Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Christmas Open Studios

Summercoat Squirrel came to visit me this weekend. He is 3 years old and belongs to Anna who brought him along to say hello. How lovely to see him, and good to see that in travels in style in Anna's beautiful traveling bag.

This was my chance to have a little squeeze of him while Anna (right) introduced Errol who has gone to a very, very good home where he can cuddle the cat, play with the other little friends and also annoy Rupert quite a lot (sorry about that Rupert).

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Doll Project Number 3 (Doll 4)

I've sent the next doll for our doll project on her way to Katy. This one will keep me laughing for quite a while, I wish I could show more; Ruths addition is very, very 'special', but it'll have to wait another six months before we can see them. Now I'm waiting for Mandy's doll to arrive.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Delicate Doilies

It was so nice to see some of you at the Notting Hill show last weekend. Such lovely people! it really made the show for me. THANK YOU x x x x

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

A Little Friend is for Life

Oh!....I realise I may have been a little reckless in my last post and so, to set the record straight....
A little Friend is for life not just for Christmas.
They all come with an adoption certificate which makes it very legal and official indeed. No getting out of commitment like that. There is no way that these little things can fend for themselves if you set them free....Nope. They need a quite substantial amount of care and love.

Little Friends for Christmas

Squeaky Beryl is ready for Christmas! I have been beavering away like an elf making a handful of them, all with different skirts to come with me to the Christmas shows, along with lots of Sleeping Babies in all sorts of pretty colours and different sizes. These are tiny hand-sized Squeaking Sleeping babies in midnight heather tweeds.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Cockpit Arts Open Studios in December

It's our Christmas Open Studios open at the start of December. I'm in studio 305 on the top floor. I have been sewing lots of new Little Friends for the Christmas shows and I'll put some photos up over the next few weeks.

Friday 5th December 2008, 11am - 9pm
Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December 2008, 11am - 6pm

Cockpit Arts Deptford,
18-22 Creekside
London
SE8 3DZ

You can download directions and a map to find the studios at the Cockpit Arts website.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Workshop Sale in December

This is the flyer for a sale I've been doing for a good few years now. I always manage to do quite a bit of my Christmas shopping here because there are some of my favorite designers selling real bargains including: scarves, hats and gloves from Jo Gordon, decorations from Lush... Lovely! Click here to see a list of the exhibitors.

WORKSHOP CHRISTMAS SALE 2008

Saturday 6th December. 10am till 5pm
St Thomas More Hall, 116a Lordship Lane
East Dulwich, London SE22 8ND
(Between Bassano and Blackwater Street)

admission £2.00

Come early for free mince pies and mulled wine.

A celebration of the unique, and the handmade.
Your opportunity to meet over 30 influential designer/makers,
buy their work and pick up a bargain.

Many of the exhibitors will be selling samples, end of ranges and seconds at less than half price.

Hand Sale in November

Here is the flyer for a sale I'll be at at the end of the month. It is organised by Hand who sell the most beautiful things from their shop near Portabello Road; I'm looking forward to looking around.


PICK UP A PRESENT

COME TO OUR SALE

20TH CENTURY THEATRE, 291 WESTBOURNE GROVE, OFF PORTOBELLO RD, LONDON W11,

THURSDAY 20th NOVEMBER 6PM - 9PM
FRIDAY 21ST NOVEMBER 10 AM - 8PM SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 10AM - 6PM
SUNDAY 23RD NOVEMBER 11AM - 5PM

Tel: Gail - 0208 677 1848 Kirsten - 0788 768 0672 EMAIL:INFO@HANDSHOP.CO.UK

TROUVER ANTIQUES UNIVERSAL UTILITY VICTORIA IBIZA CARLA BEEBY HINSHELWOOD DE BORMAN GHULAM SAKINA
MELISSA LO
SACHA GIBB RAM CHANDRA SELVEDGE MAGAZINE ORCHARD OBJECTS SIA TAYLOR NICOLA EASTON
YOMA ILOVEGEORGEOUS SYLVIE FRANQUET BEYOND FRANCE KATRYN SPENCE ABRAHAM & THAKORE
ROMY DERMAN LUCY JANE BATCHELOR CLAIRE VAN HOLTHE BROOKE GREGSON DANDY STAR KAREN DOWNING
CHOI TEA BERNICE & CAMILLA CASHMERE LISA JONES MAISON BENGAL NIKKITABELLA BABY KIRSTEN HECKTERMANN


JEWELLERY IN GOLD AND SILVER WITH SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES, FRESH WATER PEARLS AND FINE BEADWORK, UTILITY CLOTHING, FASHION, CASHMERE, HAND BAGS AND ACCESSORIES, ANTIQUES, CUSHIONS, THROWS AND BLANKETS, VINTAGE HUNGARIAN LINENS, CERAMICS, GLASS, STONE PESTLE AND MORTARS, BONE AND WOOD UTENSILS, HAND WOVEN BASKETS AND BAGS, CARDS AND TOYS, CHILDREN'S CLOTHES, T-SHIRTS, HAND KNITTED BABY CLOTHES, HANDMADE TEAS, GIFTS AND MORE....

£1 ENTRANCE FEE AND DONATIONS WILL BE FOR TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN PROJECT IN AFGHANISTAN

BUSES - 7, 13, 27, 28, 31, 52, 70, 328.
NEAREST TUBE - NOTTING HILL GATE OR LADBROKE GROVE
PLEASE BRING FRIENDS CASH OR CHEQUES ONLY

Monday, October 27, 2008

Open Studio in September

It's a little bit late but here is a photo from the open studios we had last month. I tidied up the studio and set-up a few of my desks with cards and Little Friends and was absolutely thrilled that so many of them have gone to good homes; everyone I met was lovely and a few of them have gone in complete families (Daddy, Mummy and Baby)- that is SO NICE! Two of the wool crepe babies (pink and blue) are gifts for a pair of twins; a boy and a girl, I think that is the sweetest thing! They have all gone to their new homes with Adoption Certificates.

Doll Project Number 3 (Doll 3)

This is a peek at the third doll I've worked on for the doll project. This one is the jolliest chap (doll) I have ever met, I wish I could show more because his face is brilliant, but it will have to wait until the end so it doesn't spoil the surprise for the other doll makers. He was made by Ruth Martin and Lucy May Schofield added a beautiful piece of clothing to which I have added a shiny, red heart and a pocket for putting things in. He is off to Katy in America now; a little early but the post will take some time. I'm looking forward to receiving the next one.....

Monday, October 13, 2008

Creature Feature shop

What a treat! The lovely people at Black lark Gallery have made the sweetest display for their Creature Feature show; painted trees with ladders and cages in black outlines on pure white walls. They've also put some of the creatures onto their online shop, the Lumi doll is so sweet, I think I will have to add these to my wish list.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Doll Project Number 3 (Doll 2)

Here is a peek at Raymond the baby elephant who was made, in the Doll Project, by Lucy May Schofield, I have begun his outfit, but can't show anymore of it so it's a surprise for us all at the end. I'm not very good at surprises, I always want to know in advance - this is very difficult!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Creature Feature Show

I'm just sending off a few little families of creatures to the Black Lark for a new new show called Creature Feature. One Little Errol (a raspberry red one) is traveling down to chaperone a collection of tweed sleeping babies (like the one to the right of Little Errol in the flyer) to join a whole collection of gorgeous creatures, they have lovely plans for the display in the show; I think it will be well worth a visit.

Creature Feature
Black Lark Gallery,
72 Norman Road,
St Leonards on Sea
TN38 0EJ
Tel: 01424 439111

Private View: 10th October 2008
Show Ends: 2nd November 2008

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Holly Berry

This is a character that I made especially for Ann from her most favorite old jumpers and gloves, I made her years and years ago and saw her again recently; Annie has called her Holly Berry (she's not quite Halle Berry, but she does have nice eyes and long legs) this is one of the biggest characters I have made and is doubly unusual as she has an outfit; the shorts have a lacy trim around the top and a tiny doll sized button at the front of them.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Cockpit Arts Open Studios in September

It's just less than a week until the next Open Studios at Cockpit Arts... and .... I have some more Little Errols! I'm very excited- I have some now and I'll have a whole lot more in time for the Christmas shows, and also quite a few squeaking sleeping babies. I have all of the new cards on display for the first time since launching them in July, including the Christmas ranges (they're all on the website). Oh.. and the enamel badges, including lots of seconds at discounts.

I'm in studio 305 on the top floor of - please come along and say hello.
20-21 September 2008
11am - 6pm
Cockpit Arts Deptford,
18-22 Creekside
London
SE8 3DZ

There are directions and a map to find the studios at the Cockpit Arts website.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Doll Project Number 3

We've just begun the third Doll Project. I posted mine yesterday (it's a rabbit), you can see more at our group blog here. We won't show a photo all of any of the dolls until the end, so we can keep them a surprise from each other. I'm really excited about it!

Friday, August 29, 2008

A Monty Montage

I'm only showing this super sickly sweet picture so he doesn't look utterly ridiculous in all of the photos here (rather undignified!).

Because this is how he looks most of the time when he is asleep on us. He is the most sociable and boisterous cat I have ever know, such a sweetie, and so naughty! We have just had him a few months and already he has been to the emergency vet (chewed broom bristles), concussed himself running full speed into a table leg, been stung by a bee so his paw doubled in size, got his paw stuck down a hole.... the list goes on

He loves being on us on all the time, he gets into bed when ever he can, sleeps on his back and climbs into my cardigans to sleep against my chest and tummy when I am working at the computer. He also plays fetch with balls, bringing them from the other end of the house back to us and drags his bed into whichever room we are in - very uncat-like! None of our other cats have been anywhere near this crazily relaxed and friendly, so I'm guessing it's the breed and his good mummy cat?

Crepe Wool Sleeping Babies in love

Last year I made a few sherbet coloured Sleeping Babies from wool crepe- so fine, and delicate colours, and they have chalky white leather ears! I have the plan to make them little homes in these lovely boxes - this is their home, maybe a bed but it still has a long way to go. I'll put a picture up when they are all complete.
I have made the first part of my doll for the new doll project and it'll be posted on Monday, you'll be able to track their progress on the Doll Project blog.
I've also been designing some more characters for one of my clients, when they stop being a secret I'll show some pictures of them too.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Tiny Tweed Twins

Oh Gosh, at last a new picture! I have been sending out orders and working on comissions and not been doing very much sewing at all, but here I have a cross breed! These two tiny tweed twins are a cross between Mischeivous Maud and Bothersome Boris and the little Squeaking Sleeping Babies, They are just less than 3 inches tall and they are very lazy.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Doll Project Number 1

I met up with Nina yesterday and we were remembering all of the amazing dolls from the first doll project that we took part in. It was in 2004/5 and organised by Jackie Parsons of Bo Peep Kids, who makes lovely sock dolls and monkeys.

For the first month we each made the beginnings of a doll, on month 2; we each posted the doll to the next person on the list and so, at the end, our dolls were returned to us complete having been worked on and added to by everyone in the project.

There were 10 of us in all, all designer makers and I've found all of the photos that I had - such a shame that I don't have pictures of all of them.

1. Me, Maud who you can see further back in another posting with all of her additions.
2. Petra Boase, This was the first I got so it has very little done on it and it was the hardest for me to do.
3. Isabel Stanley, Sweet little Noriko came in a beautiful box. I made her a pink satin dress. Nina made her a beautiful face - you can see a picture of her completed on Jackies website
4. Jo Gordon, I can't believe that I don't have a photo of this one, I made a blue and white spotty skirt - she was called Maybeline! and she was delicious - there is a photo on Jackies site too.
5. Cecilie Telle. I loved this one - so funny, I think she and Maud would sit nicely together but I have no idea how she ended up as she still had to go to another four people after me.
6. Emma Eardley. WOW! Golden boots, she was quite a lady! I gave her a face which was terrifying to do, I was worried I would give her the wrong personality. Some later in the project gave her a nice hair do.
7. Ken Eardley, I think Ken started his doll off with the ceramic face, my mum knitted her a shawl which we decorated with bright buttons.
8. Rachel Eardley, No photo and this was a real good'un.... Darn it! If I remember it correctly; she had a vintage badge face and was quite tiny and lived in an entirely collaged room. I made a fridge room a cigar box.
9. Jackie Parsons ballerina sock doll; she had a tiny heart embroidered onto her bottom. I made her tiny knitted stripy top which buttoned up the back.
10. Nina Mankin, A dainty little fairy with teensiest handmade cardigan. I made her a little clutch purse!

I'll see if I can track down some more pictures of them...... I had a look to see if I had many photos of the second doll project and I only have 2 which is rubbish. There were some really good ones in there - whoops!
I'll be starting on my third doll project later in the summer - looking forward to it.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Hello My Little Friend! Monty.

A new little friend has come to live with us, he is the sweetest (and naughtiest) little kitten! We brought him home with us last weekend after a lovely wedding anniversary holiday on the Norfolk Broads - he is a good souvenir! He has utterly won my heart and sleeps on my lap at every opportunity (including now), I can't promise that I won't go kitten bonkers and take photos of him all the time, he is so pretty.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Pin-on Pets

At last, I have some Little Errol and Squeaky Beryl enamel badges - I am very excited about them, I have been planning to make them for a few years, they have been a long time in coming.
Little Errol is 2cm high, has a clasp pin backing and he is pinned onto a card with a drawing of his home in a pet shop.
Squeaky Beryl is 2.5cm high, has a brooch backing and she is on a pet show card (winning 'best in show', of course, because she is a bit bossy and can be quite a show-off. Dancing Ernie came 2nd for his fancy foot-work and high spirits, and Little Errol came a poor third because he didn't make any effort and still had cake mixture and mud on his trousers and paws).

We launched them at the weekend at Pulse (a trade show at Earls Court, London), so they'll be in the the shops in the next few months. My Mum has worn her Squeaky Beryl badge every day for the past week!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Sleeping Babies Illustration

Finished today! Here is a sneak preview of part of one of the new cards I'm designing at the moment. I've drawn the Sleeping babies for the header of a Friendship Tokens card - it has lots of other tokens drawn on it too, it'll be launched at the start of June with the other new designs but I couldn't resist putting this bit up here now - well it does fit with the little creature theme!

Little Errol Illustration

For the first few years that I made Little Errols, they were all sorts of colours, a real mix and match, more recently they became much more uniform with the mustards, raspberry and greens wining out. This picture is a nice reminder of the craziness of those first few years, especially a funny, extra furry, almost luminous pink one that went, very fittingly, to the colourful Suzi of Twisted Twee (The best kiddies things ever). Perhaps it is time to make some more super colourful creatures.... (best wait until the Open Studios and Pulse trade show are out of the way). This Saturday I am planning to go in search of woolen blankets so I'll look out for some bright ones.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Cockpit Arts Open Studios in May

We're having Working Open Studios in a few weeks; a bit different from the Christmas Open Studios where we stop work and turn the studios into stalls, for this one, those of us that are taking part are keeping our studios running for a behind the scenes view; which for me will mean the floor and all surfaces being covered in scraps of fabric and threads and maybe not that much room for anything else! I have made plenty of small soft creatures including a handful of (the very rare) Mini Matchbox Monster Babies.
I'm busy at the moment adding the finishing touches to lots of new card designs* ready to be launched at the trade show Pulse at the start of June, it's nearly time to send them off to the printers, but this drawing and design work is leaving very little time for sewing so I'll be glad to have the chance at the Open Studio.

Please come along and say hello. I'm in Studio 305, Cockpit Arts Deptford.

*I have also designed some tiny enamel brooches that are being made right now - I am so excited about them! One is of Little Errol and one of Squeaky Beryl and they will be mounted on a card with a drawing of a friendly pet shop along with care instructions. I'll put a picture up here when they arrive in 3 weeks or so. (Did I mention that I was excited about them?!)

Anna's Summercoat Squirrel

News from a favorite of mine. Anna has sent a photo of Summercoat Squirrel who was a special commission for her. It looks like he has a very, very nice life!

Alice's Bothersome Boris

Alice came to help me for a weeks work experience over Easter (THANK YOU Alice!) and at the end of the last afternoon when we were both too tired to do much else, we sat sewing and I showed Alice how to make her own Bothersome Boris. She sent this photo of him and here is a link to see some of her other pretty creations.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Doll Project Number 2

Here's Harold.
(I had him on the blog before - when he returned home to me, but I accidentally deleted him - still not too hot on this blogging thing, Whoopsie! So here he is reinstated).
Harold came back to me at the start of this year after a very long visit to lots of other designer makers. He left me as a sweet innocent little monkey baby with a liking for chewing wires; just a stripy toweling body, ears and a blank face and he has returned to me a... well, I'm not quite sure really... he is quite extraordinary.
An enormous amount of skill, talent, time, love and care has gone into creating the individual components, which put together as a whole make the most barmy creature I have ever seen.
The rules were the same as with Doll Project Number 1 Maud, but this one had a few more makers involved. An exquisite pink knit jump suit by jeweller and illustrator Rachel Eardley. I love the colours and the sweet green stitching down the sides.
And this miniature printed satin bomber jacket by Heather Martin is enough to bring tears to my eyes.
They added to the journal as Harold visited them:
Jo Sheffield (Baby things) made some perfect hobnail boots. Lisa Marklew (Ceramics) made monkey madness with a pair of ceramic banana earrings. Jo Gordon (Knitwear) gave him a diamonte earings and some arms. Jo Hill crafted a paper guitar. Rachel Eardley (Jewellery and illustration) made his jumpsuit. Heather Martin (Textiles) made the bomber jacket. Ken Eardley (Ceramics) gave him a moustache. Claire Fletcher (illustration). Isabel Stanley (Lampshades) who I think made his legs.
Thank you all x x x

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Snowy

So we didn't have any snow at Christmas, but the start of April brought us a few inches and I quickly muddled together this little snowman before it all melted away again. He was a titchy little thing and only lived a few hours - I think I can see the fear in his stone eyes!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Squeaking Sleeping Babies

I've been spending the last few months doing commissions and starting designs for my new card ranges for the summer, so I relish my sewing time all the more. I'm slowly building my collection back up after Christmas and Kids.Modern.

These little sleeping babies are made from the softest cashmere tweed and are just big enough (much bigger than Teeny Timmy and Moaning Mini) to fit a squeaker into so they are quite noisy. I lined them up on the desk and played chopsticks on them but they need a bit of tuning.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Doll Project Number 1 at the start....

I'm looking through old photos and findings some nice old friends. Here is Maud before she headed off on her journey to be added to in the first doll project. You can see her finished here.
She had the tea cosy pattern in the box when she set off so she'd have something nice to read. I had forgotten that she has a mustard couloured gusset that her legs are sewn into and that earned her the nickname 'Custard Knickers' Yuk - probably best forgotten again!

Before Mini Matchbox Monster Babies...

This little chap is quite old now, I made him for my friend Katys birthday and he was the start of the Mini Matchbox Monster Babies. This one is a bit different though - I had lots of fantastic old fabric patchwork pieces that my mum had left over from a quilt they they made in the 7o's so I lined the box with it and he has a solid bottom (with flower pattern) to stand up on, and nice big stickey out ears (I like stickey out ears). I bought lots of vintage matchbox labels in a junk shop in Bristol (it's gone now) and this squirrel is one of my favorites.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Little Errols at Home 3

"...two quick snaps. One is Errol enjoying a snack, in the second he has just finished a jigsaw while awaiting Harriet's homecoming. Unfortunately I didn't have the camera when we went dancing. More will follow.... "

"Little Errol Big Ben"
This Errol, I think, has taken on the personality of a cosmopolitan, James Bond, skiing sort -of-chap.

I'm hoping that these two are still together too (sadly no photograph).
"My two Errols are so at home here! I am keeping them as they have made friends and I can't split them up!"

Little Errols at Home 2

Some more picture and stories of Little Errols in their new homes!
"Little Errol and his friends" This Little Errol lives with Frida and has got such nice new friends! I love the tiny twins.

"Lots of greetings from Errol in his new Swedish home! He was helping me with the plants earlier this summer and did a very good job!" from Anna