MADELEINE'S HEP HERD

Craft Reactor Members' Showcase Originally uploaded by MadeleineS . The other big thing in the winter was the Craft Reactor exhibition . This was a showcase for all the members of the group to display (and sell) their work. I was curated by my very talented cousin, Sharon Whyte , whose prints are in the photo above. She did a fantastic job of pulling together such a disparate selection of work into a coherent exhibition. In spite of the awful weather during the week of the exhibition and the fact that the gallery was tucked away down an alley in Stockbridge we had a substantial number of visitors. The feed back was really good and we're all fired up for our next Showcase in November this year. Well that's probably enough posting for just now.  More catch up in the wrong order in due course and maybe some new stuff too.

Open Studios December 2010 Originally uploaded by MadeleineS . Open studios was one of the big things last winter. I started work on two new styles of felt wraps - cobweb and lattice. The first of the lattice wraps were much admired and so I made quite a few more in the early part of 2011. More photos to come later. Right now I'm getting my act together and finishing a few projects in time for our Edinburgh Festival Open Studios in August. Sign up to my mailing list for a reminder email nearer the time.

The tentacle family! Originally uploaded by MadeleineS . In April we had a visit from my brother and his family. Need I say more...

Chemical knitting Originally uploaded by MadeleineS . This is some of the earliest science knitting I know about. It's from the University of Edinburgh's School of Chemistry museum collection. Professor Crum Brown made this to demonstrate how crystal facets intersect at the molecular level. I really need to brush up my chemistry and take a closer look to say more. I'll get the chance to do that in a couple of weeks though... Craft Reactor is joining forces with the School of Chemistry to present " In Your Element" at the National Museum of Scotland on 9 & 10 July and I'll be one of the volunteer craft helpers! Come and have a go at this drop-in, hands-on activity which combines craft with chemistry to make a huge Periodic Table of the Elements to celebrate International Year of Chemistry 2011.

Snake handling! Originally uploaded by MadeleineS . Well I'm a bit late and these will be pretty random short posts but here's the first of a bunch of things I've been doing recently. This was taken at the Big Bang Theory Roadshow at Edinburgh Science Festival. The snake was very tame and used to being handled. I had more fun with the giant millipede though. We went to a few other things and as part of the day job I organised a couple of maths lectures . Not the most exciting festival over the years I've been going but perhaps that's part of the trouble.  More fun with maths due in the winter - keep watching this space!

It's been so long since I posted anything here that I think it's fitting to have a change of direction now.  From the beginning of this year there has been a lot going on personally, in the day job and in my studio practice. There's no way I'm going to try and write it all up here.  If you know me in real life you'll know at least some of what I'd write about.  If you don't know then it's OK  because this is the start of something slightly different anyway.  A few weeks ago I decided that my studio should have a name.  After a bit of thought and failed brainstorming I decided to use a name that Mike suggested ages ago, and so Plum and Pepper Studio was born. In the fullness of time there will be a revamped website , a Twitter feed , a Facebook page and a Folksy shop (sorry Etsy the dollat pricing puts me off). June and July should see the bulk of this work done and ready for Coburg House Art Studios Open Event over the first weekend in August.  If ...

cyanotypes - Athens - work in progress Originally uploaded by MadeleineS . Next week is a pretty crazy one for me - as well as the judging an amateur photo competition and sharing a stall at the new and eagerly awaited Earthy Craft Market, my collection of new cyanotypes goes into a gallery. From 5 November to 24 December you can see the all twelve Lace Studies and first two of the the Stones of Athens series. I'm particularly pleased with the latter as I've managed to combine my passion for photography with my love of textiles. The picture shows one of these in the planning stage. Come to RM Art at 51 St Stephen's Street, Edinburgh from next weekend to see the finished work.