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...

2014

Molly cat made it onto the mural at The Chain Bridge Honey Farm

Wintry Holy Island

Monty joined us as a teeny wee lad

My beautiful sister with her siblings just before getting married

Discovered a fabulous local flower farm

Lynne and Carl's wedding day

Hester continued to be an essential workshop companion

Finally met a Goldsworthy

Holiday neighbour

Rich setting up at Coldstream Gallery

Visit to my folks resulting in finally seeing the Wallace grin toy in action

Spittal rainbow

Rope twists kept coming this year

My Nana's 90th Birthday; thanks to our lovely neighbour taking my wedding dress across the Irish Sea we got a photo of us together in the frock

Gorgeous Suzie's wedding, here with her fab siblings

Day out in Dublin with my brother

Beachy family photo shoot

Sea glass, patterned ring bands and fancy bezels, yes!

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 

Stacker Sea Glass Rings

recycled sterling silver pebble ring

recycled sterling silver and sea glass stacker rings

recycled sterling silver rope, band and heart rings

Rings have been stacking up on my workbench ready to be photographed and worn as lovely little stacks of recycled joy! I will be listing the pebble rings in the shop soon; you can see one worn in a stack with a sea glass ring and a hammered silver ring in the middle picture. With thanks to my gorgeous sister for sending me the picture of her wearing her Christmas present!

Bright Recycled Jewellery at Number Four Gallery

My work has taken a bright turn thanks to recent beach finds in a range of bold colours.  This selection of sea glass and pottery pieces are included in a set which have gone to number four gallery in St Abbs for their spring show which opens next weekend.  

I'll be working at the gallery that weekend so do say hello if you visit. 

 

Jewellery Making Taster Session at Allanbank Arts

In the run up to the Summer courses at Allanbank Arts there was a weekend of taster sessions allowing people to have a go at a wide variety of workshops to see what was for them.

I ran a jewellery making taster session where participants learned the key skill of turning a loop in wire and a few of the many ways this technique can be used.

 Each participant made a pair of earrings and a necklace or bracelet, including their very own handmade clasp. It's very handy being able to turn a loop in a piece of wire, yes?!

A much cited reason for attending my workshops is people wanting to be able to fix their own jewellery and I love this approach!

See more student work over on facebook  and find out about learning on my workshop page.

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!

Stacked Sea Glass Earrings

Aqua Stacker Sea Glass Earrings

Good news: I have found a good selection of small aqua sea glass ready for drilling so I will be able to make more stacker earrings!

Each pair feature three sets of aqua toned sea glass found here along the Berwickshire and Northumberland coastline. The glass is thoroughly cleaned and a tiny hole drilled through the centre creating little sea glass beads.  The beads are then stacked on a hand forged, long line, recycled sterling silver wire before being polished and hardened in a tumbler.

Aqua Stacker Sea Glass Earrings

Each pair is different with variations in shapes, sizes and order of sea glass depending on what washes up on the beach at the time! I make these to order over in my shop and they can be made to your preferred length, usually between 4 and 6cm from the top to base of the ear wire.

Thank you to all who have ordered these already and I hope you are enjoying wearing them! I know I do ;)

 

Hester the 'Award' Winning Cat

 Some of you may remember Hester, the little tabby who came to live with us not long after we got married. 

Hester is the 'kitten' of the house, according to my mother in law she is the naughty one, the curtain climbing, pouncing, skidding little rebel. I think she's ace!

One of her more endearing habits is that she sits on my knee and I have no shame in admitting I like it! 

Last week Cookson Gold, one of my recycled silver suppliers, held an entertaining competition over on facebook dedicated to photos of workshop pets. I entered the lower photo of Hester who is lying on my knee and having a good go at my bench peg and she was chosen as runner up! 

Hooray! On Friday a big jiffy bag of cat and jewellery-making-human treats arrived for us! Cheers Cookson Gold!

Allanbank Arts Taster Sessions

Allanbank Arts are running a weekend of taster sessions offering you the opportunity to try out one of the skills in advance of more detailed courses. I'll be teaching an introduction to jewellery making on Saturday 8th March from 1.30 to 4pm when we'll be learning to turn a loop in wire and how to use this technique to create chain, earrings, necklaces or bracelets.

The address for directions is Allanbank Arts, Allanbank Courtyard, Allanton, Duns, TD11 3PY.

 

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!



 

Simply Silver Jewellery

New simply silver jewellery coming to my shop soon. I've been enjoying  twisting wire to create mini silver ropes and thinking of seasons other than chilly winter by working with silver leaves and acorns.

Skinny silver twist heart stacker ring

Silver stacker rings

Medium silver twist ring

Medium silver twist ring

Leaf and acorn ring

Leaf and acorn ring

My love for stacking rings shows no sign of abating!