Folksy competition - Upcycle Christmas

I have entered a competition organised by the lovely folks at Folksy. Upcycle Christmas. Selected Sue Ryder Care stores have offered to donate materials to be collected by Folksy members which will then be transformed into wonderful items to be placed in an auction to raise money for Sue Ryder Care and first prize will be a showcase for the winner(s) in the Sue Ryder shop in Camden Town, Parkway, London next year. Only selected stores were taking part in this so competitors are allowed to use any recycled materials from any source.

I do like to work with a brief, so I decided to follow the guidelines and visited Sue Ryder in Camden Town yesterday to collect some inspiration after my visit to the magical Museum Of Everything. It transpired that I had missed the deadline but the manager kindly brought out some bags of clothes for me to rummage through.

I chose a bright red patterned kimono and some pale linen trousers from the bag of odds and ends, and then I decided to look around the shop for more inspiration. I had already decided I wanted to make a piece of jewellery from old beads and textiles before I arrived at the store. I then found this beautiful dress handmade from the softest needlecord, the colour of dried blood with beautiful orange, green and white flowers with leg of mutton sleeves. I also purchased these pieces of jewellery.

I started sketching some ideas on the train journey home and today I carried on drawing at the Orthodontist while braces were fitted to my nearest and dearest.

The deadline for the competition is Saturday 5 December - eek!

Sarah Jane Lynagh

Dear darkness, won't you cover me again? 2008

Sarah Jane Lynagh makes images that are seductive and repellent, using offal and meat products on the human body to evoke feelings that something is habitual yet out of place and threatening. I was disturbed when I saw one of her photographs in an interesting new gallery called Dare to Joust, 64 White Hart Lane, Barnes SW13. I was also attracted to these strangely compelling images. You can see more on her website.

TOO MUCH

This is the perfect song for recent days, and its the song I find myself singing on my bicycle, from Babybird's album between my ears there's nothing but music

Everything I saw when I came out of the museum

The Museum of Everything

Today I fell in love - with a museum. The Museum of Everything is not to be described but I do urge you to go and visit this extraordinary place if you are able to and allow plenty of time because there is a lot to see, everything in fact. There are some stairs to climb up and down. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday and the nearest underground station is Chalk Farm on the Northern line. There are more details on their website.

Babybird in Hoxton

I went to see Babybird at a small bar in Hoxton last week, it was a fantastic gig, in an intimate setting, crowded and hot! Stephen Jones has a sublime singing voice and the band were rocking the house - it was a great night out. There is a new album, Ex-Maniac out in March next year. If you are a fan sign up to his website, or if you just want to hear some music go to his myspace. Most people I have spoken to only know the band for their one major hit, but Stephen Jones is a prolific musician writing profound and beautiful lyrics and music with many diverse recordings and I think he is one of the better artists performing and writing music today.

Babybird

Mosaic Monday

Mosaic Monday, originally uploaded by Feltbug.

1. dead bird, 2. Dead bird, 3. Little ghosts, 4. still, 5. icarus, 6. Roadkill, 7. Dead Seagull on the Beach, what a wee shame, 8. foible & flappy, 9. 2006_06060256.JPG, 10. Skull, 11. Ovenbird 05.12.09, 12. one for..., 13. Dead Bird on Meard St, 14. No birds in the house!, 15. bird, 16. Crying Rivers for You Deer Pin, 17. study of a sparrow, 18. spring is like a perhaps hand, 19. robin in the snow, 20. Hoje.../Today..., 21. Sparrow, 22. Memorial for the bird, 23. Demonstration of Bugs Helping a Dead Bird Decompose, 24. dead bird stencil, 25. All Flesh is Grass, 26. Dead bird, 27. dead bird, 28. bird, 29. Dead bird may pole bird, 30. Leaves

Here is a selection of photographs and artwork by some of my lovely friends on flickr. Click on the image to go to flickr where you can find the featured artists or use the links above to go to the individual artist's flickr. Thankyou to all the artists for sharing their pictures.

Anthropology

I love London

We Make Christmas

We Make Christmas Fair is on Saturday 5th December at Chelsea Town Hall, Kings Road, London SW3. Have a look at their blog for lots of great interviews with the exhibitors.

Scooterworks

Scooterworks, 132 Lower Marsh Street, London SE1. One of my favourite cafes in London, I visited it after dark last week and had a lovely time meeting some fellow-bloggers, organised by Ellie from Home Shopping Spy and Lynne from Tea For Joy. I couldn't stay for long but lots of people turned up and it was great fun. I enjoyed chatting to Laura and Mary from We Make London about their forthcoming Xmas fair.

Orange

70's Sanderson curtains from my childhood

Roses from my sister.

Caught in the headlights wearing orange tights

Vegetable Materia Medica

This is the book that I spent nearly all my money on at Kempton Antiques market. A manual of Vegetable Materia Medica, by George S.V. Wills M.P.S., &c., published by Simpkin, Marshall & Co in 1878. I don't usually spend more than 2 0r 3 quid on an old book but this is quite possibly the most beautiful book I ever beheld. Still a bargain at £10 and there are 23 more plates of hand coloured exquisite vegetable parts. Sigh.....

I have just discovered more about the author George Sampson Valentine Wills - he was born on Valentine's day in 1849. You can read more about him here.

Vanessa Paradis

Mosaic Monday

Mosaic Monday, originally uploaded by Feltbug.

1. kEeP cALm & ..., 2. Birdie brooches, 3. union machine works, 4. Elderberry wine, 5. IMG_1662, 6. Her Majesty, 7. Cell, 8. Sleeves, 9. Bow frame painting I, 10. TEXTURE env-137, 11. Everyday 11.08.09, 12. LIDO, 13. " 1-8 / Km.103+700 ", 14. Forest Spirit, 15. Untitled, 16. autumn landscape, 17. Dei Cavalieri, 18. 40/365, 19. ..., 20. Untitled, 21. Playing with Paper, 22. V&A Paper Lantern, 23. Untitled, 24. garotas-2008, 25. grow, 26. Untitled, 27. 2009_1107AL, 28. walnut dyed boro sampler with control swatches, 29. Rachel, 30. black linen & liberty

Here is a selection of photographs and artwork by some of my lovely friends on flickr. Click on the image to go to flickr where you can find the featured artists or use the links above to go to the individual artist's flickr. Thankyou to all the artists for sharing their pictures.

1907

I found the manual for my 19o7 Singer sewing machine at Kempton Antiques Market last week. The stall holders were packing up, I had spent all my cash on a wonderful book (I will save that for another post!) and I saw this crumpled beauty on a table and just had to ask how much it was for curiosity sake and was told to take it for free! Now I can find out how to use all those odd attachments that came with the machine. I do love this image on the back cover most of all. Click on the image to see it in all its' glory.

Fireworks Night

Her Shiny Teeth

Here's a girl with stars in her ears. And she wears stripes across her chest. Her shiny teeth they bite the best. I'd love to wear one round my wrist. A strange devotion you might say but there are things I cannot tame.
When there's nothing to do but this. Just hang on the edge of a kiss.
One day those eyes will search a room. One day those eyes will rest on you.

Lyrics by Fireworks Night. You can listen to the song here.

Teeth

Teeth, originally uploaded by Feltbug.

1. Adorable Hideous Little Rat Doll, 2. Blockhead Monster Series #3, 3. those whom dwell in the dark, 4. gold tooth / handmade brooch, 5. for the toothbrush project, 6. bluetooth, 7. impro_010, 8. Bad Habbit Roy, 9. Untitled, 10. SWEET TEETH (white), 11. brushing teeth, 12. Brush your teeth before whistling !, 13. No_10526602, 14. tooth and heart, 15. V for Vicious, 16. Wolves' Teeth, 17. Nice teeth, 18. Uchi detail, 19. Molly's Sketchbook: Tooth Fairy Bags, 20. we have no say in the matter, 21. tooth projection, 22. teeth, 23. Tooth, 24. False teeth, 25. Sweet Tooth Cookie Cutters, 26. Second Tooth, 27. Teeth, 28. mechatuna pics and videos.5-29-2005 031, 29. Tooth wings, 30. teeth

Here is a selection of photographs and artwork by some of my lovely friends on flickr. Click on the image to go to flickr where you can find the featured artists or use the links above to go to the individual artist's flickr. Thankyou to all the artists for sharing their pictures.

Inspired by a trip to the dentist and a very brave girl who had 2 molars pulled, even the dentist expressed regret at having to perform this task.