Ooh arr Cap'in Patchwark...

   What with all this thriftyness and rivivalling of homemade shindigs, lets dig out the old W.I in all of us and pick up a needle and thread. My contribution to this is the attendance to an old school "Stitch & Bitch" at the local, so here's a wee bit of inspiration for us all, bring on the gin and gossip.

 Kelly Swallow

 Cassandra Ellis

 Bokja

 

Anthropologie

Market Day...

   Tuesday is market day! I thought I'd better start showing you some of the thrifty treasures I buy. It was a ridickadonculousley early this morning about 8.30 when I got to the market (for us unemployed folk, that's damn early!) and very cold and wet so its was a bit of quiet one this morning, even the  fruit n' veg lads weren't there.
 
  Still managed to pick up some absolute gems, firstly this awesome black leather handbag. Straps all still intact not too worn, only a little bit of oxidizing on the rivets, inside a wee bit shmelly but febreeze (or spray deodorant) will fix this!

And Secondly this scrumptousley thick, dark purple, fringed aztecy/geometric scarf. What a beaut.

Black bag....£3

Scarf.....£2

BOOM

Beauty Spot...

   Not sure when this one cropped up and have no idea where it is. But if I did know. I would be an alcoholic. Because I dont think. I could ever leave. Sit and stare. Wallpaper. Hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours....

Happy new dragon year!...

   Lets welcome in the Chinese new year with this stunning artwork from Zhou Fan.  His beautiful images are based on recurring dreams of falling jellyfish he had as a child and the safeness that these memories provide him are a blissful escape from the harshness of today's reality.

You & Your Pen...

   Daren Newman your line is exquisite, your mind enigmatic and your hand drawn illustrations perfectly intricate.

Darren Newman, Me & My Pen

Green on her fingers, bells on her toes...

   Spring is around the corner, it'll be frolicking like a young gun up your road in no time. So lets fling open the front door and welcome the greenery!

House plants no longer have to have the fuddy duddy association of the preened to perfection rose,  half dead bonsai tree and the failed waterings of a fern. With the help of some of these ingenious designs they can provide quirky and quality spaces for plants to grow.

So your home is fresh as a daisy, plants look cool and contemporary, there's potential for providing your own herbs, fruit and veg, and a cleaner air quality. Bring on the compost.

Topsy turvey growing steez with Sky Planter

Not On The High Street

Plants don't have to be all fancy pants and exotic, good ol' moss does the job just fine and can even achieve arty farty featurness on your wall.

Moss Terrarium Bottle, Uncommon Goods

No need for old hosiery!

Ceramic Cressheads, Culturelabel

Hhmm dodecahedron terrarium...

and other beautiful glass planters from 

Old Faithful Shop

This looks like a cat with a facefull O' fruit. But it aint!

"...decoration, storage and cultivation for the kitchen window."

Cocoon designed by Mans Salomosen

This is smart.
A floating modern Eco island.
Benjamin Graindoarge

   As much as I appreciate all the clean lines and whiteness and glass and moderness  and all  its pretty pretty and clevery scientificness. I like the jars too...

Stunning Stanislav...

Stanislav Ginzburg.

Blog

Queue & Aay with Rebecca Crosbie...

   I had the greatest pleasure in having a chat with this little firecracker about her closely guarded work. Rebecca Crosbie enjoys the quiet, still, post lived spaces of abandoned buildings and captures the fragile remains of space in hundreds of photographs. Whether it be a decaying manor house or witnessing the crumbling demise of demolition Crosbies' images piece together lives that once lived.

Q. When did this attraction to abandonment begin and how did it evolve?

A. I think I was about fourteen, there was an abandoned house near my parents farm which I explored with my sister. It was the starting point to a very much involved and passionate fascination. Since then I've shot over 60 locations ranging from cinemas to asylums, ships and leisure centers.

Q. Tell us about the process of finding and shooting?

A.  I do a lot of driving around and make a note of passing places. Keeping a keen eye out on the internet is also helpful. When I've found a place you can generally get a feel of whether it'll be a good interesting place to go. I never force entry and accessibility is usually fairly easy, these places have been left for years and more often than not I have not been the first visitor.

     A tripod is a must but I try to keep equipment to a minimum there has been a fair amount of climbing and falling through floors in some places.

Q. And the photographs?

A. Even though I've studied arts these images where not intended for a particular project. It was something for me. It was a personal interest, not for some brief set for a module on a course. I capture the final time and place but also research the history to these buildings, what happened to the people, business and families.

Crosbie is also helping craft a very exciting new a photography collective venture known as

The North London Darkroom launching on February 14th, please find more info in this newsletter.

Beauty Spot...

I don't want to say anything that would ruin this photograph. Enough said.

The key...

   to simplicity is that simplicity is key. A scrumptious colour pallet and geometric shapes from graphic designer and dab hand painter Gary Andrew Clarke. I'm a fan of the biscuit liking man. Canvases and prints both available for exchange with the mohonies.

Graphic Nothing

Jewellery Jealousies...

   Oh my! Kirsty Kirkpatrick I like your style, amazing handmade, recycled body adornments. From chunky necklaces and bracelets to art deco earrings and Aztec cuff links Uncommonly Beautiful Recycled Accessories is a real gem.
   I'm a particularly fond of the recycled wooden necklaces oh what I would give! for now I'll just admire their higgledy piggledy chain linked 80's disco tech eccentricity from afar *sigh*...

Tate avec PaPa bear...

   I'd been wanting to see Gerhard Richter at the Tate Modern for weeks and have been meaning to write about it for days. Truly living up to the last minute expectations I went zipping up to Landan in all mother natures gusty glory a day before the exhibition finished. The bridge was wobbly, the queues long and whilst in Rome I popped a glance at Tacita Deans most recent contribution to the Turbine Hall.  
   With pursed lips and raised eyebrows I must say, it was kinda good. I am not a fan of video/film/moving image, whatever the label, but Tacita, I like what you did with the place. An almost floor to ceiling screen stood clean and glowing into the darkness of the Turbine, casting dreamy reflections that spilled across the concrete floor. Snappy bold shapes popped across spliced slides jammed in seemingly random collages. The imagery appeared as an obscure slide show which morphed and trickled into the next arrangement of natury, poparty Mondrianesque lined frame.

 

On with the show! Richter my darling you were like a night with a prostitute. Hot, bustly and expensive but ultimately pleasurable. Initially curated well but seemingly losing momentum towards the end where a splodge of Cave paintings dwelled and the whole place far too busy. I don't like to crane my neck to look at a description or stand on tiptoes to view a work from a meter away. I am not a giraffe. Despite my 6ft height.
   Enough! Richter I love your work. You paint exceptionally and the length and breadth of productivity is broad and brave. Your gusto to make beautiful portraiture alongside cold framed sculpture and colourblocking is truly commendable and I applaud the commitment to each new venture.
   This exhibition also gave me the chance to spiele of some arty bollocks talk to my dad hoping he would think at least uni taught me something. It was great to see and great to say I've seen. A one standing ovation for Mr Richter.

 

Flimingo flamango...

   December bought along my birthday and Christmas so presents ahoy! I love the wrap Mama used all the ribbons and fabric where a treat in themselves.

 

Max Hernn wrapping paper.

 Three of my favorite presents. Yup that's right. That's a boars hoof goblet and what?

Boom. Lee Broom...

In all its neon licked shabby glowing glory.

Lee Broom you are far too young, good looking and succesful. 

But this is good.

Huppy New Yaaar!...

   New Year sucks. But I think gadging by how much time it took me to recover, it was a good one. Which is probably why I'm writing about said evening almost a week late...
Lets crack on with all this resolution shennaningins that will be kept up for a couple of months, 3-4 tops.

Numero uno!
Find a job that...
 A) Pays me more than the bare minimum. (which is currently just keeping me topped up with cigarettes and alcohol so I can bear to put up with the job that pays me the bare minimum)
AND
B) Not quite so soul destroying I want to gauge my eyes out with a blunt object and physically bludgeon with my own gouged out skull my fellow co "workers".

Two!
Save moneys.
This is not going well. I have already found a new jewelery designer who I want to be buying all her wares (Kirsty Kirkpatrick ) Booked gigs, festivals and maybe a holiday... Sorry Ma and Pa I think I'll be kipping in the loft a bit longer.

Tree!
Get a studio/room/shed. I need to make something. With stuff. Then do something with it. Or not.

!BONUS Resolution!...

Meet architect, builder and welder. I want this in my garden. Including the skyline.

Have a mighty fine 2012.