A lovely weekend at The Renegade Craft Fair

This weekend I was a vendor at The Renegade Craft Fair on London's Brick Lane and what a lovely weekend it was! I met lots of lovely people and there was such a friendly atmosphere it really was a great thing to be part of. It was also so nice to be surrounded by other like minded makers, all with a passion for the handmade. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello!

Renegade Craft Fair- stand sneak peak!

Less than a week to go now until the Renegade Craft Fair and I'm busy working on the final finishing touches for my stand! I'm very much looking forward to next weekend!

I was given two card display stands that were no longer needed and I've Decopatched them with off-cuts from dress making patterns (which I've always kept with the intention of making something with them) and black tissue paper. I had a really fun evening in with iplayer on, Decopatching away! Here are the results, two DIY Decopatch Display Stands!

From this...

To this!

I'm really pleased with these!

I've also been gathering a collection of old wooden thread reels that most people throw away, and with Distress Ink, letter stamps and photo clips I've made some label stands!

Hope to see you at The Renegade Craft Fair! Find out more here

Renegade Craft Fair, coming soon!

Please come and visit me at The Renegade Craft Fair next month. I'm busy making lots of pieces that would make perfect Christmas gifts, come along and have a look and say hello!

The Shell Grotto, Margate

It's no secret that I love the seaside and all things sea related, so last week I was very happy to be invited on an outing to Whitstable and Margate in Kent!

 After lunch in the lovely Whitstable (will definitely go back there to explore the vintage shops and eat more seafood!) we headed on to Margate to visit The Shell Grotto. I hadn't heard of The Shell Grotto until very recently, but I'm so glad to have had the chance to visit, it's amazing!

 It's unknown how old the Grotto is or who made it- the most popular story of it's discovery comes from 1835 when the man who owned the house above the Grotto was digging a pond in his garden and he uncovered a huge hole. He lowed his young son into the hole, who reported back of tunnels completely mosaiced with shells! I can't even begin to imagine how long it must have taken, even the ceilings are covered!

I would thoroughly recommend a visit here (we also visited The Turner Contemporary whilst in Margate so we made a day of it), it's an intriguing and inspiring place and a little out of the ordinary.

Pretty Whitstable

New necklaces in progress!

I'm up early sewing necklaces for The Renegade Craft Fair using the pieces I machine knitted last night in lots of new colours! Once the bases are finished the next job is choosing the up-cycled fabrics to embellish them with. Looking forward to showing you the finished pieces!

On my needles...

I'm currently knitting (with help from a lovely friend) letters in beautiful Rowan Felted Tweed to make "Louise Dawson Design" bunting! I'm going to hang this on my table at Craft Fairs and events, with it's first outing being The Renegade Craft Fair in November, so I'm busily knitting away!

I've used felt letter bunting in the past, but when I saw the Sirdar pattern for knitted Alphabet Bunting I knew I had to make it, it's very me!

Hair Slide making!

I've had a productive week in the studio Hair Slide making! I'm making these using up-cycled fabrics, vintage buttons and even a little bit of crochet! These will be available to buy on my stand at The Renegade Craft Fair at The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London on the 9th and 10th November. I'm working hard to make lots of lovely new things for the fair, hope to see you there and share them with you!

Notice the ever present cup of tea!

A few ready to go!