What a Christmas hellaballoo!

Thank you to everyone that made last Saturday's market such a winner! It was so busy...I think there wasn't one single quiet moment during the whole day...
We've had a record breaking 700 + visitors to the Vestry House Museum and they were all super lovely.
Having so many visitors to the gallery is wonderful as they need people to keep it going!!! Otherwise local council will take away funding because they say that there's not enough foot fall to keep it open.
We love our local galleries and we're blessed with not one but two plus we like to see our community thriving with great art and cultural events so it's imperative that these galleries remain open.
The William Morris Gallery is currently under refurb hence why we were at  Vestry House instead so If you've missed it smack yourself on the hand...you naughty, naughty person...here are a few photos so you can see exactly what you've missed! And if you're really clever you can pop in and check out the Craft Guerrilla display case which has a few items for sale...

Get your self into Ship Shape...

Shipshape Studio is a new creative venue and boutique in Northwood, NW London near Harrow, founded by Emily and her partner Adam.  They are also our Christmas fair sponsors so if you'd like to know a bit more about them read on!

 "Adam's a musician and I'm a writer and designer-maker so craft and creativity are things that have always been a part of our daily lives. We'd always dreamt of one day doing something in the creative world but didn't quite know what. Just over a year ago we were all set to leave the tiny, cute cottage that we were renting in Brighton and head to the big smoke but Adam, the tall and clumsy one, fell and fractured his head a week before we were set to move. Our plans were tossed out of the window however, over the months that it took him to properly recover, we talked and dreamt and had a brand new creative plan. After months of working and planning, we launched Shipshape Studio on 19th November 2011.

Shipshape Studio is an engaging and friendly space where new skills can be learnt and ideas swapped. We know that making things for yourself is very empowering and you can make things the way you like them rather than what's on offer in the shops. We've got some of the best designer-makers in London teaching creative and crafty workshops in a fun and friendly atmosphere, which we think is the perfect environment for learning new skills. Complimentary drinks from indie companies and homemade cakes are served in every class too because, well, everyone loves tea and cake, right?!
Our upcoming classes are available to book through our website and you can email us if you'd like to book a class starting in 2012. We're always open to new ideas so please don't be shy and get in touch if you have an idea for a class you'd like to take, or if you're a designer-maker and have an idea for a new class. We also host events like exhibitions, parties and film screenings so get in touch as we'd be happy to hear from you! As well as hosting art, craft and creative workshops, and events and parties with a difference, Shipshape Studio also has a quirky online and in-store shop full of vintage, handmade and design-led lifestyle products and craft supplies. We stock lots of wonderful talented folk, including Sandra Dieckmann, Abby Wright, Fritha Strickland and Hannah Latham, as well as my personal creations under the name of Handmade by Emily and our own-brand range of design-led homeware. Our online shop isn't up and running just yet but pop instore to shop our products, or take a look at our online shop when it's open in a couple of weeks.

Community is very important to us at Shipshape Studio and we run craft nights every 2nd and 4th Thursday evening of the month, 7pm - 9pm. Entry is free and you can bring along the latest project you are working on or purchase some supplies, have a cup of tea and a slice of cake, and meet other local crafty types. All ages (over 18s), abilities and disciplines are welcome – artists, illustrators, designers, knitters, sewers, crafters – come along! We look forward to meeting you!

You can find our bricks-and-mortar shop and venue in a little yard accessed between Ellie's Hair Salon and Just Sew on High Street, Northwood, Greater London, HA6 1BN. It is a 10 minute walk from Northwood Tube Station or you can catch the H11 or 282 bus from the tube station to us. There is free on-street parking nearby, and the area is easily accessible from London, Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. You can relax in our courtyard walled with plant-filled 1950s and 1960s apple crates and enjoy a coffee after your journey.

Our regular opening hours are 10am – 6pm Tuesday to Saturday but we're open at other times for classes and private hire. Just see our What's On page or email us at hello@shipshapestudio.co.uk for more information! Drop us a line by post or email, or give us a call on 01923 828987 if you have any questions or queries. We're always happy to hear from you!

We're very pleased to be sponsoring the Craft Guerrilla Christmas Market this year. If you haven't visited one of their events yet, you're in for a treat! Head on down at 11am and be sure to come and visit us afterwards too!


Places you can find us
Shop and Venue ::

Unit A, Albert Yard,

Rear of 18 High Street,

Northwood,

Middlesex

HA6 1BN
01923 - 828987
hello@shipshapestudio.co.uk"

Website :: www.shipshapestudio.co.uk
Twitter :: www.twitter.com/ShipshapeStudio
Facebook :: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shipshape-Studio/124354117671937
Flickr :: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shipshapestudio

Christmas Fair Designers. Lets take a sneaky peek....

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!

Make your own wrapping paper...

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...

For instructions and tutorials visit:
http://www.squidoo.com/furoshiki

Christmas Fair Designers. Lets take a sneaky peek....

Ho ho ho...

Hand printed cards from Biba's Tea Party!

 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!

Behind the red door...

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