Hand Stamped Anne Boleyn Tu...
Noted by Chloe£3.00
“A treasury of keepsakes, mementoes, and notions informed by centuries of women's handicrafts, heritage, and history... ”
I had the great pleasure of growing up with my grandparents, who instilled in me a love of the countryside, heritage, museums, galleries, and the sorts of places that make for wonderful day trips; with plenty of tea and cake, naturally. I was encouraged to tend to my hobbies, grow my interests, and nurture collections of the things that brought me joy, which I express to this day through an ongoing love affair with vintage, beautifully illustrated old books, and antiques. I read copiously and decided to study Art History with English Literature at University to indulge my tastes even further.
I have always been fascinated by women's history, material culture and the decorative arts across the centuries; something I feel even more of a connection to through my own cultural identity, being mixed race, with a late-Grandmother who was Windrush Generation. I love how we can express ourselves through what we choose to surround ourselves with: be it objects, art, clothing, or reading. The stories behind things sing to me and I can think of nothing better than owning something with its own character, charm, and story; something that speaks to you, personally.
With these things in mind, I've always explored creative practice over the years, whether through writing, illustration, crafting, or a combination of all these things. As someone who is neurodiverse, being able to have a creative output helps me to feel more anchored, and it is deeply satisfying to accomplish small projects over time. I would say that most of my work is assemblage or paper-based, as I don't mind 'fiddling' to make something appealing. I've a penchant for hand-decorating, hand-painting, and collage, which I try to apply to my work, and putting things together that speak to historical, literary, or heritage interests.
These days, I live with my husband and our little boy in a bright and airy bungalow, within the Oxfordshire countryside. I love getting stuck into village life and finding ways to connect with others in the community, which is why I go to church, support local craft fairs and makers, and even go to WI meetings (where I occasionally run workshops in things like junk journalling, or give talks from my studies and ongoing learning). On my Instagram (@notedbychloe) I keep a visual diary of the things I make, bake, and do, as a way of noting the little things that matter most to me.
I really appreciate you taking the time to read this entry, and would like to thank my support network for encouraging me to share what I enjoy, it truly means a great deal to me.
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