Collage inspiration
As we are all stuck at home at the moment, I wanted to share a few collage-making ideas with you. The wonderful thing about this technique is that we all have the materials at home – in fact, a lot of them end up in the bin, so it’s a good way of recycling as well as...
On the sources and uses of inspiration
I am often asked how I use my inspiration. This partly depends where I am or what time of the day it is - I often get flashes of inspiration just as I’m about to fall asleep, or in my dreams! When that happens, I know I’ll remember them when I wake up and they’ll be a...
Transform a Bekvam stool: decoupage tutorial
In this post I will show you how to transform a wooden Bekvam stool from Ikea into your own unique creation using just paint, paper and glue. This is a very easy project that can be done in an afternoon. Here is what you'll need:Bekvam stool, £13A tester pot of...
Camberwell Open Studios
On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December seven collective studios in West Camberwell will be opening their doors to to art lovers, collectors and gift seekers. Here at 6 Empress Mews, my studio and home since last year, you will find new jewellery, decoupaged glass...
Cecile Jeffrey and friends: Open House Sale
My friend Cecile Jeffrey, knitwear designer extraordinaire, is celebrating her 30 years in the fashion business with a 30% Open House Sale on 28 and 29 October. I am delighted to have been invited to join her in this event, where I will also have big savings to share...
My life in nine objects: part III
This is my third and final post about prized objects: the ones I couldn't live without and would want to save from a fire. It was quite difficult to choose these three knowing they were the last ones; I kept telling myself they are just the last ones for now... The...
My life in nine objects: part II
In last week's post I wrote about the first three objects I wouldn't want to lose, the ones I would save from a fire. Today I share with you another three of my prized posessions: things I love for their intrinsic qualities and also as memory-holders. The first one is...
My life in nine objects: part I
A lot of my work is inspired by memories, and I see prized objects as memory-holders. Every once in a while I wonder which are the ones I couldn't live without, the ones I would want to save from a fire. Without much premeditation I settled on nine, and today I share...
My own version of wallpaper
In this post I want to share with you my biggest decoupage project to date: creating "wallpaper" from the pages of an old Larousse dictionary for a feature wall I moved house last year, and had been toying with the idea of creating a decoupage "wallpaper" on...
Pound shop transformations: upcycled glass
In recent weeks I showed you how I upcycle simple items from Ikea using just paper and glue. Other places where you can find interesting things to transform are the "pound shops" found in most high streets. I recently started teaching reverse decoupage on glass so I'm...
Ikea furniture hacks: kitchen chair
This is the second of two posts on furniture hacks where I share transformations of simple items from Ikea using just paper and glue. Last time, in the first of my furniture hacks, I showed you how I upcycled a Hemnes bedside table; this time it's different versions...
Ikea furniture hacks: Hemnes table
This is the fourth post of a series where I share transformations of simple items from Ikea using just paper and glue. This time I want to show you the first of two furniture hacks. Ikea furniture is very affordable and even more so if you buy second-hand. There is...
Ikea hacks: Papaja plant pot
This is the third post in my series on Ikea hacks: transformations of simple items from Ikea using just paper and glue. Last time I showed you decoupage using two types of paper on a Malma framed mirror. In this post I’ll show you how to add interest to Papaja plant...