Different View of Christmas

Recently I ran a couple of workshops in Buxton with a children from a local church group. The basic idea was to create a model of Bethlehem from two different views on one side the model shows Bethlehem as it would have looked at the time of the Bible stories and the other a modern day view looking at the effect of conflict. the sessions included studying architecture from the area and looking at how space is used. Making many cardboard sheep (with cotton wool of course) and tiny barbed wire created from fine Jewellery wire.

Cirque Bijou

Back in the spring I attended an amazing event in Bolton part of the Inspiring Communities programme.

Working with local young people in the Tonge and Haulgh area Cirque Bijou put on an amazing show at Castle Hill playing fields. Today I've just received in the post a calender from Cirque Bijou using one of my photos ( for April, my Birthday!)

Wonderful Whitworth

Yesterday with the rest of Manchester Craft Mafia we held our Christmas fair at The Whitworth Art Gallery . A big thank you to everyone that made the effort to fight though the snow and come and see us. I also worked with fellow Craft Mafia member Debbie Greenaway to run one of the Whitworth's Crafternoon. An monthly craft workshop for adults. Debbie was creating lovely sparkly baubles and I was teaching simple origami techniques to make decorations and gift boxes. I was a great way to spend a perfect Saturday

Manchester Craft Mafia Christmas fair

Now I do a lot of craft fairs but I am soooo excited about this one.

I'm a member of the Manchester Craft Mafia and on Saturday (18th) we are hosting our Christmas Craft fair at The Whitworth Art Gallery. find the Mafia and event on our facebook page

I am also doing a workshop with a couple of other Mafia members making Christmas decorations at the Whitworth on Saturday (sorry fully booked) but for those of you who have a place should be great. we promise unique decorations and lots of Christmas sparkle

sock farm!

yeap still busy with socks.

just finished a little commission to make sock cows! and a monkey

not sure whether or not they will join the sock pigs as a regular thing I make. Let me know what you think?

have also been busy making a second litter of sock pigs for Manchester Craft Mafia's craft cabinet at The Turnpike Gallery (first lot sold out) there until Christmas.

so hoping there are more lovely people in Leigh who will give a sock pig a home.

hmm so what to make next?

I am currently working on a penguin commission spent years drawing them but making this one (not from socks though)