Blue Sea Glass Ring

New blue sea glass ring, this unusual triangular shaped piece of blue was a joy to set and this one is available directly from Coldstream Gallery.

Coldstream Gallery Spring Clean

Our new venture at Coldstream Gallery kicked off last November and we've really been enjoying it. The Winter Exhibition was a gorgeously varied selection of new work from local artists and we were delighted with the reaction; thank you so much to everyone who showed work and visited and purchased! 

The Winter Exhibition Window

The gallery has traditionally closed for a winter break in February so we decided to stick with that arrangement to allow us the chance to freshen up the space. Our first job was to clear out the gallery and store away any remaining work before tackling the walls with filler and sandpaper.

Ready to paint the upper gallery

It was then time to get painting! It took three weeks to repaint over the walls and we are very grateful to our mate Karen at Loaf B&B for helping us out. The start of the process was relaxing and meditative, however, it soon developed into manically dancing along to 6 Music and we even scheduled our tea breaks around tea time theme time!

We spent a fair amount of time up ladders and gathered the shin bruises to prove it. As the walls became ever brighter and whiter we felt it was all worthwhile; features of the building were becoming more apparent and we hoped it would give us a fresh look for exhibitions.

Eventually, we got all the decorating and tidying completed, new work came in and the Spring Exhibition opened on the 3rd March. Visitors have responded well to the new look and the new exhibition and it's lovely to chat with people again rather than just wave a paint splattered hand through the window!

This is what the gallery looks like now!

Bright and light and airy

New sofas for the tearoom area

And, yes, Rich did draw in the window again...

Coldstream Gallery

It is very nearly Christmas and very nearly the end of a year which has brought us many unexpected changes.

Over the last year and a half I had the joy of working at two fabulous local galleries, Number Four in St Abbs and Coldstream Gallery. 

I have loved working in both galleries and when Rich and I were offered the opportunity to take over the managing of Coldstream Gallery and Cafe we jumped at the chance. Both exciting and daunting we have been working hard in conjunction with our own creative work and education work.

Our first exhibition opened last month and it has been such a pleasure showing new work from a slection of the area's top artists. November brought both our first exhibition and our new website, www.coldstreamgallery.co.uk which is growing regularly. You can keep up to date with happenings and exhibition news by subscribing to our email newsletter. We have opened an online shop and you can now buy Coldstream Gallery gift vouchers online. New shop categories are coming soon, including jewellery!

 My own wee web shop was taken offline as it was one thing too many during the transition period but my jewellery will be available online again in the new year. I've still been out collecting glass and pottery and making jewellery and right now my very last orders for this year are tumbling away being polished ready for collection tomorrow.

Tomorrow is my last day working at the gallery before we finish up for Christmas and I am really looking forward to sitting back and relaxing with family and friends. 

We are so thankful to everyone who has visited the gallery, bought work, popped in for a cuppa, liked work on facebook; it has been massively encouraging for both myself and Rich, and all the artists represented at the gallery. Thank you!

Plans for next year are already taking shape and, yes, there will still be tea and cake at the gallery!

 

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

See you then,

Laura 

Crossing Borders Exhibition at Coldstream Gallery

The lovely Coldstream Gallery is hosting its annual Crossing Borders Exhibition featuring work by artists working all over the Borders.  It is a great chance to see a variety of work from members of the artist collective all in one venue and Rich and I are happy to be exhibiting there.

Calendulas by Rich Johnson

detail of work by Niall Campbell

Laura Johnson Sea Glass, Pottery and Recycled Silver Jewellery

 To see more from the exhibition pop on over to Coldstream Gallery's facebook page and give them a like!

Crossing Borders Exhibition at Coldstream Gallery

Next week sees the opening of the Crossing Borders Spring Exhibition at Coldstream Gallery.

Crossing Borders Spring Exhibition 2014 at Coldstream Gallery

Both Rich and I have been working on pieces for this exhibition including these daffodils which I would like to keep hanging on our wall, March at last, come on the spring!

Daffodils, oil on board, Rich Johnson

 This morning a man delivered a box of bulbs for the garden and, despite having to answer the door in a dressing gown, walking socks and a towel on my head, it left me excited for the coming change in the seasons.

Mr Delivery Man, I apologise that every time you come to our door laden with good things I answer in various states of hurried dishevelment. I will try better in the future but I'm not usually at my best before 8am!



 

Printmakers at Coldstream Gallery

Currently showing at Coldstream Gallery is a delightful Printmakers Exhibition. So much beautiful work and I have been thoroughly enchanted by Freya Cumming's screenprints

 and Kevin Peden's St Abbs prints. You can see Kevin and St Abbs in this lovely video below!

Kevin Peden - Artist from Samuels-Art on Vimeo.

The Printmakers exhibition is on now and runs until the 26th October 2013.