The Creative Process

I promised myself this time would be different, I would not follow the same timeline, yet once again, here I am.....

Suspended Coffee

I like most of us, can't function properly until I've had my morning coffee. It is something that I do every morning without fail, it is routine, and like most things that are routine, you wind up taking it for granted. There are however many people in the UK and other developed countries that don't have such luxuries or have simply fallen on hard times. There is a however a small gesture that we can all do to help share the wealth;
The 'Suspended Coffee' scheme.

It works as follows;

This story will warm you better than a coffee in a cold winter day:

"We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we're approaching our table two people come in and they go to the counter -
'Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended'
They pay for their order, take the two and leave. I ask my friend:
'What are those 'suspended' coffees ?'
'Wait for it and you will see'
Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers - three for them and four 'suspended'. While I still wonder what's the deal with those 'suspended' coffees I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view towards the square in front of the café. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in through the door and kindly asks
'Do you have a suspended coffee ?'

It's simple - people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can not afford a warm beverage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwich or a whole meal.

It is easy to get involved, just like the Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/SuspendedCoffeess

On the Facebook page is details of coffee shops that are involved, and you can also tag your local coffee shop in, asking them to get involved!

'You have two hands, one for helping yourself and one for helping others' - Audrey Hepburn.

The Light show, Hayward Gallery.

I know a lot of you have probably already been to the Light show at the Hayward Gallery (London) but just in case you haven't, its not too late.....The exhibition is on until the 28th April 2013, with all the details available on the link below;
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/hayward-gallery/exhibitions

I want to share a few photos I managed to sneakily take whilst at the exhibition which should be enough to entice you through their doors, it is definitely a show not to be missed, but if you don't want to take my word for it, have a quick look.
If you have already been then let these images be a reminder of  the spectacle, and the diversity and capability of light. Truly inspirational as artist, designer and lighting enthusiast.

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Ivan Navarro - ' Reality Box' (Silver), 2010 - To infinity.....and Beyond.... This piece is fantastic, a personal experience with entry to a booth one at a time, expect a small queue but well worth the wait. 

Olafur Eliasson - 'Model for a timeless Garden' 2011 Eliasson knows how to conquer the elements and never disappoint us, another great piece from him.

Conrad Shawcross - 'Slow arc inside a cube IV' 2009. 

Anthony McCall - It is hard to pin point one favorite piece from this show, but I think this might just be my highlight. 

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I pledge...

So.... I have been pretty terrible at actually getting anything written and published onto this page. It has suffered some brutal negligence; for which I am sorry. I have written many drafts (good ones, which of course you will just to take my word on) unfortunately they never quite got finished and then seemed to loose relevance but this is to change from NOW.....

I promise to make sure I am writing AND blogging something at least once a month!  

In addition I will also try and add some smaller post more frequently, such as images and links to websites and companies that I have been lucky enough to come across. If there is anybody (besides myself) reading this blog, then you can also follow some of my inspirations and interests via my pinterest; http://pinterest.com/josieslater7/ 

I'll be in touch soon!

The Three R's

The three R's is something that first came to my attention during this year's London Design Festival, with one of the fantastic free talks held at the V&A; Art, Craft and Design the cross-over and boundaries in 21st century.

Sir Christopher Frayling was one of the key speakers at this talk and he mentioned the three R's of education. The three R's are supposed to reference the three basic core skills to a good educational system. The three R's are currently interrupted as being Reading, wRiting and aRithematic. Which is essentially two skills of literacy and numeracy so where is the third basic skill in our current education....? The original three R's actually originated from a speech made in 1795 by Sir William Curtis. He stated that the three main pillars of any good education were;

1. Reading and writing
2. Reckoning and figuring
3. Wroughting and wrighting

This translates to modern day terms of  literacy, numeracy and there is no single word to define wroughting and wrighting, but it is the ability to make things.
I found it fascinating that in the past 200 years we have completely re-evaluated the three basic skills we impart onto our children. The fact that we no longer see the ability to make as a key skill, says a lot for the changes that have occurred in the world and in particular to our country Britain. 

It is therefore no surprise that we have seen a decline in Britain's ability to manufacture, a decline in crafts, a decline is peoples practical skills and also a sense of detachment from  materials.
The three R's and its changed meaning, and attitude of what is now considered important knowledge has been an inspiration to myself. I'm now investigating the topic further and I've decided to devote my dissertation to; Art, Craft and the education systems that have helped to create and divide the hierarchy's that exist between the two fields.
I'm particularly passionate about, the preservation of craft and skills in Britain, as I think the ability to make things is something that should not be lost.
I have so far found a very interesting book on the subject if anybody else wants to do any further reading around Art, Craft and education. On Craftsmanship; Towards a new Bauhaus By Christopher Frayling.

This is an ongoing issue and passion of mine so expect to see more blog posts around this topic. Please feel free to comment and leave your thoughts and experiences on this post.

Russian Space Pen

An analogy I just came across that amused me...

"When NASA first started sending astronauts into space, they realised that the ballpoint pen would not work at zero gravity. A million dollor investment and two years of tests resulted in a pen that would write in space, upside down, on any surface and at any temperature from below freezing to over 300 degrees centrigade. When confronted with the same problem, the Russians used a Pencil."

 

The Den - The ultimate escape

For me personally the dream of the prefect ‘Garden shed’ started at a very young age, and has never left me. I use to love making den’s in the lounge, using two chairs and a bed sheet, as I grew up the den in the lounge, became the tent in the garden. In the summer I would camp in the garden for days. One of my favourite books as a child was Forever Friends “Come Rain or Shine”.  A tale of friend’s trying to find the prefect den, and finally stumbling across a disused blue gypsy style caravan.

I’ve grown up since; there is no longer a bed sheet in the lounge or tent in the garden. I now rent a flat in North West London, I’m without a caravan at the bottom of the garden, in fact I don’t have a garden at all.

Yet I’m sure I’m not the only person still seeking their very own den, there own place of escapism. It seems a growing number of people are factoring in a personal refuge into their own homes and lives.

I want to share some of my favourite images and designs that I have been lucky enough to stumble across. A source of inspiration to anybody still fantasizing,  anybody creating, or simply for anybody to admire.

Taken from Elle Decoration August 2012, Page 66.
This summer house was designed by Linda Bergroth a product designer based in Helsinki and Paris. This mesmerizing adaptation of a greenhouse is situated on an island in Finland. This is not only a stunning setting and sleek design but it is also practical with the rear of the greenhouse, becoming a shed with space for storage. There is no running water supply so they use the lake to bathe in, and also as a food supply, often catching crayfish and cooking them on the water’s edge.  This romantic retreat from modern day life is where the term back to basics becomes simply beautiful!
 

 A getaway shed By Gilles and Dansmonarbre. From the architects ““The experience can be spiritual contemplation and prayer. The experience can be therapeutic for couples in search of communication. The experience can be hard work for students who need concentration.”
 

If you don't have lots of space to spare or no outdoor room then why not create a den within a already functioning room.

 

Alternatively if you can’t fit in your own private den, then why not borrow one for a weekend, here are a few of examples of some truely unique 'dens' to rent.

La Maison Ronde – Dordogne, France. £55 a night.

 The Chapel – Shropshire, England. £65 a night.

Both of these can be find on www.canopyandstars.co.uk prices starting from £50 a night!