Back and Busy

So we've had our week of fun.  Scarpat was waiting for us in all its splendour.  Friends came with us this time (rather than the big family get together we normally have in the summer with my two brothers & co.) It was nice to share the place with newcomers and not get too caught up in the responsibility of it all.

Stanley had a ball with twin, ten year old boys to keep him entertained, making it an easy holiday all round, apart from deciding who was who!
 
Their big sister was none too impressed with all their shenanigans but she entertained us one night with the sweetest singing voice I've ever heard! (pop star in the making for sure, too shy for a photo I'm afraid)

The weather was a bit hit and miss so I took a few more shots of the barn interior while it chucked it down - funnily enough it's not hard to spot a few of my own wares!

 

 One of the sad things was the demise last year of the old fir tree in the back field. It was always a bit misshapen with a sombrero style top and dancing arms, a lovely crazy tree full of wildlife, constantly on the go. But it went for the chop this year and was slightly strange to take in its absence when we first arrived. The up side is we had a whole bunch of hazelnut trees chopped back at the same time which has made the view even better than ever.

Taken in 2010

Saying farewell in 2011

A new view in 2012

So I'm back in the big smoke and yesterday was catch up time - packing orders and getting them all off before the 3pm deadline (= school boy run)
We've got open studios coming up at the end of the month. I've got to get my busy hat back on and try to do all the things I want to do before the chaos of tidying up begins.

We have a brand spanking new website - thanks to Sarah Hyndman of With Relish and my studio pal over in F7.
I'm enjoying seeing what everyone else is doing as the blog gets filled with images and news. There's some fantastic work going on at the Chocolate Factory and we don't always get a chance to see what sort of projects we all get up to in the outside world. You can take a look here and come and see for yourselves on the 30th June and 1st July. Private View on the 29th 6.30-9pm - all welcome!
You can even join our mailing list for all future news and events at the studios.

Cornwall 2011

Cornwall 2011, originally uploaded by Helen Rawlinson.

I hope everyone had as nice a Easter as we did. A few days away in Rock, Cornwall. Body surfing, ferry trips, fish and chips and egg hunting on the hills.

Stanley also got a present from me.  His special cuddly, Baxter goes with him everywhere.  It's always a bit of a panic as we sometimes forget to bring him along (and we've got a spare one just in case we lose him!)
So I printed a 2D version for him for an extra cuddle whenever he's not around. Nice setting for a photo shoot I thought, if only the model would stay still and stop mucking about!
Back to school tomorrow and work mode kicks in once more, well for a couple of days anyway!

A Special Place.

So how did I get to be listening to Tina Turner whilst screen printing away in Ibiza?

It all came about from a chance meeting at The Make Lounge back in January.  Mark came to one of my print workshops.  He'd moved out to Ibiza five years ago, having fallen in love with the place whilst on holiday.  Now he has two of his own holiday villas to rent out all year round.
Inspired by local enthusiasm for his upholstery and sewing workshops, Mark's big idea was to provide a creative retreat for holiday makers and offer a week of easy starter workshops including, you guessed it ..screen printing!
Well at this point, I thought he might want some help, so I willingly offered!

A few months later, we packed our bags and off we went.......
And what a fantastic time we had.  The weather was gorgeous, scenery beautiful and Mark was the perfect host.  His little hideaway in the North of the island has been a real labour of love and it looks like it's finally coming together with a sucession of summer bookings underway. His partner Carl, whom he originally met on the island (then later by chance on Oxford Street of all places!), also has an apartment in San Antonio for rent, so they've got the whole relax/rave scene covered!

We stayed in the upstairs apartment...it's all very light and spacious, dotted with a miss-match of quirky furniture and carboot finds, plus a  patchwork collection of upholstery pieces from the man himself.  Freshly picked, wild flowers beckoned us into every room.  It was such a nice welcome after the nightmare car hire affair at the airport (don't book with Centauro whatever you do!)

 

  

  

 

Love these tiles in the bathroom

After a quick tour of the manor it soon became apparent that Mark's love of upholstery was ever present both inside and out.  Stanley was soon engaged in a fantasy land of goldilocks and the three bears as he jumped from one grand chair to another!

A lovely spot in the sunshine

The snug, a happy hang out for us all!

Big and Small

Our print day was spent making pillow cases to welcome future guests and after lunch in the local restaurant just a hop, skip and jump away...we had fun making some sun set style bunting.....

Getting ready to print.

Patchwork wonders!

Poc a Poc looks on

A BIG scissor collection

 

.........well it is the island of sunsets after all!

 Over time Mark has become well know for salvaging stray bits of furniture and giving them a new life, so much so that he often finds the odd chair parked outside his back yard, left by a passing friend.

Abandoned chairs with lots of potential!

Who's been sleeping in my chair?

A happy man in his own back yard.  I won't show you the whole picture or he might kill me!

Stanley had a ball, not only with the girls that were staying downstairs, but with everyone and everthing he encountered on the island.  Poc a Poc and the cats were the icing on the cake and the drumming session at the local beach was another highlight for my little lad.  He also spent some special time with his dad, while I was printing away with Mark and finding out all the local gossip.

Morning coffee, on the soon to be laid lawn (next full moon!)

The most gentle of dogs, Poc a Poc

 

 

  

Walking home after an evening stroll

Exploring the wild northern coastline

 

 

A special moment for Stanley

The perfect out of season retreat!

We wish you well Mark and I'm sure we'll be back.  I think the idea of having mini workshops out there is a great idea for the future and can't wait to see what's new next time we go!

A Sunday treat, we all piled in the van to go to the local car boot.  More finds!

Well you need something to put all those flowers in!

A beautiful walk, right outside the gate

So if you fancy a simple, relaxing break in a beautiful spot..here's where you'll find it.

Thanks Mark! xxxxx