At last! I'm updating my blog!

My solo exhibition at the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery during May, 'spotlight on Jen Deschenes', went really well. I have a hand screen printed chair currently in the 'Made it!' joint exhibition with the other making progress artists and our mentors. I chose three pieces from the Craft Council Collection as my inspirational pieces. These are by Claire Heathcote, Morris Cox and Grainne Morton. I am really pleased with how the exhibition has turned out. Also projected onto the wall are Distance Labs 'immersive recordings' of us working in our studios. Here is my one.

http://vimeo.com/12946162

During August I should have work at Scotlands Housing Expo in Inverness which will showcase 50 house designs of the future. www.scotlandshousingexpo.com

I am heading up to Orkney this weekend to see Ingrid Tait of Tait and Style and to take part in a drawing workshop on the Sunday. I'm looking forward to devoting a day to drawing! www.taitandstyle.co.uk. I am then heading home to Shetland for two weeks with my son Felix and daughter Mia. I'm looking forward to being close to the sea. The part of the Highlands I'm in is surrounded by trees and mountains which is equally lovely but being close to the sea will always be home.

I'm almost there! This blog will be linked to my website which, fingers crossed, should be live at the end of the week. How exciting! www.jendeschenes.co.uk

I'm currently one of four makers selected for a mentoring programme called 'Making Progress' through Hi-Arts, www.hi-arts.co.uk. There will be a series of exhibitions linked to the project and I'm up first. My exhibition starts on the 1st of May running till the 29th at the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery in the small gallery. My fellow makers are Daniel Kavanagh, www.danielkavanagh.com, Laura West, www.laurawest.com and Lucy Woodley, www.lucywoodley.co.uk. There will also be an exhibition, 'Made it!', in June with pieces from the Craft Council Collection alongside pieces from the 'Making Progress' makers, this will again be at IMAG but in the large gallery. My mentor has been Eileen Gatt, her lovely contemporary jewellery and silverware can be seen at www.eileengatt.co.uk.

I have been very busy completing the work whilst also creating work to send to Stroud International Textiles Festival, www.stroudinternationaltextiles.org.uk. Thankfully I posted off 17 cushions and a blanket for 'Made in the Highlands' in the Made in Stroud shop, www.madeinstroud.org, last week. This is also through Hi-Arts and the other 5 makers from the Highlands are Burra bears by Wendy Inkster, Sporran-nation, Mhairi Killin and Andrea Williamson. Andrea is from the same island in Shetland as me and her beautiful knitwear can be seen at www.andreawilliamson.co.uk. I have to set up my exhibition during the week next week then I'm off to Stroud for the weekend. Very busy, but looking forward to it. I will take photos and add them here soon!

Wish me luck for the next two weeks!