Out on a School night

Hello! Sorry for the Radio silence. Maria and I have been busy with house moves and new additions to the family. But hopefully we will be back in this space more frequently sharing with you little moments of inspiration and our continuing adventures in Dorset.

With the sun shining and longer evenings I've been more and more motivated to start focusing on more than just work. So here we are!!

Last Wednesday myself and a friend went to a gig at the Joiners to see Marika Hackman. It was a stunning evening and it was great to feel that little feeling of freedom and rebellion to be out during the week doing our own thing.

I haven't really heard much music from Marika Hackman before my friend suggested we should go, but from the first song I was sold by her effortlessly strong voice and dark folk tale lyrics.

Marika Hackman -


I love going to see live music and being introduced to new artists. Probably the most memorable part of the night was being introduced to the voice of Sophie Jamieson. Her unassuming shy stage presence did not prepare me for the strong melancholy voice that seemed to reach the saddest corners of my brain. You could have heard a pin drop the crowd were completely captured by her voice such a force from such a fragile frame. Her songs were broken by captivating guitar solos echoing the lyrics and transporting the audience to memories of their own love ones, of words unsaid, regrets and experiences too hard to revisit. I can't believe she has not released an album yet!

Sophie Jamieson - Dinah

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend!

 

Gem x

Summer holidays under the Tuscan sun

Last week I stumbled back to Dorset tired but still buzzing from a week of endless fun. Sun kissed cheeks still hurting from a week of laughter, sea swimming, gelato eating heaven. Family and friends said I would fall in love with Italy and I did...deeply. The brightness of the sun, the soft amber glowing farmhouses, the joviality and animated way the Italians talk, the time they have to share their country and the love they have for food and family. There really was nothing not to like.

We spent our days cycling to the beach, singing silly songs, tasting the amazing local produce, making camp out of drift wood and laughing a lot, laughing so much there was a high risk of drowning in  the sea. When night time came we cycled to the local tavernas in Principina a mare  altogether on our rickety bikes, making sure we all got their safely or we cooked a massive feast and danced with watermelons.

The night I will remember most, was the night the owner of the farm kindly took us on a road trip to the most incredible town on a hillside, followed by a hairy twisting drive in a summer down pour of thunderous rain to Terme di Saturnia. We hesitantly stripped down to our cosies, our eyes searching in the dark for this magical place we could only imagine. Our noses being tickled by the sulphur of hot steam, our eyes cleared the mist enough for us to make out smiling faces submerged in water, bodies relaxing in the natural heat of the river. The sound of the waterfall 800 litres of water a minute fell from the hillside as we laughed some more and gingerly let our feet find themselves over the rocks readying for us to plunge into the natural springs, we stayed there till gone 1am in the morning, allowing the thunderous power of the natural springs to pummel our aching bike peddling muscles. I am glad we have no photos of this, just the memories off our laughter and surprise on our faces. 

It was Bellisimo! 

Thank you to everyone of you for making this a holiday with memories so funny I will catch myself remembering and laughing to myself like a mad women when winter comes .

See you next year our secret farmhouse under the Tuscan sun

I hope you've had a lovely summer and the memories keep you going when the rat race tries to win your thoughts over

Gem x

Discovering a little patch of heaven in Mells Somerset

Last weekend I took a road trip home to Somerset. We dodged the rain and took a ride out to Mells and Frome for a womble. My folks had stumbled across this lovely walled garden which offers yummy pizzas from their home made pizza oven and lots of tempting plants and bric-a-brac for sale in their amazing green house. They were excited about showing it to me and it was no surprise to say that I felt I had fallen upon a little patch of heaven!

Not for you pigs x

 Enamel ware.. Wombeling heaven! 

Would love to make one of these! 

We all came home with a few more house treasures 

I love finding new places that will some day become road trip traditions! 

Happy Weekend All! Hope your having your own 

family adventures! 

gem x

Getting the folks inspired about weaving

 

A couple of weekends ago I went back to my folks, for a weekend in Bath and a rest in the comforts of a wood burning fire and a good old roast. Maria and I have been talking non stop about all the crafty things we could make this year (all down to our growing pinterest addictions)  yesterday I went over for dinner and we chatted about our weekends. We were laughing at how I managed to get my mum and dad watching over an hour of youtube weaving tutorials. Yes this is our next big craze!

It was pouring with rain on the Sunday of my home visit, the night before I asked dad about the loom he once made years ago for my sister and I out of an old frame. That morning dad was out in the elements hunting it down amongst the rusting bikes and cobwebbed deck chairs. And it had survived! (Just)

Looks like this might need restringing??

 After dinner I sat down and started searching on youtube to see how to make a basic loom. Very soon I was joined by my mum who also wants to learn how to weave a rag rug, then our dog piggy, followed quickly by my dad, who instantly became inspired in planning to make both me and mum a loom. So there you have my little weaving tale of two generations and a dog being inspired to weave!

It was this amazing woven hanging that started our obsession - By the very talented team: BrookandLyn

We are having difficulty stopping ourselves from pinning anything and everything woven - Here are a few of our favourite pins.

 

This is from  Cathy McMurray lovely etsy shop




MaryanneMoodie's - Amazing Weaves

Bring on the rain! You will find us Weaving!

Gem x
 

Home Thrown

This year I really want to spend more time behind the wheel throwing pots and developing my style. I am hoping to start up a little etsy shop so my ceramic wares can be sold worldwide, it would be so great to know that other people love my pots and are using something I have made to cheer up their daily routine. Last year I focused on my throwing technique and making handles so that throwing pots and cups became effortless. Handles are the trickiest part, but I like the fact that all the pots are different.

Last week my friend Charlotte sent me this video There is a small growing circle of us that have an excited appreciation for all things clay related. This Short film found on thisiscollosal blog here (which is also full of amazing inspiration) is just absolutely spellbinding - I can't wait to have a go! It is a collaboration between animator Jim Le Fevre and Jim Le Fevre  and artists Al Johnstone and Roops from RAMP Ceramics, this whirling clay pot acts like an animated zoetrope when spun at a certain speed. The film was shot by Mike Paterson and Le Fevre discusses the process of building it over on his blog.

 

A few of my projects in the pipeline!

My Sister also introduced me to these cute ceramic ghosties she discovered on Instagram where I stumbled upon this amazing design Studio - Studio Arhoj

 

 

 



(Photograph from Ahoj.com)

I love their style and bright pottery! Oh and their lovely illustrations! Copenhagen designers just seem to have this very playful and fun way of looking at things. One day it would be amazing to be part of a studio like this one!

Other potters I admire are:

Atelier Dalo

 

 

Latelier Des Garcons

 



John Maltby

I wish I could list them all but have a look at my ever growing pinterest board for more information. Keep your eye on our blog for more clay related projects and updates.

Have a great weekend!

 

Gem x

....finding out about Vivian Maier and other inspirations

Tonight I have been mostly blowing my nose (summer cold.. or would be if it actually felt like summer)  and watching long episodes of Grey's Anatomy. Whilst this cathartic activity has strayed my mind a little I have still been reflecting very much on how memories are captured and saved. I am not sure if  this relates to the time in which we are in, at the moment at work; taking photographs of our classes and trying to somewhat capture that moment in a digital celluloid, that is making me slightly more obsessive about why I have such an instinctive need to have something solid to save my memories on. Maybe it makes it easier to say goodbye to the past...... sorry about my mindless cold induced ramblings. Anyway I thought I would share with you some of my inspiring finds that have really sparked my imagination these last couple of weeks.


This is  a film clip my friend Jindy sent me of London in 1927. It is just mesmerising and really moving, all those people busy with their lives and the vitality and life that is captured within the beautiful film making, appears effortless and seamless. I just can't believe it was filmed in 1927  - and don't get me started on the buses!





London in 1927 from Tim Sparke on Vimeo.

And tonight I found this. At work I am truly spoilt, surrounded all the time by like minded photography & film enthusiasts. Especially my boss who has more cameras than anyone I know and is forever developing his own film (I really can't see how jessop's went out of business) So I am always on the look out for news on Photography exhibitions and film projects. Tonight I found this amazing glimpse of a life of a secret snapper - Vivian Maier through The Jealous Curator blog.

I can't wait to watch this film! 

more info can be found here

Her photos instantly reminded me of the well known documentary photographer Diane Arbus. But this lady's talents were never really celebrated until this young man John Maloof bought some of her negatives at an auction. Spiralling from this amazing discovery is a documentary feature film and Photography exhibition of her work. Beneath the Americanisation of this story is something really exciting. This nugget of inspiration and the help of my creative friends have inspired me to get my Olympus trip out this holiday and  get snapping!

Have a great Friday! 

Gem x