New work: Tobermory

So this week I left my beloved Cornwall behind - though only in a virtual sense, you understand - and headed up to Scotland to carry out this commissioned piece of Tobermory. Some of you may be familiar with the place, especially if I tell you that this colourful town is where the childrens TV series "Balamory" is filmed!




I would love to visit for real one day!

Next week, I am off to Wales! I have another order for a pretty town on the coast. Can you guess where that might be, I wonder?

Have a most excellent weekend folks xx

One man's trash is another man's treasure...

Hey folks, I just want to begin by saying thank you for all your supportive comments regarding the Contemporary Craft Fair! I guess we all compare ourselves to other makers and have doubt in our abilities.....but you have faith in me and that is just heartwarming!

So......the title of this post? Regular readers will probably know by now that I don't like letting things go to waste, and that, together with Steve, I am always on the lookout for old stuff which I can incorporate in my work. Well, I was browsing on ebay earlier in the week and did a little search for old nails, the kind I use for chimneys on my driftwood cottages and boats. I didn't really expect to find anything. But it must have been my lucky day, because there was one seller (only one, mind) with about 5 different lots up for grabs. And would you believe it, they were in Cornwall.... and only about 15 miles away!
So we went up to collect them today and I'm so happy! I got like a lifetime's worth for about £8!

(including some pretty heavy duty ones.)

I got to work straight away! Check out the fab colour on the roof of this one(we don't find orange coloured driftwood very often!)

And this one is like a very rustic farmhouse! The sort an estate agent would say needs 'updating'!

A long thin terrace. The wood I used for the roof is shaped almost like a toblerone (what is that shape called?) Anyway it was perfect!


And here's one I made earlier in the week. As soon as I found that white bit of driftwood, I knew what I was going to do with it! I didn't want to trim the bottom off to make it freestanding, so this one is designed to hang on the wall.
I feel better for having at least started on making some stock for June. Plus you won't find me scrabbling around on the shed floor searching for odd nails anymore! I am now spoilt for choice!

Have a great week folks!

New collage: St Michael's Mount

I finished a second piece for the upcoming exhibition at Delamore Arts!
I fancied a change from boats and harbours, but wanted to keep it local, so chose a famous Cornish landmark: St Michaels Mount. Its the second time I have used it as subject matter, the first was several years ago when I was commissioned to do a collage for a wedding present - you can see it in the right hand sidebar!

I am really pleased with this one, and feel that I have improved with practice!

I found some really pretty patterns in catalogues which I incorporated into the sand - and even included a little bit of lace!

I am also trying to use more relevant text when I can. In the above picture are the words "air" and "white beaches"!

In other news: I am so thrilled to have been accepted to take part in the Contemporary Craft Fair in June!!
This is such a big deal for me, I never thought I would be successful in my application! Their website has been updated this week to show which other makers are participating - some fantastic artists some of whom I think you will know! It has made me more than a little bit nervous, I can tell you!! I am keen to get in the shed and start making driftwood pieces, but, Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Too cold!

Take care peeps!

Love bird family

I forgot to show you my Valentine's products for this year!
How utterly useless am I?!

I have made some more love birds in delicious new fabrics: this idea is nothing new, merely something I change eversoslightly now and then...

...but, whilst in the middle of making a batch of birds, I thought how lovely they all looked together - and how it would be great to have more than 2 birds on the perch...

...and then it hit me! A love bird family!

And here is the first one: two proud parents with their baby!

You could even add an older sibling or two!
Anyway, I thought it would be a lovely idea for a newborn gift - or even an alternative Valentine's idea.
I braved the cold and wet at the weekend (no snow here in Cornwall - boo!) as I had an order for some driftwood cottages.

You can see here the different blocks I used

And from this view, you may be able to tell what I used for the roofs? It is the corner pieces you find in fruit crates (we find a lot of those on the beach for some reason).
Perfect! Nothing goes to waste in this household!

I hope you are all managing to keep safe and warm - another chilly one tonight!
See you soon!

Latest work: Mevagissey

It's been quite a productive week: fairly quiet on the orders front, so I've been able to crack on and finish the first of two pieces of work which will be on show at Delamore Arts in May.

I think I prefer the little snippets of the background as they are so simplified - almost like using a large brush - whereas the foreground is more complicated!

I love the colourful buildings and their reflections in the water!

Certainly makes me wish for spring, if not summer!

And here is the finished piece - it measures about 50cm x 30cm...

So... one down, one to go - and I have two commissions to crack on with after that!
It's enough to make your eyes go squiffy!

Have a great weekend!