The rest of Nam........chicken minority villages and pretty men in the Mekong Delta...

Dalat - up in the Highlands of Vietnam is Dalat. A random little place advertised as the 'Paris of Vietnam'. Whoever made this up clearly lied. The market was a highlight with live chickens, eels, snakes and lots of any freshly removed intestines in bowls. Not the place to go if you don't have a strong stomach.

We hired ourselves a couple of 'Easy Riders'(http://www.easy-riders.net/) for the day and set out on the back of motorbikes up into the mountains. My dude was called Dragon. So I can honestly say I have flown around Vietnam on the back of a Dragon. 

 We were told we were going to a 'Chicken Minority Village' - we had high hopes of it being a village of chickens that had been outcasts in their society. Alas there were no punk chickens - but a lovely little community... Oh and a 20ft statue of a chicken. The women sat and weaved beautiful scarves and sheets - I still wish I'd bought more as they were stunning. 

  To the top is the villages petrol station. Below are some kids that were loving being photographed (as long as they got see see every picture afterwards on the camera screen!)

Who could resist this pouty little face?! He was the cutest little boy - he knew how to say 'hello!' and 'I love you'! in English so kept running past while we were eating. So cute. This picture was taken just after he'd been told off by his Mum for running around.

Saigon/HCMC 

 Top picture: Typical junction in Ho Chi Minh City. Crazy busy with bikes, people, cars and more bikes with stupendous amounts of things piled up on them.


Middle picture: Street shopkeeper having a little doze in the intense heat.


Left: A doggie that lived at an internet Cafe. I fell in love with her. Check out those little eyes and the pearl necklace!!


Next stop: A trip across the Mekong Delta to Cambodia... 






Mekong Delta

Oh yes. We traveled in style. Garden chairs on the back of a van. It was a lot of fun - if a little uncomfortable! Even out here, in the middle of not-a-lot, there were random little mobile phone shops (well, sheds) on the side of the road. Amazing.

The man in front of me here was perhaps one of the most beautiful men I had ever seen. Gorgeous, french, funny, intelligent and........saved me falling into this river in a very undignified manner. Sigh.

Randomly on the river boat trip, they took us to a brick making factory. Luckily I like random. It may sound dull but it was pretty cool - and sweltering hot. Fortunately for me, the sun was so intense that it looked amazing as it came through the holes in the roof, it made it look like there were stars on the floor.

Happy New Year

Happy new year everybody!


Some good news to start the year off :


"Recently Arts Development were contacted by Katie, the manager of The Living Café, a café which has recently opened in Earl Street Maidstone. She was asking for our help in finding an artist to display their work on the walls of her café. After seeing the place, the Arts Development Team immediately knew who would fit in perfectly- Laura Murphy, who was exhibiting in their Christmas exhibition! They have now met up and a brilliant connection has been made and soon Laura’s work will be sparkling on the walls. If you have not been in yet, why not go along for lunch and see the artwork on display. Katie is also hoping to open in the evening sometime in 2010, so watch that space!"
http://www.livingcafe.co.uk/
I will let you know when my work is up!

Hometown Fabric Shop Rochester

Today I went for a wander around the fabulous 'HOMETOWN' shop in Rochester, Kent - primarily they market at quilters but have the most amazing fabrics - really cute and kitsch! They also have pots and pots of gorgeous coloured buttons, reels of ribbon, craft books and home accessories. It really is just what Rochester needs more of - cute little independant shops! If you are ever around that neck of the woods I would highly recommend a visit!


74, High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1JY (Opposite Rocket shop) Tel: 01634 838880

I bought some fabric there a few weeks ago and have made a bright and sparkly wall hanging:

The fabric i stretched over a 30cm x 30cm canvas and decorated with glass diamente for a bit of sparkle!

I haven't come up with a name for it yet so any suggestions appriciated!

Medway Fuse Festival

OK - as well as loving all things sparkly I am also a bit of a lighting/photography geek and the Medway Fuse Festival (an annual arts festival run by the local council) has given me a great chance to 1. sit outside on a picnic blanket and drink in the summer sun and 2. watch some amazing acts and 3. take some pretty pics........

Click on piccies to see them bigger!