H B DAY PA!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my lovely Amico Paolo Maria Elmo! A thousand DAJE's and TANTI AUGURIIIII's to youuuuuu!!! :-D <3

BUG IN THE HOOD!

Doc called me into the living room today, to show me the youngest tagger I've seen yet! This kid was about six years old, and had some fat chalk! After writing her statement (seemingly a protest or warning about some guys jarg taste, or lack of eye for a bargain) she ran away, then came back and went over it again in a different colour! By which time I had stopped laughing enough to grab my camera!
I love my neighbourhood!

GIRLS GOT BRASS!

Found this beautiful picture of an all-she brass band from way back when. Thought I should share...

MADE HERE POP-UP-SHOP!

The Made Here Pop-Up-Shop contacted me a moth or two ago, asking me to partake in their two month shop unit in Liverpool One shopping village in town. I decided to go for it, and the shop opened last weekend and today I went to see it with Doc H! BUG POP had a window display right next to the door, and bits and pieces throughout the shop! Aswell as my own jewellery and cards, there were lots of makers whose work I recognised from craft fairs etc over the years. The lovely Linziloop, Aliki bags, Factory Floor Jewels, Leon and Coco, and more! The shop has a really fresh, bright aesthetic which really complemented all the amazing colours of the work for sale, which massively appealed to my current phase of "No room can be quite light or bright ENOUGH for me!". After what seems no time since I was approached with the idea of the shop it was just really ace to see so much of my work in there! If you're in Liverpool, or planning a day trip anytime soon, you really should go and see for yourself! Or if you're further afield, many items are featured on the Made Here online shop! :-)

CAIN CASER!

Currently loving London artist, Cain Caser's crazy-bright graffiti-inspired paintings! They have a distinct figurative portrait quality, like mental drug-monster-faces done up for a night in a wild gay bar... or something! I LOVE! Take a look at Cain's Flickr

WHAT'S COOKIN'?!

Today I made Gnocchi! It was a cheats recipe. Like this:

* 50g (2 oz) instant mashed potato
* 225ml (8 fl oz) boiling water
* 1 egg, beaten
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 200g (7 oz) plain flour


1. Place potato flakes in a medium bowl. Pour in boiling water; stir until blended. Let cool.
2. Stir in egg, salt and pepper. Blend in enough flour to make a fairly stiff dough. Turn dough out on a well floured work surface. Knead lightly.
3. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a long thin roll, the thickness of a breadstick. With a knife dipped in flour, cut into bite-size pieces.
4. Place a few gnocchi in boiling water. As the gnocchi rise to the top of the pot, remove them with a slotted spoon. Repeat until all are cooked.

RETURN OF THE LITTLE PEOPLE!

Last year to celebrate the launch of my Lilliputians Earings, I blogged about the amazing Little People photography of SLINKACHU! Since then, I've noticed a lot of greetings cards with these similar set-ups, usually involving food and domestic objects, and assumed they were by the same artist, but they aren't! These works (which definitely have their own distinctive quality and framing style - closer-up to the subject, less grit and slightly less humour-based, with a heavier design aesthetic) are by French photographer, Vincent Bousserez (whose website I would link, but it's currently not working!...Google him!)
I love them!

THE HUMAN BOOKSHELF!

Spanish Artist, David Blazquez, questions our concept of inanimate home decor with his photographic series of human sculpture/furniture! Check him out!

CRAFTY FOX FAIR!

Today I was selling at The Crafty Fox fair, at Brink, a new dry-bar in town. Liked the venue, esp the glass ceilings, which let in so much lovely natural light! I wanted to set the stall to seamlessly incorporate my aunty Trudie Pugh's knitted tea-cosies, so I loosely themed it an Alice style Mad Hatter's Tea-Party table. Sold lots of the new range, which will be online soon!

JASON FREENEY!

Just came accross the amazing Jason Freeney! His acrylic sculpted toy "disections" are out of this world! SO AMAZING! Check out his blog for more! <3

COMING UP!

THIS SATURDAY, at BRINK!

RED-BEAN BUNNY BUNS!

So yesterday at the show, I talked snacks with Becky J and Even, and he reccomended some very intriguing chinese deserts. Today I went to the chinese supermarket and sought out the bunny rabbit buns he described. They were only £1.65 and there's ten in a packet! Steamed some up tonight for the house-boys! They're like soft white bread-dough with a big slap of rich subtly-sweet red bean paste in the center. Gorgeous! Try some!

LOST PROPERTIES!

Gia was playing an improv set with some of our friends tonight at the exhibition we still hadn't gotten out to see. Amazing space, and loads of great work! Tomo and Even continue to be ridiculously good at dry-humoured street-art, with immense painting skill, and Laura Spark's animation has come on tenfold since I last saw it, with a beautiful and skillfully made piece starring some wire-framed rabbit characters in a forest!
The improv sets went amazingly well too. Some very nice moments. I got thrust with a camera and asked to film, so hoping I actuallu managed to press record! ;-)

BUG-POP-BABY-DAY!

I agreed to have my niece for the day today, so lastnight I spent ages baby-proofing, as she's just walking, and putting everything in her mouth! As I work from home, there were jewellery parts, beads, charms, fastenings, links, and pins hidden EVERYWHERE around the room and ingrained into the rug! The day was hectic, to say the least! SO exhausted now!!! Here's a picture of her morning nap-time. The calm before the storm! Haha!

SPACE DOGS!

REALLY want this vinatge soviet BELKA AND STRELKA watch! Inspired again to actually do my BUG POP SPACE DOGS range, feat Laika , Belka and Strelka, Ugolyok and Veterok, Chernushka, Smelaya and Malyshka and the rest! <3

WILDWOOD PLATE!

I just dreamed up a new range of pretty paintings I'm calling Wildwood Mountain. Keeping this plate for myself!

MORE EL TORO!

YEAR OF THE BULL!

Some of my faves from a photoshoot I did for ma brother's EL TORO today! EL TORO RULE YOUR EARS!

BABA-BOOM!

My little nieceykins is getting cuter and funnier by the minute!... That's all! :-D

HAPPY DAY!

Happy love day to soppies and cynics one-and all! ;-)

BIG BRUNCH!

Designed for my "staaaaarving" boyfriend, but of course I ate one too! ;-)

WOAH!

R.I.P. Whitney, innit!? Many a happy childhood 80's moment was spent with that voice in the background!

MINI SUSHI UPDATE!

Now the Lilliputians have broken into the sushi house!!!

Rings £8.00 on sale at www.bugpop.co.uk soon!

JOSHUA HOFFINE!

Joshua Hoffine takes your childhood nightmares and re-creates them! Then takes photographs so they can haunt you forever! SEE FOR YOURSELF!

HEART SONG!

Makes my heart do the safety dance, this song! Really, REALLY!

MATT HAWKINS!

Just discovered these immense Paper sculptures by genius illustrator Matt Hawkins!

GROWTHS!

My herbs have sprouted! Maybe this time I won't let them perish before they've even come close to soup or pesto stage!