As previously mentioned...

...exciting times are ahead (and given that it's been a while, some are now in fact past). The aforementioned applications paid off and I am now sadly reaching the end of a thoroughly enjoyable six month internship in the Programmes department of the Art Fund. 

On a more sanguine, yet slightly terrifying note, I am now only four weeks away from beginning my MA at the Royal College of Art! I will be specialising in Mixed Media Textiles - giving me a little more freedom than the Embroidered Textiles of my BA. I have got a couple of projects to keep me busy already and will post my progress here in an effort to make my blog into more of an online sketchbook...

Onwards

Well, Designer Crafts at the Mall was a great success! So much positive feedback from the public and fellow Society members- thank you all.

Never one for complacency though; I've been feeling as though it's time to push on with my work again. So, various applications have been made and I'm hoping for progressive and exciting times ahead...

In order to get there I've been having a bit of a review; delving back into old projects and sketchbooks, rediscoving some unexplored paths. Here are a few of the things I found:

You might like these...

Here are some of my favourite exhibitors from Designer Crafts, quite an eclectic array but all superbly executed:   

                                             

                Imogen Belfield                                                                                               Emma Yeo

       incredibly striking jewellery                                                           stunningly intricate sculptural millinery

        www.imogenbelfield.com                                                                             www.emmayeo.com

                                            

                  

                 Zuzana Denesova                                                                                         Jeremy M Price

   elegant and sophisticated ceramics                                                              beautifully made furniture

        www.ZuzanaDenesova.com                                                                        www.JeremyMPrice.com

                                                    

    

 

                    Rosanna Martin                                                                                         Anna Glasbrook

    clean and graphic ceramic vessels                                                         highly innovative 3D embroidery

    www.rosannamartin.blogspot.com                                                              www.annaglasbrook.com

 

 

Another of my favourites is ceramicist Angela Speight, I could'n't find a high res image to put up here but her work is on all the promotional material for the show and her website is well worth a look.  Designer Crafts at the Mall is open until Sunday 16th January. There are over 100 designer-makers exhibiting work so, there is something to suit every taste. For full details see the catalouge here.

And the winner is... me!

Designer Crafts 2011 got off to a great start for me at the packed Private View on Friday. I was presented with the SDC TSB Award for Excellence. The award is made to a new Licentiate and automatically promotes that person to the status of Member. The selection panel was made up of Chairman of the SDC, Fiona Zobole, along with curators Carol Naylor and Heidi Lichterman, my thanks to them for all their support. There was certainly stiff competition for the award; I will be revealing some of my favourite makers from the show in my next post, along with further photographs of the exhibition.

The exhibition is open to the public until next Sunday (16th Jan) at the Mall Galleries, London (right next to Trafalgar Square and just down the road from Buckingham Palace). For full details, see the catalouge here.

Set Up

I spent Thursday and Friday setting up at the beautiful Mall Galleries. I'd been allocated a great space right at the entrance which meant I was able to show all of the work I took along. 

Once I had decided how to display the pieces, the set-up went smoothly,  with  the help of my fellow exhibitors.

Here are a couple of shots of the work in progress. 

News from the opening night and images of the show to follow shortly.

Unveiling "357 stitches, 1 needle, 1 knot"

Okay so here it is, a brand new piece for Designer Crafts at the Mall 2011. I'm really pleased with it; the flow of each image into the next is so smooth and seemingly effortless- how deceptive! (Click on the images for a closer view)

Those of you familiar with my work will know my trademark as a gold-eye crewel needle "left" in the work; a trace of the maker's hand. Well, I was thrilled a few weeks ago to discover real gold-plated needles. They look incredibly precious and really gleam from the crisp white background. This is the first piece in which I have included one, no doubt the first of many.

"357 stitches, 1 needle, 1 knot"

106x48cm framed (matt black box frame) £600

Available to buy at Designer Crafts at the Mall 8-16th Jan (for full details please see post below). If you are interested in this piece or any other on the site, please leave a comment or send me an email.

Designer Crafts at the Mall 2011 JANUARY 8-16th

Designer Crafts at the Mall 21st Anniversary Exhibition is fast approaching (4 weeks until set-up)

All my work is finished and ready to go, the hard bit will be deciding which pieces to leave out! The show is open Sat 8th-Sun 16th Jan at the Mall Galleries, London. I will be stewarding on Sat 15th and hope to be there most days, so do come and say hello. To see the flyer and for full details, please click here.

In other news, work is progressing with my new website which will be available in the not too distant future here:

    www.jessedwards.co.uk

And, I will be previewing new work for the exhibition here on my blog very very soon so do check back...