The Minories Christmas Art and Design Fair

I'm looking forward to taking part in The Minories Christmas Art and Design Fair in Colchester on 7th December! If you're in the area do pop in if you're on the lookout for unique handmade Christmas gifts- there will be beautiful Art, Jewellery, Ceramics, Cards, Prints and much more available to buy direct from the makers on the day, as well as a pop up vintage shop! It's also worth a visit to check out the exhibitions and for lunch or tea and cake in the Garden Cafe! It's on from 10-4, would be lovely to see you!
Find out more about The Minories here

A lovely gift

My friend Jean Muir makes beautiful ceramic pieces including these gorgeous rabbit Brooches. I was lucky enough to receive this lovely little rabbit from Jean for my birthday, I just love it! You can visit Jean's Gallery, The Jessica Muir Gallery, in Long Melford, Suffolk, to see more of her creations. Find out more here

In the meantime I'm wrapping up warm in the studio at Cuckoo Farm now winter is here- it's got quite cold! I'm keeping busy though and I'm currently making some hand knitted pieces (cosy!) for some events I've got coming up in early December. I'll keep you posted!

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!