New Winter necklaces at Cumquat Interiors.  It's a scary business making things sometimes so it's heartening when people "get" work you've poured a lot in to. 

Photo courtesy of Cumquat too.

I was going to post some pics of how I went about hand dying the denim coloured rope but ultimately they were incredibly boring photos of a nail biting process.  Only nail biting because I used  a black dye to get this denim colour.  And remarkably it worked!!  

Thank goodness.  Sometimes you need a win.

(I can see that one day I'm going to want black rope though ~ yehhh - that's going to be a new trick!?)

Work it

I wouldn't call what I've been doing lately "making Jewellery" but that is what I have been up to.  The new pieces don't contain any precious metals or jewels.  I feel like calling them "neckpieces" or something similar?

I sometimes feel frivolous producing cushions or "neckpieces" or collages or whatever... After all, as they say, I'm not saving the world.

But I feel so much better when I'm making these things rather than just having the ideas cluttering up my mind.

Much better.

Anyway, thinking about the "why" of making led me back to what gets my brain ticking over with ideas in the first place.

Russia, Vietnam, Peru, Africa, yep ok even England (Morris dancers...) Colour and joy and damn it, frivolity in their clothes and jewellery and textiles and beads and jingly ribboned bell things (that's them Morris dancers).

You can't get away from it - no doubt a gene for it - we love adorning ourselves and what's around us. Obviously a universal thing and there's no avoiding it.

So I can just get over it and get on with making it.  

Much to be learned from my little boy - his painting opens this post. He just gets on with it and isn't it great work!

More colour inspiration here and if you really need to.. some Morris Dancers here and here.

Thanks to Boom Gallery too for stocking my latest work. Hope to get some in my shop soon too. 

goldmining

Minerals, metal. We've been digging them up for such a long time. The bronze age, the iron age, copper, tin....

Everyday wonders. Something to think about when we roll out the aluminium foil.

I try to give the old tins I find some thought in respect of all that went into making them.

(Oh, and of course if you'd like to see more tins and toolboxes you may find them by clicking here.)

Workroom

Workroom, studio, study or just plain old spare room. 

I think it takes time to carve out a space that you're able to work in at home.  Much of my work still spreads out to other parts of the house but it is so nice to have a spot where just my particular chaos can reign.  I'm sure everyone else appreciates it not completely taking over our home too.

I love seeing other home workspaces. Factor in general household goings on and it amazes me what can be put together on a kitchen table. 

By the way, these photos are close ups mainly due to the current state of disarray in my workroom but I promise some other views in the future.  On a positive note - it does mean I've been busy! 

Okay, lets not get too crazy here but BonVoyageEtoffe has now joined the wide, wide world of Etsy.

It's a big online shopping world out there and a teensy bit scary, but I confess I've found it absolutely and oldfashionedly thrilling to be on a new and somewhat steep(for me)learning curve.

Hence I required some calming paper goods yesterday.

As I speak now there are of course only 3 listings in my shop but hey, they weren't there yesterday. Work continues!

Etoffe (fr): stuff, material, it's made of the right stuff 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BonVoyageEtoffe

Sage and Autumn

In an Autumn mood I just had to include these moths.(But really, to be honest I've been looking to get them up for ages!)  It's a plate from "Rambles in Autumn", a book from a little set called "The Circling Year".

Very English, but so was the weather today!

Think I might have been feeling the quiet in the garden when I chose the sage colour for this little table. It's almost ready.

It's one of those pieces I wish I had a spare spot for myself.

Meanwhile, Autumn quinces are fab. I highly recommend quinces.

And perhaps the sky is somewhat grey but hey, the nasturtiums are still going crazy under the lime tree (which itself is being slightly lazy).

Maybe it's just me but they just make me think of the 70's.

The happy shape, the colour??

And, a bit more colour. 

mix it up

this goes with

this

goes with these

though they'd fit here too

as would this again

or put those cushions on a bed like this

even this 

especially now it has these

though I'd love them all here too

well, maybe just the cushions.

Gorgeous places from Yatzer and LivingEtc.

Very sorry I can't currently recall where i found the jungle room but trying to stumble across it again so i can lead you to it. Fab aren't they.

Cushions and rattan chair will be for sale at the Moriac Makers Market on Sunday May 6th. Say hi if you've seen this!

Work in Progress, BonVoyage!

I've bravely signed up for a stall at the Moriac Makers Market on Sunday May 6th this year. Well, when I say brave I only mean brave for me as I've realised it's only 2 and a bit weeks away. Ahhah.

I've been reading about the Thames river in London and the docks.

I also like the illustrations in these books on Nelson and Francis Bacon.

I don't know that the word "inspiration" has any direct relevance to my work but I do think that what I see filters in for sure!

BonVoyage cushions and stool.  I hope at market time, somebody finds them suitable.

I have to say I'm a little charmed by the stool as a bedside table though.

Work in progress above.  Say hi if you meet me at the market and I must also say thanks to Jasmin who runs the market for the lovely welcome on her blog!

Moriac Markets has a Facebook page that you can like too. 

Busy as I am I've heard its a lovely event and I'm looking forward to it.  So happy my sister Rachy is coming along to help me - fab - coffees, cakes, shopping.

 I imagine a sailors tot of rum will be the thing when we get home too!