g r a i n n e m o r t o n

2011-11-29T05:32:00.000-08:00

Peter Ross from Scotland on Sunday came to interview me at the end of September regarding the use of Taxidermy in my work. You can read the article here
Photo Credit:Neil Hanna

2011-11-26T03:45:00.000-08:00

Julie Howden from The Herald newspaper came to photograph me the day before I left for Philadelphia.

The article was published when I was away so I haven't been able to get a copy of it however Julie kindly e-mailed some images over to me.

I'm working away on several orders that have come through my website. Also preparing for next Sundays open studio - Ian has just brought down Christmas decorations from the attic.

The boys will enjoy Christmas decorations going up earlier this year.

2011-11-19T11:58:00.000-08:00

It's been a very busy, exciting time.

I'm just back from exhibiting at the PMA Craft Fair in Philadelphia, which was a hoot. Thanks to Craftscotland and fellow makers from Scotland for making it such a successful enjoyable show.

I've just sent a collection of work to 'Electrum' in South Molton Street, London as this months CAA Focus Exhibition.

Dazzle opened in Manchester today. I have stocked them up with plenty of new work as well as some old favorites.

Here in town I have work in the 'Craft in Dialogue' - Inches Carr Trust Exhibition at the Dovecot, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh.

I also busy preparing for my first ever open studio event in just over two weeks time on the Fourth December.

Details above - I plan to have various current ranges of work as well as samples and discontinued pieces at bargain prices.

To get an idea of numbers it would be good if you could e-mail me to let me know if you are planning to come.

2011-08-14T13:32:00.000-07:00

For those of you in and around Winchester, a visit to the Brooks Centre is worth a look.
The Pop Up Design Shop initally opened for the duration of Winchester Fashion week, but has proved so successful that they have extended their opening until the end of the month.
I have never shown at a 'pop up' shop before - it's a great new way to sell and buy!
The organiser Suzie Brown makes some great lampshades.

2011-08-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

These aren't great photos but I'm excited about a new range of enamel work I have been doing.
It's currently on show at Dazzle during the Edinburgh Festival at the George Square Theatre until August 30th.

Any excuse for an ice cream from Peters Yard or on a day like today - Coffee and Cake, Fika as they say in Sweden.

2011-06-02T05:35:00.000-07:00

Made this piece for the Scottish Galleries 'Thinking out of the box' show.
It's a brooch using my signature compartment box style in a new way, featuring an antique ambrotype photograph in it's origainal case.
The Show opens at The Scottish Gallery on Saturday 4th June, 11am - 4pm.
I've also got a couple of plates in there 'Thinking Horizontally' Plate exhibition.

2011-06-01T03:33:00.000-07:00

Images of recent work taken by Sussie Ahlburg

2011-05-26T03:06:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the Craftscotland at Collect films shot by Precious Productions.

It's been a long time!

2011-05-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

Where to begin?
Above are images of my work on the Craftscotland stand at Collect 2011.

Thanks to Laura for images of the stand.

Mr. Squirrel aka 'Lover of the woods' has gone to a new new home. I miss him! Mr T cried (slightly fake cry - but a cry none the less.)

Thanks to Richard at Precious Productions for a lovely image of him and to him and his lovely wife Jolene for making filming the video for Craftscotland at Collect an enjoyable experience. I could have chatted to Jolene for hours! Very inspirational lady.

Check out her blog the precious east .

2010-11-16T03:54:00.000-08:00

The wall pieces. I'm going to miss the Victorian Starling above - I had visions of him in our living room.. His crown is a ring.

Let me know if you are interested in any prices or contact the Scottish Gally direct. bryony@scottish-gallery.co.uk

2010-11-16T03:42:00.000-08:00

A Few more images from 'Triumph of Nature' at The Scottish Gallery.

2010-11-16T03:14:00.000-08:00

I made it down to the Scottish Gallery yesterday to take some photographs of the show.

I had my youngest with me - so it was a flying visit - O decided to whizz his scarf around and sing the 'Grand old Duke of York'

at the top of his voice only with his own choice lyrics. Got out of there asap!

2010-11-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a very busy and exciting time - hence my lack of posts.

In August I received the wonderful news that I received Creative Scotland (previously Scottish Arts Council) Development award, which will allow me the time to experiment with new ideas and materials.
The experimentation has begun and I'm really enjoying it. I almost feel like I'm back at collage again.

The very first fruits of my labour can be observed at my solo show that opened last night at The Scottish Gallery here in Edinburgh.

The show is called 'Triumph of Nature' and revolves around a ficticious character I have named 'Miss Rutherford' a Victorian lady and my interpretation of what she would have displayed in her home.

I haven't had a chance to photograph the show yet but plan to very soon, so watch this space.

2010-08-07T03:32:00.000-07:00

The butterfly range is by far the best selling range from my website. Here are a few new versions.

The Multi butterfly necklace which looks great on is £295. The 7 x butterflies on chain £110.

Some more liberty print earrings as £31 a pair.

2010-08-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

Another pair of earrings ready for Edinburgh Dazzle at the Traverse Theatre.
Spent the day in Town yesterday with the boys doing the 'Festival'.
It's really heating up.

2010-07-28T04:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a very busy summer so far. Website orders, gallery stock and exhibitions as well as designing new work as I prepare for a solo show at The Scottish Gallery in November. I have also been over to Ireland a couple of times as my sister got married last week, head to toe in butterflies.
Today I'm listing work to send to Edinburgh Dazzle, which opens in the Traverse Theatre August 6th.
Earrings are becoming bigger and bigger and more 'heritage' in style.

2010-05-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Had the girls round on Friday evening.

I wasn't on best form as I've had a bit of a bug but it was lovely to catch up.

There were a few cupcakes left - not for long though!

Nadia brought around the most beautiful bunch of Lilac from her garden.

We have lilac tree in our front garden which I've been cutting little posies from since it started flowering - love the intense purple colour of these ones though.

The smell of lilac is just beautiful, and when the air is warm, walking past a lilac tree is just heaven.

2010-05-26T03:08:00.000-07:00

I love 'Liberty' Florals.

These new little 'Liberty' Flower Earrings are perfect for summer.

2010-05-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

It can be handy being a jeweller.

Made these earrings to wear with this vintage Ungaro top, which I teamed with black leather shorts.

Screamed eighties and the scary thing is I remember this look the first time round.

Begs the question mutton dressed as lamb? Hey ho.

2010-05-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

We live right next to the Union Canal in Edinburgh.

On Sundays in Spring and Summer the Canal Society hire out boats in the afternoon.

We hired one today, and although the weather wasn't great today the sun shone the entire time.

A wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Afterwards we walked along the canal into town.

Had coffee and cake at the bakehouse in Victoria Street. I've walked passed many a time dying to go in, but it's not practical with a buggy.

Today we managed and it was really worth the wait. Excellent baking and vintage styling.

2010-04-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Finally some of the NYC buys.

The girls bought me a voucher to spend in Saipua, Red hook in Brooklyn .Check their site out if you have a chance. The flowers are exactly the style I love, 'Blousey' as Sophie Dahl described her own taste in flowers on her BBC2 Cookery programme last night. Wild and exotic, and arranged to look effortless.

The design of the shop is stunning. All wood panelling, with inbuilt boxes to house their wonderful handmade soap and vintage finds. All very eceltic - I picked up another Eiffle tower to add to my collection, I suppose it's strange to purchase a Parisian souvenir in Brooklyn, but hey if you're a collector to doesn't matter when, where, why as long as it speaks to you, and it did.

The soaps are just divine - to look and smell that is. I don't think I'll ever use them as they look too pretty in a glass jar in my bathroom. A souvenir themselves. The little miniature owl a Saipua find too - pictured with another Eiffle tower

Red hook is an interesting area. I first visited a few years ago with Ian. We made a special trip to a wonderful jewellery gallery Erie Basin.

They also have a wonderful cake shop Baked, which we walked past as we were tight for time, but were able to recollect severals months later when their book came out.

We visited this time, sadly not indulging in cake as we were due to go for afternoon tea at Bergdorfs.

Funnily enough we postponed that plan until the following day, although I am really glad we fitted it in as the Restaurant was stunning. The store itself was good, but not my fav (considering all the raves), although I did pick up a Theory dress in the sale. It looks better on than on the hanger. It gave me the inclination to 'borrow' a pearl necklace I made for my sister. She's not impressed!

2010-04-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

Last chance to catch Glasgow Dazzle.

The show continues until 25th April at Merchant Square.

This is one of the pieces I have in the show.

2010-04-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

Well I never did blog those photos of my purchases in NYC.

Never say never!

I've found it impossible to blog over the last few months. To cut a very long story short I have a new laptop and am keen to start again.

I took lots of photos over Easter, but unfortunately my husband wiped them by mistake. Poor soul didn't realise - although he did want want to compensate by buying me a new pair of clogs - my new obsession (I bought a pair of sheepskin lined clog boots in NYC). Haven't taken him up on that yet!

I thought these photos had been wiped too, but I had obviously downloaded them before Easter.

This piece was created especially for 'The Honey Bee and the Hive', the current exhibition at Contemporary Applied Arts. The Exhibition is on until 1st May and was currated by Wendy Ramshaw.

2010-02-03T13:50:00.000-08:00

Well we're back from NYC. I can't begin to express what a wonderful time we had.

Memories for life. Thanks so much to my girls who organised so so many surprises - limo, champagne, cake, reservations...

As we were having such a fabulous time I didn't get a chance to take many photographs.

I hope to post a few photos of my purchases soon.

2010-01-27T13:08:00.000-08:00

Need to get packing! Off to NYC for a girls weekend on Friday.
We made a pact years ago that we would each celebrate our 40th Birthdays by going away together.
I'm hitting the big 40 tomorrow - and NYC was my destination of choice. Just can't wait!

2010-01-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

Sledging on Christmas day! Infact this was my boys mode of transport all last week.
Borrowed one of Ciaras many outdoor jackets, infact she gave me one which will be perfect for NYC in two weeks and two days.
Who's counting?

I love this embroidered screen.

My Dad and sister have a thing about hoovering. Dad for his Henry, Ciara her Henrietta. Unfortunately for my husband I didn't inherit that domestic gene. Love a clean tidy house - just prefer it when someone else does it.

Here is a photo of Ciaras open plan hall. Dad appropriately with hoover in background.

2010-01-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

I'm not the only collector in the family. Ciara's weaknesses are butterflies, horses, bags, shoes.....

So we spent Christmas at my parents holiday house in Northern Ireland although we all descended on my sister and partners house on Christmas Eve where we remained until well into boxing day.

Ciara had a really successful riding school from the tender age of seventeen until about ten years ago. Unfortunately all her hard work and meticulous cleanliness of the stables caused her major back problems and she was forced to give up.

I know she misses her old profession terribly, however she converted the stables into a wonderful house just over a year ago.

Here I am leaping about with Otto on Christmas morning with Otto. Again, again were his chants.

I'm in my jammies! Feel I need to point that out!

2010-01-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Belated New Year! After an unplanned blog break I'm back with every intention to post more regularly this year.

I had a wonderfully busy time workwise right up to Christmas, then a fabulous break spent mainly in Ireland.

Because I haven't posted for so long there is so much to catch up on - including this my only shot of our Christmas decorations.

I had a lot more on my phone - which is the camera I have always used for blogging but I mysteriously lost it on New Years Eve (can't even blame partying - it went missing early evening and Ian and I had a quiet one).

Only consilation is that we bought a new camera just before Christmas - so hopefully images are a better quality.

2009-11-25T12:54:00.000-08:00

These little necklaces are selling well.

I haven't had a chance to list it on my website yet.

They're priced at £65 and available in various colourways.

2009-11-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

Butterfly collection is flying out the door - or at least fluttering as I'm progressing slower than I would like.
It is probably the most successful product in my webshop.
They received a extra boost last night when Ruth Watson modelled hers beautifully on her programme Ruth Watson's Hotel Inspector.

2009-10-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows my work will know my fondness for images of trees.

I have always loved illustration, but I think it was probably my husband who

passed on his love of trees. He's a sucker for a fir tree and has planted them all over our garden.

This wallpaper in our tiny understair clockroom is my favourite. It is vintage - 1930's I think.

It's the smallest room in our house but one of my favourite rooms.

2009-10-25T06:17:00.000-07:00

Rings proved really popular at Origin, especially the rabbits!

2009-10-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

I'm back from London a week now.

Exhibiting at Origin was fun. Exhausting, but great to catch up with my wonderful returning customers as well as meeting lots of new ones who will hopefully also get the bug. Thanks to everyone who purchased or left lovely comments.

2009-10-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

I have been blogging for several months now, trying it out. Today is the first day my blog has gone on my website.
I decided to start blogging mainly because of the nature of my work - its impossible to show everything I do on my website - mainly because rarely no too items are the same.
In this blog I want to record the different variations of pieces listed on my website, as well as new pieces I'm working on.

I'll be out of the workshop until week beginning Monday 12th October , hopefully with some shots of Origin.

Above is one of the new necklaces I've been working on. I have been creating my own cabochons. I love sourcing vintage items but sometimes its impossible to find exactly what you're looking for.

2009-10-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

My new postcards arrived yesterday. This is the piece I used for the image.
'Souvenir' brooch. I tried to upload the professional photo I had taken, but it just wasn't happening.
I have to say I am pretty useless on the computer!
Most of the photos taken on this blog are taken on my mobile, hence the quality - that's my excuse anyway.

2009-10-02T05:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a crazy month. I'm been grabbing every possible moment in the workshop preparing for Origin.

Wouldn't have been possible without unbelievable support from Ian, mum, dad, sister and mum and dad in law. My parents are on their way over from Ireland. They'll help Ian with the boys next week. My dad is driving me down to London to help with set up. I'm a lucky girl!

I leave for London on Sunday. I'm really excited as I've had a two year break from the show to be with the boys as has my great friend joanne. We're staying together in London and for the first time ever have a stand next to each other, so looking forward to spending time together.

A few week ago I was involved in the shoot for the new Craftscotland Cinema Campaign, The C Word. Here is the advert!

2009-09-09T03:57:00.000-07:00

Mr T also had his 5th Birthday.
We had a small party with some of his friends at home.

2009-09-09T03:23:00.000-07:00

Its been well over a month since my last post.

And what a busy month, we've had a wonderful holiday in a woodland lodge in Perthshire.

I saw my first ever red spotted mushroom!

There was a wonderful bakery in the village - The Water Mill, Blair Atholl.
blairathollwatermill.co.uk

The boys had a ball grinding oats in the mill.

Since getting back Mr T has started school. Such an emotional time but he's really loving it so I'm embracing that.

I will miss him when he goes in full time at the end of September.

Saying that I'm 'trying' to work my socks off.

Origin www.craftscouncil.org.uk/origin09/ is just over three weeks away.

There is so much I want to do in that time!

2009-07-28T14:16:00.000-07:00

You can tell I have a deadline this week.

Edinburgh Dazzle at the Traverse Theatre.

2009-07-27T09:19:00.000-07:00

Love Ottos bunny light

2009-07-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

Boys with Granny and Papa today so got an extra day in the workshop.

Organised many extra days in workshop - work is piling up!

Here are some new charm bracelets.

2009-07-02T02:24:00.000-07:00

Here are those compartment brooches filled and ready for there tops to be riveted on.

The middle brooch on the top row is for an 18th Birthday.

Sweet story. I did a workshop with the Birthday girl at DCA in 2000. She would have been 9.

How time flies.

I started making these brooches in 1995. I have always collected and at that time I housed my collections in wooden Printer Trays.

That was my inspiration.

My work has moved on quite a lot since then but these brooches still remain a bit of a signature.

2009-07-01T03:22:00.000-07:00

Working on compartment brooch orders.

Here are some drawings for the inserts.

2009-06-18T06:01:00.000-07:00

Packing up some orders.

Sometimes customers give me colourways or an initial to work with,

sometimes they just say go for it, and sometimes they choose all of the charms.

This was one of those times.

2009-06-09T14:50:00.000-07:00

Filing away at settings for button necklaces, bracelets and earrings tonight.

Got a cheeky tiny telly in my workshop and just finished watching 'Mary Queen of Charity Shops'.

Love it and love Charity shopping.

One of my more recent finds is this heart shaped mirror.

2009-06-09T05:31:00.000-07:00

Just found out I'm exhibiting in week one at Origin 2009.

Pondering how to exhibit work.