A few weeks ago now, I visited the Discerning Eye exhibition at the Mall Galleries, where my friend Wendy Horler, had two paintings on display. I had mixed feelings about some parts of the exhibition, but like the Royal Academy's Summer exhibition, the sheer density of artwork from such a wide range of artists, and curated in sections by different people, means that inevitably, I came away inspired. These are a few of the artists who caught my eye.
Jessie Brennan has drawn the most incredible landscape made from all the ordinary things in our office. Whether for aesthetics, concept or pure drawing skill, surely everybody can be inspired by this? I think I found it mesmerising for all three.
Betty Fraser Myerscough is an inspiration to me to figure out how my (Gran's) sewing machine works. Without undermining the beauty, planning and construction of her incredible textile pieces, her work struck me as textile collage held together by a mass of straight lines - surely, in my current embroidery experiments (yet to be shared here), I can at least conquer straight lines on the machine? Sadly I couldn't find the pieces from the exhibition, which seem to combine the qualities of both the pictures above - a crazy mass of text amidst a mountain of buildings.
Although Meg Lipke paints more abstractly than I usually prefer, I was inspired by the media she experiments with - she seems to play with layers through wax resist, batik, collage, watercolours, inks, in a way that comes together very vividly.
Many things for me to try in 2013!
Megan Dowsett is a creative consultant working in museums, galleries and the arts, an illustrator who is finding her voice through personal and local projects, and a parent to two young beings who can't help but influence her creative journey.
Through the name Norris and the Flamingo, she shares the sense of adventure that runs through all of life, wherever we are on our journey. A sense of imagination, of possibility and discovery, for children and adults alike.

30 December 2012
13 December 2012
London Unfurled
Sometimes I hold an idea in my head for years. I guess I know, subconsciously, that I'm never going to do it, but I like to believe that one day I will. But in the meantime, somebody else has the same idea. Sometimes I feel a sense of peace that my idea has been brought into existence, even if not by me.
Today though, I'm a tiny bit disappointed. I found London Unfurled by Matteo Pericoli as I moved through the books in Waterstone's. I've long wanted to create a lengthy pen drawing of the entirety of London's riverbanks and Matteo Pericoli has done exactly that, in a beautifully formed book. I should be delighted to see my idea in substance, but somehow it's rather dry, to be honest. There is no contrast, little personality or individuality. It's almost, but not quite, a pure architectural drawing.
Where does that leave me? Do I lay my vision to rest, achieved by the world if not by me? Or do I do it, one day, and remind people of that book they saw some time ago?
Perhaps I take it as a challenge, to push the boundaries further, take on my idea and stretch it, change and evolve it. Into something better ...
Today though, I'm a tiny bit disappointed. I found London Unfurled by Matteo Pericoli as I moved through the books in Waterstone's. I've long wanted to create a lengthy pen drawing of the entirety of London's riverbanks and Matteo Pericoli has done exactly that, in a beautifully formed book. I should be delighted to see my idea in substance, but somehow it's rather dry, to be honest. There is no contrast, little personality or individuality. It's almost, but not quite, a pure architectural drawing.
Where does that leave me? Do I lay my vision to rest, achieved by the world if not by me? Or do I do it, one day, and remind people of that book they saw some time ago?
Perhaps I take it as a challenge, to push the boundaries further, take on my idea and stretch it, change and evolve it. Into something better ...
9 December 2012
Bookshelves
7 December 2012
Secret London
We're coming to the end of a gorgeous exhibition at the London Transport Museum ... it's been a place for me to sneak away to during breaks as I settle into a new job there. Secret London is an exhibition of graduates' illustration, on one of our eternally favourite themes. Perhaps in the thrill of working for a museum with such an enormous poster collection, I found myself most drawn to the illustrations which reminded me of London's posters. This one, by Harry Haysom, makes me want to follow up with an entire story ...
And this one, by Matt Higgins, simply makes me laugh ...
And this one, by Matt Higgins, simply makes me laugh ...
1 December 2012
Happy Birthday Mum!
28 November 2012
Soap-Carved Chess Pieces


25 November 2012
The Great Plaster and Toilet Roll Experiment


18 November 2012
Table Decorations


14 November 2012
Stamping onto Fabric

11 November 2012
Tea Cups


7 November 2012
Herne Hill Farmers Market
Looking forward to our new craft stall at Herne Hill Farmers Market on Sunday 11 November from 10am - 4pm. As well as my previously mentioned envelope projects, I'll be selling tea-light jam jars. And Emmy will be selling her charm bracelets. We hope to see you there!
Our craft stall dates are as follows:
Herne Hill Farmers Market:
Sunday 11 November, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 25 November, 10am - 4pm
Dulwich College Farmers Market:
Sunday 16 December, 9am - 1pm

Herne Hill Farmers Market:
Sunday 11 November, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 25 November, 10am - 4pm
Dulwich College Farmers Market:
Sunday 16 December, 9am - 1pm
4 November 2012
Clay Vessels


1 November 2012
Craft Stall at Herne Hill Farmers Market

30 October 2012
Finger Puppets


24 October 2012
Felting around a ball




20 October 2012
DIY Cupcake Stands


Photos credit to Andrew Mason.
17 October 2012
13 October 2012
From the Sketchbook: Cambodia again


10 October 2012
Lambeth Open - Warrior Studios
I enjoyed a thrilling visit to the Warrior Studios in Loughborough Junction, as part of Lambeth Open. It's a long time since I've found so many overlaps with what I'm already doing, in one expedition! I'm not sure if this is all a good thing, but it's left me feeling incredibly inspired, nonetheless.

In particular, Federica Dalla Vecchia is fascinated by many of the same things that I'm currently exploring. This stunning quilt is made from envelopes. And then, she has taken a host of disposable cups and created plaster moulds from them, playing with the variety of shapes, textures and patterns in objects that we usually throw away without consideration.
Jane Campbell is playing with plaster too, and reminded me that I can find potential even in the crumbled disasters. Her work challenged me to think more widely about what I'm doing at the moment, which I will share very soon ...


In particular, Federica Dalla Vecchia is fascinated by many of the same things that I'm currently exploring. This stunning quilt is made from envelopes. And then, she has taken a host of disposable cups and created plaster moulds from them, playing with the variety of shapes, textures and patterns in objects that we usually throw away without consideration.
Jane Campbell is playing with plaster too, and reminded me that I can find potential even in the crumbled disasters. Her work challenged me to think more widely about what I'm doing at the moment, which I will share very soon ...
7 October 2012
From the Sketchbook: Cambodia


4 October 2012
A Workshop with Annette Bolton
I joined my Mum in a workshop hosted by the Andover Embroiderers' Guild, with textile artist Annette Bolton, who created the books above and below. Mostly, I looked forward to a day of indulgent fabrics and threads, beads and stitches. I didn't expect to come away with a project to fill my train journeys for the next term and numerous thoughts for further fabric books to follow! Watch this space for some finished pieces .,.
30 September 2012
From the Sketchbook: Vietnam again


23 September 2012
Mind the Map
I visited the London Transport Museum, drawn by the Mind the Map exhibition, which turned out to be every bit the feast I'd hoped for. Combine a fascination with London, with the Underground, with maps and the infinite possibilities of transforming them into aesthetic and logical masterpieces, and you are in the dream exhibition.
For me my most inspiring discovery was my introduction to the maps of MacDonald Gill, who for the first part of the 1900s created illustrative maps of London and the tube, blending geography, humour and great colour schemes.
There was also a thrilling range of pieces commissioned for the exhibition. To pick out one favourite, I should land on Claire Brewster, who made paper cuts from tube maps to bring together her journey from the countryside to the city.
Finally, I made a great connection in the workings of my mind when I saw Susan Stockwell's map of the world made from a montage of travel tickets. Somehow I had never realised that my love of the London transport network could be connected to my fascination with figuring out the public transport networks in the countries I visit overseas.
For me my most inspiring discovery was my introduction to the maps of MacDonald Gill, who for the first part of the 1900s created illustrative maps of London and the tube, blending geography, humour and great colour schemes.
There was also a thrilling range of pieces commissioned for the exhibition. To pick out one favourite, I should land on Claire Brewster, who made paper cuts from tube maps to bring together her journey from the countryside to the city.
Finally, I made a great connection in the workings of my mind when I saw Susan Stockwell's map of the world made from a montage of travel tickets. Somehow I had never realised that my love of the London transport network could be connected to my fascination with figuring out the public transport networks in the countries I visit overseas.
20 September 2012
From the Sketchbook: Vietnam


17 September 2012
Short Hair Bride



13 September 2012
The Question of the Plastic Cups
When it came to the bar at our wedding, I struggled with the issue of plastic cups. I could see that we needed plastic cups in case people disappeared all over the garden with glasses in hand. But after such a mission of second-hand things, it seemed a pity not to be able to recycle the cups. However, my research led me to the conclusion that there isn't much recycling of plastic cups in our country - it's more about reusing them until they collapse.
Then it hit me - I could use my eternal fascination with plastic bottles and turn them into cups. A plan of pure genius, if it wasn't found two weeks before the wedding. Even then, if this new form of cup was stackable, I may yet have done it. Instead, I re-visited the idea a month after our wedding for our celebration barbecue, and gave in to using normal plastic cups for the actual day.

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