S(m)ashing!

Getting crafty and adventurous, I make these at top speed once I put my mind to it.



* Name an occasion
* Give me a name, title or saying
* I come up with something quirky (or you can)
* You agree?
* And I'll be pleased to embroider this onto a colourful ribboned satin sash..
* ..acquainted and adorned with special jewels or buttons
* Ta daaaa!











How it developed
The task was to organise a 'Baby Shower' a couple of months ago. Rather than going for the easy option of buying a sash for mother-to-be, I much prefer unique things that hone more sentimentality than mass-produced items! Thus, endorsing that rampant creative streak and having the resources to do so, I opted for creating my very own unique blend.


i. So here we have (to our right hand side), for my sister Leesan (aka mother-to-be), a sash, with the word(s): Mother Lee, a slight spin on Motherly. Do we comprende?

ii. Secondly - and lastly, for now - as featured below, we have a Hen (aka bride-to-be) who is often nicknamed as 'Little', thus the name 'Mrs Little Hen' was induced.






Quirky, courageous but light and generally fun with some obvious individuality. You can't go wrong here. A special keepsake for that special person and for you too! And once again, I adore making these. S(m)ashing!

Newborn supplies

Arrival of my new adorable nephew Caiden Poon has led to an exploration in creating a new little artefact. Making use of my stunning, boast-worthy, and not to mention - trusty, Bernina sewing machine aids the process of this. (Note: the Bernina is a bloody awesome killer sewing machine. Not for the faint-hearted but for the one that requires quality, strength and simplicity - that's me!).

These artefacts be 'Nursing Covers', for newborn babies and mothers. I'm not one for having a maternal streak, not now, at this point in my young life anyhow. Though you can see how effective this item can be, especially for a shy (embarrassingly exposed) and/or considerate mother. How these Nursing Covers can benefit both baby, mother and the rest of the world, is that they shield the most fundamental task in any new mother's upbringing of their little-un; breastfeeding!

I've made these nifty Nursing Covers using a range of colours/styles of fabrics. From one block colour to floral patterns. Personally I prefer the colourful, however, you are entitled to judge for yourself which you may prefer. I've also incorporated two inner pockets for mother to pocket little objects into. They do look a mess, though I feel their advantageous aspects; adjustable, light, airy and safe, counteracts the messiness they exude. Please have a gander at a selected sample with a kind & loving heart.

It really does amaze me how meditative and achieving I find sewing to be. However simple the task is, t'is indeed a gem and a joy, and I look forward to excite you to further lengths by taking you on some other ventures I've experimented and 'tasked' myself with later on. Until then, so long.

Joan Miró

Being in London we are fortunate enough, where, at our own discretion we have offered on our doorstep, a serious amount of choices - either exposed or hidden. I could list them all, however, time is precious, so I'll dive in.

Londoners can easily be submersed into an Art sublime. Victorious amounts of global artists can be exhibited and I thank thee for offering the opportunity for us to pick & choose who and what to exhibit. I will be selective on this site - though you may find I am subject to explore artists/forms from a diverse range. I am keen. And will use as much of what inspires me for inspiration. And that's an awful lot.


Miró
With that said above, after many successive trips, I revisited the Tate Modern to unveil myself to the important artist; Joan Miro - Wondrous. Exceptional. Emotional. Surreal.


Catalan-born Joan was 'the most surreal of them all' and oh-me-golly, I do not beg to differ. Art can tell so many stories or imageries, but only He; the artist, will really know what He wishes to present however disguised or hidden His message may be. Joan had a real knack for doing this. His early work to his last moments were very obviously different, as you can see from the images.



Miró's ability to display his emotions is very clear-cut. Slowly walking from room to room, you are able to capture his emotions. They were changeable. From a soft pastelled high of love and affection - see right; 'The Rut (1918)', and gradually flowing to a depressive dark surrealist mode. Not only does this portray his emotions, but tells a story of his surroundings at that point in time related to life, love and political atrocities; such as the Spanish civil war and the early era of WW2; The Phoney War. The use of his 'Ladder of Escape (1940)' - displayed below, and also the main painting at intro section - illustrates his withdrawal from his awareness of these events, although, Miró did acknowledge that there was no ivory tower to look forward to.




I appreciate the fact that he loved his life in Catalanya (Barcelona), one can capture his thoughts and he definitely remained strongly tied to Catalunya - as shown through his 'Head of Catalan Peasant' range. This is so appealing. To have such a strong identity. The use of a blue hue and the red mark representing the Catalan cap - a symbol of independence.

The titles of a selection of his paintings were deep - 'Young Girl with Half Brown, Half Red Hair Slipping on the Blood of Frozen Hyacinths of a Burning Football Field (1939)'. Firstly outrageously long, and secondly, peculiar. (Note: I am unable to find an image of this painting)






His triptychs were hung on a large wall in an ever-so calming room allowing viewers to sit and ponder at his work of block colours, scribbled line(s) and meanings.




This exhibition opens the viewers eyes not only to his infamous paintings as pictured above, but his early work and how it transcended to become of the Joan Miro we picture today - one of the leading surrealists of modern art. There's so much more I could write - what an obtuse inspiration. I can't help but feel slightly fragmented by his displays - perhaps that's the effect of surrealism?

Vorticism

Upon a recent visit to the Tate Britain, London, I was very drawn to a form of art known as VORTICISM - a masterpiece in itself. Although short-lived, this British movement of the 20th century (1914-1918) modern art which developed from Cubism, has had a neat impact on myself.

As stated above, I was drawn. World War I was the victim of its brief life expectancy - although unpreventable, I enjoy the fact that it was short-lived giving it mysterious depth, delicacy and making it more valuable and intangible.

As quoted on the Vorticist's website, the movement is 'something that hasn't yet been defined'. What a charming quote..so intriguing as I feel this epitomises me!

So, the main artists of this three-ish year reign were Wyndham Lewis, Roger Fry and Ezra Pound; who coined the name of 'Vorticism'. The movement only managed to achieve one exhibition at the time of its flourish (well, two now, with one being at the Tate).

Amongst many of the other paintings and sculptures I've mainly been captivated by the few laid out on this page for their colour, intricacy and contrasting logic!? (note: the piece to my right is brilliant!)

My previous post illustrates the front cover of the Vorticist's literary magazine 'BLAST' of which only two copies were produced. An interesting quote that I fully agree with was found in one of the BLAST magazines, read:

"Education (art education and general education) tends to destroy the creative instinct. Therefore it is in time when education has been non-existent that art chiefly flourishes"

It's random, colourful, courageous, quirky, but mounted with some angled logic. And I like it. Very much!

Tate Britain - 'The Vorticists: Manifesto for a Modern World'

BLAST

BLAST. DELVE. EXPLORE. CAPTURE. GATHER. COLLABORATE. CAPTIVATE. CREATE. MAKE. SUCCEED. BLAST.

Hello,

BLAST! Welcome on board to MaySW launched on this day today 8/8/11- supposedly an auspicious lucky Chinese date.

A blog that ventures to display materials for creative idea generation to build a succession of designs, however random it may be; from place to place, person to person, item to item, art to art, nature to nature, bit to bit.

Some background info behind MaySW

So, keeping it quite short, the ultimate intention is to create and achieve. And since I have an abundance of jumbled ideas locked in my head, I feel it is time to document and collaborate these details, and future details, in a technological way. From scattered to organised scatter.

After travelling extensively across the globe, hopping along from beaches to mountains to glaciers to deserts to cities to villages from the undeveloped to the developed and back to the undeveloped, I’ve opened my eyes to (at least four of them) and have lingered in my memory an array of cultures and customs. As a result I can say, yep..I’ve learnt a very hefty amount criss-crossing from all sides of the spectrum. Having admired all of these cultures for each of their own unique flavours, characteristics and variety, I’ve surprised myself as I have established that I am able to pinpoint certain aspects of these cultures I do favour over others. It's time to explore these chosen aspects > GO.

This site will encapsulate the above, as well as bury deeply into Textiles (with some fashion) and Art. These final two elements have remained with me for a number of years either exposed or discretely in my head.

Thanks for reading and join me on my creative quest. This learning curve is growing > Watch the fruition.

It'll be a BLAST.

MaySW x

Image: 'BLAST' - front cover of the short-lived literary magazine of the Vorticist movement in Britain written chiefly by Wyndham Lewis.