The exhibition is looking good and here are some photographs to show that spring really has sprung at the gallery!

The Quilters' Guild has various specialist groups within it and I belong to the Contemporary Quilt Group.  Each year there is a stand at the Festival of Quilts  in Birmingham and the specialist groups take turns to organise and run it.  This year the CQ group is manning the stand and the theme is Bookwraps.  Many quilters, both members and non-members, have made hundreds of bookwraps to raise funds for the Guild and the variety is wonderful.  It is a great way of putting to good use unfinished bits, samples and pieces you don't know why you made but a use is now to hand!

Among the fabrics I used are commercial florals over-printed with Indian blocks and fabric paint, upholstery samples and small remnants of nice fabric which don't need much doing to them.

Here is a selection of my fund-raising pieces:

I went to the Royal Academy today to catch the Manet exhibition before it closes this weekend and to see the Bellows show.  It was impossible to see the first, as it was very crowded, several visitors deep before each picture, so no chance.

So I went up to the next floor to see the George Bellows - much more space and many fewer visitors - and was just bowled over by his work.  He documented life in modern New York, showing slums and parks, boxing matches and family portraits.  His drawings, lithographs and paintings have an energy which draws the viewer in, almost mesmerised by the detail.  But if you go, prepare to be shocked and moved by the war paintings.

This is an exhibition not to be missed.

I loved this exhibition.  It was full of familiar images, such as those in the War and Romance room and the Pop room.   The development and use of stencils to create his signature dots was interesting - at first drilling holes in aluminium sheets which lead to blurring and unevenness in print then moving to Benday screens with almost perfect registration.

The Landscapes/Seascapes room was a glorious surprise - peaceful and abstract, the subject matters were depicted by a few blocks of coloured dots.  Art about Art had pieces which appeared to be a piss take but were, in fact, a homage to the likes of Picasso, Mondrian and Matisse.  I loved them especially as I love the work of the artists he used.

The most surprising room was Chinese Landscapes, with delicate and intricate colouring and serene images, a far cry from Whaam! or Oh Jeff...

If you like Roy Lichtenstein, this is a show not to be missed. And if you don't, go and prepare to be amazed.

The Spring show at Artisan Gallery will have for sale ceramics, prints and jewellery, as well as my fabric covered notebooks and quirky quilts.  It will be a cheerful and colourful event so do come and see for yourself!

Artisan Gallery
80 Harlesden Road
London NW10 2BE
020 8451 6315
www.artisan80.com