Poly Styrene, X-Ray Spex

I know we had a song not too long ago, but I just heard that Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex has died at the ridiculously young age of 53, so I think it is only right to pay her a tribute. When I was 17 or 18 she was a bit of a hero of mine. I'm struggling to decide which song to feature. It could have been Warrior in Woolworths, The Day the world turned Dayglo, Identity or I am a poseur, but in the end I decided on Germ Free Adolescence.

Great album cover.

Turi Gramstad-Oliver designs for Figgjo

I found this 50p treasure at a car boot sale this weekend. I never go looking for anything of value, just things that catch my eye.

Turns out this is a small square plate by Norwegian company Figgjo, the design is by Turi Gramstad-Oliver and I gather it dates from the late 1960s.

 

Spring jewellery for a country girl

How long since you made a daisy chain?

Gregory Isaacs

We haven't had a song for a while. I always think reggae is best of all when the sun is shining, and here in the UK it is.

So many wonderful songs to choose from, but this is one of my favourites from the Cool Ruler. It is called Loving Pauper.

It is my little sister's birthday today, so here's a special birthday photo. Happy Birthday Sis!!

Hedgerow

Today I was driving down south and I stopped off for a bit of lunch at a service station. Not at all a pretty place, but there was this little strip of hedgerow in front of me. When I took a closer look it was actually rather beautiful. Full of simple wild flowers which grow here there and everywhere.

I think I'm a bit mad for flowers at the moment.

Visitor by Igloo (Bruno Martelli and Ruth Gibson)

I've just been to see an exhibition at Lakeside here in Nottingham.

I'd been told I would like it and that there was a wooden building in the gallery, so I was quite excited about it before I got there because I love wooden buildings. I also knew that there was a surprise inside, but deliberately didn't look online beforehand because I wanted to see it fresh.

This photo in the entrance hall promised good things. 

As for the main event? Well, I'm not generally a fan of installation pieces but this one I loved.

It is a reconstruction of a trapper's cabin in Canada, but not built in logs. It is a plywood construction and to that they have applied photographic imagery to the outside, so there are photos of logs and photos of windows, photos of bricks on the chimney.

When you go inside you see half a rowing boat. You are invited to sit in it and row, and as you row you take yourself 'round' a lake. There are actual photos of a lake up on a screen in front of you and they have used interactive technology so that you can look up and see the beautiful star filled sky or around at the shores with all the pine trees. 

Every now and again a star falls into the water of the lake, which ripples gently. It's mesmerising and induces a bit of a trance-like state.

All images copyright Martelli and Gibson

 If you want more information about the artists please go to their website.

Lenticular printing

Beautiful and cheeky. I like to put her on the mantelpiece just where she is always winking at me.