Saltburn collage needs a home!

Hi there!

This week I'm going to be heading up to The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle to change round some work before Christmas. I'll be taking up a bunch of smaller pieces and bringing home one of my (much) bigger original works, this beautiful deconstructed map collage of the seaside town of Saltburn By The Sea (situated on the north east coast). The piece was made in spring this year, while I was working on a commission, and unfortunately lacked just one or two details that my customer wanted in her piece. It has been on display in Newcastle for a few months and sadly has had no takers. I love this piece, the colours really evoke the seaside-y spirit, and there are a number of details, such as the pier, which you will not find in any of my archive of previous works.

I would love to keep this piece, but that's not really in keeping with the whole 'making a living from selling paintings' thing, is it? So, I just wanted to make an appeal on it's behalf. The picture (which is approximately 45 inches tall and 35 inches wide) will be back with me by the end of this week, and will be residing in my flat/studio indefinitely. I would be more than happy to give seriously interested parties a viewing of the piece, and I may be persuaded to negotiate the price. Please get in touch by leaving me a comment either here on on my Twitter feed @underthecoldtap.

To see more available works please visit my Flickr site here.

Thanks!

Button wreath giveaway and handmade christmas cheer!

Hi there!

Just a quick one today, firstly to invite you to enter a fanstastic giveaway to win one of my handmade Christmas decorations.

The giveaway is not being hosted by me, but by the lovely Kathryn Sharman, the author of the excellent Katgotthecream blog. Kathryn is a blogger and freelance journalist, who tirelessly seeks out creative makers, vintage clothes and accessories, and beautiful home products, and gives them the spotlight on her addictive blog. Kat generously agreed to host a giveaway for me to celebrate the relaunching of my etsy shop Underthecoldtap, which features handmade jewellery and home decorations.

The item up for grabs is this:

A handmade vintage button wreath, made with collected vintage buttons and silver-plated wire. This decoration is perfect for Christmas, but frankly it can be displayed all year round! It's completely unique and there is only one to give away, so for your chance to win check out Kathryn's blog here. If you miss your chance, but would like a button wreath, there will be more listed on my shop very soon, but here's one already up for sale.

In other news, last night we decorated our flat for Christmas, and I felt I had to show you a few snaps. I've been making a lot of decorations this year in preparation for my last two workshops at ArtisOn, so there's a bit of a sheet music/map/tissue paper theme going on here, but being able to work next to a Christmas tree all day is just grand. The paper baubles are on sale in The Gallery, Masham, should you be interested in investing....

Thats it today, have a great run-up to Christmas, shop locally and support your neighbourhood businesses, and don't forget Etsy and Folksy for great handmade gifts.....

Rosie x

Too many projects....

Hello there!

It feels like a very long time since my last blog - I have been trying this month to get my various dreams/aspirations and current projects in order and so far it hasn't worked at all. One day I will have a set time for everything, but for now I spend my afternoon scrabbling around truing to get the materials for my workshop on Saturday into a suitcase, knocking over a huge tin of glass beads in the process. I have a laminate floor, and they really can roll.

I'm running a workshop at ArtisOn this weekend all about Creative Christmas Decorations. This is my second to last workshop this term - in two weeks I'm running Christmas Cards, Tags and Decorative Papercrafts, then I'm done until March 2012. It seems like a long way away now, but I guarantee I'll be picking the floor-fluff of beads two days before that one as well. In case your interested, next years programme of workshops are now on the ArtisOn website to view, and open for booking on the 27th at their open day.

But what I really wanted to mention today is my next exciting event. A while ago you may recall that I promised a re-launch of my Etsy shop Underthecoldtap. Well, after weeks of bead making and button threading, I have a small, 'capsule' if you will, collection of handmade pieces ready for sale. Map-bead necklaces, button jewellery and christmas decorations, this is just the beginning of my online store. Underthecoldtap re-opens on Monday the 21st of November, giving you time to stock up on pressies for people with exceptionally good taste. And to celebrate, blogging sensation Kathryn Sharman, writer of Katgotthecream blog, will be giving away a piece of my lovely stock, so keep your eyes peeled on her blog for that.

Please visit my store on Etsy from Monday and let me know what you think.

Have a great weekend!

Rosie x