Creating my own Kate Tulett art

At the South of England Show this year, in the pouring rain, I stumbled across the very lovely Kate Tulett in one of the craft marquees. Kate is an art teacher, artist and generally a splendidly bonkers lady! I thought her collages were fab, and longed for one of her creations myself, but settled on a one-day textile course held at the school she teaches at in Oxted. But unbeknownst to me, my great hubby sneakily arranged for me to receive one of her aquascapes for my birthday, knowing that I have a particular penchant for all things sea related.



It was done in great haste as we only 'discovered' Kate a week away from my birthday, and the collage was a surprise, so it involved secret emails, and a hand-over on a garage forecourt.
I love my picture, it even has lines from a poem that Steve wrote for me many years ago!

Those who know me are well aware that I am a hoarder as far as fabric, buttons and ephemera go, and I like art which is both textural and three dimensional. So having a go at creating something as fun as one of her pieces was quite a challenge. Letting go, and allowing myself to empty my head of science and bees and such, even for a day, is not always easy. Nature accompanies me where ever I go :o)

And despite being amongst many (many!) children on the course, Kate was patient with all and sundry, no matter what age or temperament. I have done some machine embroidery before so I am reasonably comfortable with a sewing machine, but am always open to new techniques.

We looked at the work of Sophie Standing, a very clever textile artist and Kate explained her techniques, before embarking on our own projects. And although I haven't finished it, I'll show you how far I managed to get today.

First a sketch on muslin, then acrylic paints washed over the canvas

Here's one of Kate's pieces in progress

And two stages of other pieces of Kate's work!

Next the fabric stage, and here the photo of my garden for inspiration

Kate's desk!

My collage beginning to take shape with fabric scraps

Oh, oh! Small people upturning the giant fabric box and hiding amongst the multitude of textures and colours! Great fun!

But, of course, bees are always in my heart, and always part of my garden...

You'll have to wait to see the completed article, as there is more to add to my master-piece. However, I am pretty chuffed at the way it is progressing, and even the din of enthusiastic noise from what seemed like a hall full of halflings didn't deter my enjoyment of the day.

Many thanks to Kate and her two peachy assistants!

The Bath experience

Genuine Victorian Tearooms in Bradford on Avon

Yesterday we headed out of Sussex and down to Bath for the weekend as Steve was giving a talk to the Bath branch of the Avon Beekeepers Association. We had been offered the use of a room in the lovely Georgian B&B house run by the secretary, Glenys Lunt, and her husband George in the nearby town of Bradford on Avon. Having left one boy with his grandparents and another with my friend, Gaby, who also puppy and house-sat, we set off first thing Saturday morning on the nearly 3 hour journey west.

After lunching with a group of the beekeepers at the Bear in Bath, we headed off to the venue just down the road from the pub. It was the AGM (Annual General Meeting) and so after the talk (Bees need Buddies - wildlife gardening for pollinators), and a buffet brought by members, we headed off into Bath to do a little exploring. 

Bath is a beautiful old city in the county of Somerset in South West England, and was first established as a spa with the Latin name, Aquae Sulis ("the waters of Sulis") by the Romans sometime in the AD 60s, about 20 years after they had arrived in Britain (AD43). They built baths and a temple on the surrounding hills in the valley of the River Avon around hot springs. Edgar was crowned king of England at Bath Abbey in 973.

Much later, it became popular as a spa town during the Georgian era, which led to a major expansion that left a heritage of exemplary Georgian architecture crafted from creamy yellow Bath Stone. The City of Bath was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

There were lots of lovely shops in Bath, many gearing up for the Christmas trade

We had dinner in the very atmospheric Cafe Rouge

Later we wandered down to the River Avon to have a look at the horseshoe shaped weir. The River Avon flows through both Bath and Bradford on Avon, and with all the rain we have had recently was very high! The Avon is 75 miles long, although there are just 19 miles (31 km) as the crow flies between the source and its mouth in the Severn Estuary.

Next morning, when the worst of the rain (and sleet!) had passed, we took a walk through Bradford on Avon, and it is indeed a very sweet town (although it would be better if the traffic flow through the town was somehow minimised) with some pretty narrow streets, interesting looking pubs and nice shops.

A faded old hotel sign on the back of a town wall

There was a Christmas Grotto in the grounds of the Old Tithe Barn, a spectacular 14th century monastic stone barn, 51 metres (168 feet) long, with an amazing timber cruck roof. It is one of the country’s finest examples of medieval monastic barns – rightly called ‘the cathedrals of the land’, and originally formed part of a range of farm buildings grouped around an open rectangular yard.

We walked back into Bradford and stopped at the Victorian Teashop to warm up by the fire and scoff a cream tea; rather large scones, home-made jam and cream served with Breakfast tea and coffee.

One of the serving wenches, resplendent in period costume

On the way back to the B&B we crossed the Avon again, although this time the sky was rather bluer!

 Conclusion: a lovely part of Britain, and definitely well worth a visit!