Simple lines suit my simple mind

I sometimes think I have the strangest interests but then I thought well this one can't be that strange as its an exhibition in a famous gallery, The Whitworth on Oxford Road, Manchester, UK.

THE WHITWORTH

We went to see Verso by Cornelia Parker.

Parker is a British sculptor and installation artist who looks at every day objects and turns them into art.

She is often drawn to the back and underside of things, like in this exhibition where she  has looked at the back of button cards. Its such a simplistic thing but for some reason it draws me in.  

There is a book to accompany the exhibition which is very good.  

If you can't get to the exhibition it is available on Amazon at the same price as in the gallery shop.

LINK TO AMAZON BOOK

I already had this book which is a fantastic catalogue of all her diverse work.  

LINK TO AMAZON BOOK

  

Susan Hefuna "ToGather"

Another exhibition, which stretched across several rooms, is the work of Susan Hefuna.  Again simple lines and grids but so effective.  The exhibition "ToGather" showed each stage of her work, including  initial sketches and drawings, layering of papers, ink and stitch work.  All art in their own form.  Anyone interested in stitching, markmaking and Boro work will love it.

Book to accompany exhibition
AGAIN IF YOU CAN'T GET TO THE EXHIBITION
LINK TO AMAZON BOOK

The end constructed pieces filled the central room

 

There was so much to see including the striking floor to ceiling fabric designs of

 60's textile designer Barbara Brown.  

I kid you not when I say this is just a fraction of things to see at The Whitworth.  

I've not even mentioned the fabulous shop and the cafe which is so cleverly thought out.  It's a glass sided restaurant built out from the main building into the parkland. You feel like you are sat in the trees.  The menu and food are first class and if you are a vegetarian you'll be in heaven.

We both agreed we wanted to go back again very soon.

Amazingly entrance is free.  Now I don't mind my tax money going towards that.

Barbara Brown's work for Heals in the 60's & 70's

Japanese textile exhibition

Simple lines suit my simple mind

I sometimes think I have the strangest interests but then I thought well this one can't be that strange as its an exhibition in a famous gallery, The Whitworth on Oxford Road, Manchester, UK.

THE WHITWORTH

We went to see Verso by Cornelia Parker.

Parker is a British sculptor and installation artist who looks at every day objects and turns them into art.

She is often drawn to the back and underside of things, like in this exhibition where she  has looked at the back of button cards. Its such a simplistic thing but for some reason it draws me in.  

There is a book to accompany the exhibition which is very good.  

If you can't get to the exhibition it is available on Amazon at the same price as in the gallery shop.

LINK TO AMAZON BOOK

I already had this book which is a fantastic catalogue of all her diverse work.  

LINK TO AMAZON BOOK

  

Susan Hefuna "ToGather"

Another exhibition, which stretched across several rooms, is the work of Susan Hefuna.  Again simple lines and grids but so effective.  The exhibition "ToGather" showed each stage of her work, including  initial sketches and drawings, layering of papers, ink and stitch work.  All art in their own form.  Anyone interested in stitching, markmaking and Boro work will love it.

Book to accompany exhibition
AGAIN IF YOU CAN'T GET TO THE EXHIBITION
LINK TO AMAZON BOOK

The end constructed pieces filled the central room

 

There was so much to see including the striking floor to ceiling fabric designs of

 60's textile designer Barbara Brown.  

I kid you not when I say this is just a fraction of things to see at The Whitworth.  

I've not even mentioned the fabulous shop and the cafe which is so cleverly thought out.  It's a glass sided restaurant built out from the main building into the parkland. You feel like you are sat in the trees.  The menu and food are first class and if you are a vegetarian you'll be in heaven.

We both agreed we wanted to go back again very soon.

Amazingly entrance is free.  Now I don't mind my tax money going towards that.

Barbara Brown's work for Heals in the 60's & 70's

Japanese textile exhibition

Cruise & Crochet

Cruise & Crochet

What a treat

That's what I got upto last night with friends

Sailing out on the good ship Prince Henry from Stretford Marina we travelled for two and half  hours through industrial Manchester to Castlefield Basin, now a conservation area, then back to Stretford

Cake had to be eaten along the way, provided by these lovely ladies,

 Jo Johnson and Sarah of French Knots Craft Studio in Sale, Cheshire who put on the event.

www.frenchknots.co.uk

The demon crocheters made these pretty rose brooches

This blue thing was my attempt.  I have now given up for ever trying to crochet.

My brain is just not wired for it

It was a fantastic evening laughing and crocheting with some lovely ladies

Now to the serious business of deskhopping over at Julia's place

www.stamping-ground.blogspot.co.uk

Thanks for calling by

Lynn x

ps. I'll show you next week the results of my stitching project last week

Cruise & Crochet

Cruise & Crochet

What a treat

That's what I got upto last night with friends

Sailing out on the good ship Prince Henry from Stretford Marina we travelled for two and half  hours through industrial Manchester to Castlefield Basin, now a conservation area, then back to Stretford

Cake had to be eaten along the way, provided by these lovely ladies,

 Jo Johnson and Sarah of French Knots Craft Studio in Sale, Cheshire who put on the event.

www.frenchknots.co.uk

The demon crocheters made these pretty rose brooches

This blue thing was my attempt.  I have now given up for ever trying to crochet.

My brain is just not wired for it

It was a fantastic evening laughing and crocheting with some lovely ladies

Now to the serious business of deskhopping over at Julia's place

www.stamping-ground.blogspot.co.uk

Thanks for calling by

Lynn x

ps. I'll show you next week the results of my stitching project last week

Fashion On The Ration

The latest issue of Reclaim magazine fell on the mat this weekend

and we discovered that at the Imperial War Museum in Salford, Manchester

there is an exhibition on until 1st May about fashion during World War Two.

LINK TO EXHIBITION

No rationing in my wardrobe so I chose a vintage

overall to wear for our trip out.

I don't think I looked to shabby and in fact we were the only

people there to have made an effort to dress for the occasion.

 

Taking photographs wasn't brilliant as the lighting was very low to protect

the fabulous fabrics and exhibits

It would appear that most women enjoyed the utilitarian clothes 

issued at the time as the quality was very good and although trousers were
frowned upon and said to be peculiar for a woman to wear, it was in fact
the start of things to come and very necessary then as women were
doing the work of the men in factories and on farms etc.

If you get a chance to see this exhibition go, its a real eye opener

as to what women wore, how and what the clothes were made from.

How they saved on materials by not allowing turn ups on mens trousers, 

only allowing a certain amount of pleats in garments and what went 

on with the black market and clothes coupons.  

If you can't get to see it, I would recomend this fab little book by 

Jean Shrimpton on the subject.  Its a quick read with lots of illustrations

and pictures. 

LINK TO BOOK 

I looked at the official Fashion On The Ration book while we were

at the museum but I found it rather wordy and long with no pictures.

Can't go without showing you Mr Dapper Chap's outfit 

for the occasion can I.

One snippet I found fascinating was that women were allowed to carry white

handbags and were white accessories like a corsage so that they could be 

seen in the black outs.