Studio Two...

I am currently juggling two studios - I know that sounds

greedy, but... one is the studio I have had since 2007

and the other is a year long artist residency, which I

embarked upon in May this year.  It is a much smaller

studio space in a de-commissioned wing of St Vincent's Hospital's

Caritas Christi Hospice for palliative care, in Kew.  

There are 7 studios which can house up to 9 artists and 

the residency program is run as part of what is referred to as

St Vincent's "mission to the heart".  It might seem like a strange

place to choose to undertake a residency - somewhere people

come to die or to seek relief from the process of being terminally ill,

but it is a really peaceful and nurturing environment, and my

studio room as stunning views across Studley Park to the old

Wilsmere Asylum, which is now Wilsmere Estate...

There are lovely grounds for families, staff and artists to enjoy

 in the back of the hospice and beautiful manicured gardens

in the front which faces Studley Park Road

I love this second space, as unlike Studio 1, which is filled

to the brim with past and current work, art materials and 

my collection of inspirational objects, the Caritas Christi space

is very Zen-like.  I've taken only what I need to make the

piece I am working on there - which has up until last week,

 been my reinterpretation of a male King parrot after John Hunter.

My work tables....

with "John & George - after John Hunter" in the background

and I just have to add to this post a recent acquisition,

which I photographed in Studio 1 - my beautiful space

above a shop in the Harp Village.  These exquisite

antique and vintage laces and embroideries were gifted

to me by some beautiful women in France, who want

to support my 'project' of salvage and reclaimation of 

other people's hand-work.  I received a 2kilo box of

treasures in the mail not so long ago:

A great place to end this post with this exquisite French Knot

'flowers in a vase' embroidery from c1930.  It will be extracted

one day and so will the 3.5 metre long lace table cloth, but

for now, they are points of inspiration, waiting for their time

to shine again in a new form, for a new audience.

Thank you for reading! Louise x