From Laura with love...

Home is where the hoard is...

2012-01-23T00:16:00.000Z

After all the research into collecting that I had done for my dissertation I decided to take a different angle for my practical work, but still very much connected to it, so for my first ‘Minor’ project (I hate that it’s called that, it didn't feel ‘minor’ when I was doing all that work!!) I looked into hoarding...

I knew that I wanted to do a bit more drawing this year as I hadn’t done an awful lot of drawing for a while and so to jump start my idea’s I went around listening to peoples conversations and finding photographs. From hints within these conversations and pictures I drew up imaginary collections that these people could own (although I had no idea what I was going to do with them!). The items within these ‘collections’ are everyday objects and are more often associated with hoarding than collecting (other than the postcards...they just slipped in somehow!). Can an everyday commodity be part of a collection?

So for now here are a few of my drawings...

A series of old batteries

Sugar Packets

Postcards of architecture

Slides

...next time I'll show you what I ended up doing with them.

Remember me!?

2012-01-21T14:30:00.000Z

Long time no see...

I have been crazy busy for the last fews months writing my dissertation and doing two ridiculously ambitious projects, so have had no time to update my blog.

In order to catch up I’m thinking that I should spilt the posts up instead of creating one stupidly long post...

Where to start??

Well for the last half of the summer I was helping out the lovely Claire Brewster helping out and getting ready for Origin. It was great to see how she works and actually see the reality of making it out in the real world as an artist.

You should definitely check out her work, it’s gorgeous and all meticulously cut by hand! I’ve now even got one of my very own!

Ed the Head, the Guardian of the Bed.

2011-06-27T11:57:00.000+01:00

After finishing the second year of my degree and the 'Applied' Exhibition that I organised in Rochester, I finally had time to sort out the mess of my flat.

Two day's, four completely full bin bags of rubbish, one and a half bin liners for charity shop and two massive boxes taken too my mum and dad's attic later and I finally have my flat back!!

I also finally got around to putting up the photo wall in my bedroom :D

(and found a home for Ed the Head in the process)

I actually got all those photo frames for our wedding 3 years ago!! I knew I wanted to use photo's I had taken on our honeymoon, to put in them but I somehow managed to take over 2000 photo's so choosing only nine of those was a long process.

What do you think??

Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case

2011-06-21T09:30:00.000+01:00

Form June 17th til August 19th 2011 some of my work will be exhibited in

Rochester Art Galleries Craft Cases.

If your in Rochester over the summer pop in and have a look :)

Below are some others on my course also exhibiting:

This is Cassie Pittaway (vases) and Robin Duplock's work

This is Cristina Vezzini's Work (she graduated last year)

This is also Cassie Pittaway's work

This is Rhiannon Higgins and Sophie Monger's work.

The Exhibition! (PICTURE HEAVY!!)

2011-06-20T13:01:00.000+01:00

The exhibition is all finished and I can finally relax a bit!

(well I need to get on with writing my dissertation, but I think i'll have a few days off!)

I thought I would post a few pictures of the exhibition for those that couldn't make it to Rochester.

Applied Private View

2011-06-14T12:55:00.001+01:00

Last night we opened our exhibition with a private view.

Here's a few pictures!

Group Photo :)

From left to right (standing) we have:

Pam Rana (one of our tutor's), Keri Tanton, Natalie Sampson, Robyn Duplock, Debra (our tutor), Hannah Wellham, Giedre Masanovets.

Form left to Right kneeling:

Rhiannon Higgins, Cassie Pittaway, Me and Hannah-May Chapman.

What to do with 23 things??

2011-06-03T16:54:00.001+01:00

Been a busy week organising everything for the exhibition in a couple of weeks. So I thought I would take a break and show you my last project, and my working process.

This was the result of my 23 Rings project, where I made 23 Rings (my age - in case you were wondering!) each with a souvenir from my life, I then held an event inviting people to come and take a ring in exchange for something from their own life, something precious to them.

Then, I had the vastly underestimated task of creating a series of jewellery from these pieces. I begun with the idea of manipulating the object to tell the story of the memory.

I found that this was much to limiting and I felt that it wasn't dealing with the underlying issues, the fact that these items were precious to people, and that they had been given up.

I then came up with the idea of a wearable museum vitrine in which there would only be a trace of the object that had been left behind. It also meant that as the wearer you would be the only person to see the trace of object, everyone else just sees an empty box, bringing it back to the idea of a personal object.

For the 'trace' of the objects I decided, after much testing of different options to use photograms.

I decided to only make three of the pieces, and as metalwork isn't something that I can claim to be very skilled at (yet!) I decided to make one metal vitrine and two wooden.

Here was the result!

You can also come and see them in the exhibition! :)

What is it? No. 2

2011-05-31T21:59:00.000+01:00

Another piece of work that will be in the 'AppLIED' exhibition

What is it? A nice easy one for you!

Piece designed and made by Hannah Wellham

'AppLIED' Exhibition!

2011-05-28T10:23:00.000+01:00

I am organising an exhibition to show off the amazing work created by my year at uni, and also to highlight the very BAD decision made by our university to cancel the Applied Arts course.

To wet your appetite I will be posting a few detail images of work that will be displayed over the next couple of weeks.

First detail :

An amazing piece by Natalie Sampson - Can you guess what it is?

A Sneak Peek!

2011-05-22T00:49:00.000+01:00

As I have had so much work on the last couple of weeks not had much time to blog, but hopefully will be back on it when I am finished for the year (not long now! Yay!) So I thought I would give you a sneak peek into my world the last few days.

Looks like some sort of sinister operation, doesn't it? It's really just me glueing together glass!

Will explain what the whole project is in the next couple of days when they are all photographed and looking lovely.

P.S. I am organising an Exhibition of my work and others on my course from the 14th-18th of June in Rochester. It should be really good, some great work being made, so put the date in your diaries! More info on that to follow too.

A tasty memory...

2011-04-26T21:08:00.002+01:00

People that know me will know that I love to cook! And well there are those recipes that you use and use and then somewhere along the line they get forgotten.

Tonight I made one of these recipes, for the first time in 3 years! The last time I made this recipe was, in fact, on my honeymoon. (I can't quite get over the fact I've been married for three years already!)

View from our window on honeymoon

There was actually some logic behind not making this recipe anymore, because frankly I don't think you can do this recipe justice using ingredients from this country, but it still tastes pretty amazing! It does take a bit of time to prep though, but I think it's worth it, it's such a lovely summery dish. Much, much better than bought sauces (or tinned tomatoes, honest!)

Eating this recipe on Honeymoon

Ingredients
Serves 2

400-500g Cherry Tomatoes (works best with a variety of different ripeness and colours)
1 packet of pancetta diced (or 6 rashers of normal or smoked bacon, I have tried all and they are all good!)
1 Knob of butter
1 Onion
2 Garlic Cloves
200g Pasta (Orecchiette works well but is hard to find, so any of your favourite pasta will work)
Fresh Oregano (again often hard to find in supermarkets, parsley is nice too)
Fresh Parmesan (I left this out today, as I am on a diet!)
Salt and Pepper for seasoning.

Put all the tomatoes in a bowl and blanch them in boiling water, this is to make it easier to get the skin off the tomato (often the skin won't spilt so while they are in the boiling water I prick them with a sharp knife which makes them split)

Drain the tomatoes, then skin them and cut each tomato in half and take out the seeds, then roughly chop the flesh.

Melt butter in a frying pan and fry the pancetta (or bacon) until golden. Add the onion and garlic and fry for roughly 5 mins (or until the onion is transparent)

Check the cooking time for the chosen pasta and bring a saucepan of water to the boil.

Add the tomato flesh to the pan of pancetta and onion (not the boiling water - it won't taste good!), season with salt and pepper, lower the heat and simmer for about 10 mins.

Add your pasta to your now boiling saucepan and cook til ready

When the pasta is ready drain and serve, spoon over tomato sauce and garnish with oregano (or parsley) and parmesan (if using).

While making this tonight all could think about was Italy :) oh how I wish I was back in Umbria! We stayed at Casa San Gabriel which I would highly recommend. As soon as I am no longer a poor student I will be saving up to go back.

As I'm sharing this recipe (the first of many probably!) I thought I would share some photo's too!

The Beauty and the Beast style wardrobe that is actually the cutest little kitchen.

Gorgeous view of Chrissie and David's house and one of the villa's.

Bad Blogger and The Crafty Fox.

2011-04-23T22:19:00.000+01:00

Been so busy with uni work this month that I have neglected my blog a little... sorry about that the next month or so I will be writing a lot more as I've got lots of things to share :)

Anyway in my absence as well as trying to write my dissertation synopsis and designing a series of jewellery for my assessment me and the hubby went along the the Crafty Fox Market in Brixton last Saturday.

There were so many lovely items to browse through and even though I have considerably stretched my student loan to breaking point I couldn't resist buying a couple of things!

I got this amazing Deer head from Wooden Tree he has been lovingly nicknamed 'Ed the Head'. I will have to find somewhere for him to live soon.

I also bought a similar T-shirt to this (below), from Little Mashers for my nephew (shhh don't tell him!).

We also went and had lunch at Franco Manca, let's just say I will have to be going back and having more of that amazing pizza! (by far the best I've had in this country)

23 Rings...The result.

2011-03-25T19:15:00.000Z

The photo above shows a few of the Items swapped in my 23 Rings Installation (I will upload more next time), from a ring given from a girls first love, to a toy car passed down through a family, to a damaged rose joint from the kart of a young man’s last race.

Overall I had a great response and was overwhelmed by what people were willing to part with! There was a great mixture of people who came to swap from different ages and backgrounds, and this resulted in a great mix of objects that were swapped. Some of those who came to see the installation couldn’t bear to part with anything, and then there were others who came in, not knowing it was going on and gave up very sentimental items.

I can’t wait to start making the next series of jewellery pieces, I will hopefully be combining both the memory and the object into (possibly) necklaces. I have some idea’s already of what I will do with some of them, but you will have to wait and see!

I will be exhibiting the resulting series in an exhibition in Rochester from the 13th-19th June (more details to come soon!)

Getting Ready :)

2011-03-18T17:56:00.002Z

I am excitedly (and a little bit nervously) getting ready for tomorrow's installation. Stupidly I decided to redo all my tags last night so I have been painstakingly hand stamping my tags since, lets hope it is worth the effort!

If you are thinking of coming along or are just nosey follow me @23Rings over on twitter for live updates or find out more on my website: http://www.laura-bell.co.uk

23 Rings...The Installation

2011-03-12T17:08:00.000Z

Would love to see you there if you can make it!

I will also be selling my other jewellery at the event.

23 Rings...Made.

2011-03-03T20:44:00.000Z

It feels as though I have been working on this project for ages, I can't believe it has only been 5 weeks!

I finally handed them in for assessment today, feels so good not to have the stress for a little while.

I will be organising time/place/date for the installation event this week so watch this space!

Here it is set out on my desk at uni, this is not how they would actually be displayed! :)

23 RINGS...An Ambitious Project.

2011-02-19T17:50:00.000Z

I need to learn to be less ambitious with my projects!

For my current five week project I decided to make a series of rings. I wanted to do 100 but thankfully my tutor talked me down to 23 (my age). Each of these rings have a element of something I have collected over the years that is special or significant to me, something that I would find it hard to part with.

The aim eventually, I say eventually but it needs to be in the next few weeks, to have a installation/event where I people can come and take a ring but they have to leave an object in it's place, something of their own, something that is special to them (there will be some restrictions to this!) along with why the object is significant to them.

The items that are left will then become the basis for my next series of work (but will not be destroyed in any way!)

As promised here are a few pictures of some of the rings I have made so far (pre silver-plating!)

Sorry for the photos, I didn't have much time to take them!

These last few you need to imagine that the 'claws' are folded around the object holding it in (this will be done at a later stage!) It won't be held on with blu tack like it is here!

Now on Twitter!

2011-02-13T18:44:00.000Z

Yes that's right! It has taken me a while but am finally on Twitter.

Follow me here

I have been busy making 15 ring shanks this weekend for my current project.

Will fill you in what I am making during this week, will post each ring as I make it (hopefully this will make me finish at least one a day!)

My breakfast bar has become my studio at home. Thank goodness Phil (the hubby) is a patient man!!

Treasured Memories.

2011-01-29T23:38:00.000Z

Just created this treasury featuring members of 'British Sellers on Etsy' if you like these items click here to see the treasury on Etsy, where you can also see more of these sellers work.

I have been listing some new pendants in my shop over the last week or so, to have a look click here.

Beautiful Illustration

2011-01-28T22:28:00.002Z

As part of Twinklyspangle's awesome SOE lessons (If you have a blog, shop or website and don't have a clue what SEO is I can't recommend Twink's lessons highly enough!) I am taking part in her Link exchange.

Well when I saw cuddlefishpress' work there I couldn't resist posting them on here for you all to see.

Nothing makes me happier than some amazing Illustration!

Paper Boat Crew, Limited Edition Print, 11" by 14"

Foxy Couple, Personalized Print for Weddings, 8" by 10"

Sleepy Heap Wood, Limited Edition Print, 11" by 14"

Garden Party, Limited Edition Print, 11" by 14"

Gorgeous Etsy Finds...

2011-01-27T23:30:00.000Z

Selling on Etsy has one HUGE downfall.

You have to spend all day looking at beautiful handmade items that make me want to spend any money I make! (well OK they don't force me to look, but how can a girl resist?)

This will be my next purchase when I've got the money!

fromtofrom - Pablo the Hottie, Hot Water Bottle

I actually did just buy these (but as place mats)

cinnamongirlprint - Napkins Vintage Postcard

My good friend Mel just opened a shop selling her beautiful ceramic pendants

melsturkishdelights - Heart Brooch Porcelain

And finally I can't resist sharing this

Donkeypony - Pig

I love this for so many different reasons! Gorgeous :)

Memories.

2011-01-20T23:08:00.002Z

This last series of work was based on a series of memories (not my own I might add, I’m not old enough to remember a lot of these things) from memories of the Betterware man coming around with his tiny polish tins, the perfect size for a play shop, the hum of a grandmothers sewing machine to the shiny buttons on a grandfathers coat. From these memories I have created a small series of Jewellery using found or collected objects.

Below is one of my rings made from an old Betterware sample tin, pearls and beeswax. The beeswax will wear away and move as it is worn to reveal more of the pearls.

My next ring is made from another Betterware tin and thread. The ring shank is made with thread I then cut into the ring, referencing old thread winders, and wound the thread around it to secure the shank to the tin.

Then using ‘bachelor buttons’ (sprung removable buttons used for attaching braces to garments without buttons) I created a series of brooches.

For this project we also had to design a business card, I wanted to design one that was a bit different so people would want to keep it! There is a more traditional card inside with an image of my work on either side :)

Journal Portraits By Bonnie Jones

2011-01-07T02:01:00.001Z

"Moon"

Those who know my work well know I have an obsession with anything that has previously been owned by someone else, old photo's, old keys, generally anything that only really has a value to the person who originally owned it.

"He Took The Butter"

These things just fascinate me and inspire much of my work.

When I was having one of my (all too frequent) browses on Etsy a few days ago I stumbled across Bonnie Jones Photography.

"Oh! I Wish..."

Her Journal Portraits series instantly appealed to me. Using a found journal (thrift stores are amazing!) she utilised some descriptions found within it, combined with her own imagination, to stage various photographs.

"How?"

I think some of the photo's, like "he took the butter" and "Oh I Wish..." have a Cindy Sherman feel about them (only Bonnie's are better!) If I can find the portraits i'm thinking of I'll post them soon.

"Nice Day To Wash"

Read Bonnie's full explanation of this series of work on here.

"Joel Called"

Be sure to check out her website! I have left out some of my favourite photo's so you can discover them for yourself! :)

UK Silly Sale!

2011-01-05T01:19:00.000Z

I am taking part in this years UK Silly Sale on Etsy!

From 7pm Friday 14th January until 21st January 2011

Here are some other Etsy shops involved in the Silly Sale

(Items shown may not be included in the sale!)

Lucyloucreations - Sweetheart drinking straws circa 1950's british 'gay pastel colours'

AREjewellery - Old Gold Ribbon Brooch

SixSkeins - Flora Crochet Coaster Duo

Miss Elany - Fabric by Liberty of London

CariadClay - I Love You Hanging Ceramic Heart

FruteJuce - Lavender bag Russian Doll Matryoshka best French Lavender

Just a puddle?

2010-12-30T11:45:00.000Z

Is it just a puddle??

Oh no! Take a look at what I woke up to this morning!!

No, it's not a flood, is it a burst water main!

Our poor little car is drowning :(

The flats next to us are worse though they can't even get out the door!

Here you can also see the nice firemen trying to rescue us :)

Christmas Lights and Good Times

2010-12-28T17:27:00.000Z

Me and my good friend Eloise were supposed to go to prague just before christmas for a few days, but our flight was cancelled due to the snow (my love of snow has greatly diminished!). But instead of moping around the house we decided to stay in a hotel in Central London for a few days, we only live about a 30 min train ride anyway, but it was nice not to have to think about getting the last train home.

Away that's enough talking, lets see some pictures :)

We went ice skating at Somerset house, so christmassy :)

The lights on Oxford St. I blame the pretty lights for my money spending!

Selfridges has great windows this year! Here's a few...

Including some awesome retro caravans!! (I think I may have an obsession)

Santa's Grotto!

2010-12-17T22:42:00.001Z

I've been working on a santa's grotto for my Sunday School's Nativity the last few days - enjoy!!

I didn't make the blow up tree and snowman!!

A selection of work

2010-12-01T21:17:00.000Z

Here is my work as set out for my assessment. All finished!

As soon as I get back into uni, I will be putting much of it up on my Etsy shop.

Yes my Etsy shop is finally open!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/FromLauraWithLove

Anyway here are some images:

Here are some images of a few other students work on my course

This is Hannah Wellham's work:

She created this baby bag with her own set of illustrations and a little fabric storybook. The images on the bag are buttoned on so they came come off and be played with, they have squeekers in :)

Cassie Pittaway's work:

Cassie made a series of vases with transfers of her original drawings on different types of papers.

Steph's work:

Steph has used two well known story's The Ugly Duckling and Little Red Riding Hood. she has told the story through her own illustrations and has layered this on top of a repeat of the the moral of the story to create two separate wallpaper's.

Caravan Suitcase and Tin Lockets

2010-11-24T00:33:00.000Z

Last night I managed to get a few images of the rest of my current project

(Thank you Miss Penny for your fabulous modelling skills!)

Here goes:

Screen printed case lined with vintage maps and vintage fabric.

Vintage tin locket embroidered and lined.

Vintage pick-up needle tin locket, embroidered and lined with vintage maps.

I also made a tin locket ring, but the pictures really don't want to upload and I'm tired (where did the day go?? Maybe it was the nap I took it threw my whole day out! Who knew a presentation and a stomach ache could suck so much energy out of you!?). I will try again tomorrow.

My stamp has arrived!

2010-11-18T00:01:00.000Z

I got my stamp in the post today...

Is it sad that I am very excited about this?? I'll be stamping everything :)

Caravan and Map Plates

2010-11-16T12:47:00.000Z

For our most recent project at uni I have been looking at travel and what better way to travel than an awesome retro caravan? After drawing, converting into a digital format, testing, testing, and more testing I finally got some final finished plates. As I got the last two out of the kiln this morning I thought I would share them with you...

I'm now bored of ceramic transfers and so I'm making a suitcase and some jewellery for my project too. Will add better photo's when I set up to be marked :)

Spirit of Christmas

2010-11-06T09:41:00.000Z

Yesterday I spent the day helping Alice Mara at the Spirit of Christmas event at Olympia. It was really interesting to see how it all worked, will definitely help me when I start thinking about New Designers next year, and hopefully one day Origin.

There were some really lovely stands, I especially loved some of the printed textiles, so much so I was forced to buy some!

I got an apron and a tea towel from Pintuck

I really wanted to buy a cool-bag and blanket from Anorak, but it’s a bit out of my price range at the moment. One day!! So pretty!

As a thank you for helping her Alice gave me one of her bowls :)

Alice’s bags are great too.

My laptop Case :)

2010-10-29T14:42:00.000+01:00

I finally got around to taking some pictures of the laptop case I made over the summer. The embroidery took me ages as I did it all by hand. I wish I had spent longer piecing it all together but overall I really like how it turned out.

Extra points if you know where the idea behind address is from! (hint - its from a film) It is also where the idea for the ice cream came from :)

Watch this Space!

2010-10-22T19:35:00.001+01:00

As everyone keeps reminding me, it is only 9 weeks until christmas!

Everyone loves a beautiful handmade christmas present! If you don’t have the time to make them yourself you should definitely check out Esty, a great place to buy handcrafted or vintage gifts.
Keep in mind many of the makers are in america so give it plenty of time (there is a ‘Shop Local’ function if you want to look at only people in the UK)

Hopefully my own shop will be open soon, just waiting for my chains to arrive. So watch this space!

Here is a sample of some of the beautiful things you could buy on Etsy.

I was in a colourful mood this morning when choosing which products to put up here :)

handsfullcreations, therainbowroom, cloudninecreative,

janinebasil, kngo, PocketCarnival

sevenply, atelierBB, lizbriggsdesigns

My First Post.

2010-10-16T23:19:00.000+01:00

I have finally got my self organised enough to start writing on here. The problem now is where do I start?

I have always loved creating things, as I child I dreamt of being a author/illustrator designing beautiful colourful books. As I got older I realised I enjoyed making things too much and traded in the pens for a sewing machine and craft knife!

Last year I started a degree in Applied Arts and have loved every moment so far (although as witness to the shouts and tears I’m not sure my husband would agree).

So I thought I would start by posting a few few things I have made recently.

As part of a re-using project I designed and made this Spirograph ring using the original spirograph cogs and laser cut acrylic.

My last project of the first year I made these glasses, using various found materials like vinyl records, an old tin, book covers, maps, pages and ply.

Other than uni projects I have also been making things for my gorgeous new nephew :)

Including a blanket, bunting and some diddy shoes (made roughly from a pattern bought from NeedleCraftPatterns on Etsy).