The Bee Coat

My love of creating skins means I just can't leave coats alone! I love the idea that one garment can create an entirely new identity in an instant covering all the layers beneath.

From statement to ceremony a coat can be used for almost anything. To become one of many or to stand alone, to hide inside or a declaration of stature. There are so many purposes that I plan to explore through my textile journey..........but to start, here is my own coat!

Me! Photography: Juliette Mills

Me! Photography: Juliette Mills

Me! Photography: Juliette Mills. I Love this picture, it has an old western flavour. These boots have been around in my family for nearly 40yrs, 20 of those with me. Eeek!

I like to think of this as a work in process, I intend to keep adding bees as the mood takes me. This one is not one that I have made from scratch but a 1950's coat that I have re-vamped.  I removed the lining to embroider it and then replaced, although I am now rather wishing I had kept the lining in and embroidered through it!
These pictures are courtesy of my good friend and amazing photographer Juliette Mills. Juliette has been working with me on the Goddess project, which i'm afraid to say is still under wraps until it is finished! For more of Juliettes' work check out her website here. www.juliettemills.com. Thanks to Amy's Flowers too.

     

Introducing the first of the Bee Designs

I have been working on a collection of bee designs that can be worked up into an assortment of items, from framed textile pieces to beautiful handmade items for the home.
This has been a long slow process for me as each one has to fulfill various criteria. They have to be beautifully designed and made, completely ethical and sustainable, use the finest fabrics possible and 'work' energetically.

My aim is to create 'heritage' pieces, reminiscent of the quality of days gone by. An heirloom that can be handed from mother to daughter, father to son.

My passion for recycling and specialism in textiles from the bottom of the 'food' chain means I get to handle lots of exquisite vintage fabrics which I work into my designs.

I am on a personal mission to find some contemporary British fabrics that can compete on thread count and quality to those made 100 yrs ago. I am constantly frustrated that this is so hard to do! This country was built on the textile industry, wool and cotton shaped the industrial revolution, so we are more than capable! My dream is to find a British manufacturer creating exquisite woollen fabric, from sheep to cloth.
Wool is the most versatile and sustainable fabric that there is and one that the British can do very well so I am currently scouring the country.......watch this space.

My first port of call was to find sustainable inserts for these cushion. I have been working with a brilliant company call Wool Soft who use 100% British wool and also are part of The campaign for wool - supporting British farmers. I am trialling pure wool 'cushion for life' inserts. These are a thick unbleached cotton casings fitted with a zip so that the contents can be washed, fluffed, removed or added to. In theory you should never need to buy another cushion.

This design is called Polaris, it was originally designed as an image for a series of prayer flags. It serves as a vehicle for energy, it's a bit like providing an opening or hole through which the bees can work.  Beautiful energy can buzz backward and forwards across space and time. My therapist friend refers to this as the 'boom bee'! due to it's explosion of energy.

Bee of life and Polaris

This second design is the Bee of Life - I think it probably speaks for itself. This one takes a while. I freehand stitch these on my fantastic old Bernina sewing machine. It is my treasured friend of many years and of my mothers before me.
Cushion 1 is made from beautiful vintage heavy silk and Polaris on French linen with white antique linen hex.

Fine wool circa 1950's with green linen 'bee of life' panel

Harmony......Striped Linen with embroidered vintage linen panel and small brass skep. This design is all about bringing balance and harmony to all aspects of your life. This panel of linen still has the guidance lines which a young lady or her mother would have hand embroidered as part of her trousseau. Here it represents the subtle body of the bee.

Harmony

It is also possible to have a feather insert in these products, after much searching I have found some that have a strict ethical policy where the feathers are a by product produced cruelty free in Europe. Although wool is preferable due to it's anti allergy properties there are some exceptions where feather works best.

bee and skep detail.

This design is just a one off made for myself. I have been treasuring the hand woven fabric for a long time, it's the most incredible mix of colours and perfect for my living room, so after many hours of painstakingly unpicking it from its former life as a pleated vintage skirt it has been upcycled.

For more images of the bee designs take a look in 'Bee Designs' on top tab.

Sustainable styling

Last year I was also busy with styling work. I have been wanting to write about this for ages but it takes a while to be able to use the photographs taken on the jobs.

I love my work as a stylist, it gives me the opportunity to demonstrate how sustainability can easily be worked into contemporary living and our visions for the future.

I am fortunate to have found other people and a company called Antman who also believe in 'looking local' for resources, talent and skills.
Although I am the first to admit that we are particularly spoilt in this area for talent, I also believe that it is time to think outside the box. By opening our eyes and exploring immediately around us it is possible to discover a rich tapestry of talent, ideas and resources. This helps to create a vibrant and sustainable community and builds the local economy.

Model: Hazel Scott-Somme

Model: Hazel Scott-Somme. Location: Great Fulford

These shoots are for a Devon based company called Moore and Moore, a family run business creating faux fur products. Featuring two beautiful sisters who live a few doors down and have been modelling for me for years. You can see more of Hazel's stunning modelling by clicking here.

Hazel Scott-Somme 

Hazel Scott-Somme

The best thing about these shoots is that that we almost never go more than a few miles. The clothing is from the vast supply at Proper Job or from my own stash of vintage items, occasionally we beg, borrow and (not quite) steal items. The locations are properties found/hired within the area. The Full crew are local from cameras,runner, art direction, production, style team, models,locations and all the products.... right down to the big brown dog :)

Kesella Scott-Somme

Kesella Scott-Somme

I am luck enough to have a good friend and Make-up artist Kate Webber in the village who is my wing 'wo'man and I couldn't possibly manage without. As well as a fab hairdresser, Rebecca Butler, on hand next door to my studio! See what I mean by spoilt!?

The shoot below was the one exception to the rule and the only time I have ever used a model who didn't live down the road and was from an agency in Bristol. the dress on the other hand was picked up at an auction in my local village hall.

This outfit is my favourite! 

This outfit is my mother-in-laws wedding dress which I removed all the next from and added a simple panel of vintage lace around her waist.

You wouldn't believe that we were all freezing and the models shivering and blue!

Behind the scenes. Photos: Rebecca Vile

As you can see behind the scenes, its damp, muddy and decidedly unglamorous but professional as ever, camera man Chris Vile manages to make it all work despite the ducks, tweed clad shooting parties and a slightly fraught Lady of the Manor.

Now that what I call Sustainable Styling.

In a nutshell

It seems I am back at my post again...... 2012 was a seriously busy year! My list of personal goals and achievements didn't quite get reached.
A lot of time and energy went into campaigning for our beloved Proper Job, the community centre for sustainability and recycling (see here for more), where I run the textiles recycling facility and Arthur & Martha's textile emporium.
For those of you unfamiliar with it, we have a rabbit warren of funky shops where you can find second hand/ pre-loved and vintage items. Absoloutely everything you need from clothing (men, women and children) sportswear,fancy dress, household textile, bedding and curtains and a now a brand new scrap store full of arts and crafts supplies and fabrics galore.

A small selection of  'Arthurs'

We have been having an ongoing battle with the Dartmoor national Park about our cabins and what we can and can't do on our site. This has involved a lot of time on a media campaign raising awareness, some radio and television interviews, hosting low carbon events etc! Phew, busy but fun and what I believe passionately in.
 Please see above link if would like to find out more about Proper Job and our campaign.

This has meant that I didn't even have time to teach any recycling workshops last year, but I did however do some wonderful creative projects with the local school.

My Goddess Project didn't quite get finished as I hoped and is going to take another year of seasons. I shall write a separate update for that and all the new bee projects in the pipeline.

Ah, it's good to be back folks. x

A New Year...Stitchwort, Stagbeetles and a sorted studio.

Happy New Year.... and a very exciting one I feel it is going to be. It has been a slow start to 2012 with sludgy motivation and inspiration lacking, but a couple of days of loud music and cleaning out the studio (akin to the inside of my mind) I am raring to go.
Last year ended with a large work load and probably poor time management since I was left with very little time to blog, this year I will  be better!
It seems that the endangered species studies I have been doing as part of my Goddess project are very popular...... this little fellow has just journeyed to a new home in Vegas!and the other is a commission for Miriam of Silver and Moor Jewellery.

 
I am also lucky enough to be starting the year with some wonderful new art work for the studio done by my sister Danielle Barlow see above......ooh and lastly a shiny new camera! so no excuses now not to be fully up and running.
But for the mean time I am off to admire the stock of a lovely local costumier.

Stitchwort Studio up and running

At last here are pics of my new studio space up and running, after sharing with my sister for 6 months she left for a sparkling new home shed studio. I converted the back room into my 'Frock Room'. It has always been my dream to have a room full of fabulous dresses and costumes, a giant dressing up box, and now I do!


Packed full of vintage goodies



It's wonderfull

The cutting room

Fed up amongst the frocks

A recycling detour and sunburn!

We will Remember.

I may be procrastinating but I am still keeping busy!....... this display jar has been hanging around at Proper Job the recycling and sustainable living centre that I work.
I have been eyeing it up for weeks.
So now I have sat in the sunshine, a little too long,and filled it up!

I'm not sure that the painting is finished but it was fun to do something different.