Spring time at Black Duke & Cashman...

As you know by now we are suckers for a good window display and always go to a huge effort into making our window look extra delicious and crafty!
Hanging a few paper pom poms in a window is hardly going to cut it in today's cut throat market! There's a lot of competition out there so if you want your shop to stand out then you really must go that extra mile.

We've used hand made paper maché tea cups with fabric applique inserts to give that extra lovely look... The paper pom poms were also made by us in a selection of relevant colours IE Spring!

Over sized paper maché tea cups...I love the way they are slightly wonky and rough. I think it gives it a hand made charm!

For over 8 years I have designed and produced window displays varying from degrees of simple and sweet to elaborate and to the down right "more is more"!

But it's really easy to get it wrong so here are my handy tips to help you display not just your window ( We're aware not everyone has a shop window ...) but also your stand display or even your craft fair stall... these tips can be carried over to help you achieve an awesome "buy me" display!

W.I.P. Window in progress!

For our latest window display we went on the Spring Time Tea Time theme as the shop sells not only hand made items and vintage furniture but also a selection of teas and coffee! I so wish we had a few taxidermy pieces to add to this...

So here are my top tips...

Tip one:
If you're going to bother to decorate... then bother! Don't do a half hearted job. As much as paper doily bunting looks nice a sad lonely string of beaten up doilies looks uncared for and can be perceived as an after thought! You are no longer selling just a product...I hate to use this expression but...hell, I'll say it: You are selling a life style! It might make me cringe but it's true...


Tip two:
Work on a theme and draft out a design. Things like the colour pallet of your products or even the facade of your shop can influence your choices.
Having a layout is good as it will give you something to go by. You don't have to be a Khalo or a Rembrandt but a sketch will help you look at the over all balance before you actually go to all the trouble of doing it. Also it's not written in stone so follow your layout but don't be too rigid... it's there to guide you not to restrain you!

Tip three:
Don't be afraid to experiment and use your imagination!
Using materials which you don't normally associate with a specific item or idea is not a mistake. Do a few samples before you use it as your final material, final design or final layout. You might not like it so this way you'll have time to  remake....but you might just absolutely love it!

Tip Four:
Now that you're ready add your elements one by one. Adding each individual item gives your eye time to focus, adjust and construct the design elements in your mind so that you can tell if they sit harmoniously or not plus it's an easy way to add layers.
You might find that even though your original design used 12 of something that it actually looks great with just 9!
 *Note - using odd numbers makes a more pleasing visual then pairs.
For extra reading on harmonious design have a look at the "golden ratio aesthetics" philosophy.

Tip Five:
Keep your window/ display neat, clean and tidy! If your display is cluttered and looks like someones just thrown the items on there from the other side of the room then that can come across as if the person selling the items doesn't really care about what they are selling. If it looks unloved then that's probably because it is unloved! Remember you are trying to sell not turn people away...

Tip six:
Step back and look at the bigger picture!
Have a look at it as though you were a costumer approaching it for the first time.
Check the decorations/display additions aren't taking over what you are trying to sell...unless you are selling decorations!
Allow yourself plenty of time to "tweak" elements... sometimes it might be an item that needs moving by an inch. Believe me the more you do it the better you'll get at it.

Tip seven:
Don't over "Tweak" and don't stress... that's the danger if you're super fussy like me but as perfectionists it's in our nature but know when to stop!
For example after putting away the step ladder I noticed one of the pompoms was sitting almost to the same level as another so it looked cluttered and messy. I brought the step ladder back, scrambled back up the runs and literally it (the pom pom) just needed to be pulled up a fraction of an inch but it made all the difference! But after that I was happy and content with the over all look of the window as a whole.


I hope these tips help and inspire you!

 

Our sweet and very spring like window! Pop by to see it at Black Duck & Cashman: 83 Grove Rd. E17 9BU London

Mini Make - Bike Bunting

Tomorrow sees the annual London Tweed Run - a fab retro bike riding fest through the streets of our fair capital city on machines old and new powered by crazy individuals sporting all things Tweed!  I shall be there, but sadly not riding as it's such a popular event entry is made by drawing applications out of a hat; but I will be there along the route to cheering and photographing - I am sure my shutter finger will have RSI at the end!

For anyone interested you can find out more about the Tweed Run on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TweedRun.  The route for tomorrow (Saturday 13th April) is:

12 noon     Start at Marylebone High Street
12.30         Regent Street/ Savile Row
1.00           Piccadilly Circus
1.30           Houses of Parliament
2.00           Finish at Trafalgar Square

Even though I can't take part, I did  want to do something to tart up  my bike and while I was wasting some time browsing Pinterest; sorry, what I really meant was;  I was researching for ideas on Pinterest when I came across this lady who crochet’s flowers and squares to make into decorations for bicycle baskets, she also crochets saddle covers and handle bar ends.  I was love struck!  The down side is that I am totally rubbish at crochet (and knitting for that matter) and any ideas that I may have had about crocheting my own quickly evaporated.  But I still really wanted to make something for my bike!  Then it hit me, how about some bunting from fabric and fortunately I have made loads of bunting in the past so it seemed to be the perfect solution.

Mini Bike Basket Bunting

1.       Draw a pattern for the shape on paper making sure you have left enough allowance for seams.

2.       Measure out enough tape to reach round your bike basket rim, add in 30 cms to either end for tying the bunting on.

3.       Lay out paper patterns on to your chosen fabric and cut out pennants.  *I like to have double sided pennants, but you could choose to only have a single layer of fabric pennant.

4.       For double side pennants: iron pennants flat, place rightside to rightside, pin and stitch round outside edges leaving top open.  Turn rightsides out and press flat.  Finish raw edges using zigzag stitch or overlocker.

5.       Place pennants along the length of your tape leaving enough spare at either end (I left 30cms at each end) to tie bunting to basket.  *If your tape has a front and back, then make sure you pin so the tape covers the finished top edge of the pennants.  Stitch in place

6.       Add any top stitching/embellishment to the bunting and tape.

7.       Press the whole flat and now attach to the top edge of your bike basket – Taa Dahh!

(To make sure the bunting doesn’t slip, I added a small stitch through the tape and basket rim in 3 places to hold it all in place.)

I think Dorothy (my bike) looks fabulous, wish she was going on the Tweed Run, maybe next year!

Friday's Craft Crush!

It's been one of those crushes that's been slowly simmering away!

I first came across Rosita Bonita about a year ago and it was love at first sight. I was quite taken and to be honest... I'm not easily smitten by anything! BUT that's another story...
I have a weak spot for jewellery, even though I don't wear masses of the stuff, I do have a "capsule collection" of pieces which I tend to wear all the time.

 

Rosita Bonita stands out on it's own with a healthy pinch of "quirky" but manages to look glamorous and classical without losing it's fun and playful side!
Rosita's pieces are made using screen printed and embossed leather plus a whole host of experimental processes based on illustrations created especially for the label's collections.

From Hollywood glamour, synchronised swimming mermaid performances, side shows to Mexican Folk Art inspired pieces... I'm sure you'll find something that will make your heart skip a beat!

For further info please visit: www.rositabonita.com


*Rosita Bonita reminds us of driving on long dusty roads in a 1940's black Ford Delux Opera Coupe with a beautiful blue eyed Russian circus contortionist named Ivan. We hit the road and The Side Show frames itself perfectly in the rear view mirror as we drive away, the twinkling lights fade in the background as Tom Waits sings on the car radio. And we're gone. As easy as that we leave. We're heading out to Hollywood to become stars of the silver screen and not even the strong man, Zippo  and his clowns can stop us!*

Craft Guerrilla hit the road!

Craft Guerrilla with the aid of Toyota and their Positive Ideas campaign went out into London to storm bust stops, train stations and anywhere else we found commuters waiting! Toyota lent us a couple of cars for the day so we could get what we do out there on the streets! Getting out of the Craft Guerrilla bunker with all our stuff is quite a chore so this was a perfect opportunity...

The whole idea was about bringing a bit of positivity to people through craft. By getting people to make something quick and easy while they waited we also brought to light the positive impact and benefits that "using your hands" has and how important it is to get back in touch with the simple things! Believe it or not making, especially craft, is a very healthy pursuit and using CRAFT as a therapy is nothing new.

Me and our fab Guerrilla Karen Dunn

Two lovely commuters at Marylebone Station

Craft Making in Brixton at a bus stop

We want to encourage more people to "make while they wait" because of it's stress busting qualities. Let's face it, we all spend way too much time waiting around for public transport and getting angry about it so getting people to relax and enjoy their wait was absolutely amazing and fulfilling...
PLUS it shares the love between people in our city, our beautiful Ye Old London Town which we absolutely love!

Everyone loves a moustache even guys with already quite generous facial hair!

Brixton bus stop hosted our very own pop up "crafternoon"

We thank you London...and remember: Do something positive, do something nice!

If you'd like to watch the other videos which include our fabulous friends Knit The City visit the Toyota web site:
http://www.toyotapositive.com/gb/gadget/

Something for the weekend...

As Spring seems to be on it's way this weekend we'll be looking at ways of getting our green fingers busy!
We love gardening though as city dwellers we are like many others - without access to a garden -
and so we're always on the look out for alternative ways of getting back in touch with mother earth.  And because we are very much city kids we like to do things a little bit more "urban"!

http://www.annagarforth.co.uk/

Moss graffiti is a better alternative to traditional graffiti, though I am a fan I feel that nasty chemicals in paint are not very Eco friendly so that's a big no no for me! Having dabbled in the late 1980's I loved the artistic freedom that came with graffiti. As many artists experiment with new ideas I think this one is definitely one which is open to lots of growth and with any luck it will spread through (boom boom, sorry but it had to be done!) towns and cities adding more greenery, beautiful public wall art and much needed oxygen.

If you'd like to find out how to then follow these easy step by step instructions:

• One or two clumps (about a small handful) of moss
• 2 cups of buttermilk
  • You can also substitute with yogurt (vegan yogurt can be used)
• 2 cups of water
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• Corn syrup (optional)

1- Gather up as much moss as you can find or buy.

2- Wash the moss to get as much soil out of the roots as possible.

3- Break the moss apart into manageable pieces and place in blender.

4- Add the buttermilk/yogurt, water/beer and sugar. Blend the mixture until completely smooth. You'll want it to have a paint-like texture.

If the mixture is at a consistency where you feel it will drip, add corn syrup until the consistency you desire is reached.

5- Use a paintbrush to apply the moss-paint to the surface on which you wish your design to grow.

6- If possible, check back weekly to either spray the design with water (to encourage moss growth, especially if you live in a dry environment) or apply more moss-paint.

(view original tutorial: www.wikihow.com/Make-Moss-Graffiti) 

Friday's Craft Crush

OK I'm going to have to be absolutely honest with you and come clean... I'm not a great knitter! There, it's out. I can just about do a stocking stitch and knitting patterns make me break out in a cold sweat but I really do want to learn! My mum's a nifty knitter so she usually provides all my woolly needs... hum, I wonder if that's the problem, if she wasn't so darn good would that have prompted me to pick up my own needles and learn?!
What I need is inspiration and one book I've had the pleasure to view has done just that:
 "The knitted home" by Ruth Cross

She's my new girl crush and has managed to make me want to pick up those knitting needles and get clacking! Sumptuous photos of beautifully hand knitted home accessories and not a tea cosy in sight...

What Ruth has managed to do is compose a book which looks attractive and makes projects look achievable! Believe me for once I haven't closed a knitting book after reading the first set of instructions... I actually think I may tackle and succeed in making quite a few projects from this book and they are far from basic.
I really love the way she uses textures to add layers of interest to the home and this book has all that and more... I really can't wait to get started!
Now where did I put those knitting needles...

The Knitted Home, Ruth Cross (Jacqui Small Publishing)

To order The Knitted Home (9781906417727) for £16.00 including p&p*, telephone 01903 828503 and quote offer code JS197. 

 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 JS197 and include your name and address details. 

*UK ONLY - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.

Something for the weekend...

As you probably know we love illustration just as much as making and baking! It's another one of our passions and because of it we're always on the hunt for new talent though this time it came to us...

I am so proud to have been immortalised by this lady and absolutely love the portrait she drew of me.

Craft Guerrilla by Bex Shaw

 

Bex captures everyday situations and transforms them with water colours, pen and ink in such a way that her subjects seems to reside in another era... her drawings are quite dreamlike and always make me smile!

Blue and white china...

Windows filled with cakes, blue and white china cups, pretty dresses, book filled cases, sweetly whiskered cats, musicians and jazz dancers... all exquisitely drawn and alive on the pages of her drawing pad.
You can usually find Bex Shaw at Clerkenwell Vintage Fair capturing the souls and hearts of many visitors at her little table near the ballroom entrance door. If you do see her make sure to smile, she might just think you a worthy subject and add you to her collection!


So if you're looking for something to brighten even the drabbest of weekends, let's face it...we've had a few recently, then get you peepers onto her Flickr site and prepare to be delighted: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bexshaw/

Clerkenwell Fair

Ottolenghi in detail