String wins!

After my tape experimentation, I decided to try the tape inside of a tape cassette. I liked it better than the electrical tape but it still wasn’t quite right. It also had other connotations about old music formats, not just the relationship between the object and time.

I decided to try out string which I wrapped around the record for 2 minutes 42 seconds and it looked exactly how I wanted. The string wins! There was a thickness to it, so you could see each individual strand and the contrast of the cream string against the black vinyl worked. I thought about what this would be as a stand-alone piece. It seemed effortless. I decided to make a second piece, for the amount of time the average length was of the top 10 selling albums – 47 minutes.

I failed in two attempts as I would get to about  20 minutes and the string would start slipping and then unravelling. It is one of the most frustrating ways to lose time. After the second time I vowed to give up, but Al talked me round. I went back into the kitchen where Heart FM was playing the same songs they had an hour ago. I took a deep breath and it came to me: I needed to use pegs to stop the slipping. I then proceeded to wrap string around the record for 47 minutes. It hurt but I was so happy once it was finished. Just got to think about how to display them now.

The perfect pop song

There is an exhibition called ‘Exit through the record shop’ which I am hoping to make some record shaped art for. I wanted it to be related to music and time and was thinking about how I could represent the average length of an album. My friend Ali (who is also going to be in the show) suggested that I use the length of the perfect pop song. Apparently it is 2 minutes 42 seconds. I decided to give this a go using electrical tape whilst listening to Heart FM on a high volume for necessary inspiration:

At the moment I am not overly excited about any of them but feel like the creative cogs are turning.

Pigeon post

I have shed loads of photographs of the found furniture and think I need to see it together as a collection. I think I might make them into a book of postcards, maybe just for me to send to my friends and family. I could even make personalised stamps!

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I have recently been using pigeon post (not really with pigeons, but it’s what I like to imagine when I use the postal service). I have been sending letters and postcards and there is something really magical about it. I like the idea of it going on a journey and seeing new sights along the way. Postcards especially have this really exhibitionist feel about them, as anyone handling them can read what you have been up to and more often than not, how the weather is where you are. They are an accidental audience.  I think this would be one of the biggest pros to being a postman or a literate Pigeon!

Not for sale

I saw this pigeon sat in the window of a posh shop front in Nottingham City centre and it made me smile from ear to ear. It was so out of place next to the huge high heels. Imagine a world where pigeons walk freely among us. Not labelled street rats but equals. I wonder if many others would have the a penchant for heels such as these

String wrapped objects

I am really looking forward to wrapping objects in string for a length of time that relates to their use/purpose! I have wrapped this hollow egg (which was inspired by my Mum Ali and decorated Easter eggs) for the amount of time it takes to boil a soft boiled egg.

Coming soon, the perfect pop song, a bus journey and a cup of tea!

In abundance

Ali and Caroline have had some great spots on the furniture front. It’s so great receiving picture messages with people’s sightings. Really makes my day! (Thank you!) I have also seen an abundance of furniture of late due to the weather improvement from icicles to sunshine. Here they are:

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Have quite recently decided how I would like to display the photographs and am working on it slowly but surely. It will involve mapping their locations and I’m very excited!

One half of knowing what you want, is knowing what you must give up before you get it.

This is an inspirational futuristic aeroplane picture left in the studio by previous tenants. I will miss it!

I have just looked up motivational sayings (I love the language and clichés used in quotes like these) but ‘One half of knowing what you want, is knowing what you must give up before you get it‘ seemed to make a lot of sense to me. We decided a few months ago that having a physical studio space wasn’t right for us and that we would have more time and space to think without it.


A change like this always makes you feel reflective and reassess what it is you would like to do. It was sad to say goodbye but I am looking forward to using the space available at home to make work (with bonus catties to distract me, as one is doing right now!).

On our last night we sat outside on cushions, drank red wine and miniature beers. We ordered pizza and had the company of a bold little black cat that I have named Alfred for confidentially reasons, who has the most mouse like meow in Carrington.

After been poorly and useless and having to pull in lots of favours (Thank you!!) it was so lovely to leave on such a high!

A family outing

I went to my family home for the weekend in Birmingham with promises of great photo opportunities. How could I resist? I find this as tempting an offer as the amazing home cooked food and the open fire. We were going to Longbridge where there has been huge amounts of demolition and degeneration after MG Rover collapsed, which resulted in almost 6,000 job losses. This is just one of the satellite views using google maps.

We were armed with two SLR digital camera’s, two iPhones and a tripod. We also had the aid of a ladder, silly hats and an umbrella. The below photograph was taken and edited by my Brother, Theo.

I had such a great time! The weather wasn’t great but it was so much fun regardless. I got to experiment with my camera and do something a bit different.

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The sight was amazingly vast and this strange orangey red colour. You could just make out where the foundations had been. Driving around all of Longbridge reminds you of some kind of post apocalyptic town. The train station is abandoned and there are loads of locked gates to non-places.

The day job

Whilst walking past one of the meeting rooms at work I spotted these sofa’s piled on top of each other. I had heard whisperings that there is a concern that they will be thrown out during the refurbishment. I am hoping that they will go to a better home, however if they are thrown out on to the streets, I shall be the first to be there with my camera. I like to think of myself as the equivalent of the storm chasers in 90’s movie Twister, but with much much less risk taking!

The lift is boarded up with wood and gaffa tape. I think I prefer the way it looks now. More lifts should edge away from the traditional mental and mirror look.