David Bowie Is.............WOW!

I cannot believe that its been 4 months since my last blog. I feel like I have been hibernating like a hamster through these cold winter months and although the sun has finally begun to shine today, and its possible to venture out into the garden without the safety of a woolly jumper, there is still a cold wind blowing and sporadic rain showers.

Yesterday we ventured out and visited the David Bowie Is exhibition at the V&A. If you have tickets, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. We were admitted at 11.30am (our allotted ticket time) and did not leave until 3.30pm as there is so much to see and experience. Being someone interested in creative sewing, obvious highlights for me were David's clothing, especially the Alexander McQueen Union Jack frock coat worn on the cover of Earthling, clothing from the Reality tour and another stunning frock coat David wore for his 50th birthday celebration (I have always had a love of textile art that is decadent but decayed). However, I was fascinated by the sheer quantity of personal items from David's collection and especially loved the artefacts from his time in Berlin as this is a period of David's music that has a special place in my heart. I had tried to avoid reading too much about the exhibition before our visit as I wanted to be surprised and this certainly worked for me. Therefore, whilst there were many favourite and unusual items I could list in my blog, I refuse to do so in fear that it could spoil the experience for others.

According to press reports the exhibition has sold out, but there is rumour that the exhibition may be extended to meet continued demand for tickets. Let's hope so.

Photos are not permitted inside the exhibition (although the V&A have produced a very detailed book which I recommend) but I did take some photos of the exhibition publicity photos in the tunnel leading from the tube to the V&A and would like to share them here on my blog.

Bye to 2012 and hello to 2013

Well despite this year being one of the wettest years on record (thank you rain - for washing away the dreaded hosepipe ban!), I'm sorry to see the back of 2012.

Its been a great year and one in which I have celebrated a special birthday in Finland closely followed by the country coming together for the whole Summer in celebration of the Queens Jubilee and the Olympics. In the middle of the Summer, Malcolm and I were lucky enough to be picked as finalists for the BBC TV show,  Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution which was broadcast in October. We were also lucky enough to visit Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, which were part of America which we had not been to previously (both of which are recommended).

Anyway, as 2012 bows out, I look forward to welcoming 2013 and all it brings and I would like to express my best wishes to everyone a peaceful and happy New Year.

I will leave you with a couple of my favorite photos from my trip to Finland.

The circus elephants have arrived in town.....................

Well it was a bit of a wait, but finally the circus elephants have arrived.

After many evenings and weekends of staining material, stitching and stuffing, I have a few little circus elephants available for sale just in time for Christmas. These will be the only circus elephants available before Christmas so if you see something that you like please contact me as soon as possible at  ellen.johns@blueyonder.co.uk

Sales will be on a first come first served basis. Prices include postage and packing in mainland UK using 1st class Royal Mail. If you require any other type of delivery e.g. next day delivery, then this will be an additional £6. For countries outside of mainland UK please contact me for prices.

Paypal is preferred method of payment although a cheque is acceptable. However if paying by cheque the  elephant will be posted once the cheque has cleared through the bank.

Please note - my circus elephants are not toys and are therefore not suitable for children under the age of 14.

Anyway, here they are..................

Below is Holly and she is 10 inches tall. She has green ears with chocolate polka dots and wears a sea green tutu.

Below is Pandora and she is 10 inches tall. She has pink ears with creamy polka dots and she wears a pink tutu.

Below is Molly and she is 8 inches tall. Molly has red and white patterned ears (which are very Christmassy) and she wears a pink tutu.

Below is Flora and she is 8 inches tall. Flora has floral pattered ears and wears a sea green tutu.
SORRY I HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.

Below is Rosie and she is 8 inches tall. Rosie has red ears with small white polka dots and wears a pink tutu.

Below is Eliza and she is 8 inches tall. Eliza's ears are pink with creamy polka dots and she wears a pink tutu.

Time to update the blog

Hi everyone

Sorry I have been away from my blog for too long.

Since returning from holiday in October I have had a busy few weeks. The appearance of my little circus elephant on Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution on BBC2 in mid October and a craft fair on 29 November (which I was also organising!) has meant that the last few weeks have gone crazy. Anyway, I've been busy sewing and, as a result, have a handful of circus elephants available for sale. I plan to put photos on my blog this weekend. I will post an update on twitter when they have been loaded on the blog and, if you have emailed me enquiring about my elephants I will also contact you by email.

Watch this space.

Dressing the house for halloween

Just waiting for the chimney sweep to arrive. Once he's been we'll be getting all our halloween and fall decorations out and dressing the house for the season.

I love this time of year when all the leaves are turning reds, oranges and purple and the shops are full of squashes and pumpkins and all the delights of the harvest season. I also love the fact that you can cosy up in front of a crackling fire in the evenings. It's still a bit too warm here for a log fire, but it won't be long before the cold nights begin to draw in.

Some Pumpkins and squashes from a recent trip to Pennsylvania

BBC2 Handmade Revolution.....at last its aired

At last - I can talk and write about it as the show went on air on BBC2 at 3.45pm this afternoon.

Firstly, I must say a big thank you to Paul Martin and the judges at the show, especially Mary Jane for making me feel so at ease when being interviewed, you don't realise just how nerve racking it is being interviewed for TV, especially when the Amberley Museum train goes past and toots to say hello and you have to repeat bits to be recorded again.

The crew worked very hard and you can probably tell from my interview that we laughed a lot. Knowing what went into the filming and recording, they have done a wonderful job to make the programme look smooth and seamless.

I also must also say a big thank you to Jessamy and the team who kindly looked after us during the 2 days of filming and kept us fed and watered throughout the day.

Lastly, a big thank you to all the other talented crafters that Malcolm and I met at Amberley, many of whom we are still in contact with and, congratulations to Sue who won the show today. (I would also like to thank Sue for inviting me to join the Maidstone Visual Arts Network).

And now onto my primitive folk art elephant who was the real  TV star.

What can I say other than here is another photo of her. If you would like more information on my elephants or wish to see any of my other work, please don't hesitate to contact me at  ellen.johns@blueyonder.co.uk

BBC2 Handmade Revolution

Oh no!

Only 2 more days to go until I appear on national TV with my little circus elephant.

Getting nervous now. Will I make a fool of myself? Did I babble on endlessly when asked a question? Will the judges dismiss my art form because its primitive?

I will just have to wait and see.

BBC2 Handmade Revolution - sneak preview

Well I promised you all a sneak preview of my primitive circus elephant this weekend and here she is.............

Not able to release any other information, other than she will be appearing on Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution at 3.45pm on BBC2 on Wednesday 17 October.

Handmade Revolution

Hi all

Are you following Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution on BBC2 (3.45pm each weekday).

I'm so proud of my husband Malcolm, who appeared with his handmade guitar on 11 October. Malcolm uses all sorts of materials for his guitars ranging from boxes to old Oxo tins and even car hub caps. It is truly amazing how a cast off bit of junk can be turned into a musical instrument.

Malcolm does not yet sell his guitars (but may do in the future) but he take great pleasure in teaching people this craft and is in the process of setting up a website.

If you want further information in the meantime contact me via email.