Spinney Lodge Garden

Visited Spinney Lodge Garden at Gayton in Norfolk today with Mum and Stewart, after we had had a Carvey lunch at The Crown at Gayton. Very nice too! Spinney Lodge is the home and garden of Mr and Mrs Grant and they opened it to raise money for the National Garden Scheme, (NGS) yellow book, which raises money for charity.
It is a 2 acre garden by the side of a stream and has it's own woodland and trout pond.
This stream was an area off a Japanese style bridge which you walked over from a raised deck.
The garden was extensive and had many key features and plants which we found inspirational.
I brought a blue wood anenome for Mum and myself to remind us of our visit. I'll take a picture tomorrow when I have planted it.
I liked the poems and quotes which were around the garden. We were given a map to show us the key features. I think I would like to make a map of Quilters Cottage so watch this space.
The Grant's garden is featured in the 'Grow It' magazine which was on display.

Thank you to all NGS gardens who open their door to the public.

Japanese Garden and Sculpture

Today Stewart and I were in the garden tidying up, digging,mulching and planting.
This is a Japanese inspired garden designed by myself at the back of my studio. The standing sculpture is based on standing stones important in Japanese Gardens. I designed the ceramic stones. The clay was pushed into boxes which were lined with calico fabric so the clay picked up all the folds and creases. It was finished and fired by an artist called 'Flick' she has her own ceramics buisness now. Pebbles and slate form a dry river bed and pool around a ceramic seat made in the same way.
On the studio wall is a wall hanging made by me in etched and joined metal sections called 'Rabbits Don't Wear Armour', part of 'The Roadkill' Exhibition. On the metal dividing fence is a large climbing jasmine which makes this garden smell heavenly.

See other previous posts of Quilters Cottage Garden

See The Roadkill Exhibition on my website

http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/

Burning Metal

As you can see I make the metal really flame. Depending on the thickness and type of metal and what colour you require,it will take a different amount of time. This is thin alluminium so it didn't take long as I only wanted a burnished bronze tint.
Be careful not to burn it too far as it goes very brittle. When you get the effect you want, wash it in a liitle soap and water and I rub clean with a wet wipe. This takes off any charcoal which may get on your work and cleans up the surface for additional colour.
I will now cut this up into sections and etch before embroidering and joining to the main piece.

See how I joined the roadkill metal sculpture on my website.

http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/

Burning Metal In Stewart's Studio

This morning Stewart let me into his studio to burn some more metal for one of the mixed media pieces I am working on, based on armour and costumes.

Health and Safety tip here make sure you protect yourself, I wear my leather apron most of the time when I am in my studio, so I can do most techniques without worrying about what I am wearing!
Wear a mask when needed.
Work in a well ventilated room.
Have water handy!

See more of my metal sculptures on my website especially under 'Roadkill'

http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/

Eastern Open

After being shown how to deal with my tax, I needed some art therapy, so went into Kings Lynn and visted The Arts Centre, where the Eastern Open Exhibition is on until 22 May.

It is even better than ever and so much inspiring art and medias.

Well done, to all the submitting artists.

See more information about The Arts centre at

http://www.kingslynnarts.co.uk/

Tax Course

This may send a shudder through many but today I went on a free Tax Course due to the changes and adaptions to the Self Employment Forms. I would recommend it if you haven't been on them they are really helpful and make it less alarming when you need to fill out the forms.

It's all part of being a professional artist!

See more of my work on http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/

Gallery Day with Jenn

Jenn came to help out at The Gallery yesterday. She helped me sort out some of the fabrics and art supplies. I took a large display box on wheels which Stewart and I had stripped of paint, on Monday. It fits right in and will hold the costumes and fabric for workshops.

Jenn couldn't help herself, she had to have a go on the embellisher.

In the afternoon Carol learnt some more machine quilting techniques on her new machine which her husband brought her for a suprise. It arrived lastFriday. So let's just say Carol thinks it's Christmas and her Birthday all rolled into one. He has got alot of smarty points, he chose really well.
See more of The Gallery http://www.thegallerydereham.co.uk/

The View Out of Skyspace Houghton Hall

This was the view up through the open roof of ths contemporary art space by James Turrel.

Blue Sky, today!

It was a beautiful day in Norfolk as you can see by the blue sky and the wispy clouds!

I laid on the floor and watched the sky go by,

every picture was different!

We only visited the garden today

but will return to see Houghton Hall and Garden in full bloom,

in the Summer.

Stewart and I had a lovely lunch in their restaurant and throughly enjoyed our visit.

The visit has given both of us lots of inspiration!

www.houghtonhall.com

In the Gardens there are many more sculptures including this on of

"The Fire Fountain".

Stewart inside Skyspace

This is Stewart looking up through the roof of 'Skyspace'.

The wooden seats around this contemporary space made a closed and secure enviroment.

Definitly effective!

Skyspace Houghton Hall

I loved this Contemporary Art space by James Turrel.
It is a wooden observatory in it's own woodland area.
The ramp leading up to it does not give away the contemplative space within,
until you push open the wooden doors!
We have a tree house in our garden that needs renovating and I can see inspiration from this artwork permeating into my head!
Watch this blog!

Full Moon Circle, Houghton Hall

This art work is by Richard Long.

It is on the long landscape vista approach to the house.

Stewart is stood beside it so you can see the expanse of it.

( The house is behind Stewart).

The large slabs of slate are laid in a rotatinal formation and makes it look like it is moving.

As you know I like inspiration based on The Moon.

I have used slate in our garden around sculptures, to emulate movement.

Scolars Rock, Houghton Hall

This huge stainless steel sculpture is by artist, Zhan Wang.

It dominates the area and looks so solid but in fact when you tap on it, it is hollow, very clever!

Waterflame, Houghton Hall

'Waterflame' a sculpture by Jeppe Hein was so impressive.

It combines water and fire.

Stewart being an ex-fireman just had to take this photograph,

well many actually and we stood there quite some time watching and listening.

The sculpture in the background is of a heron!

Partarre Garden Houghton Hall

If you follow my blog you will know we have our

own partarre garden at Quilters Cottage

with sculpture but this one is spectactular!

It has an unusual rock fountain in it's centre and the privet hedges are just wonderful.

See March post 'Out in The Garden' to view a section of our partarre.

Houghton Hall Visit

It is the start of our Spring, Summer, garden and art events visits for Stewart and myself.

We started it off by visiting Houghton Hall near Kings Lynn.

It is an award winning garden,sculpture and deer park in the grounds of the Palladian Mansion built by

Sir Robert Walpole, Britains first Prime Minister.

Very appropriate with the election being date being issued this week!

http://www.houghtonhall.com/