Saturday 15 December 2012

Bust Craftacular this Sunday

Photo by Martha Loves
Had a fabulous day at Crafty Fox Market last weekend and looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow at the London Bust Craftacular!   Met so many lovely people, including my stall neighbours Custom Made, Justine Ellis, Stuffed Nonsense and Laurie Hastings.

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Xmas Fairs


Fabric Nation at Duckie Xmas Market last year

I'm taking part in two Xmas Fairs this year, Crafty Fox Market at the Dogstar in Brixton on Saturday December 8th, and Bust Craftacular in Bethnal Green on Sunday December 16th.  Expect postcard purses from around the coast, fabulous souvenir cushions, bags and bunting, shipshape homewares, take me home pet cushions and vintage xmas textile treats. Come and say hello!

Friday 19 October 2012

Xmas Pint


Wednesday 22 August 2012

Textile treasures

You may have noticed that I like a good tea towel, and these feature heavily in my work. I love the details in them, like these boats, such sweet simple graphics...



And the simple representations of towns and villages, like these Cotswold ones...


Wednesday 15 August 2012

Pebble and Dash

Just packed up these lovelies for Pebble and Dash, a new shop opening in Herne Bay. We had a lovely afternoon meeting the Pebble and Dash team at the Points of the Compass show and wish them lots of luck with their lovely seasidey project. I've included a few special Kent Purses in the parcel, so if you hurry, you might be able to snap one up.  Check their blog for details of when the shop pops up later in August. 




And next on my list, is more of these Devon Postcard Purses for the lovely Katie at What Katie Did....



Sunday 12 August 2012

Coast


I've been looking forward to September's Coast magazine, always a lovely read around the British coastline and a celebration of our very special seaside. Taking a peek at the contents page, who do I spy...

Whoop! The edition featuring my souvenir makes with the Seaside Sisters is out at last!


The lovely Clare from Coast magazine contacted us about running a feature on things you can make with tea towel.  This is just the sort of project we like, so we were super chuffed to be invited to share some of our favourite projects with Coast readers.  We are very partial to seaside souvenirs and these projects show you how to make your own holiday souvenirs from the humble tea towel.


Once the final four designs were decided on, we spent a day with the talented Coast team on location shooting our four tea towel projects. The location was a beautiful house filled with rooms adorned with light and texture. Seeing the work that goes into product shots was impressive and we are very grateful to Mel, Joe and Yvonne for the care and creativity that went into the photos. 


All four projects for making a cushion, apron, bunting and bag are in the September issues of Coast magazine.  You can see more of our coastal crafting on the Seaside Sisters website and tea towel souvenir workshops are planned with Crafty Pint in the autumn.  You can even buy the ready made made projects featured in Coast - take a peek here and here.

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Points of the Compass

We met many lovely people during our Points Of The Compass showcase at Craft Central. One of whom was the very talented photographer Vic Phillips.  He is launching his vintage inspired portraits and wedding photos company, and has lovely individual retro styling.  He liked our style, so very kindly took some photos of our exhibition.  Here are some of Fabric Nation and you can see more from the Seaside Sisters on our blog








Monday 30 July 2012

'Lympics

Enjoyed making this special bunting commission for an opening ceremony party, using the colours of the rings for the flags and adorned with prints from vintage Olympic Games posters.  Loved the opening ceremony too for being so bonkers, spectacular and just perfect from snippets of Kes to bouncing punks and not so subtle sub-text about our NHS.  Well done Danny Boyle!





Happy to make bunting to commission, using vintage and contemporary fabrics, please email Gillian at Fabric Nation for more details. Styles include fabrics with applique letters or pictures with trims and ribbons.  Below is another example from a commission I had with the Seaside Sisters for Victoria Woodcock's 'State of Craft'.


Saturday 16 June 2012

Points of the Compass


Ahoy! My annual outing with my Seaside Sisters is coming up in a few weeks. This year we are in love with compass roses and ships.


I'll also have my souvenir textiles...


and some fabulous workshops...

Embroider a souvenir handkerchief with Gillian from Fabric Nation. We provide all the materials, including pure cotton hankies, embroidery silks and for inspiration, our collection of vintage souvenir hankies and textile design books. You will be handle vintage souvenirs from the 30s to 60s and learn about souvenir hankie designs and embroidery at this workshop.
With our tuition and top tips you will design and stitch your own hankie all handmade by you.
Thursday 28th June 6.30pm – 9pm
£25 includes all materials and refreshments
All workshops are suitable for beginners.
Book your workshop place here.
Print Your Own Tea Towel with Gillian from Fabric Nation. We provide all the materials, including pure cotton tea towels, fabric inks and for inspiration, our collection of vintage tea towels and textile design books.
With our tuition and top tips you will design and cut your own lino block and print up a tea towel, all handmade by you. We use a soft lino which is much easier to cut than the traditional lino you might remember from your school days. All inks are washable and non-toxic, but do bring a pinny in case of inky stains. The inks are fixed by ironing, so your finished tea towel can be used and washed. That’s if you don’t plan to frame your work of art!
Take a peek at our Facebook album to see all the fab things we made at our previous printing workshops.
Saturday 30th June 11am – 2pm
£25 includes all materials and refreshments
All workshops are suitable for beginners and children from age 8 are welcome accompanied by an adult.
Book your workshop place here.


Friday 25 May 2012

Jubilee workshops Saturday 2nd June

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the materials we have been gathering up for our Jubilee Crafty Pint.  We have every type of red, white and blue fabric in our favourite stripes, spots and gingham…
Bundles of trims…
And of course buttons galore…
We will be making flags to wave, celebrating 60 years of British culture and sweet rosettes to wear at your street parties.  Whatever you love about Britain, if it’s the Queen, her corgis, the NHS or bluebell woods, come and celebrate with a special Crafty Pint and make a flag that sums up your own jubilee.  We will be playing music from the last 60 years, baking some special Jubilee cakes and will have a 60 years quiz.  For us at Crafty Pint, one of the most amazing things about Britain is the NHS, so we will be donating our profits to St. George’s hospital from this special Jubilee event.
The Jubilee Crafty Pint is open on Saturday 2nd June from 2pm to 5pm at the Tooting Tram & Social and costs £15 per person. Price includes all your materials and homemade cakes, you just need to bring extra beer money!  This workshop is suitable for adults and children from age 8 with help from a parent or carer. No previous experience is needed.

Visit www.craftypint.co.uk to book a place.
Tooting Tram & Social
46-48 Mitcham Road
London SW17 9NA
Nearest Tube – Tooting Broadway on the Northern Line - Map.

Thursday 24 May 2012

Workshops at Craft Central


Embroider a souvenir handkerchief with Gillian from Fabric Nation. We provide all the materials, including pure cotton hankies, embroidery silks and for inspiration, our collection of vintage souvenir hankies and textile design books. You will be handle vintage souvenirs from the 30s to 60s and learn about souvenir hankie designs and embroidery at this workshop.
With our tuition and top tips you will design and stitch your own hankie all handmade by you.

Thursday 28th June 6.30pm – 9pm
£25 includes all materials and refreshments
All workshops are suitable for beginners.
Book your workshop place here.

Print Your Own Tea Towel with Gillian from Fabric Nation. We provide all the materials, including pure cotton tea towels, fabric inks and for inspiration, our collection of vintage tea towels and textile design books.
With our tuition and top tips you will design and cut your own lino block and print up a tea towel, all handmade by you. We use a soft lino which is much easier to cut than the traditional lino you might remember from your school days. All inks are washable and non-toxic, but do bring a pinny in case of inky stains. The inks are fixed by ironing, so your finished tea towel can be used and washed. That’s if you don’t plan to frame your work of art! Take a peek at our Facebook album to see all the fab things we made at our previous printing workshops.

Saturday 30th June 11am – 2pm
£25 includes all materials and refreshments
All workshops are suitable for beginners and children from age 8 are welcome accompanied by an adult.
Book your workshop place here.

All workshops take place at Craft Central

Craft Central
33-35 St John’s Square
London EC1M 4DS

Nearest tube Farringdon.  Or a short walk / bus from Old Street or Angel.
Bus routes 63, 55, 243 and 153.

The workshops are part of the Seaside Sisters summer showcase at Craft Central running from Tuesday 26th June to Saturday 30th June.  See www.seasidesisters.co.uk for more info.

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Jubilation...



I am gathering up red, white and blue fabrics galore for my Diamond Jubilee Souvenir workshops, with the Seaside Sisters, part of the all day Jubilee festival in Battersea Park, curated by Hemingway Design and Clare Patey, on Sunday 3rd June.


Join us by the boating lake to screen print a parade flag to wave & keep as a souvenir, or sew a ruffle rosette to wear.  You can draw on paper bunting inspired by favourite memories from the jubilee celebrations or from the past 60 years to be added to string for a display that grows over the day or make diamond charms to carry or wear.  You can even go Victorian style and decorate a bicycle wheel or hoop with patriotic colours. Create giant floral signs and garlands decorated with flowers made from plastic bag strips in the style of those used in Queen Victorias Jubilee.
Tickets for the festival are available here - http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/TicketsAndInfo.aspx


All aboard...

Nice film of the tea towel printing workshop on board the Lightship LV21 last summer...


Wednesday 21 March 2012

Fabric Nation at Crafty Fox

My first outing this year will be at the marvellous Crafty Fox Spring Market with my Seaside Sisters. We had lots of fun there last year and are looking forward to sharing our latest souvenir finds, textile accessories, prints and all things bright and coastal…We will be running an Easter Fox workshop as well, so pop down for some Spring fun.

Linda is enjoying a brief quiet moment before the doors opened – have a peek here for more photos…

Here’s the lowdown…

Crafty Fox Spring MarketSaturday 24th & Sunday 25th March 2012, 11am – 5pm, The Dogstar – Brixton.

Brixton’s favourite Crafty Fox Market is back at the Dogstar on 24th & 25th March with a weekend event full of handmade treats. Each day will see an eclectic mix of over 40 designer-makers transforming the Dogstar into an exciting showcase of local creativity.

Visitors can take part in a range of workshops, relax in the tearoom or visit the nail art booth by Boom Nails. You can even make your own Crafty Fox with the Seaside Sisters, screen print a shopping bag with Mr Wingate, write letters with Letter Lounge, or settle in a cosy corner for a knit and a natter. There’s a busy programme of activities over the weekend with local DJ’s providing the soundtrack.

It’s free entry and children are welcome – there’s even a dedicated parking area for buggies. The first 50 through the doors on each day will receive a Crafty Fox CD or an illustrated tea towel courtesy of Etsy.com. Visitors can also vote for their favourite stall and be in with the chance to win goodies from moo.com.