Tuesday 24 July 2012

Post 4 - More fabulous CRAFTfesters from purple group

Here's another taster of what's available in September's CRAFTfest

MinXtures



I work from my Hampshire home, dressmaking and sewing everything from clothes to cards. I enjoy the whole process from designing the patterns to adding the finishing touches. Nearly everything I make is useful or practical too! I particularly enjoy making children's items, personalised PE bags being my best selling item. Custom orders are always welcome!


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Hannahbella Cards and Love Huggles




A world of handmade goodies exploring papercraft, textiles and object d'art . All made in the UK in the beautiful Royal County of Berkshire. We believe in upcycling so a lot of our mini scrapbooks are made using recycled card where possible. Everyone needs a lovehuggle now and then so why not pop in for a peek and grab yourself one today.


website  facebook  twitter 

Oakapple and Rose




Handmade items, many personalised or made to order, including bunting, quilts and bags.


website  blog  facebook  twitter


Clementine's Threads




 Clementine loves dresses and little pink things like butterflies and flowers. So I made a little pink shop for her and all the things she likes so that other little girls could enjoy them too. In my stall you will find little dresses, little bags, little hats and some pretty little hot air balloons. In fact everything is little and pretty and made especially for lovely little girls.

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Sadie's Jewellery


Blue Agate Wire Wrapped Pendant


I started my jewellery making journey about two years ago. I am self taught and i learn techniques from studying from books, video, and DVDs. I have also attended a few classes where i have perfected my jewellery making skill.My jewellery are costume jewellery made from gemstone, resin, and metal beads. Findings i use is sterling silver, gold or silver plated. If you see something you like and want it in another metal, size or colour please get in touch, subject to beads been available i will accommodate your request.Customer satisfaction is my number one priority.



 

Monday 23 July 2012

Post 3 of purple group CRAFTfest stalls


Here's another taster of what's available in September's CRAFTfest

Nevar




Nevar, the place to come for beautifully handcrafted jewellery featuring semi-precious gemstones, Swarovski Crystals and carefully hand selected beads and pieces of sea glass. I use various techniques from wirework to chain maille and create gorgeous and unique pieces of jewellery which are suitable for all occasions, either as a treat for yourself or as a gift for a loved one.



Tasha's Creations




Handmade Clay Creations from Rose Accessories & Jewellery which would be a lovely accessory as well as a good addition to a wedding or special occasion. Create lovely Pandora Style Bracelets and other jewellery using amazing techniques to create amazing and unique patterned jewellery as well as creating unique gift ideas

My Small World



Lucky dip number 2. A selection of my handmade items.


My name is Katie and I live in Chester England. My shop is called My Small World and I make and sell traditionally made, hand sewn collectable bears, fabric and felt brooches, freemotion embroidered gifts and badges, mini decorative canvases and more.

Cheeky Rose Studio

Classic 1950's Full Circle Dress -Custom Orders Only - £175.00
Cheeky Rose was born from a love of beautiful clothes, for women who want something unique, and an alternative to today’s mass produce fashion. With a passion for vintage sewing patterns I experiment with original patterns and adapt and make them relevant to the women of today. I am a skilled dressmaker with years of providing beautiful and unique clothing to satisfied customers. All my clothing are made by hand, this means that I am free to customise clothing, mixing fabrics and design elements to suit. Although the designs are inspired by vintage, they are not restricted to one era, but embrace the fun and flirty best of all decades with Cheeky Rose own twist.

Personal Space Interiors - Vintage

Vintage 1950s linen roses cushion cover £19.95
Personal Space Interiors Vintage stall is the place to be for gorgeous vintage fabric goodies for you and your home. All of the items in my vintage range are handmade by me using a range of quality upcycled and unused fabrics. I make cushion covers, curtains, pinboards, bags, lavender gifts and Christmas decorations using hand and machine sewing, knitting and crochet. I also do bespoke work so if you fancy something unique, why not get in touch and see what we can create together?

Saturday 21 July 2012

And our next purple CRAFTfest stallholders are...

Pauline's Passions


 Lilac Floral Thinking Of You Card

I use various techniques from wirework to chain maille and create gorgeous and unique pieces of jewellery which are suitable for all occasions, either as a treat for yourself or as a gift for a loved one. Here are some of my product for the craftfest. These include cards, ornaments, jewellery.I also provide a bespoke service and am happy to make cards for you for any occasion with names etc. please contact me using my email address paulinespassions@fsmail.net



Personal Space Interiors



Personal Space Interiors Home stall is the place to be for gorgeous fabric goodies for you and your home. All of my items are handmade by me using a range of vintage, retro and contemporary fabrics. I make cushion covers, curtains, pinboards, bags, lavender gifts and Christmas decorations using hand and machine sewing, knitting and crochet. I also do bespoke work so if you fancy something unique, why not get in touch and see what we can create together?



Waterlily Designs


Personalised 18th or 21st Birthday Pink & Black Handbag Card

"I make unique handmade personalised cards for all occasions, new baby & christening keepsake albums, mini scrapbooks,wedding invitations and albums & die cut kits in all themes. Any name/age/relation can be added to the cards and in most cases colours and wording can be changed.


Bonnie Beads



Hi. My name is Nicola and I design and make gorgeous jewellery. My pieces are mainly created from glass pearl beads and seed beads. I also like to use semi -precious gemstone beads. Many of my creations are made using different bead-weaving techniques. I thoroughly enjoy my craft and every piece I make is made with care and love. Please feel free to visit me and any of the links below to see what I do.



Created in Cloth


COW SKIN TISSUE BOX COVER

Created in Cloth was born from a desire to make good quality items that are unusual, practical & a pleasure to own and receive at affordable prices. So often now things are mass produced and one cannot be identified from the next, here at Created in Cloth I make each item individually with love and care. Some of my items can be customised with names, dates or colours to personalise, making them a treasured item or a wonderful gift.


 


Friday 20 July 2012

Here come the purple CRAFTfesters!

A first look at some of the lovely stalls created by CRAFTfest purple group.

Raven's Stained Glass



Beautiful stained glass pieces which are perfect as gifts for all occasions from birthdays to Christmas gifts. I create suncatchers, decorations, 3D pieces of stained glass art, stained glass mosaics and beautiful sparking Christmas Decorations.



LO! Designz



I make handcrafted jewellery with mostly precious metal clay which becomes solid fine silver (99.9%)after firing and can be hallmarked as such. I also make pieces from base metal clays such as copper and bronze. I incorporate both semi-precious and lab-created stones in my jewellery. As all my pieces are one-of-a-kind, no two are the same. However, if you see something you like but in another colour, feel free to contact me and I'd make it to order for you.



Kabuki

Indulge your sweet tooth with Kabuki Jewellery! I combine quirky, handmade polymer clay charms with a selection of beads, buttons and ribbons, to create colourful and unique accessories. Taking inspiration from Japanese street fashion, street art and pop culture Kabuki accessories are sure to get you noticed!



Loutul


Embroidered Wall Art, Pewter Wall Sculptures, Pewter Candle Sleeves, Decorative Glass Bottles, Custom Embroidery and Pewter Embossing. We have a wide variety of Pewter Repousse gifts and homewares. All items are made by hand using only hand tools. As with our embroidery, we aim to cater for all tastes. All our embroidered designs are professionally framed in-house to ensure that the frames compliment the artwork. We do offer a custom service for both embroidered artwork and pewter repousse so if we dont have what you're looking for, let us know and we'll try our best to accommodate you.



Auli'i Beads



So, a bit about me ... Well, I've always loved costume jewellery and a colleague once asked just how many bracelets etc I had as I always seemed to be colour co-ordinated. My first foray into the world of beading was when a favourite bracelet broke and I bought some beading elastic and decided to repair it myself. When I just couldn't find a bracelet to go with an outfit I had I decided to get some beads and make my own so I could get exactly what I wanted. Then to keep myself occupied during a period of illness I found myself making beaded jewellery and soon became totally addicted!

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Wednesday 18 July 2012

Vintage French gingham - it's got the X factor

Views and admirers for my vintage French gingham cushion cover have gone crazy on Etsy and other platforms. Which makes me wonder; What is it that gives a product the X Factor?


Is it the colour, the texture, the pattern. Or is it that when we see an item becoming popular, we join in to be part of the crowd? I wonder. Lets hope I can get the same reaction for my new cushion covers getting ready for launch this week. Some vintage, some contemporary. Watch this space...

Time for a smackerel?


Chocolate melting moments



Makes 20

125g softened butter, beaten well
50g icing sugar
50g cornflour
25g cocoa
100g plain flour

  • Preheat the oven to 180C
  • Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the softened butter
  • Mix well to form a firm dough
  • Roll into walnut sized pieces and place evenly spaced on a lined baking tray
  • Press each piece with a damp fork to flatten a little
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes
  • Lift carefully from the tray and leave to cool on a rack 

Thursday 12 July 2012

Caravan chic

Just look at my vintage lovelies hot off the sewing machine...




I'm just loving them. Caravan chic at its very best. The colours are so vibrant and the designs playful without being garish. They bring a little sunshine in. Both available now in my Wow Thank You store. You'll find the turquoise ones here and the green ones here.

I'm having a vintage stall at CRAFTfest in September, so I thought I'd better get my act together and start creating some goodies with my vintage stash. After all, I didn't really buy the fabric just to stroke it and say "I love you"...

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Contemporary with a hint of art deco...

Well I'm just about over the trauma of Sunday's Wimbledon final. A valiant effort from Andy Murray and a genuinely touching speech. Maybe next time...

I swear if I get one more automated PPI phonecall I'll scream. Don't they realise I'm lying on the floor cutting fabric so I have to scramble to make it to the phone in time, just to hear " (silence)...Did you know Natwest, Barclays and..."

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

This wouldn't be a problem if I had a cordless phone. But I'd much rather keep my lovely vintage bakelite beauty instead.

Anyway, rant for the day over. Here's what I've been making.



It's a beautiful heavy linen fabric from Romo called "Rubani" - a contemporary floral with definite references to art deco styling, one of my favourite interior design periods. These would look gorgeous in a neutral toned living room to add touches of accent colour and a little warmth. Available now from Wow Thank You - you'll find them here

 We've got 93 stalls booked already for CRAFTfest in September. There's still time for you to book a stall and join in the fun. What are you waiting for? CRAFTfest website

Thursday 5 July 2012

Wimbledon fever!

Goodness I feel exhausted today. A combination of doing battle for an hour with a two metre long wooden Venetian blind to make it get back in its box, watching Andy Murray slog it out with David Ferrer to reach the semi-final at Wimbledon and perhaps a little too much Chardonnay for a school night...

I'm feeling the Wimbledon fever coming upon me. The second week always makes me twitchy. I can't wait for the men's semi-finals tomorrow. Come on Andy, you can do it!

I really must do some sewing. I've been spending too much time surgically attached to my laptop trying to build my social networking profile (otherwise known as entering another time zone while faffing about - before you know it hours have passed). But it's worth it in the end.

I'm working with some new fabric today. It's a contemporary floral with huge red blooms on a neutral background. I'm thinking zipped with piped edge for my cushions. I'll show you when I'm done.

Meanwhile, here's a lovely recipe for something sweet. These will get softer the longer you keep them. But I wouldn't worry; once you've tasted them, they won't be hanging around for very long!

Time for a smackerel...


Peach and Pecan Oatbakes

Makes 16


5 peaches stoned and sliced (8 slices per peach)
100g pecan nuts
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
200g butter
100g soft dark brown sugar
250g plain flour
125g porridge oats
1 tsp salt


  • Preheat the oven to 200c. Grease and line a brownie tin.
  • Place the peach slices, pecan nuts, maple syrup and cinnamon in a bowl and mix well.
  • In a small saucepan, melt the butter and sugar together over a gentle heat until the sugar dissolves. Leave to cool a little.
  • Mix together the flour, oats and salt. Pour in the melted butter and sugar and mix well.
  • Press half the oat mixture into the brownie tin making sure you get right into the corners.
  • Cover evenly with the peach and pecan mixture
  • Add the rest of the oat mixture making sure you cover all of the peaches and pecans. Press very firmly.
  • Bake for 25 minutes until rich golden brown. 
  • Leave to cool for 10 minutes, cut into 16 pieces and leave in the tin to get completely cold - don't try to turn them out of the tin too soon as they'll break up.

Wednesday 4 July 2012

CRAFTfest is coming...

I can't believe it's that time again already! Time to fill in my details and create my stall for the online extravaganza that is CRAFTfest...


Just in case you haven't heard of CRAFTfest, where have you been?! CRAFTfest is a virtual craft fair hosted online by Creative Connections. Running for a whole week, you'll see stalls featuring all kinds of crafts ranging from handmade baby clothes to beauty products, candles to crystals, jewellery to homewares and everything inbetween.

This time I'm going for the double whammy - a home stall and a vintage stall. If you'd like to do a bit of sofa based shopping, remember to drop by and take a look. We'll be open for business the first week in September. I'll be reminding you all regularly in the run up to the event so no excuses! 

Or, why not take the plunge and have your own stall? Booking forms are open now. It's only £5.00 to have a stall for the whole week, so why not give it a go. You need to be a member of Creative Connections to take part as a stall holder. You'll find all the information you need here on the  CRAFTfest website

It's free to become a member of Creative Connections and it's a great place to meet up with like minded people to share your makes, chat and have fun. Go on, you know you want to...

Tuesday 3 July 2012

Ooh I do love a touch of vintage glamour

Here are my latest vintage lovelies as promised


Gorgeous, or what?! I want to keep them all for myself but that would be greedy. So instead they're available to buy from my website. You'll find them here on the Vintage Cushions page.

Monday 2 July 2012

Fiddling and twiddling

Nothing like a bit of tweaking and fiddling about to start the week. Do you like my new look blog? I do - well I would, wouldn't I?!

I much happier with the design, layout and feel now so maybe, just maybe I'll actually be driven to write like I keep promising I will...

What am I up to today? I've got some gorgeous vintage 1950s linen fabric with a beautiful rose print in reds and golds to play with so I'm going to make some lovely cushions with it today. I'll post the pics tomorrow when I'm done. Actually, the fabric would make a stunning dress. I've seen quite a few vintage dress patterns available on eBay recently but I'm not a dress maker so I wouldn't know where to start really. I suppose it's just a case of following instructions and measuring properly so maybe I'll give it a go.

What's for pudding?

Rhubarb, ginger and orange crumble

500g rhubarb washed and cut into 4cm chunks
1 heaped tsp ground ginger
zest and juice of an orange
3 heaped tbsps sugar

110g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
75g butter
75g sugar
100g flaked almonds
  • Preheat the oven to 180c
  • Place the rhubarb in a casserole dish and cimbine with the ginger, sugar, orange zest and juice
  • Add the baking powder to the flour
  • Rub the butter into the flour to form golden crumbs
  • Add the sugar and flaked almonds and mix well
  • Sprinkle the crumble topping over the rhubarb
  • Bake in the oven for 30 minutes and leave to cool for 10 minutes
  • Serve warm with creme fraiche