Looking to 2012 - Saying Goodbye to 2011

2011 has been an odd year to say the least. I have had some really crummy times but also some fab moments too.

The beginning of the year was very difficult for us I had personal problems that didn't resolve themselves until May and well I don't think I will ever be truly free of the sadness of those first few months. The summer brought a wedding - 10 years of waiting finally over. I am now Mrs B and i'm finally accepting that becoming a 'Mrs Somebody' doesn't mean you have to loose your identity and I love how it makes me feel like an unbreakable team that can fight anything. The year ended with the sad passing of my brave, tough-as-old-boots nan. She battled so hard to not give into the illness that ravaged her and I will always love and admire her for it. My kids continue to do well and thrive and they along with my my husband bring such happiness and craziness and love.

Craft wise i've been making all year but could only truly focus on H&H from September. I've been so blessed with features, the folksy front page, contributing to magazines and wonderful comments and feedback from other talented crafters. My sales have improved 10 fold from 2010 and i'm hoping to continue the momentum into 2012.

I have several personal and business goals for 2012. First I want to get fit and drop the fat, easier said than done but I don't feel I get taken seriously as a roly poly. I want to do up our house ready for a potential move down south. I want H&H to go from strength to strength and push for sales to shops. I also want to try new things and manage my time better.... not alot then! 

Finally I want to say thank you to everyone that visited, read and commented on my blog - the feeling you get from reading a kind word can not be put into words. Thank you to those that have purchased a H&H item over this year, your faith in my work makes all the effort, strained eyes and stolen evenings worthwhile!

I'll leave you with a few of my proudest makes from 2011. Happy New Year to you all I wish you a happy and prosperous 2012! x

Market Harborough Vintage Fair

I am oh so excited that tomorrow I will be doing the Vintage Fair in Market Harborough. I've done lots of little fairs in the past but this really feels like a 'proper' event. It has been carefully and well advertised and will feature the right sort of sellers for my items to mingle in with. If you are in the area do pop in! (Ill be the one downing coffee looking rather scared)

Latest Work - Blue Tit Embroidery

I think I was subconsciously inspired by our lack of heating for the last three weeks in creating this wintry scene. Its fixed of a fashion but we have a very poorly boiler.

I originally printed the blue tit using a lino block and then stitched in the detailing. There is also a little appliqué on the birds breast. Its a skill I have not fully mastered yet.

I will be taking this piece to the Market Harborough Vintage and Handmade Fair next week. I'm so excited it will be my first 'serious' craft event. I'm hoping this time I will be able to come away feeling satisfied with my days work.

Christmas Star Wreath

An old post was resurrected over on crafter_oo yesterday that caught my interest. It linked to a lovely tutorial by annekata. It was a simple 3d paper star and below is my interpretation.

I have loads of vintage sheet music and decided to use that. The ring is made of polystyrene and covered in paper strips. I think i'm going to make another larger star burst as a feature in my living room for Christmas.

Two Turtle Doves

After doing my partridge wrapping paper I decided to continue the theme and make some greetings cards. Below is my Two Turtle Doves greeting card. Ive pictured the process I went through to get to the end result. Printing can be so frustrating sometimes - for instance my paint decided not to fix properly so I had to experiment with differnt types to find one that worked well. Anyway it is available to buy through my folksy or Etsy store if its takes your fancy.

As you can see I sketch with whatever I can find and managed to sneak this in when the children were drawing too.

 

I like to paint on my design before cutting. I'm not sure if this technique adds anything to the process but I like doing it.

The finished print.

Interview With Hannah Robinson

I was lucky enough to be interviewed on Hannah Robinsons blog today. Her day job is creating fabulous illustrations which can be found here. She also has a cute little Folksy shop too.

Please if you get a chance pop over and have a read. If anything it gives a better insight into what I do and what drives and interests me.

Partridge Gift Wrap

This is the next piece from my 2011 Christmas range. It is my my own design work which has been printed using lino printing techniques. It took quite a few attempts to get the plumage right using a new flexible lino which I was not impressed with. I found it too hard to cut and it took longer and it also was too flimsy so I easily messed up when applying block to paper - maybe I need more practise. :S

Anyway I have listed this in my Folksy shop as made to order. I'd rather print to order than run the risk of little fingers finding it! It's also been featured on Cuteable as part of their Flickr Friday feature *yay*.

Botanical Upcycled Pendant

Botanical Upcycled Pendant, a photo by Handmade and Heritage on Flickr.

I was at the flea market on Tuesday and stumbled across a box of broken time piece materials. I bagged a good handful for £2 and some of it has been used to make this pendant.

Firstly I prized open the case and lined it with a page from a botanical illustrations book then glued some pressed flowers on top. I then attached the watch face and hung it from a piece of ribbon. Its also has had a good polish and its come up lovely.

I'm not sure whether this will make it to my Folksy shop as its the type of jewellery I love to wear... we will see.

Mini Me in Vintage

My very beautiful daughter (I am very biased) has discovered a love of vintage! :) Here she is posing in a very cute vintage Mickey Mouse jumper thrifted from a charity shop for 50p. I think she looks gorgeous and I love how out of all the little pressies she had yesterday her favourite was this.... like mother like daughter!

I've been Featured!

My Fabric Bauble has been featured in this lovely Autumn/Winter Showcase by The Crafty Network. Yippee!!!

Find it here....  clickety click

Rolling with it!

Its taken some time and a lot of hard work but I finally seem to be getting somewhere with Handmade and Heritage. I'm enjoying small but regular sales from both vintage and handmade - of course I would love more but you have to take what you can, especially its today's financial climate.

Also as you will already know I am a contributor for the new Crafteroo Magazine that is now on sale and available to buy. I wrote the Folksy feature and submitted two tutorials which were my decoupage bangles and hydrangea mixed media. I feel very blessed to have been a part of something new and exciting.

Finally i've been making lots of xmassy inspired bits, some have worked some have not. Someone once said that when reading blogs they like to read about the good makes and bad makes too. I guess it makes us human and shows us all that not everything works first time and that you have to spend months, even years perfecting your craft.

I had lots of little ideas floating around in my head that inspired this decoration. It originally started off as a lino print on vintage fabric but I have lightly stuffed it to hang on an xmas tree. I dont think it works. I like things on my tree that necessarily are not xmas themed but I think this is too dark and boring. Maybe some colour might cheer it up. I'd love to know what you think of it.

Vintage Items for sale

I've got lots of vintage loveliness up for auction on Ebay at the moment. Some of it is left overs from my wedding but some are new finds. I always try to be fair with my start prices, I don't believe that vintage should be made exclusive based on your income - I try and cater for all.

So here are my fav pieces today.... (clickety click)

Crafteroo Magazine

I did a mini blog post last week to jog your memories about the new Crafteroo Magazine. I was lucky enough to be involved with a feature and a couple tutorials but after having a sneaky peek at the finished magazine I have to say there is so much I want to try!


Here are some more details including sample pictures and the contents list!


Online forum Crafteroo is launching a brand new online magazine dedicated to all types of crafts. Run, written and edited entirely by forum members, who between them cover just about every craft you can think of, the new magazine will be digitally published quarterly, with the first issue due out on 1 October 2011.

Through a combination of features, tutorials, business articles and projects, as well as a swap shop for de-stashing and re-stashing, and illustrated with gorgeous photography throughout, it aims to engage with crafters new and old, share knowledge, encourage readers to try something new and expand the reach of the crafting revolution!

Comments Kerry Wilkinson, editor; “Recently we had a discussion about how we could perk up the forum as we have a solid visitor base but were looking to expand and engage with existing members. As I had a background in craft magazine editing, it seemed like the next logical step for us, and it’s really got everyone excited, we’re all working very hard on this to make it an excellent publication.”

The magazine will be priced at £1.50 and access will be sold through the Crafteroo forum (www.crafteroo.com).

All proceeds from sales and advertising will go towards the running and upkeep of the Crafteroo forum promotional activity and incentives for forum members. Readers are encouraged to join the community, share their makes and talk to the magazine creators and maybe even participate in the next issue themselves.

Get ready to be inspired, and try making something new! 

Upcycled Christmas Tree Decoration

Well the wedding has been and gone and it really was a lovely day - just how I imagined but without the punch up! Since the wedding i've been like a lost puppy so the only thing for me to do was knuckle down and focus on something else...... Christmas yay!

My OH given the choice would go on holiday for the month before Xmas because I turn into Martha Stewart's more obsessed and over the top sister. He's particularly worried that i've started this early but it was either this or another baby.... and we are never going there again btw

So here is my first Xmas decoration. It's made from a charity shop find. I purchased a lovely embroidered tablecloth which unfortunately had a big stain on it so i've cut it up and sewn it into a ball. Its been stuffed and hung it on twine. It is quite a large decoration but if you buy a real tree like we do you find you need the odd bigger piece to fill up any negative space. (yes I do take it that seriously lol)

I've got enough tablecloth to make a few of these so they will be available online and in my folksy store soon.

See here....

well over there >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Crafteroo magazine coming soon on the 1st October. Look out for some gorgeous tutorials and informative articles. I cant wait to see my decoupage bangles featured!

A Thrifty Wedding?

I'm doing this post now before the wedding because after this i'm back to a positive, keep calm attitude and I don't want to ruin my wedding blog post moaning all woe is me at you all.

When my OH decided we should set the date I had hoped he would give me at least a year to get used to the idea to plan and save etc. Obviously such is my attraction and my apparent 'meh' attitude he decided the get- wed-quick route was the best. Five months the git gave me, five blinking months.

With all families at the mo, extra pennies are few and far in between but being thrifty and pretty happy with the idea of a 'small do' we figured what we couldn't buy we would make, and what we couldn't make or buy we would do without. Of course this sounds like a lovely idea but weddings have a sneaky way of snowballing... for instance a small family BBQ has turned into a vintage themed hall do complete with hog roast! Gasps of horror at not wearing white, no cars, no honeymooon, no first dance, no over the top speeches... no top table OMG no top table! (we caved and now have a top table lol)

Over the last five months we have brought what we could afford- outfits, rings, crockery, cutlery until the money ran out and what was left on the list was for me to somehow conjure up using my making skills. In the last month I've turned from cake decorator to fabric florist, to table decoration specialist. To be honest i'm pretty much burnt out. Thankfully my mum has been a diamond and helped where possible making favour bits and other much needed items but I've made the following:

Bouquet
Bridesmaid Posy
Hair Accessories
Buttonholes
Favour bags
Favour sweets
Cupcakes
Cake decorations
Bunting
More bunting
and yet more bunting
Place cards
Invitations
Table decorations
Tablecloths.... the list is endless

Now I love making and even if I could have afforded a package wedding I really don't think I would have done it. Although a little part of me wishes that I didn't have to, that I chose to do it because I love making and thrifting and not because it would have been such a simple sterile day if we didn't put the effort in. Of course i've done myself no favours, i've overstretched and over researched and i'm paying the price for having so many ideas. I just wish that after yet another night being left despairing and crying at my latest cake disaster it wont have been in vein.... and that the guests love it and more importantly get it!

On the positive side I love my OH and this is totally going to be our and our childrens day... well its a bit like Christmas isn't it? if you haven't got it by the night before then you cant do nothing to change it!

9 days and counting...

Lavender Heart Place Cards

Lavender Heart Place Cards, a photo by Handmade and Heritage on Flickr.

The conversation in our house last week went a bit like this...

Me: What do you think of these instead of place-cards?
Him: Why cant you just fold a piece of card in half and write their name on it like everyone else does!
Me: *GLARES*
Him: Oh they are lovely.

So since he liked them so much here are my place-cards for the wedding hehe. I brought a vintage tablecloth from my local charity shop a while back and whilst it was a little tatty to use on my table it was perfect to cut up and make into little lavender hearts with little name tags on them. I thought they would look nice placed in a vintage tea cup and everyone could take it home as an extra keepsake.

'Him' the moaning ol' git will just have to put up with my unorthodox, thrifty and crafty ways. He is marrying me after all...

My favour bags

My favour bags, a photo by Handmade and Heritage on Flickr.

As money is tighter than a ducks behind at the mo and a wedding three weeks away I am busily making things to save pennies. I bought packs of brown paper bags from Home Bargains (89p for 10) and decorated them with my own lino cutting design.

Everything in the bags will be handmade and i'll be blogging about it over the coming weeks.

I do have to put a major shout out for my mum who is a legend. Not only does she think of things I really should be thinking about, she's been helping make lots of goodies including at least 40 cutlery wraps! I think she's enjoying it more than me...

Trying New Ideas

As you are all prolly aware by now I have slight obsession with birds, lino cutting and embroidery so it figures to combine the three doesn't it?

Well actually no, the idea seemed cool in my head and at first glance maybe it doesn't look as bad as I see it, but I really think i'm in that less is more mindset today. Lino printing makes sense to create a pattern for embroidery the blocky nature makes it ideal. However the beauty of lino cutting (which my dad drums into me all the time) is that its supposed to be a bit messy, a bit hit and miss, paint in places you necessarily didn't expect or want. I'm guess i am trying to screen print using lino and that's never going to work.

Here is my three for the price of one attempt...

I've also messed about with tea/coffee staining and embroidered highlights to see if that works.

I think some where amongst this mess is a workable idea. Once again i'm putting too much pressure on myself to create something wonderful and once again its dragging me deeper into disheartenment.

Wild Boar Lino Print

I'm experimenting with different ways of presenting my lino work and seeing what results different mediums bring. This design has been printed onto tea dyed cotton and then put in an embroidery hoop for hanging. 

I'm also working on some lino/embroidered mixed media pieces but they need more work.

Your Home and Your Working Life

I am, by no means a signed up, bona fide business... I'd need sales to be called that but I do spend a lot of time making, listing, advertising, networking (ok gossiping on Facebook or Twitter). I'm trying to build up something to bring in extra pennies. Such are the times that I don't have the luxury to wait until the youngest is in school or even get a 'proper' job due the OH's ridiculous shift patterns.

I try and do as much in the evenings as possible but in reality businesses cant be run after 7pm. In the winter I work in artificial *ugh* light and I'm normally so tired I end up staring at a piece of fabric begging for the blurred vision to clear! This has meant I have to do work during the day, less now little man doesn't nap but I do sometimes sneak off and do bits. Surely those of us that work/run businesses from home with small children must find it an almost impossible task. I find myself feeling guilty thinking that I really shouldn't be listing this item or sewing this seam and I wonder whether it will have a negative effect on them... then again would the negative effect be worse if I went out to work? *pauses to throw chickens out the house*

But, *stay with me* I wonder whether rather than the negative effect being on the children or the washing pile, maybe the negative effect is being had on us? With a family you cant immerse yourself in your craft when in the back of your mind your planning the next meal or clock watching for the school run. You cant go out and visit potential stockists with a cute but slobbery toddler tucked under your armpit and you cant just do a craft fair without months of planning... just to make sure the kids are ok.

So what do I do? Probably not a lot really as there isn't much I can do about it. The OH's hours wont suddenly become family friendly allowing me to get a paying job. I will still need the pennies and can only therefore utilise the skills I have in the best way possible. I guess I will have to hope that one day all the pieces will fit together and my children wont hate me for neglecting them. :)

How do you cope with your work/home life?

Vintage Cigarette Card Bunting

I made this today. They are vintage cigarette cards in a transport theme. Funky, no?

Argh!

I love lino printing, there is something about the way it looks, understated almost despite the time it takes to prepare and the physical nature of it. I hadn't touched it since school but a few months back my dad lent me his spare lino and tools and I've been hooked since. I've done simple prints such as my birds but I wanted to try something a bit more taxing.

Well it seemed like a good idea at the time because now I am tearing my hair out at this wild pig. Certain parts only come out properly at different attempts and I just cant work out whether its my cutting, colour application or printing technique.

I hate failure especially as its something ive put so much effort into.

Vintage Bunting

Vintage Bunting, a photo by Handmade and Heritage on Flickr.

I saw these little silk cigarette flags at the flea market this week and decided to turn them into bunting. I think they would be fab for a boys bedroom.

In other news not alot is happening, ive got various projects I could be working on but im still lacking the get-up-and-go!

New Treasures...

I found these at our local flea market today - very happy with my finds!

WIP

Not quite what I had in mind for my next project but ill take any inspiration at the mo!

You know You've Lost Your Crafting Mojo When.....

* The house is tidy.... well tidier and there is the faint whiff of Eau De Bleach permeating around the house.

*Along with the said whiff there is what seems to be the smell of freshly cooked food - not only have you cooked a meal from scratch you have actually had time to go to a shop and buy it the ingredients. Takeaway leaflets are stuffed firmly back in the thingy-me-bob drawer.

* The tumble dryer is lying silent - no need to dash about drying clothes, you have all the time in the world to hang out clothes on the line.

* The kids suddenly shine and sparkle and are wearing freshly pressed clothes not just whatever is dragged out of the wash basket that morning.

* Bills are paid on time because you havent lost the paperwork under a mountain of crafty supplies.

* You are leaving the house!!!! My god there are actual real people out there...

Its a brave new non crafting world and I hate it!...

Hydrangea Mixed Media Tutorial

Using simple techniques make a unique mixed media piece of art for your home.

You will need:

Old or damaged book (I used Sense and Sensibility)

Pencil

Embroidery Hoop (size optional but I used 6.5 inch diameter)

Suitable fabric (I used a linen style cotton)

Paintbrush

Mediera Silk Thread 1003 

Watercolour Paint - Vermilion and Phthalocyanine Blue

Needle and Scissors

Backing material - cardboard or backing felt

1) Draw and cut petal shapes. Start with around 40 petal but you may need more or less for different sized hoops.

2) Paint one side of each petal individually. I would recommend two light coats of colour and fade the colour towards the tip of the petal.

3) Using one strand of embroidery thread stitch the petal detailing. They can all vary in design and they don't need to be perfectly stitched. Note that I have folded each petal slightly to create a better 3d effect.

4) Arrange four petals onto your fabric and stitch into place. 

5) Keep layering flowers until you have covered your fabric or are happy with how it looks - you can add more or less to suit your own taste.

6) Finish off the back with either backing felt or do as I have done and slot in a piece of cardboard. If you prefer you can cover the cardboard in decorative paper but I liked how this looked so left it plain.

7) Attach a piece of ribbon or string to the top of the hoop and hang proudly in your home.

If you have any questions I am always available contact me at a.warburton1983@ntlworld(dot)com

Please do recreate this for personal use or for gifts only and try experimenting with different shapes and colours. I would also love to see any works created from this tutorial.

Fox Doorstop

Fox Doorstop, a photo by Handmade and Heritage on Flickr.

This fox was made using my own pattern and all thrifted materials (bar the wadding and rice).

I got my mum who is a far superior sewer to do the main body and ears. I think next time I will add all the appliqué to the the fabric before sewing him up. I might also add some more facial features.

Dear Mr/Mrs Craft Fair Organiser...

Dear Mr/Mrs Craft Fair Organiser,

When I sign up to do a craft fair and hand over £40 of my hard earned money, spend weeks working on stock, neglect my family, faff over display ideas, spend late nights wondering and hoping to at least make my pitch back please do tell me of the following before I sign on the dotted line...

Tell me about the lack of actual craft sellers, sure food producers should count but do we need more than actual crafters??? Tell me about the franchise jewellery sellers offering to print in silver the foot print of your lickle cherub? Tell me about the nail artists and henna artists and the fake hair extensions. Tell me also about the tombola that if rumours are to be true - you pocket the cash. Also tell me about the sellers that buy their 'fashion jewellery' from China or Taiwan who then go on to sell it for such a pittance that it makes my own stuff look over priced and stupid.

You don't however need to tell me about the dirty looks I received today at using *strike me down now*... vintage or thrifted or *shudders* DOILIES in my work. Or that the only other credible crafter came over looked my stall up and down with a look you wouldn't give a dog if it had shit on your shag pile.

So thank you for such a wonderful day... the £12.50 I made and then spent on putting fluids back into my body (its a sauna in a marquee) was worth it all. No need to panic about paying for the wedding hun ive got it covered....

Oh and I get to do it all over again tomorrow.

Kind Regards
Soon to be Ex Crafter

P.S A couple of lovely ladies were very kind to me today in case they ever read this you two were the only thing stopping me from crying right there in the middle of the marquee.

Being a Bumpkin - And I Love It!!!!

Ok so today has been a hectic day. I went to town this morning for a mooch around the shops and one of my thrifty buys was this funky apron.

This afternoon between the school run I made this bag. Its slightly bigger than normal as I like larger ones to carry the heavier items and the extra wide strap provides extra support.

I've also had what is supposed to be elderflower cordial brewing for a few days and today was bottling time. I have not tasted it yet I figured that it must be tested in a relaxing sun lounger with a drink in one hand and crafty magazine in the other (sew eco if you are wondering what magazine).

I then dragged my not so 'countrified' other half out to help clean the coop. The chickens have been turned a lovely lavender colour courtesy of their delousing treatment. They were ever so camera shy and slightly irate with me hence the lack of cute purple chicken images. And finally after I concluded that my tatties were not going to be the mother of all potatoes I cut my losses and pulled them... Small but perfectly formed I think!