Southsea Art and Design Show

Next weekend Southsea art and Design, a group of eclectic artists and makers, will be hosting the first of three one day shows at The Square Tower, in Old Portsmouth.  The exhibition includes painting, ceramics, textiles and jewellery from artists and designer makers from in and around Southsea.  We all met at the Festival of Arts, Portsmouth, in 2008 and have since put together a few exhibitions at the Oxmarket gallery in Chichester which have been very well received.  The shows are vibrant and colourful with such a mix of media, there's something for everyone to enjoy and there will be the chance to buy direct from the artists.  For directions on how to get there follow the map below.  We really hope you'll come and join us.

Autumn Winter 11/12 Collection

View images of my Autumn/Winter 2011/12 collection at

http://www.tracyevans.co.uk/gallery/autumn-winter-201112.html

Country Living - The Aftermath!

Me looking pensive!
Well, finally it is all over after months of making and prep and, even though it has been a 2 weeks since returning from the big smoke, I am still shattered!  What an experience!  Would I repeat it????  Well, maybe, but I would definitely opt for a better stand position.  We decided to take up the offer of a reduced rate stand in the Newcomers hall (albeit a very small reduction), but the room was on the second floor and very dark and oppressive.  For 2 days there was very little air conditioning so it was like a sauna and we definitely suffered in terms of footfall.  The event was very well attended, hundreds of people but definitely aware of these penny pinching times.  Overall the event was worth doing, especially as there's been post event interest and I'm now selling on another hand made site (www.cherrypickedforyou.co.uk), but the 12 hour long days are definitely something I need to get into training for!

Rose looking exhausted!

Catherine doing a bit of selling

Catherine taking care of Vera!

Country Living Magazine Spring Fair

Come join me at the Country Living Spring Fair 23-27 March at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1 0QH.  I will be exhibiting as part of an artist collective called South Coast Creatives featuring quality hand crafted products in ceramics, jewellery and textiles.  If you get the chance please pop by and say hi, we're on stand N38 in the newcomers area.

Get with the programme!: February photoshoot

Get with the programme!: February photoshoot: "Lily Catherine, Kelly and Lily being captured by Stu Giving a leg up! My lovely girlies Catherine My very first blog, and what ..."

February photoshoot

Lily

Catherine, Kelly and Lily being captured by Stu

Giving a leg up!

My lovely girlies

Catherine

My very first blog, and what an exciting way to start.  On 17 February we had our new photo shoot in the grounds of the beautiful Lainston Country House hotel in Winchester.  My gorgeous daughter Catherine was modelling as usual, as well as a new addition to the team.....the stunning Lily Venus, who was only 13 years old on the day of the shoot and has subsequently turned 14!  Both girls were incredible, so professional and it seemed like they had been old hands at the modelling game.  My products were shot by Stu Cooper, from Cooper Photography, a Southampton based company which specialises in lifestyle shoots and wedding photography.  I was lucky enough to meet Stu at a show last year and immediately noticed his wonderful photographic style which seemed to fit perfectly with my branding.  He was brilliant, so laid back and very personable, it was easy to feel at ease with him, and this is reflected in the girls reaction to the experience.  They were buzzing!   The shoot only took a couple of hours and we packed so much in, constantly changing jackets and products to really show off my designs to the best.  Luckily help was on hand with Kelly Venus, mum of Lily and assistant manager at Pavilion in Winchester, where I have been showcasing some of my work.  Stu even got Kelly involved in the modelling, she was great too but I kept myself safely tucked behind the lens!  The weather was perfect too with a watery winter sun giving some stunning light conditions.  I just can't wait to see the results!   www.cooper-photography.co.uk