Rosette making at November Feast market

Aswell as having a stall at the artisans market I also led a rosette making workshop to passers-by. And here are some of the fabulous results modelled by the makers:

At the next West Norwood Feast on Sunday 4th December I will be doing Christmas decoration workshop. So come along and give it go and make something special adorn your tree at home!

Look at this website for further details of Feast Market: http://westnorwood.spacemakers.org.uk/

Tea For Two Tea Trolley Dance at Vintage Festival

Recently I performed tea trolley dancing with the girls again at the Vintage Festival outside the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank on 29th and 30th July 2011. It was quite an amazing experience. Above is an example of our group dance inspired by Busby Berkeley.

If you don’t know who Busby Berkeley is, this is an example:

The atmosphere was amazing, the sun was shining and a cool breeze was blowing. Helen choreographed the pieces together with a bit of help from myself and Sheena in the process. We had a 20 minute slot to fill. First Helen performed the Charleston tea trolley dance first performed at Trolleywood tea trolley workshop sometime last year at Sally Child’s BMOSO school of song and dance. Then myself and Sheena performed The Madison tea trolley dance based on the madison stroll partner dance. After that came the Top Hat tea trolley dance performed by Helen, me and Sheena. And finally the Tea for Two tea trolley dance as seen above.

It was so much fun to take part and be involved. (It was a good way of getting in free into the festival which was really expensive.) But actually it was just cool to be a part of something so inventive and idiosyncratic for the joy of being that way.

For this performance I designed and made 20’s style tea bird headbands for our costumes as that was the theme. Everyone involved wore a headband. Which is also part of the fun in tea trolley dancing as its themed and means you have to dress up.

Actually it was brilliant to be at the Vintage Festival in 20’s attire because everyone was dressed up in every era of fashion.

I also printed up some Tea Trolley Dancing posters fresh off the press at Vintage festival.

Around the side of the RFH there was a Letterpress printing workshop  run by the St.Bride Foundation. So I asked them if it was ok to print up some posters for us on Saturday morning and so they did.

So watch this space for more tea trolley dancing!!

West Norwood Feast

I will be at West Norwood Feast on Sunday 7th August.

Its a market set up by spacemakers in Brixton and the wonderful community of West Norwood of which I have become a part of even though I don’t live there.

A completely voluntary organisation putting West Norwood on the map.

My stall will be in the Artisans Market on Chatsworth Way open from 10am to 4pm.

Here is a picture of me there last month

I will be selling original prints by Amanda Smith, paintings by Anna Siemaszko, handmade purses by Sarah Holt, jewellery and accessories by Helen Stay, cakes for charity Livability made by Helen Morse Palmer and Flatfoot Johnny will make an appearance with his banjos and hopefully play a tune or two.

Of course I will also have my zines, prints, cards, brooches, drawing packs for sale too.

Another addition to activities while I’m at my stall, I will be making bunting for the feast organisers to add to their collection in decorating the town. In fact there will be a “Bun-Ting off” at Feast HQ in Food Fair.

Everyone’s welcome to bring their own materials and join in the making.

Plus I will be doing a bit of jive dancing in the retro village from 2pm.

If you are free on Sunday come join in the fun!

International Alternative Press Fair

Looking forward to International Alternative Press fair, as I will be selling Just for you zine there on Sunday.  So much happening just take a look on their website.

www.alternativepress.org.uk

I’m Back

Just got to say I’ve moved house and haven’t had internet for over a month. So got alot of catching up to do on this blog and so forth. So bear with me. Got some stories to write also me birthday is coming up. Woo hoo!!!

Snowtastic Zulu Zine Symposium

This is the venue Utrophia in the snow

On 18th December there was a sudden snow storm which covered parts of london in at least 4 inches of snow. So the next day was going to be the zine event in Deptford’s Utrophia organised by Joey Prendergast.

However that didn’t stop it happening which shows how dedicated zine followers can be. Woo Hoo!!

It was a pretty cool affair, some excellent artwork was made and displayed in the fridge temperature venue. There was an impressive eclectic mix of prints hanging on bamboo for the ‘Big Issue’ auction. Some OHP drawing action in the corner, mask painting, zine selling, an excellent array of christmas jumpers worn by fellow zinesters and some dj spinning zulu inspired tunes.

Teas were made round the back in make shift bar, cups were cleaned in a room upstairs which was the warmest place in the whole building with a rather fabulous wood burning fire.

I also had my own stall selling a few bits and pieces. unfortunately my friend Amanda Smith was unable to come  to sell her beautiful prints due to the heavy snow in Carshalton Beeches. So I had to go it alone.

I got to chat to Nick White and Jimi Gherkin of Alternative Press who had stalls either side of me.

http://www.thisisnickwhite.com/

http://www.alternativepress.org.uk/

Who were both very interesting and had some impressive work on display.

I also discovered Joey Prendergast is in a band called Tubelord.

And of course there was a Print auction!! This was definitely the highlight of the event, with some real bargains to be had. My print fetched the grand total of £1 which was purchased by my boyfriend. I think the prints that sold the most were in the £8 region. I bought a print for £1.50 which was bid between myself and another girl. It was a good show and I’m sure there was tidy sum raised for the Big Issue!

Anyway I had a jolly time and sold a few things. Some good friends of mine braved the snow and managed to come and see me. Which made my day! It was SNOWTASTIC!!

More Flatfoot Johnny

He has just got a new website so go take a look to purchase your very own individual handmade banjo, cigar box guitar etc

http://www.flatfootjohnny.com/

Zulu Christmas Zine Symposium

I am taking part in this event on Sunday 19th December, so come along if you are free! At Utrophia or the Ice cream Factory on Tanners Hill in Deptford from 12pm to 8pm. I will be selling ‘Just for you zine’, tea-bird brooches, tea-bird biscuits, limited editon cards and animal drawings. Also I will be accompanied by Amanda Smith who will be selling limited edition prints.

I will donate this print to be auctioned for the Big Issue:

This is the blog that I’m contributing in conjunction with event: http://beargamitwelve.blogspot.com/

For more information about the venue: http://www.utrophia.net/home

Stuart Silver

I went to see Stuart Silver perform ‘You look Like Ants’ at Soho theatre on Saturday 30th October.

I went along with friends who are good friends of Stuart’s.

I first saw him perform in a show I was also partaking which my friend John and Helen curated in Sydenham Hill woods. And was really interested to see how this piece compared although two totally different performances.

Stuart kept this piece very simple visually but much more complex in its language. He plays the ukelele beautifully, repetition and double meanings are key. For me it was too quick witted or maybe a little too dry for me as I didn’t get the humour straight away. Some guy in the front row was absolutely laughing their head off. They couldn’t get enough of it.

Although maybe I needed to see it again if I was not so intense and knackered from too much partying!

It was generally a white middle class guardian reader, radio 4 listeners crowd watching the show. Might of been the only ethnic minority there, not that, that should matter.

Stuart is brilliant and clever. His intensity on stage gives him great presence, and charms you on a journey of some kind into his mind.

When he was in the woods, he convinces you to follow him up the garden path thinking you were going one way and then it twists and turns into something else you thought you were following. Incredibly intelligent.

For more info: http://www.astuartsilver.com/youlooklikeants.html

The Museum of Everything

The Museum of Everything was my favorite exhibition from last year and this year it was pretty good too. Only this time it was a collection of stuff owned by Peter Blake. He makes me feel ok about the amount of stuff I have between me and my partner who likes to collect things too. I just don’t have the money or space to display it all as Peter Blake does being a world famous artist.

Maybe I should write a blog about my partners stuff?

Anyway the show held its own. It began with images of circus freaks or what’s the pc description, physically challenged people who performed at the circus. Through to Carter’s steam fair painted coconut shys and other fairground attractions. Then onto the Potter’s museum of taxidermy animals in scenes based on nursery rhymes and stories such as ‘the house that Jack built’.

There was also a mini Funfair which lit up, spun and whizzed every half hour. Made by a retired man who collected bits and pieces over years and putting it together in his garage, then finally selling it in auction to Peter Blake.

Maybe the Museum of Everything could focus on unusual collections of stuff?

Or Hobbyists and fanzine memorabilia like Elvis, crisp packets, train sets, match stick buildings, painting by numbers?

Anyway, it was quite a pleasant afternoon. I recommend it although I did prefer the first Museum of Everything show. There was just enough to keep me interested. Catch the show before it ends on 23rd December 2010. And going to Primrose Hill and Camden is also fun.

There are talks and screenings happening on the weekends, check the website for info: http://www.museumofeverything.com/