This blog has been set up for members of EAST to post information about what is happening in the group and in their work.
Lorna's latest work is a real mix of Eastern and Western culture - combining elements of Japanese clothing with graffitti found in Prague. This is art that really deserves it's own cat walk show. 
Many of the EAST group are use personal life events as a starting point for their work, and for Melinda this has included an area of the world she knows well, but also a piece in celebration of her son's wedding later this year.
This image shows work in progress.
Anne is continuing with the research she used in the EAST @ the Warner Textile Archive to create some stunning vessels and hangings for the TALKING TEXTILES exhibition.
The picture below shows our first glimpse at some of the finished pieces.
Another EAST meeting and it is really amazing now to see the work for Talking Textiles coming together. Even though we have a few weeks to go and there is quite a lot finished, we still have much to do - organising the private view, postcards and publicity, what plinths and shelves are required, written work, the exhibition CD. It is not just about the textile work!
One of the highlights of yesterday's meeting though was seeing Susan's amazing pop up book almost complete. The picture below shows Susan with the paper pattern and since then she has been stiching it altogether. The book is based on the "Seven Ages of Man"
Also - look out for information coming soon on EAST's participation in the Big Draw - a national campaign to get everyone drawing. More information about this should be available after our September meeting.
In my continuing look at the work of the EAST members for our forthcoming exhibition TALKING TEXTILES, today's blog is about Libby's work.
Libby has used the life and work of the American poet Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) as the inspiration for her new work.
If you wish to learn more about Emily you may be interested in the Emily Dickinson Museum website - emilydickinsonmuseum.org, but I am sure you will also learn a lot about the poet just by talking to Libby. Below is Libby getting ready to tell the EAST group about this fascinating woman and the work it has inspired.
Trisha North joined EAST this year and her work will be on display at TALKING TEXTILES. She is exploring joinings and connections - literally using cloth and slate but also more subtly with the links of story telling when recording memories of elderly people in a community.
When I was looking this week at the TV coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show I realised how easy it is to be inspired by nature - the colours especially. Although I rarely use flora and fauna for a starting point for my own work, I am always photographing them - putting the pictures away for another time.
But for Julie her inspiration at present does come from birds - anyone who came to our EAST at the Warner Textile Archive will probably remember her beautiful tassel inspired by a piece of fabric woven with images of birds, butterflies and foliage. And it seems that this bird inspiration has continued.
Some of the group are interested in something historical, some by something in nature, some by industry, but for Di it is the artist Dale Chihuly that has inspired her current work. Chihuly works in glass and a couple of years ago I had the pleasure to see his exhibition at Kew - it was not difficult to become inspired. He also has a piece on permanent display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. If you have never seen his work go to Chihuly.com and you will see what fantastic work he does.
