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Tattoo Time, a New Job and an Old Name
Hello all…
Before I start, check out our latest workshops at Leven crafts here, which have just been announced.
I realise it’s been longer than normal between posts, but not without good reason. You’ll see that this is a longer post to make up for it though, so you still get your money’s worth.
A new job…
In May, I took up a post part-time in our nearest big town, as a Projects Officer for the main community arts company. I now have the responsibility for setting up some of the creative intervention projects which benefit many of the most vulnerable members of our society, something I’m absolutely passionate about.
The work we do involves everyone from refugees to probationers to the homeless. Looking back at previous projects it’s clear the difference the creative work makes to those involved. I’ll keep you updated with how I get on.
A tattoo …
OK, I admit it, I love tattoos, tattoo designs old and new, and all things tattooey. I helped out at a tattooists when at Art College and even did my thesis on tattoos in the fashion industry.
My work is often inspired by tattoos and I love the vibrant colours and illustrative designs, and how personal they are.
There was bound to come a time when the voice in my head telling me to get a new one would shout too loudly, so after many many months of deciding, designing, and with lots of pain, I went for it, but it was certainly worth it!
I spent a lot of time researching tattooists, talking to people who had been tattooed at my chosen venue, and deciding which tattooist’s style most suited what I wanted. I went for Miss Purple at Guisborough Tattoo Emporium, as I loved the illustrative style of a rabbit design she had done which looked like a Beatrix Potter drawing, with a real watercolour feel.
I wanted something which didn’t have a typical tattoo black outline, in particular colours and depicting two of my most loved themes. Now I have something permanent, bright, happy and completely me; tea and birds, my two favourite things.
An old name…
You may have noticed the name ‘SkyBlueRed’ on the Community Art page on this site, and wondered what it’s all about.
I set up SkyBlueRed in 2010 and worked in schools and on my own art projects from there on, with over 800 children taking part in one or more of my art events and classes. When I was a founder member of the team of a new community not for profit art studio and tearoom benefiting adults with special needs, we decided to cash in on the popularity of the name and used it for the shop.
Three years down the line I am no longer part of the project and the team that now run the shop have decided to change the name, so SkyBlueRed is back , where it belongs. You’ll see it loud and proud on our posters, and if you want to know what it means, it’s blue eyes, red hair (so, me then! ) reminds you of this site? You can see there’s a theme!
Creativity for Sunny Days.
Sunny Days ..
…bring with them the promise of festivals and markets outdoors; we have lots of events to think about at the moment.
I’m finding it more of a challenge to fit things in these days, which I will use as a handy excuse for not having posted as often as I should. This can be most easily explained by telling you about my new role as a projects officer at arts development company ‘Tees Valley Arts’.
I have long admired the work of the organisation, and was mentored through TVA a couple of years ago, so it’s a great coup to now be part of the team. TVA have been responsible for many of the important arts events and installations in the Tees Valley area, including the environmental programme ‘Green TV’ Here’s the website for further info: www.teesvalleyarts.org.uk
When I’m not making, doing classes or promoting the town through Totally Locally events and markets, this is where I’m at. All this extra work is wonderful , but does squeeze time, so I just need to be really organised. I find a combination of Excel, a good old Filofax and a sturdy calendar does the trick, but you can’t beat a good old list or 12, and for those I have lots of special books I have collected over the years.
Talking of squeezing time, more about those markets and workshops at festivals coming up sooner than I can believe! During both the Galtres Festival and Festival of thrift, we’ll now be doing creative workshops. Geraldine, my wonderful fellow maker and I are busy preparing lots of new work for the markets and workshops.
You’ll find both Geraldine and I playing about with wool roving at Galtres, and making all 
manner of fun felted things. At The FoT, I’ll be making books from things you can find in your kitchen cupboard. (great for me with my aforementioned book obsession) My favourite is the Yorkshire Tea book; I do love my tea, so being able to make a tea themed book has to be a bonus, plus it still has that tea-leaf aroma.
You can make your own on either of the days. Also we’ll be using pre-cut lino prints so you can make your own bags and Ts at both Volkspower and Galtres…
..Handprinted tote bags and Ts .. ready for those summer days. All we need now is the sunshine.
Details of event dates are here, hope to see you there…
Market time , cross-stitch with a message and arty wax.
What a busy week we have had…
With markets at Guisborough and on the moors and one being prepped for at Lingfield Point, as I write. There was a fantastic spirit at the market and the sun shone brightly as we chatted to visitors both from the local area and from further afield.
Here I am with the stall I share with Geraldine of Bean Creative.
Latest Classes
Join us this Friday and next Monday for two really different classes, both of which you can try on either day. During our Batik session, we’ll be looking at tribal and Aborigine art as inspiration for our designs, or you can go with your own ideas!
If you want something decidedly less ‘waxy’ then have a try at contemporary cross-stitch, incorporating modern sayings and today’s icons with this traditional craft.
If you want to look for some inspiration, look no further than our favourite cross-stitcher ‘Mr x-stitch’, the male sewer you may have seen on the ‘Kirsty’ programes on the TV. 
Take a look at his blog and ‘stitchgasm’ spot at http://www.mrxstitch.co.uk or click here.
Have fun with your crafting ! m 🙂
Felting, printing and crochet biscuits..
We’ve kicked off our new workshops with great fun and creativity at The Palace Hub.
We had a fabulous fun group of attendees for our first day of workshops for both the lino printing and needle felting classes, lots of tea in vintage cups, and even some delicious home-made biscuits courtesy of Geraldine’s little daughter..
Our chaps created a kalaidoscopic range of beautiful designs, some using dual printing colours while others printed over tissue papers and on a range of backgrounds such as sugar papers and old book pages.
We tried our hand at a ‘chine colle’ printing method, sandwiching glued papers between the inked lino and the base paper, to add vibrant colour to black mono-prints.
Geraldine took the helm for the second class , where we had excellent wool-based fun with needle felting. We prodded and poked in great style and made some smashing little animals, brooches and floral inspired pieces. If you feel as though you’ve missed out , we’ll be doing it all again on Tuesday! More info here.
Lino-printing
Lino printing
![IMG_1301[1]](https://i0.wp.com/mikirogers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/img_13011.jpg?w=298&h=397&ssl=1 "IMG_1301[1]")
Meanwhile there are lots of markets and festivals to think about.. As I have been away visiting family I needed something portable, so have been making some fun little crochet biscuits to sell. Here you can see them by some fab little retro Pyrex cups given to me by lovely friend Abi of ‘Oh Abigail’.
The pattern for the Jammy dodger is by Matt and can be found on his ‘According To Matt’ blog http://accordingtomatt.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/jammy-dodger-pattern.html the custard cream is my pattern (which I will most certainly write down and share at some point) and I’m working on a bourbon too, so we’ll see how that turns out!
If you’re round and about Guisborough on the 3rd may, you might just see my biscuity creations on the Totally Locally Market! See you then M
New Creative Courses at the Palace Hub, Redcar
SkyBlueRed Arts present new courses at the Palace Hub, the creative centre on Redcar Seafront.
Miki of Ruby and Blue and Geraldine of Bean creative are looking forward to welcoming a new batch of would be creative types to the work room on the first floor for the first of the classes starting in April.
There’ll be a choice of classes, including felt-making, lino cutting and printing, batik and cross stitch, all with resources provided and time for attendees to have a chat about their progress over a cuppa.
We’re now live on Eventbrite providing booking online, you can also click here for full details and how to book!
Hi there
Welcome to the creative world of Miki Rogers. I’m busily making for April markets, setti
ng up markets and events as part of Totally Locally Guisborough, and am working out dates for workshops , with my wonderful friend Geraldine from Bean Creative.
Can’t wait to show you all my new work…
Miki 🙂
Miki Rogers 