my new cornish muse

Carolyn Saxby has just been discovered by yours truly and what a delight. I have been struggling recently with transfering my work from one media to the next and linking for example my drawings to my stitch brief...until now. Her blog is absolutely inspiring, she can do literally ANYTHING. She lives in St Ives so living by the sea must be the key ** note to self: enquire if she would like a lodger **

carolynsaxby.blogspot.com

Lucy Joy Oldfield

Lucy is a gem I found while researching for inspirtation during my module of screen printing. Her work is quaint,cute and endearing!She reminds me of Cath Kidson, but a lot more animated, Her colour palette is contemporary, balanced and beautiful. I can see her designs on tea pots, hand towels and wall hangings..I would be the first to make an investment.
Take a look at her website: http://http//www.lucyjoyoldfield.com

Coco - Forget me Not

Coco is a textile designer/ illustrator/ fashion designer. She has exhibited her work in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, Barcelona and London...she is certainly seen AND heard. (her work in Barcelona was in 2009 at fashion week....she is my new muse!).Her work is also featured in a few books ranging from illustrations, drawings, fashion to couture... now I want to change my name to Coco!

Her latest collection is named 'forget me not' which is a range of silk scarves (one shown on print above). Her scarf designs are a unique mix of geometric patterns, totems disguised as animals, esoteric imagery and childrens story tales shown as ilustrations, Her colour palette is very 60's/ 70's.

The only store in the UK to sell these scarves are Fenwick and Liberty’s (London) that sell these beauties; and they are a little pricey.....but if you fancy an investment or have a rich boyfriend/father/grandparents....tell them Coco called and she has a sale on.

The Jerwood Drawing prize 2010

I went to the university of Gloucester today to look at the work of finalists from the Jerwood drawing prize 2010..what an unexpected treat. If your unfamilair with this prize; in simple terms...it is a competition for whoever and whatever..art related **I mean literally anything**  the winner wins SIX THOUSAND BIG ONES; time to dust off your brushes. There were over 3,000 pieces of work submitted.

Credit where credit is due the winners piece was good, by a lady named Virginia Verran. She produced a muted colour piece of worked named 'bolus-space'. There was a lot going on in the piece and in honesty I dont even know where to begin ** sorry Virginia ** but none the less it was a talented worthy piece and pleasant on the eye.

My interest was more distracted by the work of Tom Flint, his piece being called London Bridge panoramic'...it was astounding. A black moody piece of London showing Depth, fear, real life, hostility, sarcasm and witt....it really was an amazing ** and over qualified for the position it took in the competition** Have a look on the following link to see for yourself: I hate to spoil the party but this guy most certainly was the best I saw in the final 70.

The second place was a bizarre attempt to show art, providing us with an old coffee table stained with coffee and tea cup rings and the student prize went to a nominee who produced a very small card board sculptor, painted in a salmon colour, showing a few shapes all attached with a circular roller coaster looking attachement made out of plastic **I nearly stood on it as I entered the exhibition...oops**

Check out the jerwood site to dig a little further...its interesting to see even if it makes you want to send a little something in yourself, I'm cutting my potato stencils as we speak.

starry eyed

Ellie Goulding was at the o2 Academy, Birmingham last night...she was exactly what it says on the tin..PERFECT! Her voice was edgy, raw and heartfelt, she sang, drummed and played the guitar...she certainly is no shrinking violet...

Her sincerity was sheer, her energy was infectious, not failing to mention where she was from...(Hereford to all of you non die hard fans, shame on you!). She is truly endearing.
The queen of my musical heart was dressed never to fail with an effortless envy...think topshop meet vintage....not designer stated in any sense (but I am sure she has a few pricey pieces that have slipped in..she is female after all). Her attire for the evening was a cropped military jacket,hot pants (with tights..she is no hussy) and suede studded boots from topshop...that I only purchased 2 weeks ago myself....great minds!




I think she is here to stay for a while...roll out the royal red.

Ellie Boots: http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=2038295&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208544&parent_categoryId=208492&sort_field=Relevance&pageSize=200

The Coco Chanel of the Art World

Louise Bourgeois.

Im not sure if I have been completely distracted by fashion much of my life but the influences of art have skipped passed me. Time to pay attention to the art world as of...NOW. Iv found the fabulous (yes she certainly does own that word)Louise Bourgeois. (25 Dec 1911- 31 May 2010) How I have never heard of this lady before I do not know.

She is a french-American artist gone sculptor contributing insanely talented work to both. Her most attributed recognitiom today is that she is the founder of confesional art. Her collection of work is muchly related to her own life much like an autobigprahy and her later work is inspired by pornography, (yes I said pornography) which I admit is a bizarre mix...98year old women and pornography..an association lets not delve tooo deep in too. Louise Borgeouise is a big contributer to Modern & contemporary art.
I get the feeling from her work and reading about her inspirations that she was a very heartful, possibly lost woman with a facade and inner self which was quite simply soleful and fabulous.

Louise was a great contributor to art which you can recognise that from her work.

I salute you Louise Bourgeois. I am inspired.

Kahori Maki

two words...amazing talent. Kahori Maki is a subject I have been researching as part of one of my modules, the brief being to search for inspiring artists that relate to art & textiles...fortunately for me I staggered upon Kahori who is formally known as a Japeanese Illustrator. She uses only black, white, grey and the occasional brief passing colour...Her work is dark but not depressing, it is alive but not overly illustrated. UNIQUE. She uses a media range from paint, video, installations to drawing. She has worked for Levis, Macdonalds,EllE (Tokyo, Dover ST Market, Chanel & Vogue to name just a few that you may recognize.

Kahori is talked about a LOT on the net and I can see exactly why. Have a look onine at her own site..she is weaves a web of intrigue. Im hoping she is exhibiting in the UK sometime in the near future.......lets watch this space.

http://www.k-maki.com/main.html

Back to School

I am back at school.....I have just begun year one on my quest to become THE British Textile Design extrodinaire. I will be finishing in June 2012 and I have a feeling the three years are going to be tough..ouch!!
But none the less worth every headache in my attempt to evolve myself to the highest peak in the design industry..think Mount Everest (or Snowdon at the very least).

I am going to share with you all my learnings and hope to teach you (even if it is what NOT to do) and maybe a few of you may be inspired by what I do/create/make or simply appreciate my words of wisdom.

my addiction of late

And what is filling my dreamy mind of late?......CLOGS!

SO I first saw CLOGS on my one and only female crush (the first and maybe only ever time I have admitted this on paper/from my mouth pipe!) is the beautiful Alexa Chung wearing the wooden beauties for the Chanel couture runway show in Paris(Jan 2010), I dribbled with excitement for the best part of 10 minutes. I.FELL.IN.LOVE...RIGHT THERE, For the second time in my life.

In my little dream head..... I literally had to have these shoes! without thinking about the small factor of 1. I have no money to buy such extravagant designer shoes and 2. I have no money to buy any new shoes. full stop. Upon chasing this dragon for some time, lusting, searching for a replacement of a budget much (much much much) smaller: I found them!

PRIMA by TOPSHOP saved the day...I fell in to lust again! I ordered them quicker than a crackwhore lighting a pipe...THEY WERE MINE! They came a few days later, looking inviting in a lovely box! (note: no notion of regret that my bank balance had suddenly become drastically lighter, It was love after all).I tried them on.........and cringed! they did not look like Alexa's, these were the Primark of the clogs..and Primark is a place for the devil.
My dream of these life changing clogs (note: I TRULY felt they had the potential to change my life, or an outfit at least) became real and once I had my dream on both feet, I cringed. sighed. sent them back. and paid for the pleasure.

You can never wear cheap clogs.