blimey blousey Iris!!

I'm just so happy that my iris has bloomed even better this year and by happy coincidence, when you look at them from one way, the colours look fab with the blue/purples of the lavender and ceanothus behind! When you look at them the other way, there's a nice contrast with the lime green of the lady's mantle. Not quite Chelsea I know but I just wanted to show them off a bit!!! Got them from the lovely man at Sunnyside Nursery - you should check him out, he's brilliant AND local!!!

Congratulations Cleve!!

One of my favourite garden designers, Cleve West, not only won a gold medal but also won Best In Show at Chelsea Flower Show today, and I'm very happy for him! I've always liked his approach to gardening and garden design - and if you're an allotment fan, you need to take a look at his! If I ever had the chance to have one myself that looked even half as good as his I'd be a happy bunny! If parsnips in flower are good enough for Chelsea, then they're good enough for me -  I just thought I'd share that with you!!!

KERPOW!!!

Had my new stuff at the Ashridge Garden Party fundraiser yesterday....things did not start well - wind AND rain do not a happy stall holder make! But evetually the sun came out as did the crowds plus many friendly faces popped over to say hello!!! Thanks for coming to show your support - it's always deeply appreciated even if I don't show it at the time as I'm usually overwhelmed by either punters or the fact that I'm still standing and smiling!!!

Ashridge Garden Party/Hospice of St.Francis fundraiser

I'll be having a childrenswear stall at this fundraiser on Sunday 22nd May 2-5pm at Ashridge Business School so I hope if you can you'll come along....a terrific annual event for the whole family whilst raising money for The Hospice of St.Francis
I've been busy making children's customised clothing for this event, for both girls and boys, and there's a range of accessories, new for this summer. Come and say hello!!!

SPRING FAYRE - new spring collection

I'll be showing my new Spring products at the MTAM Spring Fair - we hope you can come along....

Pick Me Up 2nd edition - part 2

This year, the pictures that stood out for me were by this artist Zara Woods (aka Woody). I liked so much I bought a limited edition print and some cards!! If only I won the lottery!!..

In total contrast, this lady must have the patience of a saint and the most steady of fingers!!Seiko Kato produces these images by cutting out details within books, in this instance, from Victorian medical books, drawings and encylopaedia, and making them into a collage on an impressive scale!!! (skull - 'subterranean' and detail)...

I have a thing about typo and alphabets!!! I even bought a limited edition alphabet by this lady. Jessica Hische is a typographer and illustrator, specialising in hand- drawn lettering.. 

Sarah Arnett had some lovely colour combinations in her nature inspired prints....

I liked the story-telling in Paul Blow's prints....

    room to speak

   no television

It's Nice That curated an illustration event with artists drawing live (amongst them was Tom Gauld but more of him later!!) and their illustrations could be purchased there and then!! Soju Tanaka's drawings were lovely but I couldn't get a photo - reminded me a little of Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki (more of that in another post!)...

I'd already blown my budget and I hadn't even got to the shop (Concrete Hermit - vouchers most welcome!) but here are two images that made me smile AND that came out OK in photos (I wasn't tall enough for some!!)

   Tom Edwards 

Adrian Johnson

And finally, Themlot had built a model city, and visitors were encouraged to be part of this interactive walk though city...

Sorry this was a while in being posted and it's rather long. I hope that if you like what you see, you'll link to the artitsts' and collectives' websites. The show was great and a real inspiration and I really hope there'll be another next year. I'll be saving like mad!

Pick Me UP - 2nd edition (part 1)

I had the pleasure of Mrs.Cheese's company for a trip to London's beautiful Somerset House yesterday to see this brilliant exhibition again this year. The artists involved in Pick Me Up are a truly talented bunch, and it was nice to chat to them about their work - very inspiring.

Jaguarshoes Collective showcased some artists....these are by Arran Gregory (totem pole at virginia water/screenprint) and print by Marcus Oakley (untitled).

Anthony Burrill had an open studio at this year's show.

Visitors were encouraged to create 'fanzines'....brilliant for kids!!! Here's Mrs.Cheese hard at work and wall of finished 'fanzines'.

More pics to follow....keep checking back!