Visitors and new friends..

There have been comments that he has a lovely bottom..this photo also shows the colour change of the mosaic tiles..


A helper polishing the feet to make them very shiny


The Cole's Miller African Sunset mosaic lion is starting to get a personality and has now got black eyes with a very small piece of gold in the middle that should sparkle in the sunshine when outside. The lion, (still to be named) has had his photo taken by Sally the photographer of the Daily Echo and he was a showoff! Surrounded by the many different colours tiles that make up his new coat, he had his best side on show, and I was in the photo too.

He has also had many different visitors and friends come and say 'hello'. Charlie from Wild in Art, gave him a little stroke, pupils from nearby St.Michael's Primary school came to stick a couple of tiles on, whilst choosing books for their homework projects and even some of the parents stuck a couple of tiles too. Many of the 'lion' books have been checked out of the library, so their are many children learning and reading great stories about lions somewhere in Bournemouth ..
Cole's Miller are also sponsoring St.Michael's lion, so fingers crossed both lions will meet in the near future when they both have their new decorated coats.
Our lion has a new friend, a blackboard lion who he will share the Children's section with for the near future. I promise to take some photos tomorrow and post, so you can see the progress.

stories coming alive in the library

Mosaicing the lion in the library has given me 'food for thought' today. I have met some lovely people and has reminded me why I love working with art projects in the community.
I am mosaicing this lion in the children's section of the library, with small benches and storybook galore nearby.
I had been privileged to hear some wonderful stories - parents reading storybooks to their younger children, complete with different voices of the characters, children sitting in ore waiting for the next instalment. I have had parents talking to me whilst their child has been sticking, telling of small snippets of their lives and funny ditties and waiting to stick their own tiles too.

I had also heard heartfelt stories of bravery, that I could not imagine and could never understand and totally admire their determination and personal strength and love for others. Stories of crazy fundraising events coming up and the reasons why the fundraising is just so important; having a moment to talk to someone I wouldn't normally chat too from young to old. Seeing children's' and adults faces light up simply sticking their tiles and being part of the mosaic jigsaw. A simple act making the bigger picture, or lion in this case!

This project reaches an audience that wouldn't interact in day to day situations and being able to say 'Would like like to stick a tile on my lion?' and knowing that come the summer, different 'pockets' of our Bournemouth community could walk up to this lion and say 'That's my bit, I stuck on in the library'. 'Pride in Bournemouth' ( see the link there? oh, it's here: www.prideinbournemouth.com )
I'm a lucky girl seeing this project coming alive and meeting wonderful people and hearing their mini stories, how fitting for a library! I promise to bring more photos for you to see the progress of the nameless lion soon..

There's a lion in Bournemouth library!

The start of the African baobab tree with real gold highlights! -

He's looking a little LEGO yellow at the moment, but he has his 'shoes, a couple of legs mosaiced..

Staff from a local school want to stick a 'bit' too after their students have had a go!

Mike and Dave community officers come to help too!

Families are all getting involved..

Heather was the first person to stick on a tile..

A lion in the library...!

The news of lions 'taking over' Bournemouth in the summer has started to spread! Bournemouth will host 'Pride In Bournemouth' ,a public art event with lions in our streets and in our shop windows for all to see. There will be a trail map and we'll be able to search for them all!

'So what, summer is months away!' I hear you cry..well, the lions have already started to appear in strange places..such as Bournemouth library children's section.

Yes, you read that right - the library..

Poppies Art Workshops have been commissoned by Coles Miller, solicitors to mosaic a lion with the help of the public in the library. The design is of an 'African Sunset' in rich reds, oranges, yellows and even gold. We have been working hard and have had many different visitors including Hannah Perry from Cole Miller, Mike, a community officer, schools galore, families, tourists from Japan, Canada and even Switzerland to name a few. Some children have come back a couple of times to help and see the progress.

He is starting to look like the design, but another 6 colours will be added to make sure the colours blend well together, as he looks a little 'blocky' at the moment...watch this space for more information.

Lions, the BIC and santa for one night only!

Christmas is almost apon us, with snow in the sky, the same old Christmas songs bellowing from the shops and every advert on TV connected to Christmas from the food, to glamerous dresses and the must have something or other...Poppies have been very busy with wonderful workshops making the essential decorations, gifts and using the most amount of glitter ever seen!

So keeping with the Christmas theme, every stage for the big Light Switch-on needed a 'Santa Paws' lion ( stay with me, all will be explained!) - I was up for the challenge.

'The Bournemouth Tourist Awards were being held at BIC Thursday night and it would be great for an artist to be painting a lion at the same time'. Armed with paints, brushes and a design,

Santa paws was painted during the awards with many lovely comments from the invited! (& finished off the next day as well!).

'Santa Paws' now lives on the stage in the sqaure to promote intrigue and conversation. Santa Paws proved popular with the crowd during the switch-on and even Jules from Heart FM Breakfast couldn't resist his charms.

Coles Miller Solicitors sponsor a lion!

"What?" I hear you cry? A solicitors and a lion in the same sentance..read on! WOW!
Coles Miller have sponsored me to create a stunning mosaic lion for the 'Pride in Bournemouth' next year.
The law firm, work in many different ways within the local community and this will be a new way to reach the community!
The lion will be mosaiced by the public, staff and with a little help and guidance by me next year in Bournemouth centre. The design is still top secret and all will be revealed after Christmas...watch this space!

Julia's House butterfly mosaic

Here is the finished result - not the best light..what do you think?

One cold and windy Saturday, a couple of weeks' ago, I had such a lovely day working with the siblings, affected children, staff and families creating a butterfly mosaic for the hospice's new extension. The butterfly was a Dorset Blue flying around the heather (shaped as hearts). Most people think that hospices are sad places, but as Julia's house logo states 'A happy place' is just that due to the people and wonderful atmosphere as you walk in the door.

Much laughter, glitter, other activities, butterfly cakes ( see the connection there?!) and sparkle mosaic tiles, everyone had a great time. The butterfly uses much calmer colours, mirrors to reflect the light and give the butterfly slight movement. I will leave you with this thought:

Martin Edwards, Chief Executive wrote something so beautiful in the lastest newsletter that I would like to share it with you:

'The butterfly is the symbol of the children's hospice movement. For butterflies, like the children whom we help during their short lives, are not with us for long. Like the children, they are beautiful but fragile. When they are gone we are much poorer for their loss, and long winter darkness follows. Yet they leave behind vibrant, colourful memories for all who knew them, because while they were among us they lit up our world.'

The Dolphin Shopping centre winners..a little taste of fame!

A little taste of fame!
Following the release of the charity Christmas cards, we simply needed to let the world know how wonderful this project really was with a press afternoon. All the five winners had their photos taken and each winner was presented with a prize of a £50 voucher per and £100 voucher for each school.
The smiles were almost as big as Rudolph's!


Can you spot the winning design in the group from St.Mary's Catholic School? Many of these designs were also transformed into floor vinyls that can also be seen in the centre (upper floor). What a talented lot!