Paragon school project

After my exhibition at At the Chapel in Bruton at the end of last year, Alex Hucks of The Paragon School in Bath set to work with a group of eager students making dolls inspired by mine and this is what they came up with…..I think they are wonderful and Want to share them with you…great work Paragon School! Can’t wait to meet all the little creatures in person…

Golden Days

The bright spring sun streams into my Paris appartment today, so perfectly on time for my golden bird who inches her way ever closer to her new life…her wings will be on soon and then she can fly away….

Cat Day

Yesterday was Wednesday, on Wednesday my lovely Elsa stays with me, we had a cat day, these are mine, Elsa’s And then my husband Atsushi’s drawings of cats….I just want to get going on these, they will be delicate gold and white cats with intricate embroidery and tender hearts…..I have another Firebird to do first though…

New Moon Bird

Working on a commission for a Moon Bird. Now want to do a whole army of Moon Birds….!

Six cat heads for Victoria Beckham

Just over a week ago, I was sewing, with a little team of seamstresses from dawn till way beyond dusk in order to get these little feline friends done in time for Victoria Beckham’s launch of Victoria, Victoria Beckham last Monday. They will be in this installation at Harvey Nichols until the 18th Februrary. More photos incuding work in progress pictures coming very soon… for now, you can check out this article.

 

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/01/31/victoria-beckham-launches-new-line-at-harvey-nichols

 

Mr Marwood Hare

Marwood ties are simple, special and beautiful. They are delicate yet strong and reflect something of the lovely girl that designs them. Becky French, who is the founder of Marwood.

I first met Becky 10 years ago when we studied together fashion design at Kingston university.  We were both Somerset girls, but after university She went off to New York, New York, and I came to Paris, all for fashion darling. Last year Becky, now based back in London, Launched her own tie label, Marwood. It is going from strength to strength due to its refined, creative approach. The ties are all made in England. When Becky suggested sending me offcuts of the English lace and fabrics she uses in her collections, for me to make a doll, I was smiling.

So here he is, Mr Marwood Hare, for the ‘split screen collection’, he has two sides, a dark and a light, just as I believe there is to everyone. He is now keeping some very fine bow ties company and will be participating in London Fashion week with Marwood in a couple of weeks, details to follow soon. Watch out for further Marwood and Alice Mary Lynch collaborations in the near future.

Please check out Marwood’s stunning collections here:

www.marwoodlondon.co.uk

Harlequin Hare’s new home

Dear Harlequin Hare,

You were made in Paris, then you hung on the walls proudly in an exhibition for all to see…and now you’ve found a new home, with a view onto the green fields of England and breathing in the air and light from outside. Wow. you really landed on your feet didn’t you? I bet you’ll be having some parties in not too long!

Love from The Doll Maker.

At the Chapel

I am beginning to re surface after putting up the exhibition last week in Somerset. At the Chapel is a jewel of a place and I am delighted to be showing there until the 1st of January 2012. My dolls seem to be very proud to be showing of their glad rags in such grand surroundings…here are a few pictures of the show (taken with my shaky hands on my phone so not the best)….

Moon bird , White dog

Been Stuffing and Stitching away many hours this year, these were the last dolls to be made for my Animal Cabaret exhibition which opened on Sunday and is now up and running until January 1st 2011, At the Chapel, Bruton, Somerset. Photos of exhibition coming very soon!

Let me tell you the story about Piet horse…

So finally a moment. Remember that wild white horse? He went to Amsterdam. To an artist called Piet, It was his 6Oth bithday.

”…Piet paints on metal, he has silver hair and a tender heart” wrote the lady who commissioned him, ”His favourite animal? A horse because they are wild and free. He also likes butterflies, but I don’t think he’d like to be one…. his favourite song is Wild is the wind by David Bowie…..”

And so I listened, drew up some ideas and we agreed on our Piet Horse. Little snippets about this tall character from Amsterdam continued. And each day and night I worked on the wild white horse, and with every new stitch, off went an update to the lady commissioning him, a photo of his body, his new head, then with his silver hair and then later when the beads came out. I began stitching his metallic beaded body, reminiscent of the metals Piet uses to paint. And eventually, when he was finished, I said goodbye and sent him off on his adventure to Amsterdam and to meet the real Piet, for whom his was made. And so here he is Our Piet horse. He got very tall and measures 86cm high. He carries a pouch round his waist full of paintbrushes and a ribbon with 60 stars to mark his 60 years. His name and birth date are embroidered on his back and he has blue grey eyes, and a butterfly on his shoulder.When he arrived in Amsterdam, I received a photo of him in the back of a little car, carried in a box, then stretching his legs after his long journey, then finally, happily, sitting on the sofa with Piet the artist, his new friend. ..