Hokusai inspiration in the Croft

Will post further developments as they happen.

V

It's still nice to be surprised after all this time...

And here are two recent pix from my trip to London, taken outside my beloved Liberty, where there is a florist.

Snogs, Labbits and potted handbags

Here's some photos of a recent trip to London.

Of notable toy/design interest was the pop-up shop of Kidrobot in Selfridges with the wonderfully inflatable Kozik Smorkin' Labbit (want one) and their window displays with lots of mini labbits (want them too).

I also bumped into a heavily Japanese design-influenced frozen yogurt eaterie called Snog - in South Kensington - where I sampled the green tea frozen yogurt (super yumm) and had to negotiate round a giant Kubrick Bear and several American students. I particularly liked their seating stools which were made of plastic but looked like heavy lace.

Last creative mention goes to the amazing vintage dress store in Kingly Court 'Fur Coat, No Knickers', where I was knocked out by the quality of these dresses which would not look out of place on Audrey Hepburn or Miss Dita (but unfortunately had nasty price tags), they are utterly stunning and it's was lovely to see such appreciated dresses in a suitably lovely setting (including their handbag window boxes which were potted up with roses).

Fur Coat, No knickers - Kingly Court

What we're watching - Feb 09

How we love the bargainous FOP

I heart snow

We heart the snow!

Michael Lavine and August Bradley

Michael Lavine - Kurt and Court

Michael Lavine - Yoko Ono

I’m a bit of a photography stalker at the moment. It’s something I’ve always gravitated towards, but I’ve taken quite a fascination in the workings of it, and I seriously hope some of it rubs off on me. As I would love to be Mary Ellen Mark or Tim Walker or Eve Arnold.

So today the wonderful Cool Hunter pointed me towards Michael Lavine and this fabulous website Feature Shoot which interviews many photographers and their ways of working.

In rediscovering Micheal Lavine’s very 80’s rock style photography, I have discovered August Bradley – who’s work I’m so jealous of, as I’ve wanted to delve into this form of cinematic, ‘classic painter’ style of work.

And a here is a little snippet that is quite relevant to us crafty people I gleaned from Augusts’ interview:

‘It’s better to have 10 percent absolutely LOVE your work and 90 percent absolutely HATE it, than to have 100% like it. I have been fortunate with regards to finding a part of the population that is enthusiastic about what I’m doing, and they do the marketing for me’.

August Bradley

The Hurricane Grace Jones

This is becoming a bit of an ‘I love Grace’ blog, purely unintentional, but I did see her on the ‘Hurricane’ tour this week, and it was a wonderfully scary experience.

Scary because when she walked on stage she stopped, and looked dead at me (in the front row); it was then I realised that performers very rarely engage with the audience in such an eye-contact way, and it was quite unnerving. She certainly wasn’t afraid to do so, as pretty much everyone in the front got the same treatment.

Wonderful because there were so many hat changes, and little amendments to each outfit, all beautifully made (I got very close to them) and was quite astounded at the beauty of them. Each song had a different treatment, and almost its own little show. The finale of the title track ‘Hurricane’ saw her use a black cloak, wind-machine and wind swept hat to full effect – and included a performance of her falling to the ground. Love Love Love her.

Winter Dog Days

Walking in the winter...

Paris Hilton - Crafts?

Yes, you read this right - even Paris Hilton is trying to cash in on the craft-cow.

Here's the press release -
"Paris Hilton, internationally recognized model, singer, author, and entrepreneur will be available on Sunday, January 25, 2009 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm in the Wooky Entertainment booth #2500, to unveil Paris Hilton, the Creative Collection™ a multi-faceted line of fashion crafting kits from some of the most popular craft segments including scrapbooking, jewelry making and fabric embellishment. Paris will be on hand for photos and signing autographs."

Ron Asheton - The Stooges

Another tribute to Ron Asheton, but it really can't be stressed enough the importance of MC5 and The Stooges who's musical risk-taking brought us the indie-punk-rock music of today.

When I heard about The Stooges reforming after all these years, I thought it was such a dreadful idea, but we then decided to see them at a special one-off show at London's Hammersmith Apollo (their first London performance since 1972, and only their second London show ever), performing their entire Fun House album followed by songs from the first album and Skull Ring. The show, which was the first in the All Tomorrow's Parties-organised "Don't Look Back" concert series - was great.

Another fabulous picture find from Susi a.

Checkout those outfits!

The Year of the Lady - 2008

I have to say I do love this time of year - I feel sick from eating too much chocolate cheesecake and extra thick cream, I can't beat Slash at the Guitar Hero battle, I'm debating whether to take a dress back I bought in the sale (which is all frou frou and looks like something Sarah Jessica Parker could get away with - but you could 3 SJP's in this particular size dress). Ultimately it's the fact I don't have to get up to do the day job, and I can stay up as long as I want and do dumb ass stuff, and even watch Citizen Kane into the early hours of the morning.

Really this only means I will end up contemplating this years media fantasticness, so hear is another end of year list (my 2nd annual one and yes of course, it's late).

And as for the next year I look forward to more offerings next year from Jack White, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Graham Coxon and finally the new Courtney Love CD.

*2008*
My yearly round up has seen a predilection for gigs, very few films, street art and the rise, rise, rise of handmade crafty goodness. Looking back on my 2008 has seen a lot of female fantasticness - new music and fantastic shows to promote it - Goldfrapp, Grace Jones, Madonna, Martha Wainwright, Bjork, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Joan as Policewoman, Ladytron and Cat Power (she was something else). I don't know whether it is something in the stars but these ladies left the guys in the dust when it came to putting on shows and producing great albums.

GIGS
All No 1. Grace Jones - Meltdown
Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - Cardiff CIA
Cat Power - Colston Hall
Madonna - Cardiff Stadium
Martha Wainwright - Colston Hall
Joan as Policewoman - Thekla

I really can't put these in a 1 - 6 order as the 1st first 4 shows completely blew me away. Each one of them had the sense of drama, the art of putting on a show or just the right touch of light and dark when needed. I've been going to gigs since I was 12 and I really don't recall such a profusion of energy and that leaves you with your mouth open, and knowing you experienced something rare and beautiful.

MUSIC
Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
MGMT - Electric Feel
Ladyhawke - Paris is Burning
Friendly Fires - Paris
Tricky - Puppy Toy

Mostly on my playlists have been - Martha Wainwright, Goldfrapp, Joan as Policewoman and all of the above.

FILMS
I'm going to struggle with this. We didn't see a huge amount of films this year, and what we did were predictable block busters.

1. Dark Knight
2. Sweeney Todd
3. No Country for Old Men
4. Sex and The City (not a great movie, just nice to look at if you love fashion and clothes)
5. Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (not a great movie, but lovely to reminisce)
Special mentions go to - 'Be Kind, Re Wind' (when I returned this DVD to the library, they told me the previous watcher complained it was possibly broken as the screen was flickering alot in black and white - aww bless). 'The Orphanage', and 'In Bruges' (good performances, abit overly talky but quirky and with a British-style enough for the Sexy Beast fans).

RIP in my inspirational lovelies xxx

Eartha Kitt
Bettie Page
This post is dedicated to my beloved and partner in crime x

Giant knitting balls, Friend & Co and the Croft

I'm so behind on my blogging, I've decided to blog some easy pix and very recent ones.

Pictures are from the last 'Friend and Co' gallery exhibition last Wednesday, which had some special local guest work, Mr Jago, Inkie (although late with his submission), 45RPM etc. Having been to a few mediocre street art events (which will remain nameless), we think a few choice pieces is better than flooding the venue). It was also good to see Geoff handing out the mince pies and mulled cider (yummm), and we had a lovely chat with Mr Jago, who has a whole lot of stuff going on next year.

I submitted and bought a cute little skull painting from Dave Whittle, who's work seems to appear all over the place in magazines and videos but you wouldn't know it.
Great giant knitting balls of fire! Part of John Lewis' christmas display.
Also, some nice work going on at the Croft. We like a bit of font work.

Bag a Bunny

Love, love, love this idea. Carry a bunny in your bag. Need an extra carrier - bunny turns into a bag. Japanese genius! $55 from Greener Grass Design.

**As Seen on TV**

Mini Moss and Roy have landed on our screens. This picture is from the first episode, and it's great to see my two Lucky Fighters popping up in the cabinet of the IT Crowd's office (in Channel 4 10.00pm).The IT Crowd is one of our favourite comedy programmes (written by the wonderful Graham Linehan - he of Father Ted), so we are as chuffed as mint balls to have our Lucky Luchies in the third series.

Winter Dog Days

Coping with the winter! Run around!

Ladytron - Academy

The wonderful support act Asobi Seksu - who sounded liked they swallowed the back catalogue of My Bloody Valentine and the Cocteau Twins.

Bust's Craftacular - London

Bust Magazine are hosting their first across the pond 'Craftacular' in London on Dec 6th from midday until 11pm at the St. Aloysius Social Club in Euston. Very exciting!

I was very excited to see Made by Milla will be hosting a workshop too, to keep the South West massive visible, and I'm hoping to be there in some form too.

Sweeney Todd

It’s cold, it’s dark in the evenings this must mean it’s time to get the DVD collections out…
I’ve finally got Carnivale Series II, so I’m feeling dark and macabre, and so to finish a dark Sunday afternoon what better than toast, hot chocolate and Sweeney Todd (with all the extras!). This is so far my favourite movie of the year, so with one month to go, I’m starting my 2008 review early.

I’m so pleased I saw this in the cinema, because the attention to detail is quite something. The title sequence is classic Tim Burton, which lays the ground for the delights of blood dripping in the most creative and beautiful of ways. The costumes are just divine, leather coats made in Italy especially for Mr Todd, and straw embroidered lace tops for Mrs Lovett – it is worth watching the extras to see the detail and effort Colleen Atwood brought to them.

I’m sure you know this is a musical, and Cameron Macintosh is certainly not my cup of cha, but a brooding and dark Johnny Depp totally took my mind off the ‘cor blimey love a duck’ singy thing after the first 5 minutes, and then you are immersed into the world of throat cutting barbers.

Something a little bit special in this movie is the light and dark shades of the movie, (please see seaside picture), so please don’t dismiss this movie - Tim Burton is the master of macabre and grand guignol!

Just an excuse...