Oxfordshire Artweeks

Thanks to everyone who has visited my Artweeks open studio exhibition so far. I've meet some really nice people and had lots of wonderful friends come along too. Natasha and Zoe took some lovely photos from their trip last Sunday. The sun was shinning and everybody was drinking tea and eating cake in the garden. Bliss!

I'm just getting ready for the last few days of the show, making some more handmade cards and lavender bags to sell. The weather has been wild today, so some sunshine tomorrow would be great, thanks!

Open Saturday 25th May - Monday 27th May: 12-6pm. More details here.

open studio

Well, my studio exhibition is all ready to open this Saturday, here are some photos from last years show. I've made lots of new pieces; from vintage lace brooches, coin purses, jewellery pouches to clutch purses, lots of handmade cards and also three special little vintage collage pictures.

Exhibition starts Saturday 18th -27th May - details here

 I always really enjoy displaying my work alongside some vintage treasures. I recently bought a lovely 1950's glass fronted cabinet for my show and it looks great with my textiles displayed inside. I can't wait to take some photos to show you.

  

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spring collection

I somehow managed to turn the mess above into these little snap frame purses. It took me ages to work out a pattern to fit the frame and get the shape right. I haven't quite finished them yet, but I'm happy with how they look so far. 

I've made a few of them using different prints and lace, I like the idea of displaying them on colourful ribbons at my next show in May.

 

 I'm really busy making lots of new pieces at the moment, so I'll be sharing more photos soon.

tuesday stuff

 

I ordered some new business cards the other day and they have just arrived. It's so hard to decide which images to use, but I went for this selection, along with a few other pictures of my work and sewing bits. I'm really happy with how they have turned out.

 

This afternoon my boyfriend and I went to listen to a talk by Carlo Petrini of the slow food movement at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford. It was a very passionate talk and very inspiring. With his mantra of good, clean and fair food stuck in our minds we are just about to cook this  for dinner.

 

I hope you are having a nice week x

silver shimmer

I do love silvery greys mixed with ivory whites, it could be the effect of the dark winter months drawing in, but I like how they shimmer and sparkle in the light.
 

As you can see I have been working on some new pieces, my work desk is overflowing with vintage lace, beads and buttons.

 

The little silver purse above, I decorated with a beautiful bit of vintage white lace netting and finished with an antique button.

Now for sale in my shop

in my purse...

What would you keep in a little handmade purse? .... a vintage compact mirror, a hand written letter and a favourite necklace....

 

or some loose change, business cards and stamps....or maybe a collection of precious things; a diamante leaf brooch, a beautiful feather found on a summers walk and pretty buttons....

sunday sketchbooks

 On Sunday I packed up all my sketchbooks, patterns, fabrics, samples and buttons and headed off to Waterperry Art gallery, where I spent the day chatting to lots of lovely people about my work and what inspires me to create my handmade accessories. One kind lady offered to send me some of her vintage handmade lace which I am very excited about.

 I have a collection of my bags and purses on show as part of Artweeks along with five other artists until the end of May.

 

 

exhibition weekend

I spent Saturday morning finishing off the final touches to my show, I always really enjoy setting up my exhibition adding a few of my vintage possessions that have inspired me in my designs. 

The doors to my summer house studio opened at 12pm, the sun was shining and lots of visitors came out to see my new collection, including two of my lovely friends Natasha and Clare. 

Natasha, also know as Candy Pop took some great photos of my work which you can see on her beautiful blog - here. We all enjoyed cups of tea and slices of homemade cake and chatted about our favourite vintage finds, a perfect afternoon!

My Show continues until May 13th, details can be found here. I hope you can make it.

le petit echo de la mode

When I went to the flea market at Malvern a few weeks ago I bought this french magazine dated 1928

I love the illustrations and the colours used on the front cover. Inside there are a selection of lace patterns to follow....

I also bought some beautiful pieces of handmade lace and broderie anglaise collars, and then spent the day happily sewing on vintage seed beads to decorate two new drawstring bags, for a new collection at Waterperry Gallery, which opens on May 5th.

Have a lovely weekend whatever you are up to.