A mornings work.

I am loving playing with this. It is nearly ready for some green beetles on the harlequin diamonds and butterflies on the right rusty part, where the patchwork once hung...Tom is still mumbling.....pardon darling? I can't quite hear you! ( I think they still might make it.)

Oh yes, I nearly forgot. I passed my 100th post the other day without realising. So I thought my next milestone would be 1000 hits of my blog. So once I am there I will let you know, and I am working on a little rust picture that I will give away to someone who leaves a comment on that post, they will be picked at random. Have a happy day!

Paper cut trains.

All aboard who are coming aboard!

Paper cut trains for baby Troy. x

Oh the joy!

It's been a little quite here, mainly as I have been clearing up after this little one! She loves to get stuck right in. The paint brush is always abandoned early on and she likes to scoop up the paint up with her hands, squelching it between her fingers before smothering the page followed shortly by her arms and face. You go girl! This painting session resulted in an impromptu bath in the kitchen sink for the little lady!

More pages from my notebook.

Well it only seemed fitting to follow the last post with a small something from the boys. In this photo bottom middle there is a picture by Guy Maestri. In the picture of the yellow wall, I love all the squares and slight variation of tone. The top right picture the two paintings I seem to remember were found in the garden! What a find, I am jealous! I also love the tin armoire in the same picture. We used to buy these from the States from this company.

I the above picture Tim Summerton painted the top left picture. The top right shot comes from Nest Interiors. And the rest I am ashamed to say I am unsure, so if you know please leave a comment and I will amend it. Off to do a little painting of my own now, before the little lady awakes and the big man is back from a play date.

Meet the boys who made me have a go...Guy Maestri and Tim Summerton.

I love love love the Australian painter Guy Maestri. Between him, Tim Summerton and the magnificent Cy Twombly, they made me paint. Made me pick up a paint brush and give it a go. Made me believe by looking at their strokes that I could do it. Guy Maestri's paintings are often hanging in a fair amount of the homes that are photographed for Inside Out magazine. This is where my love affair began, within the pages of a glossy magazine. My eyes dance when they take in the freedom that he is able to replicate, something that is very hard to achieve. Clearing your mind and just letting yourself go. Falling with the paint knowing where you will land and running with it. He replicates nature, over and over tumbling onto the canvas. Scratching and pulling back, layering layer upon layer over and over. Keeping going until at last he stands back and knows he is done.

Tim Summerton another wonderful Australian artist. I am in awe of his landscapes. The rhythmic flow of balance. Leaving the top quarter free, working rubbing filling the paper or canvas until it is full. The scale is absorbed as if he is sitting with in a costal plane or watching the sea. The mapping of elements around him he piles the paint, layering around him. Letting the oil run away, it slops through and down the painting. I feel like I am sitting by his side when I see his landscapes, my eyes sing.

As for Cy Twombly, he deserves a post of his own. Another day unfortunately, as it is late.

Photograph of Cy Twombly by Ashley G Tucker.

Painted clay leaf necklaces.

We needed clay so we walked to the art shop, and on the way pulled leaves out of hedges, and on the way back caught the bus because when you are little that is exciting. We warmed the clay, rolled it out and pressed our stolen bounty into its flesh. Dillon armed with a sculpting tool carefully carved around the leaves and bore a hole at the top. Laying them onto the baking tray, and steering them into the tepid oven.


Once cool the hardened leaves and beads were laden with paint. There is something so satisfying watching kids paint. I will never tire of this, watching them deciding on which colour, the swirl of the brush in the pigment, and then the brush stroke. Swooosh! The gloop, the strands in the mix of colour, the almost unconscious mark of the beginner. The mini maestros at work.

And then the linking of elements. We divided our hoard into two piles. His and hers. Along came the string and together we threaded them on, one after the other until there were none. They couldn’t believe their hands could produce such wears. Squeals from the little one, the anticipation in the knowledge of what was to come. Over their heads the looped string slipped and sat upon their shoulders. Unable to conceal their mirth, they danced around the room. So there you have it… fine treasure fit for mini dancing maestros!

Peter Clark Paperworks

I saw Peter Clarks work up close at the last Affordable Art Fair on Rebecca Hossacks stand and it was such a delight. Mainly maps and other varieties of found paper, layer upon layer, creased and wrinkled they make up the characters of these wondrous beasts. Aren't they amazing? I love them.

 

His book can be bought here, if you fancy a closer look.

le petite atelier de Paris

I was reading the Inside Out blog archive and they have an interesting interview with Pia Jane Bijkerk. She is talking about her book Hand Made in Paris and how Paris is so alive with artisans who are able to sell their work easily due to help from the council who support them with cheaper rents, negotiable leases, and handmade markets. She also mentions a few of the artisans in her book and this boutique in particular caught my eye, le petite atelier de Paris. It is in the Marais which is a really fun area of Paris where we would stay on buying trips twice a year. They have a boutique and workshop combined, and make the most wonderful ceramics there with beautiful packaging and a blog that will make you smile. 

The house bell above, I bet you did not know such a thing existed? They say it rings with the wind or when you touch the little star. I bet you want one now.... or what about the desert wish bowl? Once you have polished off your desert, you are left with a wish; love, health, happiness, success, prosperity or friendship. Thats the kind of surprise I like!

I saw this from their blog, and thought it would be a great project to do with the kids. A walk to gather natures finest. Once home, roll out some clay, press on your finds, cut out and leave to dry, then they could paint them, find some wool and a few beads and they could have a necklace each.

It also appears that they give part of their workshop to an artist, so if it all gets too much for me here, you might find me over there….

A mornings work.

A morning’s work? I hear you ask. How can that be a morning’s work? Good question. When I got back from dropping off the kids. Mr Big was here watching Tony Blair giving evidence at the Chilcot inquiry. This is all very well, but I know this is going to go on for some time, and time is something I do not have. I needed to put on loud music and paint. So eventually after much huffing and puffing, (from me) he took his swollen big hung over head off to work. I heard him mutter something about the patchwork at the end of the painting, but I closed my ears. Surely I can have selective hearing too?


I have met quite a couple of people over the last couple of days and they have confided really personal things to me. I am honoured to be confided in, in such an honest and frank way, almost a little scared. I feel like I need a velvet pouch to put these thoughts in, to look after them. To take them out, one by one and think about them, before putting them back neatly. My head is buzzing.

So Beautiful.

I found  Au fil de... late last night, I have no idea how I tumbled upon it. I woke early this morning (well a little lady helped) so here it is for you. I love the captured beauty of these photos, even in the decay. Sheer heaven. Etsy shop here

More pages from my notebook

This can no longer be called my sketch book as all I seem to do these days is stick inspiration into it. I still love it though. Sorry I can not name one of the artists or photographers, I have collected these over a fair amount of time, so if anyone knows please let me know so I can amend this.

I know in the third picture, top right, it is from Abigail Aherns lounge. I think it is a sheet of metal that is now rusty and gorgeous.

And the next project begins.

Here is the start of my next piece. This one is actually for us, to hang over above our kitchen table. Looking at the state of the walls in said area, it will not be long before it is splattered with food. Perhaps I should not spend too much time worring about this one.

I cut this up as Tom said under no circumstance was it going to be turned into a wall hanging to hang over the sofa. I normally don't listen to his point of view when it comes to the house, as he likes cricket scenes and proper granny furniture (as opposed to vintage) and the such like. But something in the tone of his voice made me sit up and take note. We have reached a compromise I am allowed to use a small section for this picture. Probably because he knows in no time it will be splattered with food.

Come fly with me; Apollo Butterflies

Come fly with me. Apollo Butterflies. Oil and gold leaf on board by Kate Kelleher.


I have loved every minute I spent painting this, it was a real pleasure. I seem to learn something new each time I use oil paints. I started using them, two years ago after giving birth to Matilda, I found I needed longer drying time, oil paints are just the ticket as they can be very forgiving.

Magnicent cock, Breon O'Casey

We are trying, rather I am trying, as all house hold duties, unless they involve bricks and mortar, tend to fall on my shoulders these days, to find a dresser/armoire/fancy bookcase to house all of our books. One of my friends suggested The Conran Shop. Matilda and I set off yesterday on our quest. Although it was a fruitless search, on the fancy bookcase front, I did find this dove peace vase.

After all if one sets out to find something, and doesn't find it, one always tends to find something else, to feel like one has shopped. Yes? (And buying new boots for Matilda on the way doesn't count does it?) So there you have it. Although when I got home I realised why I liked it so much. Earlier in the week when I had been working on a painting, I had put down newspaper to catch my mess. And I had admired this advert for a exhibition;

What a magnificent cock I thought. This one was sculpted by Breon O'Casey, a man of Irish decent who now lives in Cornwall. Having spent most of his life working with sculptors Dame Barbara Hepworth and Denis Mitchell. His main passion has been and always will be painting and sculpture although he has made jewellery. When he reached seventy he decided enough was enough and now concentrates painting and sculpture. He has exhibited all over England and Ireland and still continues to do so.

So there you have it, one magnificent cock inspired me.

French fancy. Nathalie Lete.

Coincidentally continuing on the French theme, I am really late reading my pile of Interior mags that I accumulate where even and when ever I can. I flipped through Elle Deco just now and found a wonderful piece about a designer Nathalie Lete. She does not stop creating, ceramics, books, prints, jewellery, rugs, there is no end to her talent.  If her work looks familiar you have probably seen it at Anthropologie (who btw are opening a shop on the Kings Road this year), Caravan, Lapin & Me, Designers Guild, Issey Miyake, to name just a fair few.

She has recently collaborated with Astier de Villate making a table service keeping their style but adding her signature.

 And where does a Nathalie feel inspired to make such wonder? An old factory on the outskirts of Paris that once made parts for the Eiffel tower. I love looking at peoples homes, but even better are spaces in which people create. Feast your eyes on this;

Well I won’t be showing you my small wall at home from which I am allowed to paint. And my cupboard crammed full of paint and the what not, which when opened everything tumbles out, but at least small fingers can not get in. (although once I did walk into the room to find Matilda had discovered my blue oil paints and had obviously thought they were body cream and spread it on herself from head to toe. Even tried eating it. Nice. She looked like a smurf! She improved with age, the floor didn't!)

Please let me have the energy to create like Nathalie Lete once my little ones are at school.