Upcycled | Recycled | Design
I’m starting the new year with a refocus, and that means clearing the decks.
The sale starts on Friday 10th January.
I’m having a full two weeks off this Christmas, so the first week back in the Thrift headquarters will be spent preparing this sale.
After the longest month of the year doing admin, I’m finally back making again.
2024’s Best Seller, the Gift Frame Blue Tit is ever popular.
These little beauties will be going to @manchester Museum Shop, Heart Gallery, and the rather fabulous Artisan Made Trade show.
AMUK is very close to my heart as I’m one of the creative advisors who pushed for this event to happen. It’s the only UK trade fair, specifically for British handmade makers.
Without this event, I very much doubt I’d be a supplier to the Manchester Museum Shop or exhibiting at Heart Gallery.
When I first started out I was asked to undertake a very special commission.
A unique piece which celebrated wedded love and family.
The family followed my career and watched my creative practice grow and develop.
This year, they asked if I could add to the piece and bring in a little colour.
I aim to please so of course I said yes.
#development | I’ve been experimenting with my style again. Back in 2020 my work became more colourful – I allowed myself to use paint as well as stitch to embellish the recycled materials.
Trying to maintain a level of consistency with designs while working with recycled materials is challenging. When its gone its gone. I can’t just pop to the shops and buy some more. I’ve been slowly running out of big bold wallpaper suitable for the foregrounds of my larger pieces. Last week I had a light bulb moment and thought ‘if I can’t find the flowers, I’ll make them!’
These are the first two pieces in which I’ve lead the materials rather than them leading me, to create the natural foreground foliage.
Roughly based on bindweed the flower is made using painted cereal boxes and white textured wallpaper.
When I’m super famous, this will be one of those key pieces which maps my style progression. It’ll be worth a fortune in the future 😁💃
#somethingbig | I’m currently working with a local primary school to create a large mural which will encourage their aspirations for the future. We have planned the composition and created templates which will be cut out of card. I think they’ve done a great job so far
St Laurence’s Church, Union Street, Chorley, PR71EB
Tuesday – Friday 11am – 2pm | Saturday 1 – 4pm | Sunday 1 – 3pm
The exhibition runs for the whole of January (5th – 30th)
An afternoon of Art and chat.
I’ll be at the exhibition on Saturday to meet and greet.
Come and say Hello
A surprise request for art to fill the gallery space had me in a whirl of activity this January.
Exhibiting along side artist Caroline Amos.
There’s a flash of blue and yellow in the corner of your eye. Stop. Be still. Shhh it’s there, at the bottom of the garden.
I don’t know about you but I love it when the Blue Tits come to visit the bird table. They are so cute and colourful.
During the lockdown of 2020 there was nothing I liked more than sitting back and watching the birds going about their business in my garden. It gave me a sense of calm and I found their antics quite entertaining.
I decided to redesign my current small frame Blue Tit to try to capture a little more of this birds personality and movement. While working on this I thought it would be nice to create a flying version as well.
I sketched out and experimented with lots of different poses. Then using end of season fabric scraps, used postage stamps, bits of recycled coloured paper and whatever else I could find that fitted the bill. I layered and stitched them together to create these wonderfully cute little birds.
This January I’m holding a Sale. I’ve never held a sale before because I usually sell most of my pieces as I make them. Since setting up Thrift Design in 2014 my style and direction has changed. While trying to organise my workshop I have come across a few items which I no longer make so I’ve decided to put them in a sale.
To be the first to see what I’ve got why not sign up to my news letter and I’ll let you know whats on offer first.
Sale Ends Monday 30th December
Gift Wrap & Personalised Gift Tag
Why not have your purchase wrapped and add a personalised handwritten tag added?
Eco-friendly gift wrap & tag – Recyclable, Biodegradable and compostable.