Poppy’s for Afghanistan

With news reaching us, gently on the radio whilst we were holidaying for a few days in Dorset, my heart sank, and my head went spiralling back to all those thoughts and emotions of a 14 year old growing up in rural Devon, watching the first air strikes landing in Afghanistan and feeling helpless. At certain points of your life, you feel like you are living history, even if it is just as a voyeur. For the first time I felt so keenly for the innocent and women and children, that had been repressed and now had bombs falling from the sky, to hopefully bring them a future of freedom and education.

With the news coming of the change of rule in Kabul, my thoughts were straight back to the Afghan women and children. Imagining how a turbulent life would have been turned upside down once again. I thought of what it would have been like to be a 14 year old girl at the beginning of this ordeal, and how her life would have changed with the freedom to have an education, to freely dress and to pursue a career. How would our lives have paralleled over the past 20 years, even though we were worlds apart, and how would I feel now on the brink of such horrifying change? With this thoughts circling my head, feeling compelled to do something, anything - it felt wrong to release my new collection of engravings

With time to think and the chance to research and review the last 20 years in Afghanistan, it felt coincidental that I was struggling at the thought of releasing my latest collection of engravings, and one of them is a poppy. The opium poppy trade in Afghanistan is booming, and is the number one source of funds for the Taliban, helping to propel them back into power. Looking at the UN’s most recent data, although illegal under the Afghan coalition rule, poppy cultivation has grown 37% in the past year. I have decided that all profit from online sales and sales at fairs of my Poppy engraving will all be donated to Afghan Aid - from each sale £13.50 will be sent to their vital work. I know one engraving will not fix the past 20 years of turmoil, but all I can think is that something has to be done. Somewhere out there, there are millions of people all wanting to protest their families, their livelihoods and their access to healthcare and education, whilst still battling the effects of a global pandemic.

The information above has been reasearched from the UN website and Reuters news sources. All Opinions are my own.

For more information about what Afghan Aid are doing on the ground can be found at their website : www.afghanaid.org.uk

Illustrations & Engravings

Some of you may know, but I trained in Surface Pattern Design in Swansea, graduating in 2008. I have always had a passion for colour and pattern, an as much as I love birds, I have felt a pang of nostalgia for the colours and patterns I used to draw. The natural, organic world will always have my heart, but I do love building compositions and collections of objects. My latest body of work incorporates both loves and I feel like I am bringing more of me to my work. Friends have often commented on the bric-a-brac in my home, none of it particularly expensive, but each with a story. They remark how my home is very “me” and I feel like that this is what I wanted to bring to these pieces - a reflection of how I build my spaces, and what makes a house my home. Of course there are still some feathered friends interspersed in this collection, and I look forward to bringing more natural forms to the collection, as the Summer progresses.

A Stockist Update

Oops it’s been a long while since I’ve felt like I had anything to write, and even longer to actually put finger tips to keyboard. But the time is nigh’ to shake off the fog and let the world back in a bit. Since the Spanish sabbatical, life has felt a little like we were on hold and treading water. We have moved - a lot! And I know I am not alone in saying that I feel remarkably lucky to have come through this year fairly unscathed, and yet its still hard to get going like I used to.

But without wanting to bore you to tears, I felt the need to let you in on a little update. Since shops and non essential retail have been allowed to reopen, I have been going on nearly weekly outings - I call them magical mystery tours, although I usually know where I’m headed. These little day trips have enabled me to source some new locations to sell my work, but also to fill up the cup of inspiration. Since becoming fully signed up chief Tea drinker and ticker of all boxes with my business, I have needed to drag myself away from the workbench. This is not just for my own mental well being, but that of the dogs and my husbands when he comes back from work. So with out further a do, here a few new places I’d love you to visit, support with your pennies and enjoy the locations they are in. There are some beautiful walks not fear from each of these new stockists. Perhaps thats a blog post for another day. . .

Grace and Favour Home - Bovey Tracey

Ella’s Studio - Sideshore Exmouth

The Jane Adams Gallery - St Just

But dear reader, please bear in mind that these galleries and shops were all visited on a variety of days, and it is probably not possible to follow speed limits if you were wanting to frequent them all in the same day.

A particularly magical day started in South Brent, and finished in Bovey Tracey, two locations not particularly far from each other, but with very different aspects of the moor. The days started with an amble with Bryn alongside the river, marvelling at all the freshly opened beech leaves and their lush green hue. I delivered work to the beautiful Artworks in South Brent, and met Jane and Penny, two artists that run a vibrant shop in the heart of the community. I then ventured on to Moretonhampstead in the centre of the moor, and the winding roads that lead you to this eclectic community with a thriving art scene. Here I met the wonderful Georgie of Green Hill Arts, and inspiring gallery that is a leading light in the area. After refreshments with my Pa, my day finished in Grace and Favour, Bovey Tracey. What a ludicrously warm and inviting space with so many things to tempt you.

Triptych gallery and framing -seaton

I am always on the scout about for new stockists, it has to be the right fit and mutually beneficial for both parties, but if you would like to stock some or all of the Lily Faith Collection - I would love to hear from you and discuss the opportunity.

Just drop me a line at: lily-faith@mail.com

A Spanish Sabbatical

Whilst the world started to turn topsy turvy, Jim, Bryn and myself made the decision to go on an adventure to our home in Catalonia - not really sure whether it was the most sensible decision or not. With grand plans to put a new roof and veranda on our little Casita, we embarked on the two day drive with a laden Citroen Berlingo. Little did we know what we were letting ourselves in for, and two months would slip into four.

Within a week of arriving at our home, and hastily changing our plans of starting to remove the roof (it was far too windy) we set about refitting the kitchen, and finally installing a proper gas cooker. As the completion neared for our first project, we were plunged into the depths of Spanish Lockdown. Navigating the new rules in another language and trying not to loose the plot, we felt marooned with our neighbours, but were ever so thankful for the companionship and camaraderie. And with each passing day, we fell more in love with our little slice of paradise, grateful for the space it provided us with.

As Lockdown eased coming into mid May, we were finally able to focus our attention firmly on the roof again. With the ability to buy materials, and no option but working late into the evenings, yet again, our neighbours proved to be invaluable.

Kirstie's Handmade Christmas - Table Decorating Winner 2019

A little earlier this Autumn, tucked away in a corner of Kirstie Alsopp’s Christmas HQ, I had the great pleasure in taking part in the Table Decorating competition. I had originally applied to take part in the Christmas Tree Decorating competition, but with some jiggery pokery I resubmitted my brief and got through to the series, with only days to spare. Because I never do anything by half, or like to make life easy for myself this also happened to be the week I moved house and studio.

A small selection of the preliminary drawings for my brief , “The Twelve Birds of Christmas” There is some British folklore that depicts the Victorian Christmas Carol as all British Birds, with each line interpreted as a different species. From Blackbirds for Calling Birds and Cattle Egrets for Maids a Milking.

Christmas Candle Carousels give a nod to a traditional Christmas tables.

Christmas Candle Carousels give a nod to a traditional Christmas tables.

The Twelve Birds of Christmas Table Centrepiece, featuring 78 individual British Birds.

The Twelve Birds of Christmas Table Centrepiece, featuring 78 individual British Birds.

Winning the Christmas Table Decorating Competition 2019 for Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas.

Winning the Christmas Table Decorating Competition 2019 for Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas.

The day, absolutely flew by, with cameras and lights everywhere. We had 5 hours to complete our Table Decorations. Each of us were allowed a certain amount of things to be prepared in advance. I had each bird cut and etched but had to hand paint and embellish 78 birds in total, as well as construct the centrepiece and each place setting. The main detail for my centrepieces were the Candle Carousels, that I enjoyed making as a child. I wanted to incorporate the an element of sparkle and movement. I wanted to bring as much of my usual Lily Faith style to the table, including lots of natural seed heads and hand painted leaves, much like my wreaths.

You can enjoy one my Candle Carousels on your own Christmas Table this year, follow the link here

 

New Circle Wreaths are coming . . . .

It s all in the edit at the moment. Its been slow progress around these parts of late. Its been a flurry in the studio, but replenishing shops and galleries after a Summer of sales. But I’ve been slow to update the website, with, well anything really.

So for now, here’s a sneak peek at what’s being edited. Today I managed to tie up all the loose ends of sample stock, and photograph it - hooray!

New Beginnings and the First Days of Spring

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring in Devon; and despite the drifts of snow slowly thawing, there was a slight lightness to the air today, and a warmth in the sunshine. With a change in the season, comes a new beginning for Lily Faith, a website again hoorah!

So welcome to the fresh Lily Faith website, its been a while huh?! I know it has been a while since I've felt so settled and attune with what I've been making. I feel that having taken time to focus on a smaller palette of colours, patterns and materials; I have created a capsule collection I'm truly pleased with.

So take a look around, and have look at my new Spring collections. I'd love to hear what you think. 

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Spring 

Circle 

Wreaths