I've now got a new website and blog so am no longer writing blog posts on this platform here.
My new website is https://www.janefoster.co.uk
Monday, 23 October 2017
Monday, 20 March 2017
Dick Bruna - an inspiration in my life
It was when I was a music student years later in Manchester that I came across some vintage Miffy curtain fabric in a charity shop and made some cushions with it. I think my friends thought I was a bit old for this but I loved them.
When I was 22, and a full time violin teacher, I decided to make a children's board book for my sister's children and did this in the style of a Dick Bruna Miffy book. The pages were square and there was a simple sentence on a white page followed by illustrations on the opposite against a bold coloured background. I used poster paints and carefully cut out each illustration to then pritt stick onto the coloured paper backgrounds. The book was just for fun and I had no idea then that perhaps a small seed had been planted in my head for later years!
I started to collect fabric in my 30s and was particularly drawn to vintage fabrics from the 50s, 60s and 70s. At one point, I had a huge collection of vintage children's fabrics and amongst the collection was some 70s Dick Bruna fabric.
Over the past ten years or so I started collecting 70s puzzles and picture dominoes as I loved the artwork on them. My Dick Bruna children's book collection started to grow and I also started to find more and more Dick Bruna vintage items.
My favourite being an original 70s child's toy that I bought in Holland around ten or so years ago.
I began making bags, cushions and purses with some of my original Miffy fabrics and a few years ago, I signed a contract with Miffy HQ to allow me to sell these items to the public as they liked my work and wanted me to help keep the Miffy brand alive and vibrant.
I believe his work will live on for decades as it has a timeless quality. Many more generations of children and adults will enjoy his work and I shall definitely help keep his legacy alive.
Sunday, 22 January 2017
Sunday beach trip - Gara Rock, Devon
It was a gloriously sunny day here in Devon today so we decided we needed to get out and have some fresh air. We asked our daughter where she'd like to go for a walk and she suggested a beach walk at Gara Rock. We parked at the top and took the coastal path down to the beach. The scenery is just breathtakingly beautiful from all angles. We passed some sheep which Polly calls the 'Blueberry sheep' as they've all got blue ink markings. There were only a handful of others on the beach and at one point, we spotted a seal who kept appearing, much to our daughter's amazement.
I looked for sea glass, driftwood and then lay on the sand soaking up the sun and listening to the large waves. Polly paddled and created a dam. The afternoon ended with drinks and falafel from the wonderful Gara Rock cafe.
I looked for sea glass, driftwood and then lay on the sand soaking up the sun and listening to the large waves. Polly paddled and created a dam. The afternoon ended with drinks and falafel from the wonderful Gara Rock cafe.
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