Indoors...

Yesterday I had a wobbly moment.

I have managed to avoid thinking about things too much recently by keeping busy, but I guess it's only natural that this strategy can only work for so long.

What really helped me was to look around my home and think about all the things that I am grateful for.

I haven't got any expensive furniture or belongings, but everything here is connected to a person or a memory and so to me they are priceless.

It helped to walk around with my camera, looking at the things I walk past everyday with fresh eyes.

If you're feeling the same, perhaps doing this might help you too.

This sausage dog is one of my favourite car boot finds (50p!)

I never realised how many old toys lived in my house, I think I'm a tad sentimental!

I'm not sure what these yellow flowers are called, but I love them, and they were from the remains of a bouquet a friend sent to me.

The vase and little pinch pot were also made by my friends.

The light is made from cable ties and I bought it many moons ago from Habitat and I found the Tretchikoff picture in a charity shop for £5!

I remember that my poor Dad had to carry it around all day and he was so embarrassed! 

I think that books and plants make a happy home (well, they do for me!)

I loves my little orange record player I do!

I had collected LPs (especially ones from the '80's) from charity shops and car boots for many years before I even bought the record player!

These toys were given to me from a friend, they understand my taste in treasures!

(It's okay because I had a word with Miss Dolly, and said that I didn't mind if she came to life at night as long as she didn't stomp around or leave the milk out of the fridge!!!!!!!!!!)

Sending you all my very best wishes and love.

X

Passing Storm...

I hope that you are all safe and well during this very strange time.

I've had to temporarily shut my little online shop for now but I'll let you know when I open my doors again.

Thank you so much for your support and custom.

Wishing you all the best, 

it will pass by chucks...

X

Birmingham Snapshots...

Last Sunday we had a little wander around Birmingham and, luckily for us, it was a beautiful sunny day.
I love looking around cities, although I am a bit of a nightmare as I have to stop every two minutes to take random photos!

We found the very fabulous Cow vintage shop and I felt so inspired with their graffiti-cow!
I think I'd really like to get some more spontaneous, abstract mark-making in my own painting.

I love this so much!

Cow vintage selfie opp!

I was also very taken with some of the old-school style shop signs...

Hope you liked my random snaps!

Big hugs to you all!

X

Agatha Christie Apron...

Here's the pinny that I printed at the Jane McKeating workshop last Saturday at the 2021 Visual Arts Centre.
I didn't know what I wanted to make when I started but after I cut out a magpie-shaped stencil, which was taken from one of my drawings, I decided it was starting to take on a slightly sinister feel.
I then cut cross-shaped stencils and a plan began to hatch...

I'm a huge fan of Miss Marple, especially the Margaret Rutherford films, who is my number one style guru (that lady could sure rock a tweed cape)!!!

I also love printing in a 'painterly (in other words, very messy) way and I wanted to layer, overlap and capture the creases of the fabric.

I've had this pinny for a very long time, I've no idea how old it is but I think that it must have been used by a maid which is how the Agatha Christie vibes started to emerge.

I did also want it to look a little bit like an early 1960's graphic design, as a little nod towards my fashion icon.

Hope you like!

It was such good fun to make, I felt like I was back at art college again!

X

Jane McKeating Workshop...

Last Saturday I attended a workshop by the brilliant textile artist Jane McKeating at the 2021 Visual Arts Centre.
I was so looking forward to it because some of Jane's work is exhibited in the 62 Group's Cntrl Shift Exhibition (that I blogged about a little while ago) and it also gave me the chance to meet up with two of my good friends.

Jane brought a huge selection of examples of her beautiful work which was based on family memories and has been printed and embroidered on old handkerchiefs.

My friend seemed to be wearing the same jumper!

We spent the morning screen printing onto vintage charity-shopped finds.

Jane was so generous with her materials and knowledge and her daughter helped us all so much.

In the afternoon we could add stitch to embellish our designs (I didn't get to sew very much because I was obsessed with the printing!)

Look at my friend's funky dog!

By the end of the workshop we had all produced completely different work, it had been a fantastic day and I really want to do some more screen printing!

I couldn't resist photographing the remnants left on my friend's table!

Thanks so much for such a brilliant day, I loved every minute!

I'll put my piece of work on a separate post because there are already a lot of photos on here!
See you soon!