Hoorah! We now have video on our blog, so here for your viewing pleasure is some inspirational footage from London-based bespoke handsewn shoemakers CarreDucker. You can read more about their work and what inspires them in our Meet the Maker interview with co-founder Deborah Carre, or find out about their handsewn shoemaking courses in London and New York at www.carreducker.com.
This month’s competition must have one of the most fascinating prizes we’ve offered to date. Inspired by his coastal surroundings, Cornwall based jewellery designer Joseph Lamsin uses locally hand-picked cuttlefish shells to cast his beautiful jewellery designs in silver and gold, making each piece a truly unique work of art.
For a chance to win this sterling silver necklace worth over £200, click here to enter…
This bank holiday we spent the weekend pottering by the river in Henley-on-Thames and quite by chance discovered that it was the annual Henley Arts Trail, where local artists and designer makers open their studios to the public.
Never one to miss an opportunity to visit an open studio event, we headed off first of all to Assenden Glass where glassmaker Anne Arlidge’s studio was filled with people fascinated by the various techniques she uses. Of particular interest to me were her beautiful cast fruit and vegetables made from recycled Dartington crystal using a technique based on the lost wax casting method, which she refers to as the ‘lost vegetable process’! You can read about how she creates these tactile pieces on her website at www.assendenglass.co.uk/vegetables.asp.
Next we visited the idyllic garden studio of jeweller Wendy Penrose who also had quite a crowd watching her demonstrate how she creates her beautiful handmade silver and glass beads. Wendy was absolutely delightful, taking time to explain to my (rather grumpy and overtired) three year old exactly what she was doing, and allowing him to dig for treasure in her wonderful bead collection! I was transfixed watching Wendy work so deftly with the molten glass over a flame, creating each individual bead from scratch using vibrantly coloured sticks of glass.
I adore the coastal theme of Wendy’s work and couldn’t leave without buying a pretty pair of silver clam shell earrings. She has also inspired me to have a go at lampwork myself, and I’m now determined to take up the offer of Tracey Bell at The Old Kennels in Devon who had suggested that I try out one of her glass beadmaking workshops. To see more of Wendy’s work or to place an order, visit her website at www.wendypenrosejewellery.co.uk.
Posted By Nicky at 9:43 pm | Filed under: Creative Courses, Fashion & Beauty, Gift Ideas, Travel & Events | 0 Comments
This month we’re offering you the chance to win an iconic ‘Marianne’ handbag by accessories designer Monica Boxley in a choice of either red, lime, turquoise or black leather.
Monica’s beautiful range of handbags and jewellery are all designed and made in London. Discover her latest collection at the Monica Boxley shop in Twickenham, or visit www.MonicaBoxley.co.uk.
For a chance to win your very own ‘Marianne’ handbag, simply click here to enter the competition!
I do love a happy coincidence. Yesterday I slipped off for a spot of half term fun by taking my son to the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood. By a strange twist of fate which involved a small voice from the back of the car saying ‘mummy I need a wee RIGHT NOW!’ I took the next turning left and found myself parked outside Prick Your Finger, a fascinating haberdashery shop and textiles gallery which specialises in British wools and yarns.
Did you know that there are over 60 indigenous breeds of sheep in the British Isles? It was news to me. Owners Louise Harries and Rachael Matthews, who originally hail from the sheep farming areas of Wales and the Lake District, explained how they work with one of the last remaining British mills to create their own range of yarns, as well as offering a wide variety from British and rare breed sheep.
In this treasure trove of a shop you’ll find thick waxy ropes of wool from the seaweed-eating Ronaldsay sheep from the south Orkneys, Romney wool from the sheep which graze on Romney Marsh in Kent, and Herdwick wool from the hardy breed indigenous to the Lake District, as well as Swaledale, Wensleydale, British Alpaca and Cornish Organic, to name just a few.
You can catch up with Prick Your Finger at the Stanley Picker Gallery at Kingston University from 16-20th March, where they will be constructing the world’s first bicycle powered wool mill, turning unwanted sheep fleeces from within the M25 into a range of seductive yarns. Definitely one for the diary!
If you’re looking for a last minute valentine’s gift (or want to send a hint to someone else!) snap up this silver heart pendant from The Atlantic Blanket Company. I bought one of these for my mother’s 70th birthday last year and it arrived beautifully wrapped in tissue paper, trimmed with a ribbon and a seashell. They’re handmade in Cornwall and mum was thrilled to receive a gift that was made locally to where she lives.
As if you needed any more convincing, The Atlantic Blanket Company are also offering our readers an exclusive 15% discount for online orders placed by 14th February! Visit www.AtlanticBlankets.com and quote FBWL at the checkout.
I do love a good rummage in a button box full of treasures. Unfortunately so does my little boy who delights in emptying my button stash and watching me scrabble around on the floor trying to retrieve them from far off nooks and crannies.
No such problems exist I’m sure for two of the latest listings in our jewellery category. I’d love to see the button collections of Sam from Mrs Gibson’s Atelier and Claire from The Blue Pebble. Both of these talented ladies create beautiful jewellery using new and vintage buttons, and I’m sure their studios are the very picture of buttony organisation.
Button Bracelets from £18.50, Button Earrings £29.00, Mrs Gibson’s Atelier.
Available to buy from Folksy.com and NotMassProduced.com.
Bracelets from £9.50, Necklace £12.50, The Blue Pebble.
Available to buy from NotOnTheHighStreet.com.
This week we visited Top Drawer and were bowled over by the talent and creativity on show. We made a beeline for the event’s popular Product GB initiative which champions exhibitors whose products are designed and manufactured in Britain. Here’s just a small selection from the many inspirational exhibitors we met…
Lovely things for little ones…
Launching at Top Drawer was designer Helen Gordon’s brand new range of childrenswear and accessories featuring her distinctive floral prints, all of which are made here in the UK.
These retro print organic cotton rompers from Organics for Kids are, like everything in their range, made locally in a small factory outside Nottingham.
Made in the UK and free from chemical nasties, the Mummy & Me Pamper Kit from Boo Boo Mummy makes an ideal gift for new arrivals.
Poppy Children’s pretty dresses are inspired by the 1930s and the fabric is printed in Lancaster, with any leftovers being used to create Make-with-Mum rag doll kits.
These sheepskin Cwtch boots from Inch Blue are handmade in Wales. What’s a Cwtch we hear you ask? Apparently it’s the Welsh word for ‘love’ in the form of a hug or cuddle.
Rosie Flo’s Colouring books were inspired by their creator’s two young daughters, and are all designed, printed and published in Britain.
Innovative and eco friendly…
Knitted in the UK using wool from the Scottish highlands, this scarf from Lost Values hides a secret – it glows in the dark, making it perfect for children, cyclists and dark country lanes.
The brainchild of Jaq Croft, the Baggee is a flexible ball which clips onto your keyring and contains spare carrier bags, so you’ll never again reach the checkout and realise you’ve left your bags behind. They’re made in the UK from recyclable materials and there’s even a Doggee version for dog waste bags. Genius!
What looks at first glance like a traditional slate door number is in fact made from recycled plastic coffee cups by the clever people at A Short Walk in Cornwall.
The Herdy Company’s sheep money box (complete with tag saying ‘why should pigs get all the money’) is made in Stoke-On-Trent. Herdy’s products are inspired by the Herdwick sheep native to the Lake District, and through The Herdy Fund they help to support local environmental and sustainability initiatives.
Creative cards…
Launching at Top Drawer, Betty Boyns is a new collection of vintage inspired cards, giftwrap and fabric from designer Paula Nicholls. The name Betty Boyns is her mother’s and the inspiration is the interior of Paula’s family home in Cornwall when she was growing up.
Jacky Al-Samarraie is the graphic artist behind this range of cards and prints featuring photography from around the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, available from The Art Rooms.
Flytrap is a new family run greetings card business whose products feature the work of seven artists across four generations of their family. The card shown here was created by the youngest member of this talented family who is still at school.
Love Retro…
We just love Gillian Kyle’s iconic bags, which feature a foil printed teacake, combining nostalgia with a humourous twist.
According to Chocolate Design, the minute you don this vintage style apron you’ll instantly be transformed into the perfect 1950s hostess. Tea anyone?
Granny Knits is a new brand of contemporary cross stitch kits from the designers behind Pearl & Earl, featuring their trademark nostalgic chic style.
We don’t have space to mention all of the lovely people we met, so if you visited (or exhibited) at Top Drawer this year, why not leave a comment and let us know your thoughts…
Posted By Nicky at 12:25 am | Filed under: Baby & Child, Fashion & Beauty, Gift Ideas, Home & Garden, Travel & Events | 0 Comments
Look out for Laundry Maid Jeans, a new home-grown brand of denim which is all designed, made and laundered in the UK.
Barbara Graham and Anita Sheridan, the design duo behind Laundry Maid Jeans, are committed to spearheading a revival of manufacturing and laundering in Britain because of the low carbon footprint, and the enjoyment of working with people who genuinely care about shape, construction, craftsmanship and finish.
All Laundry Maid Jeans feature a unique back panel which subtly lifts and shapes the rear (ok, I’m sold already!) and attention to detail doesn’t stop there… each pair of jeans comes with its own little lavender bag. Buy online from www.laundrymaidjeans.co.uk.
Posted By Nicky at 8:30 am | Filed under: Fashion & Beauty | 1 Comment
With crunchy snow underfoot, how grateful am I for my new Cornish-made Cabra Boots from Celtic Sheepskin? Warm, toasty and utterly gorgeous, they’re my best Christmas present by far.
Posted By Nicky at 10:10 am | Filed under: Fashion & Beauty | 1 Comment
