secrets of people

to be beautiful...

sean

your words made me inspired today, even though you won't know it...being somehere in Italy shaking newly grown olives from the trees...eating freshly baked ciabatta for brunch and being kissed by the sunrise...

i have started some new compositions from scraps, offcuts and watery paint (o yes - watercolour); without a theme, concept or purpose (bliss) ...

they need more work but they feel almost beautiful anyhow...

a busy sunday...

but no rest for the wicked!
p.s. these fish are amazing.

almost there!

i think i will actually stop now... i can't make all things for all people unfortunately and i must wash my hair... here is the (not quite) final version of my dreaded egg cosies, we will see what the masses think tomorrow and then decide if they are to be a 'product' so let me know what you think of the prototype... and don't worry i shall consider all criticism constructive!

really busy making...

...stock for the designersmarketplace next sunday. no making to order here - all available to buy and take home immediately! creations i will have for sale include;

• acrylic or porcelain & wood jewellery - contemporary yet still with a vintage or handcrafted feel
• new textile accessories for fashion & the home- not yet seen by the public! this is the pre launch of my new label 'line dry'
  
• the few remaining limited edition bags featured in 'living north' magazine and recently shown at The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
• printed cards for the christmas season featuring old favourite 'Mavis'
• gifts to suit every pocket

i am really looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Living North: Page 77

December 2009 issue.You tired of the old bag yet???

.

christopher was also impressed...

on the wall @ Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

photo of bags credit: Design-Event

wOO

unveiled

all done...delicious

sleepless in stockton...

it must be the excitement of having a piece of my work published on page 12 of this month's issue of 'The Crack' magazine...
and i just found myself...here

an announcement...

my product for 50/50 ( 50 designer products for less than £50 each) at the DESIGN EVENT at the Baltic in October is complete...

it has actually exceeded my expectations, i was rather worried about it at times but now i am happy...its a great feeling when that happens, i just hope the great audience will feel the same, at first glance it is a large purse (or small bag), quite nice, but upon closer inspection, which may not happen until you get it home, you will see and palpably feel the love that has gone into it...i am sure...(let me know if you don't)...if you do purchase one it will be the most you have ever gotten in one product (but don't quote me on that, a swiss army knife could beat it)
i would like to post a photograph of it here but i shall desist, at least until after the unveiling...

put it in your diary... 16th - 18th October

a good day

i have had 2 pieces of work accepted to be shown in this exhibition/competition at the Anciens Abattoirs in Mons, Belgium. it has been organised by the World Crafts Council...and i am over the moon ...
the work in question is my 'in memoriam bag' (see it here No. 21) and 'secret messages purse' (see it here No. 10), it's a huge honour and i am really excited. :-)
can't wait for the catalogue.
also...
my birthday girls are 16 today...
x

my new glasses (and me)

new designers = new rings

i succumbed to temptation and decided to treat myself (again), i did so the whole time i was in london, i like to make the most of it... so this is one of my purchases, a ring (the one on the right) from the (jewellery) collection i liked best in the whole show , by jenni sleigh, whose work was delicious... o almost forgot... i actually bought 2, the second ring (not pictured) is called 'shopper' and is equally as fabulous!

tears and tiara's

here's my most recent work, my entry for the hand and lock competition...up to date news is...i didn't get through. never mind i shall put it on the cover of Italian Vogue (JOKE!!!!)
thanks to Vicky for taking the photo's, Tim for setting up the studio, Laura my daughter for modelling, Lucy her twin for artistic commentary during the photoshoot, Catherine for making me pose like an idiot and not least Stephen and Carol for all the drama and help with the dress and everyone else who kept me going !
(more here)

designed and made

today i will be invigilating at the designed and made gallery (above live theatre, broad chare, quayside, newcastle), if you're passing... please come visit.
(work pictured by Ali Rhind).
am intending to update this blog a little more after the demise of my other so keep checking back for news... am incredibly busy at the moment , desperately trying to pull something together for the hand and lock competition; deadline is the end of the week... in my defence i only started a couple of weeks ago (2) and lets say i have perhaps been a little over ambitious. or...is there such a thing?

the SHOW

if you can't make it, this is what it looks like...if you did make it...thank you for the fabulous comments in my book, if you are going to make it...please leave fabulous comments in my book! x

on show...

i am interloping (?) the textiles and surface design degree show...with a few select pieces if you wish to see them in real life... the art gallery, church square, hartlepool...oh and the students stuff is fabulous...
and make sure you pop into the college to see the applied arts show (amongst others...loads to see!)

final...ly

...the dress...

how gorgeous is this?

recieved in the post this morning...the catalogue for a new exhibition that i have a piece in...it's beautiful; heavyweight watercolour-ish card stock in a delicious shade of pink, (with complicated folded inside pages) also a clever rubber wristband fastening reflecting the title/meaning of the exhibition...book artists delight...go to the exhibition if you can. details here.

gross

i saw a seagull eating a dead pigeon on my way home today.

foundling out...

i have come to the conclusion that although i have 3 pieces either unresolved or not even started for my foundling collection, it has come to its natural end, i must move on now...having done 2 'talks' on the collection i feel i have met my own brief which called for an emotional response from the 'audience'...therefore i am putting it in writing that the dress shall be finished by midnight tonight...it shall be entitled, 'i know it needs more embroidery'...so an image will be posted at some point this week and we can all put it to bed... i will leave you today with another inspirational photograph of my wall...(chair poster with original, authentic graffiti, from a street in barcelona, circa 2003...)

christmas cake

i actually got round to making it today. it is really horrible.

an irish observation...

this is another foundling piece, finished...it is entitled
... 'a white butterfly is said to be the soul of a dead child'
more images on my website; gallery 4.

visual stimulation

things with wings mostly, it seems.