Notion Nanny Tea Party

If you are in or around London this Saturday 15 October, come to the Notion Nanny Tea Party from 2-9pm at Studio Voltaire. This event will launch the Notion Nanny exhibition with a day of activities and refreshments.

See the life-size peddler doll and her basket of wares made in collaboration with the makers I have met. Like 19th century porcelain dolls, it has ceramic limbs (made in a ceramics atelier in France), glass eyes, and a hand stitched wig. Her costume, made with historical costume designers, includes a woolen red cloak and a black bonnet made in London with Jane Smith.

I will be peddling the wares of several of the makers I have been working with, including Peter Hodgson's carved horn spoons, Dorothy Horsfall's straw love tokens and intricate straw work earrings, Elizabeth Prickett's books and postcards, Rebecca Purcell's "tokens of identity", and smocked dresses from the Etafani Day Care Center.

This gathering of makers will include skill demonstrations, performances and peddling, including Paula Roush's Emergency Biscuits, Davina Drummond's embroidered memory bandages, Nicola Chambers' knitted animals and Joe Scotland's pom-poms, plus darning and commemorative needlepoint with Debbie Flatt, quilting with Louise Mabbs, weaving with Anne Ogazi, Pilot Publishing with Amy Plant and Ella Gibbs, exploring Risk and climbing skyscrapers with Lottie Child and a fully costumed rendition of 'We Didn't Start the Fire' by Sean Parfitt and Barry Sykes, and much more.

Hope to see you there!