Ming Crown at the British Museum

I had a morning (booked four months ago as yesterday was the first Wednesday I had free!) to study this late Ming Dynasty crown at the British Museum. Such a luxury to spend a morning in a quiet library, drawing an antique. It had to be set on crumpled tissue paper to raise the level so that the down-turned beaks of the birds in the front were not touching the table. 

I am fascinated by  the incredible detail of the whole crown - phoenixes, flaming pearls, flower heads, dragons - but it was the leaves that caught my attention, plus a few tiny clouds which I discovered hidden amongst all the gilt silver openwork:)

Flowing movement in the leaves

I first saw Chinese crowns in Dali, Yunnan, in 2008  but at last I have seen an original close-up. It is an amazing decorative object. I've made lots of drawings and will probably need to book a return visit the next time I have a Wednesday free - hopefully less than four months away!

Wedding Show in central London

Call in to 'Craft Central Gets Hitched' - central London's premier Handmade Wedding Fair 21-24th March - where I'll be launching my new silver branch necklace with blossom, alongside my classic red, white and butterfly collections. 

Free entry for lots of  inspiration for your wedding from 60 selected designers:)

.....is this the most beautiful paper in the world?

Hand-made Chiyogami paper from Japan which I buy from Shepherds Falkiners, book-binding specialists  newly re-located to Victoria, central London.

Temptation is now much closer to home - it's going to be hard to resist buying more of this totally gorgeous paper!

London Street Art

We dropped in to Cargoes last night for a drink just so we could sit outside in winter, under the heat lamps:) Looking at the graffiti and talking about art, I realised that the plastic covering over one of the graffitied walls could only mean one thing.  We'd randomly picked a seat with a good view and were sitting in front of a Banksy original.

Apparently this was one of his first in London (2001), but the details of the dog are not as defined now.


 

Banksy at Shoreditch

Earlier, we had come out of the Courtyard Theatre, having seen an interesting play 'Episodes'. Walking along Pitfield Street I recognised this Stik 'Thief' . Love this one!

I pass this Banksy 'Hoodie and Keith Haring dog' every week,  just off the Old Kent Road