@Bettys_Revenge

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Betty at Goldsmiths continues

The exhibition continues through April. If you'd like to see my sketchbooks, design development and research they are an 'archive' item in Special Collections, just ask at the gallery!

Private View at Goldsmiths College

Contrasting Betty's Revenge contemporary bags and purses with beautiful purses from the Goldsmiths Textile Collection archive, the ensemble is exhibiting at the Special Collections Gallery at Goldsmiths College until Easter. Curated by myself and Lizzie Cannon.

Welsh Space Campaign

Hello

Have been moving into more freelance design work while still making bespoke bag orders, hence a long time since posting. I couldn't resist posting about this one:

The Welsh Space Campaign, by Hefin Jones, has won this year's Christine Risley Award, at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Goldsmiths BA (Hons) Design graduate Hefin, from Cardigan in Wales, created a space suit made by Welsh craftsmen from materials sourced in Wales. 

A plumber has built a pressure system for the spacesuit, a traditional clog maker has made space clogs, and the last remaining wool mills in Wales have provided material for the space suit.

Hefin explains: "The Welsh Space Campaign (WSC) launches ordinary Welsh people into outer space, by finding a cosmic context for Welsh culture, skills and traditions. I aim to reveal that Wales has the capacity to explore space, and to show that off-world culturalisation can be achieved through a collective communitarian effort; as a way to allow the people involved to reconsider their role and skill in relation to these cosmic contexts."

The piece will be exhibited in the Constance Howard Gallery at Goldsmiths from 24 September - 24 October, after which it will become part of the Welsh National Museum Archive. 

The Christine Risley Award is a cash prize awarded by the Goldsmiths Textile Collection & Constance Howard Gallery to a graduating Goldsmiths student for outstanding work relating to textiles, in memory of Christine Risley.

As a textile artist, Christine Risley (1926-2003) was a key member of Constance Howard's remarkable and innovative department of textiles. In the 1960s Christine pioneered the teaching of machine embroidery and established one of the most exciting courses of the period. A great teacher, and writer on the subject, she encouraged her students to be adventurous in both work and life. 

Christine retired in 1990 and died in 2003, and her special collection of clothes helped to fund acquisitions for the Goldsmiths Textile Collection. Each year, an outstanding Goldsmiths graduate working with the medium of textiles is awarded a prize in her memory.

Bags inspiring poetry

The exhibition 'Bags: The Craft of the Carrying Companion' has now ended but the display was superb. Some local writers were inspired to write a couple of poems, the first one refers to my large purse and the second one is solely about the large purse which asks questions that several passers by ask me on the street!

Bags 

Big bags and small bags.

Short bags and tall bags.

Bags of every size and shape.

Made of fabric softly draped.

Some of leather, new and old.

Shiny, polished, good to hold.

Bags to carry on bus or train.

Bags built to carry extra strains.

Cases for clothes and underwear.

Cases for picnics we love to share.

Some open out flat as a sheet.

Some fold down, nice and neat.

A giant purse takes centre stage

Try your hand at decoupage,

Or leather strips for you to weave

Items here you won’t believe

Giant purse

What do you put in a giant purse?

Some pennies to pay for a journey home,

Or a lovely dinner for when you get back?

Make up to enhance a lovely face?

A lacy hanky to stop a sneeze?

A comb and brush to tidy hair?

There’s lots and lots of room in there.

These beautiful suitcases at the same exhibition really stood out for me.

Bilston Craft Gallery

BAGS: THE CRAFT OF THE CARRYING COMPANION

BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY

15 DECEMBER 2012 - 9 MARCH 2013
This exhibition is free and up and running in Bilston, just outside Wolverhampton. The curation is very impressive and I love this picture they took of a selection of printed and recycled Betty's Revenge bags.

Betty's Revenge bags at Bilston Craft Gallery

Christmas time

Pop down if you can!

Betty's Revenge Bag

'Betty's Revenge' bag modelled by Sarah Longman

I love this picture of Sarah modelling the 'Betty's Revenge' bag, she looks stunning (for sizing the bag fits an A4 folder).

Riverside Summer Fair, Southwark Arts Forum at Hays Galleria

Hays Galleria (picture by Stephen Way)

I'm delighted to have been invited to take part in this summer fair on Saturday 28th July, the opening weekend of the Olympics. It will be in the Hays Galleria, between London Bridge and Tower Bridge from 12-5pm. The Riverside Summer Fair is a daytime festival, featuring creative talent from South London. It will have artists selling a varied selection of art and craft, as well as feature great local food traders, live musicians and performances throughout the day. The event has been created by the Southwark Arts Forum.

Bridget Edwards, Southwark Arts Forum Director says:

“It’s a great chance for the general public to experience the arts, to engage with artists, musicians, and see art outside of the context of a gallery.”

Christmas Exhibition - Art Hub Gallery

Please come along to the Christmas collaborative exhibition at the Art Hub Gallery on Creekside in Deptford (designers from studios on Creekside and in Charlton will be joining together). I am taking part and you are very welcome to the Private View on 2nd December.

Wall to Wall - Deptford X

I am taking part in Wall to Wall which is a collaborative exhibition for studios at the Art Hub. This takes place 24th September to 2nd October at the Art Hub Gallery at the Deptford site on Creekside. Opening times are Sat/Sun 24th/25th/1st/2nd 12-6pm. The exhibition launches the new gallery but is also part of the Deptford X Festival. The programme looks huge so will definitely be found wandering around Deptford the last week of September!


Art Hub Gallery, 5-9 Creekside, Deptford, London SE8 4SA

Thames Revival - Thames Festival 2011

Vintage Revival at the Thames Festival 2011

I'm taking part in the Thames Revival part of the Thames festival.


Artsmart at Thames pop-up market
Thames Festival 2011 
St Katherine Docks 
50 St. Katharines Way
London E1W 1LA


Saturday and Sunday 10/11 September 2011


There will be 'retro style and glamour' fashion shows at 2pm each day.  There will also be a beer tent and bands and various vintage themed events.  There will also be lots and lots of boats! I've just got back from St Ives and I can never see too many boats.


Thames Revival is from 12pm to 10pm, the market is from 12pm to 6pm.


Entry is free so if you fancy it please drop by.


This is part of the Artsmart pop-up market. 

Artsmart the festival

Here are a few pics of the Betty's Revenge stall at Artsmart.  So lovely to be outside after hours being inside designing and sewing!  The weather was great and all the stewards and stall holders were helpful, friendly and relaxed.  Due to the weather, several friends visiting/helping out, food and drink stalls and music it felt more like a festival than working...


While there I managed to get a one to one chat with Paula Reed, Style Director at Grazia Magazine.  She thought my bags and purses were on trend and stylish!!  She particularly liked the Sketchy bag and the new 50s Sears range of purses (images coming soon).

The stall

Purse collection

Bag from new range - recycled leather with printed panel

Bright sunshine

A few recycled bags

With a couple of sketchbooks

More on artsmart

I'll be exhibiting alongside Tatty Devine and Undergrowth, it's well worth a visit. Hope to see you there!

artsmart

I am delighted to have been selected to exhibit at artsmart - the University of the Arts London's first alumni curated art and design market.  A new collection plus some old favourites will be exhibited by Betty's Revenge in the Fashion and Textiles section.  Exhibitors will wholly include alumni from:


Camberwell College of Arts
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Chelsea College of Art and Design
London College of Communication
London College of Fashion
Wimbledon College of Art 


The market will be at Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground at Chelsea College of Art and Design (next to Tate Britain).  If you fancy going it's cheaper to book tickets in advance:

Advance tickets
One-day pass £5 (concessions £3.50)
Two-day pass £9 (concessions £5)

Tickets on the day
On the door: £6 cash only (no concessions)

Keep posted on Facebook and Twitter.

Christmas Fair this weekend

The Angel Christmas Fair is this weekend at the Candid Arts Galleries behind Angel tube.  There'll be mulled wine and mince pies. Alongside Betty's Revenge bags I'll be exhibiting a new range of printed and/or recycled purses, flamenco themed Christmas cards (10% will go to Help the Aged) plus limited edition watches.

Betty's Revenge bags for sale from today at New Ashgate Gallery

The Winter Contemporary Textiles exhibition starts today!  A selection from the Izniks Abroad collection of oversize purses will be exhibited at the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham today until 22nd January 2011.  

Winter Contemporary Textiles 2010

I'll be taking part in the above exhibition at the New Ashgate Gallery from 19th November to 22nd January - in Farnham, Surrey. Exhibited and available for sale will be a selection from my Izniks Abroad collection.

Islington Contemporary Art & Design Fair

I shall be exhibiting at the Islington Contemporary Art & Design Fair 15-17th October. It's at the Candid Arts Trust Galleries near Angel tube. The preview is Thursday 14th October. I'll be exhibiting more digitally printed bags along with screen printed bags and recycled bags and laptop covers. They will be available for sale too :)

Betty's Purse is going to the New Designers Exhibition

My new purse (and accompanying Iznik bag collection) will be exhibited at the New Designers exhibition in Islington this week, 1st - 4th July.  I'll also be showing some flamenco screen prints, 50s digital prints and some Islamic/50s screen printed wooden flooring!  For those who are keen my sketchbooks will also be available along with my portfolio.


If you're interested in coming to visit do book in advance as it's much cheaper. I will be in the London College of Communication section on the mezzanine level.