Wednesday, 9 April 2008

Weds 9th April: Aggy on the Rocks

Bistroteque hosted a fish'n'chips dinner to celebrate former chippy Agyness Dean's Icon Issue of i-D with 6 collectable covers. The restaurant was crammed with eager takers like a rowdy school canteen. Probably due to the limitless cocktail menu that featured special sources such as "Aggy on the Rocks". This portrait was taken by her boyfriend who mixed up the roles by turning my camera back on me .............hence I have cropped myself out! But here is one of my pics of Judy Blame who made an eyepatch for her in the Tank Girl shoot similar to the hat he was sporting last night.


Tue 8th April: New i-D

The new Agyness special edition i-D is out..........including a shoot of her styled by Fran Burns as Tank Girl...........featuring accessories I was commissioned to make for the story.............here is the rocket bra that I made out of satin to mimic an old fashioned bra.......amongst the other pieces is a set of elbow pads that are from a Tank Girl outfit I made in 1995 for GCSE textiles ............this proves it is always worth keeping things..............they always come in..........even if it is 13 years later!......

Monday, 7 April 2008

Mon 7th March: Archive Photo


I have trawlled my photos from the Arnhem Biennial and cannot find a picture of Henrik Vibskov's installation............but did rediscover this inspiration snapshot (primary school classroom) ..........subconsciously I must have retained it, now I look at my collection...........

Saturday, 5 April 2008

Friday 4 th April: Will Broome

Here is the illustrator at his new installation as part of the Toilet (literally) Bienniale at Bistroteque. I love the cheeky characters that he has emblazened onto the walls with speech bubbles suggesting toilet related conversation between them.
He has previoulsy collaborated on surface designs for Marc by Marc Jacobs and is about to launch a capsule collection for TopShop. His agency represents new London based talent such as Husam El Odeh, Ben Weller, Matt Irwin, Robbie Spencer.


Friday 4 th April: Fig

I am so chuffed with this gift from Agenturv who also represent the Airbrush beauty mavericks "Uslu Airlines". Feride and Jan have devised this new nailvarnish to celebrate their 5th year of being with Collette. In addition to the Colette logo on the bottle, the hue is derived from the store's trademark blue. But better than all of this is that once the laquer has dried, it smells of the Colette house perfume! If I close my eyes I can imagine myself walking up the Rue Faubourg St Honore, where I am more accustomed to wafts of this signature scent.............I have never been transported by a nail varnish before..........I guess that is the wonder of the Uslu Airlines..............

Friday 4 th April: Press Day

I met up with Kim Howells at her last press day appointment. Scandanavian specialist agency "Agentur V" who represent Raf Simons, Bless, C.Neeon and as seen here Henrik Vibskov. This is a giant mohair jumpsuit/sleeping bag which has a label in the same pattern as the item itself! I have some picutres in my archive from the Arnhem Bienniale of his "boob" sculpture garden, so I will try and find them for a future post............


Thursday, 3 April 2008

Thurs 3rd April: Smily Faces


Dolls I found at the Sunday Market in Brighton for inspiration..............they didn't come into use this time round but i'll keep them hanging on my desk as they are such cheery souls..............

Wednesday, 2 April 2008

Weds 2 April: Hint mag

Since meeting Lee Carter last Sept during his visit to LFW, I have now become a monthly contributor to the hintmag.com blog. I have just uploaded my 2nd edition of treats from London life.................


Weds 2 April: Lush Plush Patterns


My Bluetooth is on strike so to get back to blogging until its fixed..........here is new work by printer Victoria Langdon.............which can be seen on her blog plush patterns in my fave blog addresses............

Saturday, 29 March 2008

Sat 29th March: End of An Era

Holly Macdonald has been my right hand man since August and has just signed off as we are wrapping up the collection. ..........
So here is a big-up to the big star. Thank you for the dedication and patience with the daily stitch and glue escapades............go forth and prosper in patchwork and pom poms................
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Sat 29th March: Bon Anniversaire

It was my turn to be the recipiant of "cava and cake" in our studio birthday tradition. This cake not only had a rainbow but also irredescent glitter! Thankyou everyone!!!!!!
I was also spoilt with a medley of amazing hand crafted and beautiful cards! Ive included a pic here of my presents from Alex Cunningham which are just so lush, I had to share them...............


Friday, 28 March 2008

Friday 28th March: Leftovers

What happens to the pieces after shoots................they are put to good use in brightening up our surroundings and cheering up the everyday...................



Monday, 24 March 2008

Monday 24th March: No life

I have less than 1 week to finish making my accessories collection. Thus I have had nothing to report for this weekend. I have missed Neel's Fancy Dress Easter Egg Hunt on Hamstead Heath, William Orbit dj at Circus, the 2nd installment of new Sunday event "Issue" and tonight's drinks at The George & Dragon with the fashion team of Pop magazine serving at the bar and spinning the tunes.............instead I am hunched over, embroidering away, trying not to loose the will to carry on.........I can't preview anything for fear of letting the proverbial cat out of the bag but here is a coat I embroidered on my degree which I have revisited for inspiration in technique..........


Monday 24th March: Face Fuzzy Felt

I accompany the day's chosen colour with Bindi decoration around my eye. Something I started when I was at school after a shopping visit to Alperton for fabrics and discovered these beautiful graphic shapes. Sometimes I incorporate them into my work as seen on my business card collage. A friend has very kindly brought me back a selection of new packs from India so my stock is generously replenished. No need to keep old ones by sticking them to my bathroom wall..............




Friday, 21 March 2008

Thursday 20th March: Cooperative Designs

Here is the irresistible new knitwear collection by Cooperative Designs which have just released their press shots to Vogue.com (see link). It was shot by my Amy Gwatkin in her new studio space which I helped paint and decorate for this shoot. When we first visited Annalisa and Dorothee to preview the work in progress, it was still wet from being washed and smelt reassuringly and comfortingly sheepy. So nice to see the initial inspiration of the emblems through to the samples and finishing up with a look-book shot on this Mariacarla look-alike who is a friend and not actually a model! Perhaps this is the start of something........


Thursday, 20 March 2008

Thurs 20th March: Paloma Faith

Paloma Faith has just had a profile published in Italian Vogue and this is a portrait originally submitted for the piece by Ram Shergill. It was styled by K A B I R and uses my tiger head piece and Scott Ramsay Kyle's sparkle fringe dress which K A B I R discovered on the night we subconsciously synched by jointly dressing in rainbow attire back in September.


Tues 18th & Weds 19th March: Head In The Clouds

This week we have been mostly been wearing clouds on our heads...................a de riguer trend sure to infiltrate the mainstream in no time at all.........

Monday, 17 March 2008

Mon17th March: New Collection by Scott Ramsay Kyle


Scott sent over his look book this morning for his new A/W collection that previewed at the Super Super runway show in fashion week. He is the master embroiderer and the busiest man in the business...........juggling show pieces for Biba alongside his own line and commissions from stylists Sarah Richardson and Jane Howe. Picture: Amy Gwatkin

Sunday 16th March: Prezzy for Frankie

Finishing touches to a present for my first meeting with Andy Hillman and Katie Jones newborn little Frankie Ellis.

Sunday, 16 March 2008

Saturday 15th March: Lyndell's Fantasy Theme Birthday

The hair stylist Lyndell Mansfield had a fancy dress birthday party in the theme of fantasy which gathered many varying and hilarious interpretations...............it was tricky to know who was behind the costume. Here she is opening one of her cards and again with Chloe Kerman and Georgina Graham. The prize for the best dressed duo had to go to Leith Clark and James Hatt(er) who looked very at home in their chosen Lewis Carroll alter egos. Im not quite sure what I was, but I wore the iridescent blue butterfly wings we made last year and pulled together lots of blue left-overs from the VIVA installation............which I stuck in my hair and glued to my face........... my eyebrows are now slightly balder after ripping off the sequins I had decorated them with!