compacts 1

two above are stratton smaller design

http://motleymonroescrystalmaze.blogspot.co.uk/p/powder-compacts.html

Dreamcatchers

Well earlier I that I was off to make a dream catcher, here are the two that I made this afternoon.

I didn't think that it would be quite as relaxing as it is I may have just found a new obsession.......

Didgeridoo!!

Just brought two Didgeridoos one with patterns and one with aboriginal turtle design.

obviously I will be amongst good company!!

I'm off to make a dream catcher and find the Dreamtime!!

vintage and costume auction (part II)

Spiral designs and brocade featured heavily, I think that I particularly love the colours of these waistcoats and jackets!

All of the embellishments were amazing and very inspiring. Most of my drawings include spiral designs in some way or another, seeing all of these has definitely made me want to do some line drwings based on the patterns:- perhaps in future posts.

vintage and costume auction (part 1)

These are some of my favourite examples from a recent vintage and costume auction that I went to.

Unfortunately and slightly disappointingly the majority of the clothing was reproduction or as I mentioned costume etc. However the few gems that I had time to look at and photograph (alas badly!) are here for your perusal!

Note the bumble-bee head is a particular high-point!

beautiful1930's lace and organza dress

another lace dress interesting sleeves, off-stone coloured lace

Back view of the sixties turquoise blue and gold silk evening gown (pictured above)

the sleeve from an exquisite lace trimmed victorian style pale shell pink and cream dress

Tomorrow will be kinder

These two vintage lovelies are the amazing folk duo the Secret Sisters as featured on the newly released Hunger Games soundtrack.

The song Tomorrow will be kinder is hauntingly beautiful. I am trying to not succumb to the urge to go and watch it yet until I have finished reading the trilogy (Suzanne Collins) although there are some library stocking issues as it has been so popular, and I'm too tight to go and buy them! 

The story does however bear similarities to the wonderful Belgian writer Amelie Nothomb's short story Sulphuric acid where the basic story sets out a the concept of a reproduced concentration camp, albeit where the prisoners are also trapped within a horrific 'Big Brother'-esque Television programme that even the Polititians eventually become powerless to have any sway over.

It is a very interesting and powerful story that I'd recommend, in fact so-far I have enjoyed all of her novels and would definitely suggest looking her up!

Poisson D'Avril (day later)

Zdzislaw Beksinsk is an amazing painter whose work I have loved now for some while, I was first introduced to his paintings by my sixth form art teacher's friend, who lent me a book all about him.

I have been having nightmares for years and I love how the images and symbolism referenced within his paintings really speak to me at certain times.

Although the images are dark I think that the are peaceful and beautiful in a decaying, unusual way.

here are some of my favourites!

Rural idyll!

snow day

These are just a few pictures of some of the snow creation that we made a few weeks back during the snow!

The lady above is a  Hundatwasser/Klimpt-esque styalised in snow lady,

and the following is the snow pig and the last one was the most forlorn skinny snowman!

little girl little red letter

a recent drawing maybe inspired by the ducks!

cold bus morning graffiti

I love these large graffiti pieces that are on the road coming into Cambridge this one above reminds me of the style that Jamie Hewlett, The designer behind  the illustrated band The Gorillaz and my favorite Tank girl!

This one reminds me of the the Character Lol from Shane Meadow's film and television series of the same name, This is England.

The girl here just looks so wistful and beautiful in an urban anarchic way much like Vicky McClure's Character.  It's a weird combination that I captured from my freezing cold top-storey bus ride that da, the silhouetted body builders above in the top left corner, to me remind me of how strong she is but in a fragile monochromatic nostalgic kind of way.