It's All About the Grout!

In a shady corner outside Caroles' Studio (shed) there have been signs of tea drinking, butterfly watching and grouting!

This is the part we look forward to but in spite of gloves there is a certain artist who always gets plenty on herself and her clothes, hence the attractive overall!

Starting to clean away the excess grout

to gently reveal the image beneath

We thought it was nice to include parts of the surroundings to show scale and where most of the work has taken place. What photographs can't really capture is the play of light on the tiles, some of which have a lustre which changes colour as you move round.

So here are Puddle Jumping 

and Signal Box completed!

Many thanks to Andrew Rushton for the photographs and to Lucy Anderson so being such a star. 

11 panels done one to go! 

The Brixworth Day Mosaic Continued in the Studio

After the day at the Country Park artist Carole Miles continued to work on the Spring / Summer Panel. Here are images taken in her studio as the mosaic grew!

You can read about the walks that inspired this panel here and here and the Flickr sets here and here

The panel has now been grouted with black grout.

Brixworth Country Park Mosaic Day

On the May Bank Holiday Monday artist Carole Miles took several panels to Brixworth Country Park for a free, open mosaic making day which was open to all ages and abilities. The room was spacious and airy with a great view of the park and the lake.

Rangers Chris Howe, Dan Hurst and the team did a fantastic job of promoting this day, what's more it was beautiful weather, perfect for a day in the park, which ensured that Carole had a steady stream of participants throughout the day.

We were working on a panel called Spring / Summer featuring two spring lambs captured in a photograph by Kate Dyer in a field near Maidwell during last years walks and a photograph of Suki Carder photographing a field of acid yellow oilseed rape from a different walk. The original photos can be found here and here

We had local visitors who use the park regularly

and fabulous visitors from further afield

family groups

and individuals

Lucy Anderson continuing to work on Field and Fence Panel

It was wonderful to share the stories from our the participants, one man had been taking part in a Triathlon the day before and came with his tiny daughters, there was a huge family group who's ages spanned from 8 months to eighty who'd travelled from the north for their annual meet-up with friends from Towcester. It was a great opportunity for all generations to sit together, enjoy the company whilst adding tiles to the growing mosiac. Many thanks to all who came and took part. A big thank you too for all those who sorted through the mixed box of tiles whilst waiting for a free space on the panel.

Complete set of photos from the day can be found here

Scoping the Brampton Valley Way (again!)

We had always hoped to site mosaic way markers along the valley way and it has taken three years to raise the money - many thanks to Northamptonshire Community Foundation and Midlands Cooperative Society for helping to make this dream a reality. 

Rangers Chris Howe and Dan Hurst opening the gates so we can scope the Valley Way by van

Under the bridge looks like a good place

Near this bench perhaps?

Exploring the Triangular Meadow

and finding the Great Burnet

One of the bridges near the Market Harborough End

Artist Carole Miles will be creating 12 designs based on photographs taken during our photography walks. Carole will make 6 panels herself and work with groups and individuals on the other 6. We are excited to see what she will come up with!

Houghton Crossing

Back To Books February Photography Walk explored Brampton Valley Way from Houghton Crossing heading north to Lamport Bridle Way, taking in Lamport, Hanging Houghton and returning to the start point at Houghton Crossing. After weeks of dull weather we had the most beautiful day both for walking and taking pictures.

We entered the cool, tree lined cycle track

then followed a well trodden path 

up a hill, past grazing cattle.

Photographers from various parts of the County, 

walked, talked and

 captured the moments.

Eventually our path lead us back to the main road 

and Lamport where we noticed

the detail and the bigger picture,

a leaf caught in a lace curtain,

a curvaceous bench awaiting sitters.

History

Time

Direction

Pattern

Nature

and design.

A sequence of patchwork

and tapestry brickwork.

Words set in stone

and fairytale roof tiles caught in mellow shadows.

To our right the green field beckoned,

 an unplanned pathway called us from the roadside,

inviting us to reconnect with the soft grass,

whilst taking in the stately, dormant trees.

Walkers held hands,

relaxed.

Sonja found a pheasant feather to adorn her hat.

We remarked to each other that we had all 

 driven past these fields and houses in cars. 

The walk through the landscape made us wonder 

why we hadn't taken the time to stop before.

Photograph by Andrew Rushton

It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon,

in company, in the fresh air, enjoying

the tantalising promise of Spring.

You can see the photos from this walk here