Fig 11 Windows of Berlin

I went on a winter weekend away with my sister to Berlin, we had such a great time.
Berlin is such an inspiring and creative City, to me it was like one big playground. We explored the east and the west and found hot spots in both. We found a lovely little restaurant / cake shop just around the corner of Savigny Platz station, a treasure of a find - best patisseries and fresh food in Berlin, absolutely beautiful. We cycled around the city with the Fat Tire Tour at Alexander Platz amazing fun, my cheeks hurt from smiling all day, you cycle around and stop at all the historical sites, you stop for an hour and have lunch in the parks cafe, and sample some of Germany's beer which is delicious. I dragged my sister around all the 'Humana' stores I could find basically these are huge charity shops well worth a look - be worn you do need to rummage best one is in Frankfurter Tor 3 - incredible building. Lastly we went to Tacheles were they have a huge sculpture park full of sculptures made from found iron and metal, you can watch the artists at work, its based in a former department store which now has 2 bars and one club the building is covered from head to toe in graffiti, it smelt of piss pretty bad but worth a quick snap or too.

Fig 10 'Hibernate in colour'

This autumn I am going to make my first quilt this is my inspiration above, images found on the internet and many other beautiful blogs, thanks everyone for giving me so many colourfull ideas. Can not wait to be tucked up in something just as beautiful and comforting as these one's. My little red sewing machine is going to be on fire for the weeks up to Christmas, keep your eyes peeled for outcome.

Fig 9 'The Serpentine Dance' Lumière Brothers 1899

I fell across this incredible film, shot in 1899. Firstly I was struck by the colour and beauty, secondly on how advanced the filming was, and how people must have felt when viewing it for the first time in 1899.

The colours and shapes in which the dancers are making are mind blowingly beautiful, I could watch it all day its hypnotizing. Each frame of this 19th Century film by Lumière brothers was hand painted to create an early colour moving picture. A beautiful example of the earliest cinematic ART.

Enjoy the film

Fig 8 September Sun moodboard

This is my vision board for September, I always think this time of year is full of magic and possibilities, The image of Picasso in the center with the light is all about this energy. The hand and the humming bird is about reaching out for what you want.. The macaroons are there as a colour palette for my wardrobe this autumn and for comfy cushions and throws for my apartment. Love the colours and tote bag bottom left also going to start shopping local and buying produce which are in season mmm home made soups and almond tarts... yum the rest is all about love ?

Fig 7 Its so nice to be beside the seaside

This is a little montage of my week away spent with my sister 'Gems' who is lucky enough to live in such a beautiful place as Sandbanks, what a retreat away from all the city smoke and the furious speed of London life. We paddled, swam, cycled, danced on a log, hunted for red squirrels on Bramsey Island, sunbathed on stripey deck chairs and beneath blue sky's bigger enough to make a pair of sailors trousers. Am dreaming about my next visit.

Fig 6 My Mum and Dads Shared Sheds

These montages are of my Mum and Dads 'Sheds' Which they call 'Shareds' as they are join together, I love the contrast between my Mums tranquil Summer House compared to my Dads studio, and the way they are so personalized and unique to them individually. My Dads shed has a rustic hands on approach, Its messy and creative. While my mums shed is calm and pretty with a vintage edge. I took these photos as I am always inspired by peoples spaces and work stations, private places to be creative or to collect thoughts or putting thoughts on paper.

Fig 5 A Childs Garden of Verses

It was a rather grey day today, my sister mentioned to me earlier on in the week, that she keeps driving past this very intriguing ' brick a brack ' shop called the "treasure chest". Which she has always wanted to stop by and have a look. So as it was such a dull old day we thought it would be a good day to find some treasure . After about half an hour of rooting and rummaging through endless piles of books & photographs and other memorabilia . My hands pulled out this rather gorgeaous book 'A Childs Garden Of Verses' Illustrated by Alice & Martin Provensen, written by Robert Louis Stevenson's. It was printed in 1951. What an absolute treasure love the graphic screen printed illustration which evoke such wit and energy.
The first page starts like this:
" The World is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be so happy as kings."
I walked a away with this beautiful books and two 1920's jelly moulds all for £2.
Not such a bad grey old day after all.

Fig 4 Vision Board

After recently finishing 'The Artists Way' I got very much into making vision boards / mood boards, I use them like I would a diary - a visual diary.

I find images which represent my goals, my aims, what I want to achieve in the future.
So far I have made three for myself and a load for friends and family, they make great birthday presents and christmas presents.

Your wishes and aims change from day to day so its good to keep them lucid.
The small VB top left of pic I made for my friend Fiona before she went to India, she sat down with me and told me her aims and desires for the future and I put it all in a 'Vision Board' which she could keep and look at every day to keep her on track. I have my 'Vision Board' saved on my desktop screen saver, so I can look at what I want to achieve everyday.
Someday I might just get it all.

If you are interested in having your own personalized 'Vision Board' for a small price, let me know I would love to create one for you.

Fig 3 Vintage Deli Beautiful online shop

One Sunday, bitterly cold afternoon in late November. My friend Katy Coe came bouncing in with a huge bag of clothes, and one very big idea " Im going to call my shop 'Vintage Deli ", she beamed at me with her wide grin and smiling eyes. I was completely taken away with her energy and enthusiasm, so we sat in front of our fire and started sketching ideas, not long after I came up with a mark which did and said exactly what Katy wanted, and designed a homepage to show off Katy's collection of beautiful clothes. Her website is up and running and well worth a look...
go to http://www.vintagedeli.co.uk/

Fig 1 Personality Wheel

Fig 2 Alphabet Hunt

During July, I got my friends and colleagues to search high and low for a found letter in a everyday surrounding, to be exhibited in our gallery space ' The wonderwall' in our works reception, I displayed all our found letters on a washing line, which then made a huge word search, I hid eight words so the hunt didn't stop. Life is exciting and beautiful if you open your eyes, this exercise really taught that . My favorite is the letter 'M' above, shaddow of two lovers, who are my close Friends Wendy and Joel who are to be married in the New year I shot this in Victoria Park one fine day.