Juliette Orton

I recently gave a talk to the Bedford Embroiderers' Guild and as I presented my sketchbooks and artworks many of the attendees admitted that they just didn't know where to start with new ideas.  I explained how I went about it and how sometimes inspiration can come from the most unexpected places - such as a cup of coffee! In this instance I just loved the shapes that the milk foam formed (or 'Latte Art' as those in the know call it apparently!) and as I am a lover of nature instantly saw an emerging bud with beautifully veined leaves. This led me to open my sketchbook and start drawing and developing the shapes. I loved the flowing forms and started to think of different media that I could use to explore them further. I used wire to recreate the shapes and bound threads and papers around them to add colour and texture. I also used scrunched up magazine pages (with floral images) and machine stitching to present the shapes in another way.

Earlier this week I really felt like I had stepped back in time in more ways than one as I went to look at Debbie Lyddon's wonderful exhibition at Haslemere Museum. I grew up in Haslemere and have many fond memories of visits to the Museum throughout my childhood - an elephant foot bin, a Mummy wrapped in bandages with a scary toe exposed, a stuffed bear (full size, standing) and trays and trays of beautiful butterflies to name but a few of my lasting memories. My godmother also worked at the museum and my mother just next door as a reporter on the Haslemere Herald. Professor David Bellamy also loved this museum which was his favourite and he was a frequent visitor as a child. So I was delighted to discover that 'The Archive Project' exhibition was to be held at the Museum as it gave me an opportunity to revisit it with fond memories. I was so excited when I walked into the reception that I positively gushed about all of my memories and connections to the poor receptio

I've recently discovered that I haven't written a blog post since last July, shocking! The truth is that I've had a pretty bumpy ride recently and I haven't been sure whether to talk about it on social media or keep it to myself and carry on (thinking that no-one will be any the wiser and that wouldn't be such a bad thing would it?).      The problem is, being a 'Creative' my feelings and thoughts go hand in hand with my work and it is not so easy to compartmentalise these things. I think I need to start being a bit more honest with myself about how events have affected me though so that I can grow stronger and move on in a positive way.  I hope that putting this out there in the ether will help me to stop worrying about telling people and whether they think any less of me as a result, it is what it is. This is now sounding overly dramatic and I apologise as it is just related to my health issues.      To sum up: I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for about