I so wish I had a furry little mutt to lavish with gifts this Christmas but unfortunately my two cats wouldn't appreciate the edition to the house hold so for now...I'm content with buying gifts for my family and friends who are lucky enough to have a pooch!
Cute hand printed key chain!
Edwyn UK is lovely pet oriented hand made company but it's not all for fashionable doggies or cute little kittens as Louise Brooker makes gorgeous home wares too! Sturdy, handsome and pet proof so in my book that's pretty good!!!
Dog shield cushion...what a great idea for a family crest!
Dog bone cushion...super cute!
So if you know any pet lovers who pine for a little furry friend then
maybe this could be a perfect gift! Not every land lord welcomes animals
so maybe a beautiful doggy inspired cushion could help fill that pet
shaped void...
Dog collar neckerchief! Handsome and cool for any stylish dog about town!
Drought excluder...very useful for draft UK homes!
It may seem like one of those mad ideas, especially when you have already so much to do but I promise you that it's well worth it. Furoshiki wrapping is a Japanese technique which is both easy and beautiful so no printing, painting,stamping, carving up potatoes or cutting out of any sort. You'll be using fabric and the best way to do this is with a neckerchief which can cost pence in any charity shop. You'll have quite a choice ranging from silk, cotton as well as pretty vintage ones too. My local PDSA has quite a few which will be perfect for this!
So make your gifts the best looking ones under the Christmas tree! Furoshiki wrap itself can be a gift too...once they've opened their lovely gift they can use it as a neckerchief or shawl...
Ho ho ho...we know just how much you craft loving people LOVE Chrimbo
cheer so what better way is there of spreading some holiday joy then by
sending some hand made greeting?!
London City Scape Chrimbo card...
Biba's Tea Party
is an amazing little Hand made card company fronted by the talented
Rebecca Moyster.
Deer paper chains...
I absolutely love her illustrations and clean modern
lines...plus she has some awesome paper chains... with deers!
Selection of Biba's beautiful Christmas cards!
OOOH, you
know me, I love deer so you know that these beauties will be hanging up
in my flat. Fact! ACTUALLY I might just keep them up all year!
No,
it's not a new version of the Shakin' Stevens classic but a brand spanking new Art and Craft gallery in the bowels of East Ham!
(Sorry...now that I've added that tune to your brain like a rock n roll loving earwig here's Shakin' Stevens for you though clicking on the video is optional...)
Situated near Central Park on the South Side of the High Street this beautifully formed ex medical glass components factory is the home of a very special place fronted by the lovely Canadian born Dolores.
Once I got over the one hour bus journey ( from Walthamstow on the 58 bus) I approached a cute little side street. On there is a small brick fronted Victorian factory with peaked roof tops, first floor stable doors like the ones you get in Amsterdam houses lined with hanging baskets and a big double door which is painted the brightest RED... hence the name "RED Door Studios".
I stepped through and entered a narrow outdoor corridor come café come indoor walled garden. As you continue down the skinny corridor you arrive into the main entrance of the building where I was greeted by an upright piano, a few comfy sofas, DJ decks and lots of space to sit and make.
I love the communal feel and I'm told many parties have just sporadically happened due to the nature of the space. I think it will keep happening because it is a very special place. It's not just an "Arty" space but what Dolores hopes it to be is a space where things happen and where people meet to make things happen!
Dolores took me on the grand tour and though still in the "renovation" stage it looks like it has a lot of potential. She truly is a lady with vision and determination!
She took me through a few rooms one of them to be the Café, the small but perfect studio office then to where a ceramics and multi discipline studio will be set up. As a ceramicist I was very impressed as not many spaces apart from schools have pottery studios so I am very pleased indeed that she will be offering this facility.
Upstairs there are a couple of tidy bright rooms, one of them being an artists studio and a jewellery studio which is still in the planning stage. It will have benches and will be adaptable to other similar disciplines for people to rent out and/or drop in to use tools, benches and all other facilities.
It really is a fantastic space and we hope that you'll be able to visit one day... though the bus trip may have seemed long the moment I walked through the door and was met by the welcoming and warm Dolores...well, the journey just seemed to be worth the slog! I definitely will be going back again and again!
If you fancy going there for some Christmas crafty cheer then have a look at their Face Book Page...there are a few craft workshops to choose from so go and make merry! Otherwise contact them via email: reddoorstudios@ymail.com or call: 07515378548
This lady is a one woman fashion brand! Chloe is the brain child behind "Dot your teas" a fresh, sassy hand made label made for modern, eclectic gals with an ethical conscience.
Her accessories are not just fun but also classy...I so can see myself wearing this! Ha ha ha...I'm not calling myself classy but I do like FUN beautiful accessories.
I really want to buy everything and I adore her fabulous pom pom head band.
If you're after a bit of East London design magic then come and peruse her stall...I promise that you won't be disappointed!
Please note that the images are from Dot Your Teas website and we can't promise these exact items will be on sale on the 3rd of December. If there's a particular item that you like please contact the designer: http://www.dotyourteas.com/port1.html
Be it a "yes" or a "no" answer to that question we think you really should go and get some of Got Craft's fabulous Christmas fair magic!
Andrea and Rob are fresh over from Canada where they run a very successful events company and highly regarded Craft Fairs. Given time and with your support I think that they will also achieve that over here. I'm so pleased that they've decided to bring their project to London and I welcome them with open arms!
Come on down on Sunday the 27th of November to the Tooting Tram & Social for their first offering and have a look at what all the fuss is about...you will not be disappointed!
Support your local crafts people, designer makers and lets make this Christmas a hand made one!
P.S. And I'll be DJ-ing at the Got Craft fair too! My DJ alter ego Frida Black-Heart will be on the wheels of steel spinning some crafty vintage beats...lots of Deco Jazz, Rag time, 1950's Rock n Roll, Rock a billy, Blues, Latino, 1960's Psychedelia and some good old Chrimbo tunes! Ohhh don't forget to bring those dancing shoes!!!
This cute pincushion ring can be made in about 10 minutes flat. It's sweet, quick and an easy project to make when you're felling crafty but are pressed for time.
Also you can make it entirely out of recycled materials!!!
You'll need: a scrap of fabric (outer circle)
a piece of felt or denim (inner circle)
thread
stuffing
a plastic top from a drinks bottle
elastic
ribbon
drill or dibber
a needle and a pin
a glue gun
scissors
So come one...get your bits and bobs together and lets start making:
Before we start : plug in your glue gun (if you haven't one use a strong adhesive and leave to dry overnight)
Step 1: cut a circle out of some fabric and a smaller circle out of a stiffer material like denim or felt.
Step 2: centre and pin the inner circle into place. Sew a running stitch on the outer fabric just short of the inner circle. I've used red thread so you can see but I would have used white cotton thread otherwise.
Step 3: pull the stitches together to form a ruff and so your circle becomes a little pouch...
Step 4: fill with stuffing or roving (wool for needle felting), pull tight and stitch into place so it doesn't undo. You should have a tight little bundle.
Step 5: drill a hole with a craft drill or use a dibber to make two holes in your plastic bottle top. Step 6: cut a piece of elastic and place through the holes to make the base of your pin cushion ring.
Step 7: once you pulled through your elastic, place on your finger and tie a knot on each end so it fits perfectly. Snip any surplus elastic.
Step 8: place a dab of glue under the knot so to keep it in place and a large dab over the elastic plus around the inner rim of the bottle cap. Place your stuffed pincushion top into the glued cap and press down firmly into place. Leave to dry for a minute.
Step 9: place a few dabs of glue and add the ribbon on the outside and tie both ends into a bow. Stitch a small tack stitch to keep the bow secure.
