Extra Class at The Papered Parlour....

Roll up, roll up...... Before we schedule the summer classes, The Papered Parlour have put on an extra class. June 12th - book here as they always sell out...

Studio Inspiration - Barbara Hepworth

You know when you walk into a gallery, or see a painting, or a studio or a pot and your heart flips? It doesn't happen often and I guess it shouldn't because we all interact to 'art' in different ways. 

I live near Dulwich Park which is just beautiful in its own right. Tucked on a curve on the path is a Barbara Hepworth sculpture. I make sure I walk past it every time we are there and it brings great pleasure.

We were in Cornwall last week, so top of the list was her studio and garden. It was a delight to see my mother break into a frenzy - literally filled up by the plants, and the light and the art. For me it was uplifting, inspiring (an overused word I know, although not as bad as 'love, love, love')and a chance to see another way of living.

A couple more pictures of the studio below (notice the painting that is a most excellent starting point for a quilt.

Happiness is

is a holiday in Cornwall.......

Thought for the week.

dog love

Two dogs in central London - some say crazy. I think I'll say crazy once Darcy gets to his full size (ahem 20kg at 5 months), so no more dogs added to the family for now. I am however, looking over walls coveting 120 foot gardens and thinking to myself - 'ohh a couple of chickens, a ginger cat, maybe a piggie (kune kune please). For now though, just the dogs. 

So to push the point home how much I love them, we do have dog door jams. It gives me great pleasure to see this little fella every morning. I will draw the line at dog portraits, dog lamps and dog cushions however and I haven't patted him, yet.....

Great class

 

 

Our last interiors class was fantastic. I love helping people discover what home means to them  and how they want to live. For this class someone was happy to throw out the dining table as the view was more important, someone realised that she wasn't investing at all in her private space and someone understood that no matter what she did to this house, it wasn't going to remedy the fact that she didn't want to live there - house or location.

Creating a home isn't just about cushions and paint - although they are great ways of clarifying what represents you. For example, you will never ever find red walls (or anything red) in my home - never ever. It is difficult for me to switch off at the best of times (which I don't mind) but I operate best when the space around me is light and 'ordered'. 

What was fascinating was the fact that home meant such different things to different people - for some an escape, for some the pivotal socialising point - the chance to be the best hostess ever.

So home - what does it mean to you?

Terrible photographs - but super lovely quilts

  

From a commission I finished recently. A family moving back to NZ. A mixture of precious pieces they have gathered on their travels and some of my fabric. I hope they like them.....