Coffee pot sketches & collages

I've been experimenting some more with my ink pen, sketching my tea and coffee pots and also adding in some collage backgrounds and details.

Here I've added some collaged coloured paper to replicate the colourful pattern around the top of the old Studio Meakin coffee pot.

Normally my work is so colourful when painting with watercolours, so I quite like the monotone black and white contrast acheived with the black ink pen.  Working with the ink pen also forces me to simplify what I'm drawing, as I can't add all of the shadows and subtle details that I can with paint.

I've also liked using torn newspaper print as a background to draw onto as it reinforces the simple black and white palette, and helps to add some detail and surface interest - whilst keeping the drawn images to a minimum.

Off to put the kettle on now!....  

Me Old China at Small Space Jewellery

Last week I dropped some new Me Old China jewellery designs to the lovely Small Space Jewellery in Fitzroy.

Small Space took a selection of Clarice Cliff pieces and Vintage Floral designs, to add to the Willow 'Fancy a Cuppa' collection they already have.

The range above features pendants cut from a Clarice Cliff dinner plate.  I picked up two of these second-hand plates from the local Oxfam shop when I was back in England.  The plate pattern is called 'Tonquin' and was designed by Clarice Cliff in about 1954.  This particular pattern was originally designed for the American market place and was one of her most popular tableware designs, it depicts a traditional English landscape scene and printed in this unusual pinky-red colour. 

The Vintage Floral designs are also taken from a second-hand old English dinner plate.  The sweet floral patterns (taken from the centre of the dinner plate) feature alongside sections taken from the rim of the plate!  You can see the ribbed texture on the bottom of the jewellery pieces, that ran around the very edge of the plate rim.  So as well as adding some textural detail to the pieces, it also helps to reinforce the origins of the jewellery by highlighting their previous use as a domestic dinner plate! 

A big 'Thank You' to Small Space Jewellery for their support with Me Old China! 

10 years in Australia!!

Today I celebrate 10 years in Australia! 

We arrived in Melbourne 10 years ago, on Valentines Day feeling very, very jet lagged!  It was about midnight when we landed - and still about 30C.  Our first few days the temperature steadily rose from the high 30's to the low 40's and we were so unaccustomed to the heat - especially given it had been snowing in the UK in the weeks leading up to our departure!!

My partner Mr B had back-packed around Australia before going to uni and always knew he wanted to come back.... I didn't even think I'd get to visit Australia on holiday - let alone end up living here!  Australia to me was a very exotic far-away land that I would never in my lifetime see, so to have been living here for 10 years is quite surreal.

I've attached some snapshots of a few of the amazing places we've seen, experiences we've had and things we've done whilst living in this beautiful country......

 

Hung out in beautiful Melbourne.....

Visited the stunning harbour of Sydney more times than I can remember.....

Did a cycling wine tour of Rutherglen - highly recommended!....

Visited WA to see her gorgeous beaches and visit more wineries in Margaret River.....

Swam at Palm Beach - famous for being the Home & Away beach (very exciting for an English person!!)  That's me trying to edge my way into the surf - still haven't mastered how you Aussies just dive in! 

Visited Port Douglas in FNQ - there's the rainforest meeting the reef just like the advert promised!

Spent a fair few hours, yawn, driving to Merimbula stuck behind boats and caravans - but very worth the long trip......

Seen in a few New Years Eve's - not all of them in 1970's fancy dress though!......

Took out a boat in Noosa......

Explored Fraser Island which is amazing......

Had the odd Derby day.....

Hiked around the Blue Mountains......

Visited stunning Port Stephens......

Snorkelled with Dolphins at Rottnest Island.......

....And met some of the friendly local Quokka's!.....

Cheered on England (sorry!) at the Boxing Day Test, even in the rain!.......

Snorkelled at The Great Barrier Reef......

Chilled out in Byron Bay......

Re-stumped a house.....

....And renovated it.......

Took a sunrise balloon flight over Melbourne........

Entertained many friends and relatives.......

And had my fair share of Huntsmen visiting my bathroom!...... (Ironic that he was hiding behind the can of insect repellent!!)

Over the last 10 years my hair has changed lots.....but the friends we've made and our joy at living here has remained constant.  Thank You Australia for many wonderful years and memories and for allowing us to experience life here :) 

Christmas books - Angie Lewin

I thought I'd feature another one of my christmas books - this time a fabulous Angie Lewin book called Plants & Places I received as a gift from my sister.  Anyone who's a regular to my blog will know I'm a big fan of Angie Lewin's gorgeous linocuts and wood engravings - so this book is a lovely addition to my collection of her work. 

Preparatory drawing for linocut The Moonlit Cup

The book Plants & Places is a beautiful collection of images showcasing Angie Lewin's work, the inspiration behind many of her prints and themes, and the making process behind the artworks.

Poster for Salthouse on the Scenic North Norfolk Coast and cutting the lino block for the poster above.

Angie Lewin's work mainly focuses on native plants, wild grasses and seedpods found along the English coastline, local woodlands, hedgerows and meadows, and the rivers and lochs of Scotland.  Makes me quite homesick!

Alliums

The book also showcases many of Angie's watercolour illustrations - mostly created as initial studies for print designs, but I think they are just beautiful in their own right.  Some of my favourites (below and bottom) feature old china and cups from the 40's and 50's, including some ceramic designs by Eric Ravilious for Wedgwood.

Winter Persephone

The 1953 Coronation Mug (Design of mug by Eric Ravillious for Wedgwood)

You can see other posts about Angie Lewin here, here and here! 

Funky floral fabrics

I've found some funky retro floral fabrics and tablecloths at various second hand shops recently....

This cute little seersucker fabric with simplified orange florals was from the local Vinnies.

This gorgeous tablecloth was picked up from the Mornington Antiques Centre closing day sale.  I love the overscaled bold flower pattern, and the mustard and olive colours.  Its a lovely soft drapey cloth too.  I need to find a table now to use it on!

This fabric featuring giant yellow, orange and brown flowers and leaves is also a tablecloth.  I love the linear detail with this floral print, and the bold scale keeps it really fun!