The Claremont is a 5 star hotel on Second Avenue and they are a regular venue on the Hove Open House trail. The walls are packed full of a broad variety of prints and photography - all for sale with the money going direct to the artists.

It is well worth a visit and makes a very pleasant place to take a rest and maybe get a coffee as you take in a few Open Houses in the area.

http://www.hovearts.co.uk/

http://www.hovearts.co.uk/artists/sallyelford.htm Here you can see some of the prints I have on display at the Claremont. They are also available from my etsy shop.

So before I completely disappear from the Blogisphere I shall let you know about a few little bits and bobs that are occurring during May that are well worth a visit if you are in Brighton.

First up there is good ol’ Boxbird in St Johns Street in Hove. They are currently hosting ‘A to B’ - it’s an exhibition of limited edition prints all based around the theme of travel.

I am not actually involved in this show but my regular prints are still available in the browsers.

Here are a few of my favourite exhibits from A to B.

First: Ellen Giggenbach ‘Mr Finigans Secret’ under that, ‘Lost’ an original ink and watercolour by Stephen Elford and lastly ‘Night Flyers’ by Sharifa Brooks Read.

All gorgeous examples from a very eclectic and exciting display. Make sure to check it out before the 27th May.

They are both open edition and each is signed by me.

Blackbird is $45 (approx £30) and Red Owl is $30 (approx £19)

There will be more to follow soon!

Still on the look out for nice nursery curtain fabric, I stumbled across Fabric Inspiration which is host to a terrific collection of original (I think) fabrics from the 60s and 70s. Some crazy patterns going on here which I’m finding very inspirational. Even if I can’t use these for curtains I’ll buy some anyway and then think of a use later.

Here are a few that really caught my eye…..

All I need to do now is find someone who will turn them into big curtains for me.

Just look at these beauties! Screen printed oak Soul Birds by Sanna Annukka, soon to become available via her online store. I’ve got to get me at least one - they’re gorgeous don’t you think!?

I’m so pleased with the quality of the gocco metallic inks - there is real shimmer in them!

These are A6 size - come with an envelope and wrapped in cellophane and so far you can purchase them at Boxbird gallery in Brighton. You are also welcome to contact me if you wish to buy. Retailing at a very reasonable £2.50.

As long as you absolutely load your screen with ink when setting up - the rest is so quick and easy. I was really impressed with the one-step screen flash. All you need to work with is a good quality laser print or photocopy of your artwork and in seconds you have a stencil. So much easier and quicker than flashing a silkscreen stencil but much the same effect.

My only gripe with the Gocco kit - the screen cleaner which is included is a bit rubbish so I’m looking into getting an alternative called Gocco Grrll, or, as I’ve just found out, olive oil/babylotion or lanolin hand cream can do the job.

What does make things easier is the fact that the oil based ink doesn’t dry out in the screen so you can leave ink in your screen, wrap it up so its air tight, and in theory you can just carry on printing at a later date!

Anyway here are a couple of shots of what I’ve managed to produce so far….’Hares in Moonlight’