Turning Earth!

When I heard that Turning Earth were opening up a second studio a 15 minute brisk walk from my house... to say that my heart stopped for a beat or two wouldn't be an exaggeration! This weekend saw the grand opening with a two day market featuring over 60 artists who operate from the studios. 
Nestled in an industrial complex on Argall avenue just between The Marshes and Leabridge Road Over ground Station this cute brick built set of units houses not only Turning Earth but a host of other small design businesses and including LightHus which some of you might recognise from the Saint James Street end of Walthamstow Market.

I must confess that with so many beautiful things on sale that I had my eyes on the end of sticks!
I found an array of amazing pieces from pretty and dainty cake like vases to wild and colourful spiky pots which wouldn't look out of place in Salvador Dali's home!
So here are a few favourites designers who's work I fell in love with on the day... all though there were so many more ceramic pieces I could have easily given a home to. Click on the links under the images to visit individual websites and on the photos for larger images...

 *From left to right: Azem Willam Ceramics // Natascha Madeiski

 * Ceramicist and illustrator Noa Weintraub

 *From left to right: AR Ceramics // Lily Pearmain Ceramics

The light and airy warehouse studio is not just beautiful but I can imagine it must also be an inspiring place to work in.
Membership fees are on a monthly basis and allow makers a weekly 15 hour working time, plus a shelf, glaze room and use of kiln as well as expert lead technical staff.

Having studied ceramics and have had previously worked in a tile studio in London the draw to this place is immense!
Yes it's been a while since I've thrown anything onto a wheel and all though I did specialise in traditional Portuguese tile painting throwing was always something which had proven to be a skill  I've always wanted to improve!
And to be honest after almost 26 years I can bet that my skills are going to need a lot of honing! BUT with the arrival of Turning Earth I'm hoping to change all that!
If you'd like to learn more about membership, location etc please visit the Turning Earth web site:
www.e10.turningearth.uk

Crochetterie, a man friendly craft book!

Crochetterie, Cool Contemporary Crochet for the Creatively-minded by Molla Mills (Jacqui Small, RRP £20), is out now!
This perfectly formed man friendly book by Finnish crafty super star Molla Mills is a great new publication aimed predominantly at getting men into crochet! 
It's the sequel to the much loved Modern Crochet and this new book continues to pack beautiful scandi style to the brim!

Finding the perfect craft discipline for your skills is sometimes hard and even harder when there's a perception of suitability mainly when it comes to genders.
What Molla manages to do is offer up crochet that is gender free, though obviously - and like I said before - it is primarily geared to men but if you're not a guy don't let that put you off... it has lots of projects that anyone can make so it is in fact a very unisex book.

When we hosted our craft nights I noticed how most participants were female so getting guys involved has been a long time struggle and one I totally understand.
However we did get the occasional man joining in but hand on heart... I wish there had been more! We did try to have a selection of activities which suited everyone regardless and we do believe that
making is a beautiful thing which all genders, ages and backgrounds can benefit from!

Not only does craft making have health benefits it also provides a nice respite from the modern world plus I kinda think it's pretty beautiful to see a guy being creative and using his hands to make useful objects too.

Even though it's targeted at the male of the species I would still be happy to make any of the projects in this book as being super feminine, aka girlie girl, isn't my thing either!
It's really refreshing to see a book which is open to all. As you know there are already tons of books offering saccharine sweet projects, which if that's your type of thing great, but if you prefer things a bit less twee and pink then wrap your peepers around this amazingly beautiful book... Excuse the pun but... it'll have you hooked!!!

Molla's book is divided into sections and it even has instructions for beginners as well as a whittle  your own crochet hook tutorial. The patterns are divided into categories: Home, Clothes, Travel and Equipment so there are lots of great projects for all sorts of abilities as well as functions.
With easy to follow patterns that any novice can get to grips with I'm sure that even the most anxious of crocheters will be able to finish at least one of the easier projects!
Some of our favourites are the quirkier projects like make your own death metal band banner or the speaker slip cover so all in all you can still craft and keep your Rock n roll kudos alive and kicking!
What I also particularly like is the generous end section which is about 20 pages long with instructions so all in all you can pretty much complete all the 30+ projects on your own. It covers a lot of the basics which for me was excellent as I'm not a crochet pro.
There's also a nice extra bit - Maintenance- which shows you how to stretch after long crafting sessions. As some of you might know crochet claw for example is a real thing and your body can stiffen up when crocheting.
Molla's Brother, Pasi, a yoga instructor shows us a few exercises to help us  stretch and breath so we can keep on crafting!

The actual look of the book is beautifully rugged, outdoorsy and yes I'm gonna say it again... very Scandi!
Apart from the awesome selection of projects and beautiful photos there are lots of  tattooed blokes with beards in chunky sweaters on skateboards looking dashingly handsome. But you know what? I like it... in fact I kinda have a crush on it!
And there are cute dogs too, look at that husky in a bow tie...what's not to love?!

 

So yes, I think it's pretty awesome and I'm sure many of you would love this book too and so will your man friends. Bearded or not, guys need some more craft in their lives so yes if you do one good deed this year get the man/men in your life crocheting!
Crochet is pretty mechanical and can be a feat of engineering so crocheting kinda suits the masculine brain... though hey, I'm no one to generalise but through experience I found that lots of men like the more technical crafts!

OK so it is a craft book that has made me swoon -"stop being so gushy!" you cry- though in my defence I can say that bringing men folk into the craft fold is something which we've fought for for a long time so it's really more admiration and respect that I feel for what Molla's achieved.
What Molla's managed to do is make craft accessible and that's amazing!

But it's also so much more than just a craft book... her projects are fun, useful and all though I'm not an expert crocheter this has nudged me into wanting to learn more.
Blimey I've even managed to understand what all the abbreviations mean and that was something that had put me off crochet originally... patterns scare me but now I feel that I can actually try a project without coming out in stress hives!
So if it gets someone excited and wanting to explore crochet -or any other craft discipline- then that's gotta be good... Right?!

To order 9781845436421 Crochetterie with a special Craft Guerrilla blog reader discount code for £16.00* including p&p, telephone 01903 828503 and quote offer code QPG452. 

Or send  a cheque made payable to :- Littlehampton Book Services Mail Order Department, Littlehampton Book Services, PO Box 4264, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3TG. 

Please quote the offer code QPG452 and include your name and address details. *UK ONLY - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.

All you need are "Head & Hands"!

I met Amanda a few years ago and having discussed shop life and the dream of being a small business owner I'm so happy to see that her vision is now a solid one!

Nestled in the new Meanwhile Space "Central Parade"   found in Walthamstow's main commercial artery, Hoe street - it's a mix of incubator start up shops, artist & makers studios, a community café/bakery and also a hot desk space- Amanda's new venture couldn't be more typical of this lady's entrepreneurial spirit and holistic view of the world.

Head & Hands is a space where people are invited to purchase hand made goods (hand picked by Amanda for their quality, charm, beauty and healing properties), experience a head massage and view the work of some amazing makers and artists.
From hand made jewellery, hand made apothecaries, textiles, blended teas, ceramics, illustrated tarot cards to beautifully made macramé wall hangings.
Though this is not solely a shop as the main philosophy behind it is to offer people services which promote and encourage mindful and meditative practices the pieces which are for sale are exceptional as well as beautiful.
I could easily spend a whole heap of cash in there!!!

The premises are compact but welcoming. The space is relaxed and harmonious with a nice flow of energy and grace. You can say it's actually a bit like Amanda!
This artist- come- massage therapist is fully licensed and will treat your mind, body, and soul in her art & therapy salon.
Treatments start from as little as £25 per session and bookings can be made here: headandhands.simplybook.it

We've also heard from Amanda that in future she'll also be organising workshops to help keep those hands busy and heads chilled!
It's been proven that busy hands make for a healthy mind so we're completely on board with this philosophy and we hope to see these workshops up and running soon!!!
This is why I love the concept of this business so much, the offering of holistic well being through creativity is something which resonates with me and I'm sure will with many others too. 

So if you'd like to know more then pop by her little shop or visit the web site.

You can visit Head & Hands at 6-10 Central Parade, Hoe St. Walthamstow E17 4RT.
Open on Monday, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
For full opening times and other information including an online shop visit:
www.headandhands.co.uk


So in a world where emotional and physical well being is many times taken for granted I'm pleased to say that people like Amanda are helping us take back our need for some personal TLC.

Thank you Amanda for offering the community something original and amazing! We wish you luck, though we really don't think you'll need it!

Happy Home Outside!

I've been a huge fan of the homewares company RICE Denmark for quite some time now.
I was so excited to hear that fresh from the success of her first interiors book Happy Home Charlotte Hedeman Guéniau; the founder and designer behind RICE Denmark; has taken her famous signature style and given us yet another treat to delve into! Or should that be "to delve out to"?

Happy Home Outside is officially released on the18th of February -just in time to see Spring come into bloom!- and is published by Jacqui Small. 
In this chunky hard back you'll find all sorts of easy to reproduce signature looks from amazingly simple but effective party decoration ideas, a few craft tutorials to even a couple of food recipes to help you get in the outdoor living mood.

I love Charlotte's eye for mixing the classic with the quirky and vintage objects with new modern pieces. OK that may not sound like anything new but what comes across is the genuine passion and design flair which Charlotte effortlessly weaves into everything she touches. And that is an art which can not be faked!
I'm so happy to have had the chance to preview it as I haven't stopped smiling since I first clapped eyes on it.
This new book is refreshingly and unashamedly an assault on the senses... You could describe it as technicolour riot on the home front!!!
So if you're not a fan of bright and cheerful living then look away now...

Danish-born CHARLOTTE HEDEMAN GUÉNIAU founded RICE in 1998. Charlotte and her French husband Phillippe wanted to change their lives, having lived and worked in Paris for 15 years, so moved to Odense, Denmark and founded their ethical homewares empire. Now, RICE Denmark has a lovely office and showroom in an old shipyard building near the waterfront in Odense. The company employs 75 people internationally, and creates influential homeware collections that are ethically sourced and produced all over the world. RICE products can be found in the smartest stores worldwide - See more at: http://www.quartoknows.com/books/9781910254110/Happy-Home-Outside.html?direct=1#sthash.CDZ6yW71.dpuf

As a city dweller I find any outside space a bonus so making it look as good as it potentially can be is key and with Charlotte's guiding hand you'll be able to transform any space into your own private oasis.
Whether you are lucky to have a full on garden  or just a veranda, a small balcony or even a window box... what you come away with from reading this book is the sense that any outdoor space can be more then just a spot to park your bike or leave your muddy boots in.
An outdoor space should be an extension of your living home so... get out there and make it work for you!
And it shall do so for me as after 20 years of living in a flat without an outdoor space it looks like that's about to change very soon.
Though you wouldn't tell by looking at me but I absolutely love bright colours... so I will be using this book as inspiration to make my garden into a fun, welcoming, vibrant and relaxing area to enjoy.

Though it won't be all about relaxing, it'll also be about living!
I'm already planning my first summer party and all I can say is that I've just spotted a few old tulip shaped lampshades in the charity shop and that I'm going to transform them into outdoor party chandeliers. I can't wait!
Colour and a sense of fun are central to the RICE philosophy and I admire that they take due care to source their products from sustainable and ethical producers too so it's not just about the "look" but there's also a heart behind it all!

 

From the front cover to the last pages you are treated to a mesmerising load of cheery offerings...  from sunny vintage caravans, bright beautiful linen awnings to heady secret garden hideaways. So all you bright hue haters listen up...
"If  bright colours bring happiness to our world then surely that can't be a bad thing!"

And that's the motto I'm sticking to from now on.

To order Happy Home Outside at the discounted price of £20 including p&p* (RRP: £25), telephone 01903 828503 or email mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk and quote the offer code QPG409.*UK ONLY - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.