Thawing out......

We braved the cold at the week end to do the craft fair at The Old Slate Yard in Forest Gate. There were lots of numb toes all round but it was a really good atmosphere especially on Sunday when everyone came by to see the nativity and join in the christmas carols.......





We've got this week end off but am back next week end at The Sparkle Fair in Wanstead, luckily inside for this one so we'll be nice and cosey. It'll be a great chance to get any last minute christmas presents.


I'm off to Winter Wonderland tomorrow for our girlie annual trip to Hyde Park for a good old dose of Christmas joy. If I can manage buggy, baby and camera in between all the crowds i'll try to take some pics. Also it's the first time of braving the underground with 2 buggies and hoards of Christmas shoppers, so wish us luck!

Kirsten x

Christmas market updates.....

So Friday was my first market since having the little one and my first night out without her. The E17 Designers market are always great fun, sounds really cheesy but I think they're such a good atmosphere with lots of music and people getting merry on their free drink! There was a surreal moment when an exotic and glamorous belly dancer took to the stage which kept all the men happy. The dancer teaches at my mum's college, Waltham Forest, it looks like great fun and perfect way to get toned up for the summer!



So this week end in conjunction with the Forest Gate Art Trail is a christmas indoor market at the Old Slate Yard. It's quite unusual to have an art trail in winter but it makes a nice change. The lady who runs it got inspired from the Victorian Christmas markets and so decided to try and create one herself with lots of Christmas trees, wreaths and handmade christmas gifts on offer. I've managed to get together some new pictures of 50's girls at the hairdressers.........

We've also got some new jewellery and beaded bookmarks on offer which my mum has been busy making. She made a couple of bracelets for me which I haven't taken off since she gave them to me a month ago!

Upcoming christmas events....

We're finally getting back to business and these are the first upcoming events.

Firstly is the infamous E17 Designers Christmas on 25th and 26th November, we're doing the Friday night but there's a wide selection of designer makers on the different days and you only need to pay the once. I think these are great events with music, a free drink and free raffle prizes (goodie bags of a selection of items donated from the designers)....



Then we've got some of our prints and cards at The Create Place's Xmas pop up shop on Sunday 27th November, 11-4pm. All items are under £20, great for little Christmas gifts, and with free mince pies and mulled wine what more could you want......

Halloween treat....

I usually like to carve a pumpkin for halloween but this year I had a better idea.....



apparently it's cruel to dress up your kids for your own entertainment but I couldn't resist : )

I also have to tell you about Zaki's, a new Turkish restaurant on Wanstead High Street, where these pics were taken for my sisters' birthday dinner. Definitely worth a visit as it's great food, I can't remember what my dinner was called but it was an amazing dish of turkish stew on top of smoked creamy aubergine (recommended by the waiter and definitely the best choice as it gave everyone else food envy!!).



It's a bit late in the making but I put together this little brag book for Paul's mum in New Zealand. I kept it really simple and plain as I know that's what she'll prefer, I just have to get round to posting it.......

For illustration lovers....

out there the Cartoon Museum in London is hosting a book launch for 'Making Great Illustration',taking place on Tuesday 18th October. There will be a display of artwork from the book along with food and drink on the night. Shame I can't make it but it sounds really good,especially with the line up of artists:

Making Great Illustration is a fascinating look at some of the world’s best illustrators, providing an insight into the creation of illustration from concept to finished work. Featuring exclusive interviews and images of work and studios, this beautiful book provides a rare insight into the unique perspective, approach and artwork of artists not available elsewhere.

Illustrators featured include: Quentin Blake, Rob Ryan, Marian Bantjes, Javier Mariscal, Ronald Searle, Oliver Jeffers, Kitty Crowther, David McKean and many more. They cover all types of illustration: design and advertising, fiction, decorative illustration and merchandising, editorial and political illustration, typograhical, children’s publishing, graphic literature, fashion illustration, topographical illustration and authorial practice.

Section introductions from: The Conran Shop, The Folio Society, Musee Les Arts Decoratifs, New York Times, SAKS 5th Avenue, Candlewick Press USA, First Second (Pan Macmillan), Christian Lacroix, The Times and Adrian Shaughnessy.

Get ready for Halloween.....

Make With Me, in aid of the learning disability charity Mencap, is getting set for Halloween with a host of great ideas to get making with children this year.

Bespoke cake maker Lily Vanilli has donated her devilishly delicious Edible Bones recipe, as well as Sublime Stitching’s Gothic Grandeur spooky pattern. Also check out National Geographic Kids’ Magazine ‘Halloween Make Over Cards’ and top tips on How to carve the perfect Pumpkin, all free to download now at www.makewithme.org.uk.

Lily Vanilli says: “I love Halloween baking, it’s such a great theme to be creative with. I came up with the bone recipe idea when writing my book 'A Zombie ate my Cupcake'. I love Make With Me, it's such a great idea to get people socialising and baking in this way. I hope you have a great time this Halloween baking my scary bones, partying and raising funds for Mencap and people with a learning disability.”




Jenny Hart says: "Embroidery patterns are usually so sweet, but not these! My favourites are the rat and the raven. You could make a Halloween wall hanging to spooky your place up a bit. Stitch words like "Come Into My Lair" with the spider webs and drippy candles to set the right creepy tone for your Halloween home!"

New little addition......

It's been ages since I last did a post and here's why, our new little cute bundle Eloise Anna Adams finally arrived, a week late, last Tuesday in the early hours of the morning.

Here she is meeting her cousin for the first time on her second day in the world.....


Looking adorable (obviously i'm a biased mum already and think she's the cutest thing!) in a new baby outfit, she came out a little bigger than I thought at 8lb 4oz but I still managed to squeeze her into this...


Her new favourite position in the evening, hanging out with daddy.....


It's been just over a week now, so i'm hoping to start cracking on with new work and sharing it all with you. There's also some classes we're hoping to get going in Havering so watch this space.

Kirsten

Better late than never.....

I was going to post some pics ages ago of the vase I got for my birthday, as usual i'm a little late but here it is. The artist has some amazing and affordable pieces so next time you're in Brighton go to the Hummingbird Studios to check her out, Bebe Bird at the Hummingbird Studio.





I've got into making lately and made this cute dolly for the New Zealand Dolly Appeal. The idea being that people make dollies and softies to donate to the little ones whose lives were devastated from the earthquakes. There's lots of good causes to donate to, click here to go to the main site, but I chose New Zealand as my other half is from there. Hopefully it will go to a good home for someone who doesn't mind it coming a bit late!

Kirsten

Kaleidoskope......

The Guild of Silk Painters invite you to......



Taking place at:
Wanstead House, The Green, Wanstead, London E11 2NT

On July 23rd & 24th 2011
10.00 am - 5 .00 pm

Exhibitions * Workshops * Demonstrations * Sales * Competitions * and much more...

www.essexsilkpainters.co.uk

Come, Join Us and Bring Your Friends too, for a wonderful creative day.

Artsmart this week end......

This weekend my old uni, University of the Arts London, launches Artsmart, a two-day celebration of creative endeavour including a market, talks programme and a recruitment fair.

With more than 100 stalls, Artsmart market promises to showcase the very latest in art, design and fashion from the University’s alumni.

To find out more go to: http://www.artsmartlondon.co.uk/

Taking place on Friday to Saturday
At Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground, 16 John Islip Street, London, SW1P 4JU
One day pass £5 (concessions £3.50) Two day pass £9 (concessions £5)
Tickets on the day £6

Graphic arts, Yann Brien

It's pay day....

so if you have nothing planned for the week end there's a few great events happening over in Walthamstow. Firstly is the Down Town flash shop for fashion from some of the E17 Designers, starting tonight and continuing tomorrow at the Old Glass Factory.......


Then tomorrow night is the "Picture Show" from the E17 Art House, who are putting on this exhibition of film inspired artworks from local East London artists, designers and photographers. Starting tomorrow night from 7pm......

This one isn't until a few weeks time but I took part last year and it was a great family day out, well I didn't have any kids last year but I still had a really good time in the sunshine drinking beer and listening to a great mix of music.....

UK Handmade Summer Showcase.....

I'm suffering from bad baby brain lately and have only recently discovered that we were showcased on the UK Handmade Summer Showcase. Click here to see more of the lovely items being showcased.

I'm hoping to get my brain and my memory back soon but even the midwife told me that it's downhill from now on - oh dear!!

Kirsten

Dazed and Refused Private View.....

I thought this was a great idea....

Dazed and Refused

PRIVATE VIEW
Thursday 16th June, time 7 –11

Hurwendeki

299 Railway Arches Cambridge Heath Road London E2 9HA

Exhibiton runs until Sunday 10^th July

(exhibition open 7am-7pm Monday to Friday, 9am-7pm Saturday to Sunday, during Café hours)

It’s tough when your work is unloved but the artists rejected from this year’s BP Portrait Award show that even though they may be down, they’re not out, by staging their own Salon Des Refusés exhibition. Paintings will for sale on opening night from the exhibition of a total of 55 refused artists.– the same number as can be found in the BP exhibition.Entries have been sent from Chelmsford, Cambridge, Birmingam, Margate and Mexico...

www.dazedandrefused.com

Some of the rejected artists with their work......

Very cute little one......

It's my neice's birthday soon and I was asked to put this little birthday invite together for her in the theme of Peppa Pig as that's her favourite at the moment! Everytime she see's it she makes the piggy noise! She's so cute I just had to share it with you.....

Brighton and Hove Artists Open Houses....

This week end we went to Brighton and Hove for their annual Artists Open Houses event where all the local artists open their houses and studios to let you in and see their amazing work.

There's a lot to see with over 254 venues on their map so we picked a few areas and hit them with full force, leaving us incredibly party pooped but full of inspiration at the end of the week end.

Here are a few of my favourites that I saw along the way....

My favourite prints were at the Ink Spot Press which had a mixture of amazing and incredibly professional prints. The kind that I one day hope to be able to create!


Hebe Vernon-Morris' prints at the Printhouse:


Thea Telfords work at Betty and Friends:





This was an amazing house and collection of art work, Polish and Pin, where they had a cafe take over their kitchen to supply lovely home made food which you could enjoy on the terraced garden:


Martha Mitchell at Albert Mews Studio had amazing little tiles with her illustrations on:


Also in the Hove area is Nigel French who had some amazing photography and prints at very reasonable prices. If only it had been pay day!!


This was another amazing house and garden, Deryk Parkin at Stables Studio. The other great thing about the Open Houses is seeing all the amazing houses that people live in, you've probably guessed i'm incredibly nosey : ) but this one is definitely worth going out of your way for a visit.
Another amazing house and great collection of work was at the Dragonfly House, which also has a great picture framer if you need it. This was the work of Vanessa Rattray which I love, with the kind of detail on her pictures that you can stare at for ages and always see something new.


I couldn't leave without getting something so on one of our last visits I got a piece of pottery from Bebe Bird at the Hummingbird Studio for my birthday next week. I absolutely love it and got to talk to the artist who created it, mainly about my clumsiness and how not to break it in future! I'll post a pic in situ when I receive it, hopefully all in one piece!!

Kirsten

Thanks to everyone....

who popped along to see us on Friday night at the E17 Designers Spring Market.

It was the usual last minute panic for us we rushed around trying to get everything together and even wrapping new works of art just as we were about to leave but we managed to scrape through the doors and get set up just in time. So after a manic rush to get there it was a really lovely relaxed evening with great music supplied by local band The Stowicks and some great cakes from Susie's kitchen!

Here's a few pics from the night.....

Where does all the time go.....

Feels like we haven't been creative enough lately, especially with trying to sell my flat and buy a house it seems like the past couple of months have flown by! Which reminds me why is it that when you sell your place it's the tidiest, cleanest and best it's ever looked?! Will have to pretend that we're selling our house when we move in so that it stays in the same lovely condition : )

But we have been doing bits inbetween. Here are some silk scarves I made, I actually made loads as I got a bit addicted but have packed those away for Friday's E17 Designers market and these ones are yet to be packaged up.


I love using subtle tones so that when you look at some you can see subtle hints of a variety of colour coming through, like this middle one....



Here is a bundle of new cards from my sketches.....


A few of my faves....



And here is a new stash based on some mixed media work I created for an Art Trail event at the William Morris Gallery, so yep you guessed it inspired by William Morris (apart from the print of Boats which was taken from my holiday snaps in Morrocco).


I'm hoping to be doing some new prints as I love printing and just haven't been doing enough lately! But where to find the time! I did get some good advice from Etsy (check it out: http://zenhabits.net/small-scale/) so hopefully i'll get there step by step and i'll be showing you some new prints soon, well that's the plan : )

Kirsten