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Bella Bella

This summer, I had the very special honour of creating a pet portrait for a fellow artist.
Susan’s cat Bella sadly died of old age. Bella had been a loyal companion, keeping Susan company while she worked. Her loss was felt deeply.


Bella started life as a stray. She was found living behind the local Italian restaurant, so she was named Bella.

Suasn chose me to create a lasting reminder of Bella because she liked how I use different materials and stitching to create a mixture of memories as well as a depiction of the subject.
Susan collected lots of items, which meant something to her and her cat. She sent me an old menu from the Italian restaurant Bella was found at, wrapping paper and scratched cardboard that Bella had played with, and a small collection of packaging from things that Bella liked.

Susan trusted me to create a  loving memory of her pet companion, and her only requirement was to include zigag stitching, which is reminiscent of her own creative work.

I’ll be honest, I felt the pressure. I could tell Bella was a very special friend.
Did I overthink it? Yes. Did I take too long creating it? Yes. Was it worth it? Also, yes.
Bella is beautiful

It’s super easy to commission me to create a special art piece for you.
Just email me your request, perhaps with a photo or two. I have a size/cost guide to help you work out your budget.
Here’s a link to previous commissions https://thriftdesign.co.uk/commission-archive/
And here’s a little bit of info about the process https://thriftdesign.co.uk/commissions-3/
It’s worth noting I have a waiting list so it may be a month or two before I’m able to complete your piece. If you have a special date in mind contact me sooner rather than later.

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End of a chapter

During a particularly destructive summer storm last year. I received two devastating blows. One was a phone call delivering a rather swift perfunctory dismissal, and the other, (during that phone call), I watched through the window as the summer storm tore my beautiful Rowan tree in half.

It turned out both were rotten.

It took me a long time to recover from those negative events, and I still miss that Rowan tree.

The rowan tree is a powerful symbol of protection, creation, and divine rescue in Celtic, Norse, and Finnish mythologies.

My divine rescue came a couple of hours later when I received a private message from Holly Tucker MBE telling me she loved my work and wanted me to be part of Holly&Co. https://holly.co/about-us

Out that storm came a new opportunity and the invitation to be part of something much more positive.

So when I was considering some enhancements to my Greenfinch piece, a Rowan branch sprang to mind.

A new chapter, for me, the Greenfinch, and my Rowan Tree.

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Manchester Museum Visit

Lucanus Cervus

#entomology | I have a date with Manchester Museums Entomology Department!
After a super conversation about bugs, the folks at Manchester Museum invited me to come and meet their entomology team. I’ll be able to study the collection up close with a view to creating a range of bugs for their retail shop.
I cannot wait. Watch this space.

This is all thanks to @artisanmadeuk for creating the opportunity for me to meet the buying team for Manchester Museum. They saw my work and loved my ethos.

As a kid, I always loved visiting the Natural History Museums in Bolton and Manchester. It was a time when no one seemed to realise the public was aloud in. I pretended I was indiana Jones as I sneaked around the Victorian glass cabinets. Good Times.

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Promotion at Picnic in the Park

To promote our pop-up shop in Astley Park Coach House we attended the event Picnic in the Park and invited everyone to get creative and make a festival flower.

The event was well attended and we facilitated the making of over 200 flowers. It brought back memories of when I used to be a community artists back in the day.

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Horticultural Inspiration

Inspired by a recent exhibition commission and looking forward to new opportunities created during the Artisan Made UK Trade Fair, I set off on an exploration for inspiration at my local RHS garden.

I can’t wait to start creating these botanical blooms as three-dimensional salvaged masterpieces.

ostiospermam jucundom
Siberian Bugloss
Brunnera macrophylla
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Popping

Back in April I posted about ‘Making things happen’, well my excellent friends and I have organised a Pop-Up shop to celebrate Lancashire independent handmade business. We plan to showcase around 20 local artists and makers work in June.

The game is afoot ( as Sherlock would say).

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Botanical Bliss Art in Bloom

I’m very honoured to be  part of  the latest exhibition at Heart Gallery in Hebden Bridge.
Botanical Bliss Art in Bloom runs from May 3rd to July 27th.

I have created three pieces, especially for the exhibition, as well as some favourites from my current range.

Heart Gallery is a stalwart of the Contemporary Craft world. I first met Alison, the owner, at the beginning of my Contemporary Craft career, when she was giving a talk about approaching galleries: the do & don’ts. Since then, it has been an ambition of mine to stock her gallery.
A couple of years ago, that ambition became a reality, but the novelty hasn’t worn off, I’m still thrilled when I’m asked to exhibit.

Remember to support your independent high street shops

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New Stockists

Thanks to the great face to face opportunities created by Artisan Made UK* (Uks only exclusively handmade trade fair) in March, the trade orders are starting to trickle out.

This lovely batch of goodies is heading off down to Buckingham to a stomping independent high street shop called freya Jones Art and Craft.

www.freyajones.co.uk

Is a small independent business myself, I have nothing but admiration and respect for the brave soles who run creative highstreet shops.
As an artist, I am proud to supply these independent businesses and help create a bit of individuality to highstreet towns.


“From every £1 you spend on a local small independent business, 75% goes back into your local community.”
Mary Portas

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Making things Happen

If you want something doing…
I had been thinking for a few years about the limited opportunities for contemporary crafts in my home county of Lancashire. Don’t get me wrong there are the odd venues and galleries spread thinly but nothing to match the likes of Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Greater Manchester, Art in the Pen in Yorkshire, or even Pop-Up in the Palm House in Merseyside.
I’m not sure why this is because there is a wealth of creative talent. We all just traipse over the boarders.

Astley Park

So I had an inspirational power walk with some of my local creative friends (sarah buckett and Wild Botainia), and we hatched a plan.

There was a lot of blue-sky thinking, dreaming of a local arts centre hub, events, and creative movements.
We settled on a pop-up shopping experience to kick things off.
Our local council (Chorley & South Ribble) was extra supportive by giving us an amazing venue for free and promoting the event on their digital platforms.
Housed in the Astley Park Coach House, Astley Pop-Up was born.
From Saturday the 13th to the 21st of June, we will be showcasing the work of 19 independent makers/ businesses.

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New Product Experiment

I’ve been experimenting with a new way of creating pet portrait commissions.
I’ve had a few requests for my coloured digital sketches, so I decided to give it a go.

Happy customer

I created a digital sketch of Scrumpy the cat, and I sent it to the printers.
When I received the prints back, I couldn’t resist working into it a little more with coloured pencil.

Working on the print base

My intention (when I get time) is to add a little more embellishment with machine and hand stitch.