbridge Wells from Tuesday 11th February to Saturday 1st March. Meet the artists on Wednesday 12th February 12.30-2.00pm

March       Architextur’ Elles from March 8 to April 21 - St Peter's Court Room 
                  Rue des Fossés Saint Pierre 72100 LE MANS

see the Exhibitions and events section and workshops on this blog for more information.
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