This September Will Be Orange!

Once I make up my mind, there's no stopping me. "Orange hair!" I said and orange is what I got (thanks, Hairdresser Sue!) I do have a tender scalp now though, I must admit...

Matchy Matchy!

We promise we won't go out both wearing our suede capes at the same time, but here they are just to show you a bit of mother-and-daughter matchy-matchy vintage.

Still Charity Shopping...

Yet again, just when I think the charity shops of the UK have nothing left for me any more...

Antique Japanese Robe

Anybody out there know anything about antique Japanese textiles/kimonos/robes? I am unable to date this amazing garment, but I can say that I have never seen such beautiful workmanship in all the (long, long) time I've been collecting vintage clothing.

If anyone can help, please get in touch.

Sock Monkeys

One more week left of the school summer holiday. Today it's blackberry picking and making clothes for Sam the sock monkey with Nina.

Sam's a bit of a one. He's been indulging in a bit of internet dating and he's met Wilhemina, she's out of his league to tell you the truth...

(Wilhemina, below, courtesy of Iben and Erica Smith.)

Pretty Big Purchase...

Visited my favourite south-coast vintage shop (of course I'm not going to tell you what it is! I may share all the others with you, but not this one...) today and chatted with the owner about his plan to sell it. A mere £70,000 and all of us having to up-sticks and move? What do you think - smash the piggy bank open?

One day maybe...

Surreal Friends

Made a wee excursion to Chichester today to see the Surreal Friends exhibition at Pallant House. I had a particular interest in seeing Leonora Carrington, but Remedios Varo, whom I'd never heard of before, was definitely the star of the show for me.

Added bonus: Tuesday turns out to half price admission day!

http://www.pallant.org.uk/exhibitions/current/main-galleries/surreal-friends/surreal-friends

Pattern Crazy

More marketing. My regular Sunday morning trip to the Brighton market yielded a scarlet silk bedjacket, a couple of gaments in need of some serious TLC and yet more buttons (I just can't leave them alone).

Today's picture: some of my vintage textile badges. I make these with the offcuts from the hand-made dresses you can see on http://www.atelierbricolage.co.uk

Rainy Saturday

It's raining outside and domesticity takes hold of me and Nina. We bake a batch of cheese and rosemary scones and then miniature chocolate coffee cakes, just in case any fairies fancied calling round or anything, you know?

Location sketches

The drawings I produce in my sketchbook are very different from anything I've ever been commissioned to do by a client. I'm considering concentrating on this style of work for my illustration jobs and abandoning my commercial style.

In the meantime, to quote (Sir) Paul Smith, "You Can Find Inspiration in Everything - (And If You Can't, Look Again)".

Two posts in one day - don't expect this all the time, will you? Here are some of the fabric collages I made for my Open House in May. I have an idea for some new ones and as soon as I have time I'll start on them.

http://www.aoh.org.uk/news/shortlist-for-the-latests-best-open-house-award-2010

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my blog. My name is Carol and I am an illustrator/designer/printmaker/dressmaker/crafter/collector/seller... blah blah blah.

Anyway, where to start? Well, why not with one of my favourites: fleamarkets. There's only one thing better than rummaging through a load of old tat and that's rummaging through a load of old tat on holiday. The week before last I visited a fleamarket which I'd rank as one of the best ever (I'm hovering over the keys here wondering whether I should keep this gem to myself, oh go on then) - the Saturday morning (6am-11am) flohmarkt on the riverbank at Dresden, Germany. Mid-century homewares, ceramics, clothing, textiles and Ostalgie mostly for five euros and less.

I was very glad to have Shaun with me - his ability to speak very good German kept the prices down, as soon as the traders heard me their prices quadrupled. We only wish we'd be there with a van...

I'm aiming to keep this blog updated reasonably regularly and you can expect more from me on the subjects of illustration and desing, printmaking, vintage clothing, collecting and maybe anything else of interest that crosses my mind.

TTFN! Carol x