http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk en-gb smashingchintz.co.uk 2012-1-26T00:00:00Z smashingchintz.co.uk http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#111236 The next Midcentury Modern Show is at Dulwich College on Sunday 18th March. There will be dealers selling vintage ceramics textiles furniture and ephemera from the 50s 60s and 70s. There will also be designer makers selling contemporary products. Smashing Chintz is now listed on the Modern Shows website. 2012-1-26 22:06:48 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#109518 With the first day of the new year it was time to be back in the studio yesterday. Ive got ideas for new work and need to start making I caught the VampAs Power of Making exhibition on Saturday before it finished today. I liked the glossary of AZ definitions of making processes in the exhibition leaflet and put these up on the wall of my studio. The January issue of Making Magazine which is published by the Guild of Master Craftsmen features a mosaic bowl project that I was asked to do. 2012-1-2 19:10:28 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#108409 The January issue of Making magazine number 16 came out today. Before heading to buy a copy I had a look around the Garden Museums shop it was a special Christmas shopping night after all and spotted Esther Coombs quirky plant labels made from broken crockery. I had to have one for my herb window box What a coincidence though. Reading through Making magazine later on this evening theres a lovely four page article about Esther and her work. I really agreed with her remark that running your own business involves a whole range of tasks apart from the making People are amazed that I might only spend a day or two each week drawing making and creating.Also in the same issue is my tutorial on making a mosaic bowl from an upcycled metal IKEA bowl. 2011-12-9 00:23:32 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#107058 I had a fantastic time at Hope amp Elvis in Nottinghamshire last weekend. Louise Presley is a great host and workshop organiser.I had 14 students who made amazing mosaics throughout the day. I dont know if its because they are already used to making and textiles but they seemed to transfer their skills readily to the medium of mosaicDuring the morning they made mosaic mirrors learning the skills of cutting and placing. By the afternoon they were ready for some more intricate work working on a smaller scale to create Christmas decorations mosaic hearts and teapots.I was so impressed with the amount of and quality of work produced. There are lots more photos on the Facebook pages of Hope amp Elvis and Smashing Chintz. I am looking forward to returning next year to run a similar workshop. Meanwhile Louise has lots of lovely workshops on offer... check out her websiteTheres also a fabulous cafe amp gallery on the Welbeck Estate. Last Saturday the cafe had been reviewed by the Time... 2011-11-17 20:36:12 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#105216 I thought Id post a couple of closeup photos from yesterdays workshop I love the way in which words and text were incorporated into the mirror frames.Thanks to Brionny for her hand made mosaic.Thanks to Liz Kent for creating mosaics with messages..Next month Im at Hope amp Elvis in Nottinghamshire for a workshop with a Christmas feel. Ive just been ordering Christmas trees holly and hearts in preparation. Not real ones wood cutouts Im really looking forward to another visit to Louise Presleys treasure trove studio. httpwww.hopeandelvis.comworkshops.html 2011-10-23 15:28:02 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#103543 This weekend we are opening our studios at Lewisham Arthouse and therell be a popup cafe with home made cakes as well as sitespecific works around the building including a rather wonderful elephant in the foyer. Alexandra Valys installation in the foyerEntry is free and we are open from 12 6pm on Saturday 1st amp Sunday 2nd October. Its the opening night tomorrow evening and as I type I can hear last minute preparations in other studios and my husband hammering nails into his last few picture frames 2011-9-29 16:20:17 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#103051 Finally Smashing Chintz has an online shop Hurrah I was invited to join Not On The High Street some time ago and it has taken me a while to set up 2011-9-22 10:34:43 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#101731 My annualbiennial camping trip to France ended recently with a beautiful ferry crossing back from Dieppe. This time I didnt get to see many mosaics or gardens but saw lots of France Over three weeks we drove through the Loire to the Ile de Re on the west coast. We then followed the Gironde estuary to Bordeaux where the Dordogne starts. We followed it as far as Argentat before heading back up to cross the Loire. We stopped at Chartres before heading to Rouen. Then it was back to Dieppe. I love camping next to water whether its a river or the sea. This summer I got to swim in both.At Souillac on the Dordogne theres a wonderful museum of automata. Many of the objects are mechanical toys made in the 19th amp 20th century by a family businessshop called Roullet amp Descamps based in Paris. Its sad that the shop only closed in the 1980s. One of my favourites was the laughing man who rocked around in laughter. I had to take a photo of the daschund in the box with accessories. I a... 2011-9-3 22:43:55 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#98402 I popped across the other day to Craft Central in Clerkenwell with a bag full of work and props for a photoshoot. With the wonderful help of httpwww.fullfocus.co.uk Ive now got a new set of photos. Some of the props I used included wooden printing blocks I found in France years ago my great Uncle Freds 60s curtain fabric and some favourite vintage books.Heres a sneak previewThe photoshoot was part of the London Style mentoring programme based at the Fashion and Textile Museum and organised by Newham College. 2011-7-15 11:07:15 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#96549 Since I last posted here absolutely ages ago Ive been on not one but two camping trips to Devon The first over Easter involved taking my work to an exhibition and the other a month later involved collecting it Both trips included visiting the lovely town of Totnes the original transition town. And in between I spent a wonderful weekend in an ecopod in the Hampshire countryside with expeditions by steam train and vintage bus My grandfather was a ticket inspector on Hampshire busesIve taken loads of photographs too many to show but Ive put a few upRopley station on the Watercress Line.Brixham harbour wall.Cows on the coastal path from Dartmouth Castle.Meanwhile inspired by my trips Ive been busy in the studio making some new work. Plate purchased from ThisnThat a lovely vintage themed shop in Totnes. The owner organises vintagenostalgic markets and the next one is on September 24th. Details can be found at httpwww.thisnthattotnes.blogspot.com 2011-6-18 19:57:52 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#92716 Tomorrow in Deptford Ta Na Deptford have organised a street party which kicks off at 2pm with a street theatre performance followed by a tea dance at 3pm. The Deptford Project will be transforming a train carriage into a 1940s cafe fit for a Wedding Breakfast.I recently ran a workshop for children and we had a great day making royal wedding inspired mosaic hearts as well as mirrors and plant pots using buttons and beads. 2011-4-28 18:26:37 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#89400 I visited Nottingham last weekend and spent Saturday afternoon happily making porcelain brooches in Debbie Bryans Studio and Shop. Our tutor was Katie Almond whos delicate and intricate looking ceramics I have only just discovered. Debbie has recently expanded her lovely shop so that she can offer a range of different workshops during the year. For example this Sunday theres a chance to get advice on starting and running a creative business with enterprise advisor Sara McNicol. Whilst I was in Nottingham I delivered some new Smashing Chintz pieces to the shop including vintage plates with transfers which went up on the wall to join some other framed work. 2011-3-17 12:11:01 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#86607 The March issue of Making magazine is out and Smashing Chintz is featured in an article written by Clare Kelly called On the Up. Upcycling is all about transforming something old into something new. Ive tended to call it recycling but that could apply to reusing an envelope or a yogurt pot Upcycling is the term now being adopted for customising objects in order to create a new object. Other makers and designers that get mentioned include Loglike who make lovely animal kits using vintage fabrics that Ive admired for some time craft duo Alice and Ginny and the collective ReFound. Theres a blog all about upcycling called Give Me One Good Raisin.Ive also got a tutorial in Making magazine on how to make mosaic Cupcake brooches. Another great reason to buy Making magazine 1634.99 and available at W H Smiths and by subscription 2011-2-9 22:16:19 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#85595 Steve Wright is going to be opening his House of Dreams next month on Saturday 19th February. Details about the opening times address and how to book are all below in previous posts.... Discover this corner of London with a visit to Steve Wrights House of Dreams followed by browsing in the shops and market stalls along North Cross Road on your way to see his wonderful mosaics outside the front and back of the popular Blue Mountain Cafe. Heres one of Steve Wrights mosaics at the Blue Mountain Cafe in North Cross Rd London SE22. Then continue by walking or taking a short drive to the Centre for Wildlife Gardening at Marsden Road in SE15 run by the London Wildlife Trust in Marsden Road where there are a few more mosaics to see.....Continue to Bellenden Road to see the architectural alphabetical mosaic designed by the artist Tom Philips and executed by Gary Drostle...Finally in Peckham outside the award winning Library designed by Wil Alsop see the architectural mosaic orbs created by cera... 2011-1-27 20:28:48 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#83766 Its January and time to plan ahead for the new year...On Saturday 22nd January theres another chance to visit the House of Dreams...... Steve Wright is opening up his wonderful housemuseumart installation to the public from 10.30am 4.30pm. Entry is 16310 and includes an artists talk. for the address and photos see Novembers update below Januarys issue of BBC Homes amp Antiques Magazine is a vintage special and Smashing Chintz workshops get a mention and some photos in their feature Trends for 2011 under Do It Yourself.and in Januarys issue of making magazine which is also a vintage issue theres another mention of Smashing Chintz workshops this time in an article about Louise Presley of Hope and Elvis.Look out for a feature about Smashing Chintz and upcycling in a future issue of making magazine....... making magazine is available from WHSmiths 2011-1-3 16:24:28 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#81185 Steve Wrights House of Dreams is in East Dulwich London. Its an amazing house and front garden that has been mosaiced inside and out. Its been featured on the pages and front cover of World of Interiors magazine more than once. If you have been to the Blue Mountain Cafe in Dulwich you will be familiar with Steves work but the house is a whole other experience. I love outsider art like La Maison Picasiette in Chartres and this is a 21st century example right in the heart of London. Ive been fortunate to visit twice each time its looked very different as it is an ongoing project and national treasure it is bequeathed to the National Trust. The House of Dreams is open to the public on Saturday 4th December from 10.30am until 4.30pm at 45 Melbourne Grove SE22 8RG. Tel 020 8299 3164. Entry is 16310 per person which includes a cup of tea a mince pie and an artists talk. 2010-11-25 12:32:06 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#81181 Well it was quite an evening... the scene was set with tables set for chatting at vintage china tea services and cup cakes piled high forties music in the background and bunting overhead. Other tables were set up for making and doing needlefelting crochet knitting sewing painting and mosaicing with tutors on hand. Then the doors opened ..... and it was nonstop making in between eating cakes and sipping tea and chatting.I met some marvelous people the organisers especially Helen other makers and of course the wonderful young people who came along and made the most amazing mosaic hearts. And money was raised for charity at the same time 1633000This is me in my vintage dress bought especially for the occasion from fab vintage shop Rag N Bone in Deptford. Thanks to lovely Marcia of httpwww.glammamamma.tumblr.com for the photo and comments Marcia runs a regular local knitting amp crochet evening with Anna of httpwww.onehandknits.com 2010-11-25 10:25:53 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#80066 Its been a while since my last post. Ive been busy running mosaic workshops for adults and children and Ill be adding some photos of their work to the website. Meanwhile this Saturday Im heading off to the Handmde Craft Fair in Winchester ......httphandmadewinchester.blogspot.com 2010-11-11 14:20:18 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#78029 Ive just been looking at Novembers BBC Homes amp Antiques magazine which has a feature on the lovely 1930s home of Louise Presley of Hope and Elvis. Im off up to her wonderful treasure trove I mean studio next Saturday to run a workshop and Im really looking forward to itBy coincidence Octobers BBC Homes amp Antiques magazine features some Smashing Chintz work Its difficult to make out in the photo but one of the plates has a flying duck mosaic on and just above the bed head is a plate with a mosaic cow..... 2010-10-16 13:55:04 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#77166 Ive been invited to take part in an event for the charity Bliss. Its a Vintage Tea Party with all sorts of crafty fun all for the price of 16315. Ill be doing a mini mosaic workshop. There will be art sewing dancing bunting making knitting felting crochet and tea amp cakeBliss is a charity that raises money for premature babies. Take a look at the website and book a ticket httpwww.vintageteaparty.webs.com 2010-10-5 22:57:38 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#75151 Heres the finished picture frame I made for the tutorial for UK Handmade. It combines a pretty Booths cup in a design called The Pompadour which I bought from a bricabrac shop in Hastings with a pale pink and a pale blue mug donated to me by friends. The Booths cup had been broken and glued back together. I like making something new from favourite broken mugs. httpukmade.blogspot.com 2010-9-10 10:55:53 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#75049 Heres a step by step guide to mosaic a small picture frame.... The equipment and materials you will need to do the mosaic with include mosaic nippers for cutting available from DIY shops PVA glue a glue spatula or paint brush long handled tweezers optional goggles or spectacles. A hammer is an alternative to mosaic nippers. Step 1. Prepare the picture frames. Take out the glass or perspex and backing board. If the wood is varnished sand it down. New wood can be treated with a milky solution of PVA glue water and glue painted evenly over the wood. This helps things adhere to the wood. Step 2. Gather the mosaic materials together. Chipped ceramic cups and mugs broken plates beads buttons pebbles shells mirror...... Step 3. Cutting. Start cutting the ceramic with the mosaic nippers or alternatively you can use a hammer and smash it put the china inside a magazine or newspaper and place it on a hard floor when using the hammer. ... 2010-9-8 22:26:09 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#74278 This time last year I was lucky to gain an additional studio at the Arthouse but within a year Ive managed to fill it too Ive been reorganising my studios and sorting them out and this has reminded me of a photograph taken last year by an MA photography student from the London College of Communications. The unusual thing about the photo is that it is a 360 0 view heres what my old studio looked like last yearI think that its very clever and it reminds me of my poor attempt to do a 3600 drawing of a landscape when I was an art student. 2010-8-31 20:23:58 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#74040 The weather during August has been disappointing but its meant that the studios have been a perfect temperature. So Ive been sorting mine out and making more space in preparation for some new classes this autumn. Im going to run some Eco Workshops based on the idea of thriftiness as well as my usual mosaic workshops.These are going to be an excuse for me to get out my sewing machine and threads as well as an opportunity to do some gardening... 2010-8-29 10:56:35 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#71696 nspired by the design Wild Oats on some plates Ive been using recently Ive been taking photographs of grasses and seedheads.In a Hampshire fieldHastings Country Park..and Beachy HeadAlong the South Downs Way 2010-7-30 12:51:21 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#69437 I took this photo yesterday of sunflowers a sure sign of summer Today Ive been picking raspberries gooseberries rocket and broad beans from my very hot and dry allotment. My sunflowers dont look like this yet 2010-7-2 23:26:36 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#69337 Back in April the lovely people at httpwww.frombritainwithlove.com sent along crafts journalist Clare Kelly to one of my mosaic workshops. Clare brought along some of her own vintage china her grandmothers buttons and some ceramic hearts. She made a fabulous mosaic mirror frame in record time and managed to take photographs and make notes. The course notes are up on the From Britain With Love website with photos of Clares mirror at different stages. Thank you to Clare and thank you to Nicky at From Britain With Love Visit Clares blog at httpwww.passthepattern.tumblr.com and see her finished mirror at the link belowhttpwww.frombritainwithlove.comfeaturescoursenoteslearntomakeamosaicmirror 2010-7-1 21:25:10 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#67296 Im back from camping in West Sussex Dorset and Devon. Heres the latest news and some photos from my trip.I shall be exhibiting new work at The Harley Gallery during August and September running a mosaic workshop at Hope and Elvis in October and taking part in Handmde Winchester in November........ meanwhile Things We Love will be exhibiting some Smashing Chintz work as part of the London Festival of Architecture at the Outsideworld Gallery Redchurch St London E2 from 24th June until 4th July.Irises at Parham House West Sussex late MayDenmans Garden near Chichester early June 2010-6-7 20:51:21 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#64712 Clerkenwell Design Week is coming up in May. A selection of Smashing Chintz work can be seen on the Things We Love stand in the festivals Design and Craft Market. The market runs from Tuesday 25th to Thursday 27th May in St Johns Square London EC1 near to Craft Central. Open daily from 10am to 6pm. Pop into the marquee to see some unique and desirable items from different designers and makers.httpwww.clerkenwelldesignweek.comhttpwww.craftcentral.org.uk 2010-5-6 17:23:02 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#62120 Last Saturday I spent a lovely day in Nottinghamshire in the Hope and Elvis studio with hosts Louise Presley and Julie Arkell. Louises studio is a real treasure trove of all things vintage.... buttons stamps fabrics china for cups of tea and chocoalate cake tins toys etc and very inspiring Julie Arkell had brought some of her work to show us. I loved the papier mache watches that tell the right time twice a day She also had series of brooches made from fragments of fabric ribbons found objects sometimes with autobiographical meanings.I had a go at incorporating ceramic with textile and stitch in two brooches I made on the day see the photo. I had a dog theme going on after acquiring a small plate on my journey up to Nottingham 2010-4-3 11:03:32 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#58213 Ive brought my pot of crocus bulbs inside into the warm. Im hoping that they will flower by Valentines Day..... Smashing Chintz is now listed on www.frombritainwithlove.com the online guide to buying products made in Britain. 2010-2-11 16:59:08 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#57804 Day 2 of my new blog Other news this week..... Of Cabbages and Kings in Stoke Newington has a small display of Smashing Chintz mosaic birds on plates until the end of March. Check out the shop for gifts for self or others from perspex laser cut jewellery to hand made hot water bottle covers and colourful china teapots. httpwww.ofcabbages.co.uk Another framed piece is in the exhibition Objects of Love at Lewisham Arthouse until 14th February. www.lewishamarthouse.co.uk 2010-2-5 19:54:38 http://www.smashingchintz.co.uk/page15.htm#57688 Spring Summer mosaic workshops begin in March. The booking form is available for download now with the correct dates Im hoping to be able to offer a credit card booking system soon as cheques are used less and less. Last Sunday I ran a mosaic workshop for my family in my mothers studio with my mum her sister my sister my cousin and cousins husband. We had some competitive fun My father and husband stayed out of the way reading the Sunday papers and making us pots of tea Im really looking forward to going on a workshop in March at Hope amp Elvis in Worksop Nottinghamshire. Its with Julie Arkell and all about making objects and jewellery with found materials. Here are some photos from Sunday.... 2010-2-4 12:31:39