Friday 28 May 2010

Sunshine, Friendship, Inspiration and Cake!


This has been a bit of a hectic week but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet up with the very talented Jackie who makes the most beautiful pieces in velvet and tweed amongst other things.  Wendy and I travelled down to Ely as Jackie had come down from Lancashire for a few days and Ely was a good central point for us all.  It also had a textile exhibition on!  Well, how could we resist?  

First port of call was Babylon Gallery for an exhibition by stitch-links.



This is the first exhibition staged by stitch-links, (follow the link for their website and better images of their work) a newly formed group of established artists from London and East Anglia and it was a very exciting experience.  The exhibition space at Babylon is airy and interesting and the gallery has a friendly atmosphere.  Stitch-links had based their exhibition on the area round Docklands in London and the different interpretations gave the show a great diversity.  

 


The work varies through sculptural pieces to variations on quilts and this piece above is by Maria-Theresa Fernandes whose work I have seen at one of the big Shows last year.  Her work is felted and is rich with stitch.



I was particularly struck by the work of Sheila Cahn whose work is very close to my heart and who works in layers.  


This piece has beautiful sparkling blue organza which hints of reflections on water.  


My photo doesn't do this piece justice but it has a  wonderful flow of colour throughout and beautiful delicate slashings of sheer fabrics surrounded by hand stitching.  

The artists had provided boards with samples showing some of their processes and thought connections in preparing this exhibition and it was interesting to see some of their preparatory work.  In addition as the gallery is a charity it had set up a flower tree and a table so that you could make your flower and add it to the tree in exchange for a small donation.  The whole thing gave the gallery a lovely friendly and welcoming atmosphere and I will definitely keep an eye out for any future exhibitions.  This exhibition continues until June 13th so if you live near enough you still have time to visit.  Ely is well worth the trip.


I'm not sure whether this was an exhibit or not but the railings outside carried this adornment which made me think of Clootie trees that I have seen in Scotland.  I'm pleased to say that Wendy has blogged about our day out too and is showing different parts of the exhibition on her blog so do pop over and have a look if you'd like to see more.

Needless to say, after a journey and viewing the exhibition we were all well ready for a cup of tea and adjourned to the adjacent Peacocks Tearooms who have a national reputation.  We had a lovely lunch and were joined by Emma who had been delayed but finally made it in time for tea and cake,


Yum!  I can still taste that gorgeous chocolate cake!  Everything was served on lovely delicate china and the Tearoom has a big display of teacups.


The difference being that they will actually sell you a teacup if it takes your fancy!  The very pretty yellow cup in the middle at the top left in the company of Emma :o)

Isn't it funny how time flashes by when you are in good company and having a lovely chat?  All too soon it was time to leave to return to projects (Emma), a visit to the cathedral (Jackie) and home via a very tempting shop on Ely station (Wendy and I).  I have to admit to making a postcard each for the girls on a whim yesterday from the scraps from a quilt I'm working on,


and I brought home some lovely gifts and postcards to remind me of a stimulating exhibition


not to mention a piece of rusty something that caught my eye and I just had to pick up! (Can't take me anywhere! lol)

I always enjoy meeting the real people behind my favourite blogs and today was no exception.  Jackie and Emma are both lovely ladies and we had a really enjoyable day.  Wendy is always good company too and I bless blogging for bringing such gifts of friendship into my life.  I'm lucky to have a lovely husband too who not only likes me having these days out but cooks my tea for me when I get back.  I am spoilt!  But I like it! ;o)

22 comments:

Emma said...

What a fabulous day you must have had. I know it was great to meet Aileen when she holidayed here & I hope to meet Marion again (as a blog buddy as opposed to a Trade Fair buddy!) at Gardening Scotland next week. We are so lucky.

ju-north said...

What a super day out! I had to laugh about the rust you picked up ....!

pam said...

Wow sounds like a great day out good friends and a lovely exhibition. Wow the tea and cakes looked yummy I loved the welsh dresser. Look forward to seeing how you use the rusty bit!!!!

Judy Scott said...

how lovely to meet up with blog buddies, your time looked awesome and what fabulous art, thank you so much for putting up the photos I love to see what's going on else where. I pick up rusty bits and Jim does too - no flowers for me - its interesting mark making bits :) makes me happy though. have a lovely weekend, Judy xx

Angela said...

What a lovely exhibition your photos are great.
You made some lovely postcards.
Nice looking cake.

imac said...

Glad you all enjoyed the day.
love me. x

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Lovely post Julie ♥x♥

Gina said...

Sounds like you had a super day... sorry I missed it :(

Unknown said...

You've been having some very inspiring days. Thanks for passing along some of the sights, I feel like I was there . . . well, almost, but you get the idea. Bits and pieces of found objects like the rust you picked up are the best!

Heather said...

Sounds like a super day out and how lovely to meet bloggy friends. The exhibition looks fantastic and the cake looks good too!

sweetypie said...

you do get around, dont you,and those are lovely postcards and cake too!I will see you soon tina

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

A perfect day!

JP said...

so glad you had a good day - hope Jackie enjoyed the cathedral which i think is just fantastic - if you come north to visit Jackie - let me know and maybe we can meet up too

Fenwitters said...

I must go! If I can get someone to sit with the kids. It looks so interesting. I love the layer work stuff. TBH, If I could leave the kids with hubby and go see some stuff and cake, it would be like a prize.

Fenland Textile Studio said...

Sounds like you had a fantastic day. The images are inspiring to see so the exhibition must have been amazing. I am already looking in my diary to see if I can get to visit it before it closing.

Fenland Textile Studio said...

Just ran upstairs, gave DH/DS a coffee and breakfast (feeling guilty) and told them I am off to Ely. Ran downstairs to find out the exhibition is not open on a Monday so I can only suppose they mean bank holiday as well. bakc upstairs to inform everyone I am not going out and need them to be nice to me all day now!

B.T.Bear (esq.) said...

We like the postcards but I like the cayke most ov all!!!!

silverpebble said...

Hello Julie. What a treat it was to meet yourself, Wendy and Jackie. Sorry it was all such a rush. Thankyou so much for the piece of exquisite work you gave me. I will always treasure it
x

Fasinatingtaurus said...

Jackie has inspired me to try some felting so I will be looking toward Tina and Julie to see if they have any experience (they are bound to know somthing about it.
Frankie

Cameron said...

Julie, Your day sounds fantastic.I wish that I could have been there with you. You have such a gift for description. I think that my favorite piece of art was the felted on, color and texture. As for the postcards that you made afterwards, you can make me a beauty like that any time you want! What talent. How is your Mom doing? Hope that all is well. Hugs, Cameron

Unknown said...

It looks like a wonderfull show. Wish I was there...

DIAN said...

Thanks for sharing the days out. The pics look really interesting.