Wednesday 21 Nov "Good Shoes" @ The Astoria

Maki took me to see her boyfriend perform at the legendary Astoria venue. Good Shoes do their own fantastic artwork so here is a cheeky snapshot to show their logo T-Shirt on a post-gig fan (look at their rainbowlicious website). The other picture here is of course Steve's shoe. Last time I posted an entry on him was for his tap shoes. This time it is another shoe related commentry. A fan stole his shoe when he got in a 'comprimising position' in the crowd. So Maki did her best prop styling to give him a new shoe for the journey home. What will be the next Good Shoe Shoe installment?......................

Wednesday 21 Nov The Approach W1

I went to the private view for the new exhibit in town by John Stezaker. The photomontages of "Masks" look like old studio black & white portraits with a random vintage postcard cleverly postitioned to substitue part of the face. They were very nice but I actually discovered something else whilst there.............downstairs was this sculpture by Gary Webb..........I am not familiar with his work so this is going to be a new investigation...........

Wedneday 21 Nov "Object & Subject"

I nipped into the exhibition currently showing in my block of studios. I love this one exhibit which is very much in the vein of how I work using everyday materials to make new objects. The artist is Jung Ju Rahbari who questions the existence of aestheticly low-value goods by giving them different lives.

Tuesday 20th November Studio chairs

I thought i had better document our chairs before the decorations get worn off from our fidgety derriers. I picked the chairs up from a house clearence for 50p each and Holly & I painted them with Mexican embroidery inspired patterns............

Monday 19th Nov Patrick Wolf @ The Cafe Royal

This is Patrick's stylist Susie Lloyd at the beautiful Cafe Royal on Regent Street. Last night was a small intimate performance with a grand piano which Patrick had decorated with little mascots nesting in the strings. The drinks coasters (as seen here) were photos from his American tour blog and in this picture he is wearing the gold necklace I gave him...............

Sunday 18th Nov Champagne at St Pancreas

I met up with Dawn Mcleod today to check out the newly opened St Pancreas station. It was quite cold for a glass of fizz at "Europes longest Champagne bar" but quite fun none the less. She told me that the paint colour had some significance in the renovation and has perhaps become its own Pantone?! So after a quick web search I have found out the following: 18 coats of paint have been stripped in cleaning the soot from the former train shed including red, green and yellow. A pale blue was discovered underneath. This was not a primer but the colour chosen by the original designer who wanted the ironwork and sky to be seen as one of the same thing. A ha............

Saturday 17th November

This chap was so irresistibly hilarious I just couldn't hold back in papping him. It was either that or flinging my arms around him for a bear hug. I took the safer option! You can tell the sheer size of the beast by looking at the reflection of me as a gage for proportion.

Friday 16th November Stephen Jones @ the V&A

Stephen Jones is currently helping curate a hat anthology exhibition
for the museum. He has just returned from L.A researching the CecilBeaton hats from the archives of "My Fair Lady". This evening he gave a fascinating lecture on the history of his career and his numerous collaborations. Stephen endearingly littered explanations with insightful humorous anecdotes. Equally endearing was the audience of fans each with there tribute head wear!

Thursday 15th November Dazed Exhibition

Kim Howells invited me to the private view of an exhibition of the latest cover story shoot for Dazed & Confused Magazine. I think that the gallery space was formerly Primary colour which made me a bit sad. Another printworks that has closed in London due to the digital age. However, it was exciting on a personal note as one of the prints features a necklace that I made on commission for the shoot...............see cross necklace teamed with Burberry look below

Annalisa Dunn shot by Amy Gwatkin

I saw my lovely friend Amy Gwatkin last night which reminded me to show her fantastic photography. This is her latest collaboration with knitwear designer Annalisa Dunn. Yummy!

Wednesday 14th Nov Bishi @ The Magpies Nest

Bishi invited me to see her perform at a folk night in Angel which was a pleasure to attend . We sat on a cushioned floor In a cosy room with bunting hanging and fairy lights glowing beneath her sitar. She also played a mini harp on her lap which ive never seen before. Without a musical bone in my body, im astounded to see someone master an instrument.................. let alone switch between an array of bizarre unrecognisable objects. Not to mention the spine tingling voice..................

Tues 13th November Flees and Bees

My best friend Vicky is experimenting with etching techniques at the moment and I love her print from yesterday intilted "Flees and Bees".............more please............

Tues 13th November ThreeAsFOUR in my hair

Here is my newest cosmic present from ThreeAsFOUR...............a neon live-edge plastic cut out ..............which ive strapped into my hair to partner my usual neon comb............bliss for a pink day

Moday 12th November

Holly camoflaged in to my noah's ark poster wearing Maki's Tiger head which we rightly predicted would turn up today when she came to visit..............

Sunday 11th November "Cat"

I was woken up by my 2.5 yr old nephew brandishing the Cat I have to fix every time I see him. I got this toy for him when he was born and the two are inseperable. Despite the unquestionable devotion, he can't help but pick away a hole in "Cat's" tummy.............here is the before shot but I don't have an after shot as he got whisked away after regular impatient "is he finished yet?"

Sat 10th November Paperwork

Friday 09 November Andy Hillman's Birthday

A week after the event, we finally celebrated Andy's birthday in the typical studio ritual of cava and cake.............but this time we got a bit creative to honour the dad-to-be with suitably grown up confectionary....................

Thurs 08 November Michael Clark Company

We had a props/stylist group outing last night to marvel at the latest Michael Clark performance at the Barbican.
The three parts build up to a crescendo in ochestra, choir and lighting. Its Clark trademark hip circling, fist punching moves but pushed to outer limits of stunning physical grace and synchronicity. Stevie Stewart's costumes deserve a special mention in the beautiful complexity of pattern cutting and fantastic recreation of Leigh Bowery's toilet seat neck piece.
Its on until the 10th so if you havn't been..........get yourself following that yellow line down there

Wednesday 7th November Selfridges Christmas Windows

Hey Presto! The christmas windows have been unveiled..............and amongst all things spangly are my 10 crowns..........see if you can spot them.............
Shout out: Thanks to the dexterity of the following in helping make them: Holly Macdonald, Maki Lou Lou, Becki Evans, Alison Lewis XXXXXXXXXXXX

Tuesday 6th November Uniqlo Store Launch

Uniqlo unveiled the 1st of their new London stores last night to the longest guest list the city has seen.............the Pantone rainbow of cashmere got the thumbs up from me...........
En route I had an unexpected intermission from a lost Jack Russell..........the shaky dog borded my bus at Kings Cross on his own............so I had to scoop the little chap up and carry him back to the Pentonville Road until he spotted his owners........which turned out to be 2 drunks who gave me a big beardy smelly wet kiss as thanks.............
So sorry to all the fashionistas that I air kissed last night, who would have unwittingly transmitted a bit of 2nd hand genuine eau de London street.......

Sunday 4th November Spain "las dos en punto"

We had our own pilgrimage to find these 2 ladies that we kept seeing photos of around town "It pays homage to Santiago de Compostela to Maruxa and Coralia known as "Las Marias," two public figures, loved by the compostelanos that in an era violated certain rules of conduct.
with colored costumes of their own manufacture, which provides them with a carnavalesco appearance on the scene of the gray city"

Saturday 3rd November Miguel Villalobos

Here is the work of Miguel who is an illustrator, jewellry designer, photographer...........and all round explosively smiley sole. In the centre is his beautiful portrait of Diane Pernet who wears a silver snail in her hair that was a gift from Miguel.

Friday 2nd November Santiago De Compostela

The festival is being held in the stunning pilgrimage destination of Santiago. Here we are exploring the gardens of one of the monasteries.

Thursday 1st November Noovo Festival

ThreeAsFOUR explaining their delight at having the oppourtunity to reach out to an audience of young aspiring talent in Europe by sharing thier work at this festival in Spain. The message is to demonstrate that their success is achievable to anyone anywhere with the passion and spark to follow in thier footsteps. Originally hailing from the Lebanon, Tajikstan and Israel, they are always keen to spread the word internatioanlly.

Thursday 1 nov 2007 Spain

After an epic journey of 13hrs to get to my friends in Santiago De Compostella.....i managed to attend the fashion show of ThreeAsFOUR at the NOOVA fashion and photography festival......for more details look to the host Diane Pernet at www.ashadedviewonfashion.com...........other designers showing were Boudicca, Gareth Pugh, Eley Kishimoto etc.

Tuesday 30th October Archive photo

Andy Mcgregor just found this photo from a few summers ago when we were assisting Andy Hillman.............making a curtain look like a couture gown for a Tim Walker shoot for British Vogue...........so I remember that I indeed have turned my hand to couture in the past............also fond memories of covering 2 vintage cars entirely in Argylle cardigans to make them look knitted..........

andymcgregor.

Monday 29th October 2008 Plush Patterns

My best friend Vicky snuck into the studio yesterday to do some hand screen printing................she's making some very Covetable Christmas Cards............which I will promote when they are ready for purchase..............

Sunday 28th October 2008 "DoomBox"

I wasn't able to go to BoomBox last night for the Halloween Goth themed "DoomBox"............not that I was upset if anyone knows my abhorrence for wearing black!.............but I was sad to miss Nicola Formichetti (& friend) wearing some pieces that I customised for him a while ago for Another Man Magazine.............Im glad that he is getting a 2nd use out of the glitzy army helmets and goggles................

Saturday 27th October V&A Museum

"The Golden Age Of Couture" is an exquisite exhibition jam packed with all things couture to marvel over. One account of an original Balenciaga devotee was fantastic.........a countess had everything made by the couturier even down to her gardening shorts.............. and locked herself in her bedroom for 3 days on his retirement..............

Friday 26th October Andy's Palette

Fellow Studio member Andy Macgregor has started to make use of the large canvases that we acquired as surplus props after a set design job..............they are now destined to be shown in our December exhibition but quite frankly I am going to selfishlly sabotage any public red dot sales as I want them for myself...............only joking Andy............but seriously I DO WANT ONE..............

Thursday 25 October Viva Installation

We finally put the finishing touches to our hair installation ...........Mark Bailey created a signature hair bonnet and Nova Dando knitted an intricate hair dress............all tied together by my blue bower birds weaving their nests from the hair..............the idea was based on birds from Papua New Guinea who collect blue things from the jungle floor to attract their mate................you can see our collobaration at Viva Hair Salon, 47 Lexington Street, London W1

Tuesday 23 October

Weve been making a Bluebell flower fairy ensemble for Patrick Wolf..............cheekily trying it out for size on a similar height Andy Hillman whilst he's quietly making himself a cup of tea............

Monday 23 October Back In London

This morning I was surprised by a selection of charming gifts made by the fair hands of Maki...........a tiara with my name.........necklace.........illustration...........rainbow socks ..........and my favourite tiffin cake but HEART SHAPED AND COLOURED WITH SMARTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday 22 October PARIS: Colette

Colette have an exhibition of street photographers at the moment.......dirtydancing and misshapes seen here in little installations.............other work by The Satorialist, FaceHunter etc. are on the walls of the Boutique...........

Sunday 21st PARIS

Alistair took us to an extensive flea market in the south..............my major purchase was a "Magic Roundabout" set of building blocks and a bell for a hat im making at the moment...............more of which to come in a few days...................

Saturday 20 October PARIS

After 1 hour sleep I chaperoned my cousin Madeleine to Paris for the weekend ..............we came across this familiar looking window display which really freakily looks like my workspace in London..............I must have a French creative doubleganger

Friday 19th October Magical Thinking

Vicky & Charlie came to pick me up and take me to Hackney Wick to see our friend Jussi Brightmore's work at the private view of "Magical Thinking". He illustrated a massive white corridor space with beautifull black line drawings............but the bottle of Bacardi we shared meant that I forgot to take a picture so here is the flyer instead............

Friday 19th October Hat Boxes

We finally finsished making the accessories for Selfridges Christmas window today...............which Maki & Becki very carefully made specail delivery boxes for the journey ...............dot and cross paper couture hat boxes................

Friday 19th October Fish & Chips

I had a red day and the theme stuck around all day.............Teo was wearing red too and our Friday lunch took a distinctly red direction.........