Swedish summer shoot - part 1

This last week has been crammed full of wonderful work and play in and around Stockholm in Sweden.  Primarily a trip to see friends and start on this seasons Van Asch photographs. 
The trip did of course, have to include some shopping and, what I call, research !

Some of you may know already that I have the great privilege of being asked by the paint maker Annie Sloan to be a "painter in residence" whereby I use her trade marked chalk paint in my styling.  The above photo features Antoinette paint and some details of the photo shoot for Van Asch and BVN Design. These two Swedish based companies have joined forces to expand their collections, Van Asch now producing fabrics and BVN using these on the furniture. UK shops should be prepared for the Swedish invasion as they will be launching in the UK later this year, I will keep you posted about that.

Shopping wise, well, we squeezed in what we could. A car boot fair was brilliant, although the weather was so hot! I found some beautiful candle sticks and a crochet throw, which will end up as props at some point. Then at the opposite end of the spectrum, we hit the old town in Stockholm, lovely winding cobbled streets with beautiful stores like Indiska and Godrum Sjoden.  These Swedish stores in particular are really embracing colourful influences from India and Eastern Europe. 

Gudrun Sjoden

Dala Horse Museum

the old town

lighting store windows

displays outside stylish shops

Indiska

Indiska

Indian cafe in the basement of Indiska

A couple of charity shops were raided for props, I saw the chair above in one and would have loved to have brought it home.

This little shop in Solentuna is now the latest Annie Sloan paint stockist and they are also stocking Van Asch cushions and bags.  The lovely lady is currently in Oxford at Chalk Paint HQ and will be setting up a facebook page on her return. Previously her parents gift shop she is in the process of revamping and re-stocking. 

Part II of the photo shoot will continue in July with some outdoor shots and new designs hot off the press.

In the meantime, Im working on some interior styling using Annie Sloan paints and also maybe photographing some more rock musicians. Who says my life isn't varied ! Lastly just before I sign off, I love this photo I took of my god-daughter so much I wanted to include it.  Vie ses snart!

Vintage Van Asch in the Vale

Life is pretty hectic which unfortunately impacts on blog posts, so anyway, for those of you kind enough to check me out here is a quick update of whats been happening here at Vale HQ.

Well, Im off to Sweden for a week to photograph the next Van Asch catalogue. This will be featuring the ever expanding collection from the extraordinarily talented Rachel who now has fabric for sale which is being used on beautiful Victorian style furniture and more.  So we will be taking her wares around to some gorgeous locations and styling up mood shots using our accompanying colour palette supplied by Annie Sloan Chalk Paints. 

This little jaunt does however mean that I will miss my favourite Vintage fair in Milton Keynes.  So if you can make it in my absence then please please go and say hi to my friends there. 
The fair is in the centre MK outside John Lewis on the weekend of 7th and 8th June.  

Heres some photos from previous fairs to wet your appetite.

Here in The Vale I have been Urban Exploring again but my exploring seems to concentrate on the same place, which I know kinda defeats the object, but hey !  I took my lovely friend there with her new camera so she could take some cool shots. I also found and noticed things I hadn't seen before and always impressed with the new graffiti that has appeared. 

We also visited the Hellfire Caves where Sir Frances Dashwood would meet with his cronies to practice the dark arts. The chalk caves are dug deep into the hillside and under a church. 

You can find the caves website here for more information on the history and location.

See you all on my return with lots of photos of Sweden I hope. 
Until then ...

Music was my first love.

Oh my, the whole of April has flown past and I have not managed to blog, I feel like a naughty employee and have given myself a written warning.

It's not that I haven't been busy taking photos, quite the opposite, but as the photos are being held for release by the artists themselves, I'm unable to do the full reveal. 

For those who don't know about my previous life in music, heres a brief run-down.  My fist job after leaving college was on music papers and magazines, I was fortunate enough to be present at the birth of a new music magazine called Kerrang! and became one of the very first employees of this mag which specialised in ROCK of the heavy kind.  During this time I was the magazine secretary, and also had my own little column, I took photos on the quiet under a false name, as it was frowned upon by those in charge, for a mere secretary to do more than ... type.

It was back in the days of manual cameras and manual typewriters. One learns ones skill very well this way I believe. 

stop laughing, yes this is me, and yes I did play Bass

Over the years working on magazines and in record companies, I have made some wonderful, artistic, clever and talented friends.
None more so than the incredibly brilliant Katharine Blake (leader and founder of the Mediaeval Baebes).  

this is Katharine performing a few DAYS before giving birth to her daughter.

Katharine Blake and her life partner Nick Marsh, parents of two little girls, have recorded a cd of duets under their band title "From the Deep", the music is haunting, atmospheric and a meeting of two different worlds. My description, well its like David Lynch met Thomas Hardy and this is the soundtrack to that film.

The most professional person I have ever worked with, Katharine is fearless, she waded out into the deep dark murky, smelly and cold waters of the lake without batting an eyelid.  I felt very worried that my idea would result in Kat and Nick catching pneumonia particularly as by the end of the session Kat was waist deep.

So from old acquaintances to new ones, and some emerging talent that is being developed in the studio at this very moment. Some hooky, catchy, pop music ..... here is one sneaky pic from this new artist which I took this month.

Other news this month, the book I knitted some projects for is now out, its called "Fair Isle & Nordic Knits" by Nicki Trench and available to purchase if you click here

I knitted the bright coloured socks, a grey yoked jumper, a cushion and a few other things.  

The projects in this book are gorgeous, traditional designs with a colour twist. The jumper is a very easy project, believe it or not, I am now a convert of the yoke style of knitting sweaters, particularly if you, like me, are a fan of knitting in the round on circular needles. 

As as you can now see, I am an authority on what is 'rock n roll' and I'm telling you, knitting is the new 'rock n roll' ... so there. 

Tattoo Style

One of my current projects is a little something which I have invented all on my own, merging my eclectic tastes and sometimes conflicting styles and interests.  This series of photos is entitled "Tattoo Style" and I shall be fleshing this out more and more over the course of this year. I'm saving my words on the subject for another medium but for the blog lovers out there, heres a selection from the series.....

dreamcatchers and Indian Girls

Art Nouveau and Peacock Feathers

Antlers and Skulls, heads and hands

hot air balloons

dreamcatchers

religious

Wise old Owls and Scientific Steampunkery

Nouveau swirls

Skulls and Roses

Keys and Skulls

Credits for items used in the photos should go to Van Asch who designs the coolest cushions and fabrics, BrocantUK who travel all over Europe collecting the weird and wonderful and to charity shops everywhere, without whom I would be a lot less inspired.

I shall also be updating my Steller story with these photos, Steller is a new app for your phone where you can make collections of photos, videos and words, its rather lovely, so please find me there under the same name I use on twitter Jan.is.IT (my homage to Will.i.am and because its about time I cashed in on having such a ridiculous name).

See you all soon xxx love Janice

Marlow bound on an antiques hunt ...

I like to shop local, well lets be honest, I like to shop, anyway, supporting your local independent retailers, I do believe, is a very good thing.  When it comes to Antiques it's essential as you can never just go out and find exactly what you want when you want it, you have to keep an open mind, wait sometimes or be flexible.  It's treasure hunting of the highest order.

Today I took a mooch down to Marlow at the other end of Bucks, to two places I know have excellent stock.  I'm currently working on a series of photos called "Tattoo Style", its a working title but one I hope to make my own, (sounds like something they would say on the X Factor), I digress.

First stop was HOME BARN

It's just on the outskirts of Marlow at Tithe Barn, Wilton Farm, Marlow Road SL7 3RR, look out for the Farm Shop signs as there is produce for sale just next door.

Home Barn have a very distinct curated style, collections under glass domes, cool memorabilia, strange and unusual, pulled together in a very stylish way. Their look very much sits into my Tattoo Style theme, plus, like myself they have an association with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, which they sell and use on some pieces. 

These photos should give you a feel for the beautiful high vaulted barn, full to the brim with vintage loveliness.

the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colours are shown on wooden spoons.

mini globes and American flags. 

medicine bottles

American advertising labels, butterflies under glass domes

If you are going to Home Barn then you really must take a short trip up the road to the Furniture Recycling Shop it is in Bourne End, opposite the station : SL8 5QE

The huge shop goes back a long way and has many many different styles and periods of vintage and antiques. Some pieces that look decidedly French, sitting amongst the kitsch and retro.  Lots of excellent wardrobes, if you need one, from Victorian through to Thirties and including armoir style. Their prices are great and if you are looking for furniture to make-over with paint you can find that here too.  Heres some photos taken in the shop ...

great display of cotton reels on a lovely old pine dresser

some Indian Kashmiri wears in a basket

very much pre-loved but gorgeous anyway

love this French lady and the shutters

beautiful dome

Marlow is a lovely town for a day out, parking is a bit difficult in the town centre but these two lovely shops have their own parking which is another bonus.  Check in with their facebook pages for updates of new stock.