100 Objects in my House (an illustrated inventory)
I am quite obsessive when it comes to creative commitments I make. In April 2019 I drew 100 objects in 100 days. A lot of the time I didn't feel like drawing, I didn't have the time or energy for drawing. As real life always has stuff brimming to the surface and bubbling over. But after sitting down, and starting to draw... I always enjoyed it.
I have so many things (or shitnacks as my friend calls them) that I have cluttering up shelves in my house. But I love them all. Each one has a story and a memory. I am deeply sentimental.
In my day job for years I create stuff which is just in my head. So my observational drawing has long since fallen by the way side. This seemed like a good bite sized non daunting way of practicing it again. Plus at the same time taking a visual inventory of some of my favourite things (of which most have faces).
Creativity is relaxing and cathartic. It always makes me feel better- even if I hated the finished drawing and my creative limitations/ foibles (which was most the time). I learnt to accept what I did and get over it (something I find very difficult as I am stubborn, impatient and frustrated). Also, one drawing on its own, I realised, was not as important as the big idea so I tried not to get precious. Watching the amount of drawn objects growing day by day I found really satisfying. The drawings being in a group gave it meaning.
In a twist of irony- doing this project means that now I have 100 more things in my house.
Interesting/uninteresting stats of my 100 objects project…74 faces, 32 animals,13 pots/jars, 10 cups , 6 teapots, 6 salt and pepper pots, 5 jugs
Day 1
So this lady I bought in Hampshire. In a weird 1980s parochial style mall...but in 2010. My daughter was a baby, strapped to me and screaming. I felt awkward and conspicuous. I saw this wooden figurine and she was a friendly face who made me take a step back from that moment. I have no idea where she is from originally... Feels traditional and Indian maybe?! So now she lives with us (as does my daughter).
Day 2
This porcelain beaker I got from one of my favourite shops the London design shop on South bank. Everything is beautiful in there and I gawp at objects but they are too expensive (as I am a cheap skate and a poor artist). So when I went in once and saw a couple of these on sale, I snaffled them up (bought them I mean). The south bank is a special place for me. I worked in the donut in momi, I went to film school graduations and awards do's there, I even drew artwork for a book in the festival hall when my daughter was a baby with a friend also trying to work with a baby. I love the south bank.
The cactus is actually my daughter's. She got it instead of a party bag from a birthday party (hurrah!) My drawing of the cactus has turned out remarkably wonky, as has the little face.
Day 3
This weird little wooden candlestick holder has a touch of the clockwork orange about it. It was given to me by a boyfriend as a random present when I was 18. He was very sweet boy with curly long hair who people called rock Jesus. He used to make me hand drawn mobiles of that what-a-mess dog and danced to smashing pumpkins.
His dad was eccentric too. When I first went to his house and met his dad they made me a cup of tea and offered me the biscuit tin. I put my hand in and took out a small potato. (There were no biscuits in the tin, only small potatoes). I didn't know what to do so just ate it. It was later explained to me that this was some sort of test to see what sort of person I was. I don't know what it proved... That I was polite beyond belief, or that I was a bit silly. Probably both.
Day 4
This lovely little @keneardley jug my husband got for me. This means so much, as he thinks we have too many small objects and too many jugs- but he still got me this. That is true love .It has a tiny hairline crack at the top which I find worrysome, so I won't let anyone use it.I have loved Ken's beautiful work for years but could never justify getting another cup/jug/vase as we have too many.But now that this jug has joined our family now I know there is always room for a little-un!
The proportions in my drawing are a bit off, I ran out of space on the right and I cheat and round everything up all the time.. habit.
Day 5
I got this #miffy #kokeshidoll from Japan.it was my treat to myself for being daring. It was a strange trip where I drew all day in a big posh Osaka department store in front of Japanese shoppers who were obsessed with the United Kingdom. I felt too tall, too brightly coloured and too conspicuous at all times.
I loved all the bakery's there and all the really specific shops... Ie a Charlie brown shop, a moomins shop, a totoro shop, a Miffy shop.
This object was hard to draw as was too shiny. The shading annoyed me as was too laboured. Also head is too wonky.
Day 6
This lives in our kitchen and has olive oil in it. It is at arms length away from the hob so is easy to flamboyantly swizzle into the pan when cooking something (to help make me feel a bit cheffy).
I like having beautiful and functional things. The double whammy. The win win. I got this from M&S when it was on a ridiculously cheap sale price. It's not like I set out to purposefully buy a tiny oil spouty pourer thing. I mean- who does?
My drawing of it looks a bit durgy and i got in a pickle with this pattern so bodged it in attempt to claw it back from the abyss.
You can tell I'm left handed as I always draw with not enough space on the right side of the page and too much on the left.
Day 7
Now I am giving myself a pat on the back to have gotten to day 7 without drawing an object bought in one of my favourite treasure emporiums on the planet @ticklemywickle . If the exit door were to disappear when I'm in wickle, I could happily live my entire life inside this shop in a sort of weird Narnia type way. It has coffee, cakes, clothes, beautiful objects... And of course the blessed misc! .
This beautiful globe was made by @djeco_toys whose stuff I love. It has glitter in it and lights up.Yeah, guess it is kitsch but that's what makes me love it more! It only comes down off the shelf at Christmas and shares dinner table centre candle lit centre stage with an assortment of other oddities.
Some liquid seems to have leaked out and it has a crack on top. Someone must have dropped it and been too scared to tell me. Wait till I find the culprit!.
Day 8
So have wrestled whether to go landscape on some objects. Kind of didn't want to as makes it all a bit awkward and not so neat as a collection. But decided to do it after all as felt it wasn't fair to the long objects.
This felt sequin spotted fish was one of many fish made by me and my daughter a few years ago as part of a costume for a dance she did at school to the little mermaid song "under the sea". She was dressed in blue and had a blue chiffon cape/wing thing that represented the sea and we attached lots of these fish to it. A couple of the fish fell off. This was one of them. It now lives in the bathroom, sitting contentedly on top of a picture frame. When I look at this fish I see my daughter dancing freely with the biggest smile on her face. Sheer joy. .
Day 9
This one half of a salt and pepper pot (the pepper pot). I have no idea who has the salt one. I quite like only having one and not a pair. I have a love/ hate relationship with matching salt and pepper pots. I love them as they are so varied and often have so many quirks and character. They are so collectable, which I hate as it seems so contrived having a collection of something. I prefer a collection of eclecticism. I also hate matching salt and pepper pots there are two- and I don't like even numbers. They are too neat and annoy me.
Anyway, this lady I found in a street market in Copenhagen when we were there for a friend's wedding. I love this vintage scando pottery. Every time I see her in my house I want to go and explore Denmark more. It also reminds me that we haven't seen our friend for a long while. Life takes you on different tangents and gets busy.
Day 10
This mug was given to me by a friend. It gets used all the time as is nice and big and slurpable. In fact, I had to buy my husband one (but on a different colour) as he kept using it.
All our pretty mugs are displayed in wire mesh shelves. I realised a few years ago that nicely designed things in the kitchen make me happy and I wanted to be able to see them at all times and that they shouldn't be hidden away in dark gloomy cupboards. So I set them free.
I always enjoy surface pattern, and drawing these objects is a lovely excuse to look closely as how other designers create pattern.
Day 11
This one half of a salt and pepper pot (the pepper pot). I have no idea who has the salt one. I quite like only having one and not a pair. I have a love/ hate relationship with matching salt and pepper pots. I love them as they are so varied and often have so many quirks and character. They are so collectable, which I hate as it seems so contrived having a collection of something. I prefer a collection of eclecticism. I also hate matching salt and pepper pots there are two- and I don't like even numbers. They are too neat and annoy me.
Anyway, this lady I found in a street market in Copenhagen when we were there for a friend's wedding. I love this vintage scando pottery. Every time I see her in my house I want to go and explore Denmark more. It also reminds me that we haven't seen our friend for a long while. Life takes you on different tangents and gets busy.
Day 12
This is one of a set of little plastic containers that my lovely Japanese friend gave me. I guess they were to as put soy sauce or something in for kids packed lunches. But I use them to put messages in for my children. This one I hid in my daughter's rucksack when she went away for her first overnight brownie trip just to remind her how great she is and how much we love her. The thing is I didn't realise that once the message was in there- it is impossible to get out! She said she could still read it so all was good. Now it just sits on the shelf and smiles at us.
Day 13
This sugar bowl I bought years ago when rooting about in Debenhams with my mum. It was an end of line bargain. Then once home realised no one I know has sugar in tea or coffee. It was left dormant and ornamental for a decade, then we got builders in and it made up for lost time.
They were a lovely bunch of blokes, so this sugar bowl reminds me of our builders and how they made our titchy house a bit less titchy... Of which I am very grateful.
Day 14
My mother in law stumbled across the fact that I love @orlakiely design a few years ago, and that (along with another favourite brands) has been her go to present brand every Christmas since. I am aware that this nature of safe present giving is how collections start and spiral out of control... Eek.
This birdy egg cup is a set of four and we always use for boiled eggs… they are very cheery but have an annoying habit of hiding water inside the hollow body which leaks everywhere when you think they are dry when putting them back on the shelf. So this bird reminds me of my mother in law (not that she does that by the way- ha!)
Day 15
I knew the obligatorily impatient ink swipe would happen sometime. And it happened today.
I made this spoon dolly a few years back. Actually I made a whole batch of them but I kept her. I bought 100 wooden spoons for a workshop I did... my idea of heaven.
I love spoons. I love the word (any word with a double "o" in) and I love their shape and their use for stirring or eating pudding or soup.
Day 16
This I have never used, but it sits on my shelf with all of its friends (you will probably meet them later)
When I worked in Soho Square years ago as a young whipper snapper creative go getter with lashings of potential, I would walk up to Heals to gawp at the beautiful expensive things. I looked like such an art student scruff bag I used to get followed around by the security guard. Every now and then I would treat myself to a bit of tableware (I know... What a kitchen geek!). This was one of my treats. When I look at this row of things it reminds me of that time.
Day 17
This little cardboard house was made by my little boy at school last year. It is a beauty. A keeper (as is my little boy). It really reminds me of Derek Jarman's Prospect House in Dungeness. Weirdly we actually visited it last week... I have always wanted to see it in the flesh. When I worked on Charlie and Lola it was the inspiration for their granny's house. .
So this little cardboard house is so special in so many ways... But mostly just because it has my son's time and creativity glued into it.
My drawing doesn't do this objects charm justice. Just like Prospect house.... You have to see it in the flesh.
Day 18
This little jug was my first ever purchase on eBay.. it was a mind blowing concept to think you could just type anything in and then order it and it would arrive magically at your door. That seems the norm now and we take it for granted.
Once in our lives, the jug got chipped and wasn't perfect anymore. But that meant I loved it more. It is now home to one of our many aloe Vera babies. This one is sprawling and out of control... Like many things in our house
Day 19
Lovely little ceramic beakers from Donna WIlson. (One of four).I love Donna’s design aesthetic and could easily hoover up everything she's made and keep for myself! What I love about good design is that it can have such a profound emotional response ... In the same way as story telling and creating world's... It projects a narrative that makes me feel inspired and happy.
For example, to the untrained eye, this is just a little ceramic beaker with trees on it... But when I look at it I see a whole forest... Where does it lead to? Who is in there? How would I feel right now if I was in there? Basically what I am saying is that design can be escapism and give you room to daydream... My favourite hobbies.
Day 20
Bought this little ceramic fellow from an illustration fair I was selling my wares at in Hastings a couple of years back. It's made by the amazing @garrettworld .
I had seen his stuff around and loved it, so full of character, warmth and individuality. .
This headish nubbin was my reward to myself for a hard day's work.... although to be honest I do love doing fairs as my children and I love playing at being shopkeeper's.
Day 21
Hurrah! An object without a face.
I love tins and pots and jars on my kitchen and hate seeing plastic and packaging (for so many reasons). This storage jar has rice in
I got this 60's jar from the big stuffed bear flea market (note not the official name). I love it. When I was in university in Hull there were so many of these going for a song in charity shops and yet I chose to buy one 20 years later for a much pricier fee. I love things that have had a life before me, a life that I will never know, also they remind me of hull.
The pattern on the jar is so clever and made my brain hurt. I have rendered it a bit wonky (suprise surprise) and not in the correct scale... But I got it in the end and it was really satisfying.
Day 22
This is the drawing I like the least that I've done so far. Very straight and rushed. But I still did it. So that's ok. It's ok to do not brilliant drawings sometimes.
However the object I love. It is part of a miniature tea set that was my daughter's when she was tiny. It isn't played with anymore but I can't bear for it to go and I like to see it. By sheer serendipity one of my 1970s fisher price people (with wooden body) has found its way into it and is a perfect fit. So it has become a metaphor for intergenerational childhood.
Day 23
Here we go .. the obligatory moomin item.
Yes of course we are big moomin fans in this house. Tove jansons novels about moomin valley are just beautiful. A unique blend of calm/ warmth/ wonder, mixed up with streaks of anarchy/darkness all glued together with emotion and humour. Little my is the one we are drawn too (although I do resonate with the odd hemulan). She is sheer cheek on a stick. .
These enamel beakers are so great for everyday family use. Don't break, look great.
Yep drawing rushed and scrappy and in awe of toves amazing characters... Also finding it hard as drawing so much in my real life at the moment on new books and concept work that I have run out of drawingness when I get home.
Day 24
This is a very special object and lives in our bedroom. It is the only thing I had ever seen in existence that has googly eyes that doesn't look tacky but looks soulful.
It was originally a lamp. It is made out of a coconut shell. I bought it in Portugal when I was on holiday and pregnant with my first child. I had dreamt ideas of how her cot and room would look and this turtle lamp became part of it.
I was very hormonal at the airport, and they questioned whether I was allowed to fly as I looked more pregnant than I was. This turtle was on my hand luggage as I didn't want it damaged as it was so special. Then when the airport security guy threw my rucksack on to the plastic tray i was worried. The other side of the sheep dip conveyor belt I saw that two of the turtles fins had snapped and I cried. As I said, I was very hormonal.
So now if you look closely you can see the glue. Sometimes when things are damaged you love them more.
This turtle reminds me of how strange it was to be expecting a baby... The unknown, the hopes and dreams and fears. We are still riding that journey of course... That was just the beginning.
One day I will put a new bulb inside. But right now we are happy just to have his googly eyes looking at us with all of their wisdom.
Day 25
Another quick drawing with liberties taken on reflections/proportions/perspective. This bold stylised character tumbler is a favourite in our lion loving household.
Designed by the wonderful @janefosterdesigns . I bought 3 of her tumblers designs a few years ago (from already mentioned favourite pootleroundary of the south bank design shop. Then my husband told me one day (with a terrified face) that he'd accidentally dropped the mug and it had smashed.He swiftly ordered me a new one (this one!)
I used to not want our lovely objects to be used and was precious about them. But that changed as i realised it felt nice to live and use things for what they were born to do. Otherwise they are just like a sad bird in a cage who never gets to sing and shine.
Day 26
So this is our cafetiere... Love it's shinyness and sleek line design.
Before this we had a series of bodem glass cafetieres that I was always suspicious of and never got on with.
As a teenager I worked as a waitress at a posh french restaurant. I was a rubbish waitress. I did things like spilling hot gravy on posh laps and once on a panic when making a cafetiere for posh customers late at night I plunged it down and the base slipped and the coffee went everywhere.
Other times I would be pouring coffee and have the snout misaligned and spill it everywhere.
The last glass cafetiere we had fell and smashed and I was secretly pleased and we vowed never to have one again as they were cursed. Then we found this sturdy unglassy one. Perfect
Day 27
This wooden apple lives in our fruit bowl. It's presence there amuses me in the same way putting a joke rubber custard cream biscuit in a biscuit tin amused me when I was a kid. Of course no one ever actually picks up the apple and tries to eat it. But just the fact it is there is enough.
I do pick it up now and again. It is smooth and round and has a nice weight to it. It is satisfying to hold, in the same mindfully automatic way you pick up a round stone and hold it in the palm of your hand on a beach.
I found it in a charity shop and it just looked so sad and lonely on the misc bric-a-brac shelf of shame. So I rescued it and now it lives with the real apples and is much happier as it probably thinks it is real too. Like a sort of fruit Pinocchio.
Day 28
So this object used to belong to my dad's Uncle Herbie in Rhodesia in the 1940's. Great Uncle Herbie was a chemist and this was one of many bottles in his shop. My dad has few of them that he brought over when we emigrated in the 70's. When Great Uncle Herbie retired and sold everything from his shop, he gave a few of them to dad. Most of the stuff was bought to recreate an old Street of shops on a museum. I would love to go to that museum.
Dad gave me a couple of the bottles a few years ago. They are amazing as we're all hand made. Each stopper only fits with a specific bottle. You can tell what stopper belongs to what bottle as they have little numbers on. This one is number 47.
I love the sound the stopper makes when you slide it into the bottle.
I like looking at the bottle as it reminds me of my dad as my dad was a physics and chemistry teacher. He was always slightly disappointed at my complete ineptitude with science.
Day 29
Of course I like Russian dolls!... They are storage for more Russian dolls.
I have a few Russian dolls from my childhood, but this one my husband bought for me when he was in Krok (a crazy animation festival on a boat in the Ukraine) years ago. I think he found her from a street market. He returned from the trip very queasy from too much home made rustic potato vodka and sea sickness.
This doll only one had one medium size doll inside. I often wonder where the others ended up? There should be a friend's reunited for Russian dolls or something.
Day 30
When we had our first child, a good friend sent us a set of three lovely little egg cups. So we had one each. I have always thought that this is a very nice idea for a new baby present and lasts longer than that tiny baby grow or knitted booties. It can be used forever.
The china salt pot in the shake if an egg was bought from #shitnack giants tiger. I love it sitting in the eggcup.
When I look at this egg cup, either sitting on the shelf with the hairy twiselled moustached egg head, or it being used for a boiled egg breakfast, I think of my good friend and wish I saw her more often. I also think of my old science teacher who had the most crazy eyebrows that ever existed.
Day 31
This jug was given to us by some friends of my mum and dads when we got married. As well as the jug reminding me of the day I got married, I also love it as it is #portmeirion which always reminds me of my mum as she has always collected it. Her portmeirion stuff used to only be for best... But then she decided we should all enjoy it and it was nice to see and use it (which is similar to my philosophy towards house objects(.
A lot of objects in my house have faces on, but a fair few feature birds. Birds always represent things like peace and freedom... Which are always lovely ideas to be around.
Day 32
Another pepper pot with a face on it... Ground pepper hog day. I love all things @ingelaparrhenius and must be careful not to inadvertently bury myself alive in my house surrounded by her beautiful things.
I got this pablo pepper pot (and twin Salvador Salt pot) on a child free afternoon when I was allowed to visit the Tate gift shop without fear of having to child wrangle or of having to take someone to the look within two seconds of arriving there... Bliss.
So this art guru salt and pepper set reminds me of the small but important moments of punctuation in-between the crazy, intense, multi adjective nature of being a parent. The moments when you actually remember who you are, the moments when you have the luxury to daydream and just be. It reminds me of how it is so imperative to savour both sides of the coin and how I need them both.
Day 33
Again, scruffy drawing and I cheated with the engraved lines and just made it graphic.
I got this when we were traveling around New Zealand years ago. Like the wooden apple, it is calming and satisfying to hold in the palm of your hand. It has a nice weight to it.. marble I think.
On one side is a happy face and on the other is a sad face. When my daughter was little she would turn the stone over so that it matched how she was feeling. Nowadays it sits on the sideboard. If ever I pass it and see it is on the sad face, I always turn it back to the happy face.
Day 34
This is my perfect dream teapot. The big bobbly lid is so nice, as is the pattern and the colour. I will never covet another teapot. This is teapot for best, and I won't let anyone else wash it up. Our non best teapot I love too..it is a bright orange le creuset one. Lovely- but not so wowee.
This teapot is from the wonder that is @ticklemywickle . I got it about a year ago. I didn't really need it... But I really wanted it.. whenever I finish a big work project I always treat myself to something as a well done me. I remember reading about how after she finished writing a book, Jacqueline Wilson bought herself a ring and I thought that was a nice idea.
Day 35
One of my husband's superhero talents is breaking nutcrackers on the first time they are ever used. He broke a beautiful wooden soldier one one year, then I bought him this one, which he swiftly broke. The next one actually said on the packaging "the world's indestructible nutcracker" and was made out of iron. He broke that one too on the first nut.
So this one doesn't work, but looks after the big marbles. I put the big marbles there when my children were smaller as got scared about choking hazards. But I think the big marbles are happy there and they have never been taken out. It is like they are part of the nutcrackers property so cannot be removed.
My husband's other super hero talent is making perfect rice without trying and making sushi.
Day 36
This amazing comb is from Zanzibar. My whole family went there together over 9 years ago before children (BC). It was such an incredible time. Full of precious time together, amazing scenery and people, and luxury (for us) and poverty (not us) that made me feel immense guilt and awkwardness for our lucky, lucky, privileged life. I love this maasai comb, the naieve carving, the shape, the feel of the wood... It is a thing of beauty- like so much we saw in Kenya and Tanzania.
She's meant to have 8 legs/comb teeth... But I only had room on my drawing for 6.
Day 37
This summer fruits cordial in a babapapa glass bottle was given to me by my mum from a French holiday a few years ago. I loved babapapa when I was a kid, it made my mind whizz at the thought of being able to turn into anything useful when needed. There are echoes of babapapa in our TV show @olobobtop
I think - as all about creative play and solving problems. I find it fascinating how influences and ideas are fluid and mix in our head like thought paint.
I am sure the cordial in the bottle was delicious... But we will never drink it, we won't even open it. As I don't want to see babapapa empty and drained, it would make me too sad. The bottle is beautiful, the red colour is beautiful. He sits high on a shelf with other glass objects and there is a lamp in a jar up there too, which when on, illuminates babapapa so that he glows brightly... Just as he should.
Day 38
This green glass jar belonged to my Nan. I never saw it in her house but found it (and three others like it) in my parent’s garage loft years after she died. She would have brought them here when she emigrated from Rhodesia in the 70's. I couldn't believe these beautiful things were just hidden away in a dusty old box ... So my dad gave them to me.
I love green (my favourite colour) and seem to inadvertently collect green glass things. Some of them sit on a windowsill and glow like cryptonite when the sun shines through them. One of the other green glass jars has my costume jewellery necklaces in it, another is in the bathroom and has soaps in it...But this jar is empty and sits next to the babapapa cordial bottle and glows when the lamp is on (which makes the shelf look magical).
Whenever I look at it,it reminds me of my Nan and I wonder what she used to put in the jars all those years ago....
Day 39
This scribbly loose wonkified rendition is a little coffee set. The bottle comes to pieces to make 4 coffee cups. The bottom section is the sugar bowl and the top part you put the milk in.
My husband got it for me from @ticklemywickle years ago. And I almost immediately nearly destroyed it by accident when trying to take the stuff lid off a big jar of buttons that was to the right of it. I knocked it over and there is a hairline crack on the top section. I was so cross with myself for being too lazy to take down the button jar.
So now, whenever I look at this, my brains automatic response is "button jar".. as that is the way brains work sometimes.
Day 40
Another #matryoshka nesting doll... This time a more contemporary one by @ingelaparrhenius
I think it is a baboon but not sure. He sits on a little shelf with a gaggle of his friends (some from his family and some who are like minded spirits).
I bought this online in a spontaneous online curve ball way (when I was looking for something else more specific and less fun probably).
I am drawn to character and things with faces and I think I have a medical condition which means I anthopomorphosise at any given opportunity. Also, I like things that straddle the blurry line between toy and ornament. ( I think they really should be called toynaments but that might be too confusing with tournaments?!)
Day 41
I really enjoyed drawing this butcher. I think as an illustrator when you draw a face, as you've drawn so made faces in your default style, it is hard to step outside that. So looking at other ways to draw the ubiquitous eyes, nose and mouth combo... With things spaced out slightly differently, things proportioned slightly differently, feels refreshing. It would feel like cheating, but I am drawing an object that happens to be illustrated on... So that's ok right?! Funny drawing a butcher when I am a vegetarian. But I like his butcher costume and his facial hair.
I got this salt and pepper pot set at a charity shop. I felt so giddy when I found it. Charity shops are good like that... Like a lucky dip shop... Anything is possible!
Day 42
This little China toadstool pot is one of many little pots on my house. Like most of the other little pots and runs on my house it curates it's own little collection of miniature misc inside.
Under the lid of this one there is a padlock in the shape of a cat (with key), three cheap rings (one of them a mood ring), a plastic washer that was once important enough to keep but now is redundant as use unknown, four buttons, a marble and a tiny toy bottle for a dolly.
I got this toadstool pot from a nondescript high street shop where it looked out of place. So I saved it from a life of genetic beige to come and live with all the other out of place things.
Day 43
This my husband got me one birthday from @ticklemywickle
I have a thing for handle-less mugs. My hands are always cold so if I have a hot drink I want to make use of the warmth of the mug and cup it with both hands. It feels nice, if I close my eyes it is like I am in a cosy cabin in a deep dark wood somewhere, sitting under a nice wooly blanket and gazing wistfully into the flickering flames of an open fire. I am not of course... I'm probably at home stressed and thinking how I am going to break it to my children that I have made them risotto.
This cup was made by wonderful @djeco_toys and I think illustrated by the incredible #benjaminchaud whose books I completely love. We have a djeco bingo game illustrated by him which has been a firm favourite in our family for years. So anything by him makes me think of happy family times.
Day 44
A tin from shitnack heavyweight #flyingtiger ... I am a sucker for a tin/storage device... Especially if it has a pattern on it.
This tin has a gaggle of plastic magnetic letters in it that we are trying to hide so that our kitchen white goods look more groan up and less messy. It seems to be working.
Day 45
A little tin teapot.
This we found in our house when we got back from holiday last year as a little presents from one of the lovely people who looked after our cats and house while we were away. I love people staying in our house and love leaving a list of nice local places and independent shops to go to. Of course @ticklemywickle was on that list.
The teapot was left with a card that said they thought my house needed this little tin teapot... And I think they were right, as it fits right in!
Day 46
This is known in our house as "the bubble gum guy"
When I worked in Soho (as a jobbing animator with dreams of being more than a jobbing animator...) and later, whenever I went to visit my agent in golden square, I would always nip into one of my favourite shops... Playlounge. It was like being a kid in a sweet shop.
I bought this for my husband years ago much to his bemusement I think). My husband had made a short animated film with a character with a square head just like this and "the bubble gum guy" reminded me of that.
Day 47
A @robryanstudio vase. This was one of the few things on our wedding present list over 10 years ago.
I love this vase so much that I kept buying more to give other friends for their weddings.
So I love vases, but I actually really hate getting bunches of flowers. It makes me want to sigh. Even though they are beautiful and it is a lovely gesture, I find putting flowers in vases immensely irritating... I remember when my daughter was born we got given so many bunches of flowers that I cried as was so tired and the notion of having to look after more living things just broke me.
So instead of flowers in guys vase, are big green material hearts on wire that I made for out wedding table decorations. They never wilt and make me feel guilty for not watering. They do get dusty... But what do they expect if they live in a curated hoarders house.
Day 48
This is one of the many material green hearts I made for our wedding table decorations (as flowers were so expensive and we used these to bulk them up). All the hearts were green, made of old and new fabric. This one's other side is a bright green fake leather that used to belong to an old bag I loved that I couldn't bear to throw away. (I love how stories of some objects can get absorbed into stories of other objects).
A gaggle of these hearts live in my @robryanstudio vase and looking them reminds me of that lovely sunny long shadowed green lawn day we had with special friends when we got married.
The day after the wedding, lots of people stayed and helped us tidy up. And we gave them a green heart or two, some flowers from the table, and a green cushion or two (my mum had decided that the cheap chairs we chose were too hard so made 80 different green cushions... Nutter!)
So years later when we are in friends houses, I spot a green heart in the corner, or a green cushion on a chair...and it makes me smile and happy that there are other sentiment fools out there too.
Day 49
This little milk jug I bought for my husband in a panic. It seems insane to say I bought him a jug, as it is probably the last thing he wants. He is impossible to get presents for, so I think I just buy things I like and give them to him. I suppose that makes me a terrible person. Allbeit a terrible person with a nice milk jug.
I got this Conran jug at good old trusty M&S. I like the fact it has no handle so can be held in your hand. I also really love that the glaze and the unglazed are so different but work beautifully together. A bit like me and my husband.. I don't know which is which. Maybe I am the unglazed... brittle and uneven. He is more polished and considered. Nevertheless it is teamwork.
We use this milk jug when we have people around. Well I do. He either forgets it’s there or thinks it's not worth the faff.
Day 50
I really wanted to find a cat to draw, as like so many I was so sad to hear about Judith Kerr passing away and have been thinking a lot about her . Like many I grew up on her books. I remember going to our little library when I was a kid and taking out mog and tiger again and again. I always loved that mog ate boiled eggs and was sad when our cats weren't interested in them.
Then as a parent it has been a complete joy to share her stores with my children. I always laughed inside when my young daughter was very worried about the tiger coming to take all of daddies beer.. as she had thought I'd said "daddies beard".
Judith was a completely inspirational writer, illustrator and human being. Her stories and magic will resonate and bring joy to many for many years to come. I hope I will be making books and never have to retire when I get older.
My drawing is not great. I was tired and stressed. But it was important to me to draw this cat
This little cat toy I bought in a Lewes flea market. After it looked at me through a glass display case it was a done deal. But now this cat has new layer to its story and has a more enriched meaning to me. It is the cat i drew on the day I learnt that Judith Kerr has died.
Day 51
I found this little chef and his pepper counterpart in our local flea market (the one with the scary taxidermy bear in the stairwell). They sit on a high shelf in our kitchen which means it never feels like you are cooking alone. I like that.
Day 52
This little teapot for one I got in a cafe in lake Taupo, north new Zealand when me and my now husband went travelling there. We had just been to see the amazing turquoise Huka Falls and then had driven on for quite a while, only to find that he had lost his phone and had maybe left it there. With heightened levels of stress we drove back there with little hope of finding it... But lo and behold someone had handed it in. We stopped at this cafe and they were serving fresh herbal teas our of these teapots. I think I had a camomile. It was just what i needed. They were selling the teapots there too so we bought one.
So when I look at this teapot I think how at times when you think things aren't going to work out, they sometimes magically do.
Day 53
This is an object I made a few years ago. It is made of card, paper mache, filled with some old tile grout to make it nice and heavy and painted with acrylic.
It is one of a set of 4. A kind of stylised version of my family. This one is my husband (who looks nothing like this!)
I had gotten obsessed with wooden ornamental dolls, of the likes of #alexandergirarddolls #donnawilsonand of course the Japanese tradition of #kokeshidolls . I have been wanting to acquire the odd girand doll or two... But couldn't justify spending the money and nobody seemed to be taking my hints to buy it for me for a present. So I made my own. One day I want to make them again out of wood but I need to find a carpenter to help me.
It's less terrifying drawing an object that you have made yourself. It takes the pressure off as there can be no consequences.
The family of four dolls for now sit together on a high shelf of pictures.
Day 54
This is one of a set of 3 @orlakiely
pots. I have cheated and made the plant much smaller so that illustration contained on the paper (control freak)
I bought the set when it was discounted in a closing down sale at a local independent shop called "bright things". I was really sad it was closing as it was an Aladdin's cave of treasures, good for presents and all you misc needs.
Since then, that shop has changed two more times, the first to an educational toy shop that was brilliant. We used to go in there on the long walk home when my son was a toddler and he would spend ages playing with the toy drill demonstration toy. They were really eager in there and would inadvertently scare my too shy daughter by talking to her and offering her a sticker.
The third incarnation of the shop since we have lived here is mountain warehouse, which made my heart sink when I found out, but weirdly we have used it a lot.
Inside this Orla kiely pot is a plant baby from another plant we had years ago, so I am so pleased it is living on and growing nicely. So both plant and pot make me think of next generations and how things change with time.... Next generation of shops, and next generation of plants. It is always the next generation that will inherit your stuff... So let them know the stories and which things are important.
Day 55
This little tin bird was bought as a present for my husband from lovely @mary_fellowes shop a few years ago.
He inadvertently started collecting tin toys years ago when I started buying them for him as I couldn't think what to get him for birthdays and Christmas’ He has quite a few now.
I hate the whole present thing and getting sucked in to the soulless void of consumerism. But it feels weird not to get a special person nothing. A little tin bird is a little token something right. And the bird is really good at pecking too so all good right?!
Day 56
It's funny how sometimes when going through this drawing objects process that serendipitous connections crop up, adding strength and additional layers to an objects meaning.
I already drew a turtle object (object 24) that I got when pregnant with my first child, and now this.
This little china tortoise was in a set of three (this is the biggest) I found for pittance in a charity shop when my little boy was a baby. My heart fluttered in that charity-shop-treasure-sugar-rush-way-when-you -spot-something-special. The way two smaller tortoises were positioned behind the bigger one, as if they were following it around just resonated with me. As a parent if young children you are either always being followed by them, or you are following them.
So it feels like turtley tortoise type creatures have inadvertently become a symbol of me and my children. That's just the way it is.
Day 57
I wish I'd drawn this one landscape
This is one of four little @magpielineimages brand espresso cups that I saw when we were on holiday in Cornwall with my parents and parents in law years ago. I was pregnant with my son at the time. I loved these cups when I saw them but knew I didn't need them really, I just loved them... but was that enough? In a rush of uncharacteristic sensibleness I walked away from the shop empty-handed.
That Christmas I unwrapped them from under our tree. My mother in law and mum had bought them for me, and four matching beautiful side plates too.
So these little birdy cups remind me of two special women and mothers, who notice things and are thoughtful. I am so grateful to have them in my life.
Day 58
Yeah please don't raise your eyebrow at me...I know I cheated and didn't draw it transparent so you can't see the design on the back... But I just didn't - as wanted to be able to focus on the front.
This little glass cup I bought when I worked at an animation company in the Truman brewery in Brick Lane London. I used to walk down back streets to interesting independent shops on my lunch break and get inspired by the plethora of curated creativity and wonderfully design. One of my favourite shops was "shelf" and this is where I bought the cup.
My brain used to fizz with ideas of things I wanted to make and create. Being in brick lane around such eye candy and inventiveness just fuelled that. I don't think I've changed much... It just feels like I don't have as much time to daydream. Back then I didn't know that was such a luxurious commodity.
Day 59
This tin ice-cream van originally had boiled sweets in it. Now it has tiny asterisk figures in and some even tinier shells in it. I didn't draw the faces in the windows properly as didn't have room or head space to solve it.
I got this in Brighton when the children were smaller on a day out with an old friend and her small children. We went to Jamie's Italian for a meal at the end of the day and it was a bit of a nightmare. The children were tired and unruly and it was stressful wrangling them all. Food and pens were flung at tutting neighboring customers.. It took ages to get the bill when we wanted to leave. For some reason they were selling these tin vans and I bought one.
So this tin reminds me of how hard it is to do simple things like go out for a nice meal when you have young children. How you can't have a complete conversation with a friend without being distracted. But also how it isn't always like that and it does get easier in some ways...
Day 60
Of course I have a homepride Fred the flour man in my house. Actually I have two. One I bought from another favourite local flea market that is in an old church. I find myself wandering though draughty old flea markets when I am troubled by anything. It feels like a comforting no judgemental place where you can be alone but not lonely. I love them. They are so cathartic and often inadvertently help me resolve or understand more, the things that are swilling around in my head.
This one I got as found it absurd that we didn't have one! When I was growing up I used to love animated characters in love action adverts. They seemed so magical. It seems strange now as everything is animated and anything can be visually realised. It is easy to forget how fast the visual world has progressed.
The other one I have, my sister gave to me as she said it was just the sort of thing I would have in my house.she was right. I just haven't had the heart to turn this one away. So he just sits on a shelf in the bathroom and smiles at you when you’re on the loo.
portions are a bit squiffy on my drawing. But I can live with that! .
Day 61
This lovely jar is of course from @ticklemywickle . My husband bought it for me one birthday. It has a little black board bit on the front where you can write the label. Inside the jar is instant coffee which my parents drink whenever they come and visit. I used to be a real coffee snob but if late I have realised I am drinking it. It is like my dirty little secret. Shhhh.
Day 62
I love these little wooden houses. A remnant of my childhood. I used to build little towns and play such good games with these. So pleased they still make them. My children loved playing with them too. So joyful to eavesdrop on them when they absorbed in their magical imaginative games.
Whenever I hear that song "my little town" by Paul Simon I think of these houses. I love that song.
This little house lives in a little display cupboard with other small things which I guess are technically toys masquerading as ornaments. Amongst tiny moomins and spinning magnetic ballerinas.
Day 63
This is one of the few objects that was my husband's before he met me. It's weird I never really asked him about it before. That's what's nice about this project, finding out things that have never occurred to you to think about before.
He said that this is an African fertility doll. A bit of an odd thing for a single guy to own, but even odder when he says his mother gave it to him! He said she hadn't known what it was when she gave it to him, but he had always been fascinated with Africa and liked the style and design of African art. He told me that when he first met me and found out me and my family were from Rhodesia he found that interesting too. I hope we lived up to his expectations!
This object is so beautiful as you can see how skillfully it has been hand carved and finished. It sits next to the other African fertility item that I drew on day 36.
Day 64
Another @donnawilsonltd object. Another handle-less China beaker. I think really thin china makes a cup of tea taste so much nicer- I don't understand why, but it does!
This beaker I got from the online sale a few years back, along with a Goldilocks one. They sit together, so have in my mind inadvertently created a new narrative for the story.
When we changed our kitchen years ago, I made sure there were no closed cupboards as it felt wrong to hide everything away and not to be able to see all our lovely things. It has worked so well. I sometimes feel like I am still a little kid playing shops as take such pleasure in seeing things all lined up and positioned thoughtfully. But it is the opposite of a shop as nothing us for sale. It is more like bagpusses shop but nobody is allowed to collect anything.
Also, having things you like to see makes doing mundane domestic chores like loading and unloading the dishwasher almost pleasurable and ritualistic as you get to see objects close up... Like you are saying hello and acknowledging them and saying thank you.
Day 65
I think I have been stalling drawing this object. Firstly, it's story is incredible so I want to do it justice. Secondly drawing it was tricky as made out of glass..I hate drawing shiny things with reflections. And yes I know I drew the head way too big.
So here goes, this green glass duck is really special. It has a chip on the underside of its beak . The green glass duck sort of belonged to my great auntie bubb.i say sort of as it wasn't technically hers.
During the second world war, my great auntie bubb (whose name was Alix of course... Everyone knows bubbs is the shortened version of Alix ha!) was living in Bristol. She was headmistress at a girls school by day, but also volunteer as an air raid warden.
For a while before the war, she would cycle to work past an posh homeware shop where she would stop and look at this glass duck wishing it was hers. But she couldn't afford it.
Then one day after a particularly bad night of bombing, auntie bubb was walking past where the shop was, unable to cycle as there was rubble everywhere... The street, including the shop had been completely blasted to the ground and there was nothing left of it. Well almost nothing left... but on the ground amongst the rubble she saw glinting magically in the sunlight the green glass duck. How it survived the blast and remained almost fully intact with just a small chip on its beak is a mystery. She picked it up and put it in her bag and carried on walking through the rubble.
So now it sits on our shelf of green glass things and now and again when the light catches it glints magically again. It is so strange feeling the chip in its beak and knowing what made it that way, and that if it hadn't had gotten the chip, it wouldn't have ended up with us.
Day 66
This tin I bought from a shop opposite spitalfields market when I worked in brick lane around 2002. It was also an odd little cafe with old wooden ex church chairs with spaces for hymn books in the back. It sold loose tea which seemed like a curious and exotic concept to me. I liked it..it felt like you were allowed to slow down and wait and didn't have to rush. I loved the tin (which was full of loose tea) and bought it. However, I am ashamed to say i just threw the loose tea away as I couldn't wait to use the tin for something else..what an idiot. I bought it to aspire for that wholesome slow living lifestyle, yet was too impatient and intimidated to do it.
Times are faster and more frantic now and I'm still not great at slowing down. These days there are earl grey tea bags in this tin.
Day 67
This money box kimono clad owl lives downstairs in our house. Anytime I fine loose change lying around (which is a lot!) I feed it to him. It's weird as he must have a touch of the TARDIS about him as he never seems to get full. Maybe someone else empties him out when I'm not looking I don't know.
I found him in a charity shop years ago and his big starey eyes made me feel sorry for him (in much the same way those wretched glittery eyed beanie boo cuddlies hypnotise small children). Then I found a bigger one later also in a charity shop so got that so he wouldn't be lonely. I think I need to get out more.
Day 68
This SpongeBob bowl is one we use most days for breakfast. If you are grumpy in the mornings and see this grin it always helps take the edge off a morning.
This bowl I bought from a shop in the beautiful town of Annecy in France about 15 years ago. This was when we were young exciting film makers and would go around the world with our films visiting animation festivals. Annecy is a big one.
We used to slope about watching films, schmoozing, looking interesting, eating tartiflette and trying to explain to waiters in the canal side restaurants that vegetarian means no meat and not just meat cut up really small so you don't even know it is there. It's funny we went for years and years and that seemed like it was our normal life... But since having children that all changed (like so many things do!)
It also amuses me that as I bought this bowl in France that inside the bowl it says "Bob l'Eponge".
Day 69
This is one of the newest objects I have drawn I think. I got this the other month when my wonderful cousin person from Australia came over for a fleeting visit. It was her 40th birthday (which was really weird as she is only supposed to be 20) and me and my sister took her out for a posh tea in fortnum and masons. It was really special. And really odd as I had no children swarming around me demanding stuff.
Afterwards we wandered around London and pootled in shops with no urgency. It was bliss. My cousin took me in this shop that had a huge living wall and lots of beautiful things on it. We are two peas in a pod as automatically gravitated towards the sale corner at the back. This cat salt mill was £4 so now it lives with us.
You turn it's head to grind the salt. You have to be careful not to leave the head so that the tail is poking out the front as it looks a bit rude. Luckily my children haven't noticed that yet, but I am sure when they do they'll find it hilarious.
Day 70
This matroshka is a useful one as all the bits are measurements for cooking. A copy, half a cup... Etc. Think this one is two thirds of a cup and half a cup. It is the middle one. Like me. .We use it all of the time when baking using American recipes that always seem to use cups. My sister bought it for me as she thought I would like it. I do. Of course I do. It has a face on it and it's smiling. I think she bought it from tiger before I was aware that tiger was a thing, and when they only had a few stores.
My drawing isn't the finest observational rendition of it... But it's been a pretty full on weekend and I'm shattered.
Day 71
I got this curious brass object from the flea market with the scary taxidermy bear in the stairwell. It caught my eye and I was smitten. I have no idea what it's purpose is, or even if it has a purpose. I suspect it does as the umbrella turns around and the duck pivots left and right.
I think I love it as whenever you look at the scene it seems to tell a different story. Sometimes the duck and the frog seem like they are good friends going on a leisurely pleasant row together. Sometimes the duck looks menacing and the frog looks passive, like the duck is rowing the frog away from where he wants to be against his will. Sometimes the frog looks like he is the boss and forcing the duck to row the boat while he just glares threateningly at the duck Sometimes it is like they have both just had an argument and are not speaking to each other. I love this object, the stories it conjures up always stops me in my tracks when I happen to rest gaze on this little brass boat.
Day 72
This tin panda drummer without a drum I got for 20p from a doorstep sale around the corner ages ago. I love doorstep sales, like a surprise treasure opportunity. When we lived in London most of our furniture I found in skips or outside houses with "please take me" signs. It is nice to give things a new life.
Drummerless tin panda has a hole for a key but we don't have the key. We should probably just try with all the other tin toy keys... But actually maybe I'm a bit afraid of what he'll do as he looks quite menacing and sinister.
My drawing again was rushed. Head to big... proportions wrong... Same old same old. Also I seemed to have made him look more like an Octonaut. Was tired and jittery and stressed about all the things going on and was far too preoccupied.
Day 73
Another lovely @ingelaparrhenius
treasure from @ticklemywickle
This is one of five character matroshka eggs that lives under the glass dome of our cake stand. The cake stand gets taken down from on top of the kitchen cupboard for special occasions and birthdays when there is a big cake involved. So when these 5 eggs are on the loose all is good as we have cake in the house!
Day 74
There are two types of things I can never throw away.... empty Golden syrup tins and bon maman jars. They are just too lovely to discard. This golden syrup tin I use to put pencils, sharpies and really disgustingly inky dip pens in. So I use it every day.
I always find the image on the tin if a dead lion with bees swarming around him intriguing. It is a bit odd if you really look at it. Is the lion actually dead? I do get the logic, the lion is the strength and the bees honey is the sweetness... But is it that the sweetness of the honey meant to be so strong that it overpowers and kills a big lion?! I think my daughter was a bit disturbed by it when I pointed it out (she really loves lions)
Day 75
This glass vase with boats on was bought in beautiful Rye when on holiday in camber sands. These lovely times are like magic... seeing the children scurrying across the dunes sends zaps of sunshine into my heart.
It's nice to have zaps of magic and sunshine around you in your daily life when you are unloaded the dishwasher I find. These are what special objects can do!
This vase is by the @magpielineimages (same as the espresso cups that was object 57) It is filled with a smorgasbord of dried memories... A walk in firle (the ear if corn), out on safari in Kenya (the guinnea fowl feather), a hydrangea head from my parents house (that was the same plant that provided me with my impromptu wedding bouquet on the morning I got married), a special friend who is no longer with us (a rose from his funeral), a squiggly stick (from a walk on the downs), a peacock feather (from my nephew's nature party), catkins (from a bouquet of flowers from a publisher when a book for published), lavender (from the lavender farm near my sister's house), an allium head (from out garden, but reminds me of our beloved London garden flat) and so so much more.
We spontaneously collect these nano memories which softly accumulate over time to make a wealth of enriching life time experiences. In a world of big loud overwhelming things, it is so important to remember the tiny quiet things which inform who we are.
Day 76
drawing as so fiddly and doesn't look glassy.
The object I love. I bought it in tkmax megastore in Lewisham near where we used to live.
It's funny how context is everything. It looked kind of tacky in the shop as there was so much other glass stuff and cheap house tat around it. But cherry picked and placed somewhere it looks just beautiful.
Again it is a nice smooth round cold object to touch. And looking at it is like gazing into a different world. Could be somewhere in outer space on a distant planet, or could be under the sea in a colourful reef. Looking into its big glassy eye is like some sort of magical escapism.
It is officially I guess a paperweight... who actually used paperweights?! It just sits on our side board next to the happy/sad stone of object 33.
Day 77
This was one of three tin cups I got from forest hill years ago. It is the only one left in my possession still in tact (although the other two are used every day).
We used to use all of them, but then I made the mistake of putting two of them in the dishwasher and it became clear that they weren't enamel painted cups, but had the design printed on shrink wrapped plastic on it. As the heat of the dishwasher melted them to oblivion.
So the other two are naked and just nice shiny silver (and lovely to drink from)- but I whisked this one away for its early retirement so it wouldn't have to endure the same horror.
These days this one sits above the fireplace and is filled with nostalgic shrapnel like a spoon carved by a dear friend, drift wood from a golden bay beach in New Zealand, illustrated cake toppers I made for my children's birthdays, pheasant feathers from a walk on firle, and the second to tinyest dilly dolly matroshka that I made for a sewing kit i used to sell.
I realised in my illustration that I have turned the dove into a crow. But that is life I guess.
Day 78
This penguin matroshka doll I bought in New Zealand in 2007. We had limited space in our rucksacks and this made the cut! I just liked the sarcastic expression in his beak. I am in awe of anyone who can illustrate beak expressions .
A good few years ago before we had kids, and when just a handful of our friends had kids, kids seemed like a weird novelty. They were just like us but smaller and more unpredictable.i used to be precious about my things and books and not let children touch them. But in a moment or laissez-faire madness I let a friend's toddler play with this. Within a few seconds there was a crack that appeared on the biggest penguin and I was internally cross but pretended it didn't matter (which is textbook me and how I roll).
But these days I quite like the crack.its like the sarcastic penguin knows it's there and thinks it's slightly amusing. So if sarcastic penguin is ok with it. So am I.
Day 79
This @donnawilsonltd eggcup I bought on her online sale. It has never been used as I know there would be fights over whose egg would go in it.
So hard drawing faces drawn by other illustrators. I can't break out of my own default style... So annoying. Instinctual proportions and shapes get in the way. Bad observation on my part. But don't have much time to do these drawings as life is so full.
I always kick myself about Donna Wilson as years ago before she got successful a mutual friend tried to get me to meet her as thought we'd get on but I was too shy and awkward. What an idiot I am.
Day 80
This clay bird was bought in a dull garden centre (this has to be the most boring start to a house object story yet). I just liked the jaunty angle of his little beak.
I got it at that transition time between being a scruffy art student living in student digs, to setting up your own home with aspirations of being more sophisticated. I was so deluded! One of our creative danish friends was so stylish and had expensive object d'art that looked that perfect mixture of quirky and stylish... (Quirlish?!) She had displayed on a mid century sideboard a statement clay piece. So this cheap clay bird became our statement clay piece (displayed on a cabinet that we found disgarded on the street).
I find it slightly disconcerting that my illustration of the clay bird looks more like a weird seal.
Day 81
Another birthday present from my husband from @ticklemywickle . I have seen other lovely enamel items in this range and am proud that I have been restrained and not bought any.
This tin lives in the bathroom and is home to an assortment of tweezers and nail clippers. What a glamourous life.
I have made the stag on my illustration a bit stumpy headed. Was just too eager to move into the posco pen action.
Day 82
This is another of my paper mache doll objects I made a while back (I drew one for object 53). This one is sort of my daughter as a fairytale character. I am thinking I might remake these as punch needle objects soon (when I go to fabricland!) As I have more milage for these characters.
My motto is, if you can't afford what you want... Then just make it yourself! That's what I've been doing since my childhood.... Making monopoly, yahtzee, cluedo, clothes, bags, lampshades, blankets, hats, chairs, art, cushions, rugs, fascinators.. the list goes on. Basically I'm a cheapskate.
Day 83
This little wooden chef was bought from @ticklemywickle and sits on a high shelf in our kitchen with an eagle eye to make sure we cook nutritious and delicious meals.
He is a candle stick holder, but I have never used him as one as I am terrified of fire. I used to light candles all the time and live them but these days I am far too anxious about things going wrong. This seems to be getting more so with age.
Day 84
My mum bought me this little teapot when she and dad went to Vietnam. I got cross as chipped it and it was never used again. Then that made me sad that it was hidden away and so now it is out on top of the piano and I get to look at it everyday. Inside it lives a happy little succulent baby (that was also weirdly from my mum).
Little teapots always remind me of my mum anyway as she had lots of them displayed on a shelf when I was a kid and I used to dream of using them all for a nice tea party with all my friends (I never did though).
I have the habit of using containers that are not meant to be plant pots as plant pots. I have all the lids somewhere... Somewhere I hope....
Day 85
This owl lidded dotty pot was bought in a Debenhams sale. I always feel quite claustrophobic and anxious in department stores. The idea that the world could crash and burn outside and I would have to live the rest of my life in there with only the make up counter staff for company fills me with terror.
The lid of this pot is never on properly as I stuff too much into it. There are clunky bracelets and beads in here that I never seem to wear but can't throw away. I like having pots of treasure to sift through on a rainy day.
I have drawn the owl and the dots a bit skewy as it has been a long week.
Day 86
We seem to have a gaggle of hourglasses on a shelf. I think they look so nice in a gaggle. .
When the children were smaller and meal times took forever and were a battle, on extreme occasions I couldn't be bothered to cajole them to eat every single mouthful and would just put this on the table and say that when the sand ran out. It was end of supper time and if they hadn't finished they would have pudding. It worked a treat.
This hourglass is 20 minutes.
Day 87
So on Saturday I had a lovely surprise in the post.. this beautiful ceramic spotty milk carton by @hannerysgaard.
It is my newest shiniest object in my house and already has a home next to a big moomin jug.
So of course I had to draw the milk carton. I am blown away by the crazy talented people on instagram and it is such a joy to see things that people create in their normal day to day lives. It reminds me that against the backdrop of worldly horrors and the depressing political pantomime... Most people are just quietly being brilliant. Thank you @hannerysgaard.
She also the other day posted up some fabulous egg cups she'd made when just playing in the studio... If she starts making those to sell I will be sure to snaffle some of them up too!
Day 88
This is the larger of the two iconic #cornishware jugs I have. I always think that if you were say a table with one of these filled up with custard you would be in a really happy place. They are the epitome of cosy.
I got this jug years ago from a cook shop in South London as it felt ridiculous to not have one. It is a thing of beauty and I will always use it for custard when given half the chance.
I got the snout of this jug so wrong.. I guess I wasn't really looking properly. Bad observational skillz for sure.
Day 89
This illustrated mug I bought in #paperchase and a while after I got it I realised it was by amazing illustrator @helen_dardik .
It was fun to draw and felt like a beautiful tattoo.
This is one of my favourite mugs and is on my favourite mug shelf.
Day 90
So I feel a bit bad for this guy. He was early tiger Copenhagen days... A present from my sister. His hat screws off and he is a useful pot. But as it must be quite obvious by now,I have a lot of useful pots,so his head is empty. He has been sitting up on a dusty shelf.
So I have decided that today his luck has changed... He is down from the high shelf and I will put one of my pilea plant babies in to be his brain and he can talk to the rest of the plants on the sideboard.
Day 91
This tall wooden #pinocchio I bought in Italy when I went there with friends about 15 years ago. It was in the middle of winter and all the colours were subdued, desaturated and frostily beautiful. It is the only time I've ever been to italy. I remember we made an extremely potent tiramisu on the last night with way too much coffee in. I had the jitters for days afterwards.
What I loved about this wooden pinocchio is that he came with 3 replaceable noses... Each one a different size. But we've only ever used the long big lie nose.
He lives in our downstairs bathroom and the loo roll sits on his long big lie nose perfectly.
Another notable feature is his doingy springy neck (very satisfying to twang).
In my illustration of him his legs are too short as he was way too tall to fit on the paper. So in theory my nose should grow as this drawing is a lie.
Day 92
This lovely hand decorated armadillo only arrived at our house on Sunday.
Our street is amazing. Every year it closes and we have a street party weekend. The big grown up boozy one with a proper sit down meal is on the Saturday and on Sunday we all have coffee and croissants together in the middle of the road and the kids play out all day. It is great.
So on the Sunday morning when we were out having breakfast we noticed there was a little table outside a neighbour's house (who is sadly moving to Finland) with all this stuff she is giving away. This armadillo was on that table and the rest is history.
She said it was from Mexico. It's head and tail bob up and down and it is so charming. But when I look at it I think not of Mexico... But of our wonderful street community and his lucky we are to feel at home.
Day 93
This little cup has lots of sweet animals around it. Another purchase from my staple magical treat emporium @ticklemywickle .
It had some cricket ball marrow seeds that my mum gave me being kept safely inside it. So safe that I completely forgot they were there. That's what always happens to things that you don't want to lose. You lose them by default as they are too safe and sound #inanimateobjectphilosophy
Maybe I will plant them and let the safe and sound seeds grow and live.
I got his chin very wrong as again I wasn't really looking properly... naughty artist.
Day 94
This object my children have wanted me to draw for weeks. She is called Coco and I can honestly say I have absolutely I idea where she came from or what her history is.
We just noticed one day that she was there, sitting on the mantelpiece as if she'd always been there. She is a bit of a mystery.
My children were excited at it must mean she was magical.l, and it was around Christmas too. A few of their friends have those appalling elf on shelf things... (Ahhhhg!) And they had wondered why elves didn't come to their house, so in their minds, coco was their elf. So around the buildup to Christmas Coco will appear in different places, and move about. Then after Christmas, she stays still as if she is hibernating.
It always makes me smile all the micro rituals and Impromptu organic traditions that grow in a family. They are so specific to you, and they are hard and seem silly to explain to others. But they are the important, enriching textures that help bond us together in our lives and experience.
Day 95
Another quirky matroshka set. This one a @helen_dardik design i think. I bought this one on an online sale as an extra item that I just clicked into the shopping basket (which is way too easy).
My drawing if her characterisation is slightly squiffy as I can never seem to draw not like me. It is so hard to be neutral. It kind of reminds me of my GCSE art exam when the person sitting next to me in the observational still life part of it didn't look at the still life at all but just copied my drawing as thought I was good at art. Needless to say theirs looked nothing like mine, but was equally lovely.
I guess you have to embrace the you. You are the one person who will be around for your whole life. You might as well be friends.
Day 96
This charming little mushroom was made by paper mache guru extraordinaire @thestealthyrabbit . She makes paper mache into the most incredibly inspired artform. I was lucky enough to share a studio with her a few years ago and was in awe of her talent. I used to sneakily see how she did it and I am still none the wiser!
When I left the studio (to make olobob series 2) she gave me this mushroom. It dangles from the ceiling to help disguise a horrid disused gas pipe. It has transformed an eyesore we see every day into something magical.
Day 97
This @orlakiely letter stand is a fairly new object. I found it strewn in a random aisle in random tkmax. It was only £7
I got it for my husband who has got the short straw of a tiny desk to use for work at home. He always has to deal with boring brown envelope clad printed statements, and I thought this might make them more fun. Remarkably he likes it and didn't tut too much. It works a treat.
I like the detail of the hole at the back for a pencil, and a little bit to keep paper clips and usb widgets. I also have a thing for the cross section of plywood..
Drawing -wise, shonky perspective of course!
Day 98
So this is a weird one to draw. This is #bobble , he is a character from our Cbeebies show @olobobtop . He is a 2d collage design that was made into a 3d model to help visualise product ideas that then I have drawn on a 2d piece of paper. A metamorphosis of dimensions that has made my head spin.
I'm so proud of our little TV show. It has been a huge investment for me and mr @beakus in terms of time, emotion and money. Now, after the second series has finished, it is so hard competing against the big players. Big players who have budgets to spend on marketing, publicity which in turn helps push the brand into an attractive license opportunity. We are such small fry but with lots of creative ideas and merchandise which will never see the light of day which is soul crushing. We crave diversity and choice to feed our children's imagination and creativity... but the reality is that this is business and mass market beige always gets the pie. Sorry this has turned a trifle ranty. Anyway... If anyone wants to work and partner with us to create olobob products which have more integrity and thought than plastic.. Please let me know
Having said all that... It is lovely to have this little bobble model, even if it turns out it's just for us. I'm going to get him a glass dome so he is like some frozen exhibit.
In other news, my dip pen nib is disgustingly clogged up and all clumpy instead of smoothly flowing. And I left the ink lid off today by mistake so ink went all thick which didn't help matters
Day 99
Our orange trusty #lecreuset teapot (from tkmax ).
This is our less showy teapot, but no less loved and appreciated. I love it's shape and sturdiness..it feels reliable and solid- yet easy on the eye too.
Day 100
woooooohoooooooo! I did it! 😁
Felt kind of pressure as to what the last object should be. Then I decided not to be so silly and just pick something I wanted to draw.
This is one on 3 @ingelaparrhenius
enamel pots I bought online years ago. They make great house plant heads. I have recently embraced the house plant thing and it is going really well. (Better than my real outdoor garden skills).
A bit of artistic license as neglected the brown plastic pot in the middle. We are all editors. Of words, memories and visuals.