Lazy Crafternoons.......

Craft #3: Coffee Cozy - reusable coffee sleeves

2012-01-30T20:03:00.011Z

More and more I've been seeing these little coffee sleeves and 'mug hugs' popping up - and working out a design of my own has been on my 'to-do' list.

I've seen a range of different cozies and designs out there, which wrap around your coffee cup and close with buttons or velcro or different functions and notions, but I wanted to do something which replicated the simple one-size-fits-all cardboard sleeve you get in Starbucks or Caffe Nero.

I took my inspiration from a number of different tutorials, including this lovely one by Skip to my Lou but came up with my own template and design for sewing the patchwork piece into a sleeve.

The first thing I did was pick up a few cardboard coffee sleeves and then used them to create a template, which was the intended size and shape of my sleeve, with a 1/4 inch seam added. After preparing a front and back piece for the sleeve, I sewed them together leaving one side un-sewn for turning out - much like the Skip to my Lou tutorial.

To finish the project, instead of sewing a finishing seam around the entire project, I started sewing along the 'wrong end' (ie. the end which I left un-sewn, for turning out and the end which is folded under where the sleeve overlaps) and continued to sew along the perimeter until I was a few inches away from the 'right end' (the piece which shows when it is overlapped).

When I reached the other end of the sleeve, I looped the 'wrong end' (where I started) sewing back under the 'right end' so that I was sewing over both pieces and my original line of sewing was hidden.

Then, following the edge of the sleeve I simply finished sewing the perimeter until I got back to where I started, and backstitched it at the edge where the overlapped pieces meet.

After tying my loose ends and trimming, I'm finished with a coffee cup sleeve that is just like the cardboard ones you pick up in the shops.

I also did a tweed/wool version as I thought the fabric would suit the project.

All in all, I did four sets of two coffee cozies, all of which will be listed on Ebay tomorrow, with auctions ending this Sunday. I'll update this post with links to the auctions as soon as they are listed.

Resolved to Sew (and craft!) for 2012

2012-01-23T10:24:00.003Z

I'm sure it's obvious to my followers what my main new year's resolution for 2012 is... obviously it's to live up to the 52-week craft challenge that I've set out for myself... by sewing (or crafting) something new every week.

While my first two projects have been made at the sewing machine, there are lots of different crafts on their way as well including handmade bath and body products, paper craft, maybe even some baking (if I can work out the logistics?).

So when veryberryhandmade.co.uk/ asked me about being 'Resolved to Sew 2012' it made me think about my broader sewing resolutions.

1. Complete my 52-week challenge
2. Make more, give more. (Make more gifts for friends and family and give for the sake of giving).
3. Learn to work with curves (I currently have not yet explored the world of curved patchwork, and I need to work up the courage to try).

Very Berry are giving away heaps of beautiful fabrics from U.K. shops - and if you have a few resolutions of your own, you can share them and get yourself in the running to win something yourself.

If you have any advice or know any tutorials for attempting curved patchwork, then please share here! I could use some advice/encouragement to help prepare me to get over that hurdle!

Craft #2 - Mug Rugs

2012-01-22T18:23:00.008Z

I've been seeing lots of photos, posts and tutorials about 'mug rugs' in and around the crafty interweb, and decided that as my second craft in the 52 week challenge, I would finally get around to making a set.

I've been meaning to get making a set for a while, as the 'mug rug' appeals to me for a number of reasons

1. They are basically mini-quilts, and I like the idea of making a one-day project that involves all the elements of a patchwork quilt.
2. I like that making mug rugs might give me a chance to try out fabric combinations and pattern blocks while putting my test patches to use.
3. I like the idea that we can brighten up tea/coffee time a little bit with these little placemats. Although they are by no means necessary, they make a nice gift and are great for those special times where we sit down and have a catch-up over a cuppa.

Although there are a range of mug rug tutorials out there, I took my cue from "That Girl" (aka. Jennifer) of "That Girl... That Quilt" fame. I particularly liked her mug rug tutorial because it incorporated a blend of cotton and linen fabric, and added the extra feature of a pocket for biscuits, tea bags, spoons, and what not.

Her tutorial is easy to follow for those who are comfortable putting together a basic piece of patchwork as a starting point, and gives a nice, clear explanations for making the pocket and applying the binding. For those who may not be experience enough to build a patchwork top, you could easily attempt your first mug rug with just one well chosen piece of patterned fabric for your top, and then focus just on the pocket and binding techniques.

My work in progress as I follow Jennifer's tutorial.

In the end I was really pleased with what I came up with, and love the combination of linen and cotton prints.

Many thanks to Jennifer for allowing me to follow her tutorial and feature it in my 52-week challenge.

My little set of mug rugs are going sale this week on ebay - so please visit the auction and bid generously!

Craft #1 : Quilted Baby Bibs

2012-01-15T15:01:00.017Z

***Update - sadly these bibs didn't sell in week 1 - but they are re-listed here for those interested***

These quilted bibs are one of my favourite little gifts to whip up and give to friends and family, and although I concede that they may not be the most practical bibs around (not as wipe-clean as vinyl bibs) I'll argue that they are pretty darn cute - and those who have made use of them agree!

This simple tutorial can be altered to make terry cloth bibs, vinyl bibs, and more - or you can put your patchwork skills to use and create a patchwork front to the bib. In order to make the finishing as easy as possible, the bib is finished with tie much like that of a quilt binding; this hides your rough edges and gives a nice finish to the product.

You can make your own baby bibs really easily - pattern and all.

What you'll need
- cotton print fabric (for front and backing)
- wadding
- sewing machine, thread and accessories
- paper for making your pattern.

1. To make your pattern - simply fold a large piece of paper over and roughly draw a half bib shape with the fold along the vertical axis. (If you draw half your bib, and cut with paper folded, you'll guarantee yourself a perfectly symmetrical shape). You want to draw slightly over sized than your final product - as we'll sew with a 1/4 inch seam and lose 1/4 inch on most edges.
If pattern making stresses you out, just trace a bib you already have and add 1/4 inch all around.

2. Cut out one bib shape for each of your back fabric, wadding, and front, as well as a 26" long 2 inch wide strip which will make your tie.

3. Lay your front and back fabrics right sides together and then lay your wadding over top, so it is laid on the wrong side of the front piece.

4. Sew a 1/4 inch away from the edge, starting at one side of the neck, sewing along the curve of the bib towards the other side of the neck (leave the entire neck open for turning out).

5. Turn out your bib so that the wadding is sandwiched between the front and back pieces. Press your bib.

6. Sew 1/4 inch along from the finished edge of the bib, to finish and neaten the edges - and then freestyle quilt the interior with curves, star shapes or straight lines - whatever you are most comfortable doing. Be sure that you sewing lines start at finish at the rough edges of the bib's neck, backstitching to secure as you finish. This means no tying ends and all your messy finishing work will be covered by the tie.

7. Press the edges of your tie (binding) inwards as you would if you were making bias binding (folding each side into the middle, and then pressing in half again). So that you have a long strip with rough edges exposed at either end.

8. Lay out your binding and placing the bib in the centre of it, so that you tuck the rough edges into the fold of the binding with equal lengths which will form the tie on either sides. Pin the binding in place along the rough edge of the bib.

9. Starting at one end of the binding, tuck in the short raw edge in about 1/2 inch and then begin to sew along the length of the binding backstitching where you started following all the way until the other side, making sure you catch the rough edges of the bib as you go. As you approach the end of the binding, tuck in the raw edge, sew to the edge and backstitch.

10. Tie in any loose threads - and Ta Da! you have a gorgeous little bib!

Four of these little bibs will be auctioned off this week on e-bay as the first set of items which will hopefully raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

better late than never

2012-01-15T14:50:00.001Z

My plans to kick off 52 weeks : 52 crafts last week, was a bit of a wash out due a number of unforeseen non-crafty circumstances which got in the way. Now that I've found the time to get started, I was faced with two options.

1. Accept that life gets in the way and wait until next year (Booooo!)
2. Get going, get crafty, and get caught up in the challenge before you have time to over-think it. (Yay!)

So better late than never, I'm starting to get going. I've added a new page which outlines what I'm going to do over the year, and I'm currently writing and preparing my first post - items made and ready to be featured and auctioned off for charity!

Please stay tuned as 52 weeks : 52 crafts launches TONIGHT!

52 weeks 52 crafts

2012-01-05T04:08:00.000Z

Stay tuned for some exciting news about Lazy Crafternoon's 2012 Challenge, where myself and other guest makers will be making and display a craft a week throughout the year and then selling the weekly made items online to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The upcoming posts will include

- a featured craft every week from a wide range of materials and mediums
- tutorials, tips and tricks from talented crafters
- updates on how our fundraising is going

It all kicks off now! ... but as I am busy picking up fabrics, making contacts, and planning the next 52 weeks the first craft project will make it's appearance on Monday. January 9th!

If you'd like to get involved or have any questions, get in touch or stay tuned for the upcoming posts.

more secret crafting

2011-12-29T18:44:00.000Z

When this project started out I didn't know if it would all come together, but I knew exactly who I'd finish it for if it ever did. I was impressed by several map-inspired quilts that I'd come across online and in exhibitions including this stylized interpretation of the tokyo subway map and these much more literal (for lack of a better work) interpretations of maps as quilts showing terrain and landmarks.

I set out the challenge for myself to create a patchwork based on the London Underground. Using my trusty grid-paper notebook I drew out a scaled version of the map, and slowly built up a patchwork using nine-patches made up of 1-inch squares, which I then used as blocks to create nine-patches of 3-inch squares, and built the patchwork up so forth and so forth.

For a more varied effect (and perhaps to give my patience just a little bit of a break) I also worked in 2"x 1" rectangles and 2" by 2" squares into the map. I started out with a trial 'nine-patch of nine-patches' and by the time I finished my first one I was hooked and determined to continue.

In the end I had roughly 35 'nine-patches of nine-patches' plus more large scale ones to finish out the quilt. As I approached the outside and border of the map, I expanded the size of the pieces and blocks and faded into some purple and grey shades to frame it.

This was a very fun and rewarding project for me, and working with 9" blocks made up of smaller blocks, meant that it was a project I could work on at my leisure; putting it away and shelving it at times when I wanted a break, as well as pulling out small pieces to work on without ending up knee deep in fabrics and notions. To organise myself, I kept a "master box" with all the fabric scraps I was working from, as well as tray full of pre-cut 1 1/2" and 2 1/2" strips I was cutting from. I only needed the tray to prepare each nine-patch, and only needed to go back to the "master box" when it was time to replenish my tray.

It was really nice to make a gift for someone without the pressure of a specific birthday or special event in mind (although timing meant it worked well as a birthday/christmas gift).

Sometimes it's just really nice to make for the sake of making and give for the sake of giving, and as I worked on the project I became more and more pleased and inspired by the fact that I knew it would be a gift for a person who loves and appreciates London more than anyone else I know.

big quiltin' - some helpful advice

2011-11-15T09:34:00.000Z

After seeing the effect on a number of duvet covers and simple patchwork pieces in retail shops, I decided that when I was finishing a quilt for my new nephew - I would try out what I could best describe as "heavy quilting done with thick cotton".

The trouble with deciding that you are going to try a technique you don't know the name of, is that you don't know how to ask for advice or what to call it - and so began my hunt to find the name.

It seems that each time someone suggested a name to me, there was another person there to categorically say that it was definitely not that technique and imply that to suggest otherwise was not only incorrect, but an insult to that technique. Whoops! I guess that's the problem with internet forums - sometimes you get lots of advice that takes you further away from your goal.

Was it Shashiko? A very neat and orderly Japanese stitch. Certainly not and how dare anyone suggest that?

Was it perhaps Kantha ? A form of embroidery popular in India...? Heavens no!

The more I thought I was nearing my answer, the more I realised I was getting further away from it and closer to getting tangle up in an online debate over world stitching styles.

So I present - 'Shashiko and Kantha inspired big chunky running stitch' or as I now call it "Big Quiltin'"

For those wanting to try this and want some advice - here is the advice I came up with in my search/discovered myself.

1. Use Perle Cotton rather than embroidery floss for the thread - you don't want to fight with lots of fibers and want something that will thread together and stay together.

2. Get yourself some quilter's wax/thread conditioner which will help keep your threads together, prevent your long threads from tangling, and also protect them a bit in the first wash so that your thread colours don't run.

3. Time how long it takes you to do your first thread, before deciding how far apart you want do complete the rest of your threads.

4. For the first few threads draw your line on with a disappearing marker, so that you have a guide. Once you have a few lines completed it should be easier to follow with parallel lines, so you shouldn't need to draw out every line.

5. Play with colours, stitch sizes, and distance between threads - have fun with it.

Photo Booth Wall - Tutorial

2011-06-18T10:45:00.000+01:00

There is already an amazing tutorial and DIY project on the Ruffled Blog which has been inspiring many people to build their own photo walls for parties, weddings and other functions... but at the risk of looking like I'm reinventing the wheel - I thought I'd post an alternative option for how to put one together!

We wanted a photo wall for our special event, but due to the constraints of not having a car, not having a very big flat, and needing something lightweight, portable and collapsable (we walked this to our venue)... we had to come up with an alternative solution.

Our main criteria for the redesign were

a. all pieces we needed to build the frame had fit in a taxi/car from the DIY shop
b. the finished product needed to be lightweight portable enough that we could walk it to the venue, get it up the stairs, and assemble it easily there.

Rather than use plywood, we decided to build a frame out of 1x2 lumber (for those not in the know what is called 1" by 2" lumber, actually measures 3/4" by 1 1/2") and then use hardboard as as lighter, easier to work with and more flexible option, as the main surface of the wall.

We used;

For the walls
- 10 x "1 by 2" pieces measuring 72 inches (182cm) in length
- 4 x 3mm hardboard pieces measuring 60cm x 180 cm

For the stand
- 1 x 240cm long plank for bookshelves (white covered MDF)
- 1 x 240cm long piece of moulding/trim (any will do)
- 1 x "2 by 4" piece of lumber (length 240 cm)

Other things...
- Wall Paper, Frames, Clocks, Photos
- Wall Paper Paste
- Screws, Finishing Nails

Equipment
- Hand Saw
- Jigsaw
- Craft Knife

Taking stock of our materials

Step 1. We drew out how we wanted our photo wall to look and actually used a large blank wall to layout the design and make all our measurements. Using our measurements we sketched out a basic frame so that the vertical 1 by 2's measured to the inner edges of the frames, and cut horizontal 1 by 2's to connect the pieces. Each of the two frames was built to fit the hardboard pieces we bought - 120 cm (two widths of the 60 cm hardboard panels)by 180 cm (the length of the hardboard panels)

Step 2.. Double checking all our measurements before cutting, we quickly assembled the frame - starting with the outer frame first, and then fitting all the inner pieces within the frame.

(above) One of the two panels which make up the wall.

(below) Connect the joints with two wood screws.

We assembled all the joints of the frame using short wood screws. The wood of the 1 by 2's is very soft, so we didn't need to drill... we simply used a screwdriver and a careful eye to assemble them closely.

Step 3. For each of the two frames, we laid down two hardboard panels side by side, and then laid the frames on top - marking where the frame holes would be cut.

Step 4. Using a jigsaw, we cut the holes for the frame (this could be done with a craft knife, if you don't have a jigsaw, but this will take some time and require much patience).

Step 5. Using a few screws for security, and then finishing nails every few 15 to 20 cm, we attached the hardboard panels to the tops of each frame.

(below) Without wallpaper the two frames look like this

After building the frames, it was just a matter of using some strong moulding and a 2 by 4 to make a stand. We attached the moulding to the front of a board measuring the length of the wall, and after measuring and marking the thickness of the wall screwed in a 2 by 4 to hold it behind.

This made a portable frame that we could slot the two wall panels in.

From there we just wallpapered and decorated away!

I don't think this method is any easier than the other methods I've seen out there. But it certainly made transportation and setting up and take down easier for us, because everything could lie flat and be carried through the doorways of our venue.

The photowall was a great success and we had a great time with it at the party... now its just a question of what we do with it now...

sometimes cake is for eating!

2011-05-06T10:29:00.000+01:00

When you partake in making bath and body products at home, guests are often greeted with the welcoming smells of sweet essential oils, melting cocoa butter, coconut oil and honey, only to disappointingly discover that the treats they are smelling are not for eating!

Occasionally Lazy Crafternoons gives into the guilt of cake-teasing... and makes cakes which are actually for eating!

In honour of the warm weather and vintage themed fun of Manchester's Norther Quarter Street Party Lazy Crafternoons made and entered some delicious ice cream cone inspired chocolate cake pops into their cake competition!

... and Chris is very proud to say that they came in Second Place!

This is an adapted cake pop recipe, which I actually found easier because I didn't have to worry about the cake pops falling off sticks. They just sat nicely in the little cones, and because I chilled them in the cones, I had no trouble with them falling out or getting too soft.

I fashioned the stand out of some balsam wood pieces I picked up at a craft shop, and voila!

Here's a shot of Edge St. transformed into a street party.

What a fantastic result on a fantastic day!

secret craftings

2010-08-27T10:57:00.001+01:00

Crafting requires patience, a resource that I have very little of in all other aspects of life (and even when I'm crafting its pretty limited)... so the process of imagining, designing and then creating something can sometimes drain my resources of patience. Especially, when my mind is raring to go on the creative side, but it takes time to work out the logistical method of creating what I see in my mind.

Add into the mix, the fact that sometimes we craft very special gifts, for very special occasions - with the result of my very patient self, having to sit on my work in secret waiting even longer for the day that I get to reveal it to whomever it is made for.

In this case, its a wedding gift for two dear friends.

After visiting the Quilt exhibition at the V&A in London, I was overwhelmed with amazing ideas and wanted to find a way to incorporate a quote into a quilt. A few days later, a conference took me to New York where I found myself knee deep in a wealth of amazing fabrics patterns - putting a few ideas together, I bought up some material and came up with the idea of make a simple scrap square quilt, with a featured quote from William Wordsworth as inspiration in the centre.

I tried to use some fresh colours which weren't too tied to any season or style... and chose fabrics which had a vintage, but modern look to them.

Check out the results.

Quote from William Wordsworth, suiting Her penchant for the pastoral... and nostalgic of a road-trip we took together through the lakes district. (Although, I must admit its not terribly suitable to His scottish heritage) For the next gift, I'll have to quote a Scot.

Close up on the fabrics. I tried to find an interesting balance of matching and constrasting, so each combination of materials would have a difference effect.

lazy crafternoons could teach you a thing or two...

2010-03-21T18:37:00.000Z

Hear ye, Hear ye! Lazy Craftnoons could be bringing the craft fun to you!

If you are interested in learning to do some of the crafts featured on the blog, and work for a charitable group or community organisation who could benefit from craft courses and workshops then get in touch!

We'll bring all the 'kit and kaboodle' to you (and take the mess with us when we leave)
send an email through to info@lazycrafternoons.co.uk for more details!

a crafty equation - granola goodness

2010-01-13T10:59:00.000Z

In light of a new year, new resolutions, and most importantly a new budget, I have decided to re-evaulate my equation for crafting.

Coming up with a new idea or recipe, and diving right in - doesn't always make the most sense. Sometimes craft ideas sit on your to-do list until the perfect storm of crafting occurs; you have a spare afternoon, the supplies you need are on sale, a good friend comes for a visit, someone's birthday or a gift giving occasion is coming up, etc...

Although I always say that crafting inherently saves money (you are staying in and doing something free, instead of going out and spending on entertainment)... expressing a new creative whim, can sometimes be a costly process.

Up until now my craft feasability equation has roughly been based on whether the cost of materials is percevied to be worth the total benefit of fun, function, and time spent.

For example; If the cost of spending an afternoon in making a present for a friend, roughly equals what you would spend for their gift plus what you might spend at a movie or museum for the afternoon, then the value is worthwhile for both you and the gift recipient (just as long as you make something worth giving in the end).

But for 2010, there is a new element to the equation, which is that the benefit should not only outweigh the costs, but also the crafternoon activity should ideally;

a) create something usefull/already needed
b) potentially save money and or use free/reused/already purchased materials

and so comes 2010 Crafternoon #1 -

Granola Goodness

Problem: getting one's baking fix often results in over consumption of cookies, cupcakes, muffins, etc. this results in higher calorie consumption as well as the cost and expenses of desserts you probably wouldn't have bought anyway.

Solution: making your own Granola is a crafty way to do a bit of baking, while making something healthy that you would consume anyway.

break down:
- mix it up, add new elements every time you make it. (creative fix!)
- make your granola with what's on sale at the supermarket or buy in bulk (saves money!)
- don't waste your money on posh boxes of cereal and muesli (saves MORE money!)
- have a bespoke, healthy breakfast every day of the week (useful function!)

This is my granola mix with added sultanas, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, hazelnuts, and sunflower seeds. The basic recipe came from a friend, and I added my own mix of nuts and seeds based on what was buy one get one free at the shops.

I'll watch the sales, and hopefully try dried blueberries, dried cheeries, mango, coconut flakes, almonds, pecans.... ack! I cant wait!

perhaps the least deadly mafia around....

2009-11-18T22:47:00.000Z

As many of you know I regularily attend an event called Lo-Fi FIY which is run by Manchester Craft Mafia... its a fun and friendly night where you can go to craft and learn new skills.

I've been going for just over a year now... and led a skill swap a few months ago, showing people how I make my fabric and paper portraits.

Anyway, last month Mike from Wythenshawe FM came to see us and interviewed myself and Nico (who runs the events).

Check out Mike's blog for a clip of me and Nico talking crafts... as well, lots of clips from his work with Wythenshawe FM.

http://pocketrock.co.uk/blog/?p=346

sunday craft-in on the cheap.

2009-11-09T21:50:00.000Z

I must say, there is nothing better than a cold autumn sunday spent crafting and cooking a roast... and what better to accompany a whole afternoon of work than watching Gone With The Wind is all its amazing nearly-four-hour glory!

Ahh.... a perfect sunday in.

Now, make it even a little better because you are crafting and eating on the cheap!

The Meal: Roast Pork Neck Fillet (cheap from the butchers, and made from a Jamie magazine recipe)
The Craft: turn a few rolls of clearance sticky back plastic into a total flat make over.

Ta Da!

Here's how to do it...

Draw a rough design of what you want for your wall (I obviously have a fixation with trees and bird silhouettes and shadows, so naturally this craft lends itself to my own design interests....)... but you can do virtually anything. Basically if it has a recognizable shape and/or casts a shadow, you can craft it.

If you don't feel confident with your own drawing skills... cheat a bit with google images or... log on to fontface a site with tons of free fonts - many of which are not letters at all, but interesting shapes and silhouettes!

Then measure out your drawing, measure your wall, work out a rough scale, cut out the shapes and mount them on the wall.

Ok, so I glossed over those steps for ease - but really, it can be as easy or complicated as you want it to be. If you aren't very confident start with something simple.

For this craft I free-cut the trees as I mounted them piece by piece, measuring each end to make sure the pieces lined up - and then I randomly cut the holes and knots to give a birch tree effect.

The birds are a combination of images of birds I found online, and a bird font I found online as well... I then enlarged them to the right proportions.

Once you have gently laid all the pieces in the right place and you are happy with it, run your library card/credit card over the whole thing to make sure there are no air bubbles and everything is well stuck on.

Note: This is a temporary decor idea, which will stay up as long as you want it to (as long as you don't leave any huge air bubbles)... if you use the right products, they will peel off without pulling the paint... when you are ready to take them down, just use a hair dryer to warm up the plastic (as instructed on the packaging) and it will be far less likely to ruin any paint job.

all this for only £6.48? not a bad sunday afternoon in my books!

And if you are watching films and making nice food, why not share it with some friends who can lend a hand and advise on turning your ideas into a mock-mural.

crafts to indulge with!

2009-11-04T12:01:00.000Z

In prep for an opportunity to teach some courses with a local craft school, I've whipped up some little treats to prove that you don't have to go to high street shops and spend lots of money to indulge yourself.

PLUS, I think these little things are just plain nicer and better than what you can buy at poshy high street shops.

For less then thirty quid you can buy all the stuff to make these delights... it may seem like a lot to spend, but a little goes a long way and the recipes I've worked out, make quite big batches!

Here i've whipped a few cupcake bathbombs (scented with lavender), some body butter massage melts made with cocoa butter and coconut oil, and some orange scented tea cup candles... a whip through town and a trip to a charity shop is all you need to make these beauties.

I shaped the body butter melts to look like chocolates... to tie the look of everything together.

Plus as a varation in preparation for Christmas, I've made a few more scented with orange, ginger, cranberry and other nice spices to make Christmas Pudding bath bombs... although perhaps its just a little too early to be consumed enough by the Christmas spirit to bathe in the scent of a cheeky little pudding.

beatlemania...

2009-10-28T17:50:00.001Z

These days everywhere you turn around the Beatles are back... for a group that broke up many many years ago, they seem to be doing a lot of business in 2009!

I've been playing with my layered portraits a bit more, and decided to try layering paper on canvas... who better to be a test project than the fab four themselves?

This little gift idea was inspired by catching site of the Beatles Rock Band game in the window of a shop the other day... I figured it would be a fun challenge to see if I could preserve such inconic faces in paper craft!

Beatles portraits and other famous faces are for sale in my Dawanda shop!

don't forget furry friends!

2009-10-14T17:36:00.000+01:00

Furry friends are worth of crafting too!

here is a portait based on a snapshot of what is definitely my most favourite dog in the world.

I did this portrait in heavy card, to give a stronger/bolder look than the lighter/feathery papers I usually use... seems like the possibilities are endless!

illustrator hater

2009-10-03T15:59:00.000+01:00

With all the amazing tools and techniques now available in photo and illustration software packages, everyone can transform their photos into digital art within a few short clicks. In some ways these editing suites have opened up art and design in amazing new ways, but the luddite in me acknowledges that these programs now instantly and effortlessly perform artistic process which craftspeople have been doing for years and years.

There is something amazing about taking a process once done by the skill of a good eye and a steady hand, and turning into a effect which takes milliseconds, but there is also something kind of sad about it.

As such, I'm always trying to find ways to mix new fashioned and old fashioned art and craft techniques... which is what brought me to making fabric and paper portraits.

With facebook, flickr, and other sites which let you publish photos online, we all have access to the photos of our closest (and sometimes not so close) friends and family. I love all the ways that you can digital transform these photos, and then quickly print them - but I've been looking for a way to take the ditigized moments and turn them back into something which is textured and tactile.

Thus enter portraits like these;

After first editing images and printing them, I can then turn a posterised image into a set of layered fabrics or paper... the possibilities are really endless, depending on what materials they use - and its a beautiful way to preserve your favourite digtal images in a way which does not require access to a computer or the internet.

here are some of the gifts I have made for friends, family, and customers...

up in big smoke... I spy with my little eye

2009-08-09T19:26:00.000+01:00

my lingering fascination with London and skyline silhouettes has lead me to create a new piece of work focused on the Big Smoke.

previously I did a very personalised piece, based on the very specific view from my flat in Battersea, but I've decided to create something with appeal to a wider audience than simply myself and my former flatmate.

I've chosen my favourite London landmarks and have created a London Skyline done in cut out paper... see if you can recognise the 12 featured works of architecture.

(London Eye, Tower of London, Big Ben, and the Battersea Power Station are the easy ones, but see what else you spot).

As always these little beauts are available on my Dawanda site.

cake and make

2009-06-15T11:26:00.000+01:00

the only thing better than a Sunday spent crafting, is when you take a bit of time on Saturday to whip up some treats to get you through the following day.

Why stop for lunch when you have an array of cakes to help you push through an afternoon well spent making things?

Recently I have become more and more obsessed with Jamie Oliver's magazine. I pretty much devour every issue I buy and then meticulously pour over the pages matching recipes I want to make to various appropriate occasions. Mostly the recipes seem to be savoury dishes, but every now and then a dessert slips into the mix - and these incredibly simple, but amazing cupcakes, had crafternoon written all over them!

These little lemon cakes are topped with a delicious icing made with fresh pressed raspberries, and I improvised a bit and added mint leaves I candied to enhance the light and airy flavour of the cakes.

Last year, when working at a restaurant I discovered the amazing combination of berries and mint, and I can't miss out on an opportunity to marry the flavours.

Candying mint leaves is dead easy... you just whip up some egg whites with a bit of lemon juice (or dried egg whites if you want to be a little safer), and then dip each leaf in and lay them all out of a wire rack... sprinkle caster sugar over them lightly as they dry so that the sugar melts into the foamy egg coating... by the next morning you'll have an amazing collection of candied leaves that you can use to decorate or top any number of desserts!

Just a warning - these cakes are dangerously good - they are just sugary enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, but not so saccharine sweet that you'll ever reach dessert capacity while eating them... In other words, you can eat them steadily all day without realising that you missed lunch, or even dinner for that matter!

3-D knitting continues to loom...

2009-05-21T11:43:00.000+01:00

I have mentioned before on this blog that I have dreams of learning 3D knitting... its something I carry with me in the back of my mind, and something I plan to tackle one day.

Although I don't feel too pushed to get going on my 3-D skylines, every now and then I stumble upon something amazing, which reminds me that I still have much to learn.

Over the weekend I went for a country walk in Hebden Bridge, and spotted the most amazing window display in a closed shop/community centre. It was an entire tea and cake said make completely out of wool.

If only it had been open, I could have gone inside and questioned the maker, or failing that at least admired it with a close eye... unfortunately it was too early on that sunday morning, and instead I had to admire the treats from the behind a glass window.

I only hope that one day I can knit goodies like these!

a present unveiled

2009-05-14T11:03:00.000+01:00

I am so excited to finally be posting photos of this quilt... Although Lazy Crafternoons often produce things you want to show off and be proud of, you have to keep mum about the things you make which are going to be gifts.

I've been sitting on this work for a while now, waiting until my friend's wedding day when I can let the secret out.

I took this photo a few years ago during Autumn, and was inspired by the way the leaves looked scattered across the patchwork-like tiles.

I actually took this photo, to show off how enormous the leaves were, but when I stood back and looked at the image, it reminded me of a quilt.

With the help of some quilting skills once imparted to me when I was a child, by my great aunt and a heapload of internet tutorials, I have up with a way to interpret the tiles into a patchwork, and then came up with a leaf design which I could patchwork together and them applique to the quilt.

Since it was my first endeavour and I was a bit unsure of doing the acutal quilting, I enlisted the help of a long arm quilting service to finsh off and bind the patchwork. I just wanted it to be perfect, and didn't trust myself to not to ruin it in the quilting process after all my hard work on the front and back.

The back is done with a single wide stripe and a few leaf cut outs so there was an alternative to the busy top... and in one of the leaves I wrote my friends name and their marriage date with fabric pen.

Working on this quilt obviously took more than just one lazy crafternoon, and although my work was inspired by the original photo, it was also fuelled by a wide range of inspirations, much of which came from the quilting forums on craftster.com ... hopefully this quilt can be one little addition to the vast array of works out there, and add to the collective pool of textile creativity!

tea towels...

2008-12-04T17:17:00.000Z

lately it seems that tea towels are coming back into fashion... at every craft and art shop I go to, there seems to be a range of tea towels for sale. From classic book titles to retro patterns, it seems that tea towels are the new kitsch way to bring art and craft into your home, while making a statement in your kitchen.

While living in a place like London, it seems that in addition to being London-proud everyone has a soft spot for their favourite locality within the city. For me, its of couse Battersea, but my attachements also extend to my favourite places to spend time. Anyone who has spent more than a few hours in London will tell you that Shoreditch is perpetually on the up and up, and that its certainly the place to be right now. Whether you are shopping or browsing markets, heading out for dinner, or having a night out on the town, shoreditch is quickly becoming home (and home-away-from-home) for many.

I figured - why not combine the retro kitsch of statement tea towels and the importance of local pride?

thus is born, the Shoreditch Tea Towel; a stencilled tea towel featuring the Shoreditch's best sights... from tube stations, bridges, pubs and churches all tied together with the 'Shoreditch' lettering as it appears alongside the Regent's Canal.

smoke rings remain...

2008-11-23T23:27:00.000Z

Since leaving life in the big smoke, it seems that London seems to be constantly on my mind... not necessarily in the sense that I miss it, but I think the city became such a big part of my life, that every new experience I have in Manchester is seen through a comparative 'London Lens'.

Of course, living in London is not just a part of life - Living in London becomes your life... its an amazing beast of a city that sweeps you off your feet and carries you away with its fast pace and pulsating life... so its only natural that now that I have left it, I still notice the imprint its left on my mind.

Leaving London didn't just mean leaving the city behind, it also marked leaving an amazing friend and flatmate - and a turning point in both our lives. I moved north to begin my new studies, and she took that giant leap into property ownership... so what better way to celebrate her new digs, and commemorate the end of our London life than to make her a housewarming gift.

As I become increasingly obsessed with paper and textiles, I was inpsired by some art I saw at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair where one of the artists took a long sheet of what looked like postal wrapping paper, and painted and stiched designs of a skyline into it... I took that idea in a different direction and created a little piece inspired by the view from our former Battersea abode.

Ah yes, I spent many a day knee deep in craft supplies looking out over the inconic Battersea Power station recovering the energy I spent in London while expelling the creativity that the city inspired within me.

The craft is made of a combination of papers and threads, all handstiched together and layered to represent a number of inconic pieces of the London Skyline - can you recognize them?

a wee bit of pre-christmas cheer

2008-10-26T19:03:00.000Z

Its only really just becoming Autumn, but every year I seem to make the fatal mistake of leaving my homemade Christmas presents and goodies until far too late... so after a nice Autumn walk today, I've decided to get a head start on my holiday craft making.

I am still enticed and entranced by 3D knitting, and so I continue to dabble into it in hopes of one day being skilled enough to create the 3D knitted skyline of London which I have been dreaming of all these years.

This little ornament I made isn't exactly 3D, but I'm taking baby steps as I start to play with shapes and come up with my own little patterns. I figure this would sit nicely on the face of a Christmas card, and then easily detach when its time to decorate the tree.

Its just the right amount of crafting to wind down that little bit more, after an afternoon tromping around the muddy autumn countryside.