Wednesday 6 October 2010

Dust if you must!

Last weekend was pretty busy starting with a trip to see Hamlet at the Crucible in Sheffield. With John Simm, John Nettles and Barbara Flynn it promised to be a good night and although it has had mixed reviews I enjoyed it. If you're in the area it's worth a visit.



On Saturday I went to a vintage fair at Lincoln and managed to find some lovely barkcloth (separate barkcloth post coming to a screen near you soon!). On Sunday I went to the studio of Hope and Elvis for one of her workshops. I've been to these before and always have a great time. I do wonder whether its because I give myself permission to sew and craft for a day whereas at home I always seem too busy.




Hope and Elvis is the name of Louise Presley's business. I always like to have a wander round her studio looking at her treasures. I like the way she displays her moulds on sheets of music



and love to look at her evolving inspiration board



I covet this 50s cupboard...



Louise has made part of her studio into a shop where you can buy extra supplies from her huge stash of fabrics, old toys, patterns etc. Apparently her home is in the November edition of Homes and Antiques - looking forward to seeing whether her home contains as many blasts from the past.



The purpose of the days was to make corsages or brooches and I had intended to learn some basic jewellery techniques but once I saw Louise's lovely fabrics I'm afraid I reverted to type and got stuck in! We had lots of ideas to inspire us







Ane these are the results of my endeavours.







Next thing on my wish list is an old typewriter - great fun for adding bits of text to things with their less than perfect fonts...

As the workshop finished at 4 I still had time to visit the Cleo Mussi exhibition in the nearby Harley Gallery.



Last time she had pieces for sale at this gallery they were around £95. I wish I'd pushed the boat out then. Now they are 5 times as much. Perhaps it was as well there was a little red dot by my favourite - it clearly wasn't to be!

On the way home I was feeling guilty that the house hadnt been cleaned when this little gem came onto the radio and has become my new philosophy...

Dust if you must

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better,
to paint a picture or write a letter,
bake a cake or plant a seed,
ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,
with rivers to swim and mountains to climb,
music to hear and books to read, friends to
cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain.
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go - and go you must -
You, yourself, will make more dust!

21 comments:

  1. Great post.I'd love a studio space like that...though I do have a similar box of broken dolls! John Simm and John Nettles on the same stage? Bliss! xx

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  2. i really enjoyed your post, i love the brooches you made there lovely. Looks like a fab place to visit, and i love the poem at the end so very true. Dee ;-)

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  3. The workshop sounds like great fun and relaxing too. I love the brooches you made, especially the buckle ones. Look forward to catching up properly with you in a few weeks.
    Ann x

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  4. I think that rhyme is one to spread around! The cupboard you show is similar to one we had at home. It was called an Easiwork and I loved the smell inside it. The original freestanding kitchen unit. I still have two of the jars.

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  5. Super, interesting post..... what a studio, and what lovely things to make. I have some medal ribbon and that has given me some lovely ideas for how to use it. That rhyme is one I shall write down.... although I tend not to dust much anyway!!!!

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  6. What a lovely post! Your jewellery makes look super...I love the use of old maps, beautiful

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  7. Love the 50's cupboard...have seen one in my local antique shop,but got a shock at the price! What a great poem..and so true! :o)

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  8. A lovely post as always.
    I love the brooches I hope you've been wearing them.

    And as for the poem well life is too short.

    Dust if you must indeed.

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  9. Ah Wend, what a gem of a post! I was just feeling anxious because a friend is coming for coffee and my flat is a bit of a mess due to me getting sidetracked by sewing etc. I read your little poem and breathed out! Love the things you made on your workshop. I'd never heard of this lady! I need to investigate! Thanks for a good'un! Lots of love, Amanda xxx

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  10. I think I need to have this poem writ large and presented to my Mother-in-law, who unable to dust any longer herself, thinks I should spend my time doing it instead (conveniently forgetting that she had a cleaner to do it from the day she was married!)
    Fantastic studio, what a great collection

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  11. I LOVE the poem and I am so adopting it!

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  12. Love your brooches, it must have been a real day of fun!!
    That poem is great, and so true!!
    Look forward to seeing you soon : )

    Sharon xx

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  13. Great post with so much to look at - like everyone else I think I shall copy that poem and frame it!

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  14. Great Corsages!! That looks a lovely course. I missed the Hamlet thing - but bumped into lots of lovely ladies who were going. xxx

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  15. glad you enjoyed your day - that poem also made my day on Sunday - I hate housework!!!!

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  16. WOW!I DON`T KNOW WHERE TO START... EVERYTHING IS JUST BEAUTIFUL!
    SPECIALLY YOUR BROOCHES! VERY PRETTY!

    DEBBIE MOSS

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  17. lovley wend , the corsages are brillant, love the 'one day' especially, i think you should wear that one with pride,
    and re. dust, quentin crisp apparently never dusted and said after 5 years it doesn't get any worse.

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  18. Hi Wendy
    I can see why you love Hope and Elvis ... very yummy and inspirational. I really like your corsages and they would make lovely christmas pressies for your friends. Have a lovely weekend

    Carolyn xo

    ps. 2 autumn posts coming up on my blog this weekend ;o)

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  19. Great post Wendy definately agree about the cleaning milarky...
    Those brooches are great, especially like the idea of the buckle one.
    Looking forward to seeing you again at the fair.

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  20. the poem must have been written for me!
    I love it!
    Was it on the Jeremy Vine show?
    Sandie xx

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  21. I will have to keep that poem in mind when I despair of the perma-dust layer in my home!
    The corsages look like great fun.. something to add to my 'one day I'll make...' list!
    I was fortunate enough to discover Cleo Mussi's work some years ago and bought a few pieces over the years..others were special gifts from a loved one. Just a little out of my league now but she continues to be inspirational and witty with her fabulous work.
    Michele x

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