What can you see in this Mudlark brooch? This week mudlarking supremo and lovely man @jasonmudlark came to my house to interview me for a future article in @beachcombingmagazine about mudlarking and making. One of the questions he asked was what was my best ever find? It is a bit like asking which is your favourite child, but eventually the thing I picked was this. As a find by itself, it’s nothing special, just a pretty fragment of Edwardian plate rim. But when we cut it into a heart shape and I made it into a brooch, then the magic happened. Suddenly I could see two very distinct images in the pattern . Can you see them? Please let me know whar you can see, if anything, and in my next post I will say what I see in this little bit of every day china which for me now epitomises the transformative joy of mudlarking and making as well as the surprising beauty of the humblest fragment.. #mudlarking #beachcombing #esher #geshtalt
Jul 18
Making a mermaid this week gave me a sense of coolness in a hot, hot London. Thankyou @wesmaebe and Mme Maebe for the gift of the coral necklace that I have transformed into her belt. I like to think she has come up from the sea to watch the football tonight. Come on England. After that she will be swimming off Till she lands again @fullersbrewery for the Sculpture in the Brewery exhibition which will be opening in a couple of weeks. Bet she likes a pint of London Pride! #mermaid #mermaids #sculpture
Jul 11
2 new brooches made from pottery mudlarked from the canals of West London and set with freshwater pearls I love unearthing pieces to do with the seaside. Here a fragment of souvenir plate ( early 1900s) showing an English seaside town, and a bit of nursery ware mug showing a little Dutch boy on the beach. That is where we all want to be when the weather is like this. Sadly I am at home in Hammersmith, currently preparing jewellery for @creativemilebrentford which takes place 4-6 September - a lovely waterside place in London. #mudlark #mudlarkingfinds #seaside
Jul 9
Madlark crab, made from finds mudlarked from the Thames and canals of London, and which has now made its way to the beautiful @bryhergallery on the Scillies. who knows where it will end up next? #mudlark #mudlarking #scilly
Jul 3
For this last weekend of the @rockandpapercollective exhibition there is a charity event: postcard-sized works, sold to raise money for @dadshouseuk . There are some fabulous mini works available and I have contributed this Madlark brooch made from Victorian Willow Pattern pottery mudlarked from the Thames; and set with a freshwater pearl. Gallery is open all weekend and the postcard art sale is on Sunday 28 June. Come and see us at:
The Gallery @earlscourtdevco
26 Lillie Road
Fulham SW6 1TS
Open :10-4 pm
Nearby tubes: Earl’s Court, West Brompton,West Kensington
#earlscourt #mudlarking #mudlarkingfinds
Jun 26
Our lovely cat Big Skitter had to be put to sleep this week. She was 8 years old and had a heart murmur when we got her from Battersea. She eventually died of heart complications, but in between we had 9 years when she filled our hearts with joy and love. When John and I were taking her on that last terrible journey to the vet, this song came up on the radio. It was her time. Thankyou Big Skitter for being you and for making us so happy.
Jun 21
Some years ago I did this pastel portrait of David Hockney which I called “Looking through the Artist’s Eyes”. My goodness , how that man looked at the world constantly throughout his long and remarkable life. And also, how brilliant he always looked himself. A great artist, a tireless worker, a style icon and an inspiration. Thankyou Mr Hockney. @rockandpapercollective #hockney #davidhockney #artist
Jun 14
New Mudlark fish now @rockandpapercollective exhibition at the Gallery, 26 Lillie Road, SW6 1TS. Mudlarked from the Thames and canals, the finds reflect everyday life in London at the turn of the 19th C. The tail and fins are made from clay tobacco pipe stems and Edwardian marmalade pots, a classic British find. Cooper’s of Oxford, was a famous marmalade brand, much loved by Oxford men from Lewis Carroll to Captain Scott who took this Marmalade on his final expedition to Antarctica in 1910. Sherds from restaurant plates show the cosmopolitan diversity of the city. The cockerel was the logo of the Chanteclair in Frith Street, the Comedy restaurant was an Italian eating place in Panton St, popular with the theatre crowd and scene of an infamous unsolved murder by shooting in 1934. A number of Soho restaurants seemed to have maintained a close relationship with a multicultural criminal underworld . Top right and moving to the upper echelons of society is a crest from the Badminton Club (1875-1938), 100 Piccadilly, named after Badminton House, home to the Dukes of Beaufort and the Badminton horse trials. This was a coaching club where a gentleman could find carriages, stabling and like -minded horsey people. There is no class-consciousness on the foreshore, rich snd poor turn up side by side. On this sherd I have placed a hand made Victorian pin, an example of the low paid labour, typically carried out by women and children working at home or in the workhouse. There are a million stories on the river and quite a few on this fish. Come and see it along with work by the fabulous artists of the rock and paper collective. #mudlarking #mudlarkingfinds #londonhistory
Jun 12
Mudlark Fish currently swimming its way to Earls Court to join a host of fantastic work at the @rockandpapercollective exhibition at The Gallery, 26 Lillie Road, SW6 1TS. The opening night is on the 4th of June 6.40-9pm, join us if you can. The exhibition runs throughout June. There are some great workshops and an all day charity event on Sunday 28 June, with Art on A Postcard: small works that can fit in any home, but that we hope will have a big impact on the charity involved. See rock and paper collective for all info. #mudlark #exhibition #earlscourt
May 30
This year sees the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain 1951. Based on the South Bank of the Thames, the exhibition with its futuristic architecture was designed as a “tonic to the nation”, providing a respite from post war austerity, and a celebration of a bright, new future. We still enjoy its legacy today with the Royal Festival Hall and the South Bank Centre, who are hosting a wealth of anniversary events. I have made my own little tribute with these brooches, made from original 1951 Festival of Britain postage stamps set with pearls. The blue stamp is by the great graphic designer Abram Games, and features his famous Britannnia logo, which was used throughout the Festival. The Southbank centre remains a delight and a place of entertainment and culture for everyone. Every time I go there, it makes me proud to be a Londoner. #southbankcentre #festivalofbritain #abramgames #royalfestivalhall #london
May 2
Mermaid necklace. I have just returned from the Scillies. I always find the islands an inspiration and this necklace is made from beachcombed shells from Tresco and Bryher, grey pearls and the wire work reflects the rolling of the waves. #mermaid #scillies #beachcombingfinds #w4artanddesign #shells
Apr 30
This Madlark Crab , made from finds mudlarked from the Thames and canals of London came with us to the Scillies, travelling by train and ferry. After a very brief glimpse of the sea, it is now going off to a new home on the mainland, this time flying by helicopter. Every time I make one of these, it becomes a little story. On the body of the crab I put together the Edwardian gentleman’s perfect breakfast, with shards of Cooper’s Oxford Marmalade, Burgess’ Anchovy Paste and even a fragment of caviar pot lid from Fortnum and Mason. I thought my gentleman would have wanted to clean his teeth after his morning collation , so I had to include a fragment of early 20th C toothbrush. Many of the finds here reflect Edwardian London, and I did like the fact that the gentleman who bought my crab is called Edward. Objects find their owners. #mudlark #mudlarkingfinds #crab #rockandpaper #edwardian
Apr 26
Delighted that my Mudlark Fish, made from pottery and other materials mudlarked from the Thames and canals of London, has swam all the way from Hammersmith to the beautiful @bryhergallery on the Scillies. The ga#llery is filled with lovely art inspired by water, and my fish will be very much at home. Favourite sherds include a bit of London Underground Mug (c.1920) and a plate fragment from the Authors’Club, which I identified thanks to its partial Latin motto : cedit ensis calamo - the pen is mightier than the sword. I do so hope it is! Members and visitors to this London club ranged from Oscar’s Wilde, to Thomas Hardy to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I wonder who originally ate from this plate? #mudlarking #authorsclub #mudlark #scillies
Apr 25
Photographer @orlandogili came round to our house last month. He is working on a project photographing mantelpieces and how this focal point of our homes, provides a biography in objects of the people who live there. I thought this was a brilliant idea, he is a great photographer and John and I both loved this picture. So nice to have a record of our home and a little reflection of us. Thankyou Orlando. #photographer #mantelpiece
Mar 26
Thanks to everyone one who came to my talk this week on making art with found objects from the past, ranging from pottery mudlarked from the Thames, to vintage beer mats and cigarette packets sourced from the antique markets of Britain , swipe to see a few pictures. To me these are all little bits of history and I try to transform them into objects that explore the everyday past while at the same time shedding a bit of light on our present. I think of my mirrors in particular as conversation pieces, and I particularly enjoyed hearing people talking about my smoking mirrors, and sharing their own memories of walking to school so they could save their bus fare in order to by a packet of No6 cigarettes, to share behind the bike sheds. Ah, the bad old days …. I was waving my 1950s, home made patchwork skirt about , as an example of what you can make with fragments of stuff, and also in happy memory of my childhood dressing up box, filled with my lovely Mother’s 1950s cast offs, and which I think made me fall in love with all things vintage from childhood onwards. Thanks for being a lovely, responsive audience and the works will be on display in The Chiswick Calendar Art and photography exhibition @claytonhotelchiswick Until 18 April.
The exhibition is in the public atrium of the hotel so if you are in the area, drop in any time. #mudlarking #mudlarkingfinds #tobacco @chiswickcalendar
Mar 19
Thanks to everyone one who came to The “Not so Private View” at the Clayton Hotel Chiswick on Tuesday night. No doubt helped by the sponsorship of Sipsmith’s delicious gin @sipsmith it was fun evening full of art and laughter. Exhibition is open in the public atrium of the hotel until April 18 so drop in any time. Tuesday 17th at 7pm I am giving a talk at the Clayton on making with found objects ranging vintage beer mats to fag packets and exploring what these everyday objects tell us about our past and our present. Hopefully, there will be some more laughter!
To register for a free ticket click link in bio or go to www.chiswickcalendar.co.uk, search for The Chiswick Calendar Art and Photography Exhibition, and you should find the Eventbrite link there.
Clayton Hotel Chiswick, 626 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5R Y. The closest tube is Gunnersbury on the district line. @claytonhotelchiswick @chiswickcalendar #tobacco #beer #chiswick #advertising #packaging
Mar 12
“All gone up in Smoke” mirror, made from old cigarette packets, guaranteed to take you back to the bad old days of smoking. I can’t tell you how difficult these are to source. They were made to be thrown away, but nevertheless they do reveal a fascinating history about our long and colourful relationship with tobacco . Currently on display in
The Chiswick Calendar Art and photography exhibition
Clayton Hotel Chiswick, 626 Chiswick High Road,
London W4 5RY
Exhibition runs until 18 April and is in the atrium of the hotel, which is a public area so pop in any time. Tonight all the artists will be there from 7 pm.
Next week Tuesday 17th March at 7 pm, I will be giving a talk at the Clayton on making art with found objects ranging from vintage fag packets to beer mats, and what rescuing these everyday objects tells us about our past and our present. For a free ticket, click link in bio. Or go to www.chiswickcalendar.co.uk, search for the Chiswick Calendar Art & Photography Exhibition, and the Eventbrite link is there. @chiswickcalendar @w4artanddesign #cigarette #smoking #history #chiswick #art
Mar 10
Happy International Women’s Day. We are so fortunate to have wonderful women in our lives. I don’t know what I would do without my girlfriends. I made this suffragette sculpture some time ago to celebrate the women who fought for our right to vote. She is dressed in the suffragette colours purple, green and white; or according to one popular legend violet, fern and white- an acronym for Votes for Women. I spent ages scouring skips for an Edwardian brick for her to stand on, just in case she wanted to lob through a window as part of her protest. Because I am a completist and have to finish a story once it is in my head, I had to make her a male Edwardian companion piece. She would probably have wanted to throw her brick at him. Swipe to see him. Hurrah for amazing women everywhere! @w4artanddesign #internationalwomensday #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #womenempowerment #women
Mar 8
Meet “Milady Mending”, a wall hanging sculpture made from vintage sewing materials, 1900s-1950s. Today some women object to being called a lady, in the first half of the 20th C, whether you were the lady of the manor or a char lady, everyone wanted to be referred to as a lady and the packaging of sewing materials reflected this. My figure’s dress is made from a Miladi hose-mending compact, which a lady would keep in her handbag ,just in case she laddered a stocking. This Is on display throughout March until 18 April at
the Chiswick Calendar Art and Photography Exhibition
Clayton Hotel, 626 Chiswick High Rd, W4 5RY.
The exhibition is in the atrium of the hotel. It’s a public area and you can pop in any time.
Tuesday 10th March at 7pm there is a “Not So Private View”, where you can meet the artists.
Tuesday 17 th March at 7pm, I will be giving a talk on making with found objects from the past ranging from vintage beer mats to antique sewing materials .
For free tickets go to www.chiswickcalendar.co.uk
@chiswickcalendar #sewing #thegreatbritishsewingbee #sculpture #chiswick #makedoandmend @claytonhotelchiswick
Mar 7
Having made a mirror all about beer, I had to make one about smoking! My “Smoke gets in your eyes” mirror is made from vintage cigarette packets dating from the 1900s-1960s. Because this packaging was designed to be thrown away, these objects are actually very rare and they do provide a fascinating insight into the history of tobacco and how in the 20th century manufacturers persuaded men, women and even children to put a fag in their mouths. Can you spot the pack of chocolate cigarettes? This is on display at the Chiswick Calendar Art and Photography exhibition, at the Clayton Hotel Chiswick until 18 April. On Tuesday 17th of March at 7pm I will be giving a talk on making art from found objects ranging from vintage beer mats to cigarette packets, and exploring what these discarded items reveal about our past and our present. To register for a free ticket go to www.chiswickcalendar.co.uk All the information about the show is there including an eventbrite link to events. The exhibition is open daily in the public atrium of @claytonhotelchiswick, and there are some fabulous works on display. Drop in if you can. @chiswickcalendar @w4artanddesign #advertising #advertisinghistory #tobaccohistory #exhibition
Mar 5
