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I'm in love with big fat wooly homey stuff just now. It started last year when I saw Rockpool Candy's crocheted pebble rug. She's now made the pattern available to download for just £3.50. Bargain.
And then I keep seeing these popping up here there and everywhere. Christien Meindertsma's giant knitted Urchin Poufs
And then my lovely friend Michelle posted this covered pouf on her blog too:
I recently asked people on twitter what favourite item they'd hang on a hook and why, and maybe where or any other details they wanted to add. (There was a reason for this strange question, which will become clearer in time!) But the replies were so colourfully wonderful and strange I wanted to find a way to list and share them so here they are...
One of my favourite responses was from Lu Summers (or @Lusummers) who said she'd "display a collage of all the mirrors I've been collecting in my hallway." I found a few other examples of people who'd had that same idea like Ula's bedroom collection and Haskell Harris' Hallways set:
And this set which Naomi found on Anthropologie:
I happen to know Lu lives in a farmhouse and is a dab hand at design so am looking forward to seeing her own take on this idea eventually.
So what were the other replies? OK here goes - get ready for some really random ideas!
@RachelCockett, a museum strategy / development type person has many favourite things on hooks already including a Naga necklace, a World War 1 bayonet, a bronze fish shaped bell and a hand forged copper and silver spoon. (Her house sounds like a fabulously fascinating place. Any photos please Rachel?!)
Artist educator @K8ieSmith sent me a photo of her rather sweet and dainty toy poodle dangling from her hook rail.
Figure from history Sir James Pennyman (Leader of an English Civil War Regiment) - yes you read that right - told me his mum's boss at a nursery in the 1950s really did hang naughty boys on hooks for such crimes as hanging your coat on the giraffe peg when you know you're an elephant (phew thank god times have changed!)
Textile designer-maker and author @RuthSinger hangs 'just a few' vintage handbags on hers. I suspect that 'few' is way into double figures on the quiet right Ruth?
And more traditional home comforts like dressing gowns, aprons and pictures can be found on the hooks of designer-maker @laurafallulah and craft follower @jenimartian
Rather boringly in our house we have nothing other the occasional mirror and a guitar hanging on hooks. Must do something about that! So what favourite item would you hang on a hook, and why and where?
A long time ago I shared my love of pattern in atomic or molecular structure in this post, and it appears crudely in these pieces. It's a theme I've been revisiting lately and I wanted to just note it down to keep reminding myself about it.
Through working with organisations like Manchester Science Festival, Nowgen and the Manchester Beacon I've since had the delight of getting know a bit more about science researchers and some of the topics they are exploring. This insight has somehow made my interest more real, more tangible. Though I can't pretend to begin to understand what on earth it's all about.
But I've started to see ways it can be made understandable, through work with artists, designers, writers and others. If they can do it - it can be done, maybe I can think about how some of the microscopic images could start influencing my textiles work in ways which is a little more authentic than the crude and entirely fictional atomic references.
Images courtesy of University of Manchester Life Science research groups: 1. GFP-tagged cytokeratin expressed in a human tissue culture cell, 2. A human tissue culture cell labeled for the Golgi apparatus (green), microtubules (red) and the nucleus (blue), 3. Intact and burst algae cells (C. reinhardtii) showing accumulation and release of stained lipid bodies, 4. Microtubules in a leaf cell, 5. Mouse cortical progenitor cell differentiated in culture showing a transcription factor localised to the cytoplasm (red), 6. Growth cone of a cultured primary Drosophila neuron stained against actin (green) and tubulin (purple), 7. Latex beads: Adhesion of latex beads coated with Lewis X to the AGS gastric epithelial cell line, 8. Pylori: In situ adhesion of H. pylori to mucosal epithelial cells in a biopsy sample from the antrum region of human stomach, 9. Insulin expression in pancreatic islet, 10. Sensory neuron growth cone (green= beta III tubulin, red=actin) (Natalie Gardiner), 11. Drosophila photoreceptors expressing channel opsin-2 labelled with Alexa fluor 555 (Helena Baines), 12.cell1
I just wanted to post a little something to say thank you to friends who are now following this blog on Facebook. For anyone else who prefers that way please feel free - just click 'follow' on the Networked Blogs badge in the right hand column of the blog page; or click here and follow away...
As an extra thank you I also wanted to return the favour with a shout out to some fellow bloggers who are amongst those following on facebook so here goes (can't promise to get round all of you in one go but for starters, and in no particular order...)
Kitty Pinkstars - if you like a bright outlook on life and believe in fairy tales - or, like me, you're astounded by out and out unstoppable ideas and creativity, or a good doodle and full sketch book.
Debbie aka Ladysnail - another doodler extraordinaire with a penchant for life sized stuff robots, animated lions, smiley teeth, and a grin that lights up any room (if you're lucky enough to meet her for real).
Jenny - the mastermind behind the mammoth Indie Quarter blog which ties up craft, fashion and indie retail / cultural gorgeousness in general.
Annie - a beautiful soul and talented writer of poems and short stories. Her latest blog project is Northern Stones - one line of prose a day that helps to appreciate the daily details all around.
Sian / Siansburys - who I strongly suspect of being twins trapped inside one body. Her playful and bonkers (in a good way) world of sock monkeys and general Sheffield craft life is right here and her earnest (and bloody stunning) sketches are here.
I'll try and list some more soon, especially those who like myself have a hugely soft spot for good stationery (felt tips for starters); ethereal embroidery and figurines; eco-friendly homeware; crazed Glaswegian craft antics; and food festivals.
Thanks guys!
Ok so we may be in January already, but textile and paper artist Jennifer Collier has created a beautiful calendar free to download. It features the work of other textile and paper artists who form part of the exhibition and workshop line up at Jennifer's gallery and studio, Unit Twelve.
So if you're a bit partial to special stationery, or work by the likes of Samantha Bryan, Helen Musselwhite, Julie Arkell, Debbie Smythe and others of that ilk, treat yourself to a freebie calendar now.
Better still, get down to Unit Twelve this year - it's a beautiful trip out into the country.
I do love this furniture using recycled skateboards by Deckstool on etsy. Not just a brilliant idea but executed to perfection - I don't quite know how but there's something very classic about the actual furniture shapes. It's not just a hack and stick job. It's real design and carpentry. Attention to detail.
I've noticed an uprising in recycled board products lately, though mostly they're jewellery like...
I was lucky enough to receive some amazing books this Christmas. Including the wonderful Horrockses Fashions: Off-the-Peg Style in the 40s and 50s
Having started to actually read it and not just scour the incredible collection of photos and illustrations, what I really love is its account of how social history affected the company's development.
Continue reading "Horrockses Fashions: Off-the-peg Style in the 40s and 50s" »
