Sam Toft and her Wonderful World of Mustard

Artist's Journal

  • January 31, 2022

    Snowdrops for Grandpa Ray

    By Sam Toft

    I’ve just finished reading The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman and I feel much better thank you. It was an easy and compelling read, which is good as I don’t have the hugest concentration span. I found it inspiring, grounding and comforting at a time when I’ve felt lost and adrift. And I was delighted to find that there were so many extra gifts in the acknowledgements, where the writer shares how hard it is to write a novel and how many people helped him knowingly or unknowingly along the way. I absolutely love my job but I find it hard to do what I do. It’s sometimes so hard that I need to find new ways of doing it. And at times like these I really am grateful for all the love that surrounds me. The kindness, help, support and good fortune that snuggles me up like a favourite blanket.

    So, there are changes afoot. And Oooooh I don’t like changes! There’s so much comfort in the familiar, and shaking things up makes me feel quite wobbly. But I really do need this and if I had a superpower I think it would be my way of finding different ways of doing the same thing… 

    It’s not News but I will say it again. January has seen the final closure of my dear Little Mustard Shop in Brighton. There’s heartbreak there as many of you will know. And as I’m cutting back there will be fewer new works available through Sam Toft Originals and no Big Show planned for 2022. Furthermore after the loss of Grandpa Ray, there’ll be a paring back of items available from Nan’s MustardShop mailorder in Cornwall 

    But just so it’s not all gloom 'n doom, I’ve had a few new ideas I’d love to tell you about. There will be further details in my newsletter mid-February, so if you know someone who may be interested you could ask them to sign up to this email list? Rachel and Nan are running out of time to be answering so many direct messages…

    This is what we have in store:
     

    LITTLE MUSTARD CLUB

    One of the things I am learning is that I can’t be all things to all people. And if I am to continue to effortlessly create pictures, sculptures and stories for The Wonderful World of Mustard, I need to find a way of doing less (but offering more). Following the sad closure of my Brighton shop, we are creating something more. As the song goes (from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?), from the ashes of destruction grow the roses of success. 

    Introducing Little Mustard Club!

    We will be using the social media accounts from the little shop (Instagram @littlemustardclub and Facebook) to host our Little Mustard Club. But as I’m an old fashioned sort, we are also planning a lovely little welcome pack to be sent to your door. There will be monthly prizes online (via email and Instagram), members only offers and hopefully one or two exclusive events with us at my own private studio near the sea. We have no idea of what to expect this year in terms of face to face meetings, so our ‘in person’ plans may be subject to change. But the LittleMustardClub online will initially run for 2022 and then we can review for 2023.

    We have no wish to be super busy with thousands of members. Little Mustard Club will be a very limited affair and run from my studio by a wonderful woman called Amber Elise (whose name some may recognize from the social media). A talented painter, print maker, mural creator, designer and until recently she ran her own shop, Little Shop Bristol. Amber now lives in Brighton and alongside her own creative pursuits she also curates my Dog & Bone Gallery (recently featured in the Guardian!). Working together we will bring you exclusive content (via social media and email newsletters) and studio events where possible. Right now, as we begin to dream up welcome packs for our 1st March launch, you could register your interest by emailing TELL ME MORE to littlemustardclub@gmail.com. We are firming up the details and I will send another email mid February with all the news and then it’s over to Amber, you lucky people! Our initial thoughts are that we could take about 50-ish members a month, costing you around £50 a year whenever you join, the welcome pack would be worth around £40 and comes with monthly giveaways, at least one studio event, insider info, exclusive content and dare I say it, this would be an perfect gift.
     

    THE NEW MUSTARDSHOP ONLINE

    We are planning to scale down the items available at our online shop at www.samtoft.co.uk Focusing more on bespoke items, exclusive remarques and self published prints. And we will be launching 4 more exclusive prints in tiny editions in the near future. I believe there are thousands of outlets online where you can buy SamToft products the world over. We can’t compete with the quick service, free postage and keen prices you’d get from Amazon and the like, and neither do we want to. Nan will continue to offer beautifully wrapped packages with little extras and genuine authentic Sam Toft products but she wishes to be less busy, so we will be phasing out all of the products you can buy elsewhere (we will be suggesting alternative mail order retailers). My sister who runs Mustard Hampers now has a very successful coaching business and will be spending less time and energy in Mustardland. In my next newsletter I will lay out our plans more fully.

     

    BOGUS/FAKE MUSTARDS

    There are more and more companies and individuals producing fake merchandise of inferior quality. I have neither the energy nor the desire to follow these up. The fraudsters have a big impact on the legitimate publishers’ businesses and their ability to continue producing high quality items. If you buy from unrecognized suppliers you will be receiving inferior goods, I will not be receiving any royalty and the cheeky chancers will be making money illegally. But hasn’t it always been the way? It is infuriating but I could also choose to view it as the ultimate in flattery. And as suppliers are constantly changing, many resell work unofficially and most do not have the full range, it is not practical for me to offer lists of bona fides. In my next newsletter I will introduce a very short list of my favourite suppliers (who stock a large range of items and offer excellent customer service - let me know by return if you think you should be on my list) and a contact to report suspicious activities to!

    In the mean time if you would like to receive a copy of my new book Keep On Keeping On (a limited edition of 1000 self published copies made November last year, a third of which now remain) please contact City Books Brighton for a signed copy. They also have the last of my 2022 calendars and offer mail order. Or if it is part of another purchase (Nan won’t be sending out individual books) there are a small number gorgeous greyboard hardbacks in adorable little cloth gift bags on MustardShop. There is no other way to get these other than through my website. But they may be offered among the monthly giveaways to members of Little Mustard Club. Just for saying.
     


    I saw snowdrops and celandines on my walk yesterday. 

    Hope springs eternal. 

    Until we meet again.

    Sam x

     

    Follow us on social media for more regular updates

    Sign up for our occasional newsletter at MustardShop or Sam Toft Originals to find out the news about our new Mustard Club and the availability of original work as it comes available. No commissions.

  • December 15, 2021

    A Seasonal Greeting from Me to You

    By Sam Toft
    It’s nearly Christmas again. These are strange times and sometimes it can be hard. I am always glad to hear when my work brings a smile (or a few tears when they are needed). We are all coping in our own ways, being as brave and hopeful as we can. One thing is certain: we are all in this together. And my main reflection on another strange year is how kind people can be. The people who really matter. You know the ones.

    I am sorry this is not as bubbly a missive as is my custom. Like many other families, ours has had a sad bereavement.

    Nan has closed Mustard Shop online until the New Year.

    Mustard Hampers have sent their last packages for 2021.

    And during December we have our final pop up at Little Mustard Shop Brighton.

    The little shop at 33 Clifton Hill has been a sandwich shop, a butcher's, a stationers, a general store, and a dream come true for me: my very own little gift shop. But in January we are handing the shop back to our lovely landlord. I have joyful memories of setting it up with friends. Renovating the frontage, putting in a new tiled step, painting it in luscious shades of dark green and old gold, choosing antique brass handles for the door, fitting the lovely little window shelves, watching the signwriter work his magic. We have so enjoyed our time there. For a while I’ll have a little hole in my heart where the shop used to be, but thank to all who managed to pay us a visit, and to the wonderful staff…. I wonder who (or what) will move in next?

    My work continues to sell well all over the globe. It’s such a strange and wonderful position to be in as you might imagine. As a younger person I often felt I was odd and had trouble fitting in. But as I grew I toughened up (a bit!) and created an imaginary painted world where I felt safe. That this communicates itself to so many people around the world is a constant surprise and delights me still. And if there are any budding dreamers out there I’ll say, don’t give up. It took many many years for me to become an overnight success.

    There are copies of my new limited edition book Keep On Keeping On and 2022 calendars available by mail order at City Books Hove.

    Bronze figures and ceramic Doris dogs are still being sent out from Panter and Hall London. There are lots of limited edition prints at the publishers CollierDobson; greetings cards from Art Press (we have free e-cards); posters mugs canvas prints calendars and stationery at Art Group. But nothing further from us direct this year. There are no more original pictures or drawings available anywhere until I get back to work sometime in the new year. I think it will be a slow one. I may have a little online show at samtoftoriginals late Spring but no plans.

    Whatever challenges the new year brings, I know I will be strong enough to take them. At first it will be a time for drawing in and consolidating. There will doubtless be crazy new projects but for now I’m doing nothing more than walking, drawing and putting things in order. It’s a time for reflection and appreciating what has gone before.

    Nan Mustard is doing well and wrapping parcels for the new year. And although her online shop is closed you can send condolences for the loss of Grandpa Ray to mustardshop@aol.com

    I’ll leave you with this little film (Facebook | YouTube) made by my partner’s son Gabriel Alborough. A talented young film student and mature beyond his years I think. Just before filming I was crying on his shoulder at the entrance to the gallery. And then, from the emotional tatters he managed to come up with something as special as this.

    Big hugs all round. Tomorrow is a new day after all.

    Sam Toft
  • December 07, 2021

    Keep On Keeping On, Panter & Hall November 2021

    By Sam Toft
    Two videos from my sold out art exhibition Keep On Keeping On at Panter & Hall, London. 23 November-3 December 2021.
     
     
     
  • September 14, 2021

    In The Time Of The Changing Of The Seasons

    By Sam Toft

    Hallo Lovelies!

    Greetings from a busy busy studio by the sea!

    How’ve you been keeping?

    Well, I hope?

    Me? I’m feeling healthy, strong, and very grateful for that.

    I’ve been working away, keeping my head down, focussing on making things rather than the social media, so I’m sorry for the lack of postings.

    My newest newest News is that I have just (2 weeks ago) decided to make a new book… self publishing some of the quick little pen and ink drawings from this year’s sketch book diary for the first time. It’s a bit mad because I have so much else going on, but I couldn’t resist. Available from late November. And at the Show of course, more of that later.

    I always find it a strange, sad and exciting time, this change of Seasons. Is it just me? I’m never ready to move on, but I know I’ll love it when I get in the swing…

    Every day I walk with my dogs down to the studio. A short walk with the sea at the bottom of the hill. It’s a bit lovely. But every day I witness the plaintive cries of the almost-grown baby seagulls as they pester their parents to give them food. I know it’s nature but I always find it heartbreakingly sad. It has not yet occurred to them that a change is coming. They are only asking for food as they always have done, and it’s always worked before. But it’s time to move on. Things will never be the same for them again, and that jump from babyhood to adulthood can be a brutal one. It reminds me of the changes we have all been through over the last 18 months. It’s been shocking and awful and we’ve had little control over it. We’ve all been through it. And I’m hoping in time we will soar again. I feel it coming. But in the meantime I offer you a big virtual hug. It’s a time for finding pleasure in personal treasures. And I hope looking through some new pictures may brighten up your day too.

    I feel I should add a fanfare here as I am DELIGHTED to be back at Panter and Hall again this November. This solo show (cancelled once for cancer, once for Covid) feels like a comeback even though we’ve never really been away. Do you know what I mean?

    And as I have had to cancel my Little Mustard Shop show, this is the only opportunity to view original work in a gallery this year. Paintings Drawings Bronzes. And I’m planning a little book of drawings, sketching my life and times in the run up to the show. I’ll know more in a few weeks when I’ve finished the drawings. Neither have I finished the paintings. But three brand new bronzes are on the way. Blummin exciting.

    The London show runs from 23rd November to 3rd December. The work will be so fresh and new! I will be in the gallery two of the days and I really hope you can make it for the Private View on Tuesday 23rd and/or for the Grand Day Out on Saturday 27th. But if you can’t, there will also be a short film and an ecatalogue… Contact Panter and Hall direct if you are interested in buying and you’d like to receive the ecatalogue in advance. Or if you’d like to attend one of the open days. Once I have finished the paintings in a few weeks I will have some time and space to dream up some fun things for the Saturday event and I’ll send another email with all the details.

    I’ll leave you now and get on with my sketchings. I have Milo coming to make a short film Thursday and Innis coming to take some pictures Friday so obviously the most important thing is deciding which frock to wear and giving the dogs a good brush,

    All the very best,

    Sam x

  • March 31, 2021

    A New Show!

    By Sam Toft

    Hallo friends!

    Thanks so much for signing up to my email list.

    Maybe you’ve just joined us? Maybe you’re one of my old favourites? Or perhaps you have no idea why you’re receiving this at all?   But I’m grateful that you’re here and I’m sending out a big warm Mustard WELCOME to one and all. 

    As has become customary I have a little story to tell you, but please scroll forward to the details about my forthcoming show if it gets a bit silly. I’ll be in touch again in a week or so with details of the competition, giveaways and prizes.

    Once, many years ago, I was very interested in making a marionette and was lucky enough to attend a course with the BRILLIANT John Roberts. I took inspiration from a young storyteller I’d seen taking part in a show a few months before. Tall and delightfully gangly with a shock of bright ginger hair and small glasses, he looked rather like a teenage Mr Mustard. So I drew his slim white figure from my mind’s eye, and carved out his calves and thighs, feet, hips, arms and head with a wickedly sharp Chinese chisel. It was a miraculous tool. So smooth and easy to use. It cut through the wood like butter. Carving his face was like preparing Brussels Sprouts at Christmas. It was just THAT easy. It sent shivers down my spine every second it was in my hand. One moment’s daydream and there would be a spare finger on the floor I felt sure of it. The very thought gave me nightmares. I was determined to get over myself but the chisel, once wrapped carefully in many sheets of oiled rags, remained unvisited. And the half-finished puppet rests to this day in an old tin box on a shelf at my studio. Complete with all his accoutrements and my extravagant plans. The marionette was to be the star of his own show. The show was to be called Simon Smith and He’s Dancing Bare.

    A while later I found myself again at the very excellent Jane Bombane’s in Kemptown at another event, and I ran into the young storyteller once more. Without thinking ( and that was my mistake ) I approached him, excited to meet him properly. He was a story teller and I had a unique story personal to him. He would love it. What could possibly go wrong? 

    It soon became obvious he did not recall ever having seen me before. But I continued regardless.  For I am the Queen, nay the Tsarina, of the awkward situation. 

    I will leave you to guess the details of the conversation we had. Less a conversation more of a stuttering monologue, as I dug myself deeper and deeper into a slippery hole with every phrase I uttered. Seeing the surprise, embarrassment then growing horror on this stranger’s face did nothing to slow me down as I bulldozed my way into the foundations of indecency. 

    And why do I find myself telling you this story when I can hardly bear to think of it myself without cringing massively? It’s because of the COVID. 

    We’ve all had such a terrible scare. It’s made me value my life in all its detail all the more. And to realize that THESE are the days. They are not times to be scared of, embarrassed about, secretive with. This is the very stuff of life and it is to be celebrated, treasured and laughed about. 

    And I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. In a way I was only sharing ideas with my muse. And perhaps there was no skillful way explain to a total stranger how he’d inspired me to carve him naked out of wood with nothing to cover his modesty but the smallest smattering of an old fluorescent-orange feather boa.

    Possibly I can never visit Bombane’s again. Probably I gave a shy young man the fright of his life. Definitely I felt ridiculous, foolish and awkward. Thankfully it was a dark basement, no one else heard me, and I have never seen him again. And no one else knows, except for you. 

    But THESE  are the days… No matter how gut wrenchingly embarrassing, difficult or outofyourcomfortzone something may feel, may I urge you to go ahead and do it? Perhaps not something as ridiculous as I did, but don’t we all need to seize the day? 

    And that brings me neatly to the news of my April Show
     

    These Are The Days  

    17-30 April 2021
    In the window at Little Mustard Shop 33 Clifton Hill Brighton, and online here at www.samtoftoriginals.co.uk

    Sunday 18th April  virtual show around on Youtube and my Facebook page

    Friday 23rd April 6pm BST sales go live at samtoftoriginals.co.uk

    Saturday 24th April Afternoon Tea on Zoom (Register here)

    • 1-3pm drawings of your pet live (win your space in our competition – details soon)
    • 3-4pm break for cake (bring your own)
    • 4- 5pm Charity Auction, Q and A, Prizes

    Thursday 29th April Breakdown and collection by appointment with Graham 

    If you cannot collect we can send out to UK ONLY.

    For international sales please sign up on the email list at panterandhall.com for my September show in London.

    I will leave you for now with a simple soup recipe and an entreaty to tell no-one about the contents of this email, which may well self destruct in three minutes,

    3….2….1….

    Sam Toft x

    Recipe Time:

    Slowly fry a whole head of chopped celery and an onion in olive oil then add 2 cloves of crushed garlic. Next a few cubed root vegetables (a couple carrots, a potato, and half a turnip ?) and simmer with a stock cube, lots of water. 

    A few chilli flakes and a generous shake of white pepper

    A handful of small pasta when the veg is tender and a bunch each of fresh parsley and basil chopped

    Salt to taste

    It’s simple and yummy

    A Portuguese man in his takeaway café told me it was his mother’s recipe. Tastes of home.

  • March 21, 2021

    These Are the Days

    By Sam Toft

    Hallo friends!

    As has become customary I have a little story to tell you, but please scroll if it gets a bit silly. I’ll be in touch again in a week or so with details of the competition, giveaways and prizes.

    Once, many years ago, I was very interested in making a marionette and was lucky enough to attend a course with the BRILLIANT John Roberts. I took inspiration from a young storyteller I’d seen taking part in a show a few months before. Tall and delightfully gangly with a shock of bright ginger hair and small glasses, he looked rather like a teenage Mr Mustard.

    So I drew his slim white figure from my mind’s eye, and carved out his calves and thighs, feet, hips, arms and head with a wickedly sharp Chinese chisel. It was a miraculous tool. So smooth and easy to use. It cut through the wood like butter. Carving his face was like preparing Brussels Sprouts at Christmas. It was just THAT easy. It sent shivers down my spine every second it was in my hand. One moment’s daydream and there would be a spare finger on the floor I felt sure of it.

    The very thought gave me nightmares. I was determined to get over myself but the chisel, once wrapped carefully in many sheets of oiled rags, remained unvisited. And the half-finished puppet rests to this day in an old tin box on a shelf at my studio. Complete with all his accoutrements and my extravagant plans. The marionette was to be the star of his own show. The show was to be called Simon Smith and He’s Dancing Bare.

    A while later I found myself again at the very excellent Jane Bombane’s in Kemptown at another event, and I ran into the young storyteller once more. Without thinking (and that was my mistake) I approached him, excited to meet him properly. He was a storyteller and I had a unique story personal to him. He would love it. What could possibly go wrong?

    It soon became obvious he did not recall ever having seen me before. But I continued regardless.  For I am the Queen, nay the Tsarina, of the awkward situation.

    I will leave you to guess the details of the conversation we had. Less a conversation more of a stuttering monologue, as I dug myself deeper and deeper into a slippery hole with every phrase I uttered. Seeing the surprise, embarrassment then growing horror on this stranger’s face did nothing to slow me down as I bulldozed my way into the foundations of indecency.

    And why do I find myself telling you this story when I can hardly bear to think of it myself without cringing massively? It’s because of the COVID.

    We’ve all had such a terrible scare. It’s made me value my life in all its detail all the more. And to realize that THESE are the days. They are not times to be scared of, embarrassed about, secretive with. This is the very stuff of life and it is to be celebrated, treasured and laughed about.

    And I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. In a way I was only sharing ideas with my muse. And perhaps there was no skillful way explain to a total stranger how he’d inspired me to carve him naked out of wood with nothing to cover his modesty but the smallest smattering of an old fluorescent-orange feather boa.

    Possibly I can never visit Bombane’s again. Probably I gave a shy young man the fright of his life. Definitely I felt ridiculous, foolish and awkward. Thankfully it was a dark basement, no one else heard me, and I have never seen him again. And no one else knows, except for you.

    But THESE are the days... No matter how gut wrenchingly embarrassing, difficult or outofyourcomfortzone something may feel, may I urge you to go ahead and do it? Perhaps not something as ridiculous as I did, but don’t we all need to seize the day?

    I will leave you for now with a simple soup recipe and an entreaty to tell no-one about the contents of this email, which may well self destruct in three minutes,

    3....2....1....

    Sam Toft x

    Recipe Time

    Slowly fry a whole head of chopped celery and an onion in olive oil then add 2 cloves of crushed garlic. Next a few cubed root vegetables (a couple carrots, a potato, and half a turnip ?) and simmer with a stock cube, lots of water.

    A few chilli flakes and a generous shake of white pepper

    A handful of small pasta when the veg is tender and a bunch each of fresh parsley and basil chopped

    Salt to taste

    It’s simple and yummy

    A Portuguese man in his takeaway café told me it was his mother’s recipe. Tastes of home.

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