Stumbling across an opportunity...

Randomly came across this site from an ad on a dezeen mag website sidebar;

http://www.theamazings.com/

From what I initially gather, it's a website by which loads of "amazing" crafters and artists can get people interested in what they do, and sign up to classes to learn the skills.

 

I will definitely peruse the videos some more, and conviently for me the classes are held in London. Though it is possible to nominate your town.

 

This re-ignites my concerns whether wishing to leave London for univeristy is the right move, bearing in mind I want to do an experimental creative course and there are such great and diverse opportunities here.

 

Though I know from experience that there are loads of crafters and traders all around the country (I learnt my knitting skills from Grandmother and Aunt. And the best quilting/ knitting shops I know are in rural villages/towns.) This site seems a simple friendly portal whcih easily encourages and engages the audience. 

 

The best bit is, supporting it is fuin and easy; just get involved!. If everyone does that, it can only grow!  

Spellbinding; the works of Izziyana Suhaimi

 

The Artist's Blog: http://my-bones.tumblr.com/

...It's work like this which proves to me that mixed media is what inspires me most...

The Feel-Good Factor

This Month's Issue

Bought an issue of The Simple Things to accompany me on my trip to Bath, and so glad that I did!. I was caught between this one and Oh Comely, but I'd call them both of the same "feel-good reading" genre. I think it's such a gap in the market, with so many other female-orientated magazine being full of stuff to make us feel bad about ourselves (clothes we could never afford, clear skin we could never have etc...). And though it's a bit on the kitchy crafts side, mostly due to the adverts featured, it's an eye-opening uplifting read. The best bit is that I can still like my glossy glamour and cutting-edge design magazines, but have this as a little guilty pleasure. As I often find in life, the most inspirational things are the simple things that we usually overlook. 

The Magic of Theatre and Puppetry...

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings - Battersea Arts Centre Website

I was fortunate enough to get a chance to see this touring Little Angel Theatre production. I had doubted my chances having read rave reviews in the daily London papers, and getting to Battersea seemed like quite an effort initially. But having been to the arts centre there I would certainly make the effort to return. An amazing culture-ful little treasure trove with a warm friendly down-your-local-pub atmosphere.  Images I've seen online since would tend to suggest it's far bigger than I'd thought when I was there. That's another one for the "Explore and Discover" to-do list... 

 

 I have to admit I'm one of those who says they love the theatre but rarely goes. It's the prices and the in-advance booking which puts me off, so I usually only see small local productions in which I have friends starring. (Nothing glamourous, I'm talking Greaspaint, school performances etc.) But it's the performances like this, with a small cast but such amazing puppetry and staging, that are truely inspiring. It made me want to write stories, illustrate, act, paint, compose music and even set up my own cream tea shop. Though the interpretation of the story line and actor performances were fantastic, what stole the show for me were the puppets. The craft, design and history of these magaical beings are things I definitely want to weave into a future 3D project. So watch this space for that, though I know I'm going to be busy keeping my eyes peeled for any more quirky theatre productions...  

 

The Cast (all four human members and main character puppets - Photo taken during final applause)

"Machine Box"

Maybe it's because of the playful design, calm juxtaposition of different shapes, textures and colours, or more likely because my brain really needs sleep. Either way, Kiki Van Eijk's 'Machine Box' from her “Cut & Paste” collection  for Secondome made me chuckle, this article is going straight into my bookmarks.

http://www.dezeen.com/2010/03/03/cut-and-paste-by-kiki-van-eijk-at-secondome/