used image

I found New York based photographer Bobby Neal Adams on designboom.com news feed. It reminded me of John Stezaker's work I discovered properly in 2011 at retrospective style exhibition at the White Chapel gallery.

John Stezaker

John Stezaker

Bobby Neal Adams - 'agemaps'

John Stezaker

John Stezaker

John Stezaker

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow

With a savvy eye on current trends surrounding a now booming niche market, Poppy Smith has her finger on the pulse when it comes to "cool stuff for kids". With a youngen of her own this lady sorts out the unusual and the hand crafted through a world of possibilities.

Kimberley Golding of Mini Magpie featured on thesmallfolk.tumblr

Check out her new site www.thesmallfolk.com or the Small Folk tumblr for more

On the weekend

I popped into the Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery whilst wandering from Regents Park, to South Bank killing time a few weekends ago. Enjoyed a root around in their shop's collection downstairs. It's funny how you get drawn to your favourite artists, with some maker's aesthetics being so distinct.

I really like how much Lina Peterson seems to take so much joy in her use of colour and material, and although I'm usually more drawn to her work involving stitch and textiles, there were some newer rather understated plastic broaches in the cabinet I would of like to have been able to look at up close.

On the Kent coast

This weekend I visited a few places along Kent's east coast, and came across a beautiful shop in Margate's Old Town called Blackbird, owned by textiles artist Maxine Sutton.

Margory 2008, Flower/back 2008, Cowtree/Tufty 2008 screen printed, embellished and embroidered tea-cosy

If you ever get a chance to visit go next door to The Greedy Cow deli, (which serves amazing homemade burgers), and like the Blackbird boutique it also celebrates the old and the new with it's eclectic interior and contemporary artists work on the walls.

I couldn't afford any of Maxine Sutton's framed pieces but was able to buy a screen printed cushion I'll take a snap of soon to share.

Sad Bird 2009, Hungry Bear (detail) 2009 screenprinted, needlepunched and emroidered textile

Riffling through Sutton's achieve images I am reminded of an old course mate at Brighton who's work is inspired by folk style imagery, and bold yet selective use of pattern. www.silviakceramics.co.uk

colours of summer

I first saw Zoe Murphy's work at what must have been the 2008 New Designer's Exhibition, together with printed textiles, she recycle's vintage furniture - rejuvinating it with strong blasts of colour and contemporary etched graphics.


Now in August and a long awaited cycling trip to Kent's coast looming, for me Zoe Murphy's work reminds me of that fresh optimism crazy summer days with friends can bring.

Desirables

My creative itch was awoken recently by an article on London based stylist/ shop owner Emily Chalmers, in the Australian magazine Frankie. Showcasing her home, a converted industrial space, and her store Caravan where her eclectic, vintage inspired sensibilities have found a place to flourish.

Which leads me on to introduce some more creatives/ crafts practitioners whose work I admire.

Claire Coles I fell for the patchy lustre work and textured surface design when I first saw these vases at a Cockpit Arts Christmas open studios a years back, but settled for a brooch from her odds box

I discovered the work of MMU grad Eve Bennett at the 2008 Islington New Designers. I enjoyed the humour in her narrative style, and the way she chose to exploit faded colours eluding to the poignance of remembrance and the delicate passing of time. The way her loose sketches shine through in her hand-building and mark making especially appealed to me, as I too enjoy disturbing a drawn line by wetting felt tips or ink pens, giving the image a lightness of touch.

Sunshine and Kew

Caught the sunshine Friday just gone with a much anticipated trip to Kew. My boyfriend and I foolishly left the 'Tropical Extravaganza' exhibit, housed in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, to the end of the day, rushing round just before closing.

These photographs my brother took have been tweaked a bit, nevertheless the orchids and other vividly colourful flowers were amazing.

check out his photo stream