Showing posts with label Heal's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heal's. Show all posts

Sunday, 1 February 2015

Heal's... a modern craft story!

You know we love craft, right? I guess it's pretty obvious and just like us Heal's are also totally in love with making too!



Though I'd never compare Craft Guerrilla to Heal's -We're still newbies in comparison, with lots to learn!- we do share a vital and common belief that modern craft is something which should be nurtured!
Championing craft is second nature to Heal's as they have been at it since 1810. They are a worthy model to follow... and we absolutely admire their constant innovation as well as their imagination and constant search for amazing designer maker talent!
So when we were told that Heal's were offering the 2nd installation of their Modern Craft Markets in their Tottenham Court Road shop we though it was well worth a mention to say the least.



A group of six well known furniture designers -Chris Eckersley, Sarah Kay, William Warren, Gareth Neal, Carl Clerkin and Koji Katsuragi- will take over the shop's front window for one week (starting the 3rd of February) for the Great Heal's Bodging Race.
Bodging is a hands-on craft that utilises unseasoned wood and traditional Windsor chair making techniques to create one off, original designs. The chosen winner, voted by the public and press, will then have the chance to produce a piece which will then be sold in store.
As well as the Great Heal's Bodging Race there will also be a showcase of designer makers from the Craft Council's Hothouse Scheme including Tortie Hoare, Umat Yamac and Heidi Harrington but to name a few.

Also present will be Out of The Dark, the charitable social enterprise that creates uniquely designed and beautifully crafted furniture. They will be elaborating and developing the pieces from the Bodging race and creating their own pieces too.

Umut Yamac
Katarina Eisenkoeck

Other designers showcased are:
Alicja Patanowska, Dotty Bubble, Elbel Libro, Gabrielle Vary, Gemma  Kay Waggette, Justine Wall, Heidi Harringto, Helen Pilot de Chenecy, Jenny Llewellyn, Jessica Coleman, Jo Davies, Katarina Eisenkoeck, Meticulous Ink, Miss Paper Cut, Nancy Nicholson, Stephanie Hosmer, Teresa Georgallis, Thomas Appleton, Tortie Hoare, Tracey Rowledge, Umut Yamac and Zara Day.


Tortie Hoare
Miss Paper Cut


Heal's has been designing, making and selling quality furniture for more then two centuries now... and honestly I do hope they go for at least two more!
So if you too love modern craft make your way down there, you won't regret it and that's a promise!

When?
From the 2nd to the 15th of February 2015
Where?
Heal's 196 Tottenham Court Road W1T 7LQ London

If you'd like to be part of history and can produce amazing hand made designer items then why not submit to this year's call?!

Heal’s has a long history of working with emerging design talent, and the annual Heal’s Discovers initiative highlights the brand’s commitment to design education by discovering and nurturing the next generation of designers.
As well as an in-house design team, a key part of Heal’s heritage has been partnering with independent designers. Be they well-established names or newly-discovered talent, Heal's work together with all sorts of amazing designer makers to bring good design, well made goods to their customers.
For more information visit:  www.heals.co.uk/heals

 


Wednesday, 4 December 2013

Heal's Christmas spirit!

As if I needed more reasons to love Heal's they've managed to make that sentiment even stronger. There, I said it... I love Heal's! It's more then a shop, a mecca for design and a purveyor of quality gifts it's also a great inspiring place which for me always conducted lots of creativity but now also offers crafting and taster events! Ah, paradise!!!

Tottenham Court Road shop

The formidable VV Rouleaux were there hosting a ribbon workshop. VV Rouleaux has been a long time crush... and I have spent hours in their haberdashery shop like a kid in a candy shop! I could easily spend a fortune in there and not because everything is super expensive but more because there is so much amazing stock. Easily it has to be one of the most gorgeous shops in LONDON... if not the world. Ha, us crafters love haberdashery shops so it's understandable that we should make such a statement!

So when we were invited along to a Ribbon Workshop we jumped at the chance... besides we love learning new skills!
Spools of thread in lovely autumn colours!

I never knew how much you could do with ribbon. I must confess that normally I use it for adding detail to a hem or in the more obvious use like bow making and gift wrapping!

So what was it that we didn't know about ribbon? We were shown by the amazing Annabel Lewis (founder of VV Rouleaux) and her trusted assistant Bridgette a few nifty tricks and amazing skills like rose making as well as ruffling plus a few trade secrets. Not surprising these two ladies were experts and shared with us not just their know how but their craft stash too!

Annabel Lewis


Bridgette teaches us how to sew onto straw bases!


The group was small but fun... wine flowed, minced pies were eaten, lots of chattering and we even had a celebrity in our midst- It was no other then the fab British Bake-Off Queen Frances Quinn who joined us at the table and may I say that she is not just a talented baker but a nifty sewer too!- and most of all beautiful things were made!


My first ribbon rose!!!

We learnt to make ribbon roses, use trims and flowers, shown how to cover hair combs and bands and make fascinatores.
Of course as a hat wearer I opted for a Victorian inspired fascinator... I think the Christmas spirit took hold and by challenging Dicken's my little beauty took shape!
Both myself and Myriam (La Dame au Beret) went for the super festive look though her offering looked  amazing and super Bling!

Fellow crafter's -Myriam- gold rose...

All in all it was a great event - I just hope they do more of these at Heal's!- in beautiful surrounding and with amazing tutors and friendly class mates. If you'd like to make your own check out the VV Rouleaux 's web site for materials or see the Heal's event page for further events.

Here are a few photos of the group in action...

Finding accents and accessories to compose a head piece...

work in progress...

Boxes of ribbons, beads, feathers and more...everything can be used to create!

Delicate flowers added to make a headband...

Lots of amazing festive pieces...

Happy makers creating!

And delicate flowers sewn to perfection...

The group...

Myriam's Bling Bling Gypsy Rose Christmas piece as she called it!

A very beautiful and sweet fascinator made by this lovely lady!

And Sarah is beaming with her's!

Frances and Gemma made awesome hair combs which actually perfectly accessorized their outfits! Well done ladies!

And here's my finished piece... which I'll be wearing this Christmas!



Thank you VV and Heal's for a truly magical evening!