The Bedfordshire Arts Trail and Hertfordshire Open Studios have now started.
Moat Farm, Stoke Hammond
Art Trail – Luton Hoo Walled Garden
Show takes place in the Shooting Lodge during the Heritage Weekend Luton Hoo Walled Garden
Hertfordshire Open Studios – Welwyn Trail
Many of the artists involved in this project gathered at PS Arts this afternoon to view the finished picture, eat Sunflower Cupcakes and admire the Brownies’ Sunflower memorial wall. Representatives of the Isobel Hospice joined us to share the celebration. The fabulous weather reflected the bright sunflower theme and showed off the fantastic finished artwork to good effect.
Maria’s Vase – 30 Artists, 30 Days
Now the hard work starts for Sharon who has committed to raising £30k for the Hospice. She will be travelling with the masterpiece to local venues to show it off and sell £10 lottery tickets with the winner becoming the new owner of the work. Meanwhile the Brownies have been raising funds by selling the sunflowers they have made to visitors, who have added their personal messages to those the have lost to the centre of the flowers. Sarah has been busy baking mini Sunflower cupcakes (which are delicious and selling fast).
Well done everyone – we next meet up to hand in our mini canvases which will also be for sale, meanwhile there will be an exhibition in the Barn of work by all the artists who took part and a big launch part on 2nd August. Check the PS 
Arts website for more information.
PS Arts’, Datchworth, project to reproduce a giant sized replica of Katharina Kubrick’s Maria’s Vase is progressing well. Throughout June 30 local artists will be completing one section of the artwork in their own style and media, £10 raffle tickets will be sold with the winner receiving the completed masterpiece.
Today Hazel and I were producing our sections (top corners) whilst the local Brownies were making and selling sunflowers and we had a steady flow of interested visitors. Suspect they were attracted by Sarah’s delicious Lemon Drizzle Cake as much as by the art.Visitors were also able to see other work by the artists involved in the project
Work in Progress
Here is my piece added to the work in progress – it is a reverse applique made from naturally dyed, layered cottons. I can’t wait to see it in pride of place in the top right corner of the finished picture – all will be revealed next Sunday.
Joanne Shewan Textiles 
