Tea, Cakes & Crochet Hooks...

... Well today was Handmade By's first workshop. 'Learn to Crochet' with Lynne Rowe.

It went down a storm!

All the places were filled.

Lynne provided everyone with a ball of yarn (there were all the colours of the rainbow to choose from) and a crochet hook. They learnt all the basic techniques whilst having a good natter and a brew.

It was great fun. They all went away chatting about where they were going to get their yarns from!

Keep your eyes peeled for more 'Learn to Crochet' dates.

The next event at Handmade By... will be Crafty Sew & Sews on Tuesday 12th April, 10.30am - 1pm.

 This is a chance for all you crafters out their to get together for a natter and slice of cake whilst getting on with some work. It doesn't matter whether you are a beginner or an expert at what you do. Hey you never know you might learn new skills off one another! Make sure you bring your own materials with you as for this one they are not included.

It's £3 for the session & you can drink all the tea and coffee you want, there's even cakes and biscuits too!

Booking advisable as there are only 8 places, well 6 now as two have already been taken!

I hope to see you there. x



Check this out...

... Last year one of my friends asked me to make her a bouquet and accessories for her wedding.
 Having never done a bouquet before I was a little nervous but well up for the challenge.

The theme was black, white and purple...
 Using organza, feathers, beads, buttons, lots of wire and ribbon here are the results...

Here's a close up of the brides bouquet, I added some blue lace (something blue) and the bride gave me an old brooch to be included.

As well as the brides bouquet I also did a best womens bouquet (they didn't have a bridesmaid)



Dress accessory

Hair accessory

Cake Topper

I was pretty pleased with the results!

Anyway I guess the real reason for this post is...

 Yesterday I had a text off the bride which read 'You're famous, check out Off Beat Bride.' So off I went and there on the website was Donna and Kev's wedding! Even more exciting was the fact that I go a little mention at the bottom with a link to my Folksy shop.



Chuffed to bits I was!

If anyone is interested in my work, remember commissions are more than welcome and I'm always up for a challenge!

Learn to Crochet...

... There is just over a week to go before Handmade By's first workshop.

Lynne from Lynne's Pattern Parlour is coming along to teach crochet.
Crochet is the new knitting – it’s height of fashion at the moment. It’s on the high street, it’s in fashion magazines; it’s everywhere.

Lynne crochet's the most amazing things. Her designs are regularly published in Let’s Get Crafting Knit and Crochet editions and in other UK and American craft publications.

At the workshop she will be teaching the basic skills needed to get you started, so it's a brilliant opportunity for anyone who wants to learn a new skill in 2011.

What will you learn? You will learn how to hold the crochet hook and yarn, basic crochet stitches, changing colour, simple increasing and decreasing, crochet in a spiral. Handouts will be provided.

Where is it: Handmade By, 28 Lawton Street Congleton (above Cloud 9 Hairdressers). Thursday 31st. March 10am – 12.30pm

How much will it cost: Initial workshops will cost just £8. This includes tea/coffee and biscuits or cake and yarn. Crochet hooks will also be available to use on the day free of charge.

How do I book: Bookings can be made by calling into “Handmade By”, 28 Lawton Street, Congleton. Payment will be needed in advance to secure your place. Parking is available on Lawton Street Car Park (parking fees apply). There is limited parking space outside the shop, but this is limited to 1hr.

You can find out more about Lynne on her blog.

 

We hope to see you there!

'Craft Club' name ideas...

... As some of you know I'm going to be starting a 'Craft Club' at Handmade By...

The thing is I don't just want to call it a 'Craft Club', but I'm RUBBISH at making decisions and coming up with new names.

Soooooooooooo...
...Here's a short list for you to vote from
(Thank you to everyone who suggested names, I shortlisted ones that were a more general theme rather than based on specific crafts)

1. Stitch n Bitch
2. Kitsch n Stitch
3. Cloud Crafts
4. The Hobby House
5. Thread Bare
6. Crafty Sew & Sews
7. Chatty Crafters
8. Hands on
9. Craft Cafe
10. Congleton Creators
11. Create Congleton

What do you think?
You can either leave a comment here or over on my facebook page.

British Bridal Exhibition...

... I've just got back from the BBEH (well I got back yesterday).
For those of you who haven't heard about it before the BBEH takes place every six months in Harrogate. Held at the Exhibition Centre hundreds of bridal designers, shoe designers, suit companies, jewellery and accessory designers, basically anything to do with the wedding industry, exhibit over three days show casing their work.
  Bridal shops from all over the UK and Abroad come to the event to buy new stock for their shops.

I went up with 7th Heaven Bridal for the weekend. We bought stock from Sophia Tolli, Justin Alexander, Dessy, Liza Designs, Ronald Joyce and more!*

It was a fab weekend but very tiring. I've come back feeling quite inspired so can't wait to get back to making. I just need to buy more supplies first.

*You can find information about all the designers stocked at 7th Heaven by visiting the website http://www.7thheavenbridal.co.uk/

A Handmade Wedding - Joe & Jenny

Jenny & Joe didn't have a theme as such for their wedding but what they did want was for everything to be made using recycled materials or natural/organic things and as much as possible was to be handmade.

This is a super colourful wedding! I love it. The bunting, the place names just brilliant...

Jenny made over 150 metres worth of bunting which included over 650 fabric triangles!

It was worth it though, the colours of the bunting against the trees and flowers work so well.

Carrying on with the bunting they used this header on their invites. How fab!

Check out these ransom note place names...

What a great idea and these couldn't be more recycled... Letters from old magazines and 100% recycled card stock. I really like these.

As well as these funky place names the guests had old records for place matts!

Jenny's dad made the wine for the day and they made all the cakes too!

Little cupcakes and then a seperate slightly bigger cake that they cut with a sword!

Jenny made her dress using sari fabric!

What a fab wedding, looks like you had an amazing day and thank you for sharing it with us :)

Check out The Felted Rainbow on Folksy!

Red Brick Glass...

If you haven't already checked out Wendy's work you don't know what you're missing! A fab find...

Her work is beautiful. From glass bunting, to fairy lights and wreaths. All handmade on the Dorset coast.

I love this bunting!

A lot of Wendy's work can be personalised, making it a great gift for a special occasion.

How gorgeous are these hearts? Perfect for a wedding!

You can find out more about Red Brick Glass over on Facebook, or visit one of her online shops, etiher Folksy or Etsy.

I hope you enjoy Wendy's work!

A Handmade Wedding - Jaime & Pete...

... As I've already mentioned I LOVE a good wedding but the ones with handmade elements are to me even better!
 You get a real sense of satisfaction when you make something yourself and when it's for something like your wedding that sense to me intensifies!
 It's something personal to you, made by you, for you & your guests to enjoy.

I thought I'd share with you some handmade wedding stories.

To start us off it's Jamie & Pete...

Felt Flower Corsages made by Jaime & Pete for their wedding guests.

Everything started with Jamie's Grandma's button tin and wanting something of her to be with them on their wedding day.

 They came up with the idea of making button trees to decorate each table.

This then developed into making over 150 corsages, 9 button ball vases, they made all the place names and even a wedding tree of buttons for people to sign on the day!

Yes all the branches are buttons!

Jamie's dress was made by Ballerinagrape with matching cravats for the men.

Check out the handmade bouquet too!

Jaime & Pete looked like they had an amazing day, the wedding cars were a VW camper and and old Ford Pickup. Friends helped them to make lanterns, there were fireworks and even a leaf fight or two!



A few of the guests got Jamie & Pete making bouquets and corsages for their weddings and now they have their own business, Jamball.

Jaime & Pete have said the same as me, "We recommend doing as much as you can yourself for your own wedding. It makes everything more personsal and that little bit more special".

Thank you Jamie & Pete for sharing your handmade wedding with us.

There's another side to me...

... On a Wednesday my shop, Handmade By... is closed, as on this day I get to work in a bridal wear shop!
Yes as well as my love for all things handmade I also love a good wedding, who doesn't!

7th Heaven Bridal has been in Congleton now for nearly two years and has recently moved to bigger premises.

It's a beautiful shop full of beautiful dresses and bridal accessories.

I'm lucky to have this connection, I get quite a few orders off brides to be. From jewellery for themselves, a fascinator for mum to gifts for their bridesmaids.

It is a lovely place to work and you get to meet lots of lovely brides and hear all about their ideas, each one so different to the next.

My next blog post will be carrying on the wedding theme. I'll be blogging about handmade weddings.