Visit to Lily & Harold

This May, I am looking forward to being 'artist of the month' at Lulu & Hitch in Hove and Lily & Harold in Shoreham-by-Sea.  I have enjoyed pottering around the Hove shop a few times already, chatting to the friendly staff, buying cards and admiring the wooden children's toys and vintage furniture.  Masters of the shabby chic, Louise and her team present restored antiques, hand-made jewellery, giftware, greetings cards and now a monthly changing exhibition of work by local artists.

Today I paid a visit to the pretty sun-soaked shop in Shoreham.  Here are some photos of things that caught my eye.

 

 

Layers and snippets

Since starting my evening course in illustration, It's been great not worrying about making work to sell, and instead doing some experimenting.  Here are a couple of pictures made with snippets of old newspapers, maps, drawing, cut, coloured and stuck bits.

Owl and map

Erhardt and rose

Newish year, fresh birdy start

One of us Magpies has enjoyed a new beginning on a new inspirational course in 2011.  I joined an illustration course for artists at The Phoenix in Brighton, which has been a great start to opening up and not caring what work I make, or why I make it.  I'm enjoying playing with new media, cutting and collaging, photocopying, scanning, drawing and painting.  Here are a few drawings of birds, just for the sake of it.

Eagle on newspaper

Magpie

Owl flying

And how great do these Peonies look, just photocopied from a book and hand-coloured, cut and scanned?  These will hopefully be used in a lovely layered image somewhere soon!

Final few days of The Garden exhibition

If you're wandering Little East Street way this week, it's your last chance to catch our show The Garden at Northern Lights bar just below the South Lanes.   Here are a few snapshots of the work featuring work by photographer Ali Lewry, drawist/painter Anna Vartiainen.  

 

And with a tiny extension on the original show dates, we're leaving it there until the beginning of January.  Perhaps we'll see you there for some revelling on New Year's Eve...

Northern Lights bar is open from midday on Fridays and Saturdays, 3pm on Sundays and Monday to Thursday at 5pm.

Closing time is at midnight during the week, 2am on weekends.

Beauty just round the corner

We Magpies, recently migrated south to Brighton and Hove, are still in awe at the sheer scale of creative talent and brilliant shopping to be found in the area.  Spoilt for choice in the Lanes and Kemp Town with flea markets, art markets, design shops and craft stalls, I was even more delighted to find a little gem just near my flat, quite a way out of town on Portland Road in Hove.

Second Seed, run by husband and wife duo Paul and Alex Soden, combines skilled craftsmanship with a flair for creating great displays with well-chosen products.  With warm glowing lights and pretty objects enticing you in from the kerbside, the shop boasts handmade furnishings, accessories and gifts.  You can buy locally designed cards, old-fashioned toys, lighting, mirrors, all uncompromisingly well made and beautiful.

The jewel in their crown that really sets them apart is the wooden furniture created by Paul in the workshop downstairs.  Using reclaimed timber, and in particular long standing sea groynes from the south coast, he gives the wood a new life whilst creating unique bespoke objects.

Well worth a trip out of town centre to discover this local treasure.

Second Seed is at 94 Portland Road, Hove
http://www.secondseed.com/

Party at The Garden

Jolly good fun was had by all last night at the opening party for The Garden.  Thanks to all who came!  If you didn't make it you can still see the show upstairs in Northern Lights until the end of December.  Here are a few snaps from last night... Check out our facebook group to see the rest!

The Garden is open!

Somehow Two Magpies and new friend Seiko managed to hang new exhibition 'The Garden' with no disasters, nothing (too) wonky and all within 2 hours!  Amazing.  Pop in to Northern Lights (Little East St, Brighton) for a cosy drink (hot cider, yum!) and have a peek at our twisty trees, explosions of birds and insects, strange lurking beasts and dark and tangled undergrowth!

In the previous post you can see a few examples of Magpie Anna's work from the show and in the previous post before the previous post a few of Seiko Kato's magical, intricate collages.  Here are a few examples of Magpie Ali's photographs, also found in The Garden...

Tiger

Flying

Dress