Tree of Life

I was asked to curate this week's Folksy Friday for the Folksy blog.  What fun!  I went into all the corners of Folksy....spent a bit of money along the way.....and came up with these beautiful tree inspired pieces.  I particularly like Artwork by Angie's Family Tree print.

Folksy

Sun Ray coaster

One of my ceramic coaster tiles has been featured on the Folksy blog!  I've also been featured for Folksy Friday here.

Sun coaster tile

Beasts!

THE BEAST!

Our garden has gone wild this week.  The warmth and rain has sent everything skywards.  It feels very tropical out there and so many types of green.  Being out there grounded me back in late summer, harvesting cucumbers and tomatoes and the longest purple beans you've ever seen.  I've been working hard in the studio preparing for the Wirksworth Festival and also planning stock for galleries who are preparing for Christmas and then I'm making my own plans for Christmas fairs.  Suddenly the year had passed me by.  When the boys returned from the allotment with plums I realised how quickly autumn will be upon us.  So we're off to seize the summer and have some outdoor fun.  Just time to post a beastly Folksy Friday before we go!

Rae Welch paper bird Doodle in the Margins zebra hood Sara Carr fox brooch Flossie Limejuice lion The Snail Emporium snail Knitted Sue yellow cat Claryce Design bird gift tags Spare book labels Molly's Mum brooch

Tea and jam!

Primmy Chorley: Teatime in the Garden of Love

Primmy Chorley: The Garden of Love

Primmy Chorley is a very private artist from North Wales. There aren't many people whose lives are kept private in the Age of the Internet.  I particularly love the application of her work to functional objects.  These tea cosies are from a series:

".....Chorley will describe the subject of the 'Paradise Gardens' tea cosies as 'family memories' and affectionate goodbyes to those who were close but are gone - in 'Flowers for Tinker' to one of her much loved dogs, in 'The Garden of Love - for Lin' to her best friend.  Chorley's life has clearly been difficult and tragic at times, but it has also contained much happiness.  The naivity of the slightly whimsical houses and gardens depicted on the tea cosies, and their ubiquitous guardian angels, somehow express this sense of comfort and reassurance - things will be 'alright'.  In this way, these deeply personal expressions of joy and grief have a universal resonance.  They are about nothing less than human relationships, life and death."

Jennifer Harris 2001 

I've been enjoying the ritual of tea, made in my favourite stripey tea pot.  This week I've been up to my eyeballs in fruit from the allotment and making jar after jar of jam.  It's always a well received gift and seems to be entrenched in everyones' lives with a ritualistic element, not found in a mass produced jar.  It finds it's way onto the table for a Sunday tea, or served with warm croissants on a Saturday morning.  It captures summer ready to be freed in the depths of winter.

With tea and jam on my mind I thought I would join the Folksy Friday revolution and feature the best related products from Folksy.

                                        

Cherry Loco I love tea
She Draws pendant
Cuppa tea and cake print

Rescued and Revived vicars tea cosy
Bebe Boutique alien jam bandana 
Handmade by Auntie Junie pink tea cosy 

Hats and More cakes tea cosy

Nickynackynoo traffic jam bunting
Woolly Duck felted scone