Life has changed, the world feels different

With all that is going on just now I can say I am truly grateful for many things. Including family, friends and clients and of course my health.

Even in this season of uncertainty I am thankful for creativity and the ability to escape into the the unlimited possibilities of imagination and creativity. I hope you are finding time and opportunities to do the things that really bring you joy.

I seem to move from pure joy in the unexpected extra time to slow down, really connect with what matters, to times of light anxiety about what the future holds and wondering when we will be able to meet family and enjoy their company, digital communication is fine but you don't get the hugs!

These are such uncertain times, I think we need to be kind to ourselves and others. I can't remember when we last had time to think and just be, so try to take advantage of this time. Allow yourself to feel whatever it is you feel, do whatever you feel like doing or not doing. Just sit and watch the natural world, trust that all will be well, all is well, and hard as it is at this moment, I am sure there will be good and creative times ahead.

We are making good use of extra time working from home, which for us is not unusual but we are restricted from visiting family, going to galleries and out for meals with friends. Performances, presentations, meetings and all workshops have been postponed or cancelled until further notice.

So far I have cleared my little allotment copse, keeping it clear of some weeds and making good use of the early nettles to make salads, soups and pesto, with the wild garlic growing alongside it makes a wonderful early salad! I have also been cutting the holes in the plastic bigger for the plants that were planted several years ago. Over time, as the willow stems grow bigger, the plastic does not expand any further, so they need cutting to enable future growth. I am also pulling all the briars from the older willow beds, they are just budding at the moment and I hope will produce better harvest for being cared for.
I am really thankful for the community of makers, student s and colleagues, it is always a pleasure to run workshops and collaborate. I will be holding everyone in mind, if there is anything I can help do get in touch. I am here.

I have also had spent some time to refine skills in the workshop and studio, developing some new pieces of work and reading all the books that are either left half read, or unread because of other demands on my time. I trust the results of this will be seen in the work that you see or the workshops you take part in future.

To see what is happening in my world of making, with recycled materials, willow and planned online workshops and sales go to the news page on the workshops website.

Stay safe and well, keep on making, weaving and being creative!

Making to brighten dark days

Making decorations is always a combination of the very familiar and a little bit new.

It seems that I am one of several basketmakers this year who have been enjoying new ways to make the familiar shapes, stars, trees and angels. The benefits of being able to communicate through internet has changed the traditional craft techniques. In the past it was possible to tell which village or area an item was made by technique, material or character. Maybe in future it will become almost impossible to tell where items are made, that could be interesting for archaeologists of the future.

My regular workshops at WWT Welney are always a pleasure to run, this year the visitor centre has been updated and it is great to be in a refreshed setting. 

Daylight in winter is very precious, we have short hours of daylight and dark afternoons and when cloudy the whole day can be very grey in the fens so making items that brighten up the day, or the mind, is always good to do.

New shapes for this season

I have been making frame baskets, they are a bit more flexible and less structured than traditional round or oval ones but of course there is still a need to make neat and pleasing shapes. I have been realising, a bit late I know, the benefits of batch making, repeating the stages of making with about 6 baskets on the go at one time. The making becomes more refined and I remember the technique better, or learn to adapt it better. Each element is prepared in advance, with the handles and frame set so they are easier to work with when weaving.

The value of learning specific and repeatable techniques means I am able to make more elegant shapes when making a sculpture and improvise better to create new pieces.

If you have plans for a special event or a gift for someone either for Christmas or any other celebration I can provide gift tokens, they will be available on the FrostArt website soon.

Looking forward to sharing stories

The Fenland and Ouse Washes Story Quilt has been in use recently, it's great to hear how people are making use of this resource. It was made in a series of workshops as part of the OuseLife exhibition 'Secret Life of Ely Cathedral' in 2016. To find details about hiring, links to people and organisations involved and suggestions for how to make good use of it the link is here for this Story Quilt details

I am always happy to discuss with people how to make a Story Quilt for their community. If you know of an organisation who needs something like this let's make it happen! The topics and drawings are made by communities involved and the host organisation will decide where and when workshops can be run. Looking forward to sharing stories soon!

New and familiar people, places and seasons

Sometimes life just goes in a direction I could not have anticipated. This week I am really happy to say it's the right direction and to announce that I have been selected for Artillery Arts 'Grandad's Island' project.
The theme Grandad's Island comes from a lovely children book by Benji Davies, its about a journey and sharing memories.
I will be making alongside students and volunteers. Participants in workshops will learn how to weave and make sculptures with willow so if you are reading this and think it's something you want to do email volunteer@artillery.org.uk

My design is like an upturned boat, that may have landed recently or a long time ago - depending on the story you tell.

The other installation I am working on this week is for Angelsey Abbey's Dazzling Dahlias events, it's one of my favourite National Trust gardens locally so to work there is a real bonus!

More images and details when the work is ready to be revealed!

Summer busy-ness

The last few months have been busy with planning and making work for exhibition and commissions.
 Riverside Arts are a group of eight artists working together provide a good variety of work to visit as part of Cambridge Open Studios. We have worked together for several years and developed a welcoming atmosphere for visitors of all ages. Thank you everyone for your support
Some of the visitor comments this year were really encouraging
'What a find!  A wonderful combination'
'Wonderful space and exhibition'
'Wonderful experience to see so much inspirational art'
'We loved our now annual visit to your studio...favourite is the Antler Moth (Kimberley Allens work)...Very inspiring and a lovely range of work'
'It was lovely to see a variety of talent in one exhibition'

Riverside Arts artists have work in our local, and exceptionally good, Spanish restaurant Habis. The work is for sale and you can enjoy refreshments, great coffee or tea and fabulous cakes while you make a choice from which artists work you like. The artists will work to commission, always a pleasure to make work for a particular setting or special occasion.

News, updates and information

FrostArt workshops now has online booking and payments available. I am so excited about this and you may have been waiting a while for it to happen!
Workshop dates at WWT Welney are currently available on the events page
Make a choice from the survey for the workshop selection I look forward to working with you very soon.

Hosting workshops - if you or your organisation would like to host workshops please go to Host page
If you have any queries or there are problems with your bookings please contact me
Invite friends and family to come to a workshop with you, include the link in the invitation so they have the details in front of them.

With thanks to writer and critic Ian Collins for encouraging me to use, adapt and share artist's warning signs!

A new viewpoint

The exhibition process and setting for Tracks and Traces provided new ways of seeing work, both my own and others involved. Lots of conversations with visitors over the weekend, probably about two thousand people, maybe more have seen our work for the first time. The architecture of The Crystal Palace invites people to explore their surroundings and engage with really seeing their surroundings.

Evening sunshine helped. Photo by Tim Frost

Evening sunshine helped. Photo by Tim Frost

Evening sunshine helped. Photo by Tim Frost

Open Garden conversations

It was Ely Open Gardens on Sunday June 9th, always good opportunity for conversations and sharing of ideas, to meet friends and make new ones. This year I had good conversations with older residents, who remembered the greenhouse in The Bishops Garden being used to raise seeds for the formal garden and the vegetable garden. I hadn't really thought about the Corn Exchange in Ely in this context before, but apparently all good gardeners and farmers would go there to buy or sell their seeds, especially if they were prize winners.

I met people who came on the train from Cambridge, some taking time to visit Ely from London, Manchester, Sheffield and Australia. Very varied life experiences, but so many links, shared hopes and dreams for the lives of people, wildlife and the planet.
This was also the last day of the Moon exhibition in Ely Cathedral so the conversations extended to the further still.

Prickwillow work in progress

Evidence of work in progress in the Prickwillow phone box, the signs are part of a series started by author and art critic Ian Collins when he curated Salthouse '08.
More to follow and work will be developed during the month, which is promising to be a busy one.
I will be 'in residence' in the greenhouse of The Bishops Garden preparing for Sunday 9th, Open Gardens in Ely This will be a preview of the planning and making of work for several exhibitions this year, some work will be available for sale.
The following weekend I will be in Bury St Edmunds, again linked to an open gardens trails, for 'Tracks and Traces' exhibition where work will be available for sale.