Busy making jewellery for the W4 Winter Art and Design fair in Chiswick 15 and 16th of November @w4artanddesign . This is my Naiad jewellery. In classical mythology, the Naiads were the Nymphs of fresh water, presiding over springs, lakes, rivers and fountains . If the Naiad died, the source dried up. As a lover of the Thames and London’s canals, water is a huge inspiration for me and I have tried to conjure it up here with flowing wire, pearls and opalites. Unlike many mythological female divinities, Naiads were typically light hearted spirits, kindly disposed to mankind. We could probably all do with a bit of that at the moment! t #jewellery #naiad #mermaid #mermaids #greekmythology #jewellery #water #chiswick #chiswickmums #hammersmith #hammersmithandfulham #uniquejewelry
Oct 17
Busy making jewellery for the W4 Winter Art and Design fair in Chiswick 15 and 16th of November @w4artanddesign . This is my Naiad jewellery. In classical mythology, the Naiads were the Nymphs of fresh water, presiding over springs, lakes, rivers and fountains . If the Naiad died, the source dried up. As a lover of the Thames and London’s canals, water is a huge inspiration for me and I have tried to conjure it up here with flowing wire, pearls and opalites. Unlike many mythological female divinities, Naiads were typically light hearted spirits, kindly disposed to mankind. We could probably all do with a bit of that at the moment! t #jewellery #naiad #mermaid #mermaids #greekmythology #jewellery #water #chiswick #chiswickmums #hammersmith #hammersmithandfulham #uniquejewelry
Drawing on the Scillies, @trescoisland . Even in October the cosmos are still putting out new flowers . For anyone who loves plants the Abbey gardens are a constantly changing joy, beautifully maintained by head gardener Andrew Lawson and Kate Clement, who runs the kitchen garden. Drawing on Tresco is always an adventure, not least because of the weather. Shortly before this photograph was taken there was a quick rainstorm that was like sitting under a pouring jug of water. Only narrowly avoided my pastel being turned into a watercolour! #tresco #scilly #scillies #flower #flowerstagram #flowerpainting #flowerdrawing #cosmos
Oct 9
Drawing on the Scillies, @trescoisland . Even in October the cosmos are still putting out new flowers . For anyone who loves plants the Abbey gardens are a constantly changing joy, beautifully maintained by head gardener Andrew Lawson and Kate Clement, who runs the kitchen garden. Drawing on Tresco is always an adventure, not least because of the weather. Shortly before this photograph was taken there was a quick rainstorm that was like sitting under a pouring jug of water. Only narrowly avoided my pastel being turned into a watercolour! #tresco #scilly #scillies #flower #flowerstagram #flowerpainting #flowerdrawing #cosmos
Drawing in the Abbey Gardens on the beautiful island of Tresco @trescoisland. I know nothing about flowers but a passer by told me that these were protea, the national flower of South Africa. Flowering beautifully on the Scillies in October. Well done head gardener Andrew Lawson. #gardens #proteaflower #scillies #flower #flowerdrawing #pastel
Oct 3
Drawing in the Abbey Gardens on the beautiful island of Tresco @trescoisland. I know nothing about flowers but a passer by told me that these were protea, the national flower of South Africa. Flowering beautifully on the Scillies in October. Well done head gardener Andrew Lawson. #gardens #proteaflower #scillies #flower #flowerdrawing #pastel
Sea glass jewellery. Glass collected from the beaches of Britain, I spend all my seaside holidays bent double, searching the foreshore. Large pieces like this are always a rare and thrilling find (yes I am that boring). I frame them with pearls and gilt wire and hang them from vintage chains sourced from antique markets, requiring more obsessive and satisfying hunting. Preparing for the @w4artanddesign show in Chiswick in November. Much finding and making still left to do.
#seaglassofinstagram #seaglassaddict #seaglassart #beachglass #recycledart #uniquejewelry
Sep 26
Sea glass jewellery. Glass collected from the beaches of Britain, I spend all my seaside holidays bent double, searching the foreshore. Large pieces like this are always a rare and thrilling find (yes I am that boring). I frame them with pearls and gilt wire and hang them from vintage chains sourced from antique markets, requiring more obsessive and satisfying hunting. Preparing for the @w4artanddesign show in Chiswick in November. Much finding and making still left to do.
#seaglassofinstagram #seaglassaddict #seaglassart #beachglass #recycledart #uniquejewelry
All dressed up for a wedding yesterday. The dress code was summer, hence flowery dress, flowery crown and a 1940s housecoat . I was recently interviewed by @worldmicrophoneldn about things I didn’t like about modern fashion. One of the things I mentioned was people going to the shops in their dressing gowns ( ie. bathrobes). This however is a dressing gown that is a joy to wear in public. It was the most perfect wedding: great weather, astonishing venue, lovely people and a bride and groom of fairytale beauty and niceness. What an end to the summer! #dressinggown #summerfashion #vintagestyle #housecoat #flowerfashion
Sep 21
All dressed up for a wedding yesterday. The dress code was summer, hence flowery dress, flowery crown and a 1940s housecoat . I was recently interviewed by @worldmicrophoneldn about things I didn’t like about modern fashion. One of the things I mentioned was people going to the shops in their dressing gowns ( ie. bathrobes). This however is a dressing gown that is a joy to wear in public. It was the most perfect wedding: great weather, astonishing venue, lovely people and a bride and groom of fairytale beauty and niceness. What an end to the summer! #dressinggown #summerfashion #vintagestyle #housecoat #flowerfashion
My Laundry picture is currently on display @arthurscoffeehouseco as part of a charity auction to raise funds for @theupperroomcharity which works with the homeless and other socially disadvantaged people. Come and see the pictures if you are in the area. To bid for this and other works in the charity auction go to www.askewroad-w12.co.uk, go to the festival page, and scroll down to ‘bid for artwork button’. Swipe for more information. It’s called a postcard auction, but these are all A3 pictures. Biggest postcards I’ve ever seen! @askewroad_w12 #hammersmith #shepherdsbush #chiswick #laundry
Sep 20
My Laundry picture is currently on display @arthurscoffeehouseco as part of a charity auction to raise funds for @theupperroomcharity which works with the homeless and other socially disadvantaged people. Come and see the pictures if you are in the area. To bid for this and other works in the charity auction go to www.askewroad-w12.co.uk, go to the festival page, and scroll down to ‘bid for artwork button’. Swipe for more information. It’s called a postcard auction, but these are all A3 pictures. Biggest postcards I’ve ever seen! @askewroad_w12 #hammersmith #shepherdsbush #chiswick #laundry
I’ve just finished this painting for a charity auction at the Askew Rd Arts Festival @askewroad_w12 which takes place 18-25 sept. The brief was to create an A3 sized postcard reflecting the history of this area of West London. In the late Victorian period , it was home to 63 laundries where the poor on the outskirts of the city washed the clothes of wealthy central Londoners. So I created a 3D washing scene and did a little bit of research. According to “Toilers in London”, 1889, a survey of female labour in the metropolis, a professional Laundress typically worked an 11 hour day, in dreadful conditions, for which she was paid 2 shillings and sixpence (12.5 pence); a salary of £40 per day in today’s money. This painting along with a host of others by local artists will be on show @arthurscoffeehouseco and auctioned to raise money for @theupperroomcharity , which works with the homeless and socially disadvantaged. I bet those Victorian laundresses would have welcomed their assistance. #chiswick #victorianlondon #laundry #shepherdsbush #painting #victorianfashion @w4artanddesign
Sep 8
I’ve just finished this painting for a charity auction at the Askew Rd Arts Festival @askewroad_w12 which takes place 18-25 sept. The brief was to create an A3 sized postcard reflecting the history of this area of West London. In the late Victorian period , it was home to 63 laundries where the poor on the outskirts of the city washed the clothes of wealthy central Londoners. So I created a 3D washing scene and did a little bit of research. According to “Toilers in London”, 1889, a survey of female labour in the metropolis, a professional Laundress typically worked an 11 hour day, in dreadful conditions, for which she was paid 2 shillings and sixpence (12.5 pence); a salary of £40 per day in today’s money. This painting along with a host of others by local artists will be on show @arthurscoffeehouseco and auctioned to raise money for @theupperroomcharity , which works with the homeless and socially disadvantaged. I bet those Victorian laundresses would have welcomed their assistance. #chiswick #victorianlondon #laundry #shepherdsbush #painting #victorianfashion @w4artanddesign
Went to a party last night when everyone had to wear a hat or a wig. Great because it’s easy to do, provides an instant conversation topic with people you don’t know and gives you the chance to wear your favourite headgear. Mine is this red top hat. While some hats are challenging to wear, in my experience a topper suits everyone whatever your age, gender or size. My top tip is a top hat for a top night out. #tophat #partyhat #millinery
Sep 7
Went to a party last night when everyone had to wear a hat or a wig. Great because it’s easy to do, provides an instant conversation topic with people you don’t know and gives you the chance to wear your favourite headgear. Mine is this red top hat. While some hats are challenging to wear, in my experience a topper suits everyone whatever your age, gender or size. My top tip is a top hat for a top night out. #tophat #partyhat #millinery
I love Tuesdays when I volunteer for the Royal Triniy hospice shop in Hammersmith @royaltrinityhospice_london @trinityhammersmith . I get to do the windows, referred to by my lovely colleagues as “Madeleine plays with her dollies “. This is what one of my Dolly’s is wearing today, an amazing late 1960s dress by Paula Renoir of Mayfair. Flower Power meets Op art, sexy front zip and a very wearable small to medium in size. It is genuinely Fab! If this is your period, and you live nearby, I recommend a look. I don’t think it will be in the window for long! #vintagefashion #sixtiesstyle #sixtiesfashion #greatdress
Sep 3
I love Tuesdays when I volunteer for the Royal Triniy hospice shop in Hammersmith @royaltrinityhospice_london @trinityhammersmith . I get to do the windows, referred to by my lovely colleagues as “Madeleine plays with her dollies “. This is what one of my Dolly’s is wearing today, an amazing late 1960s dress by Paula Renoir of Mayfair. Flower Power meets Op art, sexy front zip and a very wearable small to medium in size. It is genuinely Fab! If this is your period, and you live nearby, I recommend a look. I don’t think it will be in the window for long! #vintagefashion #sixtiesstyle #sixtiesfashion #greatdress
Setting up at @creativemilebrentford where we are showing at @motherruggeruk , 4 Bradshaw Yard, Brentford TW8 8GB. Open tonight, 6-9pm, Sat and Sun 11-5 pm. If coming by car, you can park in Morrison’s car park. There is an art trail throughout the area. Come and see us for a weekend of art, jewellery, history and hopefully a bit of sunshine. #hammersmith #chiswick #artgallery #london #timeoutlondon
Aug 30
Setting up at @creativemilebrentford where we are showing at @motherruggeruk , 4 Bradshaw Yard, Brentford TW8 8GB. Open tonight, 6-9pm, Sat and Sun 11-5 pm. If coming by car, you can park in Morrison’s car park. There is an art trail throughout the area. Come and see us for a weekend of art, jewellery, history and hopefully a bit of sunshine. #hammersmith #chiswick #artgallery #london #timeoutlondon
Who says a tea towel can’t be beautiful? This dish towel illustrates my personal collection of 1920s and 30s vintage makeup. I have mine framed on my bathroom wall, equally however when you are doing the dishes (yawn) a bit of flapper glamour will be guaranteed to cheer you up. Will be showing these at @creativemilebrentford @motherruggeruk next weekend. Or DM me if you want to buy one. #makeup #vintagemakeup #cosmetics #1920s #vintagecosmetics #flapper #artdeco
Aug 25
Who says a tea towel can’t be beautiful? This dish towel illustrates my personal collection of 1920s and 30s vintage makeup. I have mine framed on my bathroom wall, equally however when you are doing the dishes (yawn) a bit of flapper glamour will be guaranteed to cheer you up. Will be showing these at @creativemilebrentford @motherruggeruk next weekend. Or DM me if you want to buy one. #makeup #vintagemakeup #cosmetics #1920s #vintagecosmetics #flapper #artdeco
Just finished a new Madlark Mirrot made from finds mudlarked from the Canals of West London. Amazing what you can learn from rubbish, and this provided an intimate picture of everyday life in London in the early 20th century. The next stage is producing a written identification of every individual find. It takes forever, but if I get it done on time this mirror will be on display at @creativemilebrentford over the bank holiday weekend where I will be showing @motherruggeruk . This reel explains some of the finds. Apologies for going on for so long, but for me each find tells a little story. #mudlark #mudlarkingfinds #mudlarkinglondon #history #mirrors #recycle #brentford #chiswick #hammersmith #canal #artcollector #londonlife
Aug 22
Just finished a new Madlark Mirrot made from finds mudlarked from the Canals of West London. Amazing what you can learn from rubbish, and this provided an intimate picture of everyday life in London in the early 20th century. The next stage is producing a written identification of every individual find. It takes forever, but if I get it done on time this mirror will be on display at @creativemilebrentford over the bank holiday weekend where I will be showing @motherruggeruk . This reel explains some of the finds. Apologies for going on for so long, but for me each find tells a little story. #mudlark #mudlarkingfinds #mudlarkinglondon #history #mirrors #recycle #brentford #chiswick #hammersmith #canal #artcollector #londonlife
Currently working on my “Where does the time go?” Jewellery, also known as Madeleine’s Tick-Tock Collection (teehee). It is made from vintage watch faces, cogs and pocket watch keys. The watch- cat is a brooch and swipe to see necklace and earrings. This jewellery is inspired by the fact that time is a relative concept: if you are bored, a minute lasts hours; when you are having fun time passes in a flash. And young people out there, the older (and slower) you get, the faster the days go. I love recycling old and redundant items. None of these watches work, so this is literally a “timeless”collection.
It will be on display @creativemilebrentford 30 Aug-1 Sept when I will be exhibiting with other members @w4artanddesign @motherruggeruk . If you have the time, come and see us. DM me for any further information. #watches #watchesofinstagram #timeless #timelessstyle #catsofinstagram #catsinart #wheredoesthetimego #chiswick #hammersmithandfulham #brentford #
Aug 21
Currently working on my “Where does the time go?” Jewellery, also known as Madeleine’s Tick-Tock Collection (teehee). It is made from vintage watch faces, cogs and pocket watch keys. The watch- cat is a brooch and swipe to see necklace and earrings. This jewellery is inspired by the fact that time is a relative concept: if you are bored, a minute lasts hours; when you are having fun time passes in a flash. And young people out there, the older (and slower) you get, the faster the days go. I love recycling old and redundant items. None of these watches work, so this is literally a “timeless”collection.
It will be on display @creativemilebrentford 30 Aug-1 Sept when I will be exhibiting with other members @w4artanddesign @motherruggeruk . If you have the time, come and see us. DM me for any further information. #watches #watchesofinstagram #timeless #timelessstyle #catsofinstagram #catsinart #wheredoesthetimego #chiswick #hammersmithandfulham #brentford #
I have made this necklace from fragments of Edwardian pottery we mudlarked from the canals of west London. From the 19th to the first half of the 20th C, the canals were a favourite dumping place for London’s rubbish, which could be transported from the city by barge, used to shore up the banks around the towpaths, and buried in designated dump sites. This pottery is all purple flowers, showing the fashion in the 1900s for floral and feminine china patterns. This was the golden age for afternoon tea in one of the new grand hotels such as the Ritz, or for the less wealthy at more affordable cafes such as the ABC tea rooms. Respectable women could eat at these places without a male escort. Pretty tableware was designed to appeal to this new female audience, reflecting the increased freedoms of a changing world. Ever one to coordinate, I have matched the necklace with a pair of flower basket earrings. I will be exhibiting these at the end of the month @creativemilebrentford where I will be at @motherruggeruk 30 Aug -1 Sept. Will be posting further details . @w4artanddesign #flowers #floraldesign #pottery #fashion #
Aug 17
I have made this necklace from fragments of Edwardian pottery we mudlarked from the canals of west London. From the 19th to the first half of the 20th C, the canals were a favourite dumping place for London’s rubbish, which could be transported from the city by barge, used to shore up the banks around the towpaths, and buried in designated dump sites. This pottery is all purple flowers, showing the fashion in the 1900s for floral and feminine china patterns. This was the golden age for afternoon tea in one of the new grand hotels such as the Ritz, or for the less wealthy at more affordable cafes such as the ABC tea rooms. Respectable women could eat at these places without a male escort. Pretty tableware was designed to appeal to this new female audience, reflecting the increased freedoms of a changing world. Ever one to coordinate, I have matched the necklace with a pair of flower basket earrings. I will be exhibiting these at the end of the month @creativemilebrentford where I will be at @motherruggeruk 30 Aug -1 Sept. Will be posting further details . @w4artanddesign #flowers #floraldesign #pottery #fashion #
Great day @folkbytheoak festival in Hatfield yesterday. Sunshine, fantastic music, happy crowd and family. Here with my son Josh who has inherited all of his mother’s subtlety of colour and who is a top companion for a music filled day out. Felt very blessed to be surrounded by lovely family. #festival #folkmusic #folkbytheoak
Jul 22
Great day @folkbytheoak festival in Hatfield yesterday. Sunshine, fantastic music, happy crowd and family. Here with my son Josh who has inherited all of his mother’s subtlety of colour and who is a top companion for a music filled day out. Felt very blessed to be surrounded by lovely family. #festival #folkmusic #folkbytheoak
Went to the opera at Garsington this week. Being a British summer and an outdoor event, it was obviously pouring with rain, hence the umbrella and a pair of stout boots worn under my evening dress. Wanted to post however because of my fab 40s style frock which I bought from my favourite charity shop Royal Trinity Hospice in Hammersmith. I have been dressing from charity shops most of my life. It’s a great way to shop. You are recycling, your money goes to a good cause, shopping is an adventure and you find things that are different. For me, charity shops are always the most interesting stores on the high street. Thoroughly recommend to anyone with a posh event to go to this summer, whatever the weather ! #royaltrinityhospiceshops #charityshopfinds #eveningdress #recycledfashion @royaltrinityhospice_london
Jul 17
Went to the opera at Garsington this week. Being a British summer and an outdoor event, it was obviously pouring with rain, hence the umbrella and a pair of stout boots worn under my evening dress. Wanted to post however because of my fab 40s style frock which I bought from my favourite charity shop Royal Trinity Hospice in Hammersmith. I have been dressing from charity shops most of my life. It’s a great way to shop. You are recycling, your money goes to a good cause, shopping is an adventure and you find things that are different. For me, charity shops are always the most interesting stores on the high street. Thoroughly recommend to anyone with a posh event to go to this summer, whatever the weather ! #royaltrinityhospiceshops #charityshopfinds #eveningdress #recycledfashion @royaltrinityhospice_london
Perfect post for election day: two suffragette postcards from the early 1900s. The one on the left is British, and typically satirised the suffragette as a butch harridan in ugly clothing. Thanks guys! The reality was of course very different, suffragettes spent hours planning their outfits before marches and Derry and Toms, the smart department store in Kensington High Street, advertised in the Votes for Women newspaper and filled their windows with elegant suffragette hats. The postcard on the right is American. Here the Queen of the Poll is dressed in full Edwardian Glamour with a fabulous picture hat. She is also wearing red lipstick and smoking, two other shocking examples of period female emancipation. I always think about the battle these women fought when it comes to election day. How many people have fought, suffered and even died in order to obtain the right to vote? It’s so important that we use it. I am off to the polling booth now. Where did I put my picture hat? #suffragettes #suffrage #election #elections #vote #votesforwomen #democracy #hats
Jul 4
Perfect post for election day: two suffragette postcards from the early 1900s. The one on the left is British, and typically satirised the suffragette as a butch harridan in ugly clothing. Thanks guys! The reality was of course very different, suffragettes spent hours planning their outfits before marches and Derry and Toms, the smart department store in Kensington High Street, advertised in the Votes for Women newspaper and filled their windows with elegant suffragette hats. The postcard on the right is American. Here the Queen of the Poll is dressed in full Edwardian Glamour with a fabulous picture hat. She is also wearing red lipstick and smoking, two other shocking examples of period female emancipation. I always think about the battle these women fought when it comes to election day. How many people have fought, suffered and even died in order to obtain the right to vote? It’s so important that we use it. I am off to the polling booth now. Where did I put my picture hat? #suffragettes #suffrage #election #elections #vote #votesforwomen #democracy #hats
I can’t resist a vintage tin and I love the history of advertising and packaging. Both of these date from the early 20th C. The Lady’s Own Toilet Pin Box, swipe to see wonderful text inside about how this box is “ an indispensable companion to Ladies at home, abroad, in the boudoir…” . I want a boudoir! Below is a Ladies’ Pens box, and if you want to know what a lady’s pen nib looks like, there it is. I went to the French Lycee in London where from the age of 5 we had to use a dip pen, to write our curly French letters in centimetre squared exercise books. Spent my early childhood covered in ink! I love these boxes for their language and that other feature of vintage packaging: correct use of the apostrophe! #pen #pin #sewing #ink #vintagetins #vintagetin #advertisinghistory
Jul 3
I can’t resist a vintage tin and I love the history of advertising and packaging. Both of these date from the early 20th C. The Lady’s Own Toilet Pin Box, swipe to see wonderful text inside about how this box is “ an indispensable companion to Ladies at home, abroad, in the boudoir…” . I want a boudoir! Below is a Ladies’ Pens box, and if you want to know what a lady’s pen nib looks like, there it is. I went to the French Lycee in London where from the age of 5 we had to use a dip pen, to write our curly French letters in centimetre squared exercise books. Spent my early childhood covered in ink! I love these boxes for their language and that other feature of vintage packaging: correct use of the apostrophe! #pen #pin #sewing #ink #vintagetins #vintagetin #advertisinghistory
Our Cats in Art tea towel, featuring my sculptures celebrating great artists, excruciating puns and of course cats, completely sold out this weekend. We will be reprinting for next year. Swipe to see one of our real cats, who is quite convinced that she is the coolest cat in the world and is keeping guard on a large box of Dreamies, that she and her sister got for their good behaviour during Artists at Home. #artistsathome #cats #catsofworld #catsofinstagram #teatowels #dreamies #sculpture #catsinart
Jun 19
Our Cats in Art tea towel, featuring my sculptures celebrating great artists, excruciating puns and of course cats, completely sold out this weekend. We will be reprinting for next year. Swipe to see one of our real cats, who is quite convinced that she is the coolest cat in the world and is keeping guard on a large box of Dreamies, that she and her sister got for their good behaviour during Artists at Home. #artistsathome #cats #catsofworld #catsofinstagram #teatowels #dreamies #sculpture #catsinart
Thanks so much for coming to @artistsathome. I was overwhelmed with the number of visitors and how nice everyone was. It was a blast - quite literally on Friday night thanks to live music suppled by Mojo Wellington, my lovely husband John Butler and the mighty Jules. Thanks to all our visitors. We so appreciated your support and it’s a lovely feeling when you know things you have made are going to a good home. Thanks to the children who visited , who were all really well behaved, and the dogs who visited and didn’t bite our cats.. Thanks to the @artistsathome committee for their hard work , to @thechiswickcalendar for their enthusiastic promotion and to @hortonandgarton for their support . Now that I have finished my Oscar style post I am going to lie down in a darkened room with a cold flannel over my face. Am shattered but very happy. What a fab event xxxx
Jun 17
Thanks so much for coming to @artistsathome. I was overwhelmed with the number of visitors and how nice everyone was. It was a blast - quite literally on Friday night thanks to live music suppled by Mojo Wellington, my lovely husband John Butler and the mighty Jules. Thanks to all our visitors. We so appreciated your support and it’s a lovely feeling when you know things you have made are going to a good home. Thanks to the children who visited , who were all really well behaved, and the dogs who visited and didn’t bite our cats.. Thanks to the @artistsathome committee for their hard work , to @thechiswickcalendar for their enthusiastic promotion and to @hortonandgarton for their support . Now that I have finished my Oscar style post I am going to lie down in a darkened room with a cold flannel over my face. Am shattered but very happy. What a fab event xxxx
