Be very wild – Sunday 26th June

Go wild in the Country….feel  absolutely free

Join us on Sunday 26th June , 1pm until 5pm ,with Sussex Wildlife Trust and Anne Kelly ,renowned author of Textile Nature, a new book celebrating wildlife and giving invaluable guidance on how nature can be inspirational in  textile art .

Being Wild in Your Garden

How to attract wildlife into your garden is among the advice on offer at this open day.

Gardening expert Peter Crawford ,from the Sussex Wildlife Trust , will offer tips on attracting butterflies, hedgehogs and toads into gardens and green spaces.

Your gardening questions can be answered by Peter and learn how children can be encouraged to go wild and sow seeds in paper pots to take home.

Anne Kelly, Textile Artist

Anne Kelly featured as our artist in residence in 2014 and was really inspired by her time in our garden. On Sunday  Anne will be joined by many of her fellow artists and contributors to the book and we will see the unveiling of The Stitched Shed . The shed will be travelling as part of a major exhibition being taken by Anne to The prestigious  Knit and Stitch Show in London, Harrogate and Dublin. Anne will be available to sign copies of her new book , and lucky winners in the Sussex Wildlife Raffle will be able to win an original artwork from Anne and others.

Half Price Voucher

follow the link to this voucher to get half price entry to Sussex Prairies on Sunday 26th June   https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/admin/resources/swtprairegardenvoucher.jpg

 

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Anne Kelly – our Artist in Residence- Big Summer on the Prairies

We are delighted that this year we have a textile artist in residence bringing a world of wonderful textile beauty to our garden room exhibition space.

Anne Kelly – about me

“I collect recycled fabric, paper and ephemera using collage, stitch, photographic and print processes to create a range of work, most of which is framed. My inspirations are travel, memory and vintage imagery from a variety of sources. These have been described as ‘small worlds’ and my current layered mixed media work started life as mainly botanical in subject matter before developing into larger more narrative works. I assemble and reassemble the components of each piece using sketchbooks and digital imagery. Often it can be a small scrap or remnant of fabric that inspires a whole piece.  I am inspired by natural history and gardens. Collaborations are an important aspect of my work and I enjoy working with other artists and teaching. I also produce commissions for private and public individuals  – examples of these ‘collages in cloth’, based on special places, people and spaces can be found on my website. I have co written a book for Batsford/Anova press  which was published in 2013 called ‘Connected Cloth’

A Natural History of the Garden At Sussex Prairies-

Anne has brought an amazing textile exhibition of her latest garden related work and is working on a wonderful collaborative wall piece called A Natural History of the Garden which is helping to raise funds for the RSPB Southeast. Anne will be coming to the garden regularly during the summer to work on the project and to lead drop in sessions of creative stitching on a garden theme with a range of glorious textiles.

Make

Why not come and try your hand at making a small piece for our wall..we have all the materials you need and even a whole load of inspiration from books and printed materials as well as the big garden of course.

Take Anne’s easy step by step guide to creating your own piece. What better way to spend an afternoon sewing and chatting with friends over a piece of  homemade cake and a cup of tea.

 

 

 

and if you would like to learn from Anne why not come and join us for one of Anne’s workshops  here on the Prairies-

 A series of Workshops by Anne Inspired by the garden –

 

‘Illustrating Garden Poetry’ saturday 28th June 2014

–Looking at the work of some contemporary poets, we will discuss ways to combine stitch and words in a special piece which you will start on the day and finish afterwards. You will create a unique record of your garden, one that you’ve visited or a special plant/flower that you like. Full day workshop.

 

‘Prairie Paper and Stitch’ saturday 26th July 2014

– combining paper and cloth extends your options when working in textiles. In this one-day course, tutor Anne Kelly will demonstrate some basic bonding techniques and help you to make a small folding book form celebrating a favourite green space.

Full day workshop .

 

‘Planting in Cloth’ –Saturday 6th September 2014

Surrounded by the lovely setting of the Prairie Gardens, we will use them as the basis to record plant and flower drawings and paintings on cloth. These will then be stitched using a variety of techniques and can be finished as solo pieces or incorporated into a larger piece. Full day workshop .

 

 

‘Little House on the Prairie’ – Sunday 28th September 2014

A joint parent and child course – using a variety of simple stitch and bonding techniques, create a unique record of your house and garden with a member of your family. You will make the basis of this piece during the one-day workshop and can continue to embellish and add to it at home. Full day workshop .

read more abut Anne on her website http://www.annekellytextiles.com

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Giving Nature a Prairie Home : How to be a part of it !

 Anne Kelly – Artist in Residence & The RSPB

Anne Kelly, our textile artist in residence for our 2014 season, is making a large collaborative wall exhibit in support in The RSPB  with us at Sussex  Prairies ,and we want you to join in the fun of creation.

How you can be a part of it !

Please send us drawings, cutouts, collages, pictures of plants,animals, birds, insects, reptiles, fish, amphibians – our natural wildlife – small sized- no bigger than A5 size, which can become part of the work. Maybe you have a poem, piece of writing or phrase which you feel would fit in with our theme and which you would like to see incorporated. All your work will be credited with your name. We are happy to accept pictures, images by email or you can message/send items through Face book or Twitter. You are also welcome to send original pieces if you wish which we will copy and return back to you. Visitors to the garden will also be invited to contribute to the piece by making textile craftwork. Let’s make it really wild!

Please send contributions to either Sussex Prairies at morlandsfarm@btinternet.com or mail@annekellytextiles.com  or you can also send pieces to us in the post .Please check our websites www.sussexprairies.co.uk  or www.annekellytextiles.com  for all our contact details.

Sussex Prairies will be open  for its 2014 season from 31st May until 12th October 2014, 1pm until 5pm ,six days a week , closed Tuesdays.If you would like to bring your contribution with you in person , you are very welcome.

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Anne Kelly : Queen of a thousand Stitches

Anne Kelly – Textile and Mixed media artist –  BFA ATC

www.annekellytextiles.com

We are very excited that textile and media artist Anne Kelly  is coming to be our artist in residence in our 2014 summer and autumn season. Howver in the meantime she will be joining us on the Prairies for two wonderful workshops.(see details below)

general information : in Anne’s own words

 ” I trained as a fine artist in Canada and the UK and my work reflects these conventions by interpreting them in cloth. Many pieces are box framed and larger work and installation pieces hang without a frame. I also produce smaller pieces for private and public exhibitions and have work in the vatican collection.

In 2013, I continue to collaborate with other artists and am exhibiting in the UK and abroad. I’m available for consultancy work and I am also happy to accept and advise on commissioned work. I have just completed a major public commission.

i have a studio and teach part time and am co writing my first book on textile collaborations ‘connected cloth’  with Cas Holmes.”

This wonderful book is  now out and on sale !

Anne Kelly – about me

“I collect recycled fabric, paper and ephemera using collage, stitch, photographic and print processes to create a range of work, most of which is framed. My inspirations are travel, memory and vintage imagery from a variety of sources. These have been described as ‘small worlds’ and my current layered mixed media work started life as mainly botanical in subject matter before developing into larger more narrative works. I assemble and reassemble the components of each piece using sketchbooks and digital imagery. Often it can be a small scrap or remnant of fabric that inspires a whole piece.  I am inspired by natural history and gardens. Collaborations are an important aspect of my work and I enjoy working with other artists and teaching. I also produce commissions for private and public individuals  – examples of these ‘collages in cloth’, based on special places, people and spaces can be found on my website.”

What will these workshops give me ?

A chance to create a piece of garden/nature-inspired textile art in the inspiring surroundings of Sussex prairies gardens with Anne Kelly. All ages and abilities welcome. The cost fo the day will be £ 50 – you are welcome to bring a picnic lunch. you should bring materials and equipment for stitching including a sewing machine if you wish.

September 29, 2013: vintage/recycled garden –old and vintage fabrics enhance and give depth to many projects. students will be asked to search through their collections for florals especially to applique onto a square sample. a mixture of couching and hand embroidery will be used to complete the work. The sample can then be made up into a cushion cover, tote bag or framed piece. materials list to follow.

October 6, 2013: Birds – are everywhere in textile art at the moment – we will make a small bird stencil using a mixture of contemporary and vintage images as source material. this will then be printed onto various types of fabric and used in a range of samples. these can then be incorporated into larger pieces and embellished further by hand and machine. materials list to follow.

Please contact Anne to book a place on either course and please send your booking request  with a cheque for £ 50 per course  to A. Kelly, 29 Dynevor Road, Tunbridge Wells, kent TN4 9HP

or contact her on mail@annekellytextiles.com  to arrange payment using Paypal.

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Insect Ziggurat : Comes Home

Insect Zigurrat takes a bow !

Ron and Libby our lovely ,loyal and stalwart Sussex Prairie volunteers have made us the incredible wheeled insect ziggurat which has now been  wheeled into  place and  populated with insect friendly home fodder  this week. Not only will it be a living home to many insects but should prove to be a talking point at the entrance to the Sven garden (mini prairie).

What is a Ziggurat   ? A massive structure having the form of a terraced step pyramid of successively receding storeys or levels.

Why is it in our garden ? why not .. it deserves a place in our hearts ! and it will be a multi storey home to a world of insects from bees, to lacewings , to miner bees .. and anyone else who fancies a deluxe condominium. It also provides a bit of a diversion for the eye from  the more than plastic unfantastic  digesting septic tank. I only hope the residents are soothed by the bubbling , burbling mechanisms machinating below .They can think of it as musical interlude.

Wildlife Friendly ! why ? because invertebrates can shelter there and lay their eggs and it can be a feeding place for insects, reptile s and small mammals (if they can clamber up there !)

Climate friendly ! why ? because it can provide cools , shady places  and extra nesting materials when natural alternatives may not be readily available .

How did they do it ? (Ron and Libby I mean !) .. well , they collected all manner of materials which could be used to create dark, deep ,mysterious nooks and crannies in the gaps between the artfully stacked pallet structure. Old pine cones, stalks, sticks, wood , old terracotta pots, bundles of twigs , grass seed heads.

What ? ….Dead wood : good for wood boring beetles  eg. stag beetle and larvae, can also support fungi. Centipedes and woodlice can burrow under the bark.

Hollow stems : ideal spots for solitary bees to lay their eggs

Stone and tiles : provide cool conditions for frogs and newts

Dry grass : give a place for insects to burrow into

Dry leaves : ladybirds might hibernate in here during winter and they are great for eating aphids in the garden.

Rotting wood and bark : is where beetles , centipedes ,spiders and woodlice love to be

And did you know….. there is actually a living library in the Zigurrat for creatures to enjoy and enrich their brain power and a great many hearts and a lot of love  hanging on it !(literally)

Thank you Ron and Libby for indulging our ever more crazy ideas and schemes !! Next idea : the wildlife matrix ….. coming soon ! Why not come and see the Zigurrat for yourself. It is open for business for wildlife 24 hours a day and open for human kind during our opening hours, daily, 1pm until 5pm from 1st June until 13th October 2013.

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A bird in the hand

Is worth a whole bunch of birds nest fungus !

never have all your eggs in one nest !

Paul and I were introduced to our very healthy crop of Birds Nest Fungus by a truly delightful garden visitor today Graham Heathcote ,who happened to be a fungus expert.Rushing into the tea shop all a twitter ,he grabbed us and dragged us out to the borders. He had seen it growing in the compost at the edge of our pond side border by chance and wanted to point it out to us !! Amazing ! The fungus is the size of a mini thimble and when you look at it closely it appears to be like a rough cone shaped nest with the pores nestled inside  like birds eggs.A really pretty little thing !

Graham kindly fills in the detail ” The latin name for the fungus is Cyathus striatus.  This is the right time of year for it and it is generally described as growing on dead twigs, fir cones or stumps, so my guess is that the spores were present in some of your mulching material when you brought it in to the garden. It is apparently quite common, but easily overlooked where it normally grows in woodland.”

so a rare and wonderful thing alive for all to see ! Thankyou so much Graham for teaching us something so new and exciting  !

 

    

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The birdbox is the thing…

Anyone who knows me and our garden must surely know that I am a little bit crazy about bird boxes and it struck me when I was out in the garden today (the last of the prairie burning is finally over … even if i did melt my wonderful orange aigle boots just a tiny bit… better than trousers on fire (2010 incident)… but those Aigle boots are dreamy .. but  when fanatic pyromaniaces are on the loose (Paul!) anything can happen…) … well the bird boxes … I have had a flash of inspiration in that I could offer old and spent boxes a new lease of life in my Birdbox Hospital which will be working for our Indian Disha hospital garden fund raising.

Here’s how it could work… (anyone spotting any terrible flaws in this idea please let me know before it all goes pearshaped !)… I rescue old and unloved bird boxes from certain doom ( the dove cott above is a prime  example of a dove cott needing some love .. seen this weekend in Rottingdean ) and in my bird box ‘hospital’ , return them to a useful life again through handy and accomplished joinery skills and excellent paintwork expertise. The boxes ,now back in the prime of youth and vigour are ready to sally out into life again and be sold  . Any profits will be donated by me back to our Disha hospital garden project in Rajasthan.

So bird boxes unite ! your hospital awaits !!

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