Dusty Roads

1. screening2 (5), 2. : ., 3. traveller, 4. screening2 (7), 5. Choir vault, Gloucester cathedral., 6. Untitled, 7. Display in Nevada City, Montana, 8. hair bracelet, 9. garland detail

I've been plunged into thought again today when visiting the shop of fancifuldevices for the hundredth time. Her work is so powerful, and lately she has managed to accomplish what I cannot seem to get to- that ragged, severe and primitive look of 19th century hard-done-bys.

Moonbathing

The trouble is (and has been for some time) that I don't find a great affection for most of the pieces I make. Sometimes the things on my desk and in my bead containers make me do a little dance because they're so awesome, but I'm happy to admit most of the time things come out either too fancy or to neat. I love the materials I have and the ideas they generate, but when I put them together, they just don't end up as I want them.

This is the stuff I've made over time that I love, that I would choose to represent my intended style- they're my favourite designs so far. Not my ideal on any level, but satisfactory:





Interestingly there are no cuffs in there- I looked through my archive and the only cuffs I could find that I'd be happy to put my name to these days are actually shots of the backs of cuffs.

But these images below are things others have made, things that I wish I'd made:



Francis Willemstijn

Sebastian Buesher

Babette Boucher

Rachelle Varney

Suzi Tibbets


Rebecca Purcell

I've tried a few times to clean out my supplies and only have around me the materials that I want to create with. I figured if there were only pure' things in my kit it would make it easier to make something I was happy with. The other day I starting thinking about my new collections- namely Victorian Artefact (19th century styles made to look as if they'd been found in an archaeological dig) and Evil Georgian- which is Georgian style fashion from a super villain's point of view.


But even when I clean out things I find myself landed with bits I can't seem to let go of. I can do something with almost anything, and i must have this conversation with myself:

+ ooh no, I can do something with that
- yes but it won't be the thing you WANT to make
+ but it'll look nice and someone will buy it
- but that's not the point! I'm an artist, I'm making what i like and I'm just lucky others like it too!

The problem is I've made things in my past just because people will buy them. but I don't like working like that anymore. I'm not a merchant, I'm not a fashion house. I'm an artist that makes art you can wear and occasionally art you can't wear (at least not without difficulty).


The struggle to create what's inside my head has never been harder- usually I give in to the process, let it go where it wants to take me. This time I feel I ought to instill some kind of discipline over it. It's hard for me as I've never been a disciplined person, prefering to go with the flow and let the universe provide (and it does, faithfully) but I wonder if a change in approach is needed in my work given that the usual attack isn't winning. I don't exactly look at my pieces and think 'what a load of crap' but I don't feel an overwhelming pride in them either.


Do I ask too much of my art? Is it reasonable to expect to be moved by everything I make, or is that just the romantic dream/nightmare of every artist?


I'll be moving house in the next couple of weeks, and when I'm settled in the new place I'll be learning new skills, namely soldering but hopefully pit-fired ceramics and Precious Metal Clay as well. Hopefully when I am able to actually sculpt some elements, things will come to form easier.

Interior Alchemy

Citrusfaire has this book listed in her Etsy shop right now- it's at the lowest price you could get this for, and it's a seriously good book. There are a few pics from it in this post. I'm spreading the word here because I know alot of you align to my personal style, and so does this book! Get if you can!

Soot and Cinders

A few Etsy favourites, showcasing the colours and textures I'm trying to develop in my work- ash, soot, cobblestones, blackboard slate and bone:

fancifuldevices
(visiting her shop is like going to church for me)


artlab
(I recommend viewing this image full size, the chest detail is heart-stopping!)

SweetKate


savagesalvage


Sidereal


Drawingroom


Besemnaturalscents


gypsyfishstudios

Shop Update

Old Hollywood

Faded flowers

The Purple Serpent

The Big Bang

Paperwhite

Recent updates to the Etsy shop... with more to come!

Dad's Amazing Patented Antique Eating Shed

A reclaimed chandelier and antique photo frames

And now fellow- in response both to my word (which is kept out of purely remembering as much as in honour) and your excitement, I present to you Dad's Amazing Patented Antique Eating Shed- in pictures.

a jar of nails and screws

antique tool rests on a restored and aged wood box

rescued from an unloving fate and waiting restoration

You can see by the kind of things Dad collects where my style has come from. When I was a kid, my Dad's shed was a forbidden place. Due to the amount of nails, screws, rusted bits of metal, grease, paint and sawdust all over the floor it wasn't a kid-friendly environment, but you can't tell kids that. It was a rule that wasn't strictly enforced, as long as we didn't touch anything, had shoes on and didn't go past 'the first bookcase'. Of course, that's where I declared the best stuff to be.

metal trunks, wooden chests, lantern remains and a fire surround

A still-life of aged timber

collection of antique tools, mostly all restored and aged for authenticity by Dad

Sitting in the middle of the shed was a massive old Model T. Rusted and beyond rescue, it slept there guarding everything around it like hoarded gold. Cauldrons, wood chests, antique furniture, tin buckets, Gothic dining chairs...everything one might find in a dispensary in the 19th century, one might find here.

stained glass panels

a kerosene lamp packed in paper, awaiting restoration

The trunk my grandmother and mother bought their things in when they immigrated from England in the 1950s, a barley twist washstand (upside down) and a set of very rustic pigeon holes for which I will say 'Dad...can I borrow that..?' when I move house next month.

The shed itself had been made from a lot of reclaimed timber, so although it was only born not long after me (I remember them laying the foundations), it's old wood, low lighting, garlands of spiders webs (decorated with the shed skins of the resident) and arcane things - not to mention that I wasn't supposed to be in there- meant it became a figure of mystery in my life.

Antique boxes and not-so-old boxes made from old timber

antique tools

more antique tools

I know my Dad's shed was instrumental in my aesthetic direction now- and even in my philosophy. An art studio is like a shed, and everyone should have one. I've long said that pottering around at home is the best medicine, and there'd be much less strife in the world if people had sheds to retire to now and again!

a vintage statue that used to be in our bathroom- awaiting (what else) restoration

The shed in these images is Dad's new shed- it's bigger and more modern and not quite so Dickensian. it's still great though, as most of this stuff was in the old shed before it came here.The old shed still stands, but it belongs to someone else now. I can't imagine what it's like inside and I don't want to- it could never be so wonderful as it was.

more antique tools- can we see a theme?

One day maybe I'll have a shed that can live up to the dream...and my kids won't be allowed in it.

Bee Are Bee

Dearhearts, I must once again take leave of you! Back to my mother's house- I need to go see my doctor and Wednesday was the only day she could see me. Then there's an antique shop that's only open on Sundays that's having a half-price closing down sale, so of course I have to go to that. I am actually moving down there next month but it already feels like I spend most of my time there!


I shall be back in a week- the shop is still open, and you get free shipping to anywhere in the world while I'm away (from the 11th to the 16th). Sadly, the images of Dad's Patented Antique Eating shed will have to wait till I return! But they are nice. There will also be pictures from a recent visit to the museum to see a Jane Austen fashion exhibit.

Dear readers...I have gazed upon Mr. Firth's actual puffy shirt. The famous wet shirt. It was dry when I saw it, but still. Firth shirt. And pants and boots and jacket!

Sparrowsalvage update

A few new treasures in the shop!

soot and sparkle

ashen snow

Chimneysweep circus

Regency darling