One of the important changes in the business is that now all of the things I make are connected to the way we live here, the things I grow, the animals I share my life with, the things I see every day. Living where we do and how we so we are very connected to the earth - on days like today when I was slip sliding down a muddy hill to feed the chickens this is especially so.
I want the things that I make for Snapdragon to have that same connection - to have a story behind them.
There are basically 3 themes to the things that I am making for the trade show; airstream caravans, chickens and the poppy meadow and I thought that it would be quite nice to tell the stories here.
In 2006 I bought a packet of black opium poppy seeds - absolutely useless for picking and short lived in the garden but the seed-heads are pretty and they take no effort to grow at all. You just scratch up the soil a bit and sprinkle seeds on.
Our garden is on a flat piece of land made up over the years by farmers dumping excess soil/sand/gravel. It then slopes steeply down through rough grass down to a bluebell wood and a burn. We kept pigs
and chickens
in the rough field and they completely rooted up the grass, creating great bare patches.
Then last year this happened
A whole carpet of bright poppies in amongst the grass. I spent ages sketching there, from July into September when the poppy seed-heads shimmered in amongst the scabious and teasels.
The result was this
and this
and quite a lot more.
Now there are tea cosies, coffee cosies, notebooks and by tomorrow there will be handbag mirrors and makeup bags.
So now you know ...inspired by life in Snapdragon's garden (but inspired by days less muddy than today)
J
x
Dear Jane. Firstly what a wonderful photo of the poppies! It is a pleasure to hear the stories of your creations. It sounds as though your creations are very much in tune with your surroundings and daily life. I think this is the best way to be happy in life by taking pleasure in what surrounds us and when the muse speaks, to respond. Thank you for this glimpse of snapdragon life! Happy days. Denise
Posted by: Denise | January 13, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Hi Jane
What a lovely story behind the work - sounds like a perfect way to live, breath and experience.
Your new mirrors ar divine and I can imagine as you hold them they must feel rather lux!
I think I put my name down for your giveaway, if not count me in.
Emx
Posted by: Sew Recycled! | January 13, 2009 at 10:15 PM
How wonderful..Just wonderful
:) MLH
Posted by: Rachel | January 14, 2009 at 01:09 PM