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Open Studio

Way back, at the beginning of May, we were told about Pauline Burbidge and Charlie Poulsen's Open Studio weekend at Allanbank Mill Steading, in the Borders.  The first weekend of every August, for the last twenty two years, these two artists have been opening their steading home and studios to the public. 
We were free to roam anywhere and everywhere, throughout the steading, into every building, each being an exhibition space.
Pauline is a quilt maker.  Actually, she's a lot more than that.  She describes herself as a textile artist/designer/maker.  Her work is clever, exquisite, original, drawing on natural forms she sees around her.  http://www.paulineburbidge-quilts.com  I loved her studio, with bits of work in progress.  
In the old granary building, she demonstrated how she makes her stitch drawings with her quilting machine.  
Each year, Pauline and Charlie invite another artist to exhibit their work, alongside their own.  This year Lizzie Farey brought her work, made of willow.  She is another supremely talented lady, and we loved her exhibition.  http://www.lizziefarey.co.uk
Charlie Poulsen is a sculptor, who favours working in lead and wood, but he also draws http://www.charlespoulsendrawing.co.uk/gallery/  http://www.charlespoulsen-sculpture.com/sculpture/sculpture.html  His sculptures are throughout the steading, on the grass, on the walls, all over the place! 
Every inch of the property had been considered.  There was a visual feast at every turn.
Even the woodpile had been thought through!
We came away from our visit feeling quite overwhelmed!  It was all just wonderful!  Even the car park, with its dramatic sky overhead, packed a visual punch!




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