Christmas hand made gift directory...

As you know receiving hand made is wonderful but gifting it is even better!
So every year I take it upon my self to come up with a massive array and selection of various projects that I hope to make.
All you need to do is check out my Pinterest board "Hohoho Holly molly time to make". Packed full of ideas and good intentions though the title pretty much sums it all as it implies a need to hurry and get making!
Truth be known that I usually leave it until there's hardly anytime time to make anything! Come mid December the panic sets in and rather then hitting the High Street I opt for a little bit of Hand Made retail instead.
Really, there is no need to panic! Next year I'll start early...oh, OK, right...that's what I said last year!

If you're anything like me then don't fret, there are lots of ways to buy hand made so no excuses and no panic attacks...
there's a whole host of on line shops and communities like Etsy and Folksy but to name a few plus numerous fairs -come December and there seems to be one every day!- popping up all over town! And it's not just in London. Everywhere seems to have at least one or two but hey... that's a good thing right?

So here's my top Christmas craft crushes which I think you might like too... I personally think they'll be perfect Christmas gifts for all : Man, woman and child! Enjoy!

• For the twitcher, classy birds or lovers of nature: Yvonne Ellen set of four plates...

available to purchase via Etsy

• For your beautiful kiddo, niece or nephew a great vintage inspired design. Mind you I could just about squeeze my head into this! Bauble hat by Ampersandcommodities....

Via Etsy

• For your little foxes or even for a big nature lover! These are not just for kids... Little fox by Jane Foster!

Via Etsy

• For every cycling dude or lady dude -and no beard or moustache required as you'll look too cool for school as you peddle alongside the gentry! Leather jacket optional. Petrol Gage Bike Bell by Beachy Toes...

Via Etsy

• For a bright fashion lover of any age! Pretty awesome don't you think? Knitted necklace by Rhea Clements. Available in a great selection of colours ....

• As you know I love a good biscuit so if you have a friend with a sweet tooth then this is perfect! Biscuits...well cushions really, by Nikki Williams...

Via Nikki's on line shop

• For those who'd like to make their gifts. These bright and fun fabrics would make amazing cushions, totes, tablet covers, clothing and even a tent! Beautiful fabric by Rachel Powell so you can make something nice to give...

Available via Rachels' shop

• For the crafter meets activist (yes, that's right a Craftivist!) what better gift then a book? Check out  "Craftivism: The art of craft and activism" by the wonderfully talented and god mother of craftivism Betsy Greer. Balaclavas not included but you can knit your own...

Available on line or ask your favourite book shop to stock it!

• And for that bloke who loves the outdoors and has just about everything! Hand made mountain range wallet by Trelabela...

Available via Etsy

• For that man who's good with his hands... oh you know I love a man who knits! Nelson Collar kit by Wool & The Gang!

Via the Wool & The Gang website

• A years subscription of this great magazine, The Simple Things, which anyone will love... lots of great articles and not just stories about crafts either, though there's lots to keep your hands busy! From nature, manly pursuits, recipes, family projects -yes and some crafty tutorials too!- to mindful & ethical shopping. It's got it all!

Via website

• And finally because I'm a sucker for anything with animals on it here's a great gift for any nature fiend and Christmas lover though I suspect these would happily hang around the house all year long! A set of 4 tree decorations by the fabulous Abigail Brown. Also check out her dolls... totally amazing!

Available via Only Tiny

I hope you like my choices... and I hope that you'll agree that buying hand made from small independents and designer makers is the way to go! Together we can share with the world the value of craft, well designed and well made goods.
This year don't buy mass produced and if you can't buy hand made... Make it yourself!!!


Love,
 X

Friday's Craft Crush...

OK so it's more then just a Friday thing... this craft crush goes way beyond and I for one will be embracing it for the whole of the season for this craft is not just a one day thing!
Oh no...with the colder weather heading our way embracing all things woolly is something we really rather enjoy!
Now that the nights are drawing in, and lets face it the telly is pretty bleak, here's your chance to get knitting your very own home accessories and personal wears... and  it's not all about knitted bed socks, chunky throws, men in beards wearing Aran Jumpers -though we quite enjoy these too!- it goes beyond that.
And if you can't knit... don't worry, submit to the knit by either signing up to a stitch & bitch night, visiting your local yarn shop or getting your nanna to show you how but failing that check out You Tube for online tutorials! 

Below are a few of our top picks of things you might want to make.
Oh yeah and to look at too... the man in the beard well... he's a gift. Take it. Enjoy!

URCHIN POUF by Christien Meindertsma

For a book packed with projects "Make it your own" by Anna Alicia.

This is so wrong that it's right!photo by HelloYarn©

Hair Bow tutorial by squeakyswing©

Not sure who this handsome chap is but... look he looks pretty good in a jumper plus he's got a beard! Bliss!

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/

Friday's Craft Crush!

"Stay Gold Mary Rose" is my latest crush! As a ceramicist I truly admire this lady's work as well as experiencing a tiny little smidgeoun of jealousy!!!

What S.G.M.R. has managed to do is to reinvent the tea cup... or rather... upcycle the tea cup into something truly beautiful. I just wish I had thought of it first!!!
But no, I joke,  honestly I don't really begrudge this clever clogs I do admire and love what she's managed to create and that is why I'm sharing her work with you...

"Stay Gold Mary Rose" is a collection of creations by Brighton based designer Abigail MaryRose Clark.
Abigail has been designing and making her 'Repurposed Vintage Teacup Bracelets' since 2004 and is currently supplying them to Anthropologie along with her other china jewellery collections for the last three years running, selling in their stores through out the US and UK.
 

So if you love these beautiful wearable pieces as much as I do go buy something from the "Stay Gold Mary Rose" boutique here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/StayGoldMaryRose

Abigail's work reminds us of sitting in the The Wolseley,  afternoon tea on the table served in beautiful china... we gasp as we bite into the eclairs and blush as we go back for a second helping! Delicious and decadent... just like "Stay Gold Mary Rose"!

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!*

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.

Friday's Craft Crush

Hello! I’m Jeanie B - writer and crafter living in East London - delighted to be here guest blogging for Craft Guerrilla.

Why not grab a pocketful of Crafty pic ‘n’ mix with CraftCandy - I have!

Maid of Gingerbread - yummy sculptural gingerbread

Last year I found myself at a conference in Leeds and after everyone headed to the pub to get pissed unwind, I was left twiddling my thumbs (beer’s not my thing). I fancied a swing dance class or craft session somewhere, but short of trawling through Google or accosting crafty vintage locals, I hadn’t a clue where to go…

…Which is why Craft Candy is such a good idea.

Crafty blogger Zoe Arch has been busy developing a brand new type of craft platform around the idea of word of mouth crafty info, which serves crafters like you and me, businesses and the wider community. 

Craft Candy has a website where you can find out what craft events or workshops are taking place locally but you can also download their free App which makes finding craft events neat and easy to navigate.

The App has links to social media tools like Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and FB so likeminded crafters can keep in touch. It’s a whole lotta crafting cool in your pocket and if I’d had this functionality in Leeds last year I might have found my way to a Craft Café somewhere instead of watching bad TV in my hotel room.

I attended the Craft Candy launch last week and we got some wonderful treats. I had the best banoffi pie cupcake ever from TheTea’s Knees, no word of a lie.

The Tea's Knees wonderful cupcakes

Once I was home my daughter rifled through my Goodie bag and bagsied the mini cross stitch from Urban Cross Stitch.

Hand crafted goodies

A craft listing site is only useful when it is chock full of varied things to do across a wide area, so if you’re running workshops or have a regular craft night, register with Craft Candy to get your event listed and that way the service can grow and grow. 

Zoe’s motto is “if you don’t charge people to take part, then we won’t charge you”. Put simply, it’s free to list free of events on both the Craft Candy website and the Apps.

The universe is currently filling up with Craft startups and communities which is great for us makers and hobbyists (I’m out to reclaim the term hobby), but ultimately confusing as every other venture is Craft or Make something. 

I get Craftsy and Craft Candy mixed up with Craft Blogs and Make Lounges mistaken for Make Spaces and Make Places. I have the same trouble with Vintage outlets, which all seem to have vintage in their moniker. I’ll make it my mission to compile a list of innovative named outlets, ones I find easier to remember.

Craft Candy’s branding is sharp and recognizable, I love it when that happens.

I am off to Leeds again next month for the same conference, this time I may be able to navigate to craft events if they are happening nearby. But what if I get happy feet – come on all you start-up geniuses out there – where’s the Swing Dance listing app? 

Jeanie B - swing dancing writer who crafts between drafts - find her on Make It Up follow @jitterbug65