Angelbabydarling

Me and some lovely friends are having an exhibition from 9 - 13 March and YOU’RE INVITED!
We’re a rag tag band of neurodivergent artists with a fabulous, eclectic collection of art and we can’t wait to share it with you 💜
Artists showing:


o.tage





Sophie Rose
Hope to see you there! 🌈✨
***rartists ***r

Patience, my love.
You do not have to find everything yourself.
You do not need to search and search.
Some things will just make themselves known to you…
They will be dug up by badgers,
Washed up on the shore, or
The light will catch them in just the right way and
You will see them,
Glinting, glittering, unmissable.
This is a bracelet I made with segments of clay pipe dug up by up by the badgers that live in the bottom of our garden 🦡
I collected and cleaned them before attaching findings etc
They are amazing, magical little bits of history - or wristory, if you will 😁
From the 16th century onwards, clay smoking pipes were used in Britain after the importation of to***co from the Americas. When the pipe became blocked, the smoker would snap the tip off the stem, throw it away and continue to smoke with the unclogged portion that remained. Pipes with a wider diameter are likely to be older than later pipes which were a lot slimmer and more ornate.

I’ve been a little more absent from here this year and that’s largely because I’ve been really fortunate to be doing more work ‘on the ground.’
I’ve been co facilitating groups for autistic young people with , Neon Daisy CiC and a host of fantastic neurodivergent facilitators including (but not limited to!) .o.tage , ,Sophie, Fran, the folks over at ; Lucy, Jen, Nickie and many many more wonderful wonderful people. It has and continues to be an ABSOLUTE JOY, but it also means I’ve had less time for posting on here and crafting in general.
HOWEVER, just because I’ve not been posting as much, doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about you. Far from it. I think about you all, all the time. I do. I say little, non-religious prayers for you. I send you good thoughts. I wish you well. I’m so grateful to be walking alongside you, even if only in this short moment of connection ❤️
Pictured - some of the amazing artwork made by some of the even more amazing young people I work with.

Over the last few months I’ve been watching this pile of logs in my garden become home to no less than FOUR different types of funghi! Oysterlings, dead man’s fingers, bracket fungus and unspecified teeny we**ie ones 🥰
Different mushrooms appear - or don’t - according to certain conditions; how much rain there has been, the temperature…even the altitude of a place can affect whether a mushroom grows there or not 🍄
It’s a good reminder that our creative output looks different at different times, and that’s not just ok, it’s beautiful.
I think we are all a bit like these logs, if you know what I mean? Always responding, reacting, shifting, transforming.

A couple of weeks ago I had the massive privilege of assistant directing on a research and development project for new play ‘Splinter’ by
5 magical days of well-held, thoughtfully curated and creative explorations supported by , COPE Community &

What a pleasure to work with such a talented team committed to developing a process that is ethical, non-hierarchical, diverse, safe and - above all else - kind.

A testament to the power of the work we can create when we create with compassion, curiosity and acceptance.

Massive thanks to everyone involved….

Co director: Nerida Bradley
Co-director of Splinter and Co Artistic Director of Red Oak Theatre: Mathew Holmquist
Designer and Co Artistic Director of Red Oak Theatre:
Writer and Movement Director: Gemma Prangle
Producer: Jafar Iqbal
Assistant Producer: Lauren Ellis-Stretch
Assistant Designer: Mari Hullett
Stage Manager: Philippa Mannion
Actors: Nia Ghandi and Difrig Morris
Dramatherapists: Ellie & Martin Cope
Community Engagement Director: Francesca Pickard
Accessibility consultant: Nye Russell-Thompson

Painted this at my friend’s house the other week… it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot…
Text reads:
‘Don’t be afraid of the dark.
Many creatures live their whole lives in the dark and what wonderful lives they live’

Picked some nettles in the garden yesterday to print with. 🌱
I was careful to approach the plants from the direction the little hairs were growing in as these are the part of the plant that sting you. I pinched the leaves firmly between thumb and forefinger before twisting and plucking them off. I even wore garden gloves to protect my hands! Unfortunately I didn’t realise they had holes in them… until it was too late 😅

But that’s how life goes you know? Sometimes, regardless of how much we try to protect ourselves, we all get stung. Because we all have weak spots, gaps in our knowledge, holes in our armour. We just tend not to notice them until we have a reason. There’s no sense in beating ourselves up for not realising the holes were there in the first place. Instead we can learn from the times our armour is compromised and look at strengthening it in the right places.

Is the problem really that you’re too fragile?
Or do some people just not know how to ‘handle with care’?
Popped these in the flower press about a month and a half ago and decided to check out their progress today… Proof that ‘fragile’ can be very beautiful indeed.
***rartist

Who remembers this guy? My first ever 3 dimensional giant(ish) self care bear!
Recently I’ve been working with neurodivergent young people, co-running workshops designed to grow their confidence, nurture their creativity and inspire self-acceptance.
I took the bear into the first block of sessions (along with its mini me!) and the young people affectionately named it Brian.
Brian acted as a conduit for feedback from the group, as well as being an extra in plays and an arts and crafts assistant.
This is Brian at the end of our ten week course together - Covered in glitter glue & slime & happy as a clam! What an amazing adventure Brian’s had. What a privilege for us both to go on this journey with the young people we went on it with.
I’m currently over half way into another block of sessions with autistic/ADHD young people and I couldn’t be more grateful. It’s so valuable to have these spaces where ND YP are free to be themselves and explore their (neuroq***r) identities in community with ND elders without fear of ableism, disbelief or discrimination. I feel very lucky to be part of it!
***r

What a treat to be part of .theatre ‘s work in progress night at yesterday. Feeling so proud of everyone involved. We smashed it!❤️ big love and thanks to uncaged theatre, the alma and to everyone who came down to support us ❤️
Here’s a pic of Peter J Pascoe and in ‘Burnt’ by . Feel so honoured to have worked with these talented human beans. Thank you all for trusting me.
A big thank you to & .livingsober for their awesome technical skills & for your musical contributions too.

Over the weekend I had two of my favourite people over to catch up and craft.
We talked, ate snacks and I taught them how to make Self-Care Bears.
Here’s Nicola printing some bears, as well as some bears Josie .ewers printed.
Nicola and Josie are part of the same art collective as me - .
Thanks Josie for taking the pictures and to both of you for letting me share - as well as for the excellent company 🥰

If you saw my stories yesterday, you’ll know that I bundled my side effects dress into a bin bag and went to see the wonderful and talented for a photo shoot 😊📸
Kim is absolutely AMAZING to work with. Not only is she skilled at finding the right set up for every shot but she is also just so great at putting you at ease and making you feel comfortable. I would recommend her a million out of ten if you need any photographs doing for anything. I feel so lucky to be working with her to create images encapsulating the mixed feelings that can come with having to take medication.
Can’t wait to see the rest of the pics after Kim’s worked her magic in the editing room 🥰

Recently my therapist told me she thinks I’m on a healing journey. I laughed because what I am feeling right now is not what I would associate with healing.
But this morning I’ve been thinking about how the process of healing has been/continues to be whitewashed by western culture.
At the same time, I was thinking about when I accidentally gave myself 2nd degree burns when I was 19. On the road to recovery, my skin went through all these horrible, painful - without wanting to get too graphic - cracking and peeling stages. I couldn’t sleep or move properly.
And then I thought - THAT’S what healing looks like. Not the sanitised, bandaged up, behind closed doors healing that we’ve been taught about.
All of this to say…
maybe I am on a healing journey after all, even if it doesn’t feel that way.
Maybe you are too.
❤️

For me - and I’m sure many others - 2022 has been a year marked by loss.
By death - both literal and metaphorical. And by
Grief.
So much Grief that at times it has felt - feels - like I am living inside it.
But it hasn’t all been unhappy endings; there have also been new beginnings, new lessons learned and unexpected outcomes…
A year of change and upheaval.
It’s been wonderful, it’s been deeply uncomfortable and
I’m really grateful to everyone who’s been a part of it.
Onwards.
And Happy New Year!
(Pictured - a model I made my lovely cousin for Xmas bringing his design to life 😊)
,
🎉

I didn’t manage to get my Etsy shop updated in time for the festive season but I did make a select few of these cheeky crimbo creatures 😁
Hopefully I’ll be able to get my shop updated in the new year!
In the meantime, me and all the self-care creatures are wishing you all seasons greetings and sending lots and lots of love x

Christmas can bring up a lot of mixed feelings and that’s ok.
You don’t have to feel faithful, joyful or triumphant…
It’s okay if you’re feeling faithless, woeful and defeated.
It’s okay to feel a weird mix of different things at once.
Try to accept and welcome whatever feelings arrive and come as you are. Whatever happens, don’t forget: YOU ARE LOVED
✨🎄✨

‘When you call my name it’s like a little prayer (plant)’…
One of my favourite things about propogating plants is that it allows you to watch a process that is often hidden under ground: root growth.
It’s a good reminder that even when we can’t see obvious changes on the outside, beneath the surface new growth is happening. Foundations are being laid for the next chapter.
So if you feel stuck or like you’re falling behind, remember this little prayer plant cutting - just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean your roots aren’t growing. Just because you can’t see the transformation doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Keep the faith. Change isn’t just coming, it’s already here ❤️

‘I was busy thinking ‘bout soil’
Slide one:
A couple of years ago my friend gave me a cutting from her prayer plant
Slide two:
The prayer plant thrived in its new home and for two years running it blossomed, erupting with tiny violet flowers shaped like trumpets.
Slide 3:
This year while I was away, my mum - noticing my plants were outgrowing their containers - decided to repot them. But she couldn’t find the soil I had bought especially; so she mixed the existing soil with a different kind. Most of the plants continued to grow as they had done previously. A little more abundantly perhaps but whether that was down to soil or size of dwelling who could say?
Slide 4:
The prayer plant however began to behave a bit differently… instead of tiny flowers it grew lots and lots of little leaves.
Slide 5:
Some things the prayer plant got me thinking:
The environment around us has a direct impact on the ways in which we grow.
Existing in an environment conducive to healthy growth and development is a privilege.
Having the resources necessary to change our environment when it’s not working for us is a privilege.
Slide 6:
Even so, there are some simple things we can do to make small changes to our environment… if you’re feeling claustrophobic why not metaphorically repot yourself? Change position, move to a different room or go outside.
What can you mix into your “soil”/environment to make it more nourishing?
Is it possible to find ways to accept and even celebrate the ways you are growing, even if it isn’t in the ways you hoped for or expected?

I’ve been so afraid of not creating anything of any value that I’ve stopped creating as much. Or if I create I don’t share it as much. I’ve been so afraid of not saying anything of any value that I’ve stopped writing and using my voice as much too.
But when I stop to think about it… what do I even mean when I talk about value? Many consider value to be synonymous with exclusivity. Others align it with meaning and story. Value is contextual, changeable, intangible.
It’s not an absolute. And to treat it as such - well it’s no wonder I’ve had creative block!
So. I’m giving myself and anyone else who needs it today permission to take value out of the equation. In other words I’m giving us permission to make something that seems crap, to write something that seems pointless, to craft something ugly inconsequential or useless. You do not need to be smart or impressive. Everything you do is a stepping stone to something else in your journey at the very very least. Your value is intrinsic; you don’t have to earn it. So play, make mistakes, say the wrong thing. Come as you are. Trust that who you are and what you can bring in this moment will be enough. Because it is. And you are.
***rartistsofinstagram

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who came and supported me at Chandos Road Festival on Sunday. I was quite nervous doing my first stall since the COVID pandemic began, but you all made me feel really happy and lucky to be there ❤️ a massive thank you too to everyone else involved in the festival - especially the organisers! What a wonderful event to be part of! 🥳

Excited to be selling my clothes, bears and other wares at Chandos Road Festival this Sunday 25th September! 🥰
If you’re at a loose end why not come and say hi? There will be plenty of stalls, food and live music to keep you occupied! 🥳

Had an amazing time with some members of doing some therapeutic collaging today. Thank you and .ewers 🥰
Thank you also to
stubbs & more for your contributions to my collage… 😁
Other artists please tag your work if you recognise it 😊❤️

Patchwork pillow made with distressed fragments of fabric. Held together by machine stitch, hand stitch and little gold safety pins. Tactile with different textures. This is a document of mistakes, experiments and mop-ups. Distorted, messy, fraying at the edges…
It’s a good representation of how I’m feeling at the moment. I think that’s why I was finally motivated to stitch together all these bits of stained fabric I’ve been keeping...
At times like these, when I am feeling difficult emotions; when I am feeling fragile, working with them reminds me that broken things and people are still beautiful…
I can fall apart and still love myself. Still comfort myself. My damage does not negate my value. It can even be a part of it...
The special ways that I have been shaped by the waves in my life like a piece of glass in the ocean…
My vulnerability softens me, leaves me open. It’s a terrifying thing, but it’s a gift also.

Ice dye results 😍
Can you spot the areas where the ice cubes were placed? It’s like they’ve left a ghostly imprint I love it.
Tips on how to be a self-care bear in the sun:
1. stay hydrated
2. wear sunscreen
3. take breaks in the shade
4. SUNGLASSES to protect your pretty eyes 😍
4. Have a wonderful weekend!
💖
🌞

What I learned from my first ever Drag King performance:

Drag is a spiritual experience;
An act of revolution of self-actualisation.
Drag is about coming back to oneself; reclaiming and reconnecting with the inner child.
Drag is play,
Drag is HARD WORK.
Drag is freedom, self-acceptance.
Drag is a way to make connections,
Drag is community.
Drag is brave and daring and transformative.
I was so nervous to go on stage but once I got up there I felt so seen, so heard, so celebrated in all my weirdness. I am so grateful for the amazingly supportive audience. Thank you.
There’s something about performing something you’ve constructed yourself and then having people sing along, cheer or come up and say: yes, I understood that/connected with it. And that’s definitely something to do with being a q***r in a q***r space with predominantly q***r people. You guys go out of your way to be receptive and supportive and to celebrate everyone and it’s just incredibly moving and I’m so grateful.
Also incredibly grateful to all my fellow cast members;



lugosi.is.dead




for encouraging me to come on this ride!!

Course facilitators:

Special guests: .fisk

Our wonderful SM:

Thank you all for your advice, leadership, compassion, love and encouragement.
Thanks also to for hosting us!
More photos to come on my NEW DRAG Insta
You can also watch the full performance!
This pic a still from video kindly taken by