Link love digest: week 8

In what has proved to be a fairly hectic week, here are the makers and crafters I promoted. Almosty all this week's crafter's have chosen to keep a low profile, sharing little about themselves online, preferring to let their work to speak for them.

Sue Harold
La Costurera

Unique bridal couture, mothers of the bride/groom, proms and casual clothing

La Costurera

Nikki Meara
Nikelcards

Nikki has shared nothing of her personal story that I can find, but her cards are lovely, so she gets a mention.

Nikelcards

Paul Bentley
Bentley Bespoke Wooden Items

Handmade bespoke wooden items to suit the needs of the buyer.

Bentley Bespoke

Maxine Pring
Max Pring Jewellery

I have been making jewellery for several years gradually learning my trade since 2009.

Max Pring Jewellery

I am primarily self taught and started out making classic designs using beads and string developing my skills through practice and gradually progressed into metalsmithing in the past year.

I usually start with basic metal sheet in either copper or silver and then cut, sand, hammer, drill and polish my work to create unusual designs. I often draw my designs on my i-pad first then sit down with my tools to turn the sketch into a piece of jewellery.

I also love to work with unusual gemstones and try to incorporate my own metal components or wire wire wrapping, these tend to be organic with the design built up around the stones.

Most of my work is one of a kind and rarely repeated. As well as jewellery I also love to paint and create mixed media work and scrapbooks. You can find these in my other Folksy Shop Paper, Chains & Beads. 

Heather Veach
I Dream of Jane

Unique, handmade dream catchers from the Pacific Northwest.

I dream of Jane

Julie Maginn
Dewdrop Cards and Crafts

Handmade on and inspired by the beautiful Isle of Wight.

Dewdrop

Gintare Kersiene
GK Natural Creations

Pure natural handmade soaps and bath products.

GK Natural Creations

Karyn's Kraft Korner

Yes, I'm aware that Karyn's Kraft Korner abbreviates to KKK. But I'm not going to be scared away from the easy (and appropriate) alliteration, just because some pernicious bunch of bigots beat me to it. So there. Or, as my husband's (Swedish) family would say, och därmed basta!

Karyn's Kraft Korner

I have already mentioned how I am helping a friend with her newly established business Grace & Favours in Northampton (England, not Massachusetts). I've even mentioned my 1:1 krafting sessions. At the moment, the furniture and construction of my Kraft Korner is temporary. It will improve, once things have stabilised somewhat. Nevertheless, I thought I'd show you how things look at the moment.

I put in some storage shelves today. More will no doubt follow in due course, since I filled those in short order!
On the back wall, you can see some pieces of organza. Those are samples: I'm going to make some photo backdrops for weddings. I won't be using the sewing machine you see under its white fabric cover practically dead centre of the picture. That's Jules's (shop owner's) machine. And I'm going to teach her to use it, come hell or high water!

In the foreground, you see a framed item I was working on today.  It's a sort of mixed media piece about Corduroy the bear. It's one of my favourite children's stories, and I was never able to read it to my sons without getting all choked up at the end. This was true of all my favourite bedtime stories. My children are probably convinced that most children's books end "...choke, sob, sniffle."

To the left of that is a rather pretty white lamp (you can see a lit one top left of the shot). Next up on the improvement plans is lighting suspended from above - lighting in the shop is pretty poor...which is okay since Jules has a distinct penchant for fairy lights, which abound, and are shown off to their own advantage by the absence of good light from other sources.

On top of the lamp is a piece of wood carving, that seems to have come off a traveller's caravan (Jules and I found it in a ditch one wet day). I have painted it cream. When it's dry, I shall burnish it with burnishing paste.

Willow heart

To the left of the lamp you see a heart-shaped box that Jules is working on. It's a slow-burner. She has other things on her plate, and since I do enough crafting for both of us, she's under no pressure to finish it until she feels inspired.

Only just in the frame on the left, is a heart I made from willow sticks suspended by copper wire from another willow stick. I'm rather pleased with its rough and ready look and it makes the most pleasant wind-chime-y sound when bumped. I might add some more copper wire to stabilise it at some point.

The table is cluttered, because it's in use. What you can't see is that there are at least two more projects underway on the other side of the table. One of them involves the red paper you see rolled up next to the sewing machine. The other involves carved bamboo spoons. I didn't carve them, but I am painting them.

Like I said: I craft enough for both of us.

So here's the thing. If you're a local person, why not book yourself in for a 1:1 session of krafting with Karyn? You can learn something new, improve a skill you're already working on, or relearn something old and almost forgotten.

In the run up to Mothers' Day (which is in March in the UK), I'm also offering sessions for people of all ages to make a gift for the first woman they ever loved.

Or you might like to gift your Mom with a voucher for a 1:1 session of her own. Contact the shop via our website (still under construction, but basically functional) or Facebook page (or just give us a call) to make your booking.

Link love digest: week 7

Here is the summary of the makers and crafters I promoted this week. Several of them have display space in Grace and Favours in Northampton. So you have two ways to support them: visit their online spaces or pop in to the shop. 


Remember: when you buy from an independent maker, a real live person does a little happy dance.

Laura and Carly
Butter Bee Creative
Handmade cards and other small craft items in aid of the refurbishment of the chemotherapy suite at Northampton General Hospital.

Butter Bee Creative

Laura and Carly began raising money for the Chemotherapy Suite after Carly lost her Nan to cancer in August 2014. Andrea was very keen to raise money herself for the new unit and began stitching items when she was in hospital. 

Leading on from this, we'd really like to raise as much money as possible for such a great cause.

Deema
Deema Delights

Real petal confetti, accessories, decor, scented petals, wedding favours, bath bombs, cards.

Deema Delights

Deema started collecting petals for confetti in 2016 when she fell in love with the fluttery nature of Cherry Blossom in the Spring! Her business has now grown to include a co-operative of pickers and stylists who help to create vibrant petal mixes, favours, cards, gifts and accessories, all hand-made, seasonal and to order, perfect for any celebration!

Take some of the stress and decision making out of planning a wedding by letting me help with those finishing touches. Together, we can create beautiful memories that will last you a life time! What better way to start your married life together?

Beautifully Bespoke Confetti, gifts, cards and accessories taken care of just for you. Memorable, unique, colourful and fun!

Pebble Crafts

Becky
Pebblecrafts

Beautiful hand-crafted decorations and gifts. Any quotes on slate hearts for very reasonable prices gifts and favours. Bespoke orders accepted.

Emma Wootton
The Velvet Company
A collection of beautiful Room Scents in a simple yet elegant English style.

The Velvet Company

Hand poured, using the finest scents and soya wax at our location in Northamptonshire, England, we offer a indulgent and sophisticated choice of candles and room scents .  We pride ourselves in every detail with each candle and room scent, we believe that every product should arrived beautifully wrapped in its own gift box, so treat yourself or someone special to a gorgeous scent which will give your room the most beautiful scent, with the added effect of our crackle wick candles giving the soothingly crackle when lit  of a relaxing ambiance of an open fire.

In addition to our our gorgeous candles,we also offer gift boxes for those who are looking for something extra to go with their candle.

TLC

Theresa Meen
TLC (Theresa's Lovely Crafts)
Mixed media artist.
A small selection of my art is based in Grace & Favour shop.
Also able to do commissions too.












Janette
Iddy Biddy Boutique

Iddy Biddy Boutique

I used to have a sensible job . . . then a house bunny, oh and two children came along! I needed a job I could do at home. As I had been bending wire, making and selling earrings since I was 18 (oh so many moons ago!) and I adore Jewellery, it seemed a natural progression to further develop my silversmithing skills and start my own jewellery making business.
Iddy Biddy Boutique was born!

I like to think my designs are fresh & funky, with an organic yet modern twist! I create jewellery in mostly silver and copper. I like to oxidise the metals, adding spirals and swirls where I get the chance . . . love them! More recently, I am working with gemstones in my designs . . . ooh so many lush ones to choose from!

All of my designs are original. I get my inspiration and ideas from absolutely everywhere! My head is constantly bombarded with ideas for my next creation.

After all these years, my favourite place to be is still in my workshop (kitchen!) with my tools and bunny by my feet! I absolutely love what I do and I think that is evident in every piece I make.

I sell online, at local Craft Fairs around the North Devon area and my work can also be found at the following venues:
Willows in Braunton & Barnstaple
ID Fashion in The Royal William Yard, Plymouth
Traditsia in Totnes
Dream Jewellery in Tavistock Market.

Link love digest: week 6

Here's my round up of the link love shares I've posted in my various spaces this week. As it happens, they all have Etsy Shops, which I encourage you to visit.

Jacky Tang
Jacky Style

Jacky Style

My name is Jacky! I am used to be an accountant at the first time, but now I am a shopkeeper on ETSY, JackyStyle is a hand-crafted collection of corset for women.

An accidental opportunity, when I browse on google, pop up a page at this time, this page was introduced some sexy corset and there are many stars wear it, they are looked very sexy, beautiful and confident. I was deeply attracted by them.

So I was keep collecting information about corset, the corset was firmly cemented in dress history as one of the most important garments across the world, constantly evolving with the times whilst retaining its unique premise of shaping the human silhouette. I think the garment will be accepted and loved by women.

Then I plan to start a business on Etsy, I consult with my brother Jianhui, he is a designer and paper pattern maker, And we are sure the style of the CORSET in my shop. Sexy, punk, retro style is my leading direction.

Eimee GB

Sofie Bukari
Eimee GB

Custom-made clothing may sound like something only possible in the world of celebrities but I will make it happen for you at affordable price. Every item is handmade by me in my little studio! I custom make each item - just for you!

I live in the UK, London.

Etsy has been a great success for my friend, encouraging me to offer my services and items around the world,

I design, produce and make sure items are perfect and strive to please. Your business is my pleasure!

Noelia Alonso and Laura Alonso
Ayalga

Noelia and Laura, both co-founders of "Los Tesoros de la Ayalga" We share our surname but luckily we also share a project. Someone could say that since we were just little girls we loved to create, imagine and of course break in to various devices just to check "what was inside" and so we did, but what we would really like to transmit with this is that over the years we still enjoy the urge that arises from an idea that becomes into reality.

Ayalga

Even if we cannot satisfy everybody's taste we want to be true to our own way of seeing things regardless the current trends, but at the same time we would like to offer the possibility to create something unique and special and customize it to your desire, so since we started this adventure in 2010 we have made an effort each day to ensure that everybody that trusts us and buys any of our creations can actually feel that they were made with love and care.

With the help of all of you that have supported us and the new ones that become part of this, we can keep working, improving and offering, after all, a piece of our dream. 

 ??
HATsanity

HATsanity

The owners of this Etsy shop have provided little information about themselves. I don't even know their names. However, their hats are beautiful, so they rate a share. As I've said several times before - I choose people based purely on their work. 

You can purchase many different type of HATs here.
ROCK IT NOW ~

Kelly
Petunias

Kelly, Married, WAHM. 4 Kids; Simon (11-05) and Sierra (01-07) and Alison (06-09) and Alexander (10-10).

Petunias

I started PETUNIAS after Simon was born but have really been sewing my entire life. I can remember sewing clothes and sleeping bags for all of my Pound Puppy stuffed animals when I was little. AND crafting and the entrepreneurial spirit run through most of my family lines so it was a pretty natural step for me to begin PETUNIAS!

I am totally addicted to all the wonderful fabric out there and really strive to keep my items fresh, fun, and modern for all of my customers. I also have a great love of designing fabric and more which you will see plenty of in my shop. I hope you love PETUNIAS fresh styles and patterns!

Dawn, my mom, helps me out with listing, shipping, packaging and sewing!

FIND me on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/PETUNIASbyKelly

Gillian
PingWynny

I make handmade textiles, specialising in patchwork quilts. My quilts come in many colours & sizes so have a look to see if there's something to fit your needs.

PingWynny

 

I love patchwork and embroidery, well anything textiles based really. I started so long ago I’m not sure when and how anymore, I did a lot of cross stitch from about 9 maybe 10 (proper designs from magazines so there must have been previous years of sewing my name on binca) and there was an awful attempt at a scarf around the same time.

I have completed my City & Guilds parts 1 & 2 certificates in Creative Embroidery which was the most wonderful course.

All my items are handmade by myself in a smoke free home.

Theresa
TessWorld Designs

TessWorld Designs

After traveling in some parts of the world, I became fascinated by different culture and the art of colors. One thing I realized was that, colors had no boundaries. There came the name "Tess World Designs". It has been demonstrated through floral arrangements, room paintings, cars, make ups and most of all through clothing, to name a few.

Coming from Africa, vibrant colors are very much appreciated. One of Ghana's best known product is Kente Cloth, a hand woven cloth most often associated with wealth and cultural sophistication or royalty. We carry the widest variety of the factory version and the woven kente.

After working out of the home for many years, I am delighted to now open my shop and let out my God given creative talent and desire, that had been in me for all this years come to life.

I have been sewing since I was a little girl starting from dolls, my own clothes, other people, my kids and even my husband.

My love for colors, fabrics and sewing has come to life because of you. I could not have done it without your patronage! Thank you!

 

Grace and Favours

I've been alluding to and hinting about this for a while, so perhaps it's about time I explained.

My friend Julie has set up a shop in Northampton called Grace and Favours. It opens its doors to the public tomorrow: Tuesday, 7 Feb 2017. It isn't something she expected to be doing at this point in her life, but that's a story for another time.

Grace and Favours will sell and hire out party, wedding and event decor, gifts and accessories. A selection of independent makers and crafters of related items have been given the opportunity to sell their wares through the store.

[This is probably the appropriate point to tell you that Julie is arguably the most gracious person I know. She has done a great deal - at significant literal and metaphorical cost to herself - to improve the lot of others in the Northampton area.]

The reason that I haven't written about anything much on this blog lately, is that I have been very busy helping Julie get the store ready. The two of us - especially Julie - have been hard at work. We:

• Removed wall tiles relating to the previous business
• Painted the whole store
• Painted so many other items, I've lost track
• Sourced vintage items suitable for hire, and travelled hither and yon to collect them
• Gave abovementioned items some TLC where necessary
• Spent large amounts of (Julie's) money at hardware stores, craft supply stores, fabric stores, Preloved, eBay... the list goes on
• Assembled a photo booth
• Built an upcycled service counter
• Strung more fairy lights than you can shake a stick at

  

  More fairy lights than you can shake a stick at

• Made and installed display spaces for the various traders
• Crafted all manner of small items to include in the stock: heart shaped trinket boxes, doggy bandannas, badges, tealight holders...
• Fetched, carried, assembled, drilled, hammered, painted, lugged, sweated
• Drank a lot of Diet Coke (with citrus splash in my case - Jules prefers the original)
• Lost sleep
• Injured ourselves (especially me) with various sharp and/or heavy things
• Sang along to the music emanating from my phone on the dock in the corner
• Shed tears of frustration, anguish, pain, and - fortunately - laughter

So, as you can see, it's been a bit hectic!

In my personal capacity, I will be working in the store part time in order to help Julie get established. In my capacity as 'Karyn's Kreations' I will offer 1:1 'krafting' sessions and group workshops. I will also 'kreate' stock for the store. My alter ego, 'your friendly upsycho' will upcycle things to order for the business as required. In time, we will see how it all balances out.

If you're local to the Northampton area, or find yourself in the area for any reason, pop in and say hi.

Link love digest: week 5

A day late, for which I apologise, but I was occupied on site at Grace and Favours all day yesterday (more of that anon).

So let's take a look at my link love shares from last week. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

On a side note, a few weeks ago, one of my link love shares caught the eye of a friend, and that crafter is a now a supplier to the friend's shop. You never know where the ripples may spread to...

??
Papercrane Studios

Papercrane Studios

I don't actually know the name of this crafter, but I love the steampunk pieces s/he creates.

Papercrane Studios is the product of a Theatre Design degree and a whole lot of travelling. We try to combine a traditional jewelry aesthetic, with industrial sensibilities- nature and machine; old and new; salvaged goodies & found treasures from the world over. The pieces we make are unique, and will never be reproduced. They’ve already lived a past life, and now come to you ready to live a new adventure!

Roz Legge
Orchard Felts

Believing I was totally without artistic or creative talent all my life I followed a scientific career until a few years ago when I stumbled into crafting quite by accident and became hooked. Initially all and any craft would do but then I discovered felting and became addicted.

Roz Legge

I love working with wool fibres. Being able to create such a vast range of items from the humble fibre fascinates me and I am always on the look out for new ideas and techniques.

I use lots of felting techniques in my work, needle felting, wet felting, nuno felting and resist felting, to make a wide range of items. My main focus has always been my nuno felted scarves which I adore due to their super soft and lightweight nature, but I love to experiment and other items are always popping into my head and therefore my shop.

Gorgeously soft merino wool is used for my scarves, which in the case of nuno felt is felted onto a silk or cotton base, with other fibres, both natural and synthetic, being used for decorative effect. Other breeds of wool are sometimes used for other items.

I have recently given up my full time job allowing me to dedicate more time to my felting.

Jacqueline Jean
Hip and Clavicle

Jacqueline Jean

Hip and Clavicle is an expression of my adoration for nature, the heady perfume of whimsy, magic and romance that surrounds any investigation into the awe-inspiring parade of forms that millions and billions of years have worked... what better source of inspiration could an artist draw from?

A tomboy at heart, I find artmaking akin to exploring underneath rocks in the garden. There are common themes but each discovery is unique. I take the greatest pleasure in exploring new materials and revising designs. When I'm not busy designing and paper-sculpting my favorite creatures, I can be found outdoors with a camera in my hands.

A couple of themes I repeatedly find myself returning to:

•Bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out.

•Exploring the way ordinary objects and processes come together with human sense and memory in moments that transcend their everyday existence. I am drawn to capture and recreate those moments that spontaneously fill me with wide-eyed reflection and contemplation.

I find inspiration in dark woods, moss-covered bark and wild fields. I daydream constantly and long to live in a treehouse. If I were a piece of music, the instrumentation would include a piano and a harpsichord, and at least a peppering of something broken or long out of tune. ;)

Corinne Thorne
iamjewellery4u

I am a single mum to a toddler I love him and jewellery! I design and create every piece you see in my shop from scratch. Each piece is handmade in my home from silver, copper and glass. I also create Memorial jewellery.

Corinne Thorne

I make handmade one of a kind pieces of jewellery using silver, glass and sometimes copper. Created from design to the finished piece. I also fuse the glass myself so everything is unique.
I bought a piece of glass from America and loved it so much I wanted to know how it was made. I had a read, bought a small kiln, supplies and had a go. I've been making fused glass jewellery for a while now and the glass is amazing. Find me on Instagram corrinet1974 for some small videos. 

I started encasing ashes in glass for people a few years later and this has evolved. I wanted to learn silver jewellery making to enable me to make the memorial jewellery extra special. I did a 12 week course and after week 2 is bought basic tools and again had a go. Now I create one of a kind pieces of handmade jewellery at home. My blog Greyhairedmummy.co.uk (memorial jewellery) gives more of an insight into why I do this.

I love knowing that no one else in the world is wearing the same piece of jewellery. It's as individual as you.

Andrei Voronin
Woodworks

I've not been able to learn anything about Andrei, other than that he lives in Belarus. His website is in Cyrillic, and there doesn't seem to be an 'about' section. So let's let his work speak for him, shall we?

Andrei Voronin

Sue Trevor
Sue Trevor

All my items are handmade and ready to post to you via 1st class royal mail, often arriving through your letterbox the very next day, with the exception of my overseas customers where the items take a little longer to arrive....

All come neatly packaged in tissue paper or with an organza bag. Each and every piece of my work is individually handmade then photographed before I list it for sale in my Folksy shop. Some items will be similar, but no two are the same.

Sue Trevor

I trained at Loughborough College of Art and design. My current body of work started about 12 years ago when I mastered the art of free machine embroidery. Today a lot of my work is based on the botanical world. I layer up my fabrics which are usually hand dyed Egyptian cottons and I often incorporate silk too, as it gives a wonderful sheen. Then I free machine embroider over all the layers to create quite a stiff fabric before I cut, sew, fold and manipulate the fabric into shape, often 3 dimensional, resulting in little treasure like containers.

I have had a love of badges since a very young age and I'm pleased to be able to incorporate these in my current work.

I also love making my own glass beads, known as glass lampworking, this too can be seen occasionally in my work.

Anne Honeyman
Chocolate Frog

Anne Honeyman

I’m Anne Honeyman, a full time textile artist living and working on the beautiful Isle of Skye (UK).

I revel in the visual and tactile effects unique to my medium – from sumptuous textures to delicate lacy structures. With a background in environmental science (PhD in palaeo-ecology), the natural environment is an endless source of inspiration for my work.

I specialise in machine embroidery, but also enjoy hand stitch, dyeing, crochet, and using an embellisher. My designs tend to combine precision and repetition with an element of serendipity!

Since completing City and Guilds Creative Embroidery in 2000 I’ve exhibited throughout the UK in art shows and contemporary craft galleries. I’ve also had over 40 projects published in “Classic Stitches” magazine and have work featured in “Fiberarts Design Book 7”.

Oh, and my two other favourite things are frogs and chocolate! (I didn't even know about the Harry Potter thing when I chose this name!) 

 
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