Picture of the day: William Eggleston

Just like a lot of people, I'm a huge fan of William Eggleston! I love the rich colours and this picture is autumnal as well, so it's perfect for today! I love the fact it suggests travel and movement, it is so beautiful yet "unpicturesque" (if this word exists). It depicts nothing really, just an ordinary rail track, yet it is a sumptuous image. His work mesmerises me. 

L'Air du Temps & my all time love of doves

My mum used to wear this Nina Ricci perfume when I was small. I loved the two fluttering doves on the bottle cap. Nowadays, almost all fragrance bottles tend to look very angular, with diamond cut edges, or anything that spells "expensive" "luxurious" and so forth. This Lalique design is so different, it suggests feminity, grace, youth, whilst also refering the universal values of peace, purity, freedom and love. I really like the fragrance name as well: the air that we all breathe, the mood of the moment.
I think it was created in 1948 but there is nothing retro or overtyped about this perfume or its bottle. It is amazing how some designs do really transcend fashions.

Doves (and horses) feature heavily in my work, often as appliques, such as this candy floss pink leather pouch: 

::::new::: winter blue clutches

A little while ago, I bought some lovely fabrics from Liberty. I selected a few in blue tones, as it is so wintery chic. These two clutches are made of a cotton lawn called "detritus" and is designed by Anj Smith. The fabric is part of the Liberty art collection, a selection of fabrics designed by artists.

I chose this Anj Smith design, as I really liked the intricate detailing, its pencil drawn style and the stag's heads! Smith's paintings often incorporate references to the realms of fashion, nature and popular culture. It seems that the design she created for Liberty was inspired by the memory of her mothers’ kitchen curtains...

Sadly, the weather was a bit too cloudy when I photographed the clutches, so the pictures are not perfect and I will have to redo them at the weekend!

Norman Parkinson: A Very British Glamour

I went to see this exhibition at Somerset House at lunchtime yesterday. I was walking through the courtyard when I saw the poster, so it was a much unplanned visit! The exhibition celebrates the publication of a book of the same tittle and presents an interesting selection of his work.  

I had forgotten how good Parkinson's photographs were! His career spanned from the 1930s to the 1980s, and consistently evolved. He is celebrated as a pioneer of fashion photography, and for instance initiated fashion shots on exotic foreign locations, from South Africa to New York.

 
Whilst I am especially fond of the London pictures, this is (possibly) my favourite, taken in New York in 1949. The colours are so vivid; it looks more like a film still than a fashion photograph. It is lively and humorous, staged but not theatrical.

The London pictures blend the chic glamour of the 1940s and 1950s with humour, the energy of the 1960s with spontaneity!

Picture of the day: Karen Kilimnik & The Avengers

I have pinned this image on my "inspiration" wall above my studio desk; I can keep my eyes from it! I loved The Avengers so any stills from the series could have ended on my wall, but I especially like this picture! I love the bright colours, Mrs Peel's yellow shirt and Stead's bright red military jacket, the way they look at each other, their connection.
I do not know very much about Karen Kilimnik's work, I just love its energy, her pop reference, its loose style, the pastiche. Her paintings have such a youthful/ teenage feel about them!

Teaching a new workshop at the Make Lounge!

I am starting a new workshop at the Make Lounge in Islington in a few weeks! It is going to be short sessions on creating a small snap purse/ clutch. Below are two purses I made to publicize the course! I am very pleased with the photo (not taken by me!).

It is a new experience for me, so I have quite a lot of preparation to do but it is so very exciting! For further detail on the course, please click here! I am really pleased that the courses have sold so well! There are many keen sewers out there!

Vogue's best ever issue?

Well maybe not, but I am not often so thrilled by Vogue!
Today did not start too well! My homemade soup leaked onto my Vogue this morning... And because of the postal strike, my copy only reached me last Friday. Well, I am so glad it finally came, as this "more dash than cash" issue is really inspiring!
I am filled with awe with William Tempest's take on tea towels: pure genius and great craftmanship! (and the print of the season!)

Loving the 80s feel of this pick-and-mix suit too:

I tend to be a little wary of updating vintage clothes and patterns, as they often loose what was vintage/ nice/ unique about them. But I was really drawn to the creative uptake on these vintage Vogue patterns. And only a few months ago, I nearly bought the same pattern that Miranda Almond used for this dress; but I had not realised that it could look so current! 

I had been making quite a few clutches in Liberty fabrics recently, so I was really pleased to see how Kate Phelan had used a Liberty floral print and a 1930s pattern and turned a very modern and edgy outfit!

Polka dots a gogo

I was having a little of a polka moment, with some new clutches and pouches, and I was not the only one, as this lovely etsy treasury suggests!

I especially like this mobile, handcrafted by Lubin rom felt and ribbon:

Always the retro girl, I'm very keen on this little dress from Spun Sugar Vintage. Really loving all the ruffles at the hems and the batwings sleeves! And it is "simple" enough that it could be accessorised with some of the retro hats that I have made but can't never wear, fault of an occasion... Spending most weekends with my the sewing machine is not easy and practicality has dictated that I opt for the (oil) stain-proof jeans and tees.

Picture curtesy of Spun Sugar Vintage.

On a dot mood, below are some of my new items: 

Tiny clutch/ large change purse in cotton dotted fabric with luxurious black leather suede at the back, black kisslock frame:

Bright cheerful dotted pouch, with silver leather at the back and lovely warm brown leather tassel:

Having just returned from a shopping trip to Liberty, there are some lovely clutches in Liberty prints coming soon!

Scottie button badge sets!

 

I have been quite busy lately, and this is my new range of fabric covered button badges. They are available here! 

The larger badges measure 1.25" (about 3cm) and the smaller one 1" (2.5cm).

They are made of fabric bits and pieces that would have otherwise been discarded, so this is move towards up-cycling! Most of the fabrics are cottons, with some wool (grey scottie) and linen (cream scottie). The scotties are made of brass.