The Mister Finch Exhibition, London

Following the launch of his very first book earlier this year, the fairy tale-inspired world of Mister Finch has touched down – for a very short time – in the beautiful Anthropologie shop on the Kings Road in London, where it will be on display until January 4th 2015. The bay fronted shop is crammed full of huge vintage books, curiosities and  beautifully-crafted fabric creatures.

Inspired by the Parisian taxidermy
shop Deyrolle, the show comprises 15 pieces of soft sculpture: a crowned swan,
suitcase- carrying toadstool and seven-foot fox, among other creatures.

Here are some of the pieces from the collection and they are much larger than I thought they would be.  Sit back and enjoy.

 

Fabulous pin cushion crown

 

Over-sized Textile Moths

 

 

This piece is for sale for £1,800

 

 

A closer look at the spider
The shop windows are a magical delight.
A panoramic picture of the exhibition space.

The Knitting and Stitching Show 2014, Alexandra Palace, London – Part 3 – WW1 Remembered

At textile exhibitions, I find there are generally one or two pieces of work that I find myself drawn to. It might be it’s construction, colour, techniques incorporated, or textures created that lure me in.

The following piece was so stunning. I was going to include it in one of my previous posts, but it is so unique, it needs a post all of its own to be appreciated fully.
This is a piece in memory of the fallen in WW1…. which was a running theme at the Show this Centenary year.
Created by Susan Canfield called “Time held me Green and Dying”  from textile group Between the Lines: East Anglia Stitch Textiles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hens Teeth at Hope and Elvis – 2013

Last year I was a very lucky girl and managed to get a place on the Hens Teeth workshop at Hope and Elvis. The idea was to make a sewing or needle case, but as always, I tend not to follow rules and ended up creating something else!

I started off with scraps from an old blanket then added vintage red bias binding and vintage calico from my Arnold’s Attic stash. The wonderful Viv from Hens Teeth gave each of us a screen print for us to embroider the date onto, plus and a selection of screen printed figures to choose from too – I chose her iconic running hen. The whole thing was finished off with flurries of embroidery, inspired by Viv,  and some vintage linen buttons from the stash from Arnold’s Attic.
Here is my finished piece…..I hope you like it .
Thank you to Viv for sharing your work with us and to Louise for sharing your relaxing Studio at Hope and Elvis.

The front cover – complete with vintage linen buttons
Viv was a sweetie and signed my work

 

 

The back cover