JIGGERY POKERY

2011-01-08T16:49:00.002Z

Hi guys we have moved our blog to here!!! As part of our new site. Just incase you thought we had gone forever- we haven't!!!!

Yes Please

2010-04-29T10:21:00.001Z

Vybz Kartel ft Popcaan & Gaza Slim - Clarkes

2010-04-16T08:36:00.001Z

Where are the Magic Steps at?!

Best Trucks in the World EVER.

2010-04-11T15:54:00.003Z

Third post about India- my obsession with trucks. My boyfriend thought I was a complete weirdo when I was demanding that rickshaw drivers take a detour specifically so we could pass truck garages and I could take photos. In India, the Goods Carriers (Trucks) are literally the most amazing things ever. Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, The Beatles, The magic bus and all other hippies galavanting round the world on the love trail definitely took their hippie vehicle inspiration from these Indian badboys. I couldn't even capture some of the best ones as they would fly by our government bus, on the dusty, pot-holed road at a hundred mph. I am going to buy a van soon and convert it to be camper by weekend, work van by week. It is going to be banging.

Glug at Somerset House

2010-04-06T23:41:00.004Z

Later this month, Anna and I will be talking about five things that we love along with some other very interesting designers at the next Glug. The images below is just a quick screen grab from the Glug blog but the actual post can be seen here with proper links to all the participating artists etc. You can also buy tickets here and read more about the Pick Me Up fair which Glug will be working in conjunction with. Booking tickets is recommended as places are limited and there are lots of other fun things going on during that week too so make sure you take a peek.

Signage

2010-04-06T10:57:00.001Z

Here's a quick Tuesday morning post for all of you back at work. There is no end to the amusement had from anything worded/funny signage. Here is some of the best I spotted in India:

Choose a degree/profession. This was seen in Delhi and left us wondering who we would be able to trust in the emergency of a lost front tooth or such:

Believe it or not I am No 1:

'Dating the local legend (you won't)'

Fosters mineral water anyone?

Twittery Bloggery

2010-04-01T18:42:00.003Z

Please check out our new Twitter sidebar. We may not have been as quick on the uptake as some of the earlybirds (ahem) out there but figured it is a quick and convenient way to keep people updated on our daily antics, especially when we don't have time for a lengthy, photo-illustrated blog post. You can follow us at http://www.twitter.com/JIGGERY_POKERY_ xx

Goats, a bull, two elephants and a very tired Mother pig.

2010-03-30T10:46:00.006Z

I have been very slack at posting any photos from my trip to India so now I am about to bombard, starting with the animals of India. Although there is only one bull pictured (biggest horns we saw), cows and bulls are in abundance, everywhere, doing their thing in India. They pretty much own the streets (and beaches and car parks) but they just don't quite cut the mustard compared to the goats.

I only saw one live elephant on my travels and it came in the form of a raving elephant- my favourite kind. The other one was in the museum. Stuffed. There's a first time for everything...

The Independent Magazine - Fashion Special

2010-03-27T12:45:00.003Z

Just popped out to the corner shop to get The Independent so I could see our set featured in the magazine today. We shot it with the lovely Annie Collinge and stylist Gemma Hayward a couple of weeks ago, hope to do some more stuff with them soon as we had such a chatty but calm day, perfect team to work with I'd say.

1950s structures

2010-03-26T00:05:00.002Z

After an unsuccessful day of work (fucked weather/bad location) I spent the evening looking at things I like. Tomorrow is full of promise.

HAHA blast from the past! (well not that long ago)

2010-03-25T19:01:00.004Z

I was trying to find the venue of the exhibition we were in in Basel for Nike Art of Football with SHOWstudio and look what I found - look out for Lauren chatting away about our piece and me looking rather quieter than normal!

Nike 1-1: Basel Exhibition

Nike 1/1 | MySpace Video

Work in progress.

2010-03-24T17:26:00.004Z

This is a little tiny clip of something I'm working on at college. 7 weeks until the final show!!! This isn't what I'm making for the final show but it's something I have been working on for ages, once I've got it edited I'll put it up here.

Art is Proof

2010-03-21T16:23:00.005Z

At Suprette this week we have a few things in a show called All My Best Friends Are...Illustrators, Print Makers, Designers, Makers and Writers, including these limited edition print/collages.

It runs 18th – 28th March Weekdays 12 til 6 • Weekends 11 til 6. Above are our good friends Leah, Mark and Will of Art is Proof who are running the show. The work is all priced at affordable prices and really beautiful, well worth a visit.

ICA - Heavy Pencil

2010-03-19T16:58:00.001Z

What a wicked night. I don't think the ICA were ready for scantily clad Iain!
He was our perfect muse for the evening as he sang classic tunes from our most treasured femme fatal singers (Madonna, Pj Harvey, Amy Winehouse) we created him an item of costume to wear for each song. We started by making a giant pencil, then gloves, then shoulder pieces and a music stave for his guitar finishing in the photo here in a giant warrior headdress.

We loved every minute of it despite the pre-event nerves of the pressure of creating live on the stage, roll on the next one!

HEAVY PENCIL

2010-03-07T10:39:00.005Z

On Thursday we are hosting Heavy Pencil at the ICA. The night is playing big sister to the Birds Eye View closing party in the theatre. The theme is Femme Fatales and we have teamed up with our good friend Iain Woods aka {Psychologist } to present a night of making, costume and performance.

Come and watch the night get decidedly dangerous......

It is being held at

Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Mall,
London,
SW1Y 5AH

7pm till late

2010-02-25T21:06:00.004Z

I have a piece in a show at Cafe Gallery that opens tomorrow night 6-9 pv and then open all weekend 11-4.

If you are in the South London area pop in to have a gander.

Thank you

2010-02-15T23:36:00.002Z

Met up with the Pirate lads for a meeting in the west end tonight.
Will Robson-Scott gave me a print of this image of Ruairi and Beans from his In Dog's We Trust series which can be seen here Big love to my creative family.

Design Museum

2010-02-15T22:17:00.006Z

http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2010/brit-insurance-designs-of-the-year

I have just had a great weekend installing our Book Rainbow in the design museum to represent YCN in the competion linked above. Billed as the critic choice in Time Out (the show not our piece) and described as this on the Design Museum's website as "Now in their third year, the Brit Insurance Designs Awards "the Oscars of the design world" showcase the most innovative and forward thinking designs from around the world." It opens on Wednesday the 17th, judging starts a week on Wednesday. Good luck YCN!!

oh yeh!

2010-02-10T22:33:00.002Z

Turning off my phone getting into the chicken Kigu and staying in for this bad boy!!
clip can be seen here,
Channel 4 brightening up my Thursday.

Have a go Tuesday!

2010-02-08T22:53:00.001Z

So I've been working pretty hard on some stuff for my MA in between pitching for various jobs. There are few ideas that I have been working on for a while. One of the ideas is a film I'm working on at the moment. This is still of me eating my lunch. I filmed it in the studio but it's when I've watched it back it feels a little dead. I think it needs a to be a bit more uncomphortable so I'm in the process of trying to take it into the outside world! Watch this space or at your local swimming pool!

Spring clean

2010-01-25T01:35:00.005Z

I was dusting down some of the hordes or crap I have in my room, questioning whether I should rid my self of some of it? When one particularly loved and great (but not working since I got it at the market for 50p and with no straps) piece of tat fell of my window ledge. As it hit the floor it started to tick. Brilliant now it works and I have no reason to feel like I should get rid of it, this has actually made my day.

Other great things this weekend were these highribbons found in Rolls and Rems

and this lady forcing her rather unwilling child to put my hat on, and have his photo taken on the train when I was going home! (please excuse the crap I-phone photos)

2010-01-15T21:37:00.006Z

Right where to start. About 5 months ago lauren found these taps in a junk shop in Edmonton. I had seen them before and had been asked by my mum to look out for them as her friend had been searching for years for them. So while I was busy asking about mirrors that we needed for a shoot Lauren picked up this hefty bath pourer and obviously brought them. I was most jealous but imagine my joy when I found a full set at Wimbledon car boot sale last week. It's just missing the sink taps but I now am the proud owner of two light fittings a toilet roll holder toothbrush holder and soap dish and bath taps. To be honest I don't have a house or a bathroom of my own to put them in but soon come! In my dream house the bath tap will actually be my kitchen sink tap and the rest will be in my en suite bathroom.

So anyway my mum gave the these for Christmas, I got such brilliant presents. They are for salt and pepper holders made by Limoges a french ceramics make with a gold luster. The other great prezzy I got was a beautiful crochet quilt my auntie has been making for me of years. I love it.

So back to the gold swans. I have developed a love for Jane Mansfield. Look at her house! the pink palace in LA. I think I will model my dream house on hers. Full towelling bathroom?!

(p.s.) having real blogger issues. Have had to remove some pics as they won't go to the right size and they words keep coming up funny. Hmmmm frustrating, sorry about that but hoping I have it sorted now.....

This week i have mostly been watching...

2010-01-04T23:08:00.002Z

Eurotrash. Yup that old fave. Since 40d has decided to show me the highlights of the 90's who am I to not indulge and indulge I have. I tell you Snog Marry or avoid has NOTHING on this love-in.

CMYK Colour mixing refillable aerosols.

2010-01-03T23:53:00.005Z

Errrr sorry but which little bright whizz came up with this then eh? I expect to see examples by the time I get back from India in February.(First spotted at: http://cakeheadlovesevil.wordpress.com)

http://www.red-dot.sg/concept/porfolio/o_e/GR/R039.htm

Do they do 'em in gloss and matte? Fluoro / metallic? Or is that just taking it to a next level? SEEEEEEEYA. X

slide on slide off.

2009-12-21T19:56:00.003Z

Slide these on - Slides made by Lauren avalible at the 72 Rivington Street as part of our Magpie Collection. Get it while it's hot!

Slide these off! - Cracking delight straight from a cracker!

SELL SELL SELL!!!! BUY BUY BUY!!!!

2009-12-14T18:45:00.009Z

Our Magpie Collection at 72 Rivington street is a glittery shiny

treat for the present hunter. To be quite honest it was rather hard

to part with some of these. This is my top three of what is on offer.

Two Partying Partridges in a Pear Tree

Glitter Tits

And sold TODAY - The Office. It's all singing and all dancing

and I'm actually a little sad it's gone from my life. I hope the

buyer treasures this one as it is a one off and I don't think I'll

ever find anything quite as fabulous.

I suggest you get down there sharpish to bag a delight for you

mantel piece.

Grafik

2009-12-07T08:20:00.001Z

Thanks to Dan Rolfe Johnson @ Grafik Mag for his blog about My Two Front Teeth which you can see here.

My Two Front Teeth

2009-12-06T23:40:00.006Z

Sooooo we have been busy little beavers preparing for the launch of YCN's Christmas shop at 72 Rivington Street in Shoreditch. We have collaborated with YCN to produce the Christmas shop named 'My Two Front Teeth' which includes a glittery window display, a sparkly sequin makeover on the exterior of the building, a rainbow-themed Christmas tree and the Jiggery Pokery Magpie collection made up of various twinkly, shiny bits and bobs which we have made, found and customised. The magpie collection is all for sale. Some bits are one-offs and others can be made to order. We have also directed a project called Odd-Stockings where we have invited various designers, artists and others to create one-off stockings which will be sold to raise money for a charity of their choice. Participants include Mother, Donna Wilson, SCP, Johnny Kelly, Ritta Ikkonen, Kate Moross & Danny Sangra amongst others and they will be popping up at various dates throughout December. There is also a plethora of hand-printed wrapping paper, limited edition Christmas cards and other pretty design objects for sale in the shop so go down and check it out for yourselves. x

The concept of My Two Front Teeth comes from the song by Donald Yetter Gardner which you can read more about here. These are the lyrics of the song. It's DEFINITELY mine and Anna's Christmas Banger this year:

Every body Pauses and stares at me
These two teeth are gone as you can see
I don't know just who to blame for this catastrophe!
But my one wish on Christmas Eve is as plain as it can be!

All I want for Christmas
is my two front teeth,
my two front teeth,
see my two front teeth!

Gee, if I could only
have my two front teeth,
then I could wish you
"Merry Christmas."

It seems so long since I could say,
"Sister Susie sitting on a thistle!"
Gosh oh gee, how happy I'd be,
if I could only whistle (thhhh, thhhh)

All I want for Christmas
is my two front teeth,
my two front teeth,
see my two front teeth.

Gee, if I could only
have my two front teeth,
then I could wish you
"Merry Christmas!"

Tantalizer

2009-11-11T21:22:00.012Z

Well four long long days of sewing, surrounded in gold, listening to

bashment, not seeing the outside world and finally I have made my

piece for the lot 78 show, privet view on tomorrow 5.30-9pm and runs

until sunday it is at the Red Lion Pub on Waverton street W1. Invite

is strict to the privet view but please come and have look over the

weekend.

I was inspired by my love of antiques and a piece called a Tantalizer, it

was used in the Victorian days and was a way of keeping people from

drinking your precious booze. A wooden contraption the showed you the cut

glass decanters for the spirits but you had to have a key to gain access to

them.

Obsessive Optimism

2009-11-09T17:04:00.002Z

Here are a couple of shots from our show that opened last Friday. It is on for another month or so. If you are in the area pop and want to brighten up your day, pop in and have a look it's a the Nook Gallery, Dare Digital on Margret Street near Oxford Circus. ( just behind Topshop.)

Big thanks to everyone that came down on the night. It was lovely to see so many friendly faces

there.

Psychologist

2009-11-06T12:29:00.005Z

Last night I came across some photos from the shoot I worked on with photographer Isla McLeod. I LOVE them. It was a really long but fun day in an amazing location, with beautiful light and lovely people who had inspired ideas that got mixed up with happy accidents. My favourite kind of day. Annie Love has written a great article about the super-talented Iain Woods and his band 'Psychologist' that you can read HERE. Enjoy.

PLEASE VOTE FOR US!

2009-11-05T11:29:00.003Z

Mr Crayon has entered us Pirates into a competition with our 'We Like Colour' film (below). Please vote for us so that we have a chance of grabbing a cash prize and the chance to show the film in Times Squre!! We will pump the money back into Pirates enabling us to tantalize your tastebuds with more visual delights: http://www.babelgum.com/4006107/pirates-cia-timelapse-graffiti-mural.html

Please re-post the link to the competition wherever possible too! THANKS!! X

PIRATES!

2009-11-02T21:41:00.002Z

So a while back I mentioned an exciting collective us gals have formed with Jimi Crayon, Jamie Brown, Josh Howard, MR P, Alfa, Teck and Will Robson-Scott. Well this is the opening project and it is all a bit nice. After a good write-up on the Creative Review blog and numerous other blogs there is definitely a buzz in the air. The most exciting news came today but I must wait to reveal all.

The Nook

2009-10-28T13:10:00.004Z

Anna and I are having our first little exhibition. It starts this Friday. Please come down.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

2009-10-22T13:35:00.003Z

Its that time again and how quickly it has come around. The RCA secret postcard exhibition has a timely appearance, what with the post strike. It only seems like yesterday that I had to do this last year and now all the more important because it gives us money for our final show, can't say fairer than that!

Also while Lauren eagerly got her nails did (and they look so buff) I was sitting excitedly in the next chair getting my hands adorned in a more 'birds of a feather' come 80's wild night out style! They are so damn hot.

Best salon in town and believe me as I have visited a few!

NOS in the Guardian Guide.

2009-10-20T16:53:00.001Z

So our opening window for Nation of Shopekeepers in Leeds is featured in the Food and Drink section of this week's Guide. Little pic but nice surprise!

125 Magazine

2009-10-19T22:26:00.002Z

So The Heroes issue of 125 Magazine is about to hit the shops. We were honored to be asked to contribute to this issue and are very much looking forward to seeing our Totem Poles in print. It is a truly stunning Magazine.

WAH Nails (oh and Zoo Art Fair)

2009-10-19T15:57:00.006Z

So I forgot to mention that I FINALLY made it down to the WAH nail salon on Friday too. My nails had got to a good length at last without breaking so it was about time I treated myself to a makeover. Meghan realised my 70's psychedelic curtain idea amazingly well and we added some gold glitter tips for a little glam touch. They look like a Mexican Sunrise mixed with 70'S fairground carousel. I am WELL pleased with them and planning my next paint-up session already. WAH Nails also sells vintage clothes, jewellery, snacks and drinks amongst other bits and bobs. It is the perfect east london hang out where you can go and get pampered and inspired at the same time. With good music, juicy coffee table books and a whole host of interesting characters popping in and out it is no wonder that it had a lovely little write up in Timeout the other day (as well as Sharmadein being featured in Grazia recently). Our blog on the WAH site still isn't working but as it has all been a bit of an exciting, busy and stressful last six months for the WAH crew we can understand why. With a pop-up shop coming up in Selfridges and having just done nails for the PPQ show at London Fashion Week, these gals are definitely smashing it.

Oh and I was very excited about my Sunday date to the Zoo Art Fair yesterday. Unfortunately I could have found a thousand better ways to spend the hefty £15 door tax. It was a lovely sunny afternoon, I was in great company and I would have regretted not going but sadly the best thing in there was the Bistroteque pop-up cafe. I was particularly disappointed by Rob Tufnell's curated Exhibition 'Althogether Elsewhere'. Excuse my language but what a pile of s**t. The legendary 'magic carpet' theme promised all sorts of psychedelic wonderment but seruiously failed to deliver. We agreed that the building was far more interesting than the exhibiton. I don't think that Frieze's new and well reviewed 'Frieze Frame' addition helped their case as it was major competition . However, they are going to need to really step up to the plate and switch things up next year if they want to survive in the art (meat) market.

The Museum of Everything

2009-10-17T08:43:00.005Z

Last night Anna and I forfitted a night out on the tiles in order to visit The Museum of Everything. Newly opened and with three stars from the Evening Standard amongst other press, this tucked-away gem is the most exciting thing to hit London in a while. Cleverly timed to coincide with the highbrow Frieze Art Fair in nearby Regents Park, the opening exhibition of Folk/Outsider Art is quirky, heart-warming and totally inspiring. Brimming from top to bottom, this unsusual gallery space is the perfect location for the largest collection of this type of art that I have ever seen.

I was lucky enough to catch some of Henry Darger's work in his show 'In the Realms of the Unreal' in San Francisco whilst on a Uni trip a few years back. His beautiful fairy tale-esque landscapes in watery colours blew me away at the time and the Museum of Everything have a large collection of his. On the same trip, a friend and I came across Creativity Explored in the Mission District of SF and spent some time with the artists there. Creativity Explored is a 'nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art'. I was so inspired by the incredible people I met and the artwork. Two artists who I loved were Michael Bernard whose book 'Fears of Your Life' I bought and John Patrick McKenzie who compiles written list-style artworks that vary depending on whether he is in a good or bad mood. I am lucky enough to own an original of his.

We were drawn to the film 'Make' (blurb below) that was showing last night as it followed four artists with similar disabilities. The most moving part of the film for me was the relationships between each individual where their artwork portrayed a clear longing to connect with something/someone they had loved and in most cases lost because of their disability or soon after being diagnosed. Judith Scott, one of the artists featured (who also has work in The Museum of Everything) had spent the last part of her life visiting a similar centre art centre in Oakland called Creative Growth. The Bay area of California seems to be a really progressive area for this type of creative exploration and therapy. I am now inspired to discover similar places in London.

Anna and I went along thinking this was a new permanent space in London but later found out that it is only scheduled to be open for two weeks. The organisers are desperately trying to push it to be open for longer but just in case this doesn't happen I urge EVERYBODY to make a visit. As we walked out into the freezing night both of us had to pinch ourselves to remind us that we weren't back in California. It really felt like we could have been because places like this just don't exist in London, especially in Primrose Hill, which is not a place I visit much.

Homemade Dens

2009-10-13T07:45:00.004Z

When I was little I used to get all my Mum and Dads' Indian drapes, crochet blankets, sheets and throws and make amazing dens in the living room and garden and sit in them and eat Dolly Mixture out of my favourite little yellow plastic bowl with red hearts on it. I was thinking about starting to make dens again (especially after seeing Jurgen Bey's 'Linen-Cupboard-House' in Telling Tales at the V&A). Today I noticed on Facebook that Booooooom.com has an ongoing project called Wild Things Forts. Inspired by the eagerly awaited film Where the Wild Things Are Booooooom.com has asked people to create their own dens, fill them with things they love and send in a snapshot to be featured online. The deadline was October 12th for Wild Things Forts IV so unfortunately I missed it :(. Ahhh well, might make one anyway - just for fun.

Ulrika Kestere

Jamie Shaw

Brighton Show

2009-10-12T12:33:00.003Z

Soooo unfortuantely we had to postpone our Brighton Show for various reasons. We will still be having one in London and hopefully re-arranging the one in Brighton for sometime soon so please watch this space.

Disappointed about the lack of show, I decided to go back down to Brighton on Saturday night anyway. Managed to blag two last minute guestlists for The Blind Tiger Club's fabulous Speakeasy which happened to be going on in a very beautiful, grand and fitting building opposite the Corn Exchange. Walked in on my friend Cordelia Fellowes and her band Gypsy Squat Pop Project playing in the basement-great surprise. The Correspondents (thanks for the tickets Ian!) were AMAZINGLY fun too. (Sweaty) dancing and drinking and lying on the beach chatting in the early hours. Perfect Brighton night. If only I had known it was 1920's affair... A bit out of place in my 70's psychedelic dress.

I also found a great wooden vintage shield/crest thingy in the Sunday Market (which was much better when it was in the train station car park. Boo hoo), got muddled up amongst a Bikers convention, ate the world's best roast at the Yeoman on Guildford Road AND ate frozen yogurt from the Lick on Gardner street which reminded me of L.A. YUM. Best fun EVER.

Fantastic Funfairs

2009-10-04T21:30:00.004Z

The National Fairground Archive is one of the bestest websites ever. It has lead me on a magical adventure through the history of fairgrounds. If you are a fan of typography, sign writing, psychedelia, victorian ornamental design, colourful bright lights or simply a good ol' cheap funfair thrill check this AMAZING resource:

http://www.nfa.dept.shef.ac.uk/societies/index.html

and scroll down to the 'fairground art - specialist sites' which led me to this:

http://www.fairart.co.uk/galleryindex.htm

I am wellll distracted from what I am supposed to be doing.

The Laughter.

2009-10-01T16:22:00.003Z

My house is full of laughter. Today I was reminiscing the summer with my sister and the thing that stood out was the constant laughter. I just stumbled across this quote:

'Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.' ~Victor Hugo

It is going to be a sunny winter.

Hanky-Panky

2009-09-29T09:09:00.003Z

Anna and I are having our first exhibition, in Brighton. We are also bringing it to London at the end of October but we felt it was fitting to have the first one in the birthplace of Jiggery Pokery. It opens on 10th October which is very very soon and is at the Artist Residence Hotel Gallery. It is called Hanky-Panky and we are très excited about it. It will be a somewhat mischievous visual feast for the eyes. Watch this space for more. You can see some of the recent exhibitions at the Artist Residence Gallery here on Luke Tudor Griffiths' blog Wish we had made it down to Pinky's show. His stuff is Maravilloso:

Now I must get on with the Stencil for our 'Rest is Noise' Brixton pub window display extravaganza. I am quite scared about this possible post strike today as I am waiting in for important stuff that might not arrive on time. Bah humbug.

My Dissertation

2009-09-28T10:43:00.004Z

Ok so I have been in hibernation for two weeks doing my "bloody dissertation" while trying to find articles on the poundshop and it's relevance within popular culture I came across myself and Lauren pg two on google answering questions for a WAH interview. Great helpful stuff, can I interview myself or is that cheating?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&q=poundshop+popular+culture&start=10&sa=N

Haha.

My weekend has been...

2009-09-27T22:27:00.008Z

...productive on a hangover. I was feeling reaaal ropey on Saturday but I still made it to Kilburn car boot and picked up some serious starting points for our upcoming exhibition in Brighton. Even made it to Little Venice for a walk along the canal. I also checked out an exhibition at Milagros on Columbia Road by an amazing artist called Stephen Wright. He's my new fave. Anna and I are literally soooo obsessed with outsider artists and people who make folkey type art out of throwaway items and junk. It was one of those experiences where I didn't really want to leave because I didn't want it to be over. Last time that happened was the Peter Doig at the Tate Britain.

Today. Back to Columbia Road for Oliver's prawns and onto Brick Lane for more exhibition stuff hunting. Instead I bought clothes and a present for Anna to say well done for finishing her dissertation. It's top secret. Photos to be uploaded after I give it to her- She's going to wee herself. Escaping to the back streets near Brick Lane, Annie and I discovered Spitalfields City Farm; a colourful, wild, hippy-type farm with the coolest plate wall, a goat in a phone box and a hut with a very strange-shaped roof. How have I always missed this?!

Oh yeah and someone knocked on my door the other day and asked if they could take the rainbow sparkly pyramid I had left in my front garden. Gutted I couldn't find a use for it but space is getting tight these days! Spotted it on my way home from Columbia Road though- love it!

Anna Piaggi

2009-09-24T10:25:00.002Z

what a lady:

Design Week Today

2009-09-23T23:55:00.006Z

Round two. This time with Anna, as a momentary inspiration break from her dreaded dissertation. First stop Brixton for a meeting about our opening window and interior installation at the new Brixton hotspot 'Rest is Noise' (formerly Ivan's Retreat). Forgetting the steel-capped toe boots meant we weren't allowed on site for any length of time... Doh! Onto the V&A for Telling Tales. I twittered the fact that I would be paying the exhibition a visit and had a reply twitter from the V&A asking what I thought of it! Service with a smile... I twittered back: '@V_and_A Telling Tales- brilliantly creepy show! 'Linen-Cupboard-House' by Jurgen Bey was my favourite. Oh to be a child again'. So that is Telling Tales summarised up in less than 140 words (Twitter does wonders for my incessant rambling...)

We then hopped on the tube, via the best window display in a while and a cupcake pit stop:

to visit Tom Dixon's 'The Dock' an exhibition showcasing himself and other contemporary designers. It gave us the chance to check out the amazing 'Hatch' by Studio Toogood:

These very, very sexual gloss-dipped logs by someone in the Vorboten : 7 Studios from Berlin exhibition organised by Studio Hausen (but either it is very poorly documented online as to exactly who did what, or I am just being rubbish at researching... And writing down a name when I see something I like. If you know - answers on a postcard please!):

and fiiiinally catch up with Will from www.itsnicethat.com. Their second book is unbelievably inspiring; full to the brim with colourful, witty, dreamy work. It also gives further insight into the brains of some of the most exciting designers out there doing their thing. I recommend. We were talking about how some people were really disappointed that The London Design Festival had been spread out across London this year rather than being contained in the exhibtion space at Earls Court. If you only have a couple of days in London I can see how this might be frustrating but personally I haven't ever visited the festival before for the precise reason that it was all in one place. To me, big exhibition space= intimidating and stale. This way you make the effort to check out exactly what you wish to see and stumble across other things on the way whether they are part of design week or just little parts of London you wouldn't usually explore. It also allows others to get involved and open up spaces (almost like open-house) for us all to learn more than normal from this crazy and wonderful city we call London. Itsawinner. We also talked about the future of publications; online versus print etc and Anna decided that the future is most likely to be bicycle-powered Batman style visions that appear up in the sky. Thatasawinnertoo.

Oh and aren't these the most amazing roses ever?!! Fade from pink to coral to peach. Yes please.

I also want this for my dining room:

and am keeping fingers crossed that two of these will be mine for my living room:

Design Week Yesterday

2009-09-23T21:58:00.009Z

So it being The London Design Festival and all, yesterday, I decided that it was imperative to escape the studio/office/house to see what is happening in the real world. Soooo out of the loop that I went for showSTUDIO's 'Fashion Revolution' at Somerset House thinking it would be a bit quieter than the V&A considering it was Fashion Week etc. Low and Behold the trendy pvc jegging clad crew were swarming the place. Oh right, London Fashion Week moved to Somerset house and it appears I was the last to realise. So after tripping over glittery loafers galore I made it in alive. A few of the best: HUGE, towering statues of Naomi Campbell that you could decorate via an interactive stylus type thingy, a BRILLIANT video piece by Gareth Pugh, a lovely collaboration between Nick Knight and Jane How called 'Sweet' with a twinkly soundtrack by Kieran Hebden (aka Fourtet). My favourite though was a video called 'Vox Humana (Part of Future Tense 2008) by Rodarte:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6vXbFNWJt0

Pop-up shops have been popping up all over London for Design/Fashion Week. I opted for a trip East to the Dr. Martens Shop in Spitalfields Market rather than the Emporio Armani Caffè (bit more fashion week location warning and I might have thought otherwise). The interior of the DMs pop-up shop was based on a shoe shop stockroom and had a nice feel, if a little similar to the late Footpatrol (R.I.P) store on St Anne's Court in Soho. I can see why people are going a bit barmy for those super shiny, candy coloured boots... Although they'll most probably be highly un-trendy again before I decide to don a pair.

I then wandered up to Redchurch Street to check out Caravan's miniature wallpaper window display by Deborah Bowness but hadn't read the smallprint. So it starts tomorrow (or today by the time this blog is finished... Thursday 24th) I shall return. On the way home I chanced upon another Pop-Up Shop with Eclectcollect at Studio1.1 (57a Redchurch Street, London E2 7JD) and bought the first book I have bought in ages, 'Society' by Bridget Smith:

I also acquired Corrine Day's 'Diary' via a package in the post from my flatmate's Dad the other day which was a lovely surprise. Two Books in one week... Wow.

The evening was filled by a visit to the launch party of new conceptual workspace and network, THECUBE on Commercial Street. We are working on an exciting new promotional project for them which will launch later this year. We also bumped into Iain Whiteley from the Guardian and finally got to meet his partner in crime Anna Tozer. LOVE their work.

WOWZA!!! What a three months!

2009-09-04T09:19:00.009Z

So we have been working our little cotton socks off, so much so that I'm ill and after Sunday I am retreating to a darkened room to assess the damage and sleep!

We have been juggling a few jobs at once so it's pretty hard to know where to start really. I guess a list is appropriate;

First things first the art direction for Vauxhall Skate. We totally transformed the Village Underground with a gold lamé inflatable entrance, giant tents, rotating all-seeing eyes, prisms, rainbows, UV Tron style cars, a madness reflective car by Jamie Brown and a whole lot more. Here is the logo Kate Moross designed and a little selection of photos that Jamie took on the night:

We then did Lauren's Dad's opticians windows (got to keep the fam sweet) with the perfectly coincidental left over eyes. It certainly stands out down in Crouch End!

So we have already posted about Tip-Top but we went on to make our giant car souvenir which we can't show off just yet but it here are some of the delights that we collected. My faves were these bad boy Cliff salt and pepper numbers, they didn't get used so I get to keep them (yay) Lauren's most prized were the toadstools and swan egg-cups so buff.

Oh and here is a little photo that got away from the trip.

Right, next we collaborated with Jamie Brown on a commission by Becks to give the Old Blue Last in Shoreditch a makeover related to a song for 'Becks Futures'. We chose Love Cats by The Cure. It will be up for a month so go and have a look if you're in East.

Wednesday saw the annual YCN LIVE event in which we collaborated with our good friend Bryony Birkbeck to make a massive snow dome with a summer theme. We got the guests dressed up in inside to be shot by Jess Bonham for the YCN site.

We have been making a series of work for 125 Magazine that will be shot on Sunday. We are very excited about this so keep an eye out for the up coming issue.

Not forgetting to party, we also went to Carnival and Green Man festival!! No wonder I'm coughing an sneezing like mad!!

TIP-TOP ROAD TRIP!!!!!

2009-08-12T22:02:00.004Z

We're all going on a summer holiday..... in our new motor!
We have teamed up with Vauxhall cars for a road trip for 7 days from New Cross to London Fields via, Whitstable, Whitby, Keswick and the Cotswolds (amongst other places). In return for their sponsorship we are going to make them the ultimate souvenir with the treasures we find along the way.

You can check us out at

Tip-Top Road Trip Blogspot

Tip-Top Road Trip Twitter

Tip-Top Road Trip Flickr

WE ARE RUBBISH!

2009-07-26T08:02:00.002Z

Moving house x 2 and trouble with Internet/everything being boxed up= lack of Jiggery Pokery blogging. It's no excuse really but because I was left so long, I kinda got the blog fear. Our website is also being re-designed and a big Art Direction job for Vauxhall Skate this Wednesday has seen us spreading ourselves out accross various studios, warehouses and other spaces to make some seriously cosmic stuff for the event. Watch this space and all will be revealed soon. I can't even add photos to this blog from my dang iPhone. Ah well, only really wanted to let the world know that we're still alive... Just.

Blast

2009-05-21T23:05:00.004Z

Yesterday and the day before we were working on a project with Fallon for the BBC. Blast is an exciting BBC project designed to inspire creativity in young people. Part of the project is the Blast interactive studio, where users can control machinery that fires paintball guns, activates glue guns, lights up coloured strip lights which make sounds and prints mini-messages onto till receipts, all across the internet, from your own computer! All the action takes place in one crazy, colourful studio in London, designed by Fallon. If you missed us on the live webcam yesterday, when we were based there for the day, you can see the remnants of what we were getting up to here: www.blastgetcreative.co.uk. Here are some snaps from the day too:

Nation of Shopkeepers

2009-05-14T21:26:00.003Z

Anna and I got back from Leeds today after installing the opening window display for Nation of Shopkeepers. The eagerly awaited cool venue of the North already has a killer line-up and will host a whole load of events unusual to a pub such as jumble sales. The brainchild of the team behind the Lock Tavern in Camden and the Amersham Arms in New Cross amongst others are bringing their quirky vintage style and laid back vibes to the North and we reckon it is well worth a visit after it opens on 23rd May. You can keep up to date with their happenings on their Facebook group. Here are a few work in progress snaps of us making bits and pieces for the window display. Who needs Kirsty Allsop to tell you that skip-raiding is one of the best pastimes! We've been doing it since day dot (plus finding things in front garden throw-outs and even just on road-literally like the bed headboard) As for flea markets, Deptford Market smashes it every time! Photos of the actual window to follow shortly.

Funny Little Things

2009-05-04T22:21:00.005Z

Last week, Jess Bonham came over to do a photo story, documenting me and my room before I move out and disperse my belongings throughout my house. It was the perfect opportunity to properly sort my room out. I threw heaps on stuff away but also found many little things I had misplaced and now it is an absolute pleasure spending time in my room. Even clutter can find its own little place somewhere:

I also bought this month's Elle Decoration and was pleased to read the editor's thoughts on collections. The subject of Michelle Ogundehin's May letter was Obsessions and she writes about how "...a golden age of collecting is apparently upon us as 'baby boomers' rediscover childhood hobbies." She then goes on to state that "Individual obsessions are vital: they are the backbone of greeat design, good for business and essential for living well at home. After all they express our personal points of view and remind us what's really important to us as people."

I remember when we were first told to start keeping archives when I was in the first year at Uni in Brighton and I suddenly found a validity for numerous archives I had already compiled over the years; sketchbooks, folders and files full of postcards, magazine adverts, random images, packaging etc. I still collect stuff today, although I am more careful about only holding onto things that I love and making sure they are filed somewhere that I will be able to find them and refer to them in the future. They are such a valuable resource and get more and more refined the more I collect. It is 3D objects I am having trouble with such as these funny little objects I found in a thrift store in Kona:

I don't want to open them beacuse the packaging is integral to their inspiration but I don't want to put them in a box and forget about them. Maybe a three dimensional box frame, to display on my wall, will be the beginning of a new archive.

Other than this, Anna and I did a window display to celebrate the opening of the YCN library/gallery space in their new HQ at 72 Rivington Street, in Shoreditch. We had to collect an awful lot of different coloured books but we did it and no cheating took place!

Oh and since we're on the subject of collections, here is a market stall on Shoreditch High Street full of things that I will not be adding to my collection. Seriously mate, who is your supplier?!

Cream Coloured Ponies and Crisp Apple Strudel, Door Bells and Sleigh Bells and Schnitzel with Noodles ...

2009-04-24T09:57:00.010Z

When I was in Beyond Retro the other day, I looked up and saw a Ra-Ra ceiling:

It reminded me of the Fashion District in L.A:

I was so bowled over by the fullnness and juiciness of those shops that I didn't quite know what to do with myself. Being so overwhelmed, I hardly bought a thing. Now I am KICKING myself. I have so many ideas, projects I am delving into where the fruits of Downtown L.A would yield so much pleasure and inspiration for me. A couple of months out of England, not surrounded by the clutter of my possessions and I didn't know what to do with myself when faced with so much choice. We wandered away from the Fashion District, our aim to mooch about in some of the (so-called) upcoming galleries of the area (extremely disappointing) but instead found ourselves in a similarly cluttered but much more peaceful shop Califrnia Milinery which was a little hidden Aladdin's Cave of gems from past and present; a shrine to the art of hat-making. It was a little remnant of bygone eras, so beautiful and unspoilt and I was in love with all the fixtures and fittings as well as the feathers and ribbons, bows and brocade. The fullness but softness of the muted vintage colours blew me away:

After the Fashion District we stumbled upon the Mexican party shop strip which looked like this:

Colour and music and people and yummy Mexican corn in abundance, I had been thrown into the deep end that day and I was beginning to reacclimatise to a life of excess but I was tired. Really tired. Then Jasper took us to this party in the Warehouse district in Downtown L.A where the underage kids were dressed like this (Photographs by Jess Bonham):

It was like some early nineties/ Japanese Harajuku inspired subculture that we had never seen before. They were fresh to the underage... I mean underground rave scene in L.A. I needed that last peaceful few days back in Hawaii just to get my head around the whole thing:

and don't even get me get started on Vegas...

HOLIDAY!!!!

2009-04-09T16:49:00.003Z

I managed to have a little break this week! I did fun things, nails, got given presents, gave presents also, saw the girls, ate food.....
Well actually I ate at the Ritz with my Mum, Gran and Aunty and made meringues with Lauren, Leah and Tara. Girl time!

Leah gave me these hot tranfers and I gave Ruairi a ghetto blaster that plays records vertically!!!

And finally I got my my nails did! From this to this..... I finally have found a safe nail technician who is up for fun designs and they even make you a cup of tea while you have them done and triangle diamante!!! Brilliant.

The Vagina Monologues

2009-04-02T23:06:00.002Z

Just got back from Hackney Empire after seeing the Vagina Monologues. Me and my sister took my Mum to see it as a Mother's Day present and it was f*****g hilarious. On for three nights at Hackney Empire (there were still seats tonight so maybe there will be some for tomorrow or Saturday too), Sharon D Clarke, Jesse Wallace and Jocelyn Jee make a great team on stage. Each have a slightly different but equally edgy and dry sense of humour that allows them to bounce off each other and make the crowd creeeeeeease. Even the low belly laughs from the few blokes there could be heard amongst the giggling gals. Check it.

Acquire Arts Launch Night

2009-04-02T08:40:00.004Z

Come and join us tomorrow for an evening of music and punch. Welcoming all free-thinkers to become part of this interesting and accessible new space in Battersea. Acquire Arts has a diary of events which is filling up quickly and the space hopes to become an integral part of the local community.

The Launch Night offers artists, musicians, writers and local residents the chance to meet and get involved in future projects and who better to kick off the festivities than the award winning (Channel 4 Talent Awards)
Iain Woods. Be there or be square dude x

2009-03-31T18:36:00.005Z

VOTE FOR ME!!!! This is actually life size although everyone thinks it's just a glove, but it nearly my height! I've worked my ass off the last three days to finish it!
I want to win! Please vote.
Click on this link
http://dazeddigital.com/Projects/Live-Unbuttoned/ViewSubmission.aspx?ChoiceId=5346&CompetitionId=12

Last night...

2009-03-31T08:13:00.003Z

I had a dream that I was looking after a little kid and when I turned my head for one minute, he climbed out of the cot to go on a little adventure. Only problem was, he was the size of my nose stud and we were somewhere that resembled the Grand Canyon. After managing to find him on top of a wardrobe, in a bath bag, I was suddenly with my Mum and sneakily trying to change the present labels over on the three Betsey Bags pictured below in this blog. A friend of my Mum's had bought one each for me, my sister and my brother (?!) but my sister had got the one with the telephones all over it and I REALLY wanted it. I think it might be because I am heading over to Leah's for some jerk chicken and a game of Dreamphone later but I cannot explain the nose-stud-sized child.

Soon...

2009-03-30T21:32:00.002Z

Los Angeles (& Las Vegas) - Part two of the trip! The photos are colourful. There is loads to show (apart from the signs I already posted) and loads to tell but you're just going to have to wait! HA

Hawaiian Paradise

2009-03-30T21:28:00.002Z

Sorry but it had to be done. I couldn't go to Hawaii, immerse myself in paradise and not make you all a bit jealous... Now that I have done all the design-related posts, here are a select few of my favourite hedonistic moments:

Some of the Best Hawaiian Vehicles

2009-03-30T21:25:00.002Z

A 'Loves' Van that delivers all their mini-doughnuts and chocolate pies to the various stores. If I could use my 'Roll your Own' hippy-van converting book to convert any van into a liveable space it would be this one. One day, One Day. (I'll get it shipped back with my psychedelic sofa that still resides in the Hamptons...)

Rainbow Shave Ice Convert-a-Car

Some sort of Voodoo Van?

Brickwork ride. The most superior of all whips.

Psychedelic Hawaii

2009-03-30T20:44:00.006Z

Some bits I saw and collected on my travels. Tape-pattern window art- brilliant use of a pane of glass. It reminded me of Mr Jamie Brown's work which was a nice reminder of home.

A Showtime cup I ate lots of popcorn out of whilst quenching my salty thirst with a nice Longboard beer, Bling Grills for Anna, no explanations needed here.

Good old-fashioned candy floss sugar packaging.

Lastly but not leastly, three outrageous bags for Betseyville by Betsey Johnson. Knowing my obsession for Ice-Cream, some of my favourite ladies bought it for me as a leaving present. Really sweet.

Funny signs in Hawaii and LA

2009-03-30T20:33:00.003Z

Now I have started blogging, I have quite a lot to catch up on. Just because I haven't been blogging, doesn't mean I haven't been looking, finding and recording. One eye looking at you, one eye looking for you. Always. I have put things into categories becasue there is so much (or maybe just because I am OCD and I find it satisfying)

HAWAII:

My personal favourite is probably Duane's simple, straight to the point post-it note business card. What's the need for fancy marketing when getting your message across can be this straight forward?

LA:

There are some WEIRdoes in LA. Straight up. At least I know where my next birthday is going to be though...

Mahalo

2009-03-30T15:42:00.003Z

So, I timidly begin this blog, knowing full well that I have not posted for yeonks. I have been putting it off as I just don't know where to begin. So much has happened in the last few months. Back from my adventures in Hawaii, I am in a period of transition and still don't quite feel settled again yet. Mainly, this is because I am anxiously waiting for my new house to be in a liveable state so that I can move in and make it homely. There has been lots of ripping out walls, ceilings, floors and then electrics, plumbing and plastering. I have been grafting where possible but I have left the boys to the heavy work and I will get involved with the painting and interior stuff. Choosing kitchens, and trying to locate a cheap, salvaged spiral staircase (Victorian ornate or repro Victorian ornate....) are high on the agenda. If anyone has any links for staircases, send 'em this way! I am aching to distribute the wealth of oddities contained in my not-so-big bedroom throughout my new house. This includes three cocktail cabinets, a number of mannequin parts, numerous tool boxes, hundreds and millions of books... I even had a clear out but it doesn't look any different! Cabin fever to say the least.

Apart from the move, I have been busy catching up with friends, fam and the work crew. Anna and I have hopefully got a few very exciting projects coming up so watch this space. Other than that, whilst Anna is busy getting down to work with her MA, I have a couple of new solo ventures that I am about to embark on. I have been busy sketching, researching sourcing and planning. All I need now is my own little studio corner to get making. All will be revealed very soon. One venture is inspired by my time in Hawaii and I got my first tattoo, en route to the airport as a little souvenir/symbol to get me started:

I thought it would really hurt but it didn't. That is kind of scary as I fear I may go back for more...

Now I have done this first blog, I feel ready to grace the page with more posts about my time in Hawaii. First I eat dinner though.

The places I went, the things I saw.

2009-03-30T00:52:00.003Z

Epsom High Steet-Hoxton Square

SE1-Deptford

Kentish Town-Harrow Road

tings!

2009-03-26T00:56:00.002Z

Er yeah well the less mentioned about the lack of posts the better! We have been busy! and it would be good to work out how to do this from our phones so blogging could happen on the move! Iphone lessons welcome trust me!

I want to get some of this fabric! it's great. African screen-printed fabric, but instead of traditional batique style patters, old skool mobiles and computers! I love it. I found it on the internet but surely only a matter of time till I can get it over here?

I did some stuff with a friend of mine called Pixie Felton. We had a really fun afternoon in the studio doing a shot based on the idea of fame. I will endeavor to update the website with everything that has been happening. Just need to find a spare day over easter. Here is a sneaky peak at some of the props that I used.

Also I had a show last week at the Cafe Gallery in Southwark Park. It;s a lovely space. I kept it a bit quite because I'm just trying out some ideas at the moment, I reckon they need alot of development but I love a challenge and a new experience! But also it was mothers day so most peeps were busy. Next time maybe I'll feel brave enough to put it out there for the masses.

Glamtastic

2009-01-21T01:26:00.002Z

Well in London town life is not so glamorous! Byrony, Miren and I spent a good hour digging a doggy litter tray to make a floor for a video we are art directing last week. Cold wet and really gross when two dogs came to frolic and piss all over the pile of wood chip.
But we had fun times especially with a drum on the old street roundabout. The video will be out next week so I can show you more.

Also I have spent the last few days working like a mad lady (nothing changes) I got a bargain at a photocopy shop, as the owner decided that I looked hungry and halved the price of my prints and told me to eat some lunch! Brilliant. I'm working on a shot for I Love Fake magazine and the theme is 'Fame' which is right up my street. Lots of muscle men and cameras. My room looks strange at the mo!

Also Lauren and I have out fruit machine being displayed at the Royal Collage of Art Jewellery work in progress show. Lucy Gledhill has done a wicked animation and curation for it. Despite my bad phone photo the show is well worth a look at there are some really beautiful things.

Aloha

2008-12-31T14:49:00.005Z

I am off to the land of the luau, grass skirts, flower garlands and the hard-to-miss Hawaiian shirt for six weeks. My flight leaves at 11.15 am tomorrow. I am probably going to be in a bit of a two & eight after the parties tonight... Eeeeek. A holiday it is though and hopefully there will be a few moments here and there to relax and catch a bit of sun. I shall update the blog with tales of my adventures and perhaps a photo or two if I can steel a few minutes here and there on someone's laptop xx

Better late than never...

2008-12-31T14:35:00.007Z

For those of you who aren't on our mailing list, this is what you would have received in your inbox if you were. Let us know if you would like us to add you to the list and we will send you lots of colourful junk in the future. Hope you're all had a festive one xx

Photographs (kindly and patiently) taken by Jess Bonham

(Please click on the image to enlarge. The quality of the enlarged image isn't great but i'm sure you'll catch my drift.. (haha) The full quality images will be up the website soon)

XMASSSSSSS!

2008-12-18T01:26:00.002Z

Yep loving the christmas cheer. We've been having events left right and center, parties by the bucket load and everyday santa comes in the form of the postie at my door! The best pressie being Volume mag!!! Thanks Ruby for the hand delivery. We have a fashion shoot in the issue shot by Jess Bonham, show-casing recent RCA graduates of women's and men's wear. It's a special Birthday issue and looks great.

After the joy of our fruit machine down at the V&A Metal Rocks Late that we did a couple of weekends ago, we decided to embark on another live event called Design Grotto. It takes place at Somerset House on The Strand this weekend. It starts on Friday at 6pm and goes on until 10pm and runs Sat and Sun 10 am till 6pm. We are making a big ol' 'Goducken Dip' so come and win a prize while stuffing your hand up our oversized turkey!! Hence all the postman action, we have searched far and wide for some cracking prizes. It's also my birthday so Saturday will be a day of celebration and champers sipping over there!

I brought my self a little birthday treat off ebay, soon to make it's debut in a shoot for Neo2 magazine. Well I say debut but if you count all the travelling it did in the front of the van today then maybe not...
We are working with a great photographer called Rafael Perez Evans and have spent the evening making an exciting set. Keep your eyes peeled....

Willy's Stocking Filler. Ho Ho Ho

2008-12-10T01:20:00.005Z

You can and SHOULD buy this HERE!!!

It has been a long time coming due to the somewhat elusive nature of Grime MCs but trust me all ye online gift buyers, this is not one to be missed. Will Robson-Scott's powerful portraits of some of London's most notorious Grimesters are like gold dust. A snip at £9.99, my Grandma will be ignoring her champers, turkey and brussels when she reveals this exclusive feast for the eyes on Christmas day... Not to mention the jealousy of her friends as she flips to reveal a new man each month. Another lovely project tucked under that Muksy little belt of his. You can also check his website here and his daily-life shenanigans here.

The Deptford Project

2008-12-08T00:45:00.009Z

In between pound shop visits in Deptford and Dalston for a fun little project we are working on with YCN for the forthcoming edition of 'Ideas Illustrated', Anna and I grabbed a jacket sweet potato and a cuppa aboard The Deptford Project Train... Phew that was a long sentence. Designed by Studio Myerscough, the colourful edition to Deptford High Street, certainly brightened up my day. Check out the site for the proper blurb. Deptford - It's coming up, it's coming up.

Verner Panton

2008-12-02T16:52:00.006Z

I was lucky enough to experience one of Panton's environments when I was in Vienna a couple of years ago with James. We went over to Austria because the Summer of Love exhibition was on at the Kunsthalle and I had missed it at the Tate Liverpool. It completely blew my mind... Particularly Panton's stuff. Check out this sight dedicated to his stuff (although some of it isn't uploaded yet and the frustratingly small 'coming soon' thumbnails are too much of a tease for me): www.vernerpanton.com

I first became aware of Panton's massive mark on the design world after reading an article about Lenny Kravitz' house about 12 years ago. His Miami ranch house, designed by Michael Czysz, is a hybrid of psychedelic influences which include an environment very similar to 'Visiona 2', the exhibit that I was fortunate enough to immerse myself in during my trip to Vienna. I kept the article and probably have it tucked away in an old sketchbook somewhere but can't for the life of me find it now I want to read it again! Just like me, Michael Czysz was clearly a big fan of Verner Panton's super-sexual, psychedelic-styles too.

Me in Vienna:

Hippies back in the day:

I was blown away by the quote on Verner Panton's site too:

"Colour is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand which plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul.” (Wassily Kandinsky)

Although doing a bit more research it seems that 'harmonies' is replaced with 'hammers' in different versions of the quote. The first person to set me straight on this wins a psychedelic kiss from me, inspired by this:

Metal Rocks @ the V&A this Friday

2008-11-25T14:59:00.004Z

This Friday, we will be helping to host an activity at one of the popular 'Friday Lates' at the V&A Museum. The event is in conjunction with the new exhibition 'Metal Rocks' and is made up of various installations, workshops, stalls and activities. Jiggery Pokery will be collaborating with Lucie Gledhill and Autumn Abebrese to bring you a fun-packed solution to all you gambling and bling needs in the form of an edible jewellery arcade machine called 'The Half-Baked Arcade':

A few things I have been getting up to recently in between working and sleeping.

2008-11-25T14:32:00.005Z

Visiting a really inspiring exhibition (following text taken from the Makezine blog):

"A derelict and soon to be demolished block of flats close to Elephant & Castle is the site for Art Angel's and Jerwood's latest commission Seizure by Roger Hiorns - a seductive cave of cobalt blue crystals. The realisation of the art work is a chemistry experiment on a grand scale. One of the bedsits in the block was made into a watertight tank and then filled with 90,000 litres of copper sulphate solution. As the solution was drained from the premises, over the space of a few weeks, it revealed a mesmerising space of sparkling blue crystal shards."

Unfortunately it finished on the 2nd November. For those of you who didn't see it and are sorely disappointed why not give it a go in your bedroom. Easy peasy.

Catching a quick Vietnamese on Kingsland Road in the planning stages of our upcoming shoot in the birthday issue of Volume Maggzine. You know how people say that dogs often look like their owners or vice versa... In a city that never sleeps, could this be the futuristic version of that observation??

A little trip to Argos in Haringey educated me as to just how far you can go with nail art i.e having 3D acrylic shapes molded and stuck onto your nails. These are the most eccentric I have seen. Apparently they were done in a shop down on Crown Dale near West Norwood if you fancy a pair.

Steppin' out on Halloween couldn't have been more exciting after we found these badboy little hat numbers in our favourite shop. Not sure who that is pretending to be Anna cos her hat definitely isn't in our gang.

IdN Magazine - v15n5: The Geometric Issue

2008-11-11T23:51:00.005Z

We are featured in the new issue of IdN Magazine. Go get yourself a copy and cop an eyeful. Our good friend Vaughan Ward has a nice little feature too.

Also, if you haven't been yet, take yourself down to 'With Others' Finding Home, an exhibiton of photography by Liz Hingley and others (Ella Charles, Sara Smith, Katie Waters and Thomas Forsyth).

The exhibition responds to the activities and philosophy of the Emmaus communities and all proceeds go to the organisation.

Workshops and Fair trade coffee are available along with beautiful furniture and other odditys that are for sale including garments from Emmaus Community Shops that have been re-worked by fashion designers.

Tomorrow is the last day and as a big fan of Liz' and the others' work as well as the ethos behind Emmaus, I feel it is a very sensitive and beautifully executed exhibition - one not to be missed.

Big Blag Blog

2008-11-04T22:19:00.003Z

Do you have any space-filling stuff that you would like Anna and I to take off your hands? Make some space in that house/garage/shed/skip of yours and help us out at the same time?! Or perhaps your family/lover/flatmates have stuff they want to get rid of?

We have a large personal project where we need to build 5 sets on a limited budget and could do with all the help we can get. Free would be amazing but if something is a bit special and you want a bit of money for it we can work something out. (Damaged stuff is cool too, we can work wonders on others' rubbish!)

We are looking for:

Coloured paint - as much as possible all bright colours gloss/matte/silk - Tins, tubes, spray paint. Full, half empty, scraps...whatever is going.

Fabric- glittery, sequined, silky, satin, parachute material, velvet, psychedelic, 50s, 60s, 70s (old curtains, bedspreads, dresses... any form whatsoever that these fabrics might come in, we'll take them!) + cushions (large and small).

Furniture- Tacky bed headboard (plastic, 80S... fake plastic versace esque... large and lavish or something along these lines that we can paint/adapt) Dressing screens, a vintage style wardrobe, a long dining table and chairs, any faux regency/grand looking chairs/sofas that are past their sell by date or just don't match the new roasted bracken paint job in your living room? Any heavily patterned rugs, unwanted dinner services, a Roll-top bath (metal or plastic, we'll find a way to transport it!), a corner sofa...Mirrors...OR ANYTHING that you might think of that isn't on this list but could be in keeping?

I am sure there will be more but if ANYONE can help with ANY of this, we would be eternally grateful!!

*PLEASE FORWARD TO ANYONE ELSE WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP TOO!! OR LET US KNOW IF YOU KNOW PLACES WE COULD LOOK! THANKS xxxxxx*

Lauren- 07976 796 789
Anna- 07931 348 00

P.s If you think this is a tall order I just saw an advert on Freecycle for two lifesize cutouts of RZA and 2PAC made of good old durable MDF- guaranteed to last a lifetime. Bargain and 'n' 'alf. So you just never know what you might find...

Creamy

2008-10-13T19:29:00.004Z

To document the change from summer to Autumn these are now making up a window display - a sticky mess amongst autumn leaves. Sarah Fotheringham and I were up super early today to document our recent projects but I don't have the final images back yet. I am going to wait and put them up on the website when I know how to do it properly. In my recent attempt to update the site I got a bit over ambitious and kind of messed it up... Oh well it could have been worse and I have to learn somehow!

2008-10-13T00:50:00.003Z

I made some post cards today. They are for a RCA show where you don't know who the post card is done by untill you buy it. I made one inflateble, after a long day at work I'm sure it's taken me longer than it should have to do this! They all have the pound shop in common! I knew buying all these bits and bobs had a reason! Long live the magpie inside me.

Whoooo

2008-10-12T17:42:00.003Z

Don't you just love it when you meet people who are on the same wavelength and you sit and talk through ideas for a project and it feels a bit like there is magic in the air. Well that's what happened yesterday when Anna and I went to meet up with Chloe Richardson (Stylist) and Julia Kennedy (Fashion Photographer)...Even if I was totally hungover, with a bruise the size of a large fried egg on my leg and no recollection as to how I got it. I am fairly certain that a big adventure is about to begin...

Ice-Cream Sunday

2008-10-01T09:41:00.004Z

A big thanks to everyone who made it down. The vibe was cosy and colourful, the tunes made us smile and the ice-cream cone cakes went down well. Thanks to our brilliant DJs, Mr Wonderful, Mr.Bit, Alex Sheridan, Moxie, Rattus Rattus & Klose One (and Session for making it on his way back from Marrakech even if he didn't get to spin any tunes in the end!). We will be hitting the Vibe Bar on Brick Lane to decorate it up for a big Halloween party on the 31st October so make sure you get your fake blood and fangs out and come and join us for a bop.

In the meantime, if you liked the music you heard at Ice-Cream Sunday or didn't make it but want a good night out, check out Nuts to Soup and Onra where Mr Wonderful will be playing amongst others tomorrow night: www.myspace.com/nutstosoup or www.myspace.com/onra

or City Lights next Saturday @ Bar Rumba: www.myspace.com/thecitylightsclub (Sorry hyperlinks not working at the moment so you'll have to do a good old fashioned bit of copying and pasting)

Sometimes it Helps to Look at Ice-Cream Upside Down...

2008-09-30T21:31:00.004Z

Summer is very much coming to an end despite the sunny few days we have had over the last couple of weekends. Researching a window display I am about to embark on, I wondered whether an upturned, melting ice-cream was a bit of a morbid way to describe the transition from hot to cold. I decided I could put a bit of humour into it and make the ice-creams into characters with wooly hats, a bit like Mr Potato Head or something. However, the thought of a lonely melting ice-cream that some poor kid has dropped and the rivers of creamy liquid filling the cracks in the pavement, always makes me feel a bit depressed. I decided to go with the idea anyway and see how where it took me. Looking for a good shape to build a prop, I consulted Google Images. My-oh-my was I in for a surprise. Melted ice-cream doesn't have to be sad, it can be glossy and sexy and super-alluring and it would seem that other artists, designers and makers would agree with me. I have always been a huge fan of ice-cream and ice-cream imagery but up until now, mainly when the ice-creams were the right way up...

(They are all easy to find if you search for 'melted ice cream' in Google images apart from the second and fourth one which were under 'dropped ice cream')

And yep... I know this one isn't really melted but I just had to include it as it is f*****g cool! And for anyone that follows this blog at all, my second ice-cream throne!

love you longtime

2008-09-23T16:30:00.002Z

It's been so long. Bad Anna.
Today I'm playing catch up, tax, emails, phonecalls, nails! Because the last few months have been hectic! We have been making and creating delights left right and centre. There has been little time to play on the blog. But here goes.
Yesterday I adopted 3 'NEW' letters. Saved from the land fill they will have a new lease of life one day, feeling them big time, and so was everyone else as I left work, asking me are you putting them in the bin? Are you mad? Dear oh dear!
Other from the usual bin raiding Lauren and I spent last week juggling the last few days of Orange work at Peepshow and making a castle for YCN. We spent about 6 hours trying to find plastercine. Sadly it seems kids don't play anymore, just sit on their xbox or playstation. We went to 4 different Woolworths, a W H smiths, Early learning centre and a few pound shops. Eventually we found this set (such fruity colours) and then revelled in covering our mountain in the stuff. It smelt really nice too...!
I have spent a lot of time playing with Ruairi's puppy. She is called Beans and so cute I cant leave her alone! Makes me want a pet to call my own. I keep telling everyone about a hedgehog I found for sale on the gumtree. £50 for a little african hedgehog. Apparently it was 2 years old and not getting along with the owners baby! It was so sweet. But my room is to full of stuff for any pets just yet. Maybe when I move to somewhere bigger everyone can come check my city farm all adopted from the gumtree.

London Summer

2008-08-30T10:14:00.005Z

Before I went to the Green Man Festival (which was amazing) I went to see the Psycho Buildings exhibition at the Hayward Gallery. For anyone who missed it, it was so refreshing to experience an exhibition where health and safety had been tested for once. One of the most frustrating things about working as an artist of designer today is that health and safety regulations are so tight that you often have to really tame down ideas for public spaces. Somehow, the Austrian collective Gelitin had managae to push the boundaries and allow the Hayward to let them fill one of their concrete balconies with water, turning it into a boating lake. All boats and the jetty were made from recycled wood and found bits and pieces. It was the hottest day of the summer and my boat partner jumped into the water and had a swim which the stewards didn't even bat an eyelid about either. Fun stuff. If only it wasn't so difficult to change into a bikini in public. I would have joined him in a flash.

I drank jasmine tea and ate dim sum at Ping Pong after and then wandered over to the Photographers Gallery to see 'Fashion in the Mirror- Self Reflection in Fashion Photography' where I fell in love with this photograph by Grégoire Alexandre:

On my return from Green Man Festival, I went to see the boys down at the Cans Festival under one of the arches at Waterloo. Despite the overpowering fumes, it was proof again that London is brimming with exciting events to go to/get involved in during the summer. Oh and the caterers put on a right good spread. Bonus. Last but not least check out the amazing ice-cream van I spotted on my travels. Loving the vintage signage.

London Sweats No Fresh Country Air

2008-08-06T22:54:00.003Z

Our mission: To take Tom shopping and give him a good, smart look. What a day to choose... I do not envy anyone working in central London in the heat. As well as finding him some dapper garments, I also managed to find myself some stuff including a shirt that is a good compromise for the blue/flowers western shirt I was after. It reminds me of mini-milks with reindeer antlers.

I also noticed this signage on Argyll Street that I have somehow managed to miss in the past. Good-ol' Coney Island style sign-writing. I need to go back to New York. My friend Leo was telling me he went to one of the sideshows when he was out there recently. We always managed to miss them and I know we were missing out big time, damn-it. Soon soon.

Now I am home and sorting images and ideas for a couple of up and coming projects. I fished these books out for inspiration:

My re-discovered love for Hairy Diamond's 'Givin up' has finally got Dizzee Rascal's 'Dance For Me' out of my head thankfully. Also I just checked out Bryony's video for Rod Thomas' 'Same Old Lines'. It cracked me up...Watch for yourself, she certainly had sock puppets coming out of her ears at the time of making:

If only he had a live sock monkey performance at Green Man Festival next weekend. I am off on Friday for just under a couple of weeks to be part of the management of the festival and listen to some more lovely music. Particularly looking forward to seeing Caribou (whose album artwork is pretty pretty pretty too) and sitting under one of the beautiful, solid oak trees in the fresh night air with a big cup of cocoa and a massive wooly jumper.

Dance for Me

2008-07-18T08:08:00.001Z

...cos I freak, freak, freak like TLC, I got my left eye checkin' out the scenery.

Decorating the City

2008-07-15T00:07:00.005Z

A quick snap of one of the 'I am' Orange adverts that we made props for. They are already popping up even though we are still working on the rest of the ads from the same campaign. From underground advertising to huge trackside billboards, newspapers to animated web gifs...Chrissie's name is in big, quirky, orange, glittery lights all over the city! Back to the Peepshow HQ next week for more gluey fun and frollicks. Oh yes. For now though, I am going to finish downloading Caramel, put it on, and attempt to overcome the new bout of insomnia by drifting off into a peaceful sleep halfway through...

Fresh Garments

2008-07-13T23:36:00.002Z

I went out to track down another shirt like this:

but a blue one with some sort of red and white flower detail and ended up going for the wild card instead:

A weekend of adventures; much sourcing, many drawings, lots of birthdays of people called Alex, some crazy live/work spaces, all culminating in an amazing performance by Jimmy Cliff at Rise Festival. Unfortunately for us and as much of a surprise to him, the soundsystem was turned off (mid-song!) before he had the chance to perform his two most legendary songs. I assume that the license ran out at 8.30 and figured that because he came on late, this was the reason he (shamefully) got cut-off. Is it just me or could England do with relaxing the rules every now and again?! Today I felt ashamed to be a Londoner...

For the Last Few Days...

2008-07-11T00:29:00.006Z

...We have been making a crazy, miniature, naïve-style, shanty house. Twas much fun to have a change after the more careful and considered props for Chrissie Macdonald's latest Orange ads. It is really strange and very exciting to see the ads popping up everywhere now after spending the last two months on the job (four were featured in Monday's Metro...). Keep your eyes peeled for now and I will scan some images in when I get a minute. Today we finished our house and now we are sourcing lazer guns, materials for making a moonscape play mat and other sexy Barbarella-type things. Another week of making and getting our hands dirty for a big shoot next weekend...Perfect, although I am very much missing the Redchurch St crew, the banter and the daily structure. It is all a bit haphazard again!

Oh yeah, we went to White Heat at Madame Jojo's on Tuesday to meet the Radio Clit boys about some fun, possible album artwork...Not the best place for a meeting of sorts but nonetheless a very randomly fun night on a Tuesday, made all the more dangerous with £2 vodka, soda and limes...

Everyone knows I am not a fan of fake nails in the slightest but I always keep my eyes out for Anna, moral support and all that jazz...These are the most serious find of the week, daaan Holloway. Don't mess.

P.s Bring on Jimmy Cliff at Rise Festival in Finsbury Park on Sunday. Headlining at around 7.30pm, he is not one to miss!

BIG FUN!

2008-06-30T11:14:00.003Z

I don't want to bore all you sweaty office workers out there with the whole story...But I will tell you that Barcelona and Sonar smashed it. The sun, the sea, the music, the company, the food have left me smiling for a good few months. Goldfrapp, Madness, Diplo, Justice and the rest... and my new favourite DJ- DJ Kawazaki. Just when we thought the party was over on Saturday morning, he got all us dregs dancing like fresh little bunnies. Zoe has the magic camera with all the beautiful photos, so for now, I am just going to post my two best phone pics. Trust me, the gorilla man is not someone you want following you round and jumping out at you every two seconds when you are feeling sketchy! SUCH an amazing holiday and hopefully...The start of a good summer, including lots of BIG FUN work too. I am ready for anything!

Vice- Mexican Issue

2008-06-16T20:12:00.003Z

Apparently our Nike piece scared Vice. Shame it didn't quite make the 'Don'ts' page. Ho-hum, maybe next time.

Nike 'Art of Football' Basel

2008-06-11T00:33:00.003Z

Well what a jet-setting week last week was! I was flown from my (well deserved) holiday in Sicily to meet Anna in Basel, Switzerland where our 'Just for Kicks' piece was being exhibited. It was shortlisted out of the thousands of entries along with 10 others. Great to meet Penny and Paul from ShowStudio and some of the other artists taking part such as: Ewan Spencer, Patrik Söderstam (winner! : ) ), Danielle Mudd, Oskar & Ewan and last but by no means least Brian Sweeney (thanks for the photo!) The opening night was a lot of drunken fun. Luckily we were put up at the most beautiful hotel in Zurich, the Dolder Grand and had the spa with its outdoor hot-tubs, saunas, snow room (!?!?!) naked relaxation rooms, steam rooms, thermal stone batch, swimming pools etc to help us recover. I won't even mention the six-thousand jet shower and amazing toiletries...Not sure about £10 bagels though. Only joking. Nice one Nike, you did us proud.

Random Phone Flicks

2008-06-11T00:16:00.004Z

The biggest trainers EVER in the world in Spitalfields Market. Found whilst pottering and perusing wonderful objects for our current project.

The wacky rainbow house viewable from Streatham Hill station. Although I was cursing Katie and Jonny for moving to the furthest place possible from me, I did delight in this pretty (badly) painted house on my sleepy journey home one Sunday.

Tufnell Park's most up-to-date printing shop. You NEVER find classic vinyl window graphics like this anymore. Get me some now.

A lighters-in-air moment during the Feist gig at the Royal Albert Hall recently. What a shining ray of lovely starry light she is. Her recorded stuff is nothing on the real thing. Amazing.

Last but not least, the graduate Freerange shows began at the Truman Brewery a couple of weeks ago. Thursday nights during the summer see thousands of thirsty (for the art of course) people head to Brick Lane to check out the fresh emerging talent from art and design courses across the country. Well done to all the Brightonians graduating this year. Their show 'Into the Woods' was a smasher. Props to Ness for all her amazing hard work organising it all and to everyone that helped her. Brighton pulled it-off yet again! This guy was obviously enjoying himself no-end, cotching on the pavement, in the rain, half-naked. Oh and we saw David Rodigan perform live that night too...What a night.

Art of Football

2008-05-30T21:24:00.002Z

Yep there is more!
Lauren and I have been chosen to show our piece at the Art of Football show in Basel. We are being flown out next week for the privet view. We are really looking forward to it!! So if anyone is in Switzerland and wants to come send us an email...

Nike Live Drawing

2008-05-20T21:11:00.003Z

We came, we drew and we WON!!!!!!
Yep who would have thought it. WE WON!!!

An ice creamy football delight. Glitter is the way forward for sure. What a good fun week all thanks to our mates at Nike.

Dazed and Confused Feature.

2008-05-18T12:50:00.007Z

Pick up your copy of Dazed this month and check out the little feature they have done on Jiggery Pokery in conjunction with the Nike 'Art of Football' project. Thanks for the beautiful 'work in progress' photograph by Will Robson-Scott. They also got us to design a Jiggery Pokery pair of kicks (pictured) which will be delivered to our doorsteps very soon. Result!

As soon as we have some pics of the monster we created for the Live Drawing battle in Nike Town we will put them up too.

Call me 'No Blogs'

2008-05-14T09:11:00.005Z

Jamie Jongo's painty room of fun. We had to borrow his shoes to then change it from Francis Bacon-esque studio to a photography studio. We got busy with diamonds, New Era and old skool Transformer wrapping paper to create a flyer for a friend's night at Corsica Studio on 26th June. Tis gonna be heavy. Watch this space for pictures.

Since then we have been working with the lovely Chrissie Macdonald from the Peepshow Collective on a very exciting project that I will post more up about when it comes out. Getting busy in our temporary studio near Brick Lane also includes making quick felt headbands and making our legs into hotdogs.

I just got back from Brighton where I have spent the weekend, sorting stuff my other house-full of junk out and generally trying (unsuccessfully) to switch off. I am pretty sad that Annie is finishing up in Brighton now- it is the end of a very happy era. On the other hand though, the start of a very exciting new one in London. Someone writes their 'N's' funny!

In between the madness of Nike and the other job we are working on I have been playing around with some new collage ideas. Not sure why or what for but hey. If you can't switch off then switch it up instead.

I have another collage to do today and stuff to prepare for an exciting pitch on Saturday but after that, Anna and I are off to lead a trainer design session at Nike town. Yippee! You can also catch us there tomorrow from 3pm doing a 'Live Drawing'(!?!) event with the lovely Lucy Butler. Wow. My first blog in yonks. Lets hope it is not so long until the next...