Inspired by heritage

I have been reflecting on the progress of my residency at Whitby Museum and in particular the making of badges with visitors.  I have really enjoyed this but was not sure how it fitted in with my own work or with my plan for the residency.  I have spent quite a few days sketching in different areas of the museum but was still feeling quite confused by the variety and quantity of inspiring artefacts, but enjoying all the shapes and patterns.  At the same time I have had other work to focus on.  In April it will be the 30th annual conference of the Guild of Enamellers and the theme for the members exhibition this year is texture.  In May I am going up to Edinburgh one weekend to help Dorothy Cockrell run an enamelling workshop.  This is being organised for the Art Clay World UK Guild by Emma Baird (of The Little Beadshop - see link) and she needs a photograph for her publicity.  Then in October I will be a tutor at the Art Clay World UK Guild Conference in Jersey and, in my usual way, am already preparing examples for that.  Yesterday I spent the day working on some beads constructed in art clay silver with the aim of using them for all three events.  This morning I realised that, with all the badge making at the museum I am now happily designing within circles without even thinking about the constraints.  Now I need to dash back to the museum and sketch some more and will be on my way as soon as I have printed out a few more circles - definately Inspired by Heritage