These are vibrant coloured batik fabrics I picked up in Africa. The style is inverted box pleat, a two layer mask with a filter pocket built in. These sell at £5.00.
The pleats on the mask open when worn to show more of the pattern. Below are some examples.
WE did have fun dressed up in mediaeval garb for the opening night of NEOS at Hallgreen Castle. You can always spot the artists in the Great Hall when you come up to view our work – we will be here until Sunday 17th!
It’s getting nearer every day! As a member of the Mavericks Art Group I will be at Hallgreen Castle on Saturday, 9th, Saturday 16th, and Sunday 17th, exhibiting my work and giving demonstrations of crochet.
There is also a huge amount of delightful work by other artists and more demonstrations.
I will be exhibiting and delivering workshops at Hallgreen Castle, Inverbervie during NEOS. More details to follow. In meantime see NEOS website for more details http://www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk/neos-2017/
WORKSHOPS! Ever wanted to crochet and no idea how to start? Or do you know the basics and want to learn different techniques..? I am a contemporary crochet artist and tutor. I will be running a series of workshops through Fri, Sat & Sun 26-28 May at the Alyth Festival.
Each day there is a BEGINNERS workshop 10am – 2pm, advanced in the afternoon 2pm – 4pm. I cater for left-handers. £10 per class.
SPECIALIST WORKSHOPS – £15 per class.
Fri pm – BROOMSTICK CROCHET Worked on a broomstick! This simple method creates loose fabric which has many uses. Why not start with a simple scarf?
Sat pm – HAIRPIN CROCHET Traditionally made on a shell hairpin this work grows quickly.
Sunday pm – AFGHAN CROCHET Working on an elongated hook this work sits somewhere between knitting and crochet. Quick and easy to learn, produces fabric from firm to lacy.
Contact Ellie on 01307 466354 to book.
You can pay me easily through Paypal at https://www.paypal.me/EllieFiddes
(It all started off on Hogmanay when somebody handed me a strange object and asked – “What can you do with this? Take it away and have a go!” So my Funaday project was finding out what I could do with a six foot shed skin from a boa constrictor!)
If you want to see what I did come along to the FunADay Exhibition this weekend.
It’s in WASP studios, Meadowmill, West Henderson Wynd, Dundee. The opening night is on Friday 10 February from 7 – 9pm. The Exhibition runs from 10.00am – 7.00pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Here are some photographs I took of the fun I had during the month.
Well, I’m a crochet tutor! So the first thing I saw when I looked at this shed snakeskin was a beautiful lacy crochet pattern. Don’t know quite how it would turn out or what I might use it for. Maybe give this a try out sometime and see if it can be made into a working pattern. Probably would need a more delicate name than Boa’s Belly Stitch though!
There are still a couple of places left in my crochet class on Tuesday night.
If you want to join it isn’t too late to register! Just download a registration form (link below) and bring it with you to Forfar Academy Foyer at 6.50 on the night. Let me know you are coming and I will be sure to wait for you!
That was a wonderful weekend, sun was shining, and people were out and about. The atmosphere at Trafalgar house was lovely and relaxed. Fellow Artists Liz Petrie, Jilly Henderson, Neil Paterson, Karen Elliot, Maralyn Reid-Wood were delightful company. Thanks to everyone for your generosity. I also came away from the weekend with a new family member who now eats and sleeps for Scotland and is a right loving fur baby! I have named him Happy, cos he is!
This wall hanging is designed to fit a specific space above a stairwell.
Over the next few days I will post some of the detail of the work.
Firstly – here is one of the freeform spirals before being incorporated. This is worked in two soft yarns of differing weights to give a variation in texture as well as colour.
OK – After what seems like forever, I am still learning how to blog. Yesterday I learned that galleries don’t seem to work very well. The pictures looked small and uninteresting and didn’t display at all in facebook. Just a big blank space – which did have a link to the gallery page, but it took ages to load. Now I understand why people post one photograph at time. So, please be patient with me as I learn.
A quick look at what I am working on at the moment. A wall hanging incorporating willow canes, copper wire and a wide variety of yarns. I haven’t counted them!
Freeform crochet wall hanging
Laying it out
laying it out
smaller elements
Freeform spiral in two differing weights of mohair yarn
I will be tutoring a woolcraft course again this winter at Forfar Academy. For further details of other classes and an enrolment form visit your local library or access office, or contact Margaret Valentine, Phone: 01307 466325 – Home, 01307 466924 – Community Wing
Forfar Association for Continuing Education.
Forfar Academy Community Wing, Forfar Academy, Taylor Street, Forfar DD8 3LB
Times: Monday and Tuesday 7.15 pm-9.15 pm. Winter time.
Contact Name & Address: Margaret Valentine,Phone: 01307 466325 – Home, 01307 466924 – Community Wing
The exhibition has begun!! Mavericks Art Craft – which includes my sweet self – have a full exhibition of work for sale at Halllgreen Castle, Inverbervie until 21 September. All part of North East Open Studios (NEOS) Do come along and see!
I’m going to the AOS meeting tonight. This year’s directories are ready, looking forward to finding what they are like this year and to handing them out. For more information and directions to find my exhibition please see my AOS page at
I am an Arts Worker producing contemporary artwork and original freeform crochet, and delivering workshops and courses. This summer I am delivering Tunisian crochet workshops, as this has recently had a resurgence in popularity! For more information see elliefiddes.com, or Ellie Fiddes the Artist@EllieFiddesArt on facebook. Thank you!