almost but not quite...

Christmas so just time for a night away

destination Manchester...driving down the majestic M6 through rain and storm force winds, some of the best views in the country as we travel through the Howghylls...at speed!

 

we made it safely to Rochdale station to catch a train, and glide easily into Manchester Victoria, half remembered through the mists of time, an old haunt from when I was at Liverpool Uni...young, free and single! This time we have ventured here for daughter mine to run in an athletics meeting on Sunday so I suggested making it a weekend...and here we are, rather stunned country mice getting used to the rush of the city...


luckily daughter mine had a map from when she came with a weekend with Rangers so she leads the way...I could do it from memory...maybe!

it's late afternoon, dusk is coming on and the lights are bright...

I do so love the bright yellow trams...and the hustle and bustle, somehow it feels exiting, a buzz of movement and things happening all around us

and here we are at The Manchester Craft and Design Centre...a historic building now full of the best in art and craft and design, studios, artists...and cafe, modern but with a sense of the past

just not enough time to take in the wealth and variety of creativity, ceramics, furniture, textiles, art of all kinds, and you meet the makers...brilliant to meet Andrea from &made whose lovely work I've admired for a long time

you can see more aboutalmost but nowt the Craft Centre here

out into the night to find Christmas markets in full swing...

so much to see and buy...but we were flagging by now so walked back to the station to catch the train again...and headed for a meal and a bed at the Youth Hostel at Haworth (yes as in The Bronte Sisters)...we know how to have a good time!

I even managed to watch Strictly and on Sunday, daughter mine ran like the wind in her 60m sprint and hurdles and got 2 PBs (personal bests!) 

Home again feeling like I had a week away not just a night...bliss!

 

 

C-art Open Studios...tomorrow!!

the artist's life is a merry one...as I troll along, a workshop here, an exhibition there....but opening the studio and making space is the game this week...how to get from this...

to this...

and now we're almost there and I have to say we are pretty CHUFFED and PLEASED WITH OURSELVES!! Our beautiful studio is now filled with contemporary art and craft and awaiting the audience...preview party tomorrow evening, then the sheer pleasure of sitting and making and talking to our visitors...it don't get much better than this! 

BIG thanks to Donna and all at Eden arts for their organising behind the scenes, thanks to my husband of patience and daughter mine for all their help and support, and to my fellow artists  Ian and Stephanie for their support this year and for wanting to do it all again!!

hope you've enjoyed the virtual tour...if you're passing do call in, a warm welcome awaits you...have a great weekend...I'm going to!xx

have you seen...Hestascene??

what to do on a rainy day in Cumbria??...well lots of choice...stay at home and count the dust bunnies or perhaps clean the kitchen floor...mm or jump in the car and trundle to beautiful Caldbeck...for a little lunch with a dear friend and visit the lovely local shops including the wonderful Hestascene gallery...which just happens to stock my wares...where the talented Julie and Karen have a warm welcome for all visitors...and in case you're wondering 'hesta seen' means 'have you seen'...

I love the drive to this special place  as you leave the main road beahind and head for wilder freer places...the journey is part of the magic...

Caldbeck village is in the northern Cumbrian fells, remote and beautiful...a special place with delicious tearooms and little shops and the most wonderful views...you drive through the landscape with cows and sheep roaming free... saw a mummy cow feeding her calf just feet away from the car...

I persuaded Julie to have her picture tooken...so nice to see real people on blogs don't you think...Julie is a wonderful feltmaker with a very arty background and it's great that she and Karen have the vision and passion to run this inspiring gallery...so public and artists alike can enjoy the lovely work by Brisitch makers...and all artists need somewhere to show their wares...mm is that an emmieandemma teacosy in the background?? 

some of Julie's beautiful felted and stitched cushions and scarves...

 

I love these delightful handmade buttons by Amanda Mercer

a graduate of the University of Cumbria whose work epitomises the contemporary art and craft which Julie and Karen like to showcase

ceramics and textiles mix so well...I love ceramics with texture like a fabric...

irresistible(ok I bought one!)tiny porcelain pieces by Emma Louise Wilson

and is that some Charlotte Macey textiles I spy...I love her quirky stitched and printed designs

not only finished and polished pieces to buy but you can also see Julie's work in progress...



and downstairs is the place to be for craft workshops...inspiring creativity in all who come here...I have enjoyed 2 or 3 including nuno feltmaking with Julie and wire jewellery making with Jan Huntley Peace... here's one of her lovely neckpieces...

and then a choice to walk by road or river for a few minutes along to lunch at Priest's Mill...past the tranquil church where huntsman John Peel 'in his coat so grey' lies buried...

past beautiful old houses and pretty gardens...

 

 

past temptation at the plant lady's emporium...The Potting Shed...full of lovely things you didn't know you needed!

as I wander I remember bringing my young daughter and her friend here to swim and play at the end of term one summer...the Cald Beck river was calm and smooth then...this day so much rain has fallen so it is swollen and rushing in a very dramatic fashion...

and nearby is the restored water wheel which would once have powered the  cornmill, later a sawmill...

and down at the bottom lies another treasure...The Wool Clip...home of Woolfest...of which you have heard much hereabouts! but I will save that visit for another day...as lunch beckons...so inside the mill for a delicious lunch and catching up with my friend...

and then...who knows...home I guess across the wild fell road...nowhere better to live than Cumbria, especially on a rainy day when the clouds are low and the fells are moody...

see you again soon..hope you're enjoying a lovely August and making the most of summer whatever the weather...xx