Love....Cambridge

Check out the Love Cambridge website.  We will be advertising the Cambridge Christmas 10 here during November.

a little bit about.....Amanda MacPhail

Amanda is one of The Christmas 10 exhibitors at The Unitarian Church Hall on 3 December 2010.  Here is a snippet of what she does.

Drawing is at the heart of what I do and although my 'canvas' these days is bone china it is the image that excites me and the shapes I am working with.  I trained in Graphics and Illustration at Bath Academy and Cambridge School of Art which launched my career as a freelance illustrator.  As a freelancer I worked mainly for publishers in London and here in Cambridge; predominantly working for Cambridge University Press.

I also taught Graphics and Illustration on the Foundation Art Course for 18 years, originally at the 'tech' and then when it transferred to Cambridge Regional College.  However, as so often happens these days I was filling out more pointless forms than teaching students!  I loved teaching so on leaving CRC I not only set up Create-a-plate where I am producing my own work and taking commissions, but also started running classes from my home.  This is the most fun for me.  Seeing people who think they cannot draw a line produce the most amazing work.  Everyone seems to be thrilled with their results. It is a wonderful process as it's impossible to make a mistake and however simple or complicated the design - it works.

Create-a-plate  is all about creating your own image on bone china; a mug, plates, bowls or jugs.  I use sheets of ceramic enamel in various colours which are added to the surface of the existing glaze.  We start by drawing out a design which is then traced and transferred to the back of the sheets of enamel glaze. The shapes are then cut out, put in to water and transferred to the surface of the plate.  Once carefully applied getting rid of water and air bubbles I fire them in my kiln.  They are then usable and dishwasher safe.

Every year I take part in Cambridge Open Studios during July and usually have Christmas Open Weekends here at my house.  This year it is 26th, 27th and 28th November. and the 4th and 5th of December.  However on Friday 3 December I am one of the artists showing at the Unitarian Church Hall in Cambridge as part of the Christmas 10 exhibition, which is going to be a lively show of some exciting work and not to be missed!

Exhibitors

Here is the complete list of exhibitors at The Cambridge Christmas 10 on Friday 3 December 2010 from 4 until 8.30 pm.  Mulled cider and mince pies will be served and the entrance fee is..........free!

Alison Hullyer, prints and cards http://www.hullyer.co.uk/
Alison Tait, stained and fused glass http://www.alisontait.co.uk/
Amanda MacPhail, bone china http://www.amandamacphail.com/
Anna Nilsen, ceramics, books and recycled items  http://www.annanilsen.com/http://www.artisstics.com/
Birgitte Bruun, silver jewellery http://www.camopenstudios.co.uk/
Gina Gherardi, textile jewellery and accessories http://www.camopenstudios.co.uk/
Jo Tunmer, sgraffito paintings on perspex http://www.jotunmer.com
Marieke Hordyk, contemporary jewellery http://www.byardart.co.uk/
Rhiannon Thomas, textile art and cards http://www.rhiannonthomas.co.uk/
Roxana de Rond, watercolours, cards and gifts http://www.camopenstudios.co.uk/

Alison Hullyer: Seed Heads - the printing process

I thought you might like to see a few stages in the production of my latest print 'Seed Heads V'.  Every year a self seeded giant cow parsley plant emerges in the garden.  I really love the shapes, especially when it's stopped flowering and the seeds start appearing.

I start by sketching the plant and then transfer the design onto tracing paper with a pen.  I  then copy the design onto special coated-board, by pressing hard with a biro, on the reverse of the tracing paper.  I then add further marks to the 'plate' with a drypoint tool and remove a few areas of the coating where I want the ink to be really dark.

I then print the plate by covering it with oil based ink and then carefully wiping if off again, leaving the ink just in the lines.  I place the plate on my etching press, put paper on top and roll in through the press.  I lift off the paper to reveal the print and repeat the inking process six times to complete the edition.  When the ink is dry, I hand-colour the prints with watercolour, sign and edition them.

Alison Tait

Wonderful Photos Jo,
Really looking forward to seeing your trees.

I will be selling stars, angels and mirrors as well as some new work.

Cambridge Christmas 10: Jo Tunmer's trees - exhibitor at The Christmas 10 ...

Cambridge Christmas 10: Jo Tunmer's trees - exhibitor at The Christmas 10 ...: "For the last few months I have been working on 2 large corporate commissions, one of them for Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Simulta..."

Jo Tunmer's trees - exhibitor at The Christmas 10 show

For the last few months I have been working on 2 large corporate commissions, one of them for Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.   Simultaneously I began to work with small perspex panels while waiting for paint to dry on the larger pieces.  I wanted to create something different and exclusive for the Christmas 10 show on the 3rd December and needed some inspiration.  The seed started while on vacation in west Canada - trees!  To be more specific, ideas started buzzing whilst driving through a burnt forest.  Here are a few photos from Canada and my back garden to start you off. 

Cambridge Christmas 10: Cambridge Christmas 10: A few more photos from las...

Cambridge Christmas 10: Cambridge Christmas 10: A few more photos from las...: "Here is Nindy at The Christmas 10 2009 who sold most of her jewellery collection. Birgitte will be back on the 3 December 2010 selling h..."

Cambridge Christmas 10: A few more photos from last year's exhibition

Here is Nindy at The Christmas 10 2009 who sold most of her jewellery collection.

Birgitte will be back on the 3 December 2010 selling her wonderful silver jewellery.

Photographs from the 4 Dec 2009 show

Alison Hullyer, printmaker and illustrator exhibited with the Christmas 10 last year and will be back again for 2010.










Amanda MacPhail will also be exhibiting again in 2010 with a new collection of bone china.





















And back again.....is Ali Tait who will be selling her stained and fused glass.














Over 250 people came through the doors on that cold December 2009 evening. They were greeted with mulled cider and mince pies. The atmosphere was electric and everyone had a ball. This year we have new exhibitors and also we will be holding a raffle to help raise money for The Sick Children's Trust. Watch this blog for further information!

Cambridge Christmas 10: Christmas 10 in 2010

Cambridge Christmas 10: Christmas 10 in 2010: "The Christmas 10 exhibition is back for 2010. The date is Friday 3 December from 4 pm until 8.30 pm. A list of exhibitors will be confirme..."

Christmas 10 in 2010

The Christmas 10 exhibition is back for 2010. The date is Friday 3 December from 4 pm until 8.30 pm. A list of exhibitors will be confirmed this week.

The Christmas 10 started 3 years ago at Jo Tunmer's house. Jo had the idea of holding a one-off evening where local arts and crafts professionals could display their work in a warm, friendly and unusual environment. In 2009 we found that The Unitarian Church Hall in Victoria Street, Cambridge was the perfect venue and so we are returning there for our 2010 show.

There will be jewellery, prints and cards, stained and fused glass, perspex paintings, watercolours, ceramics and books from a local author of children's books.

So put the date in your diary now and more details will follow shortly.