Monthly Archives: February 2010
Wholesale order
I was contacted a couple of weeks ago by a couple who are about to open a new gift store in historic Lavenham in Suffolk, stocking handmade products from around the world. They were keen to stock a large selection of my work – I was delighted. They purchased some of my products upfront, and collected them earlier this week. It was nice to meet someone face to face who has bought so much of my work.
The new shop, ‘Gifted in Lavenham’ is due to open around mid March. The old tudor style town where the shop is based looks very picturesque. I think the shop will be successful, especially within this type of location.
They are going to put a large photo of me making my work up on the wall, that is such a compliment!
Featured Designers Part 2
I’ve really enjoyed choosing which pieces of work to feature by each of the 12 designers this week. I think they all make a really interesting mosaic as a whole. These designers kindly voted for me in the Handmade Olympics so I am slowly getting round to showing off all of their fabulous work to say thanks.
Not been featured this week? Look out for your feature next week!
1. Fine Silver Flower Earrings by Willow Wire Creations
Joined Etsy & Featured in a Treasury!
I decided to join Etsy a few days ago, I thought it would be good to start getting my work noticed worldwide as well as in the UK. I’m really enjoying my experience of Etsy so far, there is so much to learn and I’m discovering new inspiring things every day.
You might have noticed a new feature in my side bar –>
It’s a link direct to my Etsy shop and shows a selection of the products that I currently have for sale. Feel free to visit my shop and ‘heart’ me if you are a fellow Etsyer! 
I’m overwhelmed to already be featured in a treasury by handjstarcreations – It’s called ‘All Natural’, and my Organic Ceramic Planter was chosen to be featured amongst 11 other gorgeously natural findings.
My ‘Gloriously Green’ Treasury
I created this treasury on Etsy today, I’m really pleased with it!
What do you think?
Click here to view the treasury on Etsy, it’s only live til Friday!
Mad about Pineapples!
Not only are pineapples one of my favourite fruits, the surface of a pineapple is one of my favourite textural patterns (apart from tree bark, obviously!)
I love the repetition of the spiky pattern that sprirals around the chunky form.
I went through a stage of producing different surface design ideas based on the pineapple,
and produced these vibrant screen prints with machine stitching on fabric as the outcome. I really enjoyed the project, and its interesting to see how a few mixed-media drawings developed into a pair of colourful hanging prints.
One of these prints is available to purchase in my Folksy Shop here.
Hope you like them.
Quiche Recipe, cheeky Molly!
I got my mum a Rachel Allen food processor for her birthday. Her birthday isn’t til March but she had her present early. She’s been baking all sorts recently, and her new speciality is quiches. They’re delicious!
The food processor is great because it can be used for mixing cakes, slicing & shopping ingredients, blending food, and even kneading dough.
We were only recently saying how Molly seems to enjoy playing with things around the house more than her own toys. She loves scrunched up bits of paper and sweet wrappers – we often find stashes of these under the furniture! She also likes hiding out in cosy places, so we thought it would be funny to cut a hole in the box that the food processor came in, leave it on the floor and see what she did.
She soon made it her own little hide out! Theres a blanket in there now, and sometimes all you can see if her tail sticking out of the hole!
Here’s the recipe my mum uses for her Roasted Tomato, Basil & Parmesan quiche:
Ingredients
- 300g cherry tomatoes
- drizzle olive oil
- 50g parmesan , grated
- 2 eggs
- 284ml pot double cream
- handful basil leaves, shredded, plus a few small ones left whole for scattering
For the pastry
- 280g plain flour , plus extra for dusting
- 140g cold butter , cut into piece
Method
- To make the pastry, tip the flour and butter into a bowl, then rub together with your fingertips until completely mixed and crumbly. Add 8 tbsp cold water, then bring everything together with your hands until just combined. Roll into a ball and use straight away or chill for up to 2 days. The pastry can also be frozen for up to a month.
- Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a round about 5cm larger than a 25cm tin. Use your rolling pin to lift it up, then drape over the tart case so there is an overhang of pastry on the sides. Using a small ball of pastry scraps, push the pastry into the corners of the tin (see picture, above left). Chill in the fridge or freezer for 20 mins. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.
- In a small roasting tin, drizzle the tomatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Put the tomatoes in a low shelf of the oven.
- Lightly prick the base of the tart with a fork, line the tart case with a large circle of greaseproof paper or foil, then fill with baking beans. Blind-bake the tart for 20 mins, remove the paper and beans, then continue to cook for 5-10 mins until biscuit brown.
- When you remove the tart case from the oven, take out the tomatoes, too.
- While the tart is cooking, beat the eggs in a large bowl. Gradually add the cream, then stir in the basil and season. When the case is ready, sprinkle half the cheese over the base, scatter over the tomatoes, pour over the cream mix, then finally scatter over the rest of the cheese. Bake for 20-25 mins until set and golden brown. Leave to cool in the case, trim the edges of the pastry, then remove from the tin. Scatter over the remaining basil and serve in slices.
There are loads of different flavour combinations to try out, these sound yummy too – goats cheese & watercress, cheddar & onion, leek & mushroom, rocket, mushroom & bacon, goats cheese, potato & onion. Enjoy!
Logo/Banner – Which is better?
I prefer the white text as its not as harsh and blends better with the background image (which is a close up detail of my work), but the darker text is easier to read…
What is your opinion?
Craft Show Design & Display ideas
I came across this brilliant blog the other day called Craft + Show Designs – its full of craft show display ideas. Have a look to see if there are any display themes that could help you. There are loads of different categories listed down the left hand side of the blog.
These are some of my favourites… enjoy!
Featured Designers Part 1
Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me in the Handmade Olympics. I was very pleased to be short-listed, and I came 3rd in the final vote, winning some free advertising on the fabulous RikRak Studio Blog! Thank you also to The RikRak Studio for organising the event, it was lots of fun and great exposure for so many different designers. Check out the RikRak Studio Blog for lots of daily inspiring stuff.
As well as admiring work by some of the voters who I already knew, I’ve also discovered lots of exciting new shops and sites from the rest of you who voted. As promised, I’m featuring everyones work who voted for me to say thanks. There were so many kind voters that I can’t feature you all at once, so I’ve decided to feature 12 at a time, and this will run weekly. Be sure to keep an eye out for your work!
1. Sweet Flower Bracelet by Chiyo
2. Handbag by Zukie Style
4. Simple Flower Birthday Card by Jan Jackman
6. Curved Glass Panels by Lady Daisy Glass
9. Ceramics by Anne Lodewijks
10. Bridal Jewellery by Rocks for Frocks
11. Bead & Wirework designs by Cinnamon Jewellery
12. Lariar Necklace by Cristals Creations
I’ve been Featured on Cuteable
Cuteable is a Monday to Friday treasure trove of unique finds for you and your home. It is run by Lynsey of Swirly Arts, who makes hand crafted door stops and paper weights in the form of ‘cheeky chickens!’ The chicks are available in many different types of fabrics. Have a look at Lynsey’s current available chickens at her online shops – They’re really cute!
I’m pleased that My Organic Tree Bark Vessel was featured on Cuteable last week. Thanks for choosing it Lynsey! See the other Cuteable finds it was featured alongside here.
Look familiar?
This featured vessel is the same piece that has been shortlisted in the Handmade Olympics for the most innovative design, and the voting is still open! Please take a moment to read my previous post about voting for me in the short-list, and vote if you like what you see! Thank you!
My Creative Space & Exciting News
This week I’ve been out in the workshop a lot. It’s much warmer with the new insulation up, and Dave coated the outside so it should have sealed it all a lot more too.
I’ve been busy casting new vases, and making more of my usual pieces. I’ve also started on some new items, but they will remain a secret for the moment! I’m looking forward to seeing how they turn out.
I’ve also been making lots more bowls with wavy edges. I’ve incorporated a new design into some of them. I’ll show you the results soon!
I’ve also had some exciting news. A new store in historic Lavenham, Suffolk is due to be opened in mid March, stocking hand crafted goods from around the world. The owner contacted me last week about supplying my products, and we’ve arranged a large wholesale order! I’ll initially be supplying the new store with vases, bowls, clocks and wall plaques.
So I’m busy most evenings at the moment…
