see me on facebook!!

Please please please see the link here, for recent work of mine via facebook! it seems to be where i'm updating most at the moment!

here's a small preview though, this collection is based on africa love, maasai tribe language and fabrics and beautiful, beautiful africa pattern. 

3x4 inch mini canvas' inspired my traditional maasai clothes for men

'i love you' in maasai

i know i'm useless....

i know i'm useless.... but i am going to make a blog post which is more beautiful and shiny than ever before soon!

Lindsey  xx

less words....more pictures....

hello again!

The weather here in Arusha is still all moody and rainy, the mountain was beautiful sunshine at the bottom this afternoon with a complete storm going on at the top! anyway, Gordon the dog and i are just relaxing and uploading more imagery from the fashion show if you care to take a look....

ps. the fashion show is going on tour soon, to the commercial capital, Dar Es Salaam....

Firstly here's a little video of Gordon hiding by the fence avoiding the flies!

 Super mini-hand dyed and beaded....

detail of beaded waistband-one week=one skirt....

short waistcoat, beading detail & red 3/4 length skirt detail....

multi-functional accessory-belt, wrist band, choker scarf, tasseled and beaded dyed goat leather....

Beading detail on long length a-line top and handkerchief hem skirt....

i am really enjoying being involved with Schwari, hope you enjoy looking at these images....
i would appreciate any feedback!

Lindsey xx

hello everyone!

So, after a very long time i have found the time to blog again. I've managed to find time to read Witchmountain and Laurenchericedesigns blogs!  they both keep great ones, which are always worth reading.

well, life here in Tanzania, is very English-like this week. rainy, cold and dark. Rubbish!

Here's Gordon laying under the umbrella outside the house.

I was lucky enough a few weeks ago to be involved in some of the designing for Schwari Collectables. which is based here in Arusha, Tanzania. Schwari, was one of the collections to be part of Maridadi Fashion show at Arusha Hotel. the fashion show saw some beautiful designs for all over the world. it was also in support of a rape and sexual abuse crisis center, based in Tanzania, such a worthy cause as it supports so many needy people. 

here follows some imagery from Schwari which was on the catwalk.

the materials are all hand dyed, then beaded by clever Maasai girls who live locally. The 2010 collection last year was subdued colours so this year was quiet the turn around showing lovely brights. Hopefullt i managed to add a slight western touch to some of the designs??!

hopefully you'll enjoy looking at these pictures! let me know?! 

more as soon as possible! 

xxxx

 

new *art* and days at work in Africa....

After working at the restaurant here, i've been going back to my house and creating canvas' to hang at work. now its time to blog about it as i'm taking the night off but might have to go in a minute as the watchman is bringing food for the dogs and it takes at least two of us to feed them because they fight all the time!

my new canvas' are inspired by florals and love, some have a mixture of paint and embroidery and while others are just one or the other....
these three are for the big back wall of the restaurant and the center one has a variety of beads from Josie-Rose, a great website for all sorts of things embroidery-wise in the uk!

there is one box framed one which is a complete embroidery, but it took so many hours to do i'm going to see if there any interest from buyers before i start on a new one!

i think the embroidery is my favorite. (and an update on the dog feeding antics....theres no food that i can bring for them tonight as the bar i'm buying it from has sold it already! but dont worry everyone,especially you, Annie Craston i'm cooking rice for them instead! Annie and Lauren stayed with me for a month, and the house is very much empty without them!)



in other news....
i've been creative at work too, painting blackboards and borders on the walls. what do you think??





















and this little guy was hanging around outside today, just blending into the scenery. someone tried to whack it with a sweeping brush, but i stepped in. (hooray!)

i'd love to hear any comment you have about my work or otherwise!....

all these pictures and copyrighted to me so please don't copy them!

Copyright Lindsey Murray 2011

new work....fingers crossed i can sell it!

while i'm here in africa again, tanzania, east africa incase you didnt know....i'm doing some art and design stuff in a sparse free time to display in galleries across the city-thats the plan anyway!

here's an image of the sort of thing i've been up to so far.... and yeah i realise its terrible quality, but i was in a rush!....

(its still copyrighted though-so don't be pasting it anywhere!)

i think i've been given an incentive....

This starling postcard dropped through the door this morning and reminded me of how only a year ago, we were off to New Designers ourselves in hope of fame and fortune! i can hardly believe that it was 12 months ago as so much has happened over the last year....

After i visited the CCAD degree show last thursday night i have been given a huge incentive to pick up some embroidery again. I really miss all the drawing, designing and making we got to do at college and i know a lot of others would agree with me but it has become hard to find the time. So this week i'm making a specail effort to create something new. if only i could stop going to work long enough to pay a visit to Kim on Witchmountain!! who by the way ahs a giveaway at the moment, what are you waiting for?! enter it!!

I'm having a bit of trouble with the image upload (again) so they're all at the top, sorry!!

By the time i finishe this new embroidery i want it to be as embelished as my degree work 2010....lets see if i have the patience again?

(all imagery and text copyright of Lindsey Murray 2011)

all new things....

So today i went to Ripley Castle to the creative dezigns summer sale. lots of lovely stands selling handmade things from clothes to jewellry, and all in the beautiful setting of Ripley Castle.... i was particulary taken with the stand from Lime Tree Design who had some great prints. amongst others i really liked Sophie Likes too, some great little painted and glazed porcelaine buttons for special touches here and there were the nicest things.... the event runs until this sunday.

last thursday, i went to ccad degree show opening night and was wowed by the work-possibly it gave my own graduating year a run for its money! the most outstanding things were from Anni Craston, Lauren Cherice and anni and lauren will both come over to join me in Tanzania to volunteer their time as teachers this summer as part of the Touch Africa Adventures team. see their blogs via the links....

I was lucky enough to have a link of mine shared by lovely friend and fellow artist, Kim Tillyer this week too from Witchmountain, hopefully next week i'll have time to visit her and create some masterpieces!

there'll be pictures of my time at Ripley as soon as i work out how to get them from phone to computer!

Africa illustrations....

Back in Africa and i've been asked to complete some illustrations for a Maa (Maasai) - English phrase book aimed towards tourism in Arusha, Tanzania. The brains behind the idea is Dr. Jaeheon Lee from Korea. ALL proceeds from the sales of the books will be donated to the primary education and health care of Maasai children.

Lindsey Murray illustrations copyright of Lindsey Murray 2011

hello....

i'm in africa again by the way....i'm still designing i promise but i'm unable to post photos on here due to copyrights! although there should be some personal freelance stuff coming in the next few weeks from me, so keep checking. in the meantime look at Witchmountains blog, because she's always doing interesting things....

out with the old....

it's just been too long since i wrote anything last. What with the snow (and serveral mishaps involving it) going back to College to have a day in the sewing room in return for some advice for the current third years (yeah right!) and designing freelance, its all been a bit hectic.... (i wish i'd bought that Benina sewing machine that was for sale when was at college whan i had the chance!!) third years, if any of you are reading this-sieze your chance and get your hands on one!!!

And most of all i'd love to post some pictures of what i've been designing, but i can't! you'll have to wait until at least a/w 2011 to go to the shops and see them....College was always banging on about mood boards, trend boards, current high street research and i don't think i ever realised just how relivant it all was until now. when my skills have been put into practice, so i am eternally grateful, especailly to the lecturer's, in particular-Claire Baker, who, by the way was also at Designers Marketplace selling tonnes of fantastic laser cut stuff.

As this post was going to lack images, here's a snowy scene from my mum's house to make this blog a bit more colourful.... And now it's nearly the end of the year, again, (not the best one i've ever experienced in some ways, but a great one in so many other respects) i am determined to give 2011 all i've got....

i recon, if i take a risk and it turns out good, well, whats not to like about that?

(all imagery/text is copyright of Lindsey Murray 2010)

Designers Marketplace....M'boro Town hall THIS SUNDAY!!!

Well witchmountain and i will be featuring at Designers marketplace this sunday. Selling handmade Christmas goodies, including dresses from african fabrics (materials imported by moi!) and made by my good self, laser cut limited edition Christmas decorations, and unusual jewellries that really are one off, happy accidents, which cannot be repeated even if i wanted to!!

For visuals, see below!....

these images are a mere SAMPLE of what will be on offer at the weekend!!

Love and peace xxxx

All imagery copyright of Lindsey Murray 2010

hello! remember me?!

Sorry it's been about a million years since i last blogged! i'm still living in Africa, Tanzania to be exact and the tine is wizzing by me.... it'd turning up the heat here now, so hot a spend my days dashing from shady spot to shady spot....

it's my graduation in a couple of weeks so i'm uk bound for that. i feel really important when i get to say i'm a qualified designer! it all seems to unreal!!.... continuing on the topic of design, i received an email last week from a company who i did some design work for before jetting to Africa. i had all but given up on ever hearing anything but alas-an email of positives came my way.... i can't say more yet though-it's a secret!!

design was something i never thought Tanzania to be awash with opportunities for, but this time i've been completely amazed at just how many businesses there are here producing some of the most beautiful designs i've ever seen. I'm still finding it as inspirational as ever here, and accidentally today i stumbled upon this website, www.loveliveafrica.com and i've been sat here for ages just listening to the music and looking at the images. If you're going to look at that link, you must also read Witchmountains latest blog on life on the North Yorkshire Moors, England.

(image below, of Tanzania, not the English moors!!)

So i'm really not sure life can get much better?! you tell me! everywhere i look here i find my sight full of an image that is worthy of a photograph, whether it's women carrying unbelievable loads on their heads, or a misty, sleepy mountain in the early morning sunshine....

love and peace xx

arusha, africa, and Lake Natron....

How very inspirational Tanzania is becoming at the moment!! i've spent the last few days in Lake Natron visiting the beautiful waterfalls and the Lake itself, observing flamingos and other wildlife. at the edge of the rift valley the views were really spectacular and have given me plenty of ideas for new art work when i return to england in November....

Once back in the UK i have an embroidery workshop to run as well as featuring with Kim Tillyer of Witchmountain at the Designers Marketplace in middlesbrough on the 22nd November!....

the exhibition at TS1 Gallery is due to come down this week, but they took a lot of my jewellry collection to sell in the shop so you never know, thay might owe me money when i get back!!

these pictures are of Oldonyo Lengai in the rift Valley, (the beautiful mountain) and also the amazing waterfall, as well as a view on my way to the Lake!
are you jealous??!

Gallery TS1, Middlesbrough....

Hi there, it's been ages since my last update.... things have been really really busy but i have time just now to tell you about a current exhibition thats running in Middlesbrough on Corporation Road at Gallery TS1....

It's called the ''Migration and sacred place exhibition'' and is running until the 9th October, i am amongst the exhibitors displaying four photographs of my own dipicting a migration i took through Tanzania, Africa last August (2009). Please go along and see it! My photos are accompanied by the story behind them, now that is worth a read if i do say so myself!

It's a lovely little gallery and has workshops frequently so that you can try being creative for yourself! As well as a gift shop which is stocked by local artists work.... It's a huge supporter of the local community and students/local artists so it really is worth a trip down....They Gallery also said they would stock my jewellery collection so you never know, fame and fortune here i come??!!

Alternatively, i've been busy working on a sample brief for marks and spencer/NEXT in hope of future freelance work.... although i can't post any of the images on here to update you, it seems to be going pretty well.... Well, we will see won't we?....

Love and Peace xx

Westport opening night....work from Workhouse studios....

For those of you that don't know, i'm cuerrntly in southern Ireland in Waterford working in a textiles studio....it's called Workhouse studios and consists of a small team of designers who create beautiful work from jewelry to glass.

last week we took a road trip to Westport where the designers were exhibiting their collections. We arrived on opening night here's how it went down in pictures....

the exhibtion is running until 12th september 2010....

the gallery was packed after the officail opening, and these people even managed to sneak in beforehand...

below - Aisling Cook glass artist:

Below - ceramics by Paula Ilecka

For more information on workhouse studios or the designers, use my link to their website above or find them on facebook....

i'm sure you'll agree that all the work is worth a second look and is GORGEOUS!

(all text/imagery used is copyright 2010)

ireland continued....

Well, it's the beginning of the second week here in Waterfors, southern ireland.... and so far it seems to be going quite well. tomorrow i'm back at the Workhouse studio's to start some work with Ann, a scarf desinger. i've made an ETSY sale this week, so check my shop! and will be having a small exhibition on saturday 28th august as part of the Workhouse Studio's open day. included in my collection will be these laser cut hair slides and brooch....

(notice my new packaging idea, borrowed from a gallery called Kaleidoscope, in Westport, ireland. it's a brand new little shop and i haven't been able to find a link to their website yet.....)

love and peace,

(all images/text copyright of Lindsey Murray 2010)

top of the mornin' to ya!

Ok so pardon the pun regarding the Irish please! everyone here is lovely! I'm in Waterford, southern Ireland, and yes, that is where they make the crystal before you even ask....




For the next two weeks, i am working as part of the Workhouse Studio team in Kilmacthomas they are a team of 6 designers who produce jewlery and beautiful products, check my link....

here's the info poster that i've seen one to many of today!!

Today i spent the day putting up signs to advertise an open day the studio is having a week on saturday, 28th August 2010 this is when i'll get to exhibit my designs in laser cutting i did on my preivious work placement at Zap Creatives, Middlesbrough, N.E England....hooray finally!!

here's a very small selection below....

I'm heading up to West Port on thursday to spend the night there and attend an exclusive opening night of some of the Workhouse studio's designers work.... so that should be exciting! i'm trying my best to take photo's to fill me full of inspiration but am always too busy gawking around or talking to remember....ah well!!
love and peace guys x

(all ideas, imagery and text copyright of Lindsey Murray 2010)

sales, an extremely rare night out and Africa....

So, i feel as if we haven't spoken for a long while, even though it can't be that long, surely? well anyway, i just thougth i'd let you know that i've had a little success this week, i have passed my first exam for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and have made a private sale on ETSY! yay! this is the item below....It's hand dyed cotton and silk, (by me!) machine embroidered and hand beaded, it took some hours i can tell you! it depicts a carousel horse leaping into the air....

Last weekend went down nicely too, with a busy saturday night at work, followed by a trip to the local club with lovely friends and dancing until the early hours....

(''i think i'm going to go to bed, the sun has just come up!....'')

oh, it looks a bit packed here doesn't it? i abandoned this part of the club and escaped upstairs to a R&B night. excellent news.

Last weekend my artistic friend from witchmountain also made an ETSY sale, and has MANY more lovely things for you all to fall in love with.
Africa is also on the carsds again, see you soon, Tanzania!

and, no, that is not a baby bump you see, it is in fact my bag before another person tells me i look pregnant!

(all images and text copyright of Lindsey Murray 2010)