Craft Crush - Polly Pincushion

One of the things I love about being a Crafter and Maker is the lovely people I get to meet.  Last year I signed up for a screen printing refresher course (I had loads of ideas in my head for Paisley Pedlar stuff - most of them are still there!) I met the very delightful Kate Halls, creator of the adorable Polly Pincushion dolls (www.pollypincusion.wordpress.com).

 

 Waiting Wendy - a Polly Pincushion character figure

Kate started creating these fabulous little characters after in her words “fiddling about with bits of wire”.  Early Polly’s had wooden stick bodies, but these have been replaced by soft and pliable wire based figures.

Beryl and her Book

Each ‘Polly’ has a different personality which develops as the creation process evolves.  Sometimes it could be a scrap of fabric that Kate decides she wants to use which suggests what the figure will be, sometimes it develops from a suggestion that she make one “holding a tea cup”.  The faces are always made and painted first before a wire body is added, followed by clothing and finally the hair is put on last.

Sam the Fisherman

So why are they called Polly’s?  “Well” says Kate, “the first dolls were always holding a small pin cushion, and my partner Sean came up with the name Polly Pincushion.”  Although they don’t always hold pincushions anymore, the name Polly Pincushion seems to have stuck and somehow it kind of suits….

Gertrude and her daffodil

Kate makes her Polly’s to commission, but you can find out more and follow her blog at www.pollypincushion.wordpress.com.

Something for the weekend...

As I pack my bag I'm left with the feeling that I'm forgetting something... but... no, I'm definitely not forgetting anything but I am in fact having a little teeny break and so I won't be posting my usual weekly features like : "Friday's Craft Crush" and "Something for the Weekend" which serve to showcase the works of talented designers// bloggers // artists that have caught my eye.
So instead this week I'm leaving you with a taster of what's to come...
Craft Guerrilla IE me will be chasing the craft dragon* in the beautiful city of Porto!
(*side note: If you've been to Porto you'll probably know that the dragon is the city's emblem... and also the mascot of F.C. Porto - world famous footie club!!!)

Filled with beautiful monuments, art-nouveau architecture, picturesque and folksy citizens what this gem of a city has by the bucket loads are amazing haberdashery shops, fabric shops and a massive amount of vintage finds still to be discovered by the everyday savvy tourist... plus there's also a shop or two which sell and make the most amazing designer maker goods too!
And how come I know about them you ask? Oh well, lets just say that Porto is the birth place of a very young Craft Guerrilla and the spiritual home of  her crafty creations.
I studied ceramics at  "Escola De Arts Soares dos Reis", a then well know art school,  passed most of my summers there and I even learnt most of my craft skills in this fair city with my grannies.

In the late 1980's I studied and specialized in "Azuleijos" - hand painted ceramic tiles... like the ones in the photo below - so this place has a very special space in my heart!
It's not just the home of some serious craft either but of renown hand made industry like "Ach Brito" (soap company) and "Fabrica do Carvalhinho" (a world famous ceramics factory) but it's also a modern and vibrant city with a wealth of history, culture and art... plus some serious club nights though I fear I'm not as young as I used to be for that! Dancing all night, surely not?!

photo courtesy of ©Michael Hodson - Estaçao de Sao Bento- train station

So expect a few bits of crafty treasure (oh yes, I will be opening my little black book and sharing a few addresses with you...but only if you're nice and promise not to share!) and lots of sun filled photos of us in Porto... you might even see us hosting a workshop! You know what it's like...we just can't have a proper break as our hands need to be in a state of constant making!!!

If you have any tips, secret shops or places you think we should visit and review get in touch...
E-mail: craftgeurrilla@yahoo.com
Twitter: craftguerrilla
Face Book: www.facebook.com/craft-guerrilla-shop

Até logo!

Chirp, chirp, cheep, cheep...spring time is making time!

Thanks to the awesome talent of Think Big Chief here's a brilliant freebie for all you birdie loving crafters!
Make your own 3D models of realistic birds and drive your cats bonkers! But seriously leave them kitties alone... that's just my warped mind though it could prove to be quite fun and a little bit naughty! Sorry Mr Kitty I do love you.

But if you fancy making them for any other reason be prepared to have fun making!!! I love 3D paper craft and I think you'll enjoy it too. It's a really pleasurable technique... cutting, folding, gluing...ah pure paper bliss!

So if you fancy making your very own chaffinch or king fisher then all you need is some paper, a printer, glue, scalpel and scissors!
I think they'd look great as part of a table display (think garden parties or even weddings!) and though I know they are made of paper I still had to look twice just to make sure they weren't real.

 Click on the link for your free downloads: http://think.bigchief.it/articles/2013/04/29/realistic-paper-models-of-birds/

Amazing!!!

Friday's Craft Crush!

Last week I stumbled upon this amazing blog by artist and maker Lucille Michieli.

Not just content with giving us beautiful illustrations she also manages to add quite a few tutorials and easy to follow projects which are not just pretty but also useful. You'll find all sorts from darning tips to making your own collars.
I'm quite taken with her leather Peter Pan Collar and will actually have a go in making one... though I might use pleather but that's just because as a veggie I'm more comfortable using imitation leather. But anyway there are lots of projects to do!

Peter Pan collar tutorial...

Also she reviews lots of other designers which is a fantastic way of getting to know of other talented designers and their work.
Everything about this blog is yummy - yes I said yummy, you heard me and it's very unlike me but that's the power of imagery and the draw of this blog... it makes one come over all girlie - lots of soft photography, illustrations and very gorgeous French people in beautiful clothing.  Ooh la la...très chic et très mignon! A big stumpy European thumbs up for this amazing and talented blogger/designer!

Photoshoot...see I told you there was lots of gorgeous French people in pretty clothes!

Lucille also makes a range of accessories which you can purchase in her shop!

Blog: http://lucillemichieli.tumblr.com/
Web: http://www.lucillemichieli.com/
shop: http://foxshop.bigcartel.com/

Mastering the art of embroidery... our review!

"Mastering the art of embroidery"  is the new book by embroiderer extraordinaire Sophie Long an expert crafts woman and the very talented lady behind this fantastic book.
As a lover of embroidery and the stitchery arts I was stoked to be able to review this book.

Mastering the Art of Embroidery (9781906417956) 

I've been wanting a stitch compendium for quite some time. I've got a few stitch based books which are pretty OK but they're predominately soulless and almost mechanical... not that mechanical isn't great for learning but I just feel that my mind wonders if all there is to a book are pages and pages of technical drawings and nothing else! Well this book definitely has SOUL... and lots of heart too. The works included are obviously made by stitch lovers and enamoured embroiderers.

Sophie Long, embroidery queen and craft author

It's a really well structured book filled with amazing modern embroidery work and... dare I say it's a little bit edgy too? Hey, edgy is good!
Apart from edgy "amazing" is a word I can safely use when referring to this book. The instructions are clearly explained and the illustrations concise plus the variety of work is just delicious... yes I said delicious! You'll find amazing, modern work ranging from embroidery, stump work, needlepoint to even quilting and free motion embroidery!

also featured embroidery work by Leisa Rich

Also featured are lots of gorgeous works by numerous designers, tons of inspiration and techniques which will; even if you are not a seasoned embroiderer; get you started with a head full of ideas and hands ready to stitch! This book is one that I will be keeping close at hand as a reference and will sit on my shelf as a "stitch bible"... so many stitches that I haven't even heard of so definitely a keeper.

Needlepoint work by Heather Gray

So what's my verdict? It's a top book and essential for any super star embroiderer wanna be!

Mastering the Art of Embroidery

To order Mastering the Art of Embroidery (9781906417956) for £24.00 including p&p* (RRP: £30.00), telephone 01903 828503 and quote offer code JS199. 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 JS199 and include your name and address details. *UK ONLY - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.

Something for the weekend...

Unlike me you might have a proper weekend so here's a fab little blog which you may enjoy trawling through at your leisure...

Packed to the rim with the best craft projects on the net, fun and easy tutorials, quirky links to stuff like smart phone wallpaper and it even features a host of copyright free images/art work which you can use in your projects.

Run by "Bolacha Maria" - she is an enigma but a very crafty enigma none the less - what this blog does is take the best of the best and collates it all in one easy to browse blog. Even if you can't read Portuguese it really doesn't matter... follow the pictures and be prepared to make!

Check out the To DIY or not to DIY blog here: http://todiyornottodiy.blogspot.pt/2013/01/casticais-de-contas-coloridos.html

IKEA hack by Bolacha Maria...the crafty brain behind this blog!

Brillo Wallpaper for all you smart phone/tablet needs!

Make with us!

Here's a cute tutorial featuring some vintage inspired fruit which you can make into bag charms... I know, I know...If you believe the fashionistas bag charms are so yesterday but I've never owned a bag charm until now so I'm not following fashion besides I've always loved strawberries!
Plus when I'm tired of them I can use them for shoe clips or other projects so... go on...try it! They also make cute pincushions if you make them a bit larger.
Enjoy.