Make do and Mend

‘Make do and Mend’ That classic and wonderful quote from wartime Britain, rings true… Something my wonderful nan used to say, ‘Mend, Reuse and Love’.  Like that yummy bread pudding she used to make from stale old bread and gorgeous woolly scarves she knitted that were always far to long, but were much loved.

I have always tried to reuse, fix (sometimes with terrible results, namely with super glue) and love old worn out items, that i still treasure and refuse to throw in the bin, like sun bleached t shirts and worn out old shoes.  For some reason they hold precious memories, it’s like thoughts and feelings get absorbed into the fabrics, leather, both happy and sad.

Books with torn edges and flowers pressed between pages, found at old junk shops, adored for years, little notes, handwritten ideas on the back of envelops and scarps of fabric collected ready to use for a rainy day.

My house is full of precious little items that have travelled from place to place, been boxed up, unpacked, boxed up again.  Been with me through childhood, courting, marriage and motherhood.  I always think, i must give them space amongst the clutter, of my everyday mess, but there they sit, happy to just be, a constant reminder of who i am, who i have become and what i will be.


By Deborah Moon aka MoonKo

Ordinary things...

“The whole world is a series of miracles, but we're so used to them we call them ordinary things. - "  Hans Christian Andersen

Such a beautiful quote by Hans Christian Anderson, that reminds us that life is quintessentially full of wonderful little miracles and happenings that sometimes we fail to see, due to the humdrum of everyday life.

Once upon a Time... our new MoonKo showcase at Urban Outfitters, Kensington, explores a very 21st century fairytale.

It was such a joy to meet 'Rose Petal Deer' aka Emily Reader, Asa Wikman, Zoey Hardwick, Death by Tea aka Holly Betton to set up the exhibition with Elly and Michael at the store on an early Tuesday morning just after the Easter Bank Holiday.

Urban Outfitters, Kensington High Street

 

The exhibition will be adoring Urban Outfitters, Kensington High Street store walls for the next couple months, until July.  Pop down and take a peek at some of the stunning work by some very talented emerging artists.  All the art works are available to buy through MoonKo online 'Shop'

More wonderful pictures of the exhibition will follow in the next couple of weeks.  Time for a lovely cuppa, a slice of cake and a ponder on those 'series of miracles which we call ordinary things' on this rainy grey day.

Death By Tea, Deborah Moon & Rose Petal Deer

Rose Petal Deer

Zoey Hardwick - Urban Outfitters Showcase

Asa Wilkman - Urban Outfitters Showcase

Once Upon a time...

“Everything you look at can become a fairy tale and you can get a story from everything you touch.”  Hans Christian Anderson

Illustration by Holly Betton

The beauty of fairytales, stories of sadness, joy, magic, happy ever afters and if onlys... all spark the imagination of the child with in us.   Hans Christian Anderson captured this wonderful magic in his tales, such as the Little Match Stick Girl, The Brave Tin Soldier, The Red Shoes and The Little Mermaid, all enchanting.

“Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire. “Someone is dying,” thought the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only one who had ever loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.” Little Match Stick Girl

 “But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more.” 

Illustration by ''Rose Petal Deer'

Once Upon a Time...' our new MoonKo exhibition, will be based at Urban Outfitters, Kensington in London, opening on the 11th April 2012.  The showcase will explore this idea of the modern day fairytale and 'Once Upon a Time...' with some amazing talent including; Rose Petal Deer, Zoey Hardwick, Holly Betton, Asa Wikman and Deborah Moon.  

The work will consider the relationship between mark-making and collage to create a very 21st century tale.  Take a wonder lovely London town folk and peek upon 'Once Upon a Time..'

Time to make a lovely cuppa and start reading the short story by Hans himself  'The Brave Tin Soldier' ♥ Inspired!

For more information on the exhibition -  MoonKo 'Watch This Space' 

Zoey Hardwick  'Foxes'

Illustration & collage by Deborah Moon

Untitled by Asa Wikman