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A few Saturday's ago we took a precious afternoon off as it was North Yorkshire Open Studio and we were eager to pay a visit to Serena Partridge's studio in Malton. Ruth first saw Serena's work in 2000 (or was it 2001) whilst teaching at Lincoln and you may recall that Serena provided the textile based wedding cake for our wedding two years ago.

After a quick look around Serena's exhibition, we decided we had to patronize her hard efforts, but what to buy?

We loved the display Serena had set-up, the front of the building was stocked with fantastic pieces, many exaggerated 18th C French court dresses mounted in cabinets and displayed on hard white plinths allowing the viewer to walk all the way around each display.

Ruth wanted a piece that must have been cased in a display 1m wide, a wildly exaggerated court dress that was truly stunning. But I had my reservations, logistically we had nowhere we could mount this incredible piece, also, it wasn't coiffured and I felt that the pieces Serena creates with the accentuated hair pieces show true mastery of minaturism - each hair is a single strand of silk, all finely coiffed.

We saw the Marquis on display in the window looking out at the people that stopped to make a closer inspection of Serena's work, she wasn't alone, she had a companion by her side and I was sure that one of these pieces was to be ours, but which one? After minute examination of the dresses and wigs of each, we decided on 'the Marquis' as her dress was so similar to Ruth's wedding dress - full silk 18th C replica sac-back. The Marquis wig is topped-off with a beautiful bonnet, though her neighbour had a really attractive parasol that almost swung our choice in her favour!

We would have loved to have taken the Marquis there and then, but Serena had a further following weekend of Open Studio so we left her for others to enjoy. But last weekend, Serena took a short jaunt down to York and brought our beautiful prize with her. We were really thrilled to receive her and she now has pride of place in our living room along with Ruth's ever-growing antique book collection.

Her dress is all hand-sewn silk; the bouquets are tiny pieces of rolled and manipulated silk. The mannequin is beautifully lime washed and so is the base of the display case. Being so tall (some 50cm), she posed a challenge to photograph; but we have given it a go, we hope you appreciate the effort.

She won't be the last piece we buy from Serena, but before we buy more, we need more display space. Serena is currently developing her own website, as soon as we have an address, we'll be linking with it!


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Meet "The Marquis"
	A few Saturday's ago we took a precious afternoon off as it was North Yorkshire Open Studio and we were eager to pay a visit to Serena Partridge's studio in Malton. Ruth first saw Serena's work in 2000 (or was it 2001) whilst teaching at Lincoln and you may recall that Serena provided the textile based wedding cake for our wedding two years ago. After a quick look around Serena's exhibition, we decided we had to patronize her hard efforts, but what to buy? We loved the display Serena had set-up, the front of the building was stocked with fantastic pieces, many exaggerated 18th C French court dresses mounted in cabinets and displayed on hard white plinths allowing the viewer to walk all the way around each display. Ruth wanted a piece that must have been cased in a display 1m wide, a wildly exaggerated court dress that was truly stunning. But I had my reservations, logistically we had nowhere we could mount this incredible piece, also, it wasn't coiffured and I felt that the pieces Serena creates with the accentuated hair pieces show true mastery of minaturism - each hair is a single strand of silk, all finely coiffed. We saw the Marquis on display in the window looking out at the people that stopped to make a closer inspection of Serena's work, she wasn't alone, she had a companion by her side and I was sure that one of these pieces was to be ours, but which one? After minute examination of the dresses and wigs of each, we decided on 'the Marquis' as her dress was so similar to Ruth's wedding dress - full silk 18th C replica sac-back. The Marquis wig is topped-off with a beautiful bonnet, though her neighbour had a really attractive parasol that almost swung our choice in her favour! We would have loved to have taken the Marquis there and then, but Serena had a further following weekend of Open Studio so we left her for others to enjoy. But last weekend, Serena took a short jaunt down to York and brought our beautiful prize with her. We were really thrilled to receive her and she now has pride of place in our living room along with Ruth's ever-growing antique book collection. Her dress is all hand-sewn silk; the bouquets are tiny pieces of rolled and manipulated silk. The mannequin is beautifully lime washed and so is the base of the display case. Being so tall (some 50cm), she posed a challenge to photograph; but we have given it a go, we hope you appreciate the effort. She won't be the last piece we buy from Serena, but before we buy more, we need more display space. Serena is currently developing her own website, as soon as we have an address, we'll be linking with it!
Previously 'penned' articles are avaialable as pdf downloads, just click any of the links below: Oliver Goldsmith - EBAY, Goldsmith and the Dodo John Gillow - My Love Affair with Textiles Jeanette Farrier - If not now, when? - Calcutta, Kantha and a New Career Michelle Edwards - False teeth, Tai chi and Two Tattoos Jane Hamlyn - For Use or Ornament Creating Selvedge - Polly Leonard Mariano Fortuny - designer/artist/inventor/genius all-round 'renaissance man' that was... Serena Partridge - inspired by a passion for six centuries of European costume... Naseem Darbey - bringing new life to the humble sewing machine...

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