Blog
Cressing Barns - The Essex craft & Design show
Next weekend (24-25 September 2016) I will be demonstrating stone carving in Cressing Temple in Essex. I am very excited about this, for me, new craft fair!
http://www.essexcraftanddesignshow.com/cressing-temple-barn…
The Essex Craft & Design Show will be hosting its annual event at Cressing Temple barns. Craftsmen and designer makers will be showcasing and selling their work which will include fine art, photography, jewellery, ceramics and many other contemporary crafts.
Cressing Temple Barns, Witham Road, Cressing CM77 8PD
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September 2016
10.00 - 5.00
Entry £3.50
concessions £2.50 and children under 16 free. Not only is this an opportunity to view and buy work direct from the craftsman or designer maker, it is also a chance to visit these wonderful 13th century barns. The admission also includes entrance to the barns, grounds and Tudor walled gardens.
Let's hope the beautiful autumn weather is going to continue during the fair.
Hope to see you there!
Next weekend (24-25 September 2016) I will be demonstrating stone carving in Cressing Temple in Essex. I am very excited about this, for me, new craft fair!
http://www.essexcraftanddesignshow.com/cressing-temple-barn…
The Essex Craft & Design Show will be hosting its annual event at Cressing Temple barns. Craftsmen and designer makers will be showcasing and selling their work which will include fine art, photography, jewellery, ceramics and many other contemporary crafts.
Cressing Temple Barns, Witham Road, Cressing CM77 8PD
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September 2016
10.00 - 5.00
Entry £3.50
concessions £2.50 and children under 16 free. Not only is this an opportunity to view and buy work direct from the craftsman or designer maker, it is also a chance to visit these wonderful 13th century barns. The admission also includes entrance to the barns, grounds and Tudor walled gardens.
Let's hope the beautiful autumn weather is going to continue during the fair.
Hope to see you there!
5-8 May Living Crafts Fair Hatfield
It was great to be in the Living Crafts marquee again with
Mark Gizzi - http://gizzi-leather.com
Anna Pye - http://www.annapye.com
Penny Cooper - http://www.pennycooperceramics.com
Mervyn Mewis - traditional musical instruments
Heleen te Boekhorst - peppercornstone.com
and the British Woodturners
It was great to be in the Living Crafts marquee again with
Mark Gizzi - http://gizzi-leather.com
Anna Pye - http://www.annapye.com
Penny Cooper - http://www.pennycooperceramics.com
Mervyn Mewis - traditional musical instruments
Heleen te Boekhorst - peppercornstone.com
and the British Woodturners
December 2015
Work in progress.
You might have seen a double-tailed mermaid in the logo of one of the big coffee places and never thought anything of it.
This type of half sea creature, half woman is depicted and written about throughout centuries of folk tales and mythology and throughout different cultures. She might be a symbol of fertility in one story and the symbol of balance between good and evil in another.
I am trying to create a well-balanced image of this serpent fish lady. She is resting on her tails, holding them tight behind her back, with her fins protecting her body.
Trying to find background information on this sirena bicaudata (two-tailed siren) I came across a paper published by Lloyd Graham, on the academia.edu website. He has kindly given me permission to mention his paper 'Mother Earth Pisces and the two-tailed mermaid'. https://www.academia.edu/3336225/Mother_Earth_Pisces_and_the_Two-Tailed_Mermaid
Work in progress.
You might have seen a double-tailed mermaid in the logo of one of the big coffee places and never thought anything of it.
This type of half sea creature, half woman is depicted and written about throughout centuries of folk tales and mythology and throughout different cultures. She might be a symbol of fertility in one story and the symbol of balance between good and evil in another.
I am trying to create a well-balanced image of this serpent fish lady. She is resting on her tails, holding them tight behind her back, with her fins protecting her body.
Trying to find background information on this sirena bicaudata (two-tailed siren) I came across a paper published by Lloyd Graham, on the academia.edu website. He has kindly given me permission to mention his paper 'Mother Earth Pisces and the two-tailed mermaid'. https://www.academia.edu/3336225/Mother_Earth_Pisces_and_the_Two-Tailed_Mermaid
December 2015
Not bad at all for a first time carver!
Over the months November/December Yvie, my first student, came over to my workshop for an introduction workshop in stonecarving. After a lesson about tools, techniques and safety she worked on her own design, a house plaque for
her mum.
My plan is to have more enthusiastic people over (maximum of two per go) for introduction lessons in stonecarving. Watch this space!
Not bad at all for a first time carver!
Over the months November/December Yvie, my first student, came over to my workshop for an introduction workshop in stonecarving. After a lesson about tools, techniques and safety she worked on her own design, a house plaque for
her mum.
My plan is to have more enthusiastic people over (maximum of two per go) for introduction lessons in stonecarving. Watch this space!
September 2015
As a leaving present for one of the dedicated organisers of the Dutch school in Cambridge (devaarboom.co.uk) I designed a sculpture based on punting boats, which can of course be found in Cambridge, but also in the Netherlands. The punting boat is also used in the logo of the school. The type of stone is Clunch, which is quarried in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. It is a soft chalky type of stone, which is also used in buildings like churches.
As a leaving present for one of the dedicated organisers of the Dutch school in Cambridge (devaarboom.co.uk) I designed a sculpture based on punting boats, which can of course be found in Cambridge, but also in the Netherlands. The punting boat is also used in the logo of the school. The type of stone is Clunch, which is quarried in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. It is a soft chalky type of stone, which is also used in buildings like churches.
The little boats are placed on copper stakes and placed on a nice contrasting piece of drift wood.
September 2015
We met a Anne (and her parents) from the Netherlands on a walk along the river. She has just finished her exams and has decided to have a gap year before going to Art College in Holland next year. She told us she was trying to find host families where she can stay for a while and work for her keep.
The parents went back to the Netherlands after their stay on our local campsite and Anne went to work as a volunteer on the Greenbelt Festival in Kettering for two weeks. Anne stayed with us in September, helping out with DIY projects, working in the garden, cooking and learning some stonecarving.
For October she managed to find another creative environment in Wales, and went on to Ireland. We had a great time and hopefully she will come back one day to finish her stone frog.
We met a Anne (and her parents) from the Netherlands on a walk along the river. She has just finished her exams and has decided to have a gap year before going to Art College in Holland next year. She told us she was trying to find host families where she can stay for a while and work for her keep.
The parents went back to the Netherlands after their stay on our local campsite and Anne went to work as a volunteer on the Greenbelt Festival in Kettering for two weeks. Anne stayed with us in September, helping out with DIY projects, working in the garden, cooking and learning some stonecarving.
For October she managed to find another creative environment in Wales, and went on to Ireland. We had a great time and hopefully she will come back one day to finish her stone frog.
June 2015
After the Living Crafts show in May 2015 in Hatfield I received a commission to create a new torso. My client's wish was to commision a sculpture for her beautiful light and bright home. I chose to carve the female torso in a beautiful piece of Portland and placed it on a plinth of green oak. The sculpture was collected by a very happy customer and I am hoping to be able to show a picture of the torso in her lovely home one day.
After the Living Crafts show in May 2015 in Hatfield I received a commission to create a new torso. My client's wish was to commision a sculpture for her beautiful light and bright home. I chose to carve the female torso in a beautiful piece of Portland and placed it on a plinth of green oak. The sculpture was collected by a very happy customer and I am hoping to be able to show a picture of the torso in her lovely home one day.
For a beautiful home in Cambridge I carved a stylish (f I say so myself) house number in Stoke limestone, the numbers are V-cut and painted with black enamel paint.
At the Living Crafts show in Hatfield the female torso was bought by a lovely lady and her husband. It was a little sad to see the sculpture go, but it will get a new beautiful spot in a gorgeous London home.
From 7-10 May 2015 I was demonstrating stone carving at the Living Crafts show in Hatfield.
The fair is an annual craft fair held in the beautiful grounds of Hatfield House in Hertfordshire.
I was fortunate to be one of the crafts people invited to demonstrate their craft in the Craft & Design Month marquee which was generously sponsored by Craft & Design Magazine.
For full details of the Living Crafts show have a look on the website: http://www.livingcrafts.co.uk
The fair is an annual craft fair held in the beautiful grounds of Hatfield House in Hertfordshire.
I was fortunate to be one of the crafts people invited to demonstrate their craft in the Craft & Design Month marquee which was generously sponsored by Craft & Design Magazine.
For full details of the Living Crafts show have a look on the website: http://www.livingcrafts.co.uk
Thank you to everyone showing interest in my stonecarving and/or looking me up on Living Crafts. We had the best marquee on the fair! I met some wonderful skilled crafts people:
Mark Gizzi - gizzi-leather.com
Penny Cooper - pennycooperceramics.com
Mervyn Mewis - www.surreyhills.org
Linda Banks - orchidstainedglass.co.uk
Anna Pey- annapye.com
Have a look on their websites!
Mark Gizzi - gizzi-leather.com
Penny Cooper - pennycooperceramics.com
Mervyn Mewis - www.surreyhills.org
Linda Banks - orchidstainedglass.co.uk
Anna Pey- annapye.com
Have a look on their websites!
In the garden a mass of green leaves are starting to poke out off the ground. A beautiful sign that spring is near! To celebrate the new season I carved this leaf from Ancaster.
November 2014
For a lovely family home near Huntingdon I designed and carved a key stone for the clients' front doorway. There are a few beautiful old elm trees in the garden and the family asked me to include this type of tree, with its frayed and slightly a-symmetric leaves, in the design.
The type of stone is Ancaster hard white, over time it will blend in well with the stone used for the rest of the doorway and it is a lovely stone to create a detailed stone carving with.
In February 2015 the builder of the family home placed the keystone in the wall. It will be a lovely eyecatcher abover the main entrance to the house.
For a lovely family home near Huntingdon I designed and carved a key stone for the clients' front doorway. There are a few beautiful old elm trees in the garden and the family asked me to include this type of tree, with its frayed and slightly a-symmetric leaves, in the design.
The type of stone is Ancaster hard white, over time it will blend in well with the stone used for the rest of the doorway and it is a lovely stone to create a detailed stone carving with.
In February 2015 the builder of the family home placed the keystone in the wall. It will be a lovely eyecatcher abover the main entrance to the house.
My Knights Templar has left my workshop!
It was a wonderful project to work on and I now have to get used not seeing him standing in my workshop. Creating this relief in Portland made it possible to create nice crisp textures and details.
Out of respect for my clients' wishes I have retouched the image to remove the lovely personal engraving on the copper plaque.
It was a wonderful project to work on and I now have to get used not seeing him standing in my workshop. Creating this relief in Portland made it possible to create nice crisp textures and details.
Out of respect for my clients' wishes I have retouched the image to remove the lovely personal engraving on the copper plaque.
January 2015
For a client who is very intested in the Knights Templar I am carving a relief in Portland Stone. The dimensions are 30x40 cm. There will be an insciption (on copper) underneath the knight.
For a client who is very intested in the Knights Templar I am carving a relief in Portland Stone. The dimensions are 30x40 cm. There will be an insciption (on copper) underneath the knight.
The gargouille has made a trip to the local cemetery for a photoshoot. It is interesting to see how the feeling around a carving changes in a different environment. It is sitting on a trunk of a yew tree, which was recently taken down, because unfortunately its roots were disturbing a grave.
In August 2014 I attended a 3 day refresher course with Lucy Churchill (third from the left) in Cambridge. She is a very talented stonecarver who creates beautiful pieces of art.
Having finished Art College myself quite a long time ago, I felt the need to see if I was on the right track. It was a brilliant experience to see another stone carver at work, work together and to talk about our passion for stone. It gave me a lot of positive energy!
Having finished Art College myself quite a long time ago, I felt the need to see if I was on the right track. It was a brilliant experience to see another stone carver at work, work together and to talk about our passion for stone. It gave me a lot of positive energy!
May 2014
Just as the flowers were looking at their best I placed the commisioned garden sculpture on its plinth in the lovely garden of a family in Eaton Socon. The sculpture is made of white Portland stone, which stands out very well in the white and purple flower garden. To keep a natural look the sculpture is placed on a green oak plinth.
The shape is a Möbiusring, a beautiful mathematical shape which goes on and on. Follow one side of the shape and you will not get to the end - because there is none.
This sculpture is a birthday present from my client and her children to her husband.
Just as the flowers were looking at their best I placed the commisioned garden sculpture on its plinth in the lovely garden of a family in Eaton Socon. The sculpture is made of white Portland stone, which stands out very well in the white and purple flower garden. To keep a natural look the sculpture is placed on a green oak plinth.
The shape is a Möbiusring, a beautiful mathematical shape which goes on and on. Follow one side of the shape and you will not get to the end - because there is none.
This sculpture is a birthday present from my client and her children to her husband.
April 2014
Just after Easter the commission for Birch Hall near Colchester was placed in the wall. It was very exciting seeing the heavy sculpture, around 150 kg, being lifted by a telehandler and carefully placed and fixed by Andy Boughton and from AMB Stonemasonry & Restoration in Royston.
The owner of Birch Hall was present as well and it made me feel very proud to have been given the opportunity to carve this shield for his beautiful family home. There is a picture of the whole coat of arms in my gallery page and and hopefully I will get a chance to add a new photograph once the house is finished.
Just after Easter the commission for Birch Hall near Colchester was placed in the wall. It was very exciting seeing the heavy sculpture, around 150 kg, being lifted by a telehandler and carefully placed and fixed by Andy Boughton and from AMB Stonemasonry & Restoration in Royston.
The owner of Birch Hall was present as well and it made me feel very proud to have been given the opportunity to carve this shield for his beautiful family home. There is a picture of the whole coat of arms in my gallery page and and hopefully I will get a chance to add a new photograph once the house is finished.
"We are absolutely delighted with the exquisite carved limestone family crest that Heleen te Boekhorst has produced for our family home. The level of craftsmanship is extraordinarily high and has exceeded our expectations. As far as we are concerned this is the piece de resistance in our building project, and we are particularly thrilled that Heleen was on site to see it being fixed in place on the building. We honestly believe that the carving could not be better, and it is a joy to us to think that this is on our new house for us and future generations to enjoy."
Just like my daughter is practising her own signature now and then, I once came up with my mark during my time as a student at the School of Arts in NL. I still like it and I am using it now to put my mark on my creations. Sometimes a stone gets a mark at the back, where you will never see it, but once you have finished a carving it makes it yours.
The frog and lilly pad bowl/bird bath has undergone a slight alteration. I have made it slightly deeper so it can hold more water for the birds to enjoy.
