ness donnelly

New work and blog

2012-02-06T11:33:00.000Z

New work is on the way, above are a couple of drawings I've been working on and will hopefully be part of the International Drawing Project curated by Cafe Royal Books. Really worth checking out Craig who runs Cafe Royal Books puts together some really interesting projects.

You may have noticed the blog looks a little bit different, but this is not the new blog. After hours of playing about with different formats and ideas I have decided to go for a blog that is more like a website and contains a lot more information all in one place. I am currently working on the layout and taking really good images of my work, that's the hard part. I'm going on a photography workshop in early March which I am hoping is going to solve all my problems, fingers crossed. So in the meantime I will continue to update this blog and as soon as the new one is up and running and will post a link here.

changes coming

2012-01-16T15:44:00.002Z

I am in the process of changing the look of my blog and opening an online shop. This might take me a few weeks because I'm not really sure how to do everything I want to do. I've also been working on a new series of pieces and hope to post images of them in the next week. I've given myself a deadline of the end of January have everything up and running properly.

where next?

2011-12-19T15:37:00.002Z

Since showing my work at the GNCCF in October I have been thinking about how to go forward. I have lots of ideas running through my head that I am getting down on paper - drawings and writings. Because my work takes a substantial amount of time to make I have to hold back sometimes when my thoughts race off in many directions.I have decided I need to work in series, the first of which I have just started.
I have also been thinking about my blog and how to develop it. I am thinking of making it reflect my work much more, so drastic changes are required. I will post more information at the beginning of January, New year and a new way of communicating my ideas is all I can say at the moment.
I will also be opening an online shop in early January, so busy but exciting times ahead.

postcard work

2011-12-19T15:17:00.003Z

This is the piece I made for the postcard exhibition and fundraiser.

postcard exhibiton

2011-11-21T17:13:00.001Z

Third year Embroidery Students from Manchester Metropolitan University are holding a fundraising event at the Holden Gallery Cafe. They have asked artists to donate a postcard size piece of work to be auctioned for a small amount, artists include Alice Kettle. If you are in Manchester please support the students and you could come away with a lovely piece of work.

Throwing Muses

2011-11-07T11:35:00.001Z

Last night we went to see my favourite band Throwing Muses in Manchester, they were totally awesome. If you have never heard of them please check them out. Kristin Hersh is a really amazing person, she as done solo projects and also has another band called 50 foot wave and written books. At the moment the music industry in a kind of flux and doesn't really know what to do Kristin has turned her back on all the record company politics and runs her own show, supported by the strange angels (her fans). CASH is a project where fans donate money which allows her to keep making amazing music and in return she gives us music, film footage of her work in progress and all sorts of lovely stuff.

GNCCF

2011-11-02T21:31:00.000Z

The GNCCF is over but I had great time and met some lovely people. Thank you to everyone that chatted to me, it is really encouraging to now that people like my work and find it interesting. Here a few pictures of the stand.

It's almost here

2011-10-17T10:47:00.001+01:00

I can't believe its nearly time to install my work at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, it all starts on Wednesday and then we open to the public on Friday. If you are in or around Manchester this weekend then please drop in to see lots of amazing craftspeople and say hello, I'd love to meet anyone who follows my blog.
I've spent every spare minute making new work for the show, hence the lack of posts recently. I'm very excited but equally nervous, this is the first time I've done anything like this since my MA show. You will be able to find me in Room 3, Stand 99. But in the meantime I will leave you with a little taster of what to expect.

New Work at Macaroon

2011-07-25T16:57:00.000+01:00

I have a number of pieces on display at Macaroon as part of a project called ideas in the making, you can read more about it here. Below are pictures of a new work on display and a new idea. Macaroon is just outside Rochdale and well worth a visit the cakes are amazing.

exhibition

2011-07-25T16:40:00.000+01:00

The Lancashire and Yorkshire Craft Open at Platform Gallery opened on Saturday and we went along to see how it looked. Below are pictures of the piece I have on display and the also the work of Yasuyo Cooper, I really like her origami piece.

Bjork Biophilia

2011-06-28T21:05:00.000+01:00

Last night we went to the preview of Bjork's new project Biophilia in Manchester. It was amazing both visually and musically. I was so excited when we got tickets and wasn't disappointed. You can find out more about it and other events at the Manchester International Festival here.

exhibition

2011-06-27T15:18:00.000+01:00

An envelope arrived on Friday containing good news, I will be exhibiting a piece of work called Nordic Flower at the Platform Gallery in Clitheroe, as part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Craft Open. If you live in this part of the world it is worth a visit. Clitheroe is in the beautiful Ribble Valley. It seems to be well known or its famous sausage shop, everybody I have told about the exhibition says "great sausage shop in Clitheroe". It also has a great coffee shop that roasts its own beans, the smell is wonderful and I love the sign painted in the outside. Coffee mentioned in two posts, think I need to make some now.

walk in the park

2011-06-27T14:22:00.002+01:00

Every Sunday we walk to the park, past farms, along the canal path and through woods with Tess (our dog). It is a part of the week we always look forward to. Every week I think I should bring my camera because we see something different every time. This week the Geese came for a swim to see us, last week they were not so confident. We only saw a few Swallows this week, the past few weeks we have seen 20 or 30 at a time. Tess always goes for swim, she loves the water. And we always stop by the cafe for a coffee before heading back home.

a sneek peek

2011-06-06T17:35:00.001+01:00

exciting news

2011-05-18T21:11:00.000+01:00

I am very excited to say that I will be be exhibiting at this years Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester. This is the first time I've done anything like this and feel nervous and excited in equal measure. I am going to be very busy until October getting lots of work ready but I will continue to post my progress on the blog.

Laos embroidery

2011-05-09T07:50:00.000+01:00

I love this embroidery and their is a really nice story to go with it. I work part time in a cafe and have some of my work displayed and for sale there. Just before a Christmas a lady from London came in a bought a piece of work, she told me it reminded her of the embroideries of Laos and that I should look them up. I am embarassed to say I didn't get round to it at the time but I am going to now because a few weeks ago the same lady came to back to the cafe and generously gave me this wonderful piece of embroidery she had bought in Laos. She also had a large piece for a table that was completly covered in stitch and takes months of work, really beautiful. I will do some research and let you know what I find out.

slow revolution

2011-05-04T09:27:00.000+01:00

I'm very excited. Just checked my inbox and found a email from Platform Gallery in Clitheroe about a new exhibition opening this weekend. Taking Time: Craft and the Slow Revolution, curated by Helen Carnac. I have been following Helen Carnac's blog for a while now and I am all for slowing down the pace of life and living much more simpler. I first heard about the Slow Movement in relation to food via a Radio 4 programme a couple of years ago. I then heard about the Slow Textiles through Helen's blog. The processes I use in my own work value the handmade and a slow meditative method. Can't wait to visit and report back in a few weeks.

sights from the other city

2011-05-04T07:54:00.000+01:00

It was a busy weekend but quite relaxing at the same time. We watched the Royal wedding on Friday along with millions of other people around the world. It was lovely and the dress was amazing, I think we may have a new style icon in the making.
Sunday was spent in our two local cities Manchester and Salford. Salford is the very much the creative city with lots of artists studios and happenings. Last weekend was sounds from the other city and alongside this was sights from the other city. Chapel Street in Salford is closed and all the local pubs have bands playing. A stones throw away is Islington Mill and Hot Bed Press, both hosting events as part of sights from the other city. We went to the Wayzgoose event at Hot Bed Press in Cow Lane, you can read about it here.

what a lovely weekend

2011-04-25T18:40:00.000+01:00

The sun has been shining and its been a lovely long Easter weekend. On Saturday we got the train to Hebden Bridge for a wonderful day out. I will do a post on the galleries and upcoming Arts Festival soon. In the meantime a few snap shots from around the town.

Like this street art by the canal and below this lovely stained glass window and iron works at the train station.

its been a while

2011-04-25T18:31:00.000+01:00

I know it has been a while since I last posted. I have been very busy on new work and making a few changes to my life, so hopefully the posts will be far more frequent from now on. I have lots of plans for the future including a well stocked shop and new website to work alongside the blog. The multiples have been put on hold while I organise everything else, they will be making a return in May.

This is a new piece of work using cross stitch and stenciled dots to create a loop pattern. The pattern leaves a diamond shaped space, this is something I would like to develop more. The loop sequence follows a pattern of 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1 with all the 1's being stitched in green thread.

Pink Flower

2011-01-17T08:05:00.003Z

This is the first work in my new multiples project. I am going to make a new work every month in multiples of eight. Each piece will fit on an A4 sheet of paper and cost £25 each (unframed). All pieces will be signed and numbered.

Pink Flower is stitched and drawn on white 110gsm paper with a graph grid printed in the background.

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE SHOP

Above is detail of the work, sorry about the quality of the image, the paper is white not grey. We are having very overcast grey skies in Manchester and its difficult to photograph in this light.

multiples

2011-01-10T15:56:00.000Z

I have been working on a new project which I will reveal on Monday 17th January. It will be a series of small unframed works, I will make eight of each and they will be available in my shop on the 3rd Monday of each month, a new work every month.

Marietta Hoferer

2010-10-18T17:04:00.000+01:00

Marietta Hoferer uses tape to create these amazing works, find out more about her work here

Monday browsing

2010-10-18T11:18:00.000+01:00

Just found a new blog that I love called Love & Thrift

Love this idea - the visual mixtape, found via all the mountains

Louise Bourgeois

2010-10-18T10:42:00.000+01:00

I was just catching up on some of the blog I read and came across the image below. so I decided it was about time I posted something about the wonderful Louise Bourgeois. I especially like her textile pieces.

Found via artspotting via blue sky butterfly via 3 sheets

Sorry but I can't remember where I found this image, but it is quite a commonly found piece of work by Louise Bourgeois.

orla kiely

2010-10-18T10:21:00.000+01:00

I love the work of Orla Kiely ans have always wanted to know more about her, how she got started, where her ideas come from etc and her new book Pattern covers it all. Its a really beautiful book filled with great images and inspiring text from Kiely herself.

Orla Kiely has also launched a new range of kitchen ware which reminds me of my childhood and pots my Mum had in her Kitchen, really beautiful.

making badges

2010-10-11T20:18:00.000+01:00

New ideas for badges that will be in my shop soon.

I have recently discovered 8 tracks, an Internet radio site, via the blue hour blog. I love Brian's blog, it full of really nice images and great food and music links. I was listening to this play list today while working, it reminded me of summer.

making pretty

2010-10-04T19:03:00.000+01:00

This is the start of some pieces for the shop, will show more photos over the next few days.

Piccadilly self publishing fair

2010-10-04T13:02:00.001+01:00

Yesterday we went to Manchester to visit this which is happening as part of this, it was really good. Lots of zines and artists books. I'm going to start posting more about this kind of work and hope to make my own artist books soon. Below are links related to the self publishing fair.

PEACH-TREE, PEAR-TREE PRESS
OWT I bought a really lovely print from them, will photograph and post soon
Lucy May Schofield I love her work, I should do a post just about her
Cafe Royal Books
Preston is my Paris
Parlour Press really lovely work
Caitlin Eirlys Howard
Sophie Lee
Libby Scarlett

artists i like

2010-09-26T17:54:00.000+01:00

Colin Henderson

artists i like

2010-09-12T17:09:00.001+01:00

Gunta Stolzl is an artist/designer I first came across at college. I was researching the Bauhaus and naturally wanted to know more about the textiles, so discovered the wonderful weaving of Stolzl.

Edgar Wood

2010-09-12T16:17:00.001+01:00

detail of Long Street Church

On Friday evening we went to a talk at Long Street Methodist Church about Edgar Wood. This year is 150 years since Wood was born and his home town of Middleton, Manchester is celebrating with different events. I live in Middleton and my Husband was born and breed here. We are surrounded by architecture by Wood,but don't really know that much about him, so we decided to go to a couple of the events and find out more. Wood was a contemporary of Mackintosh and worked in the Arts and Crafts style of the time. I think is buildings are really beautiful but find it a shame he didn't work with Textiles like many of his contemporaries, maybe he was put of by his father a local textile mill owner.

Long Street Methodist Church

pop up alphabet

2010-09-05T12:52:00.000+01:00

upon a fold

I love this by upon a fold, its part of an exhibition this weekend at the Australian centre for craft and design. You can find out more info about the exhibition on the design files.

artists I like

2010-09-05T12:43:00.000+01:00

evelin kasikov

Evelin Kasikov is amazing. I love it when artists take something very familiar to us (ie cross stitch) and do something different with it. i know she has been around a while and featured on a number of blogs in the past, but thought she was worth another mention. The cross stitch CMYK project is probably her most well known.
I feel like I might turn into some crazed pro-embroidery blogger, but I do love the tactile nature of stitch and you feel this is a different way on paper to fabric. I think print is good but sometimes I find it to flat. I also like the way embroidery is slow to evolve, you can't rush it. When I talk about embroidery I am nearly always referring to hand embroidery, I'm not really a fan of much machine embroidery. The exceptions would be Cornelli and Schiffli work. I should write a post about each of these and my favourite practitioners of both techniques.

3-d alphabet

The image above is also by Kasikov, I think you can see her graphics background coming through in this work. It also leads me on to my next post about alphabets.

concrete poetry

2010-08-30T20:28:00.000+01:00

One of my favourite sites I like to visit is It's nice that and this week the guest blogger is SJ Fowler, a concrete poet among other things. I must say he is new to me but I am looking forward to his posts. I love concrete poetry and have blogged about it before on my old blog, there is even a picture of my own concrete poem. If you would like to find out more then check out It's nice that this week, there is also an interview with Fowler and a link to his website.

Bob Cobbing

figure of eight

2010-08-29T16:05:00.001+01:00

figure of eight detail

Figure of eight started out as a doodle or pattern that I like to draw repeatedly. It reminds me of a number of things, the first being the loop made when knitting. When I was little I had a blue plastic knitting toy, it wasn't a machine but a child's version of a none mechanised knitting machine, wish I had a picture of it. To make the stitches a figure of eight loop had to be made around the hooks and this pattern always makes me think if the little blue machine. It also reminds me of the icing on a bakewell tart.

I like this simple pattern because it is a continuous line that can be repeated endlessly, its also very beautiful and familiar.

Figure of eight

artists I like

2010-08-29T15:03:00.000+01:00

This is hopefully going to be a regular Sunday feature Artists I like. I have a long list of artists websites bookmarked and thought it would be a good idea to share them with you. Hope you like them to.

First is is an artist I went to University with - Fiona Curren. She currently has the work below on display at Tatton Park, Cheshire as part of the Tatton Park Biennial. The Biennial ends this weekend if you would like to visit. To find out more about Fiona you can visit her website here.

This time next year things are going to be different

Waves and circles

2010-08-23T10:01:00.001+01:00

detail of circles and waves

This is one of my favourite pieces from the Ideas in the Making project. I really like the colours and combination of drawn symbols and the simplicity of the design. All of the pieces are stitched and or drawn on graph paper.

Finished piece - waves and circles

All of the works in this project are for sale, if you are interested please email me. Circle Wave is £125.00 + p&p (framed)

Melanie Crader

2010-08-23T09:40:00.000+01:00

Melanie Crader Found via Minus Space

untitled

2010-08-20T21:24:00.001+01:00

Untitled in progress

This is the first piece I started work on for the project. This is also the first work I have done that combines stitch and drawing on paper (all the works are on paper and not fabric). While I was working on the idea with drawing I started to stitch next to the drawn area, experimenting with colour and stitch. I suddenly thought, they look really interesting together and this new way of working was born. So I consider this to be a very important piece in terms of the development of my own style.
This piece was sold today and I am happy that it is going to a very nice home.

detail of untitled

the finished piece

finished project

2010-08-20T21:08:00.002+01:00

All the pieces for the Ideas in the Making project are finished and on display at Macaroon. This is what I have been working on for the last 6 months of Mondays (my day off from work). I am really pleased with the way it looks and so excited that people get to see my work. Each piece has a story to tell, I will feature a different piece every couple of days and tell its story.

Ideas in the Making

2010-08-16T21:20:00.001+01:00

The project I have been working on for the last 6 months is finally finished. I will be posting photos of all the work over the next week or so. If you live in Manchester then please come and see it. It is at Macaroon, Rochdale where you can enjoy the best cakes in Manchester at the same time.

welcome to the new blog

2010-08-16T20:02:00.001+01:00

At last the new blog is up and running, sorry its a couple of weeks late. Its been a hectic few weeks, finishing work for new project called Ideas in the Making. I've also been doing a few other bits and bobs that I will tell you about over the next couple of weeks. The shop isn't quite ready yet, I will let you know when it is open.

I've also got lots of amazing creative people and events to talk about. I want this blog to be a bit about me and my work, other artists, music, cinema and anything else that captures my imagination. I see this as an exciting journey that I have been planning for months and finally I can take off.

If you would like to know more about me and my background you will soon be able to click onto the about page. Their will also be shop, portfolio and exhibition pages.