Lady Bay Arts Festival

A few weeks ago, as part of the Open Studio Notts event - all the artists (and there are lots!!) living in the local area of Lady Bay - opened up their studio's for a chance to browse or buy there work. It was a beautiful sunny day and most artists were around to have a chat about their work, explain their thought processes etc.

 The very talented Oliver Lovely was demonstrating how he cooks up and makes his inks from vegetable skins, grass etc. Beautiful, delicate work in subtle colours... Love his city landscapes (see below)  all painted from an unusual perspective.

You can view more of Oliver's work on his website: www.oliverlovely.com

Another favourite was the sketches of Juliet Goodden. Juliet is currently studying an MA in Fine Art (very envious) - her sketches are all done on old vintage folders - something that brings a lovely quality to her work, quick, spontaneous drawing with flashes of colour - love them! 

 

 one of the really great things about this event is getting a sneek peek into the working environments, studio's and homes - this is the beautiful hidden away garden of a local potter....

The First Cut

PAPER AT THE CUTTING EDGE

Wednesday 24 April – Sunday 9 June

The First Cut - A fantastic Exhibiton on at Djanogly Gallery The Lakeside, Nottingham, 

Featuring the work of over 30 international contemporary artists, who transform paper through cutting, folding and sculpting - experimenting and using paper in revolutionary new ways. The creations are intricate, delicate and diverse, from tiny fragile creations to huge room-filling installations. The diversity of the exhibition makes it really interesting, and definitely worth catching before it ends on 9th June.

www.lakesidearts.org.uk

Particularly liked the work of Sarah Bridgland who uses tiny cut out vintage typography to make incredibly detailed 3 dimensional collages - just beautiful.

Also loved the birds and images cut from vintage maps by Claire Brewster who uses vinatge maps to create delicate cut out birds in flight.

There is a great variety of techniques and scales within the exhibition - from a lifesize motorcycle made toatally out of paper to a small tiny cut in a single sheet of A4!
Very inspiring and well worth a visist! http://www.lakesidearts.org.uk/Exhibitions.html

Customized Artwork

Spot artworks can be made to order for a special occasion or gift - this one was done for a friends 40th birthday - choose the colours you would like and let me know any memorable dates, names, places, quotes, or anything else that you are interested in and I shall try to include it in the piece. 

Subtle personalised pieces that will form a very special and personal gift, ideal for wedding present or birth of a new baby, birthday or special occasion.

See more colour ideas here or let me know your own colour combination to coordinate with a room or colour theme. £65 For a personalised A3 artwork, for more information contact: hello@rockvilladesigns.co.uk

Papermash

Just discovered a lovely company Papermash - have been looking for some grey and white Bakers twine to wrap orders - lovely quality, great value and sent next day - they also have a lovely selection of Washi tapes and other stationery items. www.papermash.co.uk

Washi Tapes

Lovely Alphabet Index Tags - adhesive stickers for marking books.

Kirsty Baynham Illustration

Ordered these lovely bird illustrated cards from Kirsty Baynham via Etsy... beautiful bird illustrations and all came wrapped in her illustrated wrapping paper with a lovely card included... Love them!

Kirsty produces a variety of stationery products and lovely giclee prints

view online at www.kirstybaynham.co.uk

Kiosk

Lovely meeting and lunch in the sun yesterday at a little gem of a cafe, called KIOSK. 

On a side street off Mansfield Road, is this tiny tucked away terrace, a perfect little sun-trap with hand drawn menu chalkboards, deckchairs and bags of charm. 

Delicious food, cooked fresh each day, and an constantly changing menu and most food sourced from within a 2 mile radius!

The indoor space is a revamped shipping container - small and intimate, with a big stack of crochet blankets for those cold mornings drinking a hot coffee and a slice of homemade cake!

Menu wall inside the container...

Check out more pics HERE and definitely pop in if you are passing that way!

The Kiosk is currently open seven days-a-week (9 - 3 Mon - Sat,10 - 2 Sun)

1b Winchester Street, Sherwood, Nottingham. NG5 4AH

info@kiosksherwood.co.uk

www.kiosksherwood.co.uk

Great food review HERE

Berylune

While spending a lovely weekend celebrating a friends birthday in Leamington Spa, stumbled across this little gem of a shop. With its window full of a, rainbow hued, variety of lovely items. A mix of vintage finds, and carefully sourced new pieces it was a wonderful, inspiring collection...great for gifts, and treats for yourself!

Orla Kiely tins and storage jars & vintage fabric lampshades, lots of original cards and gifts and stationery bits...

Vintage sewing patterns, crochet, haberdashery and patterned pyrex

Crochet blankets were hung as curtains, with lots of car boot and vintage finds throughout the shop. Love this vintage hexagonal patchwork quilt.

Upstairs Berylune run craft workshops - screenprinting, crochet and sewing classes and a regular 'Knit and Natter' every week! You can view their upcoming classes and book on a course here: http://www.berylune.bigcartel.com/

For the Knit and Natter...

Love this old felt applique...

Love their vintage finds and wall displays with vintage wallpaper - makes me want to get to a car boot NOW!! :-)

So definitely worth a visit if you are in the area, or you can find a small selection of items in their online shop here: http://beryluneshop.bigcartel.com/

http://www.berylune.blogspot.co.uk/

Berylune

45 Park Street

Leamington Spa

Warwickshire

CV32 4QN

Opening Times:

Monday - Saturday 10am ish- 5pm ish

Sunday 11am ish - 4pm ish