I took my vintage bike to Edinburgh but hadn't bargained for the hills and cobbles - it wasn't long before I decided feet were safer (if slower) than wheels.



Obviously I couldn't go without my car boot fix and was amazed at the subterranean car boot held four floors below ground level in a car park. It was quite surreal - very dark, very hot, very busy and quite weird. But I did manage to find a few bits and pieces particularly liking the little Susie Cooper plate on the right and the unsorted box of buttons. I paid more for these than I normally would but as I said - it was dark but I thought I could see some Art Deco ones - I wasn't disappointed!



I love looking at independent shops in other cities and wasn't disappointed although there weren't as many as I would have liked. I liked this plate found in one such store along with other similar ones. It can only be used for display as the image is merely decoupaged on but I can think of plates and images I could combine for my wall...Might have a go!



I discovered that there was an Anthropologie store too so had to take some pics - I do love their display ideas



What do you think to the jelly mould chandelier - fun - yes. Price over £900. So you probably won't be buying one. Still - great idea for the holiday weekend - empty the kitchen cupboards and see what you can do with a few bits of wire and some redundant stuff! Plus bling...Images to be posted on Monday please!



Love the display round the mirror ...



and I'd been wondering what to do with my stash of chair legs and other assorted bits of furniture...



and why didn't I think of adding odd spoons to piles of old books?



But it wasn't all vintage. Edinburgh was a real assault on the senses. It really is a cultural bubble with lots and lots to see and do. I didn't know the work of David Mach but the exhibition poster drew me in with its collaged image



followed by this amazing tryptych of larger than lif sized crucifixions in the window of the gallery made of...



coat hangers. Lots and lots of them - I had to take a closer shot to share with you. Quite amazing. As were the collages. This is a huge exhibiton over several floors with over 40 large scale collages based on the anniversary of the King James VI bible. One floor has been taken over as the artist's studio and you can watch him and his team working from lots of boxes of itemised images to make these works.



Next time I'll choose a different week when they also have the book festival...and certainly won't bother taking a selection of high heels!

SMILE ...Julie Arkell and others

Last weekend I got to see the SMILE exhibition at the Harley Gallery in Welbeck, North Notts. The exhibition comprises work by 13 artists linked by the word SMILE. Simple, quirky, fun, delightful.


The pieces explore the Britsh love of humour and hark back to earlier times, long ago holidays and the humour of everyday life.
I took lots of pictures and thought I'd share some of my favourites with you in a bid to make you smile

Jo Lawrence's glove puppets










Lucy Casson - great use of found objects and wonderfully ill proportioned mini installations



Great use of an old chair leg and a jelly mould - I may never throw anything away again!





Janet Bolton - Embroidery and collage now inspiring her 3 dimensional pieces of work





Oop - having checked the catalogue the polar bear should be standing...

Julie Arkell - her work this time being of individuals or "family groups" ready to "smile" for the camera.













Love the little gallery and promptly used the inspiration to come home and frame up some of my bits and pieces in long forsaken frames which Ipick up at car boots - I knew they'd come in useful.



Abbott and Ellwood - some of you may already be familiar with their enamelled steel brooches often of figues, animals and birds. Using similar techniques tehy are now incorporating found objects into their larger pieces.





Finally one of my faves - "Lost Adults"



The exhibition closes on 5th June. Hope you enjoyed this little skip around.

Did you have a favourite?

Wend

PS In a bid to avoid revision Niobe has been playing about with my Blogger settings.
As the optician would say - better this way, or that way?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!

I thought I'd start the new year with a "picture post" of the Rob Ryan exhibition in Stafford that I mentioned I was visiting.



What a great show! Had to buy a calendar for my desk at the office...




























Love Wend

Eye candy...

Time to get out the baubles then. I paused when I looked at the boxes which were lovely in their own right...



The one with windows overlaying the holly one is getting quite tatty and I was about to bin it when I notes the decorations around the side - so nicely faded I'm tempted to turn them into gift tags!





Couldn't help but take pictures of my baubles. Why would folk throw them out? As I've collected them over the years people complain that "they have lost their end bits" or are chipped so they are getting rid. I just smile and hand over my pennies (I don't pay much). I can always find "an end bit" (what is that bit called?) from another bauble to swap and give it a new lease of life if that is all that's wrong.



They invariably come with their old means of attaching them to the tree and that always makes me smile too - today I've removed string, wool, thread, twisted paper clips (which is a great idea for the s shape required - try it!) and pipe cleaners!



Just lovely eye candy...



With more than emough for the tree I'm working on different ideas to display them - not sure that this works - may move them into a glass trifle bowl...



After playing about I went to a craft fair and passed a shop selling these baubles.
£40!!! I had to smile smugly to myself and be glad that I am an early riser. All those early get ups to go to the car boot certainly pay off don't they?



I'm a fan of Rob Ryan's work and thought I'd share these things found in John Lewis. If you're short of inspiration see the "Please smell us" vase...



the "Believe in People" mug ...



And the Duo-mugs - (not sure what happens when you break one)carrying the legend
"All of these words are worth less than the breath to say them if we cannot be together". The words do not continue round the mug - they have to stand side by side to read the full message. Sweet!



Have a great week!

Wend