Studio selfie with demo piece for forthcoming workshops.

Mixed Media Workshops in Rye

Blast from the past!

Hello and welcome to my revised Blog.
Its been quite some time now since Ive blogged and quite a lot has changed for me during that time.
I'm still a practising Artist, and I live in lovely Rye on the South coast of England with my son Indigo.
I paint mainly and run workshops from my home studio.

Heres my latest commission.

Home Store Hastings - A Marvellous Store

A marvellous and intriguing new store has opened in the old town district of Hastings.

As I'm currently living in the area I was delighted to have a look around and chat to the owner Alastair Hendy, who obligingly let me take some interior shots.

He is well known in the area, and has always had connections to Hastings as his Grand Parents used to live here. He explained that this area has always felt like home to him.
Alastair is a well established photographer, food writer and stylist and regularly contributes to journals such as Marie claire, Olive, Saturday Telegraph and the mail on Sunday. He is also a style and food consultant for M&S and Sainsburys.

I felt quite privileged to have this opportunity to write about this latest project of his which he has been planning and collecting for, for about six years.

The concept is essentially a hardware store delivered with style, and attention to detail. Like a bygone department store on a small scale; selling beautifully crafted brushes, kitchen ware, sanitary ware, textiles and vintage pieces. Alastair explains that it reflects a conscious return to old values; values that he's always had.

The products have a utilitarian feel, and simplistic beauty. Alastair feels that in times of austerity people are wanting to choose their purchases more carefully; something useful and decorative, that has quality and will last.

I was very pleased that the majority of Alastair's suppliers are in the UK, with a small amount from Germany. They are sourced with ecology in mind and are well made from natural resources such as boar hair and sustainable woods. I particularly like the mushroom brush, surely everyone needs one of those.

If you are an avid collector of well known vintage crockery such as green Beryl Ware or need to replace some broken pieces, this is the place to come as Alastair has a huge range of pieces in excellent condition.

He is still on the look out for a good string supplier and would like to stock an even greater selection of quality scissors than he already has. The current range made from Sheffield steel, includes even candlewick snippers and Tailors shears, amongst others.

The bones of the building are quite beautiful, from panelling to peeling walls and woodwork, all of which give the impression that they have always been there. However, I was astonished to hear that this was not so. Alastair had to source some of the backdrop from London and salvage places elsewhere. The building did have some of the desired 'look' but the enhancement of this is down to Alastair's creative abilities and meticulous attention to detail, all of which are testament to his vision and passion for his concept.

There is something here for everyone ; Alastair confirms that he has a broad customer base from London professionals to Local pensioners and his fan base is likely to get bigger, with plans in place for an on-line shop and the addition of a cafe serving sea food and local produce. The visit for me was a real experience.
I asked if he intended to role out this concept in other towns and he confirmed that he would like a Home Store London....watch this space.

Tinker Tailor - recycled design

Fresh from their debut in Selfridges “Bright Young Things' exhibition, where they re-created their studio space in the window, is design duo Tinker Tailor AKA Katy Gray Rosewarne and Adam Towner.

Now here is a couple after my own heart, as they too specialize in recyling and the re-working of old materials. From a discarded camera to a derelict building, these two can create exciting new products and spaces from virtually anything.

Here are two of their latest designs, The Handi light, and Vinyl Cake Stand.

Finally someone who can make good use of those old records.

Also take a look at their latest Interior project '£500 house.' They set themselves a budget of just £500 to create a stylish interior for this building...now thats creative recycling. More pictures on their site.

Tinker Tailors range of products lights and soft furnishings are available at The Dead dolls club London, which also houses creative studios, or via their website at www.thedeaddollsclub.com

Artist Interior on Boboho

New home featured on Boboho.

After a period of being unable to continue blogging, due to other commitments, I am now back with a new post and aim to update at least every 2-4 weeks, time allowing.

Quirky Dolly Stopper

Some time ago now, we visited the home of sculptor Zoe Rubens, who’s work I featured here in a previous post. She is such a great character and has wonderful and unique sculpture and printmaking.

We did a photo shoot of Zoe’s lovely home, which can now be seen on our Interiors site at boboho.com.

Here is a taster of what is to come.

Living Room with Chandelier 

Window Hangings

Sculpture by Zoe Rubens

Sculpture by Zoe Rubens

Read more about Zoe and see the 360 panoramic images of her House on boboho.com

Brigthon Art Fair

Finally getting back to a normal routine after my move to the UK. After 5 months, have found suitable child care at a Steiner school for my son Indigo, so should have a little more time now to do more regular updates.

Last week was Brighton Art Fair and I went along to check it out as a possible venue to exhibit my own painting next year. I was really impressed with the standard of the exhibitors and a few stood out from the crowd.

One of those was Steve McPherson, a multi talented Artist who was exhibiting his Artworks ‘Marine Plastic”

Steve has collected objects from beaches around the Kent coast for 15yrs, which he collates by type and colour. Some of these then make their way into his unique and very attractive assemblages.

Some are grouped by type such as these tags. Others, a mixture of interesting beach finds.

This was one of my favourites, small pieces of Dymo labels with intriguing messages in crinkled sea washed plastic, probably washed up from many vessels

I was blown away by Steve’s work, of course there are other Artists working with toys and plastics but not in the same way, or with such attention to detail, his work really stands out.

See more Marine Plastics and Steve’s other work here, including photography, 2D and 3D Artworks and Book works. He also has a great blog, which includes a feature in the Brighton and Hove magazine, Latest7.

New featured home on boboho.com

Here is a small taster of the lovely Shella's house, coming soon.

...this turn of the century house was a different experience, for the exterior, smart and unassuming, gave no clue to the hidden delights beyond those walls...

Read the rest and see all the images including the 360 degree tour, in the next couple of weeks at my interiors site: www.boboho.com

Relocation, relocation

Thank you, thank you to those of you who haven’t deleted me during my last 3 months without blogging. Moving country is a stressful business!

Finally getting settled after moving twice in 10 weeks. My new apartment is looking better after a quick revamp, and I’ve purchased a couple of new editions to the living room décor, not perhaps everyone’s taste but I love them!

After my lovely shabby chic farm in Denmark I’ve gone for a more grown up and glamorous look. Here’s a couple of pictures.

Think the old coffee table will have to go, doesn’t look good with the new stuff! Looking for a mirrored one if anyone’s seem one.

Started work on a new body of mixed media paintings, these ones are not finished but nearly there

For those of you in and around London in the next couple of weeks, head out to ‘Craft Central’, 33-35 St Johns Square, London, EC1 4DS, where there is an exhibition of emerging new talent such as Laura Felicity who produces beautiful decorative products such as this silkscreen printed wallpaper. See her at http://www.laurafelicity.co.uk/

For more info and a peak at other exibitors such as “Undergrowth design” see www.craftcentral.org.uk

Great Design Items

I wanted to share with you, a great gift I had at Christmas and those I bought for others. My husband likes to make my present a complete surprise so I usually have absolutely no idea whatsoever, which could be a bit worrying, like some random, on a whim present. He always pulls it off though! And it’s never what I think I might get! But I always really love it.

This was the gift of 2009, designed by Ramin Razani. Isn’t it great? Couldn’t have chosen better myself! You can see the site at:

www.officinacrea.it This one is part of the Zoo animals, wall collection.

Great Tins
I decided to shop more on-line this year as I’ve discovered so many gorgeous and talented designs out there and thought it would be interesting to get some things from other parts of the world.

Bought some great tins for my friend Carrey from an on-line shop called Blafre Design, in Norway. They also have a great blog here: http://blafre.blogspot.com/ for those of you who aren’t familiar with them.

The range has some wonderful stylised and colourful designs on tins, paper, cards and canvas, by the owners Ingrid and Remi, Perfect for children and for those of us who can never get enough tins, to fill with haberdashery items! The tins I ordered were very well made and the owners very thoughtfully gave me a booklet about their range and some free stickers, which are really nice. A fabric range is coming soon.

Recycled Card Toys
My other great finds were thanks to my Flickr friend Kay in Holland, whom I regularly swap style magazines with. She had sent a couple for me just before Christmas and there were some gifts featured which I liked, in Holland at www.kidsonroof.nl I bought this wonderful Totem Tree for Indigo, my son and the City collection. Made from recycled card and printed with colourful and intriguing designs, fun to make, fun to play with and they look great displayed.

The Kidsonroof ‘Totem’ was chosen as one of TIME Style and Design’s Green Design100, it was also nominated as speciality Toy 2009 by the American Toy association. Check them out; they also have some large play houses and insects.

In case you’re all wondering why my blog updates have become less frequent, I’m in the process of moving house and to another country, so very stressful! not enough hours in the day! Bear with me over the next 4 weeks as I may not have complete access to the internet and will be busy looking for a home and unpacking!

New Feature on Boboho
Welcome to new followers and thanks to all readers for continuing to show interest in my blog. I will soon have 200 followers so my next post will give details of a celebratory ‘giveaway’. In the meantime, for those of you who are not yet familiar with my interiors site, we have a new house on there, which is kitsch delicious! See http://www.boboho.com/

Multi Talented Artist, Benthe Hoyer Hansen

I first had the pleasure of meeting Benthe a couple of years ago when I was invited to look around her beautiful period apartment.

She was at this time getting ready to finish her ‘kunst akademi' degree in Sculpture. What struck me was how creative she is, as everywhere I looked there was evidence of Artistic endeavours, from ceramics to paintings, mixed media sculptures and handmade paper lamps. The pale backdrop and period details of her amazing apartment show off the work to its best advantage and made me feel very inspired.

During a recent meeting I was delighted to discover that Benthe has also turned her hand to knitting and I’m now pleased to show you her gorgeous knitwear collection from her own designs. She only uses the best quality wool and silk and has many styles and colours to choose from. Items can be bought from her site www.artdress.dk

She also takes orders if your size is unavailable in the style or colours that you like. Prices start at an incredible 700 Danish kroner, which is approx. £80 English money and $140 American dollars, less for a child’s dress.

All her items are completely knitted by hand and are a beautiful quality. She will ship over seas; mail her on benthe@mail.dk for postal charges.

Benthe has now opened a gallery in her Atelier where she shows her own artwork alongside that of her husband Jens, also an accomplished painter, and also guest Artists.

She continues to develop her art and design in many disciplines, not allowing her self to be restricted to any one medium.

She says: “Creativity is a big part of my life and it has always been so, but it is only in these later years that I’ve been able to pursue my art full time and finish my academy education.”

“I’ve never been capable of choosing a discipline or material so I multi task in all forms of expression including painting, knitting, sculpture and ceramics, working with, plastics, clay, fabric, yarn, paint and paper. Of late I’ve begun working also with video and sound.”

“For me, the world is full of possibilities but I don’t know the ‘art’ of limiting myself, luckily”.

Benthe’s Ateleir is at: www.galleri13b.dk for exhibition dates and forth coming events.