cas holmes

I have been busy working on some new projects and exhibitions recently including working on 'Trees' for the' Wild' exhibition with Art Textiles Made in Britain at the Festival of Quilts in February. Most current exciting news is that this installation piece has also been accepted into the prestigious'World of Threads' in Ontario so have been busy making further sections to add to the bigger space it will be shown in.

I am equally delighted to be leading a cultural holiday and workshop to Italy in October with Arts and Cultural Travel. who 'travel a little different.'

Found-Stitch-Paint Workshop
with
Artist + Author Cas Holmes

Crossing rolling hills, medieval villages, churches, and castles immersed in a landscape of unique beauty lies the charming medieval town of Colle Val d’ Elsa.

Situated between Florence and Siena just slightly off the beaten path we’ll wander the narrow streets, small shops and markets drinking in inspiration from
a time long ago.

Settle in with pen and journal, stitch and paint while tapping into the creative well that has been yearning for just this kind of journey.

You'll savour these memories in the pages of your journal for years to come.

My summer school with West Dean College is full. I have a few more workshops listed for the Winter. These and other workshops are listed here

I recently ran short taster sessions as part of the Craft Festival in June followed by a three day workshop looking at 'Land-Marks and 'Landscape' in cloth. Of course, I could not resist a look around the gardens in the brilliant weather. They looked beautiful in the sun and enjoyed the sculptures by

West8 Design

Thankyou to the participants on the course who gave kind permission to include images of their work below.

Spent the last month finishing of some pieces for the Wild exhibition at Festival of Quilts with Art Textiles Made in Britain. This has included the making of a group piece Shards.

This is a picture of some of my piece in progress..(I look forward to seeing how they change when hung amongst the other artist's pieces) I will be there Saturday and Sunday as I am teaching a Summer School at West Dean the week before.

June and July saw me travelling backwards and forwards to France, (not the World Cup I may add but congratulations to the French team) where I ran workshops for the Alpine Experience in the Alps and then went then on to Limoges with Crafty Retreats at the end of July. Images for both workshops are below..thankyou to the participants for allowing me to share the pictures.

In Stitch-Sketch-Books at Alpine experience we looked at the connected our references to some of our favourite books to the world around us to create pieces inspired by that connection. Sketching, was indeed part of that connection and here are some details of work in progress.

Joanne (Lovely combination of image with print and floral lace)

Andrea (flowers connected to text about flowers on a birthday.

Suzanne (Loved this decorative frame for an austere looking man.)

Marjorie (family memories in progress with drawings based on flora connecting her to her native Scotland)

Dee (unfolding book form against the mountain landscape)

Anne (discovered the connection between drawing and mark making to stitch taking a country diary beyond its original framework)

It was blisteringly hot at Crafty Retreats.

Still the French know how to cool down and party with family in the evening:

Cas Holmes Sketches and stitch drawings Mallety.

This visit included an inspiring look at Aubusson tapestry creation (which in 2009 was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity)where I saw this copy of a tapestry created in the style of mille-fleurs , meaning a thousand flowers (I refer to this in my next publication Textile Landscape ) Thankyou to Christine for her excellent tour through the history of the tapestry weaving.

This little video of the course Places Spaces Traces walks your through our week.

I plan to do another workshop with Crafty Retreats in the future.
Finally, I was delighted that Bird Cage found a new home in California last month. It is one of a continuing series 40 Yards which looks at things within 40 yards of my house. You can see more here

My next European trip is a creative art experience and workshops with Arts and Cultural Travel in October.

See you at Festival of Quilts

Fashioned by Nature is a superb exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum explores the complex relationship between fashion and nature from 1600 to the present day (on until 29 January 2019)

The exhibition presents fashionable dress alongside natural history specimens, innovative new fabrics and dyeing processes, inviting visitors to think about the materials of fashion and the sources of their clothes.

On entry your look at how some exquisite examples of hand embroidery take their inspiration form the natural world and indeed, in subject, reflect how they were being influenced by flora and fauna beyond theses shores as the rich detailing of this waistcoat which includes monkeys reveals.

Waistcoat, 1780 – 1789, France. Museum no. T.49-1948. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Skirt with train, about 1890, England. Museum no. T.35-1950. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Womens embroidered top 17th against and embroidered bed cloth.

Split across two floors with which you could divide into historical examples which covered a range of applications including the complexities and dangers of the dyeing industry (which you could replace with ‘dying’ in some cases. How industrialisation and mass production created both health problems particularly in the cotton industry and led to the current crisis we have surrounding issues of sustainability, the environment and ‘fast fashion’.

Fashion over time has always led to some issues surrounding ethical use of materials and resources, dresses decorated with beetle wings, whalebone corsets. The attraction to using feathers or whole birds gave rise to the founding of the RSPB in protest. The organisation started life as the Society for the Protection of Birds (SPB), founded by Emily Williamson at her home in Manchester in 1889. The group quickly gained popularity and in 1891 it merged with the Fur, Fin and Feather Folk, to form a larger and stronger SPB, based in London.

The upper floor looks at the development of new products and re-use and a relationship to a sustainable future.

The uncomfortable truth is that because fashion is indeed 'made from nature', its current industrial practices gobble up staggering quantities of water, chemicals and fossil fuels, degrading the land and the diversity of nature's species while belching out 1.9 billion tonnes of waste per year.

Dilys Williams, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion; Professor of Fashion Design for Sustainability, London College of Fashion

A conference on the 5^th October will bring together industry experts to explore creative and practical ways to reduce the environmental impact of fashion, from small-scale innovations to new methods being introduced by global brands.

Two of my favourites were this landscape coat by Dries Van Noten. What I would not do to wear that on the day that my book Textile Landscape launches next month.

And this wonderful piece of designer upcycling by John Alexander Skelton

I only buy from charity shops (except for underwear) and am still wearing clothes from my college days and Mompei (work trousers) and a Yukata (which is my travel nightgown) purchased in Japan in the eighties

Talking of travelling, I have just returned form a busy week at West Dean College on my summer school, Unfolding Landscapes. Found materials were used at participants explored individual landscape as they unfold and reveal their story The Summer School also includes a swapover session and I was delighted to find some of the participants to that short session utilising their improvised sketchbooks and drawing in the gardens in their free time. I return to West Dean in December.

A quick turnaround to spend the weekend at the Festival of Quilts. You can se a few images of members work represented in our show Wild below. We are touring the exhibition and will post updates on our website Art Textiles Made in Britain and on Facebook

Shards:group collaboration around the outside of the gallery

Sandra Meech

Hilary Beattie

Louise Baldwin

Edwina Mackinnon

Jenny Rolfe

Pauline Barnes

Elisabeth Brimelow (guest artist)

Stephanie Redfern

Christine Restall

Jessica Grady (guest artist) and Sylvia Paul

(Jenny Rolfe's work on back wall)

Rosie James

and my Trees shortly off to World of Threads in Ontario

Finally, a quick visit during my breaks allowed me to see:

The massive cathedral-like space containing the work of master colourist and mark-marker Nancy Crow.

Ruth Singer's Criminal Quilts exhibition next door...one of the most thought provoking shows as was:
UnFOLD and the Button Box project based on Lynn Knight's book of the same name) looking at issues surrounding women, identity and domesticity.

Stuff for Thought finished its tour at Festival organised by Heidi Drahota marking the rights of cloth workers.

The day has arrived, for the launch of Textile Landscape. I am in debt to the artists, organisations and writers who have generously contributed to the wealth of work in its pages, to Jacqui Hurst for her sensitivity with the photography and finally to the Batsford team for their support on this publication and the incredible work they do on all their publications.

Reviews are already coming in both formally and informally. This one is a snippet from a review on subscription website for WOWbook by Maggie Grey.

A short extract from an insightful review by John Hopper of Inspirational magazine (issue 18).

'The textile interpretation of landscape through your hands and your eyes is her ultimate goal, and with this book that goal should be well within your grasp'

September will be a busy month. I am making preparations for my exhibition Tea Flora Tales (in support of Plantlife) and Textile Landscape at the Knitting and Stitching Show which also launches a new body of work and related exhibitions some of which are featured in the book.

September also sees the opening of the following exhibitions:

Kitchen Garden at Unit Twelve Gallery, Stafford (also opens today). An exhibition featuring all things connected to the quintessential English Garden. The private view is from 2.00-4.00 Saturday 8th September with a free paper watering can workshop by Jennifer Collier. Contact the gallery for more information on workshops and the exhibition

Pot of Rosie Lee. Detail Cas Holmes

Re-Imagining the Doll's House, at Maidstone Museum, Saturday 15 September to Saturday 12th November 2018. A collaborative exhibition looking at the museum's own collection of doll's houses and the interpretation of the wider themes connecting wider themes of 'small house' and home.

and finally, I am delighted to have been invited to take part in an exhibition 'Bloom' from 29 September 2018 to 27 January 2019.The exhibition marks the celebrations in Leeuwarden, European Capital of Culture.

I will report further on the Knitting and Stitching Show and my delight in being accepted into the World of Threads Festival Ontario, Canada in my next blog. You can see further details on this link.

I have spent most of the last few days getting work ready for a number of shows this month and hopefully have the right things in the right boxes. Amidst all this flurry of activity, on the day of the launch ofTextile Landscape I also heard it was already being reprinted. I am overwhelmed by the news so thankyou to Batsford and all who have been involved with the book and those who are out the supporting it.

Unit Twelve exhibition opened on 6th September and continues until 15th December. Jennifer Collier has done an amazing job with the installation. Love the little cups with each artist's name.

Re-imagining the Doll's House opens at Maidstone Museum Saturday 15th and Bloom opens in the Netherlands at the end of the month. Both featured in my last blog and I will update with images next month.

I created my first (what will be irregular) posts for Mr XStitch under the title of 'Sense and Stitchability' this week. Motivation behind the world of stitch has always been of deep interest to me and this first article looks at Profanity Embroidery Groups recent exhibition 'Lady Garden'. A small exhibition with an equally relevant message about women's health issues.

Issue based work is also the subject of Keep Your Eye on the Planet, touring exhibition organised by Pascale Goldenberg which opens at the European Patchwork Meeting 13-16 September 2018. This project supports the work of the DAI-Organisation, a German/Afghan collaboration whose main function is to provide help for women and children, to promote education, to support nomads in remote areas

Detail of Bruised Heart (Remembering John Nash)

Given the turbulent times we live in it is relevant to remember that what humanity takes from the planet and what we do to ourselves always impacts on nature.

The most broken trees even had sprouted somewhere and in the midst, from the depth of the wood’s bruised heart poured out the throbbing song of a nightingale. Ridiculous mad incongruity! One can’t think which is the more absurd, the War or Nature?

John Nash (Letter home from the front 1916)

Last, but not least, I am excited to be taking part in the following international textiles exhibition 'World of Threads' in Canada. An extract from their latest posting about the event below:

World of Threads Festival

Saturday, 13 October 2018 to Sunday, 25 November 2018

The Festival is FREE, there is no admission charge.

Opening Reception: Saturday, 20 October 2018,1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Trees by Cas Holmes

For information on all the exhibitions in Festival 2018 follow thislink.

Festival Venue:

Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre

2302 Bridge Road, Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

We'll be open:

Monday to Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Sunday 12 noon to 5:00 pm

PLEASE NOTE:
Festival 2018 will run for 6 weeks and exhibits in the Corridor Galleries and Display Area Gallery will remain up for 3 months, (to end Dec. 31, 2018) coming down in Jan. 2019.

Head down now, last minute prep for the

Knitting and Stitching Show

I have recently returned from Copenhagen where I ran a number of workshops. I was generously hosted and had one of the best views across the city as my constant companion. I soon discovered that the best way to get around the city was by bike. So from the first day to the last, for work and for sightseeing, I did it by bike (two actually).

I spent the first day taking in some of the local must visit places and went to the Cisterns in SøndermarkenPark to see the work of the internationally renowned artist Jeppe Hein (DK) in the underground’s labyrinthic colonnades of this old water cistern in an exhibition called IN IS THE ONLY WAY OUT.It was spellbinding, a perfect integration of art and place to create a unique experience taking you through the cavernous space.

Taking in a few of the better known Copenhagen attractions

Hans Christian Anderson Memorial in the Frederiksborg District Gardens

The Little Mermaid in the harbour

Home of 'Probably the Best Beer in the World'Carlsberg Factory

Church of Our Savior Christianshavn

Christianshavn's Old commercial port

Christiana Free Town

View from the Round Tower (the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. )

More Bikes

Across the water from my home

A few snatches of my own fleeting impressions:

I also visited the Design Museum of Denmark

I particularly liked the Japanese Galleries and was able to see some fine examples of Kata Gami Stencils.

Hokusai's Way of Painting Volume One

This tapestry by Nanna Hertoft, Forest Light uses the Japanese Ikat weaving technique and employs Indigo amongst other natural dyes.

Anne Marie Egemose, Gateway to Autumn, Horsehair, sisal and linen tapestry.

I was so enthralled by the museum as a whole I simply looked and forgot to take more images. Well worth a visit if in Copenhagen.

A glimpse of some of the work in progress as part of the workshops from looking at text to layering with dyes and plants. (thankyou to participants for allowing me to share images).

Six years after its inception Tea Flora Tales an ongoing stitched collaboration which started its life at the Knitting and Stitching Shows in 2012 returns to Ally Pally, London and Harrogate (home to good Yorkshire tea and Betty's Tea Room). It is fitting as we mark the centenary year of the end of the First World War that this informal gathering of stitching has taken on a new meaning. More recently, images of Poppies, Cornflowers, Forget-Me-Nots and Rosemary marking the ‘peace’ to be found in the landscape and natural world have entered into the work. I am humbled by how such a small seed as grown and how this piece has become ‘stitched testament’ to our need to come together in sometimes turbulent times. I am equally thankful to all of you who have contributed and for the support of the Embroiderers' Guild, (who also have on display their 100 Hearts project) Upper Street Events and Nadelwelt Karlsruhe who have equally helped to raise the awareness of our need to protect Wildflowers and their habitat and the ongoing support of the charity Plantlife.

Mandy Jayne Bridger and Cathy Ferraby

Pauline Kennigton (left), Jenni Ellaway (right)

Above are just a few more recently sent in by Embroiderers Guild members. They really have come in from all over the world and you can still create one at the show. You can also help to prune the flowers back and take one home with you (making a small donation to Plantlife at the same time).

Sir John Lawer School

From Embroiders in Mons, Belgium

At The European Patchwork Meeting in 2014 and a littlevideo

The Beaney, Canterbury 2013

Quilt Festival Luxembourg 2016

Tea Flora Tales has been shown at many places over the last few year including Mons in Belgium, Visions Art Museum in California and Opendrawer in Melbourne, Australia. You can read more about it here.

Some of my pieces which feature in Textile Landscape (Batford 2018) will also be displayed including this work, Medway Gap, which forms the front cover. I will do a report on my return.

This has been a busy month for exhibitions. 'Bloom' opened last weekend and continues through until 27 January 2019. It marks the celebrations of Leeuwarden as European Capital of Culture in the Netherlands.

Also my installation Trees opens at the World of Threads Festival in Ontario or 13th October (until 25 November.)

The reception date is:

Sat. Oct. 20, 2018 1:00 – 3:30 pm and features an amazing 303 artworks by 65 artists from Canada, Denmark, England, Hungary, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Russia and USA.

Festival Venue:

Queen Elizabeth Park Community & Cultural Centre,

2302 Bridge Road Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

Dates: Sat. Oct. 13 - Sun. Nov. 25, 2018

Hours: Mon. – Sat. 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. Sun. 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Best of all admission is FREE

Festival brochure available here.

Check out updates and news on social media.

Lastly, I have a small piece in the current exhibition Re-Imagining the Doll's House at Maidstone Museum. Curated by Veronica Tonge this collaborative exhibition looks at the museum's own collection of doll's houses and connects to wider themes of 'small house' and home.It is on until 12 November. A fascinating exhibition, please pop in if you can.

Just arrived back from the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. The response to Tea Flora Tales has been overwhelming. It was so good to see people interacting with the installation and finding their favourite pieces. Along the way we have raised a good amount of money for Plantlife . I will reveal more after the show moves on to Harrogate. Thankyou to the Embroiderer's Guild UK and the Knitting and Stitching Show for their support of this project.

A contingent of beauties from the Profanity Embroidery Group (PEG) in Kent playing with Tea Flora Tales. Read about them here on Mr Xross Stitch

I am sure I did not get all my words in the right places at the right time so to those of you who may have got rather strange responses from me as days went on..I apologize. I enjoyed meeting each and every visitor. The support and help from all who have been involved has been phenomenal from the team that help set up and take down to the volunteers who not only came to assist on the stand, but became excellent ambassadors for Plantlife.

It was a powerful show this year with many exhibitors working around emotionally charged themes. The 100 Hearts by The Embroiderers' Guild in partnership with SSAFA Charity, Wiltshire proving a favourite with the visitors. The pieces commenting and commemorating of family, loss and life. (You do not see many in my images as I could only sneak photos at the beginning of the day before visitors arrived)

Roxanne Hawksley's Pale Armistice in the foreground.

Top Brenda Parsons for Lucy Margaret Nesbitt, Vad, Bottom, Jill Munday, For the Canary Girls, and Annette Collinge, Machine Gun Corps.

Phillippa Mogridge, ...and the Earth Ran Red with Blood, Juliet Bryon, Patricia Iles, Anthea Godfrey, To Dress Extravagantly in Wartime is Worse than Bad Form and Siew Ong Hinchcliffe. Anthea currently has an inspirational interview on Stitchery Stories Podcast and is the driving force behind the Campaign for Creativity to retain creativity in schools.

Jenni Dutton's powerful comment on Dementia and Aging in wool and thread portraits proved emotionally charged in its intimate reflection of a subject shared as a common experience for many.

Nigel Cheney, Decorated Tour of Duty, Sentinels in Cloth reminds us that the division between uniform and mortality is a very fine one.

Caren Garfen, What's Going on Upstairs reflect upon the devastating world of eating disorders in another emotionally loaded and powerful comment on a difficult subject.

Emily Tull, 10 Years of Markings and Unmarkings and the nature and power of stitch as a tool for marking, drawing and painting.

Dionne Swift and Collective Stitches a collaborative exhibition of artist and student work which celebrates what we all learn as part of the student and teacher partnership.

Dawn Hemming, Spiralling Out, Hand knit circular textiles one of the few very welcome exhibits in knitted textile.

Carol Naylor, A Stitched Timeline from the 70's to Today marking the incredible strength in her work reflecting landscape in stitched cloth over the years.

Fabricated Narratives...Alyson Midgelow Marsden, Helene Carpenter, Di Halstead and Marianda Twydell. I like the way this exhibition was carefully curated in a small space as if giving an intimate portrayal into an 'artist's collective studio' celebrating process and ideas in collaboration.

Not all the artists represented at Alexandra Palace move on to the shows at Dublin and Harrogate so please check the Knitting and Stitching Show website for further details.

Finally, a little glimpse of the other part of my show which includes some pieces from Textile Landscape. (The book sold out on the morning of the third day so apologies for those who came to get a copy.)

I will be at Harrogate on stand TG15, come and say hello.

Oh, and my heart, dedicated to both my grandfathers and Edith Cavell, a great Norfolk heroine. This piece will be on show at Norwich Cathedral where Cavell is buried.

This last few weeks have been busy and this does not look to change anytime soon. However in the midst of that I was able to take in the fabulous Anni Albers exhibition at the Tate Modern.

A leading artist of modernist abstraction movement, Albers was born in Berlin in 1899 of a Jewish family. After the rise of Nazism in the Germany which forced the famous Bauhaus school to close she fled to the USA with her husband Josef Albers where they founded the innovative Black Mountain College in North Carolina.

I first encountered Albers' work, through my engagement with tutor and mentor Janis Jefferies as a student at Maidstone College of Art. I have in my possession two seminal books from that period of time The Art Fabric ; Mainstream (1981) and Beyond Craft; The Art Fabric written by Mildred Constantine and Jack Lenor Larson and was thrilled to see such a large body of work in the flesh.

Her dominant concern as always been between medium and process and the exhibition at the Tate provides some of the best representations I have seen making to make that connection visible with samples of her own working process, students and colleagues work and clear references to the theory and practice of weaving.

Detail of Black, White and Yellow, (and below) woven byGunta Stölzl 1965 under the direction of Anni Albers. The original 1926 version was thought to have been lost in the Second World War

The final rooms of the exhibition held ethnographic samples as well as drawings prints and textiles samples. These are evidence of the research undertaken for her seminal book 'On Weaving published in 1965.

Design for Unexecuted wallhanging 1926

Room 6, The Pliable Plane explores the relationship between textiles and architecture

Painted effigy cloth, Cotton. Peru 1100-1300

As stepped out of the exhibition I could see that the patterns and images of the world outside are so clearly reflected in the weaving samples inside the exhibition. I urge you, if there is one exhibition you see this year, see this one.It is on until 27th January 2019.

On a related note, the subject of cloth and clothing, product and consumption, discussed in my current blogpost for Mr Xross Stitch, an Unfair Trade. There is also a feature review by Ailish Henderson of Textile Landscape

Forground piece by Angie Hall Collet

How appropriate that I am packing away more Tea Flora Tales posted to me in the last month to place on display at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. Home of Betty's Tea Room and Yorkshire Tea. Come and say hello. I will on stand TG15 in the Kings Room alongside the graduate showcase.

Tea Flora Tales. (Photograph by Mike Hemmings)

I have also been exhibiting some smaller work at Happy and Glorious in Cranbrook. This little gem of a shop sells all kinds of things...hand-made in Britain. Come and say hello on 1st December 2-4.00pm and take in some shopping in the lovely Cranbrook High Street.

Managed to squeeze in a short workshop...amazing what can be created with bits of paper. Work in progress by the participants below. I will be running another workshop in May so check out their site for all events and future workshops.(I hear Mr Xross Stitch is back next year.)

Further News: The World of Threads Festival in Ontario continues until this Sunday 25th November (image below is a detail of my installation Trees).

I am equally delighted to have become a member of S.E.W, The Society For Embroidered Artworks. News about the organisation here.

Signing off for now, need to finish packing for Harrogate. Time for a cuppa as well. Winter is definitely being felt around the corner.

I am back from the Knitting and Stitching Showsand would like to thank the Embroiderers Guild UK and so many individuals who came to supportTea Flora Tales in aid of Plantlife.

A lovely £450 was raised in total. So many volunteers helped at the events including the members of the Quilters Guild, Skipton branch of the EG and people from my local Adult Education. All became amazing ambassadors for Plantlife. Its story is not entirely over as sometime in the early 2019 Tea Flora Tales will be shown closer to home in the Medway Towns, Kent. The region in which Plantlife was has its flagship reserve in Ranscombe Farm (more news later).

It was lovely to be exhibiting alongside both the 100 Hearts (which I reported on in a previous blog alongside a short review of some of the other exhibitors) and the Graduate Showcase in the Kings Suite.

Amy Elisabeth Vance.

Fay Jones

Jessica Grady

Libby Vale

Melanie Kay

Suzanne Redois

Jessie Dickinson

Kerry Napier

Apan Azad

It was fabulous to return to the Knitting and Stitching Show after considerable break away and thankyou to all the team who helped create such a lovely showcase for the work (images below compliments of the Knitting and Stitching Show)

On the day of the show opening I found out that my first publication for Batsford, The Found Object in Textile Art was being reprinted. (Textile Landscape sold out at both shows before the last day, thankyou.) On the same day I was handed the current edition Stitch magazine which features my work in an article which looks at Mixed Media.

I have a few days of teaching at West Dean College and at Adult Education before winding down for the season. Last year, I spent some of Christmas Day in the studio outside. Might need to wrap up warm...I need to get back in there to explore.

West Dean Trees

Welcome to the turn of the year once again and equally, I cannot believe how quickly time has passed. This lovely picture of winter trees is reflected in the West Dean Gardens glasshouses.

I started the year with a photoshoot for Textile Landscape and by the end of the year it was released for circulation (in September) and sent for reprint on the day of its release.

All four of my publications have been reprinted this year so I would like to say a BIG THANKYOU to everyone who has contributed to and supported my writing including the Batsford editorial team and Jacqui Hurst for her beautiful photography. Just through today, a gift of a review by Sam Packer.

By kind permission of Jacqui Hurst

This publication has featured throughout the year culminating in a guest gallery Tea Flora Tales and Textile Landscape at the Knitting and Stitching Shows in the Autumn. The gallery, beautifully designed by the Upper Street Events proved popular with visitors engaging with the work commenting on the joy they felt in being in the space. I was equally thrilled to be in a video interview with Arnold's Attic. A selection of this work with other pieces will be shown at Rochester Art Gallery in the Spring.

The quote below is from an interview with Helen Bowen in Sewing World Magazine in March is very apt for the last year, The creative process has been part of both a physical journey and 'mental footpath' for me this year. It is often commented on that 'I get around a lot' and will admit, it is sometimes a juggling act (more down to luck than 'time management) at times that I have managed to be where I should be.

By the end of March I was back in Australia again under the kind invitation of Fibre Arts Australia and am in early discussions to return in 2020. I even ran a session in the bush and created a pen from a kangaroo bone and a tin to demonstrate with on location.

Images compliments of Tara Axford and Go Create New England

Touched base for a few days before exhibiting as guest artist at Nadelwelt in May. This major European Textile Festival saw the first showing of a few of my smaller landscape works as well as Tea Flora Tales.

Heads down to work on new pieces and complete 'Trees' for my joint exhibition 'Wild' with Art Textiles Made in Britain at the Festival of Quilts. The exhibition tours in 2019 starting at the Minories in Colchester, (Trees was also shown at the World of Threads exhibition, Ontario in the winter.)

Over the summer I fitted in quick visits to France as well as a Summer School at West Dean (back next summer) followed by my first trip to Copenhagen to see friend (and workshops on the side)

Dee Priest work in progress, the backdrop of the French Alps at the Alpine Experience

Impressions of Mallety at Crafty Retreats

Views of Copenhagen Harbour

The wonderful and varied contributions from many people all over the world was a humbling experience as part of the contribution to Tea Flora Tales. Over £450 was raised at the Knitting and Stitching Shows. With various one off donations to my Just Giving page (now closed) close to £900 has been raised through various exhibitions over the last couple of years. You can continue to support and donate directly to Plantlife

Finally, to end the year. I am thrilled to be interviewed in WOWbook 3 by the wonderful Sam Packer. I have a few copies for sale and you can also buy direct at D4Daisybooks for £25 plus postage.

Well that's my year. Its not been all work. Been to see a few shows including the Anni Albers at the Tate Modern and Fashioned by Nature at the Victoria and Albert Museum which close late January. Off to Norfolk for the New Year and a walk in the woods.

Wishing you all the best.

January has been a time for looking forward and making plans as well as a welcome time to catch up with some creative and me time (as well as filling out the dreaded tax return.I am working on the the final preparations for my forthcoming show Painting with Cloth at the Rochester Art Gallery. The collaborative installation, Tea Flora Tales will also be shown at Rochester Cathedral. The private view is on Thursday 28 February from 6.30-8.30, All are welcome, no need to book (continues until 19th May)

Medway Gap (detail) Cas Holmes photo by Mike Hemmings

I am delighted my Heart, For King and Country which was displayed as part the 100 Hearts exhibition organised by the Embroiderers Guild UK will now reside in the collection at Norwich Cathedral. On one side it featured family members, with the surname Holmes and King and on the other, Edith Cavell who is buried in the precincts of the Cathedral. As we near St Valentine's Day, it is appropriate that my heart resides in a place I love and would walk through regularly on my way to and from school.

Talking of walking I spent some time with family at the beginning of January and went for winter walks in the broads and woods of Norfolk

Made a few sketches and studies. Trying to capture a sense of what I felt and saw further on in the walk for the few minutes I could hold drawing tools in the cold.

This article in Inside Kent Magazine (January 2019) reflects upon how I take inspiration from the 'world around me' and projects in 2019.

Bonnard talks about this needing to catch a feeling of place. His colour reflecting the warmth of the South of France. The exhibition The Colour of Memory at the Tate Modern is well worth a visit.

Pierre Bonnard Le Jardin 1936 Musée d'Art moderne de la Ville de Paris (Paris, France)

'Painting with Cloth' is supported by Medway Council,Rochester Cathedral and John Harper Wealth Management

I am busy preparing for my forthcoming exhibition 'Painting with Cloth' at Rochester Art Gallery.The Arts Development team have done a fabulous job on the supporting publicity which contains all the information you need.

Alongside the work in the gallery, Tea Flora Tales will have its final show at Rochester Cathedral

Textileartist also feature an lovely article and review of my work by Mary Carson which comments on connecting landscape to cloth and how our connection to place also defines our idea of' home'. Mary had her own article on Textileartist with a focus on the healing power of stitch back in 2015

Trees featured in the video below (taken by ATMIB member Sylvia Paul) is currently on exhibition in WILD with Art Textiles Made in Britain at the Minories in Colchester from the 9th February-2nd March. It then tours through to beginning of 2020.

Finally, (but not least) delighted to have an article in issue 173 of 'Be Creative '. I can also offer two free back copies with a 3 month subscription in an exclusive offer.

Sneak Peak here of a two page article:

I have some time out over the last month walking locally and taking time for myself. It has also been a long time since my last blog so catching up to do. Starting with last things first:

Van Gogh in Britain

The Van Gogh and Britain exhibition on show at Tate Britain looks at how Van Gogh may have been informed by his experience during his short time here by the work of British artists and writers and how he in turn, continues to inspire British artists.

Jonathon Jones in The Guardian and Rachel Campbell Johnson in Times give contrasting reviews yet I would I suggest you make your own way in to the work. I found the marks he created with a pencil or a brush from the first tentative studies in his early studies to the turbulent energetic swirls of later work the true pull of the show. They demonstrate a growing confidence yet there is also a sense of 'loneliness' and sorrow in those almost desperate swirls and wild marks. This is a man whose connection with the world is painted with a compassionate brush. Van Gogh is held fast in the popular vision yet I came away with another view of the man whose work we may be familiar with. The connection to the human condition and the landscape we inhabit is felt in every mark he makes and is as relevant to today as it was over a 100 years ago. As Van Gogh suggests, 'leave it to the critics', just enjoy the insight into the man and his work that this show allows.

ITV News article here

Painting with Cloth opened last month at the Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case. Thankyou to all who came making for a joyful private view. It was so good to see many friends old and new. The exhibition continues until 19th May. A few glimpses of work below:

Winter Grasses and 40 Yards

North Westerly

Dictio Terrarum and Tea Flora Tales

Showcase. Received the news that Stitch Stories was being reprinted at the private view and Textile Landscape is going for its second reprint.

Tea Flora Tales in Rochester Cathedral alongside Madder. It is good that is has come home to its spiritual birthplace with Plantlife's flagship reserve at Ranscombe Farm close by.

Wild

Art Textile Made in Britain held its first exhibition of Wild outside the Festival of Quilts at the Minories in Colchester. My Trees installation took on a more open quality positioned near windows echoing the trees behind. Great care was taken in this exhibition by the Minories team. (Trees was taken down and replaced everyday as it triggered the alarms so was indeed a continually changing installation). The next venue is the Bramble Patch in Weeden, Northhamptonshire from 6 - 23 April. Entrance fee - a donation of £2 for the Alzheimer' Society.

A few installation shots of the exhibition below. You can also see more work on our new Instagram page:

Sandra Meech and Elisabeth Brimlow

Louise Baldwin, Shards and Rosie James

Edwinna McKinnon and Sylvia Paul

Whilst in Colchester it was good to be able to visit the Firstsite Gallery. An amazing space and at the same time take in a little exhibition about the making of the Millicent Fawcett Statue by the artist Gillian Wearing. The clay was moulded into hessian to create the texture of the skirt for the detailed relief of the bronze.

The exhibition Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere continues until 12th May

This April certainly gave us a cold surprise a few days ago yet within the space of a few days we go to a record breaking Easter Sunday. I started the month in a very windy and relatively cool Malta. In early Spring, the landscape was green and full of wildflowers as well as Olive and Fig trees

A succession of powers having contested and ruled the islands of Malta, including the Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, Knights of St. John, French, and British. The architecture and landscape reflects these influences on the country's ancient culture.

St Bathomolew's Church Gharghur

Fort St Elmo's Valetta

British and French Architecture, Valetta

Malta became a British colony in 1815, serving as a way station for ships and the headquarters for the British Mediterranean Fleet. It played an important role in the Allied war effort during the Second World War, and was subsequently awarded the George Cross for its bravery in the face of an Axis siege.

Fisherman's huts in the shadows of the Valletta's harbour walls.By the end of the week I was in King's Lynn with a very cold waterside area.

Trinity Guildhall

The flint chequerboard pattern of the Trinity Guildhall

The Customs House

Really enjoyed my visit the the exhibition Water Rising at the superb Groundwork Gallery

The artworks reflect upon the relationship we have to water and issues of sustainability where strong evidence suggests water level continue to rise. With the vast estuary and nature reserve of 'The Wash' close by the issues relating to Global Warming to wildlife and habitat will be keenly felt in this internationally important landscape. A conference is organised for the 17th May well timed in relation to the concerns raised by the Extinction Rebellion movement.

Work by Stuart Hearn in the foreground and Peter Mathews in the background.

Peter Mathews,

Further details on all the artists involved in the exhibition including Susan Hiller one of the key exhibitors in the show can be found here.

Susan Hiller, Rough Moonlit Nights (Courtesy of the Lisson Gallery)

Finally, Painting with Cloth continues until 19th May at Rochester Art Gallery. I will be in residence on Saturday 4th May during the Sweep's Festival. Dictio Terrarum below records some of my landscape drawings made on location as I travelled in the last two years. They are on a book pages connected to the landscape.

Wild by Art Textiles Made in Britain moves to the Minerva Arts Centre, Llanidloes, Wales from the 4th May to 1st June.

The green is back again and earlier in the week I was able to visit Kent Wildlife Trust's Marden Meadow. The orchids are stunning. I advise you to gently visit of you can.

Help aspiring artists and makers join courses at West Dean College they couldn't otherwise afford by bidding on tutors work. Grass is Greener Lot 19 is on offer as part of a fundraising auction . All pieces will be on display in the Main Pavilion at West Dean Arts and Craft Festival 31st May – 2nd June.

My exhibition'Painting with Cloth' at Rochester Art Gallery comes to an end this Sunday 19th May. Here is little taster of the gallery in these lovely images taken by Rikard Österlund. A few smaller works are also on show at the Huguenot Museum. The workshop was greatly oversubscribed so I am running a workshop at the museum on 10th August. The support has been overwhelming and I am grateful to Medway Council and Rochester Cathedral for this wonderful opportunity to show both my work and the last showing of Tea Flora Tales

Wild by Art Textiles Made in Britain moves to the Minerva Arts Centre, Llanidloes, Wales from the 4th May to 1st June.

Finally, a return to Kent Wildlife Trust. Had a lovely day with Adult Education students who braved an overcast day to draw. Dotted around the Tyland Barn site are lots of useful advice and boards. These are two of my favourites by David Attenborough and Iris Murdoch

With D Day commemorations not far behind us it is fitting we remember our armed services and continue to care and protect them as they look after us. This is precisely what the Flag of Thanks a national collaborative art project led by Alabaré, as part of the 2019 Armed Forces Day marks in an event hosted by Salisbury from 24-30 June Lt. Col. Neil Stace, also known as the Sewing Soldier, leads the project, running workshops and also transforming the flags into quilts, sleeping bags and ponchos.These will be gifted to residents of Alabare’s Homes for Veterans, who have previously been homeless, as a gesture of support and community.

I created my own pieces in memory of my family:

Number one for my Father Frank Holmes served in the Korean War 1951-53 often known at the ‘Forgotten War’ and in memory of all those 'forgotten soldiers'.

Number two dedicated to the ‘Royal Norfolks’

Number three dedicated to all the nurses who served in the Queen Alexandra's Nurses Core. My father wasbadly injured in Korea and nursed by both the QA’s and Japanese nurses. My sister proudly served in the QA's for a short time in her younger years

Back of one of the pieces..all contain the words 'Not Forgotten'.

From the Telegraph:
'Four million people died during the three-year war on the Korean Peninsula between 1950 and ’53, and although nearly 100,000 British troops fought in the conflict it is seen by many veterans as ‘The Forgotten War’. Sandwiched between the Second World War and Vietnam, it was fought in an age before television, and the war-weary British public, barely out of rationing, had little appetite for further conflict. The vast majority of British soldiers who served were National Service and once their time was up they often came home, were demobbed and went straight back into the workplace with little recognition of their sacrifice.'

If you would like to purchase one of these please contact me directly. Each piece is 30cm square and the starting bid for each piece is £50. The money raised will go to the Alabare Homes for Veterans charity.

Delighted to showing some small pieces at Old Bank Studios Summer Exhibition Thursday 21st June to Sunday 1st July. as part of the Harwich Festival.(I am also running workshops with the studios in November..already full)

I spent a few days in the Alpujarra region of Spain at the end of May. It was lovely to catch up with friends and drawing. The yellow and the scent of the of the broom in and around Orgiva where I went for an evening for an evening walk was simply beautiful.

Horse in Orgiva

Could not resist drawing my lunch in Salobrena!

Climbing the streets of Old Granada to get a wonderful view of the Alhambra from a nearby restaurant.

Last morning view of the Olive groves outside my door.

Finally, a little video of my my work and approach to stitch as it appears on Textileartist facebook page.

Summer always proves a busy time of year and much of the time teaching, working and walking combine as I travel. I have recently returned from back to back trips to France and Germany and have also been to Ireland and Yorkshire.
Images starting with the West Coast of Ireland are below.

Incredible stone walls on Inisheer

Lund Studios Yorkshire (I am back there in 2020)

Kukate, Germany

Uelzen Station Germany designed by Hundertwasser.

Malta Wildflowers, a textile memory of an earlier trip has found a new home:

Alpine Experience Images of recent workshop.

Thankyou from students

My connection to my Romany Grandmother appears to be strongly connected to my feet.! A traditional name for a traveller in Ireland 'An Lucht Siúil' translates as 'The Walking People'. This delightful animation, Roads to The Past' written by Damien Le Bas with artwork by Beck Williams provides a short History of Britain's Gypsies, Roma and Travellers. You can find out more about the cultural background and creative projects today on the Romani Cultural and Arts Company website.
Whilst Tea Flora Tales last shown at my exhibition in Rochester has come to the end of its exhibition life its influence inspired 52 Stitched Stories, a Community Arts Project on the Isle of Arran. The project is open to all who wish to develop their personal narratives on a postcard size piece of work once a week for a year

I am back on the road in a couple of days for West Dean Summer school and then a few weeks off in August to get back into the studio. I have a major project I am working on at the moment connected to my 'roots'. I will be able to say more in the near future. Meanwhile, I continue to stitch as I work.

Sun has indeed come later this month and I have been making the most of it and working in the garden before making a trip to see friends in the USA.

I am happy to announce I will be exhibiting at the Queen Street Gallery Neath from the 5th October until 2nd November. Please come and join me at a Meet the Arist event on Saturday 12th October 6.00pm.

I have featured in two on-line interviews this month. The School of Stitched Textilesgets behind some recent exploration and ideas for future projects.The Arty Teacher provides some useful background to my work processes for teachers and schools.

Finally, delighted to see some fine examples of Boro. part of the Gordon Reece collection, in Bath last week. This was on show at a gallery called 8 Holland Street which is actually in Margaret Buildings between the Royal Crescent and the Circus.