 Preparations for NEOS (North East Open Studios) are gathering speed. For anyone not familiar with this excellent and very enjoyable 10-day event (and I am one of the hosts!), NEOS is the largest open studios event in Scotland, when over 200 artists/crafters open their studio doors to the public during September. NEOS is supported by an excellent and informative website as well as a free colour directory that contains details, directions and maps of all participating artists, which allows you to plan a day out. The directories have been distributed to shops, galleries and public places in the North East. This year, I am part of the ‘Banchory Cluster’ of artists who have contributed a piece of our work for a NEOS display at the Whigmaleerie Gallery in Banchory (on the main road near the traffic lights). Our ‘Cluster’ map, kindly created by Kath Duguid at Whigmaleerie, can be seen on the NEOS website and at the Gallery, along with our own cards and leaflets. Should you visit my workshop, you will immediately be hit by the wonderful smell of leather. After the excitement settles down, I then show visitors the shoulders of vegetable tanned hide and the techniques I use to work the leather…cutting by hand, bevelling then polishing edges and saddle-stitching the leather pieces together using waxed linen thread. As I am usually working on a bag, you can then watch as I use these saddlery skills in real time. Finally, you can come across to the house and see the assortment of bags already made…and I might manage to pop out and put the kettle on! These are my opening hours for visitors for 2015: Saturday 12th 10am-6pm Sunday 13th 10am-6pm Monday 14th 10am-6pm Tuesday 15th 2pm-7pm Wednesday 16th 10am-6pm Thursday 17th closed Friday 18th 10am-6pm Saturday 19th 10am-6pm Sunday 20th 10am-6pm Monday 21st 11am-7pm I look forward to seeing you during September! |     |
