extensions

Apologies for my absence last week - it was my first week of working freelance, and although it wasn't really my first day at all, there was still a lot of learning...it was also a rather busy week with 3 exhibitions being hung! But, this is a new week...and things will be more settled

I'm working on lots of new bits and pieces for the shop....I got lots of new bits of vintage lace and fabric and buttons and ribbon and patches at the weekend, which will be making their way in the direction of etsy pretty soon!

For now, the 50% off sale has been extended - until Wednesday.....plus free shipping if you mention my blog....don't say I'm not nice to you :)

Sometimes Making Something Leads to Nothing

I went to see this exhibition a couple of weeks ago...last week? Some time in the not so distant past anyway.
The exhibition takes the title from the Francis Alÿs film which features in the exhibition....it's about transformation. But also persistence and endurance. I was quite amazed that the artist manages to smoke a cigarette pretty much the whole time he is pushing the block of ice through Mexico City.
It also has work by Cornelia Parker (above) Callum Innes, Peter Liversidge, Iran do Espírito Santo and others.
The whole exhibition is witty and quite refreshing....definitely worth a visit.

the ingleby gallery website says things so much better than I ever could on a Sunday morning!

I return.....

Well, I'm back, and being the useless tourist that I am this is the only photo I have of my time spent in Edinburgh - exhibition and all!
The exhibition was at the GRV and went well, there was some really interesting work from artists and philosophers and was followed up by good conversation, good people and good coffee!
Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to visit much else - I had planned a trip to the museum of childhood and a few galleries, but the set-up took a lot longer than anticipated, as it usually does.

I returned to a nice surprise - another Etsy frontpage, thanks to CuriosityKilledthecat full of gorgeous things from UK etsy people. From top left; Lupin, Abibasnal, Seaurchin Supples, Me, swank, hippyofdoom, siansburys, laurafallulah, greygoat, cutedesigns, illustratorjen and KMCdesigns.

Today I have been getting back into the swing of things, and got quite a bit done today after imposing a ban on unnecessary internetting! The ban will continue - as I quite like being productive!! This necklace was inspired by Coraline by Neil Gaiman, which I stole/borrowed from my sister this weekend. She recommended it after seeing my 'Button it' locket and it kept me company on the train ride back home. Go read it - it's good!


I just hope for better weather tomorrow, so I can take better pictures of my productivity and list them all! But not too good, otherwise I can't see what I'm doing in my studio until about 3pm when the sun moves! I really need to get a curtain in there!

I am tired and liable to rant and ramble about silly things...

I've been fairly busy the last few days, although it's the kind of busy that seems to show no finished result. I was like this at uni - constanly busy, but people (well other students, the tutors were aware I was working) always commented on the lack of work I had done, or lack of work I had to show. I apologise for being able to look lazy whilst I work, I apologise for appearing to take day long coffee breaks and most importantly I apologise for not churning out shit. I've been thinking about college a lot recently. I suppose it's because I am waiting quite anxiously to hear about my MA (although it is not yet mine). I loved it, I loved the tutors, but the other students...maybe I shouldn't go there! If you've got nothing nice to say and all that.

Anyway....I have lots of ideas whirling around my head, things that don't quite make sense to me yet, but will hopefully transform to fully formed ideas after a little more thought and reading and scribbling and writing.

I'm off to Edinburgh next weekend, my work is going in an exhibition about which aims to ask the age old question - What is Art? run by the Philosophy Society. It should be interesting. I'm exhibiting The Family (book with mouse to give it it's common name!), although I am changing it a little before it gets shown. I've also been volunteered to advise on the hanging of the work, as this is the first exhibition they've put on and at the end of the day are philosophers, so are much better at thinking about things than actually doing them! I can just imagine them in a huge debate about which is the right screw to use or something!
So anyway, three days in the Capital, which means culture, people, excitement, activity! What shall I do....must find out what else is on, as my last visit was spent mostly hungover, well actually mostly drunk and the remainder hungover thus missing a great deal of things. This time shall be different. If I say it with enough conviction, it will become true!

I'm currently listening to Blue Mountain by Michael Hurley - such a beautiful song and such a beautiful, honest voice. Espers have also done a version, which is also good, but not quite as good as Mr. Hurley.

I am going to go and get myself lost in my journals again now. I love working, thinking, imagining when I'm tired - it brings a whole new perspective to things.