Thurs 15th Aug: Robert Storey's "Folded Reflections Suspended" installation at Opening Ceremony - PART 1

Here are work-in-progress shots of Robert Storey's latest exhibition that he has just installed for Opening Ceremony (LDN) in their atrium exhibition space.  "Folded Reflections Suspended" is the second show in the series "Explorations in Space" which is a continual investigation of impossibility, balance and perception.   The three kinetic wooden sculptures rotate simultaneously and follow on from the first static piece in the series "Reflective spaces, balanced" shown earlier in the year at the Patternity exhibition.  It will be in place at the shop for 9 months so you have time to stop by to experience the spectacle whilst you are in town ......... and I will be sharing completed images in a following post for those that are out of the UK.....

(images c/o Robert)

Tuesday 13th August: BLOG TAKEOVER Ciara and Nicci 'bargain hunting' with Bubble.

We headed down to Susie Bubble's 'grab a bargin' £1 yard sale on Saturday. Expecting a queue we arrived early and had breakfast there. By 10:30 there was a line of stylish girls halfway down the street which turned quite a few heads. The doors opened early at around 10.50 and the madness began! 

There were clothes laid out on the floor on top of a plastic sheet. From what we could see there were a mixture of vintage, high street and a couple of hidden designer gems. Everything was snapped up within 10 minutes; there was just no hope for any latecomers, it was every girl for herself.  

We managed to pick up a few cast offs as the crowd thinned but, if we're honest, we were not prepared for how fast the whole thing was. All in all, we were happy with what we got but next time the elbows will be out.

This has been a blog take over by Ciara and Nicci from Fred Butler HQ. 

Monday 12th August: Jameson's Sunday Senses @ Dalston Roof Park

This Sunday saw the latest instalment of Jameson's Sunday Senses at the Dalston Roof Park. The event was hosted by singer, wordsmith and all round cultural creative Rodger Robinson who was joined by Fiona Bevan, and previous i-D Magazine Verus affiliate, Anushka. The duo performed against a backdrop of the sun setting over the East London skyline and provided the perfect soundtrack to the summer event, which focused on the sense 'hearing.' Food came courtesy of Zoe's Ghana Kitchen who are currently guest chef at The Africa Centre on King Street in Covent Garden.  So if you work centrally and bored of the every day fare, have a look in and sample the scrummy spicy surprises instore!  Each night of the week has a different event so if you miss lunch, you can take a date for a totally tropical treat!   See here for details.

Friday 9th August: Gary Card's "Abandoned Amusement Park Attraction" @ Eternal Youth

Since Gary Card once exhibited a sculpture tunnel of plasticine faces at Spring Studios, he has been  morphing his signature shape shifting characters into a stand-alone solo show.  His illustrative style has come alive, off the canvas and crafted in 3D form with his trademark wire'n'tape technique.  You may have seen his figurative props popping up in shoots, events and installations - now honed into his first fine-art debut.  The space for the occasion is Eternal Youth on Kingsland Road set in the heart of his East London haunts.  Head down before 21st to have a look and perhaps meet the man yourself!

Follow Eternal Youth for gallery updates & general coconut water goodness on Twitter here.

(Photos by Ciara Clark and Nicci James)

Thursday 8th August: Spoek Mathambo at WOMAD festival

This time two years ago I was sewing lots of swirly seams for my sea creature SS/11 collection ........... and now the wavy big blue sea jacket has come out from the depths of the archive to resurface for a live performance.  Harris Elliott borrowed the billowy number for "Afro-Futurist" artist Spoek Mathambo when he came to the UK for the Womad Festival.  Here are Harris's snaps of Spoek and Remi Kabaka backstage wearing some KTZ and Jeremy Scott for Adidas.  If you don't already know Spoek's music ..... go HERE.

(Bottom photo I have lifted from Fault Magazine  by Ilana Garry)

Weds Aug 7th: BARBIE OPENS HER FIRST SHOP IN SELFRIDGES

BARBIE OPENS HER FIRST SHOP IN SELFRIDGES SHOWCASING DOLLS

DRESSED BY FRED BUTLER, NASIR MAZHAR, AND SISTER BY SIBLING

Barbie asked me to dress five dolls to be sold as special one-offs as a launch for her new home within Selfridges's Toy Shop which launched this week.  I gave each one a different identity so the collection ended up looking a little bit like a girl group!  The other two London designers in the project are SISTER by SIBLING and Nasir Mazhar who made their Barbies into miniature perfect versions of their collections.  The detail of the knitwear sets and logo tracksuits are so cute!!

Here are snaps from when I finished my girls outfits at my studio and hair-stylist Sami Knight came in to transform their hair.  He straightened their curls and gave them a super slick angular bob to top off my cosmic creations.  As hairstylist to Iggy Azalea I thought he would be the perfect artist for the job, used to taming a long ponytail!! Here you can also see a couple of snaps of the dedicated Barbie department where a central totem pole-style display is housing the dolls.  Head down to Selfridges to see for yourself and check out the whole 4th floor of toys!

Monday 5th August: BLOG TAKEOVER Ciara and Nicci hit BRIXTON SPLASH

  
We headed over to Brixton Splash yesterday for a day of Reggae, rum and music. Carnival fever was definitely in the air.

Brixton Splash is a free street festival led by the local community. The event celebrates the area’s diversity, its progress through the years and the fusion of the wide range of ethnic groups that now call Brixton home. It is a celebration of peaceful relations, vibrant living in Brixton and Brixton’s contribution to the wider London culture.

Brixton splash proved to be the perfect warm up for Notting Hill carnival (which we can't wait for!)

Now recovering at Fred Butler HQ, this has been a blog take over from Ciara and Nicci.