Milk bottle birds, Woodland exhibitions and Baby casting in Kent

When one of the Mums at our daughter’s school asked me to make a flock of milk-bottlebirds with her as a sort of eco-statement, I was already hooked. When she went on to describe her vision of an exhibition in the woods they were to be a part of, the full idea was mind-blowing.

She wanted a mixture of large sculptures and real craftspeople so she invited a spoon carver, a walking stick maker and a basket weaver.

She also wanted playful elements such as a living statue.

She knew my history with Image Casting, and wanted me to display some wares. I was slightly perplexed when she said “just set it up again!” because it’s not that simple to set up a life-casting studio, and the skill it takes to get quality results involves years of practice. I explained that I couldn’t just magic up a casting business! But suggested I invited the business I sold in 2013, still going strong.

I wasn’t sure whether Mandy would come all the way to the woods near us and felt a bit embarrassed asking, but I needn’t have worried because she was as intrigued by the whole idea as I was and managed to fit an unfeasible amount to exhibit into one average-sized suitcase.

Boy was it good to see her again. After eight years of living in Botswana, it’s almost like I dreamt our life in England, but we were joking and discussing different types of silicon almost immediately.

Rewind just a little: I started Image Casting in 1998 after completing a model-making HND, and sold it in 2013 (for a variety of reasons) one of which was the opportunity to live in Botswana with my husband’s job in the diamond industry for eight years.

It was too complicated to cast out there, as getting the right materials was pretty impossible. I did have a good crack at making some fondant mermaids out of icing for a mate of mine, but it did not go to plan! NoNoNo, sculpting and casting just wasn’t happening, so I turned my hand to writing and local eco-projects instead.

Now that I am back, I am busy designing a piece of our daughter. She plays the piano, and perhaps something like the Lionel Richie piece I cast in 2000 might fit the bill? We would probably like something framed, though my friend loves the back I did of her son and has it free-standing in a nook in her sitting room.

Mandy and I have decided that I can use a space in her workshop, which saves me from having to set up all over again. We also like the comradery of working together.

In the case of babies, I can undertake home casting visits to take moulds locally and send them to the workshop in London to be carefully crafted into beautiful hand and foot sculptures in cold cast metals, foundry bronze, sterling silver and glass. And when they are finished, they will be safely delivered, too.

I love meeting babies, so I’m pretty excited about that. I am also keen to cast a tiger paw! And live in hope that one may get darted at the local Big Cat Sanctuary long enough to achieve a good mould.

Mandy has an uncanny ability for casting dog’s paws. As an animal lover they seem to naturally trust her, and she achieves great results, so maybe I should get her to cast the tiger? 😂

Anyway, I am really pleased to be back and casting once more, and taking commissions in the area around Kent, where we are now living.

How to make your own flock of milk bottle birds instruction video 🦅