Monday 30 December 2013

Happy New Year!

To all our splendid readers, friends and crafty collaborators we wish you a truly magical new year! We thank you for your support and for traveling with us on this amazing journey... and... next year we'll be back with lots of new ideas, renewed energy, more love and most of all lots of great positive creative energy!!!

So don't forget to take advantage of the new moon which graces our planet on the first day of the year which we hear brings a new slate to everything so whatever you have planned -or even thinking of taking up again!- make sure to make it BIG, special and amazing... just like you!

Lots of love.
X
Debbie and the Craft Guerrilla team



P.S.
Also if you order from our online boutique there is free postage on all purchases through out January so if you fancy doing some shopping please buy hand made! 


Tuesday 10 December 2013

Ho Ho... Holly molly don't let the Christmas Shopping madness get you down!

Because we're feeling the Christmas spirit and like to help our gorgeous craft lovers we might have the perfect solution for you and your Hand Made Christmas shopping. Every year I tell myself that I must start earlier... though it never works out that way! Usually it's a mad dash a few days before we head off to our families but... that's gotta change.
And as much as I love going to craft fairs, going to any fair in December is pretty crazy! Believe me it's not a bad thing that they are busy -we love that people are turning to hand made for gifts!- but for someone who's not a huge fan of crowded spaces and hates not being able to get to the actual stalls because there are so many shoppers... well, buying from an on-line retailer like ours is just perfect!
Totally stress free and we have a nice selection of items, all hand made and all top quality goods chosen for their design, quality and originality!
Ha, in that respect I got it easier as I can just buy my presents from the stock but it'll be just as easy for you too... promise!

If you'd like to order please be aware that we close* from the 22nd to the 28th as we'll be off in France for a well deserved rest and a catch up with family.
However if you do buy during that time we'll ship out any orders as soon as we return!

Happy Christmas everyone and happy shopping! If you decide not to shop at our on line boutique...then no worries... just make sure you buy hand made!!!


*on line only as the actual concession space in Walthamstow will be open until longer. Dates and times to be updated asap.


In the mean time check out a few of our favorite goods from our boutique:

From Christmas cards to...


Quirky soft sculptures (Gnarrly Bear... for kids and adults too! )


London A to Z illustrated Tea Towel...

Hand made wooden jewellery...

BMX brooches...

Hand illustrated badges...

Hand screen printed T's...


to quirky fun and fab illustrations and more!

You can visit our online boutique here... TAKE ME TO HAND MADE PARADISE!

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Heal's Christmas spirit!

As if I needed more reasons to love Heal's they've managed to make that sentiment even stronger. There, I said it... I love Heal's! It's more then a shop, a mecca for design and a purveyor of quality gifts it's also a great inspiring place which for me always conducted lots of creativity but now also offers crafting and taster events! Ah, paradise!!!

Tottenham Court Road shop

The formidable VV Rouleaux were there hosting a ribbon workshop. VV Rouleaux has been a long time crush... and I have spent hours in their haberdashery shop like a kid in a candy shop! I could easily spend a fortune in there and not because everything is super expensive but more because there is so much amazing stock. Easily it has to be one of the most gorgeous shops in LONDON... if not the world. Ha, us crafters love haberdashery shops so it's understandable that we should make such a statement!

So when we were invited along to a Ribbon Workshop we jumped at the chance... besides we love learning new skills!
Spools of thread in lovely autumn colours!

I never knew how much you could do with ribbon. I must confess that normally I use it for adding detail to a hem or in the more obvious use like bow making and gift wrapping!

So what was it that we didn't know about ribbon? We were shown by the amazing Annabel Lewis (founder of VV Rouleaux) and her trusted assistant Bridgette a few nifty tricks and amazing skills like rose making as well as ruffling plus a few trade secrets. Not surprising these two ladies were experts and shared with us not just their know how but their craft stash too!

Annabel Lewis


Bridgette teaches us how to sew onto straw bases!


The group was small but fun... wine flowed, minced pies were eaten, lots of chattering and we even had a celebrity in our midst- It was no other then the fab British Bake-Off Queen Frances Quinn who joined us at the table and may I say that she is not just a talented baker but a nifty sewer too!- and most of all beautiful things were made!


My first ribbon rose!!!

We learnt to make ribbon roses, use trims and flowers, shown how to cover hair combs and bands and make fascinatores.
Of course as a hat wearer I opted for a Victorian inspired fascinator... I think the Christmas spirit took hold and by challenging Dicken's my little beauty took shape!
Both myself and Myriam (La Dame au Beret) went for the super festive look though her offering looked  amazing and super Bling!

Fellow crafter's -Myriam- gold rose...

All in all it was a great event - I just hope they do more of these at Heal's!- in beautiful surrounding and with amazing tutors and friendly class mates. If you'd like to make your own check out the VV Rouleaux 's web site for materials or see the Heal's event page for further events.

Here are a few photos of the group in action...

Finding accents and accessories to compose a head piece...

work in progress...

Boxes of ribbons, beads, feathers and more...everything can be used to create!

Delicate flowers added to make a headband...

Lots of amazing festive pieces...

Happy makers creating!

And delicate flowers sewn to perfection...

The group...

Myriam's Bling Bling Gypsy Rose Christmas piece as she called it!

A very beautiful and sweet fascinator made by this lovely lady!

And Sarah is beaming with her's!

Frances and Gemma made awesome hair combs which actually perfectly accessorized their outfits! Well done ladies!

And here's my finished piece... which I'll be wearing this Christmas!



Thank you VV and Heal's for a truly magical evening!