Tag Archive for 'handmade'

What’s going on…

materialised-cat-doll

At some stage I’d like to get back to blogging more regularly…honestly I really would, but it seems that in order to get the important (to me) stuff done, other things have to be neglected.  So this is a messy catch-up style post, with a wee bit of everything shoved in for good measure!

I’ve been busy sewing cats, like Pattie Pussycat  seen above, who is now available here I’ve also been  making some things for The Spider & The Fly, which is an exciting new ‘pop-up’ shop and gallery, you can find at 65 Bread Street, in Edinburgh. It has a great selection of new design, art and craft work…find out more here. The cut-click mail art exhibition, which I made this for, is also being hosted at The Spider and The Fly,  so if you’re in Edinburgh over the festival it’s a definite MUST see!

Next month I’ll be setting up my stall at Frugal Cool’s Eco market and Summer Fete , at the Loretto gallery in Musselburgh.

frugal-cool-flyer

I love the Frugal Cool ethos and am very pleased to be doing my first fair this year at this event.  Right now I’m working my socks off, making lots of purses, brooches, and cat creatures to fill my table.  I’ll just be there on the Saturday, but it’ll be a great weekend so be sure to add the date to your diary ;-)

What else have I been up to? Oh yes…I’ve been back to life drawing sessions, after a gap of 20 years!  I decided it was time to knock the fear on the head and just do it.  The drawings aren’t up to much yet so it might be a while before I’m comfortable about showing them to a wider audience but I’m happy to have made a start.

I’m still trying to find the time for painting…there’s a small board on my easel just now…

I’ve had a couple of interesting things in the post recently. I signed up for this  travelling sketchbook project (in a moment of madness) and now have a completely empty grey moleskine sketchbook staring blankly at me…or is it me staring blankly at it? Also, Spoonflower sent me a sample of this and it turned out well. The colours are just  how I wanted them. It’s a very large repeat and I can imagine it as curtains for my bedroom. May be that’s slightly extravagant for my finances to cope with right now, but I’m going to order a small amount of it soon and try it out as cushions covers.

Of course,  I’ve still found time for my favourite indulgence - procrastination, which has taken the form of posting to another blog on tumblr. Tumblr is great for quick posts and I’m mainly using it to post photos by other people, that I find inspiring. I’m looking for more tumblrs to follow,  so if you have one let me know.

That’s about it for now… won’t leave it so long next time.

Happy May Day!

Happy May Day! Lots of reasons to celebrate…there’s all the ancient traditions relating to fertility, and the end of Winter. Then, more recently it’s become a well earned holiday for workers. Hope you’re having fun however you’re spending it!

I’m celebrating too.  I’ve finally added some new Spring inspired stock to my shop and I’ve started working on some sketches inspired by tulips.  My plan is to work more on them next week and see where they take me – could be new purses, brooches or perhaps something else…

When I opted for the name materialised I though it was a good play on words because :

  1. It’s connection to things fabric related.
  2. Because materialise is defined as meaning :
  • To become fact, actually happen -  like my dream of having a creative life.
  • To take shape: become tangible – like the things I want to make , whatever they me be.

Occasionally I’ve felt trapped by no1. So I’m hoping to be a bit more experimental in what I produce- definitely more one-off items, because that’s what keeps me interested and fulfilled, maybe…more paper…more paint…more glue! Definitely more celebrating the creative process and less paralysing fear that I’m not making what I’m supposed to.

Happy New Year!

happy-new-year!

HAPPY New Year!

I’m a bit late…but good wishes to everyone for 2010!  I’ve had a long relaxing break this festive period but it’s time to get busy again.

From experience, I know not to make resolutions, which I never stick to for more than the first week of the year!  Instead I’ll try to take each day as it comes and enjoy as much as I can. There’s no concrete plan, but I’d like to make  more time for drawing, reading, and hand sewing…and be open to what ever else may come along.

Free gifts for materialised customers…

free-gifts

I’m celebrating  the opening of my little bigcartel shop by adding a free handmade gift to the first three orders placed there.The shop has had more than 200 visitors, but no sales as yet…although it’s only been open a few days!

Customers can choose from the items shown above. There’s only one of each so it’s ‘first come first served!’

(sorry about the quality of the picture it’s so dark here today) Claiming your free gift is very simple – when you are at the paypal checkout mention either 1.dress brooch, 2. Pouch or, 3. lime green brooch – in the instructions to seller box. Don’t worry if you forget to add which you’d like I’ll contact you to ask for your preference.  Hope you see something you like ;-)

That was my favourite dress…

dress-brooches

Just taking a break from the mammoth sewing marathon I’ll currently engaged in… The Magpie market is only a few days away now – Sunday to be precise…and still so much I want to make before then!

The  motif of the dress is a popular metaphor in the art world for the female gender. I’ve had it in mind, for a while, to make something dress shaped.  Here’s what I came up with – brooches, made with scraps of vintage & recycled fabrics,  embellished with little stitches, beads and sequins.  So now my days of mini-dress wearing needn’t be over!

And, two of my favourite dress songs , which fill me with nostalgia for dresses, dancing and very LOUD music!

…which leads nicely to a short  you tube video of Polly Harvey and David Byrne talking about their creative process – its an absolute gem.

Magpie Winter Market

magpieflyerdec

Magpie is a brand new venture aiming to showcase the best art, craft and design talent around. Magpie loves the unusual, individual and eclectic… and I’m very happy that materialised will be part of the very first Magpie event! It’s taking place in a converted Church, in the shadows of Edinburgh Castle, in the historic Grassmarket, on Sunday 6th December. There’s going to be a diverse range of  stalls, including many selling one-of-a-kind and vintage items – Great for Christmas pressies! I want to have a nice full stall, so for the next couple of weeks my plans involve – sewing, sewing, and more  sewing!   Read more about Magpie and the fabulous makers ,who’ll be selling their wares on the Magpie blog

Crafts Market a huge success for Frugal Cool

birdie-brooches

This weekend was the eagerly awaited Eco Crafts Market in Musselburgh, hosted by Frugal Cool . It turned out to be a really wonderful event, which ran over three days, showcasing  many local artists and craft makers. The woman behind Frugal Cool is Nicky Orr ; she’s  on a mission to promote local ethical handmade crafts  and she has worked really hard in organising and promoting the market. I’m so pleased for her and everyone else involved that a lot of people came along …and really liked what they saw! Thank you Nicky  for inviting me to showcase my work ,  and for selling on My behalf.   You can see pictures of  just some of what was on offer here

textiles

I also managed to do a little Christmas shopping there -  sorry I can’t show  pictures  of the pressies but I don’t want to give the game away!

Eco Crafts Market – hosted by Frugal Cool

eco craft market

eco craft market

I’m delighted that my work has been selected by Frugal Cool to be exhibited at their Christmas Eco Crafts market next month. Repurposing and reusing is something I strive for wherever possible, and I think the standards Frugal Cool has set out are  very admirable. I’m really looking forward to seeing the work from all the featured designers and makers, all of whom live within  a 35 mile radius.  Here are a few of the purses I’ve been making for the event – all made from ‘found’ fabrics, including off-cuts from my sister’s silk wedding dress!

purses

So what’s Frugal Cool all about?

Frugal Cool promotes and sells inventive and unique craft that is also sustainable.  By seeking a green way of life
and work, and sharing their aspirations, they hope to inspire wider change. They also believe that supporting local
makers, artists and designers will contribute towards a sustainable community.

At the Eco Market

Everything is a one-off, upcycled from found objects and textiles or made from natural materials. All products – from 14 makers and designers – are for sale with prices ranging from £3 to £300. Original artworks and handmade textiles will also offer visitors a glimpse of the creative talent within our community and the value of ethical design.

Free prize draw!

In a free prize draw, a fabulous Christmas Hamper of Eco Gifts – worth £100 – will be given away. There will also be spot gifts for our 50th, 100th, 200th and 500th visitor

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The Eco Crafts Market takes place at the Loretto Gallery, High Street, Musselburgh from Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November, 10am-4pm and Sunday 15 November 2009, 12noon-4pm. Please come along we’d love to see you there!  Find out more at www.Frugalcool.co.uk

Etsy Update – emotional heart brooches

emotional heart brooches

emotional heart brooches

turmoil brooch

These ‘emotional’ silk heart brooches are the latest edition to my etsy shop.  They are made from hand-dyed dupion silk, and each features a different emotion, written freehand with the aid of my sewing machine. They’re embellished further with a few tiny hand stitches. To see more images and details click on any of the brooches below-

dreadfragileturmoil

torment

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I was thrilled to discover that the ‘doom’ & ‘fear’* brooches I made, recently featured on Mr X Stitch  the number one contemporary embroidery and needlecraft blog on the planet!

I’d love you to take a look and explore the site but first…

Warning! This site has X in the title for more than one reason! For adults only …and not for the easily offended!

Stitchgasm!

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* ‘doom’ is now sold :-)

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