Milton Avery @ RA

 Blue Trees, 1945

Oxcart on the Gaspé, 1939

Gaspé Village, 1939

Self-portrait with Palette, 1958

I loved the Milton Avery show at the Royal Academy in London. A concise exhibition, beautifully curated - the wall colours really helped bring life Avery's paintings to life. The fact that he was completely self taught and found painting relatively late in life is so inspiring... And I always love a good cow painting, of which there were many!

Punk

Dorrit as a punk... Loved styling this one. Got really in to the customising too!

Wild Swim

A break from the London heatwave last week for an afternoon spent amongst the cow parsley, and wild swimming in Essex.

Market Day

A morning sourcing fabric in Shepherd's Bush Market, to replace some cushion covers that are looking a bit weary. Didn't go for these beautiful brocades - but the shimmering florals clearly made their mark, as I bought this vintage dress (£4!) from Roman Road Market on my way home.

 

January Collage

Neasden Temple, 2017

Groups of women preparing delicious food

Litter picking in style

Shoes off to enter the temple

A few years ago:  Neasden Temple and the Diwali celebrations. It was an amazing feast for the eyes - the elaborate, beautiful shrines with hundreds of silent pilgrims and the loud, celebratory groups of people enjoying food and music everywhere. 

Toy Time

Market traders refusing to be put off by the rain on the Roman Road

 

Fabric

 More fabric and sewing related endeavours... spent a few days in Shepherd's Bush recently, getting the step count up incredibly high pacing up and down the market. My favourite place! 

Art Angel Audio

 

I spent a warm afternoon walking around Whitechapel and Spitalfields a few weeks ago, guided by Janet Cardiff via an audio piece commissioned by Art Angel in 1999. 'Part urban guide, part detective story, part film noir, this audio walk transports individual listeners on foot through the streets and alley ways of Spitalfields, a historic part of London next to the City.'  The audio piece is great - disorientating and distracting in a good way! And I loved walking around the back streets of Spitalfields, something I don't do very often despite living so close. Very uplifted by all the colour of prayer matts, printed wax fabric, market stall dresses...

Click here for more information on the Art Angel piece.

Lucky Rat

Walking home from central London last weekend, weaving through China Town and suddenly very tempted by a 'lucky rat'. Feel like we could all do with as much luck as we can get at the moment

Shepherd's Bush

A trip to Shepherd's Bush market last week, where I have spent many happy hours.

New fabric for a potential cushion

 

Amazing embellished offerings

Gold vine

 And discovered a new Ethiopian cafe in the railway arches which was full of amazing furnishings

Muted Neons

Love the brightness of this clashing green and pink sari, and the printed fabrics either side... Bethnal Green road is always inspiring

August Collage

Charity Shop Treasure, flowers, print, colour, Roman Road and Shepherd's Bush Market... a collage of sorts for late summer.