Week 4: 27/04/11

This week I started working on my strip for the Parson Cross collaborative tree cosy. In the morning I was joined by Christine who started knitting a green strip in stockinette stitch. Christine is going to come back next week to continue her piece. I talked to some members of the Parson Cross library book club who are from the University of the Third Age, a couple of whom are going to come along in the next few weeks to join in the knitting. It will be interesting to hear more about the U3A.

At lunchtime I went to meet Ian at the old college site to have a look at some of the new graffiti that has gone up in the last week. At the weekend Sheffield graffiti artists Faunagraphic and Rocket01 did an amazing collaborative wall with a French artist joining them. Also painted lamppost have appeared this week with gorgeous lace print patterns and gold stenciled cats and stars. Exciting happenings!

Whilst at the ground I put 3 pompoms from last week up in a bush. I will check back next week to see how they have faired. The willow tree flowers are still going strong.

In the afternoon I chatted to some of the children from St Thomas More primary school who come in for story time about the pompom tree. Having the pompom tree on the table is proving a great talking point for young and old alike. After that I was joined by Courtney, Shannon, and three other girls who go to Yewlands and Chaucer schools. Courtney has been doing finger knitting at school following on from the work we did in the first week which I was really pleased to hear. She also told me that she knows a few others at school who are interested in knitting. The girls all made a few pompoms and the tree is starting to look really good.

week 3: 20/04/11

This week as it was is the Easter holidays I decided to make pompoms with participants as it is an activity that young and old can do alike.

I also taught Anita to crochet flowers.

We used the pompoms to create a pompom tree that will be displayed in the library for the next week. After that we will take the pompoms out into Parson Cross and install them in a real tree! Today I went to check up on the graffiti blossoms that I installed in the willow tree on the old college site. They were all still there and going strong!

Ian, Bailey, Ester and Anita knitting and pompom making.

Anita started her strip for the Parson Cross lamppost cosy.

The finished tree!

week 2: 06/04/11

Today I set about fixing up my giant daffodils to be installed in the window of the library. In the morning I was joined by Winnie and Tina who I had met last week at the craft group in the St Thomas More community centre. Winnie started knitting strips to be used in the Parson Cross lamppost cosy, an ongoing collaborative piece. Tina worked on a scarf that she is making. We sat and knitted and chatted about life in Parson Cross and how it has changed over the years.

At lunchtime I went on a walk with Ian around the area. We again talked about how the area has changed and what life is like there. We installed five graffiti knit blossoms in a willow tree on the old abandoned college site. It will be interesting to see what happens to them!

After lunch I installed the daffodils in the window. This went really well and created a great deal of interest from passers by and library goers. I think the daffs look great in their new home!

Week 1: 30/03/11

I decided to set up shop in the computer area of the library. This is the most used area so the librarians suggested I would most likely meet people here. I decided to use this empty shelf as a display case.

I added lots of lovely wool to be used....

Some knitting and crochet books for inspiration...

And some photos and examples of work that I have made in the past to show people what I will up to.

During the day I chatted to Ian, a local artist, about the area and his ideas for regeneration and engagement. I talked to Amy, a quiller. I talked to Anna, one of the librarians, about her involvement with craft. I popped over to the community centre to visit the craft group and let them know what I was up to. It was great to be in Parson Cross and meeting local people at last!

I spent the day making pink crocheted flowers to be installed on the street at some point. Ian had a go too.

After school a group of young people joined in and had a go at finger knitting.

My residency

I am based in Parson Cross, a regenerational area of Sheffield, for my Yorkshire Artspace starter studio for Engaged Practice placement. The studios are not ready until July so I have decided that I need an alternative space to start to get to know the community.

I have just had a really successful meeting at Parson Cross library. They have agreed to let me be 'artist in residence' every Wednesday until mid May.

I will be using my time at the library to talk to local people, introduce them to what I do and what I am planning to do as an artist in their area. I will use the time to try out different methods of engagement and to build relationships. I will also use relevant books from the library in my work there as a way of promoting what the library has to offer in exchange for using the space.

My practice is currently focused around using guerilla (or grafitti) knitting and crochet as a way of engaging communities. I will offer people the chance to join in with my activity. Creating small knit and crocheted pieces that we will go and install around the area. I will also use my time in Parson Cross to install pieces of my own around the place.

I have recently made some giant crochet and fabric craft daffodils for a shop window display in another part of Sheffield. The daffodils were used to signal the start of spring and have been causing quite a stir in the shop and really engaging passers by. Once they come down from the shop window, in a couple of weeks, I will take them to the library in Parson Cross and install them there as a way of announcing my arrival at the library and the start of my residency.

The staff at the library have been very helpful and enthusiastic about the idea of my residency. They seem to have strong links with a wide range of the community and they are keen to work alongside me in this venture.