A Modern Day Re-Telling of Hansel and Gretel

Hello, I've been up to allsorts since I last blogged and launched Bus and Bird Arts. So, I thought it would be a good idea to start recording projects on here again!

First up, we have a 'Modern Re-Telling of Hansel and Gretel' told in puppet form for Artcore's Innocence and Expression project. Innocence and Expression is a BBC Children in Need funded project that empowers young people (8–18yrs) through creative activities.

I approached the Innocence and Expression project via six mixed media puppetry workshops resulting in a short performance in front of friends and family by the young people involved. Puppetry is a superb medium to promote confidence and a powerful means of bringing stories to life. From experience, puppets can break down barriers and encourage the quietest of children to start talking. The making sessions focused on the creation of puppets in both two and three-dimensions. The performance sessions  examined puppet performances (taking account of how sets, props and characters work together), before participants collaborated on the storytelling and performance aspects. The final puppet show provided a fantastic opportunity for the young people to celebrate their creations and performance skills - everyone was involved and it was absolutely fantastic to see. 

Script and project imagery

Horace - the grumpy shopkeeper I created especially for the project

 

Time and Tide Exhibition

I was invited by Maria Walker, on behalf of Art Untitled, to take part in their group exhibition entitled ‘Time and Tide’ at Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse in Northwich. The artwork was inspired by the proverb ‘time and tide wait for no man’. Artists responded to this central theme using a diverse range of media ranging from stitch, mixed media and print to photography, paint and ceramics.

I created two new illustrative mixed-media characters (Reginald and Agnes) and a more abstract piece based on an old family garden plan (155 Kingsway) specifically for the Time and Tide exhibition. Considering the idea of time marching on by whether we want it to or not, my characters had an undeniably melancholy narrative. Both Reginald and Agnes had a sense that time and ambitions were passing them by. They felt duty bound to always do the right thing by others but deep down wished they had the courage to pursue their own dreams.

I was really impressed with the standard and quality of all the work on display. Not to mention the fascinating nature of the museum itself. I should imagine that the original residents of the workhouse would have been intrigued by our art work and the modern use of the building!

‘Time and Tide’ ran from Saturday 12th September to Sunday 15th November 2015.

We’ll Meet Again (*)

Sadly, my lovely grandad died on Sunday 27^th December 2015 after a painful and prolonged struggle with cancer. I was determined that he should have an illustration on his Order of Service booklet that reflected his personality and love of nature.

 

The final illustration for his Order of Service uses old and new drawings taken from my sketchbook. My favourite illustrations have been collaged together into a colourful wreath using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Each image represents his interests or the idea of remembrance.

Rosemary is a traditional herb used in funerals as a symbol of remembrance and memories of loved ones.

Pansies were grandad's favourite flower and symbolise loving thoughts. Forget me nots mean 'remember me forever' and symbolise love.

Two birds are jauntily perched at the top of the wreath as he adored them. The robin was a frequent visitor and could be seen following him around when he was busy working in the garden.

The text is taken from grandad's handwriting. This is particularly poignant as when I went away to university, grandad wrote to me at least twice a month. This continued up until his first admission to hospital in October 2015. I've treasured each and every letter that he sent me. They are all over my house in little bundles, there's even a few boxes of them in the loft.

I've loved the detailing of our everyday lives in the letters ranging from the weather and worries to jobs and children. They document how much our lives have changed over the years. Some of my favourite letters are from when I lived in Japan. I think grandad struggled to get to grips with my address in Tokoname as it is different on each envelope, although his letters always found their way to my little flat there.

I feel very sad that our letter writing is at an end. It would take a lot of paper and ink to thank both my grandparents for so many beautiful memories. They have been my anchor, my constant in an ever changing world. For now, I'll look at the birds eating the juicy bright red berries on the berberis shrub outside my kitchen window and be reminded of all the happy times that we spent together.

(*): We'll Meet Again - Vera Lynn

We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
Keep smiling through
Just like you always do
'Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away

So will you please say hello
To the folks that I know
Tell them I won't be long
They'll be happy to know
That as you saw me go
I was singing this song…

Garter Pot

Here is a simple, lace textured slab built pot decorated with my own screen printed ceramic decals of my grandmother’s handwriting and finished off with a bright gold lustre. I have made the pot to commemorate my grandparents’ 65^th wedding anniversary, commonly known as a ‘sky blue anniversary’. A bit of a rarity I am certain!

It plays on the bridal tradition of something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. In this case the old is the garter lace, the new is the pot, the borrowed is the handwriting and the blue is the glaze itself (and one of my grandmother’s favourite colours).

I chose the garter lace to imprint into the surface of the clay as it is symbolic of weddings and my grandmother used to demonstrate the making of lace at Nottingham Lace Market several years ago. Her handwriting is not meant to be read but to be appreciated for its beautiful flowing forms. I have cut up and rearranged the text on the outside of the pot so it takes on a wholly decorative purpose. 

Let’s hope they like it. Although, I suspect my grandmother will be much more excited by their congratulatory card from the Queen!

Curious Clare's Handmade Wedding - Part Two

So far this year, Hyperemesis Gravidarum and anaemia have brought normal blogging service grinding to a halt. However, I am feeling slightly more human these days and to celebrate here is a post on our wedding as featured in Handmade Wedding magazine (pages 86-91). The article is written really well and sums up the spirit of our wedding beautifully.

In short, our wedding was a colourful, handmade family affair from the wedding dress and cake to the laser cut invitations, paper pompoms and laser cut birdy bunting. We hired a heritage red London double decker bus to transport the guests (and ourselves) to and from the venue to create an informal, relaxed atmosphere before the ceremony started. The theme was birds and buses - buses to fit in with the transport and birds to reflect my passion for them. I designed, laser cut and hand foiled invitations shaped like buses with a robin riding on the top deck. My son was given the role of bus conductor, collecting the individual tickets that I had made for everyone. The colour theme was hot pink and turquoise, a real feast for the eyes on a rainy day in south Manchester!

My family's creativity ran throughout the wedding - my mum made my tea length baby blue wedding dress out of duchesse satin and lace, we based it on an elegant 1950's Vogue pattern, my grandma made the sugar paste flowers to sit on top of my sister's cupcakes, an old family friend made the bridesmaids dresses and I even trained up my husband (and son) in the art of origami so that he could help make 180 paper flowers for the tables. It had the look of an old fashioned but vibrant English summer fete by the time we had finished complete with hog roast and local English ales.

Tips for other brides-to-be looking to add handmade details to their big day.

Handmade elements really personalised the wedding and ensured that we could have exactly what we wanted. I would thoroughly recommend adding your own touches to the day.

Do gather lots of ideas together from wedding magazines and online sources such as Pinterest (elements of our wedding can be seen here)

Do keep a tight control on the budget, handmade is not necessarily a cheap option

Do involve family members with making details for the wedding. My husband was brilliant at making the origami flowers!

Don’t be afraid to ask family and friends to help out otherwise you will become overwhelmed with the prospect of decorating a whole venue yourself!

Don’t forget to have fun! As the wedding day approaches enjoy the making and planning.

Photographs were taken by the talented Kelly Clarke of Imagesplash.