Recuperation...

I've been sick but sitting by the sea, coat off, sunglasses on, drinking coffee at pavement tables (albeit plastic) with my friend made me feel so much better. Then I went back to work.

showing off?...errr yes.

I will let you all know when it does actually hit the shops (naturally) oh, and what it's called.
receiving this letter may also encourage me to open my mail more than once a week.

on my high horse.

'try, try and try again' is the moral of this story...
good things come to those who strive, or more like 'work hard and you will eventually get what you dream of', do you want to reap your reward in heaven or get your just desserts right now?... God I should've been a journalist...two great things happened today, I didn't realise how great they were till I actually sat and thought about it, but it was actually fabulous, well, now I've started to write I can only remember one of them.

a student of mine is looking for sponsorship for her final degree show, she has been proactively seeking sponsorship for... let's say a while, please note: she has written A LOT of letters and she has had some success already.

anyway, the story goes she sent an e-mail (one of many remember) to an online bead supply company as she is doing heavily embellished surfaces therefore requires a lot of beads, sequins etc. and the reply was actually quite astounding...she has been offered AS MUCH as she wants from the factory, 'take some binbags and fill 'em!' but also an offer of creative work! this all comes from being PASSIONATE about something, in this case this companies products, which she is too... enthusiasm is catching and some people are VERY kind and appreciative. cliche no.100: 'what goes around comes around' - so be nice.

P.S. when I remember what the other amazing thing was, I will let you know.

feels like...

colour

rafmilitarymedalsemblemwildthingtune

Comme des Garçons;

I think you love me.

Inside the Russian box...

1. open
2. zoom in
3. drool...

so many idea's for titles/concepts/themes,
but my next project shall now be named' .'

Paris (purchased)...part 2

of course there's more...
just one more thing...
odd numbers: red. (evens on reverse)
lovely.

Paris (purchased)...

ok so you knew I wouldn't be able to visit anywhere and not buy anything! but... each purchase was 10 euro's or much less so how could I resist, and a girls gotta do what she shouldn't!

a pair of pigeons: I looked at these, wasn't sure, asked the price, 10 euros, mmm = no, (I had 5 in mind). tried to barter, got as far as 7, gave up, walked away, a woman picked them up and was studying them for a long, long time; I watched her turn them over in her hands and at that point realised I really, really wanted them. so... as soon as she let go I RAN back and paid 7.


beautiful, tonal, pastel, warped, tinted, 60's Russian slideshow: for those balmy nights when all one wants to do is dream of Leningrad and statues of Kirov...and a tractor driver (he was free).

portable record player: this is sweeeet, still... I had no intention of buying this, was just curious when I asked the price. but the man with the black irish gypsy curly hair said 10 euro's; I shook my head slowly as there was no way I was going to carry this round Paris ALL day, but then he said cinq.

this is IT. the definitive piece of French vintage striped ribbon. I LOVE this! (just a tiny bit more than I love my children.)

so many carbs, so little time...

am actually looking forward to a carb-free week!

Paris (working) ...

showing the collection at Indigo (student's designs).

Paris (shopping) ...

Showcase

thanks to my sister for the photos... this is a selection of work for sale at the DLI, please feel free to make a purchase while you're there, this is the last of the limited edition bags, and also brace yourselves for the new collection which should be available by the end of the month.
am currently getting ready for my Paris trip tomorrow, or rather I should be...

ice bucket

completely refreshed after a beautiful weekend in Bowes...

New Year Miracles...

before I get onto the miraculous, I should say I don't feel well, my mother believes it is because I have done too much whereas I believe it is because I haven't done enough. The trick here is to look at what I have achieved rather than dwell on what I haven't (it is after all the dawning of a new year) but I am talking about only the last 2 weeks...so...

• an almost full sketchbook of work I am proud of (no small feat)

• a happy christmas

• an immense amount of filing

I am still tempted to tell you what I haven't done but I won't.

onto the miracle... at the end of december 2009 I wrote a list, not that exciting you say. well this list was of 10 things that would be true by the end of december 2010. it was written in a small black bound narrow lined muji notebook, tied with a black grosgrain ribbon and hidden away at the back of a drawer in my studio, it included some big things, some small things, some life changing, some confidence boosting but all things I wanted to happen. I went to find it this morning, after dismantling my tree and not wanting to face the rest of the decorations (some that I will once again leave up, not from laziness you understand but because I like them - I do fear that in a few years I will not need to put up and take down any decorations as they will all be a permanant fixture!) anyway, the list, 6.5 things HAD happened, how amazing is that! I don't know how it works but it does, maybe having written them down in a special place etches it all on your subconcious and you unknowingly work towards your hopes and dreams. maybe it happens anyway (list or no list) and you only forget you wanted it. you may ask what about the other 3.5 things? well, thats being greedy and they mattered little, little enough not to even put them back on this years list. of course I wrote a new 10 things and carefully put back the book.
I read somewhere a similar idea, but this way you put your list somewhere you would see it everyday, I think this would depress me so i'm not.
Happy New Year.

more presents...cushions.

Busy making secrets...

don't tell the family; list of presents made and wrapped...
for Lucy: a full size hot water bottle cover (as requested), a personalised cushion - rectangular, a collaged canvas.
for Laura: a full size hot water bottle cover (as requested), a bird cushion - square, blues (as requested), a collaged canvas (as requested) please note; twins have to have the same amount!
for my mother: a triplet bird cushion - red, square, natural irish linen and a hot water bottle cover (as requested)
for my sister: a glass lens collage (requested)
don't ask don't get! shy bairns and all that...
cushions will be available online from linedry.co.uk in the New Year and mini hot water bottles with covers too, also from designedandmade.co.uk.
if you can't wait that long please e-mail me!


...be cosy...

Christmas Newsletter from Designed and Made

http://bit.ly/epEeMk

newsletter

Dear Line Dry Aficionado

I wish you all a very merry season with much goodwill and all that goes with it!

Thank you for your interest in my company and continued custom, I appreciate you all!

There is news afoot;

New Year = new idea’s, new rearrangements, new products and new resolve.

I shall be combining/condensing/spring cleaning all my sites in some way, shape or form in the new year,

I am continuing designing and hopefully shall be introducing a garment or two to line dry very soon; no. 1: the prototype is made albeit a little on the large size, fashion dictates it should be a size 6 (!) and now all there is to do is refine the surface design and get the embroidery done! No.2 is on the drawing board is awaiting my pattern cutter to get back from France, this piece shall be unadorned but will work quite nicely with garment No. 1. Also in the pipeline are some leather patches; medal-ly and military, motifs to be exact, don’t ask how they came about, it was a matter of unexpected development. I am not quite sure what I shall be doing with these at the moment, although one feels one should be working with Comme des Garçons in reality.

If you would like to be added to the mailing list of ‘line dry’ and the musings of one claireabaker, please e-mail info@linedry.co.uk

how do I draw?

I observe
I rummage
I fiddle
I snip
I compose
I conduct
I stick
I create
I love...

browse like you were there...

it may look like a load of stuff has been flung on a table, let me tell you it was carefully planned that way... thank you to all my customers this weekend at the National Glass Centre, and I am very very proud I did not have one of those cakes.

love me (again)

thank you Bridget Jones for actually stitching my medal no.13 and then actually BLOGGING about it! makes it all worthwhile!
I also noticed Bridget has recieved one of the fabulous labels from Alec Finlay ...see what i did with mine...



keep up with the lovemelivewithme blog...I am just about to post a message about this label... then I will commence to wear the beautiful Cloud Commission scarf which I have in my possession (by default/accident) so I can post about that too. happy days.

thanks...

to all who came to the invitation only line dry & venusmomma house events on Friday night and Saturday afternoon... it was highly successful, stressful, busy and great. I apologise for not being able to stand around idly chatting which is what I would have loved to be able to do but... 'you just can't get the staff'! ...
no, many, many thanks to my marvellous helpers!
best seller of the event was .... drumroll...the packs of stickers/magnets for £1.00...not because they were incredibly cheap but rather incredibly, gorgeously packaged (even though I do say so myself).


a close second was the mammoth laser cut necklaces...

don't worry, I will have more at the NATIONAL GLASS CENTRE Art & Craft Fair; Saturday & Sunday coming...(20th & 21st Nov.) and also at DESIGNERSMARKETPLACE, Middlesbrough Town Hall on the 28th November.
see you there!

new objets de deliciousness...

really, really busy today! so what's new.

• am making, making, making, oh and designing (!)... getting ready for National Glass Centre Craft Fair on 20th & 21st November in Sunderland then Designers Marketplace (jewellery collection only) on the 28th November, Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt.
• not to mention an invitation only, preview evening of everything 'line dry' and presenting the ceramics of the talented 'venusmomma' where we will be testing our new lines on 12th November & 13th November - a little private partee (x2).
• also new things on the designed and made website (coming soon).
• not to mention uploading some new bits and pieces on my website. all exciting stuff :-)