Arts Addict

  I' we been thrifting as usual in any possible occasion, just have not gotten around to document on blog. I shared this pic on Insta so here is quick post to blog. People who love pottery know Nicholas Mosse. He is renowned for his ceramic sponge wear. When I saw these, I immediately knew what these were and of course these are stamped on the bottom too. Maybe there is another collection starting? Who knows. These are such lovely pieces...although a bit granny cottage style, in same time they do have a sophistication to them.  https://nicholasmosse.com/pages/our-story They transfer their patterns to textiles and other objects too. I just had an idea that maybe I should go to visit their Mill during this summer as a daytrip. Second find was as lovely...very sturdy Millefiori wine glass. Quick Google lens and I think it is made in Murano and retailed under Leonardo brand. https://www.arnotts.ie/brands/leonardo/   I have found some amazing interior & lifestyle coffee ta...

 Here is my fabulous Doirin Saurus ceramic collection.  First time I saw her work I was immediately drawn to drawings, colors and whimsy. All works are wonderfully wonky as well. She is now in her 70s and resides in West Cork, Fethard. She earns additional living by doing pottery classes. The most usual her items you can find in Ireland art galleries are mugs...bowls and plates are rare.  I am now aiming to buy 4 more plates but it is not easy. I know they are out there because I was only able to afford buy 2 plates in the beginning and there were more left in that gallery but when will people starting to sell them is a question...I think everyone keeps them because these are easily favorite things to own. I have seen also tea pots with the whimsy portraits and then there are abstract sculptural vases that I have seen, similar abstract pattern drawn on them as my smaller bowl here in the picture.  So, there is plenty of space to grow my collection. Hunt is on!

 I had so many cool finds this weekend that I need to divide this blog post to two. In addition what you see on this picture I also got 3 art pieces. I'll blog them separately. What got your attention when you looked at the photo. Red book? It got my attention all right. It is a large format hardcover book. Price brand new 30GBP. I got for 4 EUR. Weidenfeld & Nicolson Published. It has some stains on the side but I dont mind. It is the history of The Rolling Stones - according to the Rolling Stones themselves. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood have come together for this remarkable book. They have also opened up their personal and band archives to include many rare and intimate photographs that are interwoven with their great stories of forty years of making music together.  "All music is connected especially in a little place like England. Nothing comes from nothing at all" - Mick Jagger "Music is a language that doesn't speak in pa...

  I present to you: "Girl" 2024. Black ceramic and glazed by Lina Macijauskiene from Klaipeda, Lithuania. As soon as I saw it in Etsy, I loved it. I was keeping my eye on it and recently just could not help myself and bought it. The photo does not do it justice. It looks amazing in my living room in different daylight or even lamplight. Looking at it gives me great pleasure indeed. When I was a little girl...I loved chewing gum - once I tried to chew whole pack of chewing gum 😂 It was tough job...maybe my jaws hurt after. I am sure that I could not chew that for very long...  Here what she wrote about her "Girl":  This Girl is made of black clay. I used engobes to heal the pain, they were burned to 1050°C The girl has a glass bubble, which is firmly glued with epoxy glue Sculpture Height aprox 27 cm, width -8cm depth-7cm All creations are handmade by me, sculpted from ceramic or porcelaine clay, glazed and fired to 1050°C. I wondered what the engobe means...here wh...

I came back from this charity shop being most excited about this pottery terrine, but...continue reading. Pottery terrine I don't know if this pots rustic and worn look has been intentional or it is old but it is a look that is so appealing to me. All it's nicks and few chips add to the charm. As if my grandmother would have given it to me. Its not signed so no idea who its by. Look at this beauty! 😍 Silk (?) scarf I am not 100% but I think its a silk (there is no tag ) and I think its hand painted because I can see that the lines are not perfect...it has done by loose hand. I love these soft muted colors and the Egyptian lotus flower kind of pattern. I also found an splash of color that most likely spilled when someone was doing it and might be the reason it was donated. I don't mind the spill...it even adds to the story. It could be used as scarf or layer the tablecloth to decorate the tablescape. My gut feeling tells me that both these necklaces are Natural Stone bead n...

 This post is about my last week trip to UK. I went specifically to visit CAL24 ( Ceramic Art London ) exhibition. But when I started to make bookings I was thinking that why not make a week long trip out of it. So, I did book tickets to CAL, couple nights in London and rest of the stay in Rye, Sussex. I am still buzzing. It was great solo trip with freedom to do what I wanted and go where I wanted. There is plenty to do in London and in Sussex. London highlights were for me CAL of course and Leighton House. I visited CAL first time but as I understood it is actually over 20 years running annual event. This year it was held fist time in Olympia, London. There were over 100 ceramist represented. That was such a treat for me. Below is my picks from the trip. Cleo Mussi At the CAL her booth draw attention with very large Mosaic woman covering big part of the back wall.  Because she uses a lot of clean white mosaic pieces the ones that have pattern on them pop out. Also it gives e...

  I spent about 70 EUR this time in Charity Shop. What you think, what was so expensive? Of course, when I see pottery...I have to grab it. This is tallest ceramic candle holder I ever seen. Very nice teal glaze and decorative stripe is left unglazed. Quality. There is sticker with makers name Marianne Klopp Pottery on it. She is born in Germany and found her home now here in Ireland.  https://www.theopenwindowgallery.com/marianne-klopp When purchased, this candle holder must have cost over 50 EUR for sure. Velvety skirt.  Gorgeous color, A line, inner lining and the textile feels silky velvety a bit like suede. Oddly there is no makers tag...only written that it is French textile. For some reason I have only two skirts in my garderobe, so this is welcome addition. Softwaves shoes Score! I am pretty sure that these shoes were on the shop for people try-ons and then donated. You can also still see reduced price tag inside 130 EUR, I wonder what was the full price then? Lo...

 Really rarely I come back from that charity shop empty handed. I actually bought on lovely poncho style top from there too forgot to add to the haul pic. The mugs  5 of them...do you think one is missing? What color is missing? Anyway, I dont mind as I loved the large size of them, the shape of them and the colors. Great design looking mugs. "Essential Surrealists" by Tim Martin Coffee table, large size, art related book - of course I picked it up. Rocky Mountain real leaf earrings This was a great find I think. These are cute small Aspen leaves dipped into Copper. How they ended up here in Ireland...I am pretty sure, someone bought them as a souvenir and now donated. I am glad they did. Thank you stranger! Four enamel bangles Good quality bangles, where one is hinged. Somehow, when summer is coming I cant resist of bracelets and costume jewelry.                                ...

  I am happy to own Marina Hamilton ceramics. I first came across her work at Gifted fair 2023 in Dublin. At the fair she had her bronzes (also horse) on sale and I fell in love with that in there but bronzes are extremely expensive. So I bought that cute penguin directly from Marina.  After that I kept close eye on her. When I saw her posting on Instagram a picture of her three ceramic horses of 2024. I could not resist. This horse is the most expensive ceramic I ever bought but I thought that it was worth it. I think Marina has achieved  https://thebluehorsegallery.com/about/  certain finess with her horses. The posture, the head and ceramic glazes all together create this look that make you feel that this piece is something special. At least I feel 😊 In addition I enjoyed my interaction with her. This horse is "My precious!" 😅

  So, I have been thrifting this weekend and here is the haul. Judy Greene pottery. Its from her Connemara range. Here is her website: https://judygreene.wixsite.com/galway Now, on closer inspection I am not actually sure that the plate is Judy's although the glazes and colors are so similar. The incised mark on the plate is different than on the mug. But they go well together and I like their rustic look a lot. So, plate still remains a bit of the mystery. Bracelet and necklace Lady in the charity shop said it is graphite bead set. I never heard of graphite before...but it has dark grey and metallic look to it.  Wikipedia says:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite Sure looks like it. Also...what I know about natural stone jewelry is that natural stone feels cold to touch and this one surely feels cold. This jewelry set gives me modernist, futurist vibes. This metal candleholder brought smile to my face instantly. It is produced in Sweden by "Bengt and Lotta". I was so...