This girls heart went all a flutter upon hearing the news that Liberty have leant there beautiful fabric prints to Vans for a special edition collection. I am huge fan of both and will be getting my paws on some as soon as my bank balance allows. Im not sure which are my favourite though.
Sorry I haven’t posted for awhile, things have been busy, children have been poorly and family life is at the forefront.
I have still had time to work on some new pieces and the lovely Often Hover has shot some beautiful photos which I will post up soon. In the meantime let’s look at some nice stuff…
Vintage advertising and Tokyo kinder Film Fest
Gillian Hamilton shares her crochet cushion process.
The artwork of Lindsay Watson
Atelier Stella Ceramics
The beautiful work of Morimoto Shouhei
The very talented illustrator Natasha Durley
This week we got a miniature Dachshund puppy and called her Margot. The sun has been shining and the house is coming together too. I love my little owl ornament my friend Sarah gave me for my birthday and have been hanging out in the Southsea Coffee Co for the best coffee and pan au raisin in Portsmouth.
I also made a yummy roast vegetable and goats cheese pizza and teamed it with a colourful summer salad. Summer eating is so good and so is a great read like The Simple Things magazine. The article on the London Underground was wonderful and I really want to get hold of some of the prints of poster to display in my home. The London Transport Museum shop has a wonderful selection of posters and other deign pieces.
In the midst of an uber busy time at the gallery I know how important it is for me to keep my site healthy and active. I am so excited because tomorrow we have an exhibition of photography at work by Ali Tollervey which is of the band Dark Horses. The band will be there and then we get to see them perform live afterwards at The Registry. Then on Saturday we have our Zine Fair which I’m beyond happy about!
To get us in the mood for a super Spring Easter weekend here are some images I came across on my tumblr. I will credit images where I can.
I took this photo last week at Portsmouth Museums Teddy Bear exhibition. this bear is my favourite.
Wow that was quick! Another week has passed us by and I hope that everyone has returned happily to work, school and home life routine feeling happy. This time of year can feel so dull and the art’s and culture can provide us with a much needed boost. So go visit a museum, gallery or park this weekend and feel good.
Here is a pick of some wonderful illustrative work to give your eyes and mind a boost! (click on the images for links, yay)
Yesterday I think I reached the bottom and had an out pouring of grief like I have never felt before. Sometimes perhaps you have to break to realise that you need fixing.
This morning I woke up and I produced three paintings in quick succession, more than I have painted in three months. Brave new feelings have been found and demons have been fought and destroyed. Taking solace in creativity is a wonderful thing, to take a blank page and fill it with colour, a pile of materials and make something new. Oh what a metaphor for life.
Some things that made me smile today…
1950’s card
Traditional eskimo folk art: Bear Emerging from Sea
Artist unknown
Hemzo Karoly
Traditional wooden dolls.
I have a small yet impressive collection of Japanese crafts books and I feel a serious addiction could form if I let it. I keep the books right next to the sofa so when I am sipping on a cup of tea I leaf through them dreamily.
I dream of all the tiny creature I could crochet and the array of slightly quirky and wonky toys I could craft.
Perhaps today I will.
Beautiful Dutch online magazine Oh Marie has launched it’s latest issue ‘Alpine Kitsch’. I can’t describe how visually delicious it is, cute, festive and stylish. It would soften the hardest of hearts to the romance of Alpine living.
I want to step into the pages and surround myself with deer, cuckoo clocks and alpine blooms. I know you will feel the same and take inspiration from the styling guide, little craft projects, interviews and photography.
As a toymaker I am consistently surprised and delighted by the range of handmade/designer toys. From familiar animals to creatures from the imagination each one is pure joy.
I’m looking forward to finishing off a few toys this week for the opening of Untold Story where they will be for sale. I hope they find new homes where they will bring smiles and stories of there own.
Nothing like wee bit of doodling in the sketchbook. I cant wait to bring these characters to life!
