Sunday 17 November 2013

Autumn Inspiration











I have always loved the colours of Autumn, maybe partly due to being an Autumnal baby. As the temperature begins to drop the colours get so warm. It's like nature is giving us that last intense burst of colour before it goes into hibernation. The sunshine is also at it's most gorgeous, casting an amazing glow across things. I always find this time of year so inspiring, so here are a few photos I have been taking and some illustrations I have created, I hope you enjoy them.


Paper toy workshop





During the half term break I had the opportunity to lead a workshop at Sheffield's Children's Hospital, on making paper toys. I had a fantastic day. I only worked with a very small number of patients, but they all loved it, and it was really great to see what an impact it had. One girl would barely grunt un response at the start of the day, but by the end of it she was laughing and joking. It would be amazing to do this all the time! 

Friday 13 September 2013

A spot of sewing

I had wanted to have a go at sewing some clothes for ages, literally years, and over the summer I finally took the plunge, spurred on by the purchase of this vintage fabric from a charity shop. I found a brilliant tutorial for a circle skirt here and have now made three! Two of which were made from fabric I bought two years ago, to make skirts with! Yes it has taken me that long!
I also had a go at making a top from this brilliant free tutorial and pattern . I know so many people who say they wish they could make their own clothes, and don't know where to start, being scared off by confusing looking patterns, and I was one of them. So I highly recommend these two projects to get you started! I have definitely caught the bug now! 






Thursday 12 September 2013

Summer holidays

It's a bit late, but here are some photos from our holidays. This summer was definitely one of the best, a Euro trip in the van to le Bug show in Spa, with a very quick trip to Bruges. A stay in Kent with my sister in law, her husband and our two lovely nieces. A week to our favourite place, Woolacombe in Devon, and other day trips. 



Our convey to le Bug


Queuing up to go on the Spa race track in the camper van

  
mmm lovely cars!


A massive flea market in Bruges


oooo look at all the tins


The cobbled streets of Bruges


Sunny times in Whitstable


I scream for ice cream!


My two beautiful nieces
Super view of Woolacombe



Winston loves the beach!


Happy times in The Red Barn


Parked overlooking Putsborough Sands


Putsborough Sands


Damien Hirsts' Verity, in Ilfracombe


A walk around Ilfracombe


The perfect place for campers!

Monday 29 July 2013

Blue Hair!

I work in a school for my day job, so the rules on appearance are quite strict, but as I've always wanted to dye my hair a bright colour, I thought the summer holidays gave me a great opportunity to do it. I always wanted to dye it pink at uni, but for some reason the first time I dyed my hair any colour was after I'd left! Now I've had it red, blonde and blue! 

I used Directions Atlantic blue hair dye. Man it got everywhere though! The whole shower was blue, my face was blue my hands were blue! It will probably wash out quite quickly, but it is quite fun feeling like a cartoon character! I am a bit worried about the reaction I'll get, which is silly really, as it's just a colour, and what should be offensive about that? However, so far I've only had a positive response, even from older people. 




More brooch fun





The Shrink art bug has definitely got me! I have been working on a few more designs, and have lots of more ideas. I will have a brooch for every occasion, and I think my friends and family know what they will be getting for their birthday, christmas and any other occasion! haha. I will have to try making some other jewellery soon.
It's just really satisfying creating physical objects, as much of my work stays on a screen!


Saturday 27 July 2013

Three Bridges Gallery

 

I was involved in a really cool exhibition a few weekends ago. It was great because the artwork was shown under bridges along a stretch of canal on Barton. It was devised by a local designer Dan Poyner.   He came up with the idea several years ago while walking Rosie the dog, along the canal tow path. He found himself standing under one of the canal bridges, looking at the great expanse of concrete, and a little light bulb went off, and he thought, why not use these spaces to show art work?

He liked the idea that it created an ambient space to show art work, as you would get canal barges going past, cyclists, dog walkers and more. It sounded like a great idea to me, and I was really pleased to be asked to be involved.









With the weather being so lovely, I decided to show some nice sunny pieces!




A local High School- John Taylor- were asked to get involved. The top image, shows a close up of a piece created by year 6 students, in response to seeing images of the waterways.
The image above this shows a piece created by Eleanor Douglas, a year 13 student. It is a textile collage, reflecting her experiences of travelling. There was also some beautiful work by some year 12 students.



Burton based photographer, Philip Grocott, was also involved. His subjects range from portraits to landscape work. They form a great document of life in the Midlands.

It took a lot of hard work on Dan's behalf to get this project completed, I hope he can build on it in the future. It would be lovely to see art take over a bigger stretch of the canal.


Thursday 4 July 2013

Good post days!

We may live in an instant world, where most things are done online, but you still can't beat pen and paper and snail mail. Here are a few things that dropped through my post box over the last week that really made me smile.


 A card, little note and cute stamps from @letterloves on Instagram.  She is very passionate about snail mail, and asked people if they would like her to post out a card to them. The first few to respond were rewarded with a little envelope of happiness! :)


 An AMAZING squirrel money box that @ptitbento of sent me out of the kindness of his heart, after I commented on his picture on one on Instagram, to say I was in love with it! He sent this from France just because! Don't you just love Instagram!?


This shows the awesome bits and pieces that my wonderful friend Lizi sent me from Hong Kong, where she is teaching at the moment. She hardly ever gets a day off where she can go to the post office, so she had been saving me bits and pieces for a while. Kawaii stickers, tape, page markers, and pen... I'm in heaven! Now time to go and write a letter back!