Ceramics by Rory Foster

 

Rory Foster's dreamy ceramic mugs

I love ceramics. Ever since I first had a go on the wheel at 12 I have been in awe of the whole process, from the raw material coming out of the earth, the process of making and waiting and the finished piece.A lesson in patience.

Last week Rory Foster's work popped up on my instagram feed and my heart skipped a beat. Those colours and patterns!!!! A visual delight :)

To see more of Rory's work you can follow her via Instagram or via her website

Ceramic Stones by Rory Foster

In the fall of 2017, I changed careers and shifted my world into the magical land of pottery. I had never worked with clay or glazes before, but soon realized it was something I absolutely loved. I have practiced it every single day since.

Each piece begins as a slab of high-fire stoneware clay which I hand-build into its final shape. The pieces are then bisque fired and sanded to create a canvas for my favorite part: the design and glazing. My designs are inspired by both nature and negative space in objects. I start with a shape or line and move from there, always with a desire to create movement. Anything from nature—landscapes, sunsets, insects, and birds—guide my choice of colors.

Due to the nature of how I create each piece, they are completely one of a kind—the shape, imperfections, design, and color. Each piece is a result of building on learned skills and trying something new.

I absolutely love what I do and am so grateful that I get to share it with the world.

 

A giant hand painted planter by Rory Foster (in a yummy mid century style room)

Rory painting the above planter

Current Crush: Lucia LaFerme and her botanical dyes

Lucia LaFerme natural botanically dyed french linen bedding and silk pillowcases 

Californian based bodyworker and natural dye enthusiast Lucia LaFerme has become a bit of a Instagram crush of mine recently, with her scrumptious plant dyed silk self care sleep kits and Botanically dyed French Linen Bedding. Her instagram page is unsurprisingly also a visual feast and I love to see little glimpses of artists home life, especially when its as beautiful as Lucia's.

I have included below a selection of her beautiful pictures, and although Lucia does dye in colours other than yellows and oranges with Autumn on its way have decided to stick to this glorious glowing warm orange. I urge you to check out her work and visit her shop either via her instagram or via her online shop LuciaLaferme.com.


Inspired by Lucia's work I have just before submitting this post made myself a turmeric dye bath for my string shopping bag.... wish me luck!!

To see more of Lucia LaFermes work visit her website www.lucialaferme.com

Henry Matisse : Blue Nude II

My parents had a huge copy of Matisse's 1952 Blue Nude II when I was a child. I am not sure when they got rid of it as I can't remember when exactly it vanished between moves. I guess as it was one of the first pieces of art I ever saw I have always liked it and would really love a copy for above my stair way.

I know a lot of people think reproductions of famous artworks on their walls is a bit naff, but I say if it makes you happy then who cares? I haven't got time for all that snobbery :)

Below is a picture of Matisse's studio with some of his nudes on the wall

Tess Guinery.... Earth Tones, Poetry and Rainbows

Tess Guinery

I love Instagram. I have connected with so many like minded souls and also drooled over many accounts. There are of course, the accounts that can leave me feeling a little poop (unfollow!!!), but there are also those that leave me feeling uplifted and inspired. One of the accounts I am loving at the moment is that of Poet and Artist Tess Guinery.

Her beautiful earth toned rainbows are so simple but so pretty and I would love one of these hand painted beauties. Her whole account is full of stunning earth tones, great poetry and happy pictures of family life...... :)

Here are a few pictures from her instagram account @tessguinery , but there are so many beauties to check out so well worth a visit :)

5 minutes with.... Semra From Mama Moon Candles

Moon Ritual: Mama Moon Candles

Today on Moon to Moon we are lucky enough to have Semra from Mama Moon candles telling us about her journey from Stylist to candle maker!! I first discovered her beautiful candles a year or so ago via Instagram and have been intrigued to know a little more of what goes on behind the scenes for a while....so...

1)   Hi Semra, Can you tell us a little bit about yourself  and what led you to making candles?

Hey, yes sure… I am a very sensitive and loyal scorpio! I like to practice feel good magic.. I love the whole psycho- spiritual aspect of it.  I guess I would consider myself an eclectic witch who uses a little of this and a little of that! 

My journey to making candles has been varied, I was a fashion stylist for about 11 years, I wasn’t enjoying it for multiple reasons.  I decided to quit and go to University to study psychology, I loved learning all the theories, but the whole rats and stats of it all was something that I couldn’t cope with.. I’m way too spiritual! … So I quit and my best friend and I decided to do something courageous and bonkers and set up a kickstarter and raised money to buy a motor-home and perform our comedy show in the back of! It was a total passion project and was so much fun, stressful at times, but wouldn’t change that experience for anything..

While I have had my various jobs on the go I have always been in to healing, rituals and mixing oil blends and herbs… all this is very natural to me and has really helped and empowered me through some of life's rocky times,  I wanted to create something that would make people feel good and was an accessible way to create a mini ritual at home.

2) What is different about Mama Moon soy based candles to the mass produced ones available in big shops?

Big machines aren’t mixing them up, I am! I’m in my kitchen,  I’m heating the wax and mixing in the oils that have been infused with crystals, and I'm  pouring them in to the jars all myself… Each one is individually made by me, with love, care and magic!..  I create a protective circle and put a lot of positive intention in to them.  It’s a very personal experience and I love that my customers really feel that connection with them…

3) You have mixed together two of my personal favorite scents oud and rose in your 'Love Manifestation' candle. What was the inspiration behind the scent and what led you to this combination ?

The first time I ever smelt oud was on the glamorous Arab ladies in the cosmetics department in Selfridges! The smell is so powerful and potent, a total heady aphrodisiac, which is why it goes so well with rose which is the  universal go to smell that has signified love for centuries… Together they can be quite  hypnotic!!

4) What candle do you light when you have had a stressful day? 

Oh my its so hard to decide! Moon Ritual is my number one  its so warming and comforting... If I'm  having a bath it would have to be Healing and Meditation ( thats my cats favourite one too!)

5) Other than light a candle , what other ways do you like to relax at home?

I love cooking… now its cold, I’ll be cooking stews or soups – getting cosy in my pijamas, chill with my cat and watch some netflix!

Mama Moon Candles

6) you left a successful career in styling to start Mama Moon . what advice would you give to readers thinking about starting a small business?

If you have an idea GO FOR IT!  Remember that you don’t have to start with a big professional product launch you can start small and that way it is really easy to learn from mistakes and see what works and what doesn’t. Don’t sabotage yourself with perfectionism, as it is a form of procrastination in disguise! Share your ideas with friends and family, don’t be shy about it! If you are feeling a little un-confident book in a few sessions with a life coach. I had a really amazing life coach at the beginning of Mama Moon and she definitely taught me some really useful tips that I still tap in to now… I would also recommend entrepreneurial podcasts.. Its very reassuring to know that everyone started somewhere and its also a good motivator to know that hard work does pay off! 

7) What has been your proudest moment/ what do you appreciate the most about/of  Mama Moon?

I love that my candles have become part of peoples sacred spaces and that they are part of peoples intention setting rituals. That really is an honour. I am always so touched when my customers send me photos and tell me how happy my candles make them … That connection is a real honour makes me truly buzz!

I see that you have recently organised a foraging and smudge making workshop have you any other plans for mama moon's growth or new products in the near future?

 
Yes… I've got some really cool stuff cooking in the kitchen ( and other places ) All will be revealed very soon!!!! I have also really enjoyed sharing my moon rituals this year.. So definitely more of them too!

A massive thank you to Semra for taking the time to talk to Moon to Moon xx

To try Semra's Mama Moon Candles visit her webshop here, she can also be found on Instagram

Semra at her pop up shop in London Last year

Sacred geometry: Stained Glass from Colin Adrian

Sacred Geometry Mandala

A few months ago I got to spend a whole weekend to myself whilst my son and his father went to the seaside for a few days. Not only did I get some time to relax alone (as a parent of a 3 year old this is a very rare luxury) I was also lucky enough to get a last minute cancellation spot on a stained glass mirror making workshop at Bristols Famous Folk House. You can see my little creation below.

The course was unbelievably wonderful. I had forgotten how much I loved being immersed in creative activities and quickly signed up to a stained glass window making one for this coming February.

Looking for inspiration I have come across a few wonderful artists making pieces that I would be supremely proud of, one of them is Colin Adrian, a US based artist. Although he also does a lot of beautiful colourful work I just love the above two calmer pieces.

Colin's work is available via his own website or via The Radder

My own chunky little Mirror

Inspired by ..... Crystal Palace series by Kristina Sosarko

Inspired by......

I found the above image a while ago on Pinterest and instantly fell in love with not only its simplicity but also the mixture of woods and that stunning painting/print on the wall.

I have been looking for similar artwork ever since and recently stumbled upon the below print 'Crystal Palace no 1' from Inalux. 

"Part of a collection spanning the last four years of black paintings, the Crystal Palace designs are created by Kristina Sostarko. Each design in the series was painted in gouache or ink, and now available as a fine art archival print. While the prints appear black and white, the base is a soft shade of creamy peach."

Jungle Blanket from BFGF

Totally in love with this "Jungle ' Blanket from BFGF... this 51 x 73 inch woven blanket would look so good above my bed.... or my sofa... cant decide which I would go for.

Instagram

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You can find BFGF via their website here or on instagram

Where they create....Writing Spaces

Dylan Thomas’s ramshackle writing hut in Laugharne, Wales

Kerouac’s desk.

Roald Dahl's Writing hut from World of Interiors..... My hero :)

Albert Einstein's desk on the day he died, April 15, 1955

Martin Amis

The Home of Painter... Christian de Laubadere

I love finding the source for one of my favourite photos and then discovering more of the same home. The top photo has surfaced many a time on Moon to Moon but only now have I discovered a full set of photos of Artist Christian de Laubadere's Shanghai home photographed by Ricardo Labougle for World of Interiors. This beautiful home is wonderfully eclectic and I just love the layers of rugs and textiles in de Laubadere's home...

Below is a small excerpt from a 2013 interview with the French artist and his girlfriend from the Global Times

"I like the kitchen very much, which I think is the symbol of a family," de Laubadère said. "The only thing I always kept from my hometown in France here in Shanghai is a cookbook about French cuisine."

Several years ago, in order to create a huge painting for a hotel in Lhasa, de Laubadère had to move out of his small residence and studio on Huashan Road. He rented a deserted factory warehouse hidden on the ground floor of a commercial building in Changning district and converted it into a house, painting the exposed brick wall white and filling the 220-square-meter space with odds and ends he has collected over the years.

"This is our third residence in Shanghai, and the largest one," de Laubadère's girlfriend told the Global Times. "He was so excited after finding this space since it finally gave him an opportunity to display all of his Chinese porcelain, antiques and handicrafts which he bought from the antique and flea markets on Fangbang Road and Henan Road in Shanghai, and also other places he's traveled to, like Tibet, Taiwan and India."

Entering through a thick cloth curtain door, the space is divided into a living area at the front and the painting studio in the back. The living area consists of a reception space, a kitchen and a bedroom above built by iron and wood beams. Through an iron staircase, the bedroom connects itself with the space below to form a loft.

Artist Focus: Crystal Liu

the lake, "in dreams"

gouache and watercolour on paper,
40 by 40 inches,
2015-2016

the lake, "in the blue"

gouache and watercolour on paper,
30 by 30 inches,
2014-2015

I discovered Crystal Liu a few weeks ago and after posting one of her pictures on Instagram but loved her work so much that I wanted to show off her work to you guys in more detail....... it is just too stunning to not share!!

These beautiful images are from her 'the lake' series. Can you imagine how beautiful they must look in all their 30 x 30 inch glory?

To see more of Crystals beautiful work visit her website here

the lake, "the possibilities..."

gouache and watercolour on paper,
triptych, each panel is 44 by 30 inches
2016