From materialised, post Wordless Wednesday
July 27, 2011
by Julia
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May 15, 2011
by Julia
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Fish exchange: knautical knitting
Been doing a spot of knautical knitting for the Fish exchange. This is a lovely idea…you knit a fish, send it off to the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, in Fraserburgh, where it’ll be displayed, along with all the others, in their net drying area and Exhibition room until September, when they’ll be auctioned.
My fish was made with left over odds and ends. I used moss stitch for the main part because I think it’s got a sort of fish scales look about it. He has recycled button eyes and a crochet frill on his tail. I like his fishy unimpressed expression.
Talking with friends before he makes his way to the bigger shoal…
From materialised, post Fish exchange: knautical knitting
May 14, 2011
by Julia
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Remade Home Show
REMADE HOME:
Just wanted to tell you all about the next event I’m involved with. It’s the Remade Home Show, which is coming to the Loretto Gallery in Musselburgh next month. If the poster is anything to go by, it’s going to be pretty special! The image is of an upcycled school chair by Dear Old Blighty
exhibition * marketplace * home accessories * vintage furniture * eco decorating * upcycling inspiration
“Visitors to Remade Home will enjoy an eclectic collection of sustainable home style by local makers, artists, designers and vintage traders”.
The 4 day event is being organised by Nicky Orr of Frugal Cool, who has a great track record for organising exciting events at Loretto, which always attract a huge turnout – previous events have attracted between 700-1000 people, proving that you don’t have to be in the middle of the city to attract visitors…word of mouth counts for a lot, and Frugal Cool now has a great reputation as a place to find something original and unique.
I’m very happy that a selection of my textile artwork and cushions will be available there!
I’ve had a look at who is exhibiting and it’s an impressive list…lots of very creative people, who make the most gorgeous things, you just want to have! I’ve met some of the makers at past events, so it’ll be very nice to catch up with them again. You can check out a few of the handmade and vintage treasures that’ll be available on the flickr page and a full list of all the artists, designers and local companies can be found here
Since the poster went to print, the event has been extended to include Sunday, and there’s late night shopping on Thursday and Friday! Hope you can come along :-)
Opening Hours:
Thursday & Friday 10am – 7pm
Saturday & Sunday 10am – 5pm
www.remadehome.co.uk
You can also keep up to date with Remade Home on facebook.
From materialised, post Remade Home Show
May 2, 2011
by Julia
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How to…make quick and easy handmade business cards
At about midnight, the night before a recent craft fair, I realised to my horror, I’d run out of business cards, so I made these handmade ones and was really surprised at all the great feedback I got about them. I’ve just made another batch today, and they’re so simple!
Here’s how I made them…
Starting off with white A4 card, I cut it to size using a craft knife, and patchwork ruler. The card was nothing fancy, just from a children’s activity pack . I made my cards 3 and a half inches by 2 and a half inches, and was able to get 9 out of each A4 sheet. Of course you could change the size to whatever suits your needs.
When I had cut all my cards to the right size, I used a self inking stamp to add my details. I think the stamp came free one time when I ordered cards from vistaprint.com . You don’t need a stamp of course…if your hand writing is neater than mine there’s nothing to stop you writing them by hand.
I laid each one out after I’d stamped it, to let the ink dry.
The motifs were all made from bits and pieces I had ready to hand. These fabric flowers were left over from greetings cards I made years ago. They were cut out from non-woven interfacing, which I’d coloured with fabric transfer paints. They have a nice fuzzy texture, like a very fine felt. Sewing through card isn’t a problem but blunts the needle quickly, so I used an old needle which was already past its best, and a long stitch length.
The stars had also been in my craft stash for years. They were bought from a sale of Christmas wrappings at B&Q one January, and already have sticky dots on the back.
And these felt shapes were from a children’s craft pack which had a selection of different ready-cut shapes in lots of lovely bright shades.
easy peasy!
These cards could also work well with photo copies of your work, scraps, odds and ends of fabric, buttons etc, etc, etc…
If you’ve made your own business cards I’d love to see them, please feel free to add a link to them in the comments.
April 15, 2011
by Julia
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Refashioned objects 1, 2 and 3
I’m feeling all enthusiastic about a new project I’ve begun. I was looking for an idea, which I could devote a small amount of time to most days. What I decided on was to take an object which I no longer have any use for and try to recycle it creatively into something slightly more interesting. It’s just a chance to experiment and see what happens.
For the want of anything better I’m calling the series Refashioned Objects, but that may change…it’ll do for now.
I was intending to spend a maximum of just an hour on each piece but so far the quickest was the spoon at an hour and a half…Happy took more like a day and a half!
Refashioned object 1 (above)
started out as an Ikea coaster now it says UP…feeling up beat I suppose.
Refashioned object 2 (below)
An old CD is transformed into something more happy.
Refashioned object3
A spoon treated to a fabric, thread and paint makeover.
From materialised, post Refashioned objects 1, 2 and 3
April 5, 2011
by Julia
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Makers markets, sketchbook pages, and other stories…
There’s so much going on just now I’d like to talk about but I’m struggling to find enough time, so this is another quick catch up until I do.
First of all, the Byres Road maker’s market went really well. It was a good location, busy all day, there were plenty of nice folk to chat to, and I made quite a few sales….all good! So I’m looking forward to the next one, which is on the 30th of April. I want to thank Claire from “I’m a good Girl!” designs, who drove me, and my many boxes through to Glasgow and back. Her stall was next to mine, so I had good company and I could admire all the lovely things on her stall. I loved her hankies, which she’d embroidered slogans. I couldn’t resist the one with ‘runny beak’, which suits me to a tee! ( Check out her blog to see all her makes, including her fab upcycled furniture.) I also came home with a couple of great cards from eilidhmuldoodles.
The half price sale basket on my stall proved very popular, so I decided to extend it by adding a sale section to my etsy shop . Lizzie and Primrose are also now available from my shop.
Way back before Christmas I was asked by Eirlys Penn, AKA Scrapiana to answer a few questions about my first sewing machine for a feature on her blog. We first ‘met’ on twitter – Eirlys has a lovely witty way with words, and we share the same love of vintage fabrics and haberdashery, so I happily agreed. Rather belatedly, last week, I finally sat down to write my answers and really enjoyed reminiscing about my early sewing adventures… If you’d like to, pop over and read the full Q&A here.
Which brings me around to the picture at the top. It’s a couple of pages from by book for the sketchbook project. It was supposed to by returned by the 15th January…but I hadn’t finished it….and still haven’t, but decided it would be far better for it to be included along side the 10,000 others, as intended, than sit on my shelf reminding me how bad I am at deadlines…so off it went! And it’s a weight off my mind – that makes it sound like it was a toil, which it wasn’t. I really enjoyed drawing but should learn to concentrate on fewer things at a time if to have any hope of fulfilling obligations well and on time.
Time for some sewing now. Hopefully back later in the week to show you what I’ve been up to…
March 25, 2011
by Julia
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Primrose and Lizzie look foward to Byres Road Makers Market
Primrose Rabbit and Lizzie Kitty: The newest guys relax and have time to pose for a photo, before their outing to the Byers Road Makers Market in Glasgow tomorrow. I have high hopes of them finding lovely new adoptive owners at the Hillhead Library venue…if not, they’ll find their way to my shop next week ;-)
Meanwhile, I’m slightly frantic, trying to get organised. It’s my first fair this year so am looking everything out and making a few changes to my display. It’s a new venue – the first Glasgow Makers Market took place there last month and this is the 1st time I’ve been there, so I don’t know exactly what to expect. I don’t can’t drive, so when I was offered a lift by Claire, I jumped at the chance. It’s in a great location, full of interesting shops and loads of students around, so I’m optimistic…
March 4, 2011
by Julia
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Sunshine applique cushion cover
Hello! We had a wee bit sun earlier in the week, so in celebratory mood I made this cushion (it’s been such a loooonnnnng Winter!)
I used new, recycled and vintage fabrics, and added a few hand-embroidered details.
Now available.
Got ideas for more to come soon…
Been applying for some fairs, which I’ll let you know about as soon as they’re confirmed.
From materialised, post Sunshine applique cushion cover
February 18, 2011
by Julia
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Workroom today
And again, it’s been a long time and no blogging, but things are fine – it’s always hard to know where to begin, after a break…
So, this was how my workroom looked today. I liked the atmospheric haze, which was due to me slightly overcooking burning my lunch…but I liked the way it looked with the light pouring through it.
Most of this week has been spent working on small drawings and paintings but haven’t produced anything I’d feel comfortable showing yet. (unfortunately)
Am super excited that my facebook page now has 200 ‘fans’ or likers and am pondering what to do to celebrate…a giveaway may well be in order (so now’s the time to become a fan if you aren’t already!)
There are a few new purses and brooches to my etsy shop, if you’d care to take a look :-)
Thanks for visiting…will have something new to show next time, I promise!
From materialised, post Workroom today
January 4, 2011
by Julia
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2011 – Word of the year – Nourishment
It’s a new year… a fresh start, and I’ve been taking some time to think about what I’d like to achieve this year. Most of all I want to keep on doing what I have been doing – making a variety of things, sewing, drawing, painting, glueing etc. But I want to combine this with being happy which means
working at my own pace
doing work I feel comfortable with
working in ways most natural to me
admitting how important my work is to me, how long I spend on it, and what processes are involved
not underselling myself
treating my work like any other job – sticking to regular hours, taking proper breaks and holidays
taking plenty of nourishment
Nourishment – a definition
The substances necessary for growth, health and good condition
Food
Probably one of the things I’m most grateful for from last year was to regain some lost concentration. I had become progressively more anxious / depressed which had a huge impact on my concentration levels – reading fiction had become out of the question. With some good treatment I’m feeling 100% better, happy with my lot, and ready to have my mind expanded by the magic power of other peoples thoughts and ideas in the form of words and pictures ! Words are definitely the nourishment I’ve been craving and it’s the word which sums up what I’d most like for myself this year.
This brings me to my 1st project of the year. I recovered a notebook, which I’m going to use to make a note of all the books I read, films I watch and the exhibitions I visit… might even add a cake recipe or two. (well my memory still isn’t that great) I’m planning on bringing more words into my sewing over the next year. I’d call it a project but I’m not very good at sticking with those, so we’ll just see how it goes…
Do you have a word that sums up your hopes for this year?