Monday 6 December 2010

Jedward Crittercatures




After the success of my Crittercatures for the Isle of Wight line up I decided to make a set of the twins that are Jedward. My pint sized, floppy, silver, suited critters took a tour back stage at the Regent last week when they came down on their first tour of "Planet Jedward". The boys kindly signed them for me, John on the back of one (which he took his label off), and Edward signed on his label. They both drew hearts on the back of their heads too!
Cheers guys!x

Oh Comely Clouds


Since being in last months issue of Oh Comely Magazine I have had many people contacting me, complimenting my work and enquiring about sales. There was one in particular who fell in love with my little clouds and bought a pair of them:

"I bought one for my mum as she's really been in need of a silver lined cloud.
She absolutely loved it.
It sits on the beam above the agar in our kitchen. "

It always excites me to know that I can bring a smile to some one's face from creating.

My little pet hanging clouds will be back in stock at LoveOne from Wednesday, along with the jumbo "Storm in a Teacup" cups.x

Monday 15 November 2010

Curt Louis




I was hunting down traditional director's chairs for the young director that is Curt Louis. The fonts provided by the company did not match his style so I decided to customise it myself. I appliqued on the font used in his logo and made a hanging lacewing from it as well.
The chair went down a storm with Pixi who made it her home until it was wrapped up...I think Curt liked it too. x
Watch this space for his next project: a music video for a local artist.

Saturday 23 October 2010

Oh Comely


"oh comely is a magazine about people and their quirks and their creativity"
Now on it's third issue, the young magazine is available at WHSmiths as well as many other retail outlets. The guys at O C asked me to send in a pair of my "Storm in a Teacup" cups after a member of the crew saw them being sold at LoveOne in Ipswich. My cups are up for grabs along with a selection of other beautifully hand made objects, page 17 of issue three.

Check out and support the magazine here. x

Friday 8 October 2010

Beyond The Valley Spring/Summer 11






Back in May I did a work placement with the fashion label BTV. My role for the four weeks was as an assistant designer working on three prints for their SS'11 collection. I loved working with the team down there and it is amazing to know that I have had a hand in a few of their prints. Seeing the prints on fabric was very surreal, I can not wait to see them made into garments. Samples have been made and shown during fashion week and in Paris too. One of the prints I assisted on, "Butterfly Melody", was on the Italian Vogue website this week too!! As soon as the collection is launched I will post photos from their look book.
In the mean time, check out their site for stunning clothes and objects. x

Friday 1 October 2010

Bergholt Ward, Ipswich Hospital








I had been working on some designs over summer for a mural at Ipswich Hospital. Last week I finally put brush to wall. The image was scaled up in a very clinical treatment room on the ward. Children experience a lot of pain here, like having their blood taken, so my job was to try cheer the place up and provide them with a distraction.

The idea was for them to follow the rainbow down the wall to find a selection of British critters amongst the trees and underground. I chose a limited colour palette so the animals would be slightly camouflaged within the background.

Day one was disheartening. As soon as I started painting it became apparent every colour would need at least three coats paint to get a good coverage. Luckily I had a secret weapon in the form of Master Scott Reeve. From day two Scott helped me block out the colours and did other bits whilst I filled in all the details. He was a God send as I only had four days to complete it, however I still had to stay in the hospital until gone 9pm some nights to stay on track...By Thursday evening my mural was complete.


Monday 27 September 2010

Toy Design Served


Whilst away at Centre Parks this weekend I joked about saying I must check my emails in case anything creative is sitting in my inbox. Low and beyond I got an email informing me my work was being featured on Toy Design Served. When I clicked on the link I was the first image on Sunday on their home page....happy days. I didn't even have to do anything!

Saturday 18 September 2010

Critter Comission








Over the Summer I worked two festivals with the charity Vinspired, teaching people how to make their own quick critters during theses workshops. The staff of V loved what I do and got very attached to "Marvin" one of my original critters. Damien, one of the main organisers commissioned me to create 11 one off critters which he gave to his team as a thank you gift at the end of the Summer.
The guys all loved their critters, hopefully they will be happy in their new homes :)

The Hand Made Gift Guide




On Tuesday a selection of artists and crafts people were featured in a blog called "Creative Spaces". My little studio was featured in the piece including Pixi the 2nd :)


To check out the blog visit their site: thehandmadegiftguide

Monday 13 September 2010

"Someone to carry you"

The latest issue of IP1 is now out around Suffolk. Within issue number 35 I was given an article on depression to illustrate. Written by John Russell, it is an account of his personal experience with the condition and how it affected him and his late best friend. The piece is really heartfelt and although quite a dark piece, it has a positive outcome.
Design by Jonathan Akrofi.

Check out the IP1 website for talent on the "Showoff" and download your copy of this issue.

Monday 6 September 2010

Dead Decks


For years I have wanted to paint onto some skate decks, Imaginarium gave me the perfect excuse to do so. I popped down to see Wilson at Abd skate shop to source some loved and used decks. All covered in stickers as well as a small amount of the original artwork, they gave a great canvas for me to work onto.
I was really pleased with the outcome and received many compliments on them during the show. For our next exhibition I plan to do another set but this time I want to involve the Skaters themselves a bit more. If you are, or know of any skaters who might be interested in donating a dead board and to be part of my work please get in touch x

Wednesday 25 August 2010

V Festival 2010

I did my second festival with Vinspired this weekend at Chelmsford's V Festival. The bus sadly wasn't as popular as it was at Isle of Wight but we still got to meet some interesting people and a few famous peeps including "Example" himself.

The Evening Star contacted me before the weekend for a quick interview about how and why I got involved with the charity. Above is the article which was printed in Monday 23rd August issue.

Tuesday 17 August 2010

Made from Scratch Theatre




Made from Scratch Theatre got in touch a while back commissioning me to make their Panda logo into some plushies. Made in limited edition runs, here are the first ten.
These will soon be sold on their website if you want to get your paws on one of these PixiBones collaborations x

Sunday 8 August 2010

Imaginarium: See what the creature created




Amongst other bits and bobs, my summer has been taken over by two men. One of which has been in my life for several years, the other I did not know of his existence until a few months back.
The three of us all share similar passions and decided it was time for us to show people what we do. Meeting up weekly to discuss ideas and developments, suddenly, after a huge disappointment, we had the Ancient House booked and had to move in in three days. This left us very little time to do much else, our Imaginarium over took our lives. We had five days to set up our exhibition space which we transformed into a dark forest resemblance. Trees hanging from a black bin bag sky line, a half moon crest set at the back of the room, and an "unfinished burrow" in the priest hole. This is not a traditional exhibition. The installation and experience has become just as important in a piece itself as well as our individual work.

I feel so honoured to be part of a show with these two, I am so proud of the work they produce and am so grateful for the support they have given me every single day. It has been an absolute pleasure experiencing this with them, we have learnt a lot and hope to put this all into practise in future shows together.

And once "Violet Newton"& "Artist Avant-Garde" have their sites up and running I'll pop the links here, until then, their details are on our blog.
To check out our combined blog visit ImaginariumCreature.

Monday 28 June 2010

Summer Street Fair






Yesterday was my 2nd craft fair, held as part of the Ipswich Art festival. Was a mixed bag really, with it being one of the hottest days of the year, and one of the biggest football games of the year, the turn out wasn't as good as it probably should have been.

However I sold many goodies and met some great people, as well as getting some very much appreciated support from my friends and family!! Thank you all who popped by, hope you enjoyed it x

Friday 25 June 2010

PixiBones Dinner Party









This Sunday is the next I Make Fun Stuff craft fair on St Peters Street. The Summer Street Fair is part of Ip-Art, the annual Ipswich Art Festival. Loads of exciting stalls will be there as well as the super talented Mister Millerchip doing some live drawing. So if you want to avoid the footy, or have a pre footy shopping warm up, pop down to see our delights.
Amongst my pet flea plushies, illustrated cards and silver lined cloud cushions, I will be selling two of my hand painted dinner sets for those scrummy summer dinner parties. These sets are suitable for four including dinner plates, bowls, side plates and cups & saucers....

Monday 21 June 2010

Pet Flea Plushies

Since getting two little kittens recently, one being white, I have managed to find a couple of fleas...even though she has been treated!! This got me thinking for what I could make, with the next craft fair quickly approaching. PET FLEEEEEAS!!! Here there are, the first of my flea circus: Fleabee, Fleainn, Fleaix and Fleaiona.....

Friday 18 June 2010

Festival Critters




Recently I have been busy preparing for and carrying out workshop at the Isle of Wight Festival. I was volunteering for Vinspired, a charity that opens up exciting volunteering opportunities for 16-25 year olds. I held "Critter Creations" workshops where I taught and helped people to make their own plush critters to take home with them. It was a really successful weekend, with potential to do more. Before hand I created some of the line up of this year's festival, including Devendra Banhart, Marina & the Diamonds, Jay-Z, Florence & the Machine and Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro.
To follow on from the workshops, I created a blog where I documented most of the critters people had made over the weekend.

Thursday 3 June 2010

Gruffles & his friends






Back in April one of my critters was part of Helen Frik's exhibition "Difficult". Here are some photos from the successful show including Gruffles amongst 200 odd more hand made plushies...

Tuesday 18 May 2010

LSH in the EADT


Last week I went down to LoveOne to meet a journalist and photographer from the local press. However, our photographer was held up for an hour as he had to rush off to Capel St Mary for a Post Office drama!! Any who, after the delay in elections, the article has finally popped up in today's EADT. Nice little article...strange right hand of Luce's in the top picture!!
Sadly LoveOne is currently being saved from a hole in the floor, so until this is all mended the shop will be closed. But every cloud has a silver lining, and Cathy is available to provide urgent gifts if you so require them...

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Film poster

Poster created for CurtLouis Films' debut short: Rene X. The films produced by UCS 3rd year students will be screening at the end of this month.
You can watch this film now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9Or8U-atvg

Friday 30 April 2010

Pirate Pouch


Every pirate needs a little leather coin pouch...so I had to nip one of these together for the pirate man. Men always have loose change, which only ends up falling out of pockets or into the wrong hands... no more 50p's for me...