Champagne?

Hello! It's just occurred to me, I should be accompanying this post with a glass of Champagne, (because of the champagne bottle top theme today, not for any reasons of celebration), but it's not something we keep in the fridge for everyday consumption.

I once met a woman who keeps bottles (yes bottle-S) of bubbly in her fridge, and instead of offering a cup of tea, she'd say "shampoo?" I've never been known to turn down a glass of the bubbly stuff (or shampoo), so I accepted, (after realising it was champagne, not shampoo to wash your hair that was on offer). I suspect I accepted much too eagerly.

Today's post was meant to be about a papier mache figure I have just finished working on, but then I had to concentrate on finishing the seven tea cups on their stands I've been making, to show someone interested in commissioning some tea cups (which she did, hurrah!). The light had faded before I could turn my thoughts to showing you what I wanted to show you, so no photos. Plus, Hugo (or should I now give him the title 'Business Manager'?) is very keen for me to start approaching galleries with my papier mache work, so I'm not sure if I should show things that are being entered into exhibitions? I don't know? Can I show you things like that? I actually really, really want to show them to you, because you might be interested. Will have to discuss that with my 'business manager'! (Just as a little whispered aside, managers can be quite frightening. But artists are probably quite fortunate if they have one to push them out of their studio and into the real world).

I'll definitely be showing you the tea cups on their stands, they're ever so pretty, with their little seedlings, pattern and colours. Hopefully there's some good light tomorrow, and I'll photograph them.

But anyway. Champagne bottle top is meant to be the subject for today.

The subject for today is about one of the ways you can use your champagne, or sparkling wine, bottle top to mark that special occasion you opened a precious bottle of sparkly substance for.

Make a chair!

The bare bones of this idea isn't strictly mine, it belongs to a friend from a long time ago who transformed a sparkling wine bottle top into a chair, (thank you Tom Hall), while attending a little party I had put on.

I've taken it one step further by giving the little chair I made a cover for the back rest, and embroidering it with New Year 2011. Hugo made the box that is the stand, and I covered it.

This little chair was made to remember the fabulous evening we had with some friends on New Year's eve. They made a huge effort, the meal was delicious, plenty of wine, and Miles composed and printed a booklet containing a programme of toasts, where we all took it in turns to stand up and read a speech out, to say goodbye to the old year, and welcome in the new. There were songs we all sang together, familiar songs, and songs where new lyrics had been written to familiar music. It was beautifully put together, a wonderful surprise, and very creative.

And just incase you're wondering, it's becomes surprisingly easy to read out a speech when your vocal cords, and inhibitions, have been mellowed by a couple of glasses of wine.

So yes, Miles and Bob (Barbara), now have this gift sitting in their sitting room, and they are thrilled with it, which is always the perfect response when you've made a gift for someone, isn't it?!

Oh, and to make the chair, you have to un-twist some of the wire that makes the bottle top. Mine actually broke from too much un-twisting, so I added some wire I have amongst my supplies. These are rather basic instructions, I know, so I'll try and remember when I next partake of bubbly-jubbly, to keep the bottle top, and show you how I make my chair. There may be quite a long wait for this, just to let you know!

Right! I'm off to start the weekend. I hope you have a good weekend. Cheerio! Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Hen]

Happy New Year, Vanessa, Hugo and furry friends. I think your papier mache creations are just fabulous (very jealous mousey has already been re-homed) and you should definitely go for it with marketing, exhibiting and selling. You have a great eye for colour and form from your painting which really stands out in you papier mache work. I'd love to have a go myself but it's far toooo daunting, I'll stick to my fabric and ogling your creations and Julie Arkell's book!
I would have thought it quite a good idea to give a little peak at what you might exhibit - to encourage people to visit the exhibition and indeed buy? Pleeeease show us the teacups soon...
Hen xxx

[June]

Happy New Year! What a lovely thing to do - making a gift out of the champagne stopper!
If you do exhibit make sure you don't get ripped off by commissions! A peek on the web would be a good way of attracting customers to your work - so a bit of both maybe?
June.

[Helen Tzabar]

Please please let us keep seeing your fabulous creations. Anyway it may encourage people to visit the gallery and see them in the flesh so to speak. Not everyone will be able to visit but may still want the opportunity to buy, especially if you do a friend of evangaline.....
The chair is a very clever idea. Your friend could have enough for a whole set!

[Jo Harratt]

Oh no dont stop showing us your work!! I am one of those customers that cant get down to you and i definitely would love to buy one of your lovely creations xxx

[Alice and Raymond!!!]

Vanessa! How fab! An exhibition of your papier mache would be wonderfully magical! you should serve shampoo in china tea cups with saucers on opening night to add to your amazing whimsical vibe!
i don't see why you couldn't show your exhibition work... maybe not all of it, save some for the show then show us later!!!!!
I am so thrilled for you, I know it will be an amazing success :O)

[Sally]

Vanessa I love your paper mache creations! Evangeline was sooooo adorable and what a fabulous new year chair! Please keep showing us more! I got the Julie Arkell book for christmas and I'm having a go at at the moment, love your colour! xx

[Planet Penny]

What a great idea and a wonderful keepsake of a memorable evening. Yes, keep showing us what you do, the more people who know about your work the more potential sales! Penny x

[Planet Penny]

And I've just found this from which you'll see the inportance of having a blog, a website,contavt details!
http://allthingsconsidered.co.uk/2008/01/julie-arkell.html

[Penelope]

Congatulations on your tea cup commission, I would be very sad if we couldn't see your amazingly beautiful creations, I just love all of the characters and colours you use, such skill and talent! Your new years eve party sounds ever so memorable, good food, wine, friends and words...perfect xox

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

That is such a great idea and you have made a beautiful thank you gift for your friends, I'm sure they will cherish it! I don't know about showing us your new creations if you are going to exhibit them?? May be put them up on your blog when they open in the gallery so no one can COPY your work?? Do you have a separate web page just for your creations yet??

Check with your business manager, he sounds like a good one :-) bubbly jubbly sounds delicious!!

[French Knots]

Thank you for showing us the little chair! We had a bottle of shampoo with friends at New Year, I'd saved the metal top so I;ve just made a little chair too!

[Jaki]

I love this idea!!
I can't wait to see your latest teacups, and I hope your business manager lets you show us some sneak peeks of some of your other works too ;)

[Helen Stephens]

Happy New Year! Those mice are too too beauuutiful! Hx

[amelie]

i really really really want to see them else i shall go pop like a bottle of champagne. but you always show us such lovely things, so i guess we can wait if we really really have to. i love the champagne papier mache and the sham addpoo story.

hugs xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

btw did i tell you i have a little newby blog just started.. i can't remember? anyway, you are most welcome to call, though there is not too much in the way of exciting things happening there just yet.

also i have a new email address.

are you having a sunny sunday? we are having some almost spring-like rays here today, i do so hope you are too...

lots of love to you and the little furries

millie (sumea)

[amelie]

i'm not sure what happened to the spelling of shampoo in my comment above?

anyway, i also wanted to wish you the very bestest, healthy, happy, sparkly, creative 2011

[Mia]

Hi Vanessa,

Happy New Year! There's an award for you in my blog, please go an see!

Have a great day!

Yours,
Mia

[Sherman Unkefer]

Fabulous paper mache!
That is a great idea and you have made a beautiful thank you gift for your friends.
They will surely love it!