Summer!

Whoa - sunshine.  Steady on.

I've got so used to staying in, making and trying to psych myself up for some Shark Alley marketing and PR, that it was a shock to the system to get out of the house and enjoy some sun!  We took the number 12 bus from Brighton to East Dean (about 4 miles from Eastbourne), passing the gorgeous Cuckmere Haven on the way, and took in the Seven Sisters Sheep Centre and a bit of the footpath to Beachy Head (must do the whole walk at some point).  It was all very beautiful and good for the soul.

I've been taking a bit of a break from markets over the summer and concentrating on making lots of jewellery for the Shark Alley and Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous websites and to restock Oak Studio in Hampstead and Bellis here in Brighton.

I have been working on combining resin with paper, as I still love the colours and patterns of the handmade papers, and have been using gel resin to coat the pieces.  This not only strengthens them but also gives the most incredible luxurious glossy finish which really enhances the colours, especially the metallics.  I'm so pleased with the results.

Shiny shiny . . . very shiny

A recent trip to Falkiners in Southampton Row, London introduced me to the delights of Japanese Chiyogami paper.  This paper is screen printed by hand with patterns based on kimono fabrics and each sheet is just beautiful.  I could have bought them all, but at £7.00 a pop, I had to settle for an Origami pack of mixed smaller sheets!  They have inspired a whole load of brooch designs and are a joy to work with. As I only have a limited amount of each paper, each brooch is a complete one-off.

Olympic Otters

GODAMMIT I have succumbed to the Olympic hype and put together these little limited edition sweethearts in red, white and blue felt with white stitching.

Olympia Otter and her synchronised swimming team have quite naturally scooped gold medals in ALL the aquatic disciplines.

I'm taking them up to Oak Studios in Hampstead tomorrow, but they're also available on the Shark Alley website for a limited period (until 12th August - the end of the games).

IOSF

So delighted to say that Shark Alley otters are now on sale on the International Otter Survival Fund website - and two have gone to Japan already!

La Belle France

A much needed break has been taken, culminating in a few days in the south of France.  It was the most budgety of budget holidays - staying with my cousin who had rented a holiday cottage in Sainte Maxime for a month.

The place had been done up absolutely delightfully by Anne, the owner's wife, who was as charming as her décor!  The vibe was very French country and shabby chic and the overall effect was quite lovely.  There were also many other visual delights around the areas we managed to explore, including the quieter streets of St Maxime and St Tropez.

Regardez my mood boards . . .

 

My feet appear quite often here, as I've recently started a foot-based photo-journal blog!

As an art student I was often sketching my feet (they were often the only things that were in front of me and kept still) and I still treasure a photo I took in Spain of my hot, dusty, sticking-plaster covered feet in a park in Ronda which reminds me how it felt to be in that moment more than any other photo I took that day.  This led me to wonder whether it would be possible to capture my year via shots of my feet, especially as the poor things do so much hard work.  Anyway, see what you think!  The holiday ones were fun.
http://365easysteps.blogspot.co.uk/

Great Stuff!

The June Craftaganza introduced me to the work of two great companies/makers, The Big Forest and Retro Pigeon.  I really love their colourful animals.

Fantastic keyrings by The Big Forest.  I must confess I had to purchase the fox and the raccoon.

Vintage fabrics reworked into gorgeous cushions and toys by Retro Pigeon.

 

Jubilee Craftaganza

Come and check out over 30 stalls of wonderful designers plus food and workshops on Monday 4th & Tuesday 5th June 10.30am - 5pm.

Entrance is FREE.

Check poster below for details.

Rain Stops Pay

PHEW!  Just back from a charity craft fair which I thought would yield fabulous sales but was totally ruined by this rubbish weather - ie. very poor turn out.

But on the plus side, it was a lovely event held over two days in a HUUUUUGE and gorgeous house in Walton-On-Thames, Surrey, near where I grew up, and just up the road from where my Dad used to work!

It's totally Palladian, dude

Our table fee and 10% of takings went to Peterson's Fund For Children - a charity set up by the owners of said house.  Charlene Peterson, who organised the event, is a very lovely and glamorous American lady who worked really hard to make the experience a good one for everyone, but sadly the weather was a big deterrant and the footfall did not equal the 1000-odd who apparently attended the same event last year.

I snapped a lot of photos of this extraordinary venue, so feast your mince pies on this little lot . . .

Marquee in the garden - setting up.
Note chandeliers.

It's a souk! 

LOVE this room

For the record I don't usually photograph toilets, but this is officially the poshest craft market toilet EVER and I like it

Exotically scented too!
 

And I will drink every single one

The fabulous Lisa Ham and her reversible belts (was it wrong to have pumped her for her stories about working for US Vogue with Anna Wintour?).  I have purchased one for my BF to give me for a birthday present (7th July if you were wondering) though I'm really not sure I can wait that long for it.

Mixed Media & Recycled section

Resin section

Hand Stitched section

The Full Monty

Shopping in full swing.  Ish.