Lenka and Micheal.

I am thinking about new projects to do now that I (think) I have found a printing studio, and new writing paper is on my list. While I was working on new designs I remembered how inspiring this 'Mysterious Letter's Blog' is.

'In April 2009, we sent a personal, handwritten letter to each of the 467 households in the small Irish village of Cushendall. We hoped these unsolicited letters would prompt neighbourly discussion, spreading across the town, promoting community curiosity.'

An Excellent Weekend.

This weekend I went exploring at Broadway Market and had my usual 'Island Refresh' juice, and then had a jolly walk down the canal to visit Craftaholics. The amazing Emily Warren was there and I bought my very own bear head.

Now I'm saving up for an owl head.

Artist of the Day.

I bought one of her matchbox books at Bust Craftacular earlier this year, but I have just discovered that Emily Warren is also the creative genius behind these amazing giant creature heads.

Mmmm. Woodland creatures.

Craft. Craft. Craft.

Mmmm lovely craft fairs that I will be visiting.

Artist of the Day!

Well well well. What a find. I have just stumbled across Victoria Whincup's work and I like it very much! 

Letters are better.

Best letter award goes to: Lucy Jane Batchelor.

This morning I received these lovely blue objects to make lovely things from!

The bear chocolate packaging will stand pride of place.

I am currently rounding up all my crafty bits and pieces to send off to the Brighton Art Fair, which is on from October 1st-4th. The lovely boys from Just Us are holding a stand for all members of the collective to sell our work, so there will be stacks of snazzy things to buy.

I am a sheep.

Here is a sneak peak of a new collection of creatures I have been making! There will be a little deer and a bear too.

Razzle Dazzle.

I am so excited on Friday I am going to work for Bobby Dazzler for a day!

I love their converted horse box and they make very fine creatures indeed.

Pom Poms and Harlequins.

I love Holly's circus collection, she is a fine knitter.

Otherwise known as Lola, she was a fellow Bath student and she has been featured in a very snazzy interview here.

One day I aim to own a piece of my own. I will dance and skip everywhere I go.

Here is her blog.

A tribute to Kirstie. (I love you.)

The time has come to abandon shame and celebrate the marvelous Kirstie Allsop.

I couldn't help but be addicted to her series, 'Homemade Home'.

I have been making more things ever since, and, more unfortunately, it fuelled my desire to fill my room with lovely old things.

So, in tribute to you Kirstie, I have made tea cup candles and created a wall of crocks (yet to be completed).

A few teacup candles that I can't quite squeeze in anywhere are available at my Etsy shop.

A lovely day of sewing.

Today I was lucky enough to go to one of Jessie Chorley's story book workshops for a day of biscuits and making on Columbia Road.

It was delightful to be surrounded by her collection/ museum of beautiful things; a feast for the imagination. Whenever I visit I can't help but daydream about the stories behind each piece of fabric or book.

I decided to make a sewing book so I can take it with me on the train, which was a bit of a cheat as there is not much meaningful narrative going on there, but I will work on it and post the finished article!

Craftwerk

On Saturday I visited Craftwerk at St Aloysius Social Club to find lots of nice things.

Visiting such crafty fairs is always my favorite as you can buy direct see and the face behind the work, although I always get to shy to talk to anyone...

I really went to get my mitts on some of Julia Pott and Gemma Correll's work, but there were lots of other treats too.

I was very pleased to stumble across Helen Friel, a paper engineer/illustrator, whose little books and cards were so beautiful, I had to buy one. Amazingly she has just graduated too, which made my heart sink a bit...anyway, take a peek at her website and her etsy shop.

I also picked up a flyer for a monthly event that goes on at the same venue, a jumble sale!

Set up by Wills Moody, it has become quite the event. Huzzah for jumble sales.

Artist of the Day

I love this work...

Check out Caitlin Shearer's shop it is full of wondrous images.

But don't buy this one because I want it...

Happy Belated Birthday Pandora!

I must admit I feel a little guilty making one of these when Esther Coomb's actually lives in the same village as Pandora (what are the chances?).

This is a particular favorite of mine though, I hope she likes it.

For the real deal visit Esther Coomb's etsy shop.

Lucy May Schofield

I sometimes wander into 'Beyond the Valley' just to check if Lucy May Schofield's little box of lovely things has anything new in it, and last week it did!

I purchased two of these beautiful letter-pressed cards, I kept flicking through the pile and everyone seemed to have a different sentence (this could have been a mirage in my excitement), but this one was my favourite.

For more incredibly heart felt words and an insight into the mind of Lucy read her blog.

Her bookbinding workshops are very good too.

Handmade Nation

On Saturday I went to see the premiere of Faythe Levine's documentary 'Handmade Nation' at the V & A. It is one of my most favourite books, documenting contemporary crafters/makers/artists in America and the growth of the D.I.Y scene over the past five years. It absolutely lived up to my expectations, and, pretty much self funded for five years, it is an amazing accomplishment. I feel very inspired.

Thank you to 'Prick your finger' for alerting me of the event.

I love bunting!

I have just finished making my beautiful niece some embroidered bunting for her nursery using all my scraps of hoarded floral fabric. The first triangle is my great, great, great grandmother's antique silk that has been handed down to me which I think is pretty cool.

Treasures and Treats

Huzzah for car boot sales!

One huge thing that I will miss from Bath is the car boot sale which I religiously visited most Sundays. However I am a fickle customer and Winchester's did itself proud last Sunday, as I found some beautiful vintage jewellery boxes which I absolutely love.

The pink rosette is from Jessie Chorley who I have been doing some work experience with, she has a fabulous new shop which everyone should visit!

KKareer Centre

On Thursday night twenty of us from Just Us Design Collective had our private view at the KK Outlet in Hoxton Square. It was so nice meeting other members of the collective who have some fantastic work, and Mark Simon and Will who set it up did an amazing job setting the space up like a job centre.

(There's even a phone booth with the Napoleon Dynamite soundtrack playing....that bit was my idea)

It's open until the 27th July if anyone's around...

www.kkareercentre.com

Thanks to Creative Review for the photographs.

Goodbye Oliver Polar Bear

I found these amazing bears on Fred Flare at Christmas, made by Jessica Sutton of Crafternoon. 

I got the last one, and after six months of adopting him my new baby niece, Eleri, has finally arrived and so I say goodbye to you Mr Oliver.

I will miss you!

Custom bears available here.