Fare Thee Well Barton Hall

This is final goodbye to our beloved Barton Hall. Today is the day that all the artists have to be out, before it is handed over to people who will turn it into an hotel and spa!

So, farewell to....   Simon's 'Attic of Doom'

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the view from the window......

the beautiful staircase......

....and stained glass window.

Goodbye to the Open Studios and Art Fairs, that helped to promote and encourage all artists and artisans... and to the people who worked hard to make it happen...

..not forgetting the wonderful tearoom and Kelly's fabulous cakes!

 The champagne and absinthe fuelled Burlesque evening is one that will go down as a night to remember....

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...and goodbye to the ghosts who roamed the corridors...

and also to the stone bench, where I would sit for an illicit cigarette... (yes, I know, you don't need to say it!)

...and look at the beautiful orangery (before vandals broke every pane of glass!)

...the dovecote....

....playing hide and seek with the children and collecting pine cones in winter.

....but most of all I will miss the people and camaraderie of a creative community. Here's hoping it won't be too long before we find another.

(extra photos courtesy of Carolyn Bushell)

Beautiful Disaster

'Beautiful Disaster'

New work , bleach painting on denim.

...And I'm Back.

Happy New Year everyone and apologies for being absent for so long. However, I shall more than make up for it now with some delights to get your inspiration whirring.

Now, I don't make New Year's resolutions, but I do have a few things that have to be fitted in within the next few weeks. As most of you know, I have a degenerative spinal condition and unfortunately, it's degenerated a bit more! So, I am awaiting yet more surgery, which should be within the next couple of months. After that, I'll be out of action for ages, so this is my to-do list:

1. Make 14 table decorations for sister-in-laws wedding on Saturday.

2. Finish commissioned collage.

3. Visit the exhibition of Anselm Kiefer's work at The White Cube in London.

4. Knit Simon a jumper.

5. Get a load of small pieces done for sale in the art gallery.

6. Take Maud and Mabel to the Moscow City Ballet production of Swan Lake.

Oh and somehow get my house to look like this.

photos courtesy of E Mag Deco

This is the home of artist, Claire Guiral, aka Miss Clara. Her beautiful work can also be bought here.

Distress To Impress and Don't Spend, Mend.

Many of us on here are drawn together by our love of vintage style, recycling, upcycling, whatever you choose to call it. I know a lot of artists that use found objects in their work or creative people who decorate their homes fabulously, using only charity/thrift shop buys.

However, there are always a few who rise above everyone else for their astonishing skill, creativity and vision. Below are some of my favourite designers, who take the discarded and forgotten and turn them into something fabulous.

First is a designer  Gem (NattyBoho), from Suffolk, England, whose beautiful designs are in the style of tattered, Dickensian and punked up Victoriana. Beautifully tailored jackets with bustles and fabulous Dodger style hats in silks and lace. Introducing.......

Naturally Bohemian

Gem's designs and beautiful photographs can be found on Etsy and Facebook
All images courtesy of  Naturally Bohemian. 


Next we go across the pond to Alaska and enter the wonderful world of the Slippery Slope Bloomer Co. 

Designer Jess, creates incredibly unique underwear using upholstery fabric, which, when you get to my age is exactly what you need!

She is also inspired by the illustrations of John James Audubon and draws his ornithological images onto some of her designs.

The photos used to model the pieces are also a visual feast. Pretty, grungy, tough, yet always feminine.

All images courtesy of Slippery Slope Bloomer Co.


Other sites of interest- Gibbous Fashion

Do You Think He'll Notice?

Having settled nicely into our new home, we now need to start thinking about decor. At first we thought we'd go for the nordic shabby chic look that I love, but, I'm finding the all-white look just a tad bland. Plus, we are an incredibly untidy family and the place just looks grubby, so I think an injection of colour is needed.

Now this is where we stumble a bit, as Simon likes to play safe when it comes to decorating. He's a 'Magnolia' man, that generic cream-coloured paint beloved of lazy decorators everywhere.

Anyway, I was thinking that maybe I could pull off the, "Oh that? It's been in my wardrobe for years!" ruse, but with....turquoise paint. Stay with me on this......

Ok, we'll break him gently with a couple of nicely distressed kitchen cupboards. He'll quite like

those and then we'll graduate to a chest of drawers, that we might get away with.

... but we're stepping onto marshy ground with this one....

(We actually have some wooden panelling on our stairs)

No, I think we've lost him now; there will be a very assertive, "No, bugger off"
Ha, but he won't be able to resist when I welcome him home from work like this, in my beautiful turquoise, yet tastefully distressed hallway............

I'll tell him he can have one of his photographs up too......

"I don't care who you are, here's to your dream," by Shadowshow.

So, there we have a little taste of my new fancy. I'll let you know how I get on.
TTFN................

Photo source... 1, 2, 3 (others unknown.)

Lucifer's Photographs.

We're very proud and excited, here in the old homestead, as Simon has been asked to exhibit his photographs in the shops of the infamous shoe makers, Jeffery-West. 

They are renowned, worldwide for their beautiful, hand tooled shoes and grace the feet of some very famous men.
For the first 8 weeks, the photographs will be in the Leeds shop; decorated in fabulous Victorian/ gothic style, Si's images should fit in wonderfully.

After that, they will move down to the London shop, where Si will be having a private viewing.

You can also read the story of 'Lucifer's Boots', a darker take on the Elves and the Shoemaker, with fabulous illustrations from John Welding.

To coincide with this event, Simon is having a giveaway on his blog, 'the fallen angel social club' Every 6th new follower of his blog will receive 6 postcard style photographs, signed by the artist. Giveaway ends on 6th June. Do we see a pattern here?

Images courtesy of Shadowshow