Bedford Happy

As part of “Marking Our Tracks - Wellbeing Walks Further Afield” and Dan Thompson's Bedford Happy Send Us A Postcard Darling initiative children in Yr 1 worked with artist Carole Miles to produce postcards using recycled materials and stamps. Carole had been inspired by finding an unfinished piece of sewing from a very early project with the school in amongst her material stash.

Bedford happy was "A town-wide artwork, exploring how and why people are happy in Bedford. With badges, prints and other small artwork to collect across Bedford town centre."

The children had great fun talking and writing about what made them happy about being in Bedford. They loved exploring materials and making their mark, you can see the full set of cards here.

We're happy to report that Dan and Bedford Happy were really happy with our contribution "We've had some great mail art sent to the Bedford Happy studio here at Bedford Creative." and Johanne Hudson-Lette dropped Bedford happy badges and posters off at the school for the children.

All of the postcards created throughout the town were exhibited at Coffee With Art on Saturday 29th March.

Fabulous Fabrication Day in Litchborough

As part of “Marking Our Tracks - Wellbeing Walks Further Afield” Remake Remodel strand, members of Back To Books worked with artist Carole Miles at Licthborough Village Hall, rifling through old fabrics and lace trims and generally having a lovely time.

Some tea towels and other pieces from Invisible Threads came to light and were given a new lease of life by entirely new owners! We spent the day using recycled materials to sew cushion covers, hats and bags.

There is always such good conversation, so much laughter, lots of news, life stories and a great sense of community spirit amongst the participants whenever we bring the project out to this side of the county! It may have been cold, grey and wet outside but inside the room was buzzing with life and energy!

Navigational Tools

We had a lovely turnout for this inspiring event hosted by Old Law Beacons Jo Dacombe, Kate Dyer and Carole Miles who had staged remote walking interventions in Northumberland during Walking North, part of our A4A Marking Our Tracks, Further afield project.

Carle's whippet Charlie was on hand to greet the guests

Jo spent preparation time climbing ladders to create a lovely backdrop with digital silk hangings from the Miles & Dacombe Light Walks For Dark Days installation

The venue was the very lovely Cranford Village Hall which was set out informally so that people could mix, mingle, enjoy the food and watch the presentations on Pilgrimage 

 

and Timed Interventions, Chillingham Cattle, 

Lindisfarne and Brinkburn Priory. 

Kate during the Hareshaw Linn Timed Remote Intervention

Jo and Carole transmitting instructions for another Remote walk 

The evening was an opportunity for some of the Remote Walkers to see what the Walk Facilitators had recorded during the 4 days of Walking North. They were also able to share their experiences of walking under remote directions and responding via social media. Everyone felt that the evening definitely inspired them to walk further and to look at the landscape through different eyes.

After a break for refreshments guests were invited to answer the following questions

What has inspired you today?

What would you like to see happen next?

What would you like an artist to bring to a walk?

How will you walk differently?

The questions inspired lively discussion and we look forward with interest to see just what the artists response to our feedback will be!

Before we left we noticed a hamper of foraged jams for sale, all proceeds will go to future Old Law Beacon / Beanfield Artists projects.

Many thanks to Kate for the wonderful soup, Carolyn Bantin for her delicious scones and to Amy Dee for being on hand to help with the preparations. Thank you to all who came and most of all, thank you to Jo, Kate and Carole for such a rich and varied evening, we loved taking the walks recalled, virtual and actual, with you. You can see other photos from the evening here. We wonder just where will our boots take us next?

Up-cycling Old China in Bedford

As part of our Remake Remodel strand children in Bedford worked with artist Carole Miles on an up-cycling project inspired by a Circus dinner service designed by Dame Laura Knight for Art Deco ceramics designer Clarice Cliff. The children really enjoyed taking plain, tired crockery and injecting new life into it with their designs and ceramic pens.

You can see more of their fabulous deigns here

Navigational Tools: Ways of Walking Differently Event

“Three artists walked north, and became Old Law Beacons.”

Back to Books would love you to join artists Jo Dacombe, Kate Dyer and Carole Miles for an informal gathering to consider ways we walk in the world and how to walk like an artist.

Inspired by the artists’ recent adventure exploring Northumberland, the evening is an opportunity for artists, walkers and life’s navigators to discuss ideas about -

the experience of a walk,

       interventions and sense of place,

              connecting and navigating,

                     the tangible and the virtual,

                            and to ask Why do we walk? 

                                and How can we walk differently?

The evening will include refreshments and our home baked nibbles; bring food to share! 

Free, but please book a ticket here so we know how many guests to expect. 

7-9pm, Thursday 5^th December, 

Cranford St Andrew Village Hall , 

Grafton Road, Cranford Kettering NN14 4JE

Event commissioned by Back to Books and funded by Awards For All as part of our current project "Marking Our Tracks"

New Town Pioneers

For your delight, dear people of Corby, Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and all points of the compass , the one and only Barb Jungr, a Head of Snakes,the effervescent Gareth Fuller , a mighty choir of Seedlings and Saplings all bursting to sing for you! 

If you'd like to blaze a trail with The New Town Pioneers this Saturday at The Core At Corby Cube is the place to be.

Tickets on sale now! £10.50 or £8.50 concessions

My Old China - Up-cycling in Litchborough

We spent a lovely morning 

in Litchborough Village Hall 

giving some unloved old china a new lease of life.

You can see more of our remaking and remodelling here