Sharon Golding Designs

 Now I have become somewhat addicted to designing new and exciting fabrics.  This is my autumnal collection and so far I have designed socks, fleece blanket and tea towels. I will be extending my designs to include various motifs, but this is just the beginning of my collection. My brain is really getting into gear with so many ideas for designs and applications.  I am just trying to source the best place to get my fabrics printed and then of course the fun begins with the making! Take care all and Happy Halloween! Shari 🎃 

Creating has always been a passion of mine and working with clay is very satisfying.  Something new I have tried recently is Screenprinting and in this case Screenprinting on to a clay surface.  I found this particularly satisfying to do.  I used my own design of Poppies to print on to the stoneware slab and made a lovely vase.  I really think this is something I want to explore further. Stoneware Vase with Poppy Design Then I used my Nature design of birds, leaves and acorns with grasses, which I made a convex wall plaque, which I painted with slip.  Now they are ready to glaze. Nature wall Plaque These are just test pieces and hopefully my technique will improve with practice. Stay tuned as there will definitely be more! Best wishes Shari 😊

 Painting in oils on canvas board  

 Hello everyone I have discovered a belated love of textiles and in particular sewing!  I know, it’s crazy right?  I spent most of my life believing that I hated sewing and tried to avoid it at every opportunity.  Now I love it.  I think I know the reason… time.  Before I had so much to do and so little time that sewing was a chore simply because you have to slow down and take time.  Now that I have retired I have plenty of time and can enjoy things that in the past I didn’t have time for. Slow stitch is needlework with intention or mindfulness.  You take your time and breathe, relax and mellow out.  You enter an almost meditative state and really enjoy taking time out.  It’s beautiful. It all began at college when I made a piece of felt fabric and used it as support for my applique shapes. As you can see I used running stitch to secure the shapes.  From there I looked for other projects where I could use my newfound skill of sewing...

 I know what you’re thinking!  Shari has disappeared off the face of the Ethernet, having deserted her creative and artistic endeavours.  But no, you are wrong.  I have so much to show you it’s hard to know where to begin!   Firstly, I enrolled in a full time Art and Design course at college and have been so busy and productive, I have had no time to devote to my blog. However, I have lots to tell you about. This course is the best thing I have ever done.  I am loving every day and every workshop I’ve attended. The course covers drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, photography and art history.  Varied, interesting and exciting.  The first year is a series of workshops teaching us various techniques and building our skills.  The second year is working on our own major projects and specialising in our chosen area. . Two large A1 drawings in charcoal, first of a skull and the second a close up of the eye socket...

I love drawing and sadly neglected my practice over the last few years.  I’m now trying to get into the swing of using my sketchbook for daily drawing practice.  I want to improve my drawing all round but am going to begin with portraits and figures.  Specifically I am starting with facial features. Now practising drawing eyes.  Using either graphite or pen.  I know, keep practising!  I’m quite pleased with my progress so far, but I’m a very impatient person and need to see results quickly.  I must learn to slow down and draw mindfully. I invested in the Bargue book to help me with my practice, as so many of my artist friends have recommended it.  The book is a series of plates designed to teach students how to draw and was originally used in the 17th century ateliers.  Now I’m not sure how exactly this is taught, but I figured if I worked my way through the plates then surely my drawing couldn’t help but improve.  Anyway, practice makes...

 Life for me is about staying alive, keeping active and learning new things. Latest thing to catch my attention is sewing.  Never really a sewer (or should it be “sewist”?) in my younger days, I find recently a strange draw to the sewing machine and fabrics.  Well, to be perfectly honest the fabric came first, became a bit of an obsession even, so once I had a fair stash I really needed to use it.  Enter the self learning of how to sew. I’m starting with simple things first, a pillowcase.  What can be more simple? Straight stitching.  Not a problem… I thought! My dolls are all laying around waiting for a new wardrobe of clothes, grumbling about their lot, but tackling a pattern is not yet on my agenda.  I’ve had to talk them into being patient. ;). First things first, straight things… simple makes that will be completed fast to keep my interest alive! Choosing the fabric for my new pillowcase is my first task.  Out comes the stash. Several hours l...

 After I finished working and retired I was under the impression I would be so busy with all my hobbies that I would never miss working. Well, yes I’m busy with my hobbies but I really miss my job!   BUT not for the reason you may think.  It’s the exercise I miss. Rushing about, being on my feet all day, walking, lifting, stretching, bending… all these things kept me fit.  Since retirement I’ve become a bit of a couch potato!  Most of my hobbies are sedentary which really doesn’t help my fitness.  Yes, I enjoy yoga and was in fact a Hatha Yoga Teacher some years ago, but recently I have become very lazy in my practise. As my waistline increased and my weighing scales screeched, I decided to do something about it. My new fitness regime includes Fast Walking daily, running up and downstairs plus a yoga routine.  The wonderful thing about yoga is anyone can do it, any age, you don’t need a huge amount of space nor any machines. It can be done on the yoga ...

I have been experimenting with the use of fabric hardener and have found it somewhat addictive. First I tried making a bowl.  Basically, you use an upturned plastic bowl as a former.   Cover the bowl with clingfilm to ensure nothing sticks to the bowl itself.   Use a plastic tray and pour a small amount of fabric hardener into it. Take your fabric and immerse in the fabric hardener. Gently rub the hardener into the fabric ensuring it is completely covered without being dripping wet. Place over the upturned bowl.  Make sure the bottom of the bowl is as smooth as possible to give stability and so that it won’t wobble when it’s done. The sides at this stage need to be as smooth as possible just so that the inside of the bowl will be fairly smooth.  Don’t worry over it too much. Take another square of fabric and coat it thoroughly in fabric hardener as before. Cover the first piece but this time allow the fabric to fall into natural folds (but remember to keep the b...