'Felt' inspired!

Visiting the German Christmas Market in Hyde park's



was a real treat, with stall upon beautifully-decorated and lit stall,













selling really lovely, unique items; jewelery, hand carved wooden figures,
gingerbread hearts etc.














But one stall really caught my attention above the others.
















Run by a company that sells clothing and accessories made from 'Fair Trade' textiles, the rich textures, imaginative design and the vibrant colours, of the 'felt' work especially, were just beautiful! Simply a feast for the senses:
















There was something to suit all pockets, from purses to stocking fillers
















Hats, gloves, scarves, you name it! The patterns and colour-combinations were endless.
















I LOVED this bag! But in the end settled on these sparkly red 'elf' slippers.
A present for a very special little girl I know....
















(hope her mum's not reading this!)























They call themselves 'Inspired Earth' and well, whether your into textiles or just plain texting, I'm sure you'll agree their work is certainly inspiring!

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland....

I seem to have spent days glued to my desk, either working on the computer or painting this year's Christmas card (I know know! But better late than never!) So decided some fresh air was in order and, wrapping up well (it's freezing!) took myself off for a brisk walk in the park.

Every year, around Christmas time, part of London's Hyde Park is transformed into a festive fun fair complete with it's own 'London Eye' or Ferris wheel, skating rink, German craft market, hot-food and mulled wine stalls, beer tents and rides. It's not only a fabulous spectacle but a brilliant day/night out, to suit the whole family. I Arrived just before dusk:

But it was when night fell that the magic really began:




























































































I made a detour on my way home, via Oxford Street (recession? What recession?!!!)
and thought, especially if you live a million miles away, you might like to see the 'illuminations'. Here's one, of the famous Selfridges Store:
















Inside, there is a fabulous art installation reaching up through the many floors:

And just one more:

















I'll save the rest for another time.......



ART NEWS:

Some news just in: I just heard that The National Portrait Gallery has acquired the famous portrait by Albert Charles Challen, of Mary Seacole, the charismatic Jamaican nurse and Crimean War heroine. You can see it HERE

And, if you're an artist yourself, this may be of interest:

'Artists from around the world are being invited to design a prestigious memorial to Mary Seacole, the Jamaican Crimean War heroine, on a Central London site. The £500,000 memorial is to be built at St Thomas’ Hospital, already home to the Florence Nightingale Museum......'

to read more, follow this link:'The Times'

If you want to keep up to date regularly with what's happening in the visual arts, here in London, this is another link to a great source: the Times