South of the Clouds

Saturday, 5 May 2012

more Istanbul inspiration

the awesome Haggia Sophia

One of the most serene rooms I saw in Istanbul - the Library of Topkapi Palace

here are a few more images from Istanbul. There was too much to see in a short time!

I'll have to go back.......

window in a sarcophagus, Haggia Sophia

Blue Mosque minarets and an obelisque

swirling dervishes

I didn't make it to China this year, but I travelled East and got nearly halfway there - to Istanbul for a few days. Love the cultural fusion of West, Middle East and Asia.

I even found the jewellery quarter and made some essential purchases. I stumbled across helpful and friendly sellers just outside the Old Bazaar. I haven't been able to find roses this small in China, so am really pleased with this purchase. Yesterday I claw-set the first one on to my new branch necklace which will be unveiled at Treasure (now only 5 weeks to go!).

Here's a small taster to give you a flavour of the fusion of East/West designs.

Old Bazaar Lights

stunning window which was unfortunately in the Circumcision Room of the Palace:(

Haggia Sophia intricate wrought iron

Palace tiles 2

Istanbul was a blast of colour, pattern, noise, cultures and definitely worth a trip. I can't wait to go back!

Old Bazaar Lights

Sunday, 18 March 2012

Upstairs @ the Ritzy, Brixton

It was Forties glamour last night in Upstairs @ the Ritzy, with retro singer Gertie and her band.

Fred Astaire, dancing his way effortlessly through the film 'Top Hat', was projected larger than life on to the wall.

Fun to watch in the background.

Barter Books, Alnwick

Call in to the amazing Barter Books

when you're next in Northumbria......

....and get ready to settle in for a few hours, browsing through the enormous collection of second hand books in this huge old converted railway station. Stop for a bite to eat, by the log fire in one of the old waiting rooms.

Difficult to pull yourself away from Barter Books though:)

Sunday, 11 March 2012

Women of the World Festival 2012

Mother's Day Cards

Congratulations to our very own Spark class from Mulberry School for Girls, plus all their fabulous teachers in the SEN Dept, for a great profit-making stall at the WoW Festival on Southbank!
What fantastic team-work!

Our mugs were our best-seller!

Coasters, key rings anmd badges all branded with our very own Spark designs

Sunday, 5 February 2012

Conversational Concert in Bloomsbury

Hokusai's Great Wave off Kanagawa

I've just returned from the intimate surroundings of Pushkin house in Bloomsbury, where I heard piano duets by the fabulous Karl Lutchmayer and David Alexander: performing Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, followed by Debussy's La Mer.

Karl sets the scene as always with his anecdotes and insights into the composers' lives and music - I want to find out more about them. Debussy was inspired by the Javanese gamelan music and Japanese art and architecture that he heard and saw at the first World Exhibition in Paris, 1889. He had the Japanese woodblock engraving on the front cover of an early recording of La Mer.

Sunday, 29 January 2012

Brazil and Spider Silk

Late at the V&A in January was a lively Brazilian carnival atmosphere with live drummers and dancing.

I loved the suspended umbrellas in the main entrance hall, not far from the incredible Chihuly masterpiece. I'm never disappointed each time I go to the V&A - this has to be London's best gem of a museum.