Archive for December, 2009
*MERRY CHRISTMAS*
Friday, December 25th, 2009
Just When I Thought All The Christmas Shopping Was All Done…
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
Spotted this deer little thing in a dusty old antique shop along the North Wales coast, peeping out at me under layers of glassware, comics and 80s gold encrusted brooches…
So pleased to bring her home with me, cleaned up using an old soft toothbrush and now she hangs sparkerling looking over me in my hallway mirror.
My Christmas deer.
Make-It Scraps
Friday, December 18th, 2009
This is the scraps ball from the recent Make-it Friday. I will be posting a pic of the scrap balls as I think often the make pretty little snapshot blends of the colours used…
Whaddya think?
Make-it Friday!
Friday, December 18th, 2009In honour of the 2 Fridays left of this year (one of them being Christmas Yay!) I’ve decided to start my routine for 2010 early… or is it perhaps a very late start to my 2009 regime?!
Each and every Friday I shall be posting my “Make-its” Feel free to comment, add suggestions or post links to your projects!
These items are just for fun but some just might make the cut for the shop… lets see what happens.
We had lots of fun, but looking full of concentration here on the task in hand…
The full project & how to to follow for my Cabbage Christmas Wreath & Gold n Green Bow Twist Wreath!
The Party is On!
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Karl Largerfelt and other Etsy Fun!
Sunday, December 13th, 2009I seem to while away these cold December evenings browsing many creative blogs, shops and crafting networks… through a stream of loveliness there are some seriously cool bits, here’s the flotsam and jetsam that just seemed to stick with me – love it!
(click on the pics for more info!)
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1.Karl Largerfelt Finger Puppet
2,3 &4 Jennifer Loiselle Amazing Headbands
5. Adorable Creatures by Lou Lou & Oscar
6. Janice Jong – Illustrations
The Shape of Things to Come?
Friday, December 11th, 2009It seems to me that all forms of creativity influence each other whether its from a popular haircut, to a bold colour or certain pattern, but none more so than SHAPE.
Shapes seem to imprint our minds more on a subconscious level somehow…
Matryoshka or Russian/Nesting/Babushka Dolls… yeah you know the ones, and Owls seem very much to be the shape for now…
I think with the influence from the re-surge of 50s Vintage fashions, their curvy womanly shapes of the swimming cossies from that era and the rock’n'roll dresses it would seem a natural progression for things to adorn your house to take on a similar shape.
Here are some of my favourite Matryoshkas and Owls picked from the net!
Supercute patterns from One Red Robin
From a selection at Fabrics at Gaga Fabrics
Paper Sculptures & Collages By Helen Mussel White I love the colours she has chosen, they remind me too of lovely old book sketches.
From a selection of Owls at Manic Muffin
Rupert the Owl – amigurimi crochet by Reeneegurmi
To celebrate the 10th year of Russian Vogue just last year - a hand picked selection of fashion designers (inc YSL, Martin Margiela, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Versace and Ralph Lauren) were asked to design a Matryoshka doll and to fabulous effect! See if you can spot which designers doll is which!
With all this “Matryoska, Bubuska” going round in my head can’t get Kate Bush’s Babooshka out of my head! It is fabulous though… for your delight…
Notice that she is playing (or not so much playing but draping herself over) the curvy bass!
Soul & Spirit Magazine Dec 09
Friday, December 11th, 2009
Beyond Travel Magazine Winter 09
Friday, December 11th, 2009
W.I and I… The Second Scoop!
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
It’s Christmastime at the W.I…
Ok I arrive late with my tuna based offering, meet up with our Lady Chair who comments “Well I don’t like that sort of thing, but put it down someone will eat it” I’d say we’re off to a flying start!
They make room for me on the table, there are lots of hellos to be said, they fill up my plastic glass with some “red” I quickly notice there are 2 types of bottles making the rounds… red and white (that’s sparkling berry mineral water and elderflower sparkling water) everyone seems to be referring to them as wine…
We commented on our lovely spread as we ate, pulled crackers (I think I might of accidentally pulled the wrong cracker which sent me into a bizarre world of cracker etiquette and more than a few glances from the bottom end of the table) smirked at the jokes… ya know the usual Christmas fare. There were some “visitors” from a neighbouring institute who sat at our table and were lovely. We talked about Banksy and art and the rain. We had a 15 question Christmas themed quiz (we won) and then on with the important business the raffle!
I’ve always been a bit curious about numbers… and a bit more curious about possibility and probability in maths.. Why is it each and every raffle I enter I win something? Should I not question this? Just remain blissfully content and smug in my raffle track record score…. Law of Attraction? I think so. Now this particular night being so tardy I wasn’t there to buy a raffle ticket… but still on the winners table. Lady Chair (still my fave) must have practiced this special skill – she did not have her ticket with her and when someone told her the number – that ticket came up! Whoops and hollars were to be heard from our table (god we were having such a fun time!) but what I find even more curious, it wasn’t actually her number – someone had told her the wrong one – but when she had believed it was and had been concentrating on that number so I came to pass… be careful what you think of – wish for and THINK OUTCOME rather than the details!
Met someone new tonight, she talked of different pastries (oh how I knew this would be!)
We also sang some Christmas Carols which for me was a pure delight, I felt anonymous yet tied together in song with these other ladies – a really releasing experience. I don’t think I’ve stood and sung my heart out since standing in assembly wishing myself elsewhere…
Looking forward so much to 2010 and all that it holds…
What about you?
Let’s get together…
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
‘Charleston – a Bloomsbury House and Garden’ by Quentin Bell, Vanessa Bell’s son, and his daughter Virginia Nicholson A facinating history of the house and the collective of artists who lived and worked there. Published by Frances Lincoln. ISBN: 071122370X
There seems to be a lot of talk about ‘collectives’ at the moment and we think these groups of people working together, to the same goal often in the same place; fits with the whole community spirit of make-and-mend. For us, there is definitely a romantic notion about a bohemian group of people, holed up together, creating wonderful works of art, inspiring each other while sharing a collective-consciousness.
We first started to notice collectives gaining in popularity last year but groups of artists working together, towards a similar goal in the same place; is nothing new and have occurred throughout history. The Bloomsbury Group which could be thought of as a collective of artists, painters, writers and ‘thinkers’, came together in the Bloomsbury area of London in the early 1900’s. Members of this fascinating and boundary-pushing group lead by artist, and sister of Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell moved to Charleston Farmhouse in East Sussex to live and work as a group of like-minded people. Among them were painter Roger Fry, writer Clive Bell and artist and critic Duncan Graham.
Artist Niko, who modelled the black woollen surf hat for us, is part of a collective called Ornamental Conifer based in East London. We met him on the South Bank. He was already wearing a hat, so we asked him if he’d wear an Ollie&Agnes hat, and have a photo taken, and he did! He and an interesting group of artists work at the London studio offering hands on approach to print design and sign writing. Check it out!
‘Made in the Shade’ are a new Glasgow-based collective, which was set up by an ex-university lecturer, Carrie Maclennan, and includes designers and graphic artists. They were brought together by their love of The Fifties and offer bespoke design. These guys have taken the collective a step further by opening a shop, come gallery called The Maisonette which sounds really interesting and will also serve as a workshop and place to hold craft events.
Carrie Maclennan (in the Daily Telegraph magazine) says: ‘I am working with my friends in a space that feels like my living room’ …and what could be better than that!
Quick, let’s form a collective, it sounds brilliant.
Jeff & John
Saturday, December 5th, 2009
Jeff Koons
Rabbit, 1986
Stainless steel
41 x 19 x 12 in (104.1 x 48.3 x 30.5 cm)
© Jeff Koons
Excited to be taking in a day of Art on Monday – the first Extinct Christmas outing!
Will be taking in the delights of Pop Life at Tate Modern, Kienholz: The Hoerengracht at the National and if there will be time checking out all that’s on offer at the Hayward!
My own creations during my time as an art student at UCE were heavily influenced by Pop Art, being a lover of that entire age – the fashion, the design and the art work – the whole energy of that time still influences me today!
Looking forward to a day submerged in visual pleasure.
Have to say I’m thoroughly enjoying all the art programes on BBC at the moment too! Check out School of Saatchi on iplayer!
Tis the season to be giving…fa la la la la etc
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
As it is the first of December and all – Extinct Design is getting in the Christmas spirit with a GIVEAWAY!
We are giving away one print from Wilko’s new collection of works to adorn your home! Measuring 210mm x 300mm printed on high quality sustainable silk paper stock.
To enter just let us know, in the comments box below which of the All Creatures Great and Small… you are most drawn too (no pun intended – honest) and let us know why… for me, it’s gotta be no3 with Mr Crocs – I think because of that permanent smile, they are mysterious and are as old as the dinosaurs – oh and its PINK!
Plucked at random on the 12th day of December.
