Artweeks Poster

Oxfordshire Artweeks

Shalotte is exhibiting at the South Oxford Community Centre between the 14th and the 19th of May as part of Oxfordshire Artweeks.

Paintings - Drawings - Portraits - Textiles - Sound - Photography -Ceramics -Sculpture

Come and Draw on Saturday the 19th of May 11-5pm... with members of Julia Kay's Portrait Party

Open Mon,Tues,Wed,Fri,Sat 3-7pm

Thursday 3-9pm with Live Music

Some of our Jewellery that we have on display

 

 

1:Salachia

In Roman mythology, Salachia was the female divinity of the sea. She was the consort and queen of Neptune, god of the sea and water.

Salachia is represented as a beautiful nymph, either enthroned beside Neptune, or riding beside him in a pearl-shell chariot drawn by dolphins or sea-horses.

Necklace is made from White Shell Discs, Lapis Lazuli, and Amethyst; with a Wire-Wrapped Beach Pebble Pendant and Hand-hammered Copper Wire.

 3:Satis

The Ancient Egyptians believed Satis was the goddess who caused the Nile floods. Her name means ‘she who shoots forth’, referring to the annual flooding of the river.

One of her titles was ‘She Who Runs Like An Arrow’ and her symbols were the arrow and the running river.

Necklace is made from Quartz Points, Amethysts, African Map Jasper, Turquoise and Hand-Hammered Copper Wire.

2:Belisama

Belisama was a goddess of lakes and rivers in Celtic mythology. She has been claimed to be the consort of Belenus, the Celtic sun god.

Her name has been interpreted to mean ‘summer bright’.

Necklace is made from Green Jasper, Turquoise, Red Coral, and Hand-Hammered Copper Wire.

 4:Calypso

Calypso was a nymph in Greek mythology who lived on the Isle of Ogyia, where she imprisoned Odysseus for seven years on his way home from Troy.

She is said to be the daughter of the Titan Atlas.

Necklace is made from Grey Shell Discs, Green Jade Moonstones, Hand-Hammered Copper Wire and Antiqued Copper Chain.

Oxford Moroccan Handicraft Market

Yesterday was the last day of the Oxford Moroccan Handicraft Market. I didn't even know it was on and would have missed it entirely if Abbie hadn't gone into town for something else and gone out the wrong door in Boswells.

Trust Abbie to go straight to the bead and jewellery stall

Tagines, Mirrors, hanging metal incense holders and furniture

Shoes,Bags and Jewellery

Textiles and Metal Beating

These were a gorgeous mix of cave painting and traditional moroccan style.

I learnt something new as well. Olives come in pink and red. I was going to get some but I got distracted by the perfume stall.

Isn't this painting fantastic. You can almost hear the music coming from the canvas and the way the artist has painted the skin tones in black and purple was breathtaking. He took it out in the sunlight so we could see it better.

Lots of leather bags

Cedarwood carver and lathe worker

I'm in love with these sofas, it was kind of hard sitting on them but put some more cushions on it and you'd be as snug as a bug

Stall selling Juniper wood bowls and woodwork

Beauty and The Beast - Jewellery and Objets dArt by Anna Tham - and the importance of Information in exhibits

Yesterday I went to a beautiful jewellery exhibition/display by Anna Tham in Oxford, she makes Jewellery and Objets d'Art from thing she finds and vintage jewellery.

The piece themselves are stunning, really medieval and chunky and it was a joy to wonder around and examine the pieces.

The only thing I found dissatisfying was the complete lack of information. I only found out about the exhibit when I was looking on a local whats on page it was in The Vaults Cafe in town and when we got there there was no poster, no notices, no nothing to tell that there was something on. We spent 10 minutes wandering around the complex trying to find it untill we went into the cafe to ask and saw the display cases on the wall.

I wanted to know more about the artist, where she came from, her ideas, what she had done before but apart from a couple of postcards firmly stuck to the wall there was nothing, no cards, leaflets, bio or even names to the pieces. I know bios and things are a pain to write out, I've done enough to know that but some information is important, you can't just pop things in a case and leave them to do all the work.

Anyway enough with the rant, I'll move on to the pieces.

I'd love to know where she finds 6 matching pieces out of the blue like that as well.

Gold bull's head with rhinestones





Panthers painted black with gold and gem collars





White and gold Bumblebee necklace/choker. I adore bumblebees.





Gold bumblebee necklace





Blue and gold lion's head choker. Blue and Gold is my favourite colour mix




Stunning elephant piece in blue and gold with gems. I've got such a soft spot for this piece.






Child's toy dinosours with painted gold accents



Child's toy snake with a gold collar. I simply love this, I'm going to make one next time I go to a car boot



It was stunning but deserved more advertising, more information.

Her website is http://www.annatham.com/ and is coming soon.

Here are some more links to information on the web

Previous Exhibitions

Daily Info

This Is Bath

Swapshop fun

The first sat of the month is swapshop day at our local recycle/paint store/community centre and today was a great day for goodies.

First thing I'd like to do is introduce Fred and George, two fantastic handmade plant pots who will soon be gracing our main gate posts

Second is a fantastic vintage parasol (a very unusual find), also a vintage glove box)


A case of Pre Raphaelite cards


some lovely graphic designed blotting paper cases,


a selection of pen nibs (always useful)


a sweet little ethnic doll,


a book of rag crafts and a book on quilts,

a lovely book of ethnic portrait photographs,

a set of vintage 1930's happy family playing cards. Top card is Miss Rake - the gardeners daughter

a little model elephant (perfect for storing rings on) and a dinky little decorative teaspoon that will soon be a pendant

The most fantastic child's tape measure that will be a godsend (lets see me loose this baby down the back of the sofa) Its so big I feel like I should take it for walkies

and a large leather luggage tag thats just what I need for my keyring.