Creative Crafting August 2013

PUBLISHING CRAFTERS SINCE 2009!

CREATIVE

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Hello again and welcome to all of our readers! If you are a regular of our issues you will notice a very big change for this one. Creative Crafting is no longer free. We have been creating magazines and publishing as many budding writers as we can for the last four years since 2009. During this time we have met some fabulous people and learnt lots of new things, many of these we have all discovered together. But there comes a time when we all have to take that next step. We hope that you will agree when we say that over the years we have perfected our product so that you can rely on a good quality read and know that you are getting something special each time. We’ve been here some time now and you know us well. We want to keep bringing you fabulous features, projects, interviews, tutorials and introduce you to yet more new writers who we know that you respect. Help us to take our magazines to the next level, it’s time to play with the big boys and see if we can get our (and your) work noticed on some large news stands. Are you with us? Now before I leave you to enjoy our next issue I just want to shout about a couple of fabulous things within our pages. Did you see that gorgeous purple and silver chair on our cover? Well that is available for one lucky winner to WIN! Yes it is! So make sure you enter for that one as it is worth £140! We also welcome Rachael from Martha Stewart who is joining us for this issue and hopefully many more to come along with many, many more regulars and new writers. Don’t forget that our back issues up to and including issue 23 are available free of charge on our website. If you are currently reading our digital version you can also order a luscious printed copy from www.magcloud.com/user/creativecrafting And on that note, I will leave you to relax and have a good read.

Anna INTERVIEWS with Sonia - Styles of Sonia Claire - Rowanberry Designs

EDITORIAL Editor - Anna-Marie Miles Technical Editor - Avril White Proof Reading - Sally-Jo Drinkel CONTRIBUTORS Tina Tracey - WowThankYou Pat - Starlight Gifts by Pat Jane - Jane Cameron Sally-Jo - The Bead Bounty Leanne - Small Surprises Boutique Claire - Elderberry Arts Rachael - Martha Stewart Tina - Shinyies Nat - Thrasion Louise - Elsie May & Bertha Clare- Raggedy Lils Elen - Dameselle Designs Gill - Personal Space Interiors

ADVERTISING Anna-Marie Miles [email protected] Tel: 07763 566636

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Creative Crafting publishes articles, features and projects provided to us by crafters and suppliers. By submitting articles to be published the author grants Creative Crafting copyright of each piece.


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CONTENTS

Welcome to the latest issue of Creative Crafting Magazine.

6 WIN

12 BLOG TOURS

23 GONE FISHING

Home Kandi are offering this fabulous £140 Louis chair covered in soft purple velvet with metallic silver trim and finished with sparkling diamante button back.

Join us for our first Summer Blog Tour! Visit each of our Blog Stops to see the fabulous things that the writers have set up for you. Giveaways, projects, features etc.

Our regular Lampwork artist shares with us her latest addiction.

7 INTERVIEW

13 TIME FOR TEA

24 KID’S CRAFTS

Discover the beautiful creations of Claire from Rowanberry Designs. (Formally known as Rowanberry Glass Art)

Two great ‘Time for Tea’ projects, created by Elsie May & Bertha and Shinyies

Rachael Woodham from Martha Stewart has a fun Summer Project for you.

10 SKATEBOARDS!

17 CRAFT FAIRS

26 LAMPWORK

Recycled Skateboard Jewellery and beautiful handmade pieces of jewellery, accessories and homeware created from old, broken and recycled skateboards by Thrasion ™.

Meet three Craft Fair stall-holders who can give you the low down…

We have been browsing the web for beautiful lampwork. This is what we have found.

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CONTENTS

28 INTERVIEW

36 BUDGET CRAFT 46 TEENAGE SKILLS

Meet Sonia from Styles of Sonia in Malaysia. If you love to sparkle then Sonia has creations that you will love.

Crafting on a Budget Part 3 by Leanne from Small Surprises Boutique.

Elen tells us how she started her new business Damoiselle Designs during her GCSEs.

31 FAMILY RECIPE

38 SILK SCARF

48 BEACH HUTS

Millie-Mae, Toby & Mummy make… Eton Mess

A wonderful Salt Patterned Silk Scarf project from Jane Cameron.

Tracey from WowThankYou investigates the British addiction to Beach Huts.

34 FREE FROM

40 THE GARDEN

50 KITCHEN CAPERS

More Fabulous Gluten and Dairy free recipes from Claire from Elderberry Arts.

Tina is with us again for her bimonthly round of ‘The Garden’.

Gill from Personal Space Interiors is sharing her wonderful recipes for dishes using fresh herbs.

52 REVIEWS As seen by Creative Crafting.

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36 26 www.creative-crafting.com

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COMPETITION

WIN this fabulous Purple Diamante Louis Chair worth £140!

This louis chair is covered in soft purple velvet with metallic silver trim and finished with sparkling diamante button back. Home Kandi is a Welsh furniture store offering quality reproduction furniture and home accessories at prices affordable to any home. To be in with a chance to win this gorgeous creation visit the Home Kandi website at: www.homekandi.com and find the answer to this question: Name two of Home Kandi's Furniture Collections. Email your answers to: [email protected] Entries close at midnight on 20th September 2013 Due to the size of the chair and delivery methods this competition is only open to UK residents.

www.homekandi.com

Please note that all competition entries go directly to Home Kandi Creative Crafting have no direct involvement with the competition.

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INTERVIEW

We love your beautiful creations but tell us a bit about the lady behind them. I’m Claire and I live in Staffordshire with my lovely husband Tony and my fantastic (and very demanding) cats, aka “Fur kids”. I'm lucky enough to be a full time glass artist and jewellery designer. I'm currently living in a built up area at the moment but I am country girl at heart, being brought up in Kent, then onto live in Wales before I came to Staffordshire. I love getting out and about in the UK and ‘experiencing’ and connecting to the landscape. It may be hard doing this living in an urban setting, but we are at least very lucky to live only a short trip from the Peak District, Cheshire and North Wales, so we try to get ‘out there’ as much as we practically can. I'm also a Pagan and environmentalist and this is central to my creativity as well as my everyday life. My spirituality, pantheist beliefs, and love of nature and the earth play a big part in my inspiration.

Have you always been creative or did your talent evolve over time? I've always been involved with arts and crafts, and as a child I was always drawing pictures or doing something creative. This carried on through my whole education and after school I went on to study Fine Arts along with English at university. I became a full time jewellery designer 10 years ago, including designing jewellery for a high street store for a while. I got into making glass beads in 2006 so I could use them in my handmade jewellery, however the love for making them overtook my life so I just focused on glass and that is when Rowanberry Glass Art was born. In the past 2 years my love for making jewellery has been rekindled, this time using etched copper and metal clays, so I changed my name to Rowanberry Designs to reflect this new direction. My style has always been pretty much the same whatever medium I have worked with, mixing a love for nature with a love for figurative detail. My biggest change in my creativity was the change from making glass beads purely for people to make jewellery with towards making a bead as a collectable piece of art as itself. Now I approach each bead as if it was a wearable painting or sculpture. What is it that you enjoy most about your work? I love being my own boss. I’ve suffered with some health problems for well over 18 years now, which has meant that “regular” employment is not an option for me and working at your own pace is important to me as regular resting is a must. As for glass there's always something new to learn and always something new and exciting to try out. Glass is a mesmerising medium to work and always presents a challenge to you in one way or another. Using it is an ever evolving skill and I find that exhilarating. www.creative-crafting.com

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INTERVIEW Have you achieved anything in your crafting life that you are particularly proud of? I think I am most proud at being asked both by a kiln manufacturer and a glass manufacturer to test and advise on their products. KilnCare in Stoke-on-Trent asked me to test their glass bead annealing kiln and I was able to advise them on some developments to the design. I get such a big smile over my face when I see it being sold to the glass world knowing that I had a part in its development. I also use this kiln myself and it sits proudly on my workspace. I was also asked by Creation is Messy glass to test their glass rods for lampworkers and I am proud that they put my pictures up on their website as examples of what has been made with their glass. Other than your crafting, what else do you like to do? As well as crafting for a living I also craft for pleasure, though these are very different crafts and are more fibre based such as needle felting. I have recently bought a rigid heddle loom and am looking forward to start weaving on that and I'd also love to learn spinning and dyeing techniques. So many crafts to learn, such little time. I am also interested in astronomy and when I can I like to look at the night sky with my telescope. I'm also a great fan of folk music and love listening to it and researching it. I'd like to take up singing folk music at some point in my life as well. If you had to choose your favourite from your creations which one would it be? I think at the moment it would be either my new range of Snowdonia mountain range beads, or my poppy and wheat beads. Though I do absolutely still adore making my tree beads, I am rather tree mad and this is the design I am most known for.

What advice would you offer to someone new starting out in the craft world? Be yourself. Be unique. Work from your own inspiration and follow your own “spark” of creativity. I personally really do enjoy the artistic progress, following the flow from inspiration to creation to completion – I get such a buzz! If you get too worked up by what other people are doing you will miss out on this pleasure. I also think that following what others do is also a poor business decision as you will be trying to compete in a flooded market already. But in essence, just be yourself as life is to short to spend it trying to be like someone else. Be the followed, not the follower.

If you could change one thing about what you do, what would it be? In an ideal world glass wouldn't crack. I don't like the sudden “ping” sound you get when you have been working on a bead for 90 minutes and you realised it has just cracked and isn‘t repairable. It is so utterly heartbreaking when that happens. Also I'd like it all to be less hot as it isn't pleasant if you accidentally burn yourself with molten glass, it really hurts and the dressings they put on you aren't pretty.

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INTERVIEW What do you think has helped your business the most? In terms of promotion I think it has to be Facebook, it has allowed me to interact directly with my customers and fans of my work. I can show them what I have been making and let them know when work is up for sale. It allows others to share pictures of my work to their friends very easily which can then bring more people to the page. As for helping me develop my glass skills then it has to be the variety of glass books that I have on my shelf, most of all Kimberley Adams's “Complete Book of Glass Beadmaking” and Corina Tettinger's “Passing the Flame”. I wouldnt have been able to start making beads without them.

Has any person helped or supported you more than any other? It has to be my husband, he has been so supportive throughout the development of my creative business. As, due to health problems, I only have a limited amount of energy he does most of the cooking and cleaning so I can use the energy that I have on my business instead. He puts up with me working weekends and evenings when I have to and never moans. I also create a lot of mess and chaos in the house as I work at home and he has been so very patient with this.

Tell us a random fact about yourself! I have a phobia of circular staircases.

How would our readers find you? I tend to mainly use Facebook for interacting with customers, and also have a website and Etsy shop for selling. However the Etsy shop is often quite empty, as I am very lucky that my work can sell soon after listing it for sale, though I always let people know when the next batch of listings will be. I don't take on special orders or commissions as I prefer to work from the heart and not to order. My website is www.rowanberrydesigns.co.uk I have 2 Facebook pages, for the glasswork: www.facebook.com/rowanberryglassart and for non-glass work: www.facebook.com/rowanberrydesigns I sell my work via my Etsy shop which is www.etsy.com/shop/rowanberryglass


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RECYCLING

Ever since the late 80's I have been saving our skateboard decks. Being a skater I know that a skateboard is not just a toy, it holds history and a huge amount of meaning to a skater from the start of the relationship until it breaks. The beauty of my jewellery and accessories is in the thrashed state of the board as every scratch or ding is important.

classic British Punk band the Sex Pistols were central to this DIY ethic that not only encompassed the style of music but also influenced fashion through to today.

Teenagers of the time started to experiment with their clothes, incorporating the make do and mend ideology. They were embracing their tired and worn garments and recreating them into something more I am currently supplied with our exciting which expressed something skateboard decks from skateshops, more about their personality. skateparks, skate companies, pro Vivienne Westwood, credits Johnny skaters and friends and family. I Rotten as the first British punk to rip only use broken or used skateboards his shirt, and Sex Pistols bassist Sid and where the board has come from Vicious as the first to use safety pins. is part of each product. The decks Siouxsie Sioux famously wore bin and wheels are used in their original bags and safety pins as earrings. state and apart from being cut, sanded and finished materials and waste is kept to a minimum. Each item is handmade in my little 'Greenhouse' recycled studio in Cornwall. I am always looking at new ways to recycle the boards and am constantly expanding our product range so you'll always find something new. See the full range at http://www.thrashion.com At Thrashion Ltd, where we push the boundaries of what can be created out of an old recycled skateboard deck, we are constantly looking at innovative ways to push the boundaries of existing but discarded resources. Recycling has always been at the core of what we do, and being an advocate of the punk rock movement I am always inspired by the DIY ethic that was created during the anarchic era of the late seventies and beyond.

Thrashion ™ Recycled Skateboard Jewellery and beautiful handmade pieces of jewellery, accessories and homeware created from old, broken and recycled skateboards.

In art, the Situationist-influenced graphics of Sex Pistols artist Jamie Reid embraced anarchist imagery mainly for its shock and with a tongue in cheek undertone. Iconic images were collaged over the top with newspaper print ransom style ripped letters. Also at this point a new style of Comic art was emerging embracing the anti hero. A whole new breed of imagery was emerging The Punk movement which was through art, clothing, style, music, pioneered by Malcolm Maclaren and but also skateboarding. 10


The skateboard graphic seen on the bottom of skateboard decks has always used striking and innovative imagery to define skateboard branding. Every skateboarder will always remember the Vision ‘Psychostick’ or Santa Cruz’s ‘Screaming hand’ graphic, Skate companies always adopt simple logos and imagery to represent their brand and more recently we have the Enjoi panda, Toy Machine’s devil and the Zero skull. It is this element of the skateboarding industry that I find so inspiring, and being able to recycle old unwanted skateboard decks to prolong their life is a crucial element of Thrashion. Cutting sections from the designs create amazing mini picture postcards of the original deck design and the coloured layers of maple in a skateboard give so many more options of making things. Skateboarders rarely want to lose a board that they have spent years riding and grinding. Every scratch and mark on a deck is important as it marks each new trick you’ve learnt and really documents your history as a skater. Being able to wear your favourite board on your arm or as a buckle around your waist is a far better option than throwing your board in the landfill.

RECYCLING


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BLOGGING

Join us every day to visit a different Crafty Blog who has organised a special Blog Stop post just for you. Learn new things, enter competitions, giveaways and much more.

ALL ABOARD! Welcome to the first Creative BLOG TOUR! Mind the doors, grab your seat and we’ll be off to our first stop! Don’t forget that our special Blog Post will not be live until the due date for the stop. Below you will find the dates and where you can find each blog post. 1st August - Sharon from The Old Button www.theoldbutton.blogspot.co.uk 2nd August - Jane from Loopy’s Place www.loopysplace.co.uk/blog.html 3rd August - Susanne from Sussesspindehyrne www.sussesspindehjrne.blogspot.dk 4th August - Vicky from Vicky Myers Creations www.vickymyerscreations.wordpress.com 5th August - Gaynor from Stitchers Anon www.stitchersanon.blogspot.ie 6th August - Tracy from Glasspirations www.glasspirations.co.uk/glasspirations-blog.php 7th August - Arlene from Arlene's Crafts www.arlenes-crafts.blogspot.com 8th August - Gill from Personal Space Interiors www.personal-space-interiors.blogspot.co.uk 9th August - Joy from Beaded Bazaar www.beadedbazaar.weebly.com/blog.html 10th August - Lilian from Berry Bakewell www.berrybakewell.blogspot.co.uk 11th August - Kristin from Pastelesta www.pastelesta.wordpress.com 12th August - Patricia from Lilly My Cat www.lillymycat.blogspot.com 13th August - Amanda from Amanda Addison www.amandaaddison.com/creative-crafting-blog-stop-2013.html 14th August - Cassie from Cassie Fairy www.cassiefairy.com 15th August - Karen from Bridgit's Bell www.bridgitsbell.blogspot.com 16th August - Kirsty from Silent Companions www.silentcompanions.blogspot.co.uk You can find a full list of Blog Stops on our website during the event. www.creative-crafting.com Don’t forget that you will need to visit each blog on the specified Blog Stop Day to see the official Creative Crafting Blog Tour Post. 12


Look out for the Blog Stop Badges

TIME FOR TEA

Time for

Two great ‘Time for Tea’ projects, created by Elsie May & Bertha and Shinyies


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TEA BAG CARRIER

Finished size when open is 20cm x 10cm, with the pockets measuring 8cm x 9cm. Materials ● From fabrics of your own choice, you will need 2 pieces 22cm x 12cm (one for the outside and one for the inside). ● 2 pieces 11cm x 10cm (for the pockets) ● 1 piece 5cm x 4cm (to embroider ‘tea’ on) and another piece 7cm x 5cm (to go underneath) ● 1 larger button (for the front to wrap the ribbon around) ● Small button (to hide the end of the ribbon) ● Piece of narrow (about 5cm) ribbon 16cm long.

This case is fairly straight forward to make.

1. The first thing to do is to embroider the word ‘tea’ onto your label. Then sew the label onto the contrasting fabric and attach this to the right-hand side of your outside fabric. 2. You can decorate the front and back of your carrier however you want at this stage. As I have used a busy Liberty print I just added a button to the label. I have also hand sewn everything as I prefer hand sewing to machine sewing. You do what you prefer too. 3. The pockets on the inside are next. You first need to fold in the edges of the two long sides and one short side of each pocket piece. The folded short side is the top of the pocket and you need to sew this side down before you pin the two pockets in position. The unfolded bottom should reach the bottom of the inside fabric (so that this seam will be sewn when you sew the inside and outside pieces together). Now sew the sides of the pockets to the inside fabric. 4. Next, pin the inside and the outside pieces right sides together. Sew the two pieces together, but leave a gap on each of the short sides. This will allow you to turn the carrier the right way round and to add the button and ribbon fastener. Once you have turned your carrier the right way round, give your carrier a quick iron. Next attach a button about halfway down the front and then sew closed the gap on this side.

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TEA BAG POT 5. On the back sew your piece of ribbon halfway down and cover the end of the ribbon with a small button, now sew up the gap on this side. To keep your carrier closed, wrap your ribbon around the button. Now you never need to miss your favourite tea and they make great presents too. Written by Elise May and Bertha http://www.elsiemayandbertha.co.uk

Materials ●Tub ● Newspapers ● White paper ● PVA glue ● Scissors, ● Pencil ● Paintbrushes ● Sellotape ● Acrylic paint.

1. First of all I needed to turn my not very teabag shaped tub into something that more resembled a teapot. Leaving the lid on so that I didn't cover the tub too high, I began wrapping rolled up sheets of newspaper around the tub, sticking them with sellotape. I made rolls around the centre larger as that would be the widest part of the teapot.


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TEA BAG POT 2. With pieces of newspaper and PVA glue I began covering over the rolls and sellotape, until I reached a shape that closely resembled a teapot. 3. Then it was time to make the spout and handle. The spout was made by rolling a sheet of paper into a cone and taping it. I cut the smallest end at an angle, so (in theory) tea could be poured, and I cut down the larger end. I shortened the length of the cone, leaving enough extra so that I could make cuts all the way around and not effect the length I wanted. The newly created flaps were then folded outwards so that I could tape the spout to the body of the teapot. Then I moved onto the handle. This I made simply by rolling newspaper, manipulating it's shape with my hands and then sellotaping it into place. 4. I built up the thickness of the handle with more newspaper, and once I was happy, I gave the spout and handle a covering of PVA glue and newspaper. 5. Whilst the teapot was drying it was time to make the lid. I scrunched newspaper to the same size as the lid and then sellotaped it on. Making a ball of newspaper I attached that to the top, creating the lid knob. I then covered the lid with pieces of newspapers and PVA glue. All together it had the traditional teapot shape I wanted and I was quite pleased with my handywork. All that was left to do was paint it. As my teapot was a not perfectly round (I call this "rustic style") I decided to paint my teapot in a manner that would embrace it's rustic look. 6. I gave the teapot and lid a couple of base coats of white acrylic paint. Once dry, I drew round the handle and spout in pencil and drew my design into the body of the teapot before giving it the final coat of paint. Very pleased with how my teapot turned out, I started using it straight away (once the paint had dried). Written by Shinyies - Contemporary Jewellery Boutique http://shinyies.co.uk/

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CRAFT FAIRS

Do you fancy taking part in a Craft Fair? But you aren’t sure how it would go! Meet three Craft Fair stall-holders who can give you the low down…

Starlight Gifts by Pat, Raggedy Lils and Jane Cameron


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CRAFT FAIRS

New to craft fairs?

H

i, my name is Pat Wilkes. I run my part time craft business from home and have been attending craft fairs for the last couple of years. Some have been good, some not so good. From large fairs to smaller ones and charity events. No two are ever the same. I started with gemstone jewellery and cards, and looking back my stall looked quite bare. I soon discovered that lots of crafters were making jewellery so competition was high and organisers wanted a variety of stalls. I started by attending Mind, Body and Spirit fairs as the crystal jewellery fitted with the type of visitors to these events quite well. Over time I realised that I needed to diversify and now I make a variety of unique items using methods and skills that I have developed to reuse and recycle items and materials. There are some things that the new seller should take into consideration when they book their first fair. Firstly - decide on what sort of fair your stock fits into, then decide on the type of customer that will be attracted to the fair so that you can display the goods more suited for that event. Social media groups are ideal to promote discussion on upcoming fairs and to find out about forthcoming events. The Internet site www.stallfinder.com is another useful resource for locating events in your area. Before booking a stall at a fair ask the right questions; ● Is the venue easy to find and has the organiser given you a contact number should you get lost? ● Is there free parking? ● How much advertising has the organiser done? ● Will you be in direct competition with someone else making the same items? There should only be one of each craft at any fair. ● How much is the stall going to cost? It is not always the most expensive stall that will be the best. ● How big is the table you are being offered or do you have to provide your own? So - you have asked all the right questions and have all the right answers. The big day arrives for your first fair - don’t be nervous, look at it as an adventure. It is a time to meet other like-minded, crafters, and prospective customers. Always dress your stall so that its looks appealing and tidy. Don’t forget to display your business cards. I usually find that once I’m there and set up its nice to go round and say hello to fellow stall-holders. Exchange business cards so that you can look at other people’s business pages on social media sites. It is also great to network and chat about the positives and the negatives in running a business. Always take a packed lunch and maybe a drink so all your proceeds do not go on refreshments, and any sales are real money in your pocket. Take a small float in your cash box so that you have some change if customers offer you large value bank notes. It really does make life a little easier. Once the fair opens and customers appear it can be really daunting. Do you jump up and try and do the whole sales pitch, or do you sit quietly? Please do not sit with your head in a book, looking bored. No one wants to buy from someone who does not look remotely interested in what they are selling.

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CRAFT FAIRS If you want to keep yourself occupied when it’s quiet, take something along to create. That in it self, can be a conversation starter. In my experience I find that it is best to just say hello to browsers, and if they pick up one of my creations, I try to explain how it is made, or what it is made from, and that can spark conversation too. Usually the organiser will say that they would prefer stall-holders not to pack away until the finish time. It looks really rude to start packing away before the event has finished just because you are not selling. It can give the whole room a feeling that customers are getting in the way of packing away. I have had events where very little has been sold, there has been a very low footfall at the fair and I used to be very disillusioned, and even feel that maybe my gifts were not up to standard. That is not usually the case, it just means that your stock is not what customers were looking for on the day. I have now changed my outlook on these times, and instead, I try to look at the positives. You may get future orders from giving out your cards. You have networked with other crafters, who may pass your name onto others. Just because in money terms it has not been a success, does not mean it has been a failure. All crafters and artists have low days and question their work, but do not let it stop you getting out there and showing people what you have. Build and learn from your experience and look forward to the next event. It gets easier. Written by Pat Wilkes from Starlight Gifts by Pat www.starlightgiftsbypat.co.uk www.facebook.com/pages/Starlight-Gifts-byPat/192201657484308


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CRAFT FAIRS

‘Raggedy Lils’ Guide to Craft Fairs

T

here is nothing more satisfying than selling your products to customers that appreciate and enjoy them as much as you. Here at ‘Raggedy Lils’ using a craft fair to showcase my products is just as important as an online presence. It gives your customers the chance to touch and see your products as a 3d item rather than a 2d image on a computer screen. It can be a daunting step to arrive at a craft fair to see other sellers all set up, looking professional and accomplished. My first stall was at a church fair and did not look the most professional. I know my products and display have improved massively since then. But with these following tips it should make your experience more enjoyable and organised as I have found.

1- Research Looking into the details of a craft fair you may want to attend is one of the first steps. I look at the area, cost, whether there will be passing customers, how established the fair is and feedback from other craft sellers that have attended. Going along beforehand is also a good tactic and from there I make my decision. Although even the most well thought out event does not always work out as planned, as I have experience.

2-Organise stock Most craft fair organisers will give you the dimensions of the tables available for hire, or you will have your own which you can measure. Once you have this information it is a lot easier to decide what products you are going to take along with you. I take a small selection of each of my ranges which includes cushions, wreaths, canvasses and cards. These also come in different price ranges to suit all types of customers spending habits. If you are attending the same fair regularly try to rotate your stock and introduce something new each time to hold customers interest especially those that return to repeat purchase. 3-Pricing There are two options to pricing displays and which you feel is the best. I personally like to display my products with prices so as the customer can see at an instant how much they are and can make a decision themselves as to whether they are within their price range. Or you can leave it to the customer to be able to ask you your prices, which can spur on a conversation and hopefully lead to that all important sale.

4-Setting up display Your display of products needs to be interesting and innovative to stand out amongst the other stall holders. Products laid flat on a table cannot be seen from across the room, maybe use boxes or stands to prop them up, something appropriate to your products. For example I have used a garden obelisk to show my wreaths as they would be hung inside your house. I also use a large sheet to cover the table and along the front of this I have bunting with my business name. Not only does it look pretty and attractive, but it shows who you are and identifies the brand. Colour co-ordination, not only in your items but in the props you use, gives a put together look and shows you have thought and cared about your display. 20


CRAFT FAIRS 5-Be organised! I always make sure I am packed up the day before so I can relax and know that everything is ready for the morning. All products packaged safely for transporting, a float of change, business cards and promotional material to display, a fix it kit in case of any breakages and a packed lunch of course! If the fair is quiet maybe some crafts to do while you are waiting, which is also good for passers-by to ask questions about your creations.

6-Have fun! Lastly enjoy your time at the craft fair. Talk to other crafters and your customers as they can always be new contacts for future business and even if you don’t make many sales it is always a learning curve and a showcase of your work. Good luck and hope you have many a successful craft fair! Written by Clare Nicholls from Raggedy Lils www.raggedylils.weebly.com

Preparing for Christmas! I hear you say … “Why do I need to think about this now?” Well, with less than 150 days till Christmas (yes, really!), you should be contemplating how you are going to be able to make the most of the festive season to promote and sell your fabulous work. Magazine deadlines for September and beyond are looming, and if your work isn’t out there it will miss the opportunity to be featured in the coming months. The last international posting dates (especially for heavier parcels) are a lot earlier than you expect, and may catch you by surprise! Check out www.postoffice.co.uk for the latest information. Are you going to do any craft fairs, open studios, popup shops or just have an “open house” evening so your friends can come and buy? Now is the time to have a look at your diary and work out when they are so you can put your applications in as some types of stalls, (especially jewellery, cards and soap) will run out of spaces faster than others. Did you do fairs last year? What did you learn? Did you have enough stock, the right stock, do you need to order some more packaging? Do you still know what stock you have? Now is a great time to take stock (yes, do a stocktake!) so you have time to fill any gaps before your first fair.


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CRAFT FAIRS If you sell online, start making links with other makers. There are some great networking pages out there but nothing is better than personal recommendation – and why not apply to the PCG’s “Partners in Craft” scheme if you are a member and want to find a little team of your own – membership of the Professional Crafters Guild is just £10 and lasts for life! www.procraftersguild.com Have you got a mailing list? It may be worth sending your subscribers a little note about where you will be showing / selling for the rest of the year, so that people can make plans to come and visit you or check out your online shop / facebook page / twitter if you only sell online. Update your website – make sure the events page is up to date, or put them all in a “note” on your Facebook page so people can refer to it there. What does your display look like? Do you need a new tablecloth (or do you need to wash your tablecloth!), how about that clothes rail that is unexpectedly missing a wheel, or that really basic but useful thing you left behind somewhere? Get yourself sorted now so you don’t have to panic later. A useful thing to take to fairs is an “emergency box” – I’ve written a blog post about this over on www.janecameron.co.uk and would love it if you would pop over and add a comment about what you keep in yours! With best wishes for a fabulous and successful festive season! Jane. Jane Cameron www.janecameron.co.uk Silk Painting Courses and Parties, Handmade Accessories and Homewares Other helpful links: www.ukcraftblog.com/2011/08/craft-fair-display-tips-and-ideas.html www.ukcraftfairs.com/guide-to-selling-work-at-a-craft-fair http://blog.folksy.com/2010/07/05/craft-fair-secrets-how-to-make-a-great-craft-fair-display

Creative Crafting have been publishing articles, projects and features by people like yourself for four years. It is your time to shine! Send your work and ideas to us at: [email protected] We will publish as many of you as we can in our magazines and on our blog and mobile apps.

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LAMPWORK

Gone Fishing!

W

e often hear people say it when they want to get away from it all. To sit quietly by a riverbank, flask of coffee by your side, sandwiches, crisps and maggots at hand. Birds singing their sweet songs and dragonflies, dipping and diving across the surface of the water, bliss! Well, just recently, I have taken up a bit of fishing too. Not quite the fishing as described above but certainly a kind of fishing.

So here I will tell you about a typical lamp work fish production session in The Bead Bounty studio. Once the kiln is switched on, a cup of tea is the way forward (well the kiln does take a while to reach full temperature). As each fish is a one off work of art, I then start to choose the glass colours that take my fancy (unless I am doing a bespoke piece and then I pick out the colours that the customer has requested, because it would be rude not to). I usually make some frit (crushed glass) to give the fish a nice background and set that on a metal plate by my torch, to use during the production process. Once the glass is chosen, the frit is ready and the tools are all present and correct, I switch the torch on and start the first part of the process. Choosing my base colour, I melt the glass in the flame and shape it into a dome of about 10mm across. Once I am happy with the size and shape of the footprint, I dip the molten dome in the frit and coat it all over. I then melt the frit into the dome and do some reshaping. Now I encase the dome in transparent glass, either coloured or clear, depending on what my final design is. Now the real fun begins. Giving the finished dome some features so that it looks like a fish. First the mouth is formed using a good blob of glass and thin blade. The eye is a really fun part to do too. I press the ‘eye’ glass flat after each addition of glass, as this makes it look more ‘fish like’. I usually use 3 types of glass for the eye but you can use more if you want. The fins and tail are then added, using swathes of the different colours of glass. Once I have checked the whole thing over and I am happy with the design the fish is ready to go into the kiln. These fish are perfect for brooches or pendants and as they are individually made, no two are ever the same. So, to recap, when I leave a note on the door saying ‘Gone Fishing’ you can bet that I will be having the best fun ever, creating some gorgeous, quirky little works of fishy art for my customers to enjoy. Written by Sally-Jo from The Bead Bounty www.thebeadbounty.weebly.com


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CHALK PAINT

martha stewart

Kid Crafts:

Making Sidewalk Chalk Paint

R

achel Woodham has worked as an editor for a number of magazines since graduating with a degree in journalism. Now, a full-time mom and wife, Rachel spends her days as a finger-painter extraordinaire, impromptu casserole maker and toy re-constructor. When life gives her a breather, Rachel works with the great team of people over at Martha Stewarts, where you can find out everything from how to prepare the perfect Summer Corn to the perfect crafts for kids.

While traditional sidewalk chalk definitely had its time in the spot light, innovation has given birth to several new ways for children to enjoy this same activity only with a new twist. Instead of struggling with those ever-breaking sticks try your hand at this great recipe for sidewalk chalk paint! While you can of course head on down to your local craft store and spend $15 (roughly £10) or more on a name brand variety, creating your own takes no more than a few minutes and a lot less money. I’ve personally used this recipe several times over the years and each time, my children and their friends continue to surprise me with some of the creative and colorful creations that they paint out on the sidewalk and driveway. If you’re worried about mess don’t be! This recipe of sidewalk chalk paint washes off with a quick splash of water, a hose or a good rainstorm. So drop what you’re doing, round up some ingredients and let’s get started. To begin you will need to locate the following items: Several small bowls (cheap Tupperware works great as do cupcake tins) ¼ a cup of regular old cornstarch (no need for anything fancy) ¼ a cup of cold water A box of food coloring Several inexpensive brushes Instructions: Step 1. First thing you will want to do is place the cornstarch in the bowls, Tupperware or cupcake tin. Once each bowl of tin has the appropriate amount of cornstarch in it, proceed to slowly stir in the cold water. Step 2. As you begin to stir this water into the corn starch, the water will begin to thicken. A good rule of thumb for thickness is a consistency that isn’t quite as thick as paint but more viscous than water. Chalk paint that is too thin won’t adhere to the sidewalk while chalk paint that is too thick has a difficult time being manipulated by little hands. Step 3. After you feel you have achieved the perfect level of thickness, go ahead and add in a little bit of food coloring to the mixture. Begin by adding about 4 drops for a lighter, color and about 6 or 7 a bolder tone. Once you have completed the first color, repeat the process for the remaining bowls, choosing a good color palette for your children to experiment with. 24


CHALK PAINT Step 4. Upon mixing all of the colors, you will want to place a brush in each container and remind the painters to use one brush for one color as to avoid any blending and unsightly color combinations. Step 5. Now, you are free to make your masterpieces. I like to give a little direction to my kids when we start painting, I found that without a little prompt, the painting can quickly devolve into a hodge-podge of color and lines. Instead, suggest drawing their favorite fruit, animal or a picture of themselves. When your artwork is complete, snap a picture show your DIY Rembrandts and Picassos off on your social media. Sidewalk chalk paint made this way can be saved for quite a while, just make sure to quickly stir the mixture before using it again!

Creative Chalk Ideas

http://kindnessgirl.com/2011/08/23/guerrilla-goodness-back-to-school-chalk-love/

http://popcultureaddictlifeguide.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/ode-to-sidewalk-chalk.html

http://inspirationlaboratories.com/playing-outside-chalk/ http://www.tessellations.org/real-materials-tessellations-19.shtml


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LAMPWORK Sassy Girl Bright Colour Lampwork Bead Set Hand created in Indiana, USA by www.SharplineDesigns.etsy.com Blue Florals Lampwork Bead Hand created in the UK by

$31 USD £21.37 GBP

approx

www.Beadscrumptious.etsy.com $10.70 USD £7.00 GBP approx

Chocolate candy lampwork beads handmade , creamy white dark Hand created in the USA by www.iloveanabel730.etsy.com

$13.99 USD £9.64 GBP approx

Handmade Boro Lampwork Beads Spring Red Cardinal Lentil Focal Bead Hand created in the USA by

Hand created in Colorado Springs, USA by v www.BohemianBeads.etsy.com

www.gracebeads.etsy.com $30 USD £20.68 GBP


approx

Do you create jewellery? If you do then you MUST try using some handcrafted lampwork! Lampwork beads, aqua blue, sea ocean organics. Hand created in Slovakia by www.MayaHoney.etsy.com


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LAMPWORK Cute Toadstool Draw Pull Hand created in the UK by www.wowthankyou.co.uk/glitterin gprize

£16.00 Lamp Work Beads With Encased Brown on Black Mottled Design Hand created in the UK by www.wowthankyou.co.uk/thebead-bounty-supplies £7.95 Rose Bud Beads - Lampwork Bead Set

Bee Lampwork Focal Bead Set Hand created in the UK by

Hand created in the UK by www.folksy.com/shops/Sooble www.folksy.com/shops/Midgetgembeads

£10.00

£12.50

Handmade Lampwork BeadsFairy Garden Hand created in Wales, UK by www.folksy.com/shops/Jewlls4U

£50.00

Blue and ivory spot lampwork beads Hand created in Lancashire, UK by www.folksy.com/shops/Lampwork beadsbyJo £10.00 www.creative-crafting.com

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Styles of Sonia INTERVIEW

Add a little eastern promise to your life with the beautiful creations of Sonia Subash from Styles of Sonia. Creating from her home in Malaysia Sonia hopes to make the entire world sparkle just that little bit more.

Tell us about yourself Sonia. I am a proud mother of two boys; one aged thirteen and the second, just about four months old. I have been addicted to making jewelry since a couple of years ago. And it has allowed me to work from home. I am also pursuing a business degree so needless to say, my hands are certainly full and I love it! How long have you ben creating your designs and what made you start? My sister’s wedding was coming up and I wanted to present her with something really special. So I embellished a pretty pair of silver strappy shoes with Swarovski crystal bicones; which she wore when she took her vows. I was then left with these tools that I had purchased and left over Swarovski crystals, and because I quite enjoyed the work I did on her shoes ,it led me to try out making some jewelry , and here I am , two years later , making more jewelry and still absolutely loving it. What is it that you enjoy about your work? I enjoy every bit of it! I get excited in the mornings thinking about what I’m going to be making on that day and I can’t wait to get my hands on my pliers and beads. And I can sit at the table and work on something till my neck aches, and still go on, and feel absolutely accomplished once I am done. And then the cycle begins once again the next day. And I love it!

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INTERVIEW What is your biggest crafting achievement, and why? I was asked to be a prize sponsor for a local Music Awards Show and I was baffled with what I was expected to give out. And so I thought I would combine elements of music, crystals, compact disc (which represents my up-cycling range) and craft wire. And after sketching out a few designs , I decided on this one , which I put together. I then placed it on a black velvet covered board , got a plaque made , and framed the whole thing , and I was so extremely proud of it ! Other than your crafting, what else do you like to do? Ohhh I love painting. Painting was my first love and I still do paint every now and then. Here’s one of my paintings which I aptly named Girl on Fire. I painted for my sister as she was on fire in her career pursuit.

If you had to choose your favourite from your creations which one would it be? I love this filigree piece I made for a hand bracelet which I just will not sell. It mesmerizes me every time I look at it. What advice would you offer to someone new starting out in the craft world? I would advise them that if they began with a passion, then they should always stay true to that passion. It may be a competitive world but it is a colorful world that can bring you happiness and satisfaction. Always be true to yourself, explore your talents and try new ideas. Don’t be afraid to put out what you’ve created and show it to the world.

If you could change one thing about what you do, what would it be? I would love to have a larger work studio, for sure.


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INTERVIEW What do you think has helped your business the most? Definitely the social media, which got me networking and also becoming a PCG Member (www.procraftersguild.com) has given me exposure and led me to getting to know so many other amazing crafters. My weblog address is www.stylesofsonia.com My Facebook Page is www.facebook.com/soniaashleycollections My Etsy Shop is www.etsy.com/shop/StylesOfSonia And Twitter http://twitter.com/StylesOfSonia

Has any person helped or supported you more than any other? My husband is my biggest supporter, followed by my son and then my mother and sisters. I have really supportive friends too. All the support has made a real difference in my life and has given me the confidence to pursue this passion. Tell us a random fact about yourself! I can impersonate Pee Wee Herman and I can talk like a chipmunk ..hehe.

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RECIPE

Millie-Mae, Toby & Mummy Makes …

This month’s make fell into place when the children asked to go strawberry picking on a very hot Saturday afternoon. So our challenge started with finding and picking a lovely large basket of strawberries. But what to do with them all having paid for them? Well, I thought it would be nice for Mummy (me) to take a step back this month and let the children (Millie-Mae and Toby) take total control. As they are young, it had to be kept simple, and yes Eton Mess is really simple – but it’s delicious and just perfect for two under 7s to rustle up on their own!

● Strawberries ●Meringues ●Whipping cream ● Icing sugar ● Chopped or flaked nuts (for decoration) ● Pick some strawberries …. Or I guess a punnet of shop-bought ones will do just as well


31

RECIPE

32

◊ Pour the tub of whipping cream into a mixing bowl, add a tablespoon of icing sugar and whip until nice and thick.

◊ Take another bowl, and break the meringues into it – not to fine, not too big.

◊ Wash the strawberries. Keep some back for decoration, but with a sharp knife top them and cut into half, and then half again (don’t let the younger child do anything other than watch this!).

◊ Once quartered, ‘squash’ the strawberries a little with the back of a fork to release some of the juices.

◊ Add the whipped cream to the meringues and stir LIGHTLY (or it will turn to mush!).

◊Add the crushed strawberries to the meringues and cream.


RECIPE

◊ Again LIGHTLY stir it all together, then put in the fridge for an hour or two.

◊ Decorate with some of the strawberries that were held back, and some mixed nuts.

◊ Once chilled, and immediately before serving, scoop some meringue mix into a serving bowl.

◊ Enjoy!

Written by Tracey Kifford - Millie-Mae and Toby are daughter and son of Tracey Kifford, founder and owner of the online marketplace WowThankYou. www.wowthankyou.co.uk


33

DAIRY AND GLUTEN FREE

GLUTEN & DAIRY FREE RECIPES Forgiving, quick and easy recipes free from gluten and dairy products. Grilled Pineapple and Coconut

● 4 tbsp agave nectar or honey ● 2 tsp lemon juice ● 4 slices of fresh pineapple ● 1 cup flaked coconut ● 2 tbsp rum (optional) Directions ◊ In a bowl wide enough to fit the pineapple into, whisk together the agave nectar, rum if using and lemon juice. ◊ Coat each slice of pineapple well in the mixture and refrigerate for at least one hour. Any leftover mixture can be poured over the pineapple. ◊ Lightly spray a grill or BBQ with oil and heat to a medium heat. ◊ Coat each pineapple slice with coconut and grill for 8 – 10 minutes. Tip – To make it easier to spoon honey out of a jar, heat a metal spoon over a hob ring of your cooker briefly. 34


DAIRY AND GLUTEN FREE Banana Ice cream

●4 bananas, peeled and cut into chunks ●250ml plain soya yoghurt ●3 – 4 tbsp of honey Directions ◊ Place the banana chunks into a freezer bag and freeze for around 3 hours or until solid. ◊Place the frozen banana slices into a liquidiser and add the yoghurt and honey. ◊ Blend until smooth. If the ice cream is a little runny it can be placed in a tub and left in the freezer until more solid.

Avocado chocolate pudding

● 4 medium avocados ● 200g cocoa powder (check ingredients as some contain milk) Directions ◊ Cut the avocados in half and remove the stones. ◊ Scoop all of the avocado flesh into a food processor bowl. ◊ Add the cocoa to the avocado and blend until completely combined. ◊ Scoop the pudding into a plastic container, cover and chill until set. Written by Claire from Elderberry Arts http://www.elderberryarts.co.uk


35

CRAFTING On A BUDGET

I

n theory the weather is usually nice at this time of year, but as we all know it’s definitely hit and miss so far in 2013. I’m sure we all love to be outside when the sun is shining, and with the limited sunny days we’ve had so far it’s nice to seize them as they land. I don’t know about the rest of you but the sunshine certainly throws my creative drift into overdrive, and if I can take my crafting outside it’s even better. Just recently Yorkshire has been blessed with masses of sunshine and with it came an abundance of inspiration, not only for some new products but for my next Crafting on a Budget article. Whilst playing in the garden with my young niece I discovered some old terracotta pots that had been cast aside. They were crying out for a good reinvention!

Prepared with my paints and paint brushes I took to the garden to redecorate the unused flower pots. This is a fantastic way of brightening up your garden, and takes minimal effort. Plus it is a very versatile project, you can decorate as much or as little as you like, and most importantly it is extremely friendly on your bank balance. The added bonus of working outside is that the paint dries quickly in the sunshine, meaning you can complete your project in record time. After one coat of paint the terracotta colour was beginning to show through; of course the thickness of your paint will determine how many coats you need to do, but after two coats I had a clean finish on what was once a weathered old pot. In some cases the weathered look can be mightily beneficial; with just one light coat of paint you can make a rustic looking flower pot ideal for any garden.

36


CRAFTING On A BUDGET

The vintage look is very much in right now, and it looks great in your garden. Perhaps you could try applying the paint with a sponge, to help further release the vintage look.

I am about to embark on my very first craft fair in just a few days time, where I will be showcasing my array of ‘crafted on a budget’ items. Hopefully some of my budgeted crafts will be a crowd pleaser. I will have more money saving craft tips for I decided to add a little something extra to you in the next issue of Creative Crafting, my painted pots but I didn’t want to go until then happy crafting! overboard with the embellishments. After a quick search through my collection I Written by Leanne from found a set of stencils that would work Small Surprise Boutique quite well. Stencils are the ideal addition https://www.facebook.com/SmallSurprises to most creative products, and for a Boutique project such as this it creates a nice dimension. For this project I chose a seaside theme, but the choice of themes in endless. With a bit more paint and some seaside stencils I was able to brighten up my newly decorated flower pot that bit more. Should the weather turn less than pleasant this project can always be taken indoors. Terracotta pots come in all sizes, and the smaller pots can be a nice way to enhance your favourite rooms. With a splash of paint it can be the perfect environment for some flowers, or a nice home for your favourite candle. The possibilities for this project are virtually endless – add paint, polka dots, beads, shells, buttons or even pebbles – anything goes.


37

SILK SCARF

Materials ● 1 silk scarf (The one I used was Ponge 5 silk, 40x150cm) ●2 small bottles of iron fix silk paint in toning colours (try dark and light purple, pink and purple, blue and green, red and yellow. Note: if you choose opposite colours you will end up with black or nasty brown bits where the colours merge!) ●Table salt ●Pipette (optional – small cup will do) ●Bin bag ● Iron / ironing board (Silk painting supplies available from www.silkcraft.co.uk – use the code GUILD1 at checkout for free P&P on your first order)

1. Cut the bottom off your bin bag, slit up the side and open it out so you have a nice big plastic surface to work on. 2. Wet your silk scarf and squeeze it out gently so it’s quite damp but no longer dripping.

38


SILK SCARF 3. Arrange your scarf in a random scrunched pattern on your bin bag. 4. Drip your two colours of paint over the scarf – you will see the colours run and merge. 5. Scatter a light sprinkle of table salt over your scarf. 6. Leave it to dry fully (watch the salt absorb the paint and make awesome patterns!) (Note: Leaving it to dry overnight in a warm place is best, though if it’s not windy you could easily dry it outside in the sunshine!) 7. Once your scarf is dry, lift it off the bin bag, flatten it out and iron it for 3 minutes per square foot on medium heat (as per instructions on silk paint bottle!). This sets the colour into the silk Brush any loose salt crystals off your ironing board/ 8. Rinse your scarf in warm water with a hint of detergent, then again in clean water. This removes the residual dye and the salt crystals 9. Roll in a towel and squeeze gently to remove most of the water. Iron while damp. 10. Ta-dah! You are now the proud owner of a fabulous silk scarf! If you want to find out more about the art and craft of silk painting, visit www.janecameron.co.uk and www.silkpainters-guild.co.uk. Jane Cameron runs silk painting courses in Surrey and is vice Chairman of the Guild of Silk Painters. © Jane Cameron 2013. Instructions are for personal and educational use only.


39

THE GARDEN

Hi! I'm Tina, What a beautiful day! We will sit on the patio and enjoy a nice cool glass of lemonade and some fresh fruit, I just love the summer. Here we are the second week in July, how did we get here so soon. It won't be long until Christmas at this rate. The garden is in such a hurry as the winter lasted so long this year. First, as usual I will bring you all up to date with what has been happening in ‘The Garden’ since your last visit. I had a very unusual plant. It was a foxglove, one of many but very different as you will see. Here is the story. With me there is always a story! In the spring after the bulbs have finished flowering in the pots on the patio, I give them some new compost and slow acting fertilizer and put them over at the side of the conservatory to rest for the summer. In late September I bring them back to the patio and tidy them 40


up a little, add compost, maybe the odd primrose plant. This time I was surprised to see the pots full of young foxgloves, where the seed came from I have no idea. Well, we gardeners as you know cannot waste any plant, why would you, so I carefully moved them all to the flower bed below the patio. There they were all through the cold winter and then late May they started to grow and grow. Making such strong growth, beautiful plants I thought they were all the wild variety which grow all over the garden but no, when the buds came some were cream and two plants had the usual foxglove bells but the flower at the top of the spike was really different as you will see. Then these two plants gradually changed to all pink and they have been just wonderful. The flowers are fading now, but of course I have photos.

“Is this your first visit to ‘The Garden’?”

THE GARDEN

The tale of an unusual foxglove!

Remember these bedding plants from last year, well here they are again. I cannot believe that they came through the cold winter. The apples and pears are forming well now that the blossom has gone looks like it will be a good year for fruit.


41

THE GARDEN

I always show you the Bog as it is a special favourite with my friend The Crystal Lady and she is the editor after all. So here it is and looking a little different, more growth it must be all the water last year. But it always has this mystical feel, to me anyway. Here are a few of the plants which have been performing in the garden since your last visit.

Aquilegia

Allium

Valarian

Campanula

Now shall we have a walk around the garden as it is such a lovely day?

Laburnum 42

Water Iris


GARDENING

The lampranthus are looking wonderful,they just love the sunshine, well, don't we all. Here we are at the star performers of the summer the roses, they are always so beautiful. I will apologise to you regular readers as you have seen them every August for four years, but I am sure that you feel as I do they never lose their appeal. As this is a real garden we do have repeat performances but some how they are never quite the same.


43

GARDENING Well take your time feel free to walk around and enjoy the garden, sit and in the sunshine a while, who knows how long it will last so let's take advantage of it while we have the chance. I will leave you now as I have some weeds awaiting my attention. It was a pleasure as always to have you visit with me in the garden, and I look forward to meeting with you again in the next issue. Your green-fingered friend

Oh, by the way I saw this little item on the Foxglove, I do hope it's true. This is the flower of the Faerie, legend says when the foxglove bows its head the Faerie folk are passing by. Thus it is considered lucky to have foxglove growing from seed in your garden. Maybe I can find some more on other flowers in the coming issues. Watch this space.

44


CRAFT GUILD

The Professional Crafters Guild is a friendly community created for Crafters to show the world that they mean BUSINESS! Crafting is not just a hobby!

Premium Guild Member The Bead Bounty www.wowthankyou.co.uk/the-bead-bounty www.wowthankyou.co.uk/the-bead-bounty-supplies

Premium Guild Member Scrapbookerry www.scrapbookerry.com If you would like some help to raise the profile of your craft business we would very much like to meet you. Don’t forget that Craft Supply businesses are also welcome to join under our Supplier Membership category.

www.procraftersguild.com

DAMOISELLE

I

got hooked on crafting when I was little - I was always borrowing fabric or buttons from my mum and ‘making’ something that would inevitably look strange and fall apart a few minutes later. I started crafting a bit better when I was about ten - I set up a mini business decorating and selling hair bands to friends, but when I got to comprehensive school making your own things became ‘uncool’ and I slowly drifted into other hobbies. But now here I am a few years later at fifteen with an admittedly slightly bigger business set up!

46


My mum’s been selling her crafts online for a while now, and when she realised my interest in practicing some of the techniques from my Textiles GCSE class, she suggested that we buy the equipment needed and make a few things to sell. And so was born. I’d recently been in a production of the musical ‘We Will Rock You’, and as my mum was the costume mistress, there were loads of white denim shorts in the house left over from the Radio Ga Ga dance.

DAMOISELLE So, I made up some batches of dye and dipped a few shorts in to see what would happen. Imagine my surprise that unlike usual, they came out looking really good on first try! From there I played with different dip-dying techniques - including dipping blue denim into bleach - as well as tie-dying cotton t-shirts and vests. A few weeks later, the screen printing kit turned up and I was really excited. Yeah sure, dying is great fun, but screen printing was what I was really interested in. Those of you who’ve seen my guest post on my mum’s blog (The Old Button) http://theoldbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/screenprinting-t-shirts.html will know how I got on with that, and to those of you that haven’t, it went pretty well. At the suggestion of my mum I joined Creative Connections www.creative-connections.ning.com and I also had a stall in the most recent Craftfest event, www.craftfest-events.com. Everyone was really lovely and it really helped me think about how to advertise my stuff - I started using Pinterest and Stumbleupon and I set up a Twitter account as DamoiselleD. I made my first sale - a pair of hot pink and lilac shorts ……to Sweden!

Since then business has taken off. So far, I’ve found that eBay is the quickest way to sell my products, with Facebook and WowThankYou coming in as close seconds. I’ve also been selling quite a few directly to friends through my singing class and through school. Luckily, summer seems to have hit my area for the first time in living memory (I’m just joking - it has been a while though) and because everyone was expecting our usual forecast of rain, rain, and rain,

everyone is scrambling to buy shorts and t-shirts last minute which is perfect for me! Website/shop http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/damoiselle-designs/ www.creative-crafting.com

47

BEACH HUTS

The British Love Affair

with the

beach hut W

hat is it about brightly painted beach huts that capture the British popular imagination? Well I for one love the sea and the beach and long hot summers paddling, making sand castles and eating ice cream, so I am already a convert. I think most people have fond memories of beach holidays and always want to try and recapture some of their childhood or at least pass it onto their own children and beach huts are a lovely way to do that.

http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/all-fired-up

regulated by a local council or a specific administrative body set up to control occupancy regulations and maintenance.

http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/alfies-hut

Beach huts have become incredibly popular in the last few years with some changing hands for many thousands of pounds. In June 2012 it was reported that a beach hut at Mudeford Spit near Christchurch, Dorset had sold for £170,000. This 18ft long wooden hut had no running hot water or washing facilities and required a 30 minute walk to get there. However, there are stunning views of the harbour and The Solent and it can sleep up to six people. This is of course the exception and many beach huts can be acquired for much more modest prices (typically between £9,000 to £35,000 depending upon location and amenities). Most beach huts are not designed for overnight accommodation and their use is limited to days at the beach; those that allow ‘overnighting’ can certainly command a premium price. Beach huts are usually 48


There are believed to be around 20,000 beach huts in the UK in premium beach locations such as Southwold, West Wittering, Wells next to the Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze, Abersoch, Langland Bay, Isle of Wight, and Mersea Island. Historically beach huts were a carryover from the ‘bathing machines’ of the Victorian era where a lady’s modesty had to be protected as she bathed. Eventually these seaside huts captured the popular imagination and evolved into the summer residence of the less well off. However following World War II, a time when all beaches were closed, the beach hut became popular for everyone both rich and poor. The Royal Family itself owned a beach hut in Norfolk for over 70 years (sadly it burned down in 2003, something to be aware of because these buildings are mostly wooden construction).

BEACH HUTS It can only be a matter of time before beach hut timeshare is introduced …. Ooh err, maybe I’ll get onto Alan Sugar - this sounds like a business plan worthy of ‘The Apprentice’ J

http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/handcrafted-by-picto/

Some of the oldest beach huts in the UK can be found in Bournemouth, where they were first purpose built by the council alongside the pier in 1909. The oldest beach hut, number 2359, can be found in Bournemouth and is now over 100 years old. Bournemouth Council are known for championing beach huts (520 council owned and some 1,200 private) and have now even introduced a beach hut wedding chapel on the beach under the West Cliff. I think the ‘Beach Hut’ is a link to a simpler time where everyone had more leisure time and one could sit at the beach all day in quiet contemplation reading the newspaper or a good book far away from work or the cares of the world. Beach huts are perfect for those who love to ‘people watch’ you can set up your comfy deck chair make a lovely cup of tea and wind away the day as the whole world literally passes your door. Beach huts do come up for sale but many are prized hideaways and are handed down in families from generation to generation. So if you have one treasure it and enjoy it and make sure you use it as much as possible.

http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/lilyloom/

http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/the-sparkly-fairy/

Tracey Kifford owner of http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/

Written by http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/firedart


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COOKING

With Gill Making the most of fresh summer herbs Just a little warm weather, a smattering of sunshine and a splash of rain and the herb garden has gone into overdrive. So what to do with this glut of fresh greenery? Here are some ideas that really make those fresh herbs sing.

Fresh Gnocchi with Oxtail Ragu and Crispy Sage

Serves 4 Making your own pasta takes a fair bit of practice and skill. Gnocchi on the other hand is super easy and so much better than ready made. And it’s really cheap too. I’ve always been a believer in “nose to tail” eating and often make use of traditional cheaper cuts and offal. But if you’re really not keen, you can substitute the oxtail for braising steak instead. I recommend shin beef as it’s full of flavour and tender when slow cooked. For the gnocchi: • 4 medium potatoes • Egg yolks

• Plain flour • Cornmeal / polenta / semolina

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C and bake the potatoes until tender. Leave until cool enough to handle, then split and scrape the potato flesh into a large mixing bowl. You can use the left overs to make crispy potato skins – simply drizzle with olive oil and bake until crisp and golden. 2. Put the potato through a ricer or mouli, or mash really well until there are no lumps. 3. Mix in the flour and egg yolks to form a soft dough. 4. Roll the dough into a sausage shape and cut into 3cm pieces. Traditionally, the gnocchi should be cut diagonally to create a lozenge shape. If you’re cooking with children, you can get them to roll the gnocchi into little balls. Flatten the gnocchi slightly with a fork and set aside on a baking tray dusted with cornmeal. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up. 5. To cook the gnocchi, you have two options. Either drop them into salted boiling water for 2 minutes; they’re ready when they float to the surface. Then drain on kitchen paper and serve. I prefer to shallow fry in a little olive oil until crisp and golden. For the ragu: 450g oxtail or shin beef cut into large chunks · 1 large onion, 1 stick of celery and 1 large carrot, finely chopped · I tin chopped tomatoes · Half a cinnamon stick · 1 tsp dried chilli flakes · 1 tsp dried oregano · 1 tbsp tomato puree · 1 large glass of white wine · 1 tsp sugar · A knob of butter • Salt and Pepper 50


COOKING 1. Preheat the oven to 150°C 2. Place a large ovenproof casserole over a high heat and brown the oxtail in a little olive oil. 3. Reduce the heat and add the vegetables. Place the lid on the pan and simmer gently until the vegetables have softened. 4. Add the rest of the ingredients except the butter and bring to a simmer. Place covered in the oven and cook slowly and gently for at least 3½ hours. Check the ragu from time to time, give a gentle stir and top up with water if needed to keep the ragu moist. It’s ready when the meat is falling away from the bone. 5. Remove the bones and add the butter for a glossy finish. 6. Fry some fresh sage leaves in a little olive oil until crisp and leave to drain on some kitchen paper. 7. Serve the ragu in warmed pasta bowls with the gnocchi placed on top and garnished with the sage leaves.

Beetroot Salad with Haloumi A brilliant way to use a pack of pre-cooked beetroot, with loads left over for another day. The beetroot salad will keep well for a few days in the fridge. For the beetroot salad · A pack of pre-cooked peeled beetroot (not in vinegar) · 1 small carrot, grated finely · A handful of fresh mint leaves, shredded · 2 tbsp white wine vinegar · Caster sugar to taste To serve · A pack of haloumi · A little cornflour and olive oil · Salad leaves and sliced cucumber · Lemon juice 1. Cut the beetroot into chunks and place in a large bowl with the carrot, mint and vinegar. Mix thoroughly and add caster sugar to taste. Set aside in the fridge for an hour for the flavours to develop. 2. Cut the haloumi into 1cm slices and dust with cornflour. Fry gently in a little olive oil until golden. 3. Mix the salad leaves and cucumber with a drizzle of lemon juice and serve with the beetroot scattered and haloumi slices on top.

Mojito Melon. One for the grown-ups; a gorgeous refreshing desert with the exotic flavours of my favourite cocktail. Perfect for outdoor entertaining on those balmy summer nights. · · · · · ·

1 ripe gala melon Spiced rum – Sailor Jerry or Morgans A handful of mint leaves 1 tbsp demerara sugar Juice of 2 limes Soda water

1. Cut the melon into cubes and place in a glass serving dish on a bed of crushed ice. 2. Crush the mint leaves in a pestle and mortar with the sugar and lime juice. Place in a blender with the rum and soda water and blitz. Taste and add more sugar if required. 3. Pour the mojito mix over the melon. Mix well and place covered in the fridge for a few minutes to develop the flavour. Scatter with shredded mint leaves and serve. Written by Gill from Personal Space Interiors - wwww.personal-space-interiors.co.uk I hope you enjoy my recipes. Why not follow my blog for other foodie treats www.personal-space-interiors.blogspot.co.uk www.creative-crafting.com

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REVIEWS

AS SEEN BY CREATIVE

Crafting

Followers of our Facebook page and Twitter Account may have seen that we now offer product reviews. This can either be your creations, your service or your course/workshop etc. If you would like us to conduct a review for you further information can be found on our website. www.creative-crafting.com/product_reviews.html Depending on how many products we get submitted we may offer single or multiple reviews per issue. Our next review is of:

Card People to Colour and Go!

Carddies thoughtfully provided us with two of their wonderful kits, the cave man set and the farm set. So I drafted in two of Creative Craftings youngest team members to give them a good test.

www.carddies.com

Joe is 5 years old

Zac is 11 years old

Joe was very excited when he opened the box to see all of the little compartments inside. He soon set to work colouring in one of the little characters. The first thing he noticed was the quality of the pencils. He said they were the best that he had used and they stayed sharp very well. The colours also came out nice and bright. Zac also liked the pencils but his favourite bit about carddies was the idea. He said that the best thing for him was being able to create the characters and give them names so that he could create stories with them. As an activity for children of all ages we think that carddies are a fabulous idea. There is a lot to do to keep the children occupied for quite a while as the characters are double sided and the background can be coloured in. There is also a special bit on the back of the scenery where you can name your characters. Even once the colouring is completed hours of fun can be had playing with the finished pieces which all pack away neatly when it is time to stop. One of the best signs for me was when Joe got up after his tea and asked if he could go back to playing with the caveman set. Big thumbs up from us at Creative Crafting! Perfect for families on the go, this portable toy includes 12 colouring pencils, 12 figures with stands and a backdrop, all included in a sliding box. The toy is self-contained, highly portable and made from premium British card: perfect for keeping children amused on any journey or outing or during the summer holidays. 52


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Creative Crafting August 2013

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