Maggie's World - Fete de Sens 2015

What an AWESOME weekend, painted such beautiful souls for two days! (Oh and made a 3 meter birds nest)

Victorian Vogue Parade - Herne Bay Festival 2015

Just spent 10 days in the UK helping some lovely people of Herne Bay (and some Canadians!) making costumes entirely out of paper and card!

Spring Baskets Course - Agricultural Museum, Brook

Ooo the lovely ladies on my spring basket course held at the Agricultural Museum, Brook. Lots of proud teacher moments!
 I DID warn them of willow addiction, honest!

Oooo I'm brewing.......and burning!

Wreath Making Courses in Kent

The Singleton Environment Centre, Ashford has asked me to put on the ever popular willow wreath making courses again for this festive season. So there will be one at the environment centre on the 6th and another in Maidstone on the 7th of December. Book now as places are limited.  Details on the posters below. 

OOoooooo Something VERY exciting is about to happen!.........

Mad Mad MAD March!

What an unexpectedly busy March! Cardboard Farms, Pyrographing, Willow Animals, Space Installations, Consultations to name but a few!

Willow Weaving Course

Oooh such lovely people on my course and soooo many 'Proud teacher moments'!

Paper & Card Forest

Worked with 11 schools to make a paper forest installation, 110 kids, lots of teachers, amazing volunteers, two artists, A LOT of paper and card, Oh and just two hours making time! Maggie Heaven!

Basketry - The Agricultural Museum, Brook

Oooo spent my Sunday afternoon with some wonderful people! We explored willow, basketry, chatted about foraging, parties and made snails! Really looking forward to next months session!

Willow Weaving Course

I'm running a short basket weaving course for beginners at the Brook Agricultural Museum, near Ashford.
Places are limited so Book Now to avoid disappointment!

Wreath Making at Singleton Environment Centre

Ooo met some lovely people at the Singleton Environment Centre on Sunday. Really inspiring stuff. Really the wreaths they made looked like they could easily adorn the pages of a glossy magazine, Oh I was sooo proud of them!

Two willow wreath making workshops at the Singleton Environment Center in Ashford: Book now on either the Morning session: 10-1pm or the Afternoon session: 2pm - 5pm Details below

CaaaaWistmas Tweeee!

One day, just a few hours, 90 excited children, LOTS of willow and a Maggie (AKA Holy Leaf!)

Bending Sticks - Patrick Dogherty

Oooo I am a PROUD owner of the Bending Sticks DVD!

See the trailer HERE

Fairy Rings in Kew

Oh Yum!
Finally managed to get up to Kew and see Tom Hare's work:



See some more pickies here: LINK

England's Weeping Willows

Almost all willows take root very readily from cuttings or where broken branches lie on the ground. One famous example of such growth from cuttings involves the poet Alexander Pope, who begged a twig from a parcel tied with twigs sent from Spain to Lady Suffolk. This twig was planted and thrived, and legend has it that all of England's weeping willows are descended from this first one.

Willow in Art

Symbolism in Art
The weeping willow (Salix babylonica) was very popular in the funerary art of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was used most often to symbolize immortality and rebirth, likely because of its swift-growing habit. A cut willow tree can re-grow quickly as long its roots are unharmed, sometimes several feet in a single season. A cutting from the willow can grow into its own tree, even if it's planted upside down in the soil.

ITV news coverage of the Coronation Arches

The Coronation arches project that I was involved in was on TV! Check it out:

Coronation Arches

Oh what a lovely project to have been invited to be involved in. Meeting the likes of the inspiring Spencer Jenkins, Mel Bastier & Michelle Cain and lots of great volunteers. Maggie heaven!

Plastic Rainbows

Six Plastic rainbows:

Beast Wings - Wye

Helped 50 plus children & families make beast wings as part of the Conservation Volunteers Wild Wye Beast Day at Wye Nature Reserve 

Medway Mile Medals

Helped young runners made their very own medals prior to their races:

Willow Sculptures made by Maggie & 200 children!

Large Willow sculpture made in two days with 200 young enthusiastic ladies. Loosely inspired by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth & Andy Goldsworthy:

Food Sculpture - Wye Food Festival

Food Sculpture fun with local families as part of the Wye Food Festival June 2013, generously funded by the Wye Childrens' Playing Field Charity and Wye Parish Council. A BIG thank you to The New Flying Horse for lending us such a beautiful venue!

Maggie's 2012

Its been another interesting year! Polystyrene cows, willow storytelling huts,murals, paper gardens, foraging courses to name but a few......roll on 2013!

Beanstalk Project -Gravesend

Two weeks, about 180 primary school children, 4 artists, 1 volunteer, over 250 metres of 'old' olympic flags, a lot of sewing, heaps of cotton, 6ft of polystyrene and a few lamposts! Go meet Daisy at Gravesham Borough Council offices / Woodville Halls theatre, now till 11th January (ish)

Willow Storytelling hut - Maidstone

Ooooo its exciting!...... Building a Willow storytelling space in a woodland in Maidstone with the help of the 'Craft and Chat' group and the local school with specially selected skilled children! Here's the visual story so far.......

Meadows Children's Centre, Maidstone - Mural with Young Parents May 2012

Helped this enthusiastic group paint a mural based on their logo.

Wild Wye Family Foraging Course - 17th June 2012

Discover food for free!
On a short beginners foraging walk in the beautiful countryside of Wye, Kent
Taste handmade locally produced wild food goodies afterwards.

For further details and register click on this:  LINK

Find out more about the Wye Food festival (16th - 24th June) at www.wyefood.com/wyefoodfestival.html

The Paper Garden - Animate Arts

Helped make an awesome, life size paper and card garden with Animate Arts Company Ltd, 12 Kent schools, 2 other artists and some amazing volunteers!

Which can be seen at Stour Valley Arts Exhibition 5th May - 9th June:
Stour Valley Arts : Elwick Road, Ashford, KENT
                                                                                                         TN23 1NR

Salue: Garden of England has been inspired by London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Salue (meaning welcome) is a garden complete with flower and vegetable beds, a pond, greenhouse and lawn made entirely from paper and card by 260 children from 12 schools across Kent. 

The Sitting Room

I wove a lot of cushions out of newspapers for our paper and card Sitting Room. It was toured around Kent and received great feedback!

Here is the final result:

Wye Lanterns 2011

Great to meet and help people make some lovely lantern creations for Wye lantern procession 2011, part of the Wye Bonfire night celebrations. Lovely to meet up with some old faces and what a night! Yes it was cold, it was windy, it drizzled but the lanterns looked spectacular! (and most survived the weather conditions). They looked soooo magical as we wound our way up to the crown. Take a look at the workshops and some final creations:


If you have any photos you'd like to share of the event, workshops or your lantern then do e-mail me.

Face Painting - Snodland

Mask Making - Wye Farmers Market

Helped these two young artists to create their masterpieces at the Wye Farmers Market.

Wild Wye Family Foraging Course - 26th June 2011

Sign up now for another Maggie adventure!

Wild Wye Foraging Course Application Form

45min walk around Wye, followed by a taster session, competitions & recipe ideas

Hurry! Whilst there are still places left.

Wye Lantern Making Workshops

Want to take part in the first ever Wye Lantern Making workshop? Then fill out this online form:

Lantern making workshop form:

Link

You will then be invited to parade your awesome creation in this magical walk up to the crown on the 6th November - be there or be VERY square!

Aylesham Lanterns 2010

Made willow lanterns with this lovely group of families. Some great ideas & designs & as you can see they look pretty awesome when lit!

Monster Bass Festival - Ramsgate

Made this Giant fish with the help of other artists. There were fireworks, storytelling, music and thousands of people on the beach. An AWESOME event! And it's going to be even bigger in 2011!

Truffles

I helped families from Beaver Green Primary school to make truffles. We were in chocolate heaven for 5 week sessions together. Really lovely group and some yummy evidence consumed!

Windchimes - Animate

Made these wonderful sounding windchimes with a lovely group of young people & some very enthusiastic helpers/teachers in Maidstone.

Unscrewed, Unbottled, Unleashed - Whitstable

Willow Strawberry Baskets - Ramsgate

Wove these beautiful willow strawberry baskets with this lovely family learning group in Ramsgate. They are preparing them for their community allotment. Most were first time weavers and as you can see they did a fantastic job in the time we had - well done!

Rockets! - KCU

Worked with these families of intrepid scientists to make rockets. The tension was high for lift off but everyone survived and had a blasting time!!

Teddy Superhero Workshop - Creative Foundation

Helped these families design and make superhero costumes for their Teddy's, great fun, lots of foam & some superb costumes made!

Hartsdown Christmas Carnival - Animate

Worked with this great bunch of designers at Hartsdown college to create illuminated costumes for their carnival through Margate town Centre on the 4th December 2009.

Christmas Tree Mural - Creative Foundation

Worked with the lovely art club of St Eanswythe primary school. I helped them design and make their own Christmas tree stamps which I then incorporated into this giant Christmas tree mural for Folkestone.

Pumpkin Carving - Animate

Spooookey Carvings! A mix of Maggie creations and 2 local youth groups.

Aylesham Family Learning

Showed this group of lovely people from Aylesham how to design and make willow lanterns. With fantastic results as you can see!

Milk Bottle Igloo - The Beat Project

I helped the Igloo pioneers of Snodland to build their first milk bottle igloo, with funding gained by The Beat Project. Great weekend, lovely people, the weather was on our side AND we saved 630ish milk bottle from landfill! YEAH!

Pebble Pictures 09 - Animate

Another Fantastic Pebble Picture Event by Animate that I helped to implement with this years theme being the Herne Bay pier. Which a local society is hoping to revamp and rebuild.

Fiesta! Fiesta! Herne Bay Festival 09 - Animate

Oh what a night! Lovely people, Awesome kids, families and some gggreat moves! Notting Hill's got Nuffin' on Herne Bay Parade - they don't even have a Giant!!

April Adventures

This months adventures include milk bottle igloo's, willow windmills, massaging, newspaper weaving, sock puppets galore and I'm only half way through April! Stay tuned for pictures and details............

ArtInTheHeart

Help school children of Folkestone make over 400 sock puppets in a week, I was defiantly ready to move on to tights! Some wonderful creations were made and enjoyed!

EllingtonInfants - The Story So Far......

The story so far..............Superhero's, Bags of Fun, Monster Feet......next we are going to Sock It!

Priory Fields - KCU

Another fantastic family day of fun in Dover for Kent Children's University.

Superheros - Ellington Infants

I helped the the next generation of Superheroes, get ready for flight!

KCU - Guston, Dover

Met a lovely group of people at this family learning session in Dover. Helped them to make badges and amazing masks as you can see!

Drapers Mill - KCU

Another fantastic Funny Foam session for Kent Children's University. I helped them to design and make things that jump-they even decorated both sides, badges & costumes

JANUARY SALE

Due to the success of Maggie's December sale, a January sale is on offer.
Please follow the link to Maggie's gallery and e-mail me with your offers.
Remember if you buy 5 items or more the least expensive is FREE!

KCU - Sandwich

Another fantastic session helping kids to explore their creativity for Kent Children's University.

Little Book Of Murston - Amicus

This is the front cover of the Little Book of Murston, assisted by me and created by children and residents of .....yep you guess it, Murston! Great project with this enthusiastic group working with Amicus.

Howfield Manor Hotel - Canterbury

Spent a wonderful sunny day teaching people willow sculptures at the beautifully refurbished Howfield Manor Hotel. Surrounded by cakes, local produce and lovely people - what more could a women want! This is a picture of Robyn, Monty and newly made willow heart.

Herne Bay Festival - Animate

YEAH! We helped Families to design and make costumes over three days for the Herne Bay Festival - We had glorious weather, enthusiastic people and met some lovely smiley faces!
Rob and I created a pebble picture with families too.

Beijing Challenge - Animate

Oh what an excellent project!

Dane Court Grammar School, Broadstairs

Just finishing a wonderful project on identity at Dane Court Grammar School. Met some amazing pupils on this ambitious Future Creative pilot project.
Here's part of a picture of our Identitree (!) or palm tree. I got lots of groans from year 8 from my overuse of the puns!

Grotter Day! 24th July 2008 - Whitstable Oyster Festival

Congratulations to all the families and friends that came together for this magical event, over 150 grotters made this year! This is our 3rd year running the event and every year more people get involved. It takes your breath away, you have to see it for yourself.

Whitstable Oyster Festival - Animate

5 days, 5 different costumes, 150 kids! Getting ready for the parade on the 19th July. Lovely to work with such enthusiastic kids and teachers. Stay tuned.......

Daphne - Margate Rocks

Meet Daphne! We created her for TDC as part of Margate Rocks 2008 - Amazing how many people can walk straight into a 10ft long dolphin! We also helped lots of kids (and some adults) to make a school of fish to swim with her.

Caravan Making for Animate/Amicus

Working with a young group to promote Romany culture - we're making willow caravans and talking about the essential things to have inside, like TV's, Gameboys etc! Oh yeah and maybe a cooker and a bed. The caravans will all be on display in an exhibition which takes place in Sittingbourne in April, so more pickies to follow.

Rangoli - Isle Of Thanet Arts / Margate Libary

Painted a rangoli style pattern outside Margate library as part of the celebrations of the newly refurbished building. It took us three hours and it was soooo cold!

Jan 2008

Well January seems to be zipping past. You find me updating my web site, collating last years images and feedback ready for this years proposals. Plotting and planning future projects There are a few exciting workshops in the pipeline already, I'll jot them down as soon as I know the details. I've got a feeling 2008 is going to be a good one!

Christmas Carol - Broadstairs

Been asked to decorate the hall for this wonderful 'must see' production in Broadstairs. Plus crowns for the Christmas past & present.

Tree Dressing Day, Ramsgate

March of the Dead Mask

Here's my contribution For Strange Works March of The Dead Parade

Snuff Puppets Thames Festival

Just spent an awesome couple of weeks with the Snuff Puppet team and a great bunch of people making giant puppets for the Thames Illuminated Carnival this year. George and I made the above pictured 'the man with London on his back' A bit of a grumpy geezer with obnoxious tendencies but with an occasional tender side.

The man with London on his back

Footprints - Marlowe Academy

Worked with the Marlowe summer school kids, about to take their first 'steps' into the academy. We made these two 8ft giant footprints to adorn the school walls.

Kinetica Workshop

Helped Kinetika make these giant wings for an event at the South Bank centre

Grotter Day - Whitstable

Build a grotter day was even more packed this year than last! We showed hundreds of people make how to make grotters on Reaves beach in Whistable for part of this years Oyster Festival. Beautiful event but sooo windy.

Tour du Mini Monde - Whitstable & Herne Bay

A cycling world tour for kids (and parents!) We were in Herne Bay on the 26th August

Kent Children's University - Maidstone

Another amazing funny foam workshop, the kids and parents designed and made some awesome things! The dinosaur being one of my favourite.

Tour du Mini Monde - Canterbury

We created a mini world for kids to cycle around for the Tour de France in Canterbury.
Brilliant day, the weather was on our side! Great meeting so many enthusiastic kids and parents, all winners of the tour du Mini Monde of course!

Tattoo workshop - Gulbenkian Theatre

Got to tattoo some future rock stars and the Gulbenkian's Regener8 festival!