A few of my favourite things...

I love the work of the artist Livia Marin... a brilliant Chilean artist who works predominantly with ceramics. Having stumbled on her work through a friend's Face Book post -see Face Book is not all that bad!- I went on to explore more of this artist's work.

Her beautiful fluid ceramics are something which I truly admire and as a ceramicist this is so what I would like to make: great, innovative, modern, thoughtful and meaningful art!
Actually my final year piece was based on the blue and white willow pattern so her beautifully reworked offerings are something which I find very pleasing to the eye as well as to the heart!

She also works with other material like resins and rubber though the ceramic based works are the ones which stand out for me... never the less the rest of her work is worth a look at!
This also opened up the whole debate of what is art and what is craft...why is one considered more intellectually valuable then the other, where do the lines blur, when did the term "artisan" lose it's value and how can we put back the ART in ARTisan? That is a debate we should have one day but maybe in a pub or a café where we can talk face to face rather then solely muse and philosophy about it on a blog. But yes it opens up all sorts of questions and please feel free to comment below and leave your thoughts!

So if you also share my love for all things hand made, especially the turned earth sort of stuff, then have a look at Livia's web page... www.liviamarin.com

A few of my favourite things...

I love trawling through the internet looking for perfect easy to make craft tutorials. At the moment Pinterest is proving to be a bounty of inspiration and I absolutely treat those hours I spend looking through the many images as "research".
The kind of tutorials which I find inspiring are the ones which the finished article serves a purpose and can be finished in a couple of hours. Plus they need to be nice and pretty!
Believe me I do go for more elaborate projects occasionally but unless I have bundles of time I like to keep it quick and simple plus I have a very low boredom threshold!
Here are a few which have kept me happily entertained:

http://ruffledblog.com/diy-paper-wheels-backdrop/

http://ajoureblog.com/2011/03/03/vintage-handkerchief-apron/

http://threebears.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/little-boxy-pouch-tutorial/

a few of our favourite things...

You'd be forgiven for thinking that I had a lot of time on my hands due to the large amount of time I spend on the internet but...it is part of my "job" as chief craft guerrilla to find things which I can post on here! Besides I know just how much you lovely people adore all things craft!
Looking through the vast amount of designer hand made items I find lots and lots of items which I love!
So let me share a few bits and pieces which have caught my eye.
Finding special, interesting, contemporary artisan made products which are made using traditional techniques but with a solid design and modern twist is what we're after so... here...are a few of our favourite things:

Paper sculptures:


by David Farrer
Please email for details and orders:info@davidfarrer.com

Knitted home wares:


by Janie Knitted Textiles. For further info and items please visit: www.janiewithers.co.uk

Soft toys:

by Nanette Regan. For further information and to order please email: nanetteregan@gmail.com

A few of our favourite things...The Aviary!

The Craft Guerrilla gals are born magpies...we love pretty,reinvented and quirky things!
We first came across The Aviary last year and even featured them in our zine. But it was last summer that I met the lovely Aviary gang at the "Art Boot Sale" in Brick Lane. Strangely I was drawn to their beautiful fineries before I even noticed it was them!
Of course the swallow brooch caught me eye and as I looked at it I was thinking "wow that reminds me of the Aviary's stuff!" Surprise...It was! So let me introduce you to them and for those that already know about them, sit back, grab a cupper and get reacquainted!


The Aviary.A brief bio and introduction....
Having begun as a pleasurable past time for Ben and Victoria, two young, indecisive (and flat broke) fine artists, The Aviary has quickly blossomed into a fledgling small business.

We graduated from art school in 2006 and have kept up our fine art practices, individually making one off pieces of work ranging from small drawings to site specific installations, but have often found that the real pleasure in creating is the hands-on ‘doing’.



Both of us have always loved all things vintage and preloved, spending a lot of spare time and money trawling through charity shops, second hand stores, flea markets, bootsales and, of course, eBay. Subsequently, our house and studio are packed full of out-of-date maps, retro knitting patterns, old books, field guides, anonymous sepia photographs, clock faces, vintage fabrics and odd buttons.



The Aviary brings together our passion for collecting and making. Turning old into new, through redesigning, reinventing and finally rehoming. All of our items incorporate preloved, reclaimed and recycled materials that, wherever possible, have been sourced locally and saved from becoming unnecessary landfill.



Our range is continually evolving, but we specialize in handmade, decorative home-wares, gift items, stationery and original, affordable jewellery utilizing our treasure trove of vintage ephemera. Popular products include hand-bound journals, diaries, notebooks and cards, as well as pin-badges and brooches.



We also love working to briefs to create bespoke items and encourage people to come to us for unique gifts. There’s nothing more rewarding than someone being delighted with one of our handmade items.

Visit The Aviary: www.the-aviary.co.uk

Candid Art & Design exhibition...

Candid Arts Art & Design Fair is now on!

I usually go every year and as usual the selection of designers doesn't disappoint. A splendid showcase of high quality,desirable hand made wares that will have you reaching for the purse. If you're already thinking about Chrimbo...go! It's just around the corner from Angel Tube station and a hop and a skip from Islington on the Victoria Line.
You won't find hoards of shoppers elbowing their way through the stalls,the shopping is relaxed and friendly. It's not quiet but it's calm...the kind of atmosphere I like to shop in. You can take your time, browse, look without feeling you're in some one's way and you can even talk to the designers!
You'll find absolutely gorgeous gifts and lots of temptation. Personally the intention was to go shopping for others but...I ended up treating myself!
Here are a few of my favourite things...


Alice Rose Lewis...www.aliceroselewis.co.uk

Alice Rose Lewis


Alice Rose Lewis


Cherry Loco...www.cherryloco.folksy.com

Alison Lewis...www.alisonlewisdesigns.blogspot.com


Kayleigh Biggs...www.kayleighbiggs.com


Kayleigh Biggs...


Lisa Bliss...www.cupiditasmanus.blogspot.com


Lisa Bliss



Amy Broclehurst...for info email: a.k.broklehurst.88@googlemail.com


Holly Fulford...www.wix.com/fulford123/holly-louise-designs



Holly Fulford...



Conte de fees...www.contedefees.com



Chantelle Pett...French Living and all things romantic! www.chantellepettdesigns.blogspot.com


e mail: chantelle_pett@hotmail.co.uk

a few of our favourite things...

Initially when Craft Guerrilla were invited to participate at the Knitting & Stitching shows I had excepted with some what of a preconception that it was a "stuffy", middle class, middle aged event and not for people like us. Let's say that it's far from that! What the Knitting and Stitching shows provide is not just a chance for retailers - though I could have done some serious shopping - but also an opportunity to learn as the amount of workshops on offer was vast and varied. If I were not there in a "work" capacity I would have happily visited on all four days as the one would never be enough. There is just so much to see! We were kept quite busy at our craft table but it was very far from quiet or stuffy as hoards of teenage girls and young children sat and made at our Craft Guerrilla table. Gigantic hair bows in bright Kaffe Fassett fabrics and cut out/reverse applique were the firm favourites!
The feedback we've received and the actual experience it's brought to us is both life changing and inspirational. I'm very proud of Craft Guerrilla and every single person involved with this collective. I had never envisaged when I first started that working with people like Twisted Thread and our many fabulous designers would be possible. Thank you all that made it so awesome!

Finally here are a few of my favourite things...

a piece by Hannah Withington


Budgie's by Forgotten Stitches

Fleur Oakes Victorian inspired embroidered pieces and jewellery


a cute vintage case with lots of lush wool!


Knitted furniture...


Winning piece by Deryn Relph


gorgeous hats from Deirdre Hawken almost edible!


D. Hawken


a King of Pop cushion...I'm so sorry but I lost designer maker details!


A lovely and happy lady that made an upcycled t shirt yarn necklace at one of our work shops!


This is one of my top favourites. Powerful yet beautiful. Paddy Hartley we salute you!


Paper cuts by Kuin Heuff


The lovely Barley and students at the Fabrications table...


Chiaka Morita...more great use of paper! Looks like delicate lace...


A fine selection from Beyond Fabrics.