Seeds of a Madness Flower

Lets start with an apology, I'm sorry this post is so late. Having a hectic saturday craft fair, and spending the preceding week getting all my stock ready, I ran out of time to write my biweekly blog post. But on the upside - exhibiting last saturday, at the Handmade Vintage and Craft fair at Manchester Universities Student Union, gave me the inspiration for this post.So enjoy part deux of Neu Vintage, fresh from the pages of Folksy.These earrings from Love Ruby Red evoke memories of my Grandma's button box, that and they're so darn cute! Loving the heart shaped price stickers too.The perfect purse for a road trip - gives me a hankering to drive across America. Beautiful detail and quirky retro-ness from Workwise Textiles.Statement necklaces and ridiculously large beads are covering the high street right now for the autumn/winter season. So step away from the crowd and buy a handmade one-off from the lovely Chiyo.Cameo's are big this season too, but bet you've never seen a felt version before. The silver chain stitch round the edge really finishes these brooches off, get one quick from Zazar's Bazaar.I've recently learnt how to knit leaves, but IngridNation has come up with a very elegant solution of how to wear them - a classic corsage. Ingrid will also make you a custom corsage in a colour of your choosing.Get a kitchy fix - get a ceramic gummy bear pendant from Nifty Thrifty. Evocative of post school sweet shop visits and those mini packs of Haribo.Party season is rapidly approaching, go vintage this year and team a 50's style dress with this retro fascinator from Falcon. Or you could just wear it round the house when you need a bit of glamour.This Retro Mouse likes cheddar cheese, and how cute is the vintage flower fabric he's made from? Needs a good home, and cheese, from Needles and Buttons.Thanks to all the lovely sellers for being so creative, and thankyou to you for reading until the end. Not long now until its time for Christmas gift guides! But maybe some of these Neu Vintage items will make it on to your list?

Labels: Craft, Handmade, Jewellery, Neu, Retro, Textiles, Uk, Vintage

Sunday 24th April is Easter Day. I love Easter; it signifies the joy of Spring, marks new life, new beginnings, and when I was a child it also meant there were PRESENTS! I would also be bought a chocolate egg; my brother and I had competitions to see who could make theirs last longest (he always won, should you be interested; he could make an Easter egg last for weeks). Anyway, this week I've selected a few of my favourite Folksy items along an Easter theme; cue BUNNIES! Enter CHICKENS! Bring on the EGGS! Treat yourself, or your friends and family to something that's been handmade with care and...ahem...to the most egg-sacting standards (I'm sorry). Gorgeous rabbit cushion by Black Cactus in London Delicious bathtime fun with this bright yellow soap by Shoples Perfect for keeping your rings or bits and pieces in, or for using as a soap dish, Spring Chicken bowls by Prince Design UK Dress up for Easter! I am bewitched by this lacy, bunny ears headband by Talulah Blue A beautifully symbolic and grown up gift for someone very special, this silver 'Nest' by Pea Pod Jewellery is a truly special keepsake. These upcycled egg cosies by The Juicy Fig will keep your boiled eggs warm in pretty, vintage style! Keep your loose change safe in this cute as can be Blue Tweed Bunny Purse by The Linen Cat. Less calories than the real thing, but just as nice, knit yourself some Easter treats using this pattern from Craft Confections. Send a cool card, like this one by Ribbonreal, made using vintage kimono fabric. I love my kitsch...and this darling piece of jewellery is no exception! How nice is this vintage look chicken brooch by Silk Purse, Sow's Ear? Happy Easter, Folksy Folks!

Labels: Bunnies, Chickens, Craft, Decoration, Easter, Eggs, Fof, Handmade, Holidays, Jewellery, Knitted, Rabbits, Soap, Textiles, The Whistling Cowgirl, Upcycled

Blogging on gives me the opportunity to blog about my passions - and one of these is sewing. I just love to sew (except repairing clothes or taking up trousers) and my Mum taught me on a Singer sewing machine that belonged to her grandmother.I am also passionate about embroidery and when my children were small we used to go to the Young Embroiderers Club, organised by the Embroidery Guild in Baildon. Well there are some very talented embroiderers on Folksy and I hope you enjoy their work. (Don't forget to click and buy - support your local Foksy artist). Vintage Embroidered Pincushion by Pretty GoodsFlowers and Curls Silk Purse by Silk Tree PursesCaged Bird Brooch by Yam SoupDry Stone Wall Textile Art by Chocolate FrogAfternoon Tea by Hung Drawn QuotedFloral Heart Egg Cosies by Felt FanciesEmbroidered Lavender Bags by Flaming NorahEmbroidered Card by Boo Boo CraftBirdie Felt Brooch by Applique OriginalsPortrait Embroidery by Gentry Illustration Sunshine Textile Embroidery by Sally YoungEmbroidered and Beaded Brooch by Nadine Arbuthnot Adornments

Labels: Embroidery, Handmade, Textiles, Uk

I'd been chatting with Kirsten about my first blog on FoF and I suddenly thought about the old story of how do creatives get inspiration - how do they refresh, renew, revive and go forward? As a practicing designer of many many years and a lecturer in art and design it's been an ongoing adventure leading me in lots of different directions.Websites like Folksy and the web itself are full of visually interesting stimuli. I tend to avoid my specialism for inspiration as I think, for me, it's really important to go outwith my disciplines. It gives me an opportunity to look differently at what I see. My training doesn't kick in so I don't start to analyze what I'm looking at - I get the chance to absorb the simplicity and colour of polished wood, beautiful textures, pattern and shapes, atmosphere in a well taken photograph or sharp black and white.Perhaps some of these inspirational items below will take you in a different direction or just give you the idea to go off and investigate absolutely nothing to do with your specialist area. So come on knitters go off and look at some wonderful graphic design and all you painters out there, why not take a look at mixed media or fashion! You'll be surprised at what might happen!Stephanie Cole DESIGN : Guinea Fowl CushionKidel : Men's Cowl Knitcoolmummy : decoupage bike themeLingford Illustrations : Lobster T-ShirtSue Woollatt Engravings : Late ShoppingDig For Victory : Prom DressBlue Forrest Jewellery : Pearl EarringsBonnie and Jackson : Rajasthani WingchairLola's Room : Chevrolet Truckmini monaxle : fabric shoesSarah Julia Clark : Ladies First Book

Labels: Babywear, Creating Ideas, Inspiration, Jay Anderson, Jewellery, Knit, Makers, Printmaking, Redroaddesign, Scotland, Textiles