The workings, makings and creative ramblings of an artist, tutor, designer and obsessional stitcher out here in the beautiful wild west of Cornwall.


Tuition and workshops now available for Art, Textiles and all forms of creative practice.

Wednesday 2 November 2011

AUTUMN TEXTILES WORKSHOPS






To keep you all busy and creating now the nights are getting darker...here are the Deborahmary Designs Autumn Workshops @ StudioFourSeven, Redruth.

We have "Introduction to Machine Embroidery" now booking on Tues November 17th, 1-4pm. 


This is an opportunity for experienced machine stitchers to go all off-piste with your sewing.


If you watched Kirstie Allsopp's Handmade Britain and saw the fun she was having with her sewing machine, this is the technique she described as 'the crack cocaine of the craft world' for it's instantly addictive quality!  Learn to Paint, draw, write and sculpt with this amazing skill - guaranteed to have you hooked from your first time.


At £15 per session with  refreshments, it's a bargain for stitchers with a yen to explore the really experimental side of stitching.


Contact me at DeborahmaryDesigns@gmail.com or  call on 07725254914 to chat about what you will need to bring to start your exploration of this fantastic technique.


ALSO RUNNING


.... on Thursday 29th November from 1-4pm,  is "Help My Sewing Machine's an Alien!".


This workshop is for all those who need a refresher with their machine. This is a supportive, fun, confidence building space where you can build your skills and create gorgeous textile accessories for yourself, your home and your family. If you have a project that you have started at home but are stuck with and need a little guidance this is the place for you. I will be happy to help you work out the hiccups and get you back on the road to creative success.




Contact me at DeborahmaryDesigns@gmail.com or call on 07725254914 to chat about what you will need to bring with you to explore all the creative ideas you have.



To confirm your booking for either session, please pay a £5 deposit either  to me at Paypal, (Deborah Hopkins) or to Louise and Pete in Studiofourseven - the fab new art and craft gallery at the top of Fore Street in Redruth.


N.B. If you are unable to attend the workshop, please give at least 48 hour's notice by email or phone and your deposit will be returned. Deposits cannot be returned if notice of cancellation is received after this time.


Call today to book your place and your piece of cake!I'm looking forward to getting creative with you....


Wednesday 26 October 2011

Sticky Kids@ Studiofourseven 'Orrible 'Alloween Mask Making


STICKY KIDS
@
Studiofourseven

Sticky Kids ~ the new art and craft club for Kids (age 6+) at Studiofourseven in Redruth. Guaranteed to get their arty farty juices flowing ~ for kids who love to get Sticky.

 HALLOWEEN STICKY KIDS


HALF TERM~ Horrible Halloween masks & Outrageous Outfits for Terrifying Trick or Treating.
Friday 28th 10-12 or 2-4. £5 per child.
Make Masks, Hats and capes that will be individual and original, have the best Trick or Treat outfits in town and leave the mess at the studio!


TRICK OR TREAT Face Painting drop-in session at Studiofourseven. October 31st ~ 3.30-4.30.
Let the studio take the strain!  and be ready to terrify the neighbours.
£1.50 per face

All materials provided – limited spaces.
 Bookings taken now @ Studiofourseven; 07843 144 132
or Deborah on 0772525 4914, email DeborahmaryDesigns@gmail.com 

Update: Places are filling up...only 4 left. Call, text or email to snap up the last few Sticky spaces...

Wednesday 7 September 2011

Autumnal Shades

So, the cherub has trotted off this morning with shiny new shoes, shiny new packed lunch box and a shiny new haircut while Autumn has landed with a vengeance out here in the wild west.

Blustery winds and sideways rain have reminded us that the balmy days of summer are gone, while the colours around us turn towards the bronzed reds and copper yellows. The hedgerows shift from vibrant green and hot pink to the deeper darker bottle greens and blood red crimsons,  bloom covered deep purple sloes and luscious hanging bunches of black red elderberries.

Last night the clouds parted just in time to allow a burnished orange, peach and crimson sunset across the north coast that lit up the sky and the sea until you couldn't see where they joined and reminded us that there are still balmy autumn treats to be had.

I have started to crave hot spiced berry juice and have planned for some serious wild fruit harvesting over the next few days to stock up on the winter jam and juice supplies.

I have also been inspired by the wind bent and fractured shapes of hawthorn bushes above hedgerows to plan an autumn range of designs featuring soft burnished bronzes and sharp angular black browns.... more to follow as my designs progress...

Turning to the time between the cherub departure to school and his return, untucked, bedraggled and starving 7 hours later... I am madly planning the details of the new Workshops at Studiofourseven starting on September 20th. There will be leaflets flying through your doors if you are lucky enough to live out in the wild heart of Cornwall with me, look out for them.

If I fail to pop a little flyer through your door - and I apologise if I have missed you out, it is entirely unintentional! - please head over to the Workshops page at the top of this blog for all the juicy cake laden details, or drop into Studiofourseven's facebook page for more info.

'Help My Sewing Machine's an Alien' is kicking off on Sept 20th, at 0930 - (eek that is very close) - so call up and chat about what you would most like help with. Places for each session are limited to 6 and will book on a first come first served basis. If you prefer  to - please bring a friend and her machine too, there is plenty of cake to go around.

These Workshops will be a regular vibrant, creative and welcoming space for all you secret stitchers who want a friend to guide you through the vagaries of your machine until you are confident to bring all your fabulous ideas to life. If you have a stash of beautiful fabric that you occasionally bring out, and drool over but need a little inspiration to be able to bring you ideas to life, this is the place for you.

Call me up or email me (details at the bottom of the blog and on the Workshop page) and chat about what you would like to learn and make and do - and don't forget to bring you treasures with you, we can get silly and excited over them together.

This last little piccy is a glimpse of the festive treasures I am already dreaming up, scandinavian red and white, beautiful fabric bunting, mulled wine mug rugs... ooh the list is endless...



Looking forward to making treasures and cake eating with you.

Saturday 23 July 2011

Sunshine Friday


Well the sun finally came out and the beach called.

My trusty laptop and I headed off to the edge with a flask, a blanket and a need for clear air and skies.


You can't beat the feeling of the sand between your toes and the sun on your shoulders for creative inspiration and the afternoon was spent completing the brochures, posters and marketing for my new WORKSHOPS. The perfect opportunity for anybody with a sewing machine to come along and make beautiful things with fabric and thread powered by cake - obviously.

Running every week at the gorgeous new Studiofourseven at the top of Fore Street in Redruth, these friendly and supportive groups are aimed at all levels and all abilities. If you want to refresh your skills and remember what all the knobs and whistles on your machine actually do, book a place and come along.

If you would like a gentle and relaxed space to build your confidence with your machine and to develop the skills to make beautiful textile treasures for your home, you family and for yourself, call or email me. You can try us out with a Taster session and then come back as many times as you like...

We will be adventuring into the wonderful world of Freehand Machine Embroidery,  this amazing technique breaks all the limits you thought there were to sewing machines! Create luxurious textile paintings, drawings, text and explore the third dimension with sculptures made entirely of stitch.

The details are on the WONDERFUL NEW WORKSHOPS  page on the top right hand corner of this blog. Call me or email to ask all the silly questions you want to and book your place with a small friendly group of people just like you.

And on the beach...

Finally the sun goes down over the sea and after the typing is complete, my latest project designed to keep the wind out of my hair and the sun out of my eyes is complete.

Watch this space ... there may be a new line in Hooky Hats to come...

And so home to watch the sunset.




Friday 22 July 2011

Two Years later....

Well where does the time go?...

Here we are in Summer (really? it has rained for the last month here!) 2011 and I am breathing life back into this blog. I have been away but not standing still.

There have been a number of beautiful, successful and exhilarating Trereife Fairs since the last blog. Summer, Winter and Spring, all seasons display the fragile beauty of the manor house and demonstrate its ability to be the perfect foil for exquisitely hand made art and fine crafts. The Fairs create a lively and inclusive atmosphere, with live music, scrumptious locally produced food, family fun and children's games in the luscious grounds.

The team behind the Fairs are incredibly busy and led by Rob Lewis, have created a dynamic environment that supports local business, local makers and is now engaging with Cornwall's Colleges and students to integrate education, creativity and business for the success of all. Cornwall is a vibrant place for those with the will and the vision.

Trereife Park continues to build on their success this summer and their Events Calendar is full of more than Art, with Theatre, Music and Fine Food all enjoying the beautiful house and gardens as a back drop.

Here's to another succesful year.

Friday 21 August 2009

Hidden Art Trereife, Cornwall Design Fair 2009

Raise a cheer for the magical Caroline at Trereife Park, who has, since the demise of Hidden Art Cornwall, been greatly responsible for bringing this wonderful weekend of Contemporary Design back to our beautiful county.

There is a delicious sense of expectation in the grounds of this elegant house on a warm late summer  Friday evening, all the exhibits are up and look stunning. The intensity of the final few hours of preparation pay off as everything falls into place in time for the open evening and a welcome glass of wine. Friends and family of the designers come in droves to support and admire... and spend a little money!

Hidden Art Curated is a treat as always - there is something very special about exquisite Contemporary Design pieces interacting with the grandeur and beauty of the Manor House.

All is set for a delightful weekend in good company, making new friends and renewing old contacts, revelling in how lucky we are to be making beautiful work, living in a beautiful county and occasionally selling a piece or two!

Come on down, the weather is looking lovely for the weekend. See you there:)

Pictures to follow with a report on Sunday evening.