Gingerbread House 2014; the Holly & the Ivy Inn and Ski Slope

This year, taking a more humorous route, my Gingerbread scene was based on the idea of what elves get up to in their after hours...so the Holly & the Ivy pub was created! Complete with an outdoor beer garden, and a ski lift.

Some elves just can't hold their drinks!

The ski lift was an especially fun feature this year! Sure, maybe not as magnificent as Hogwarts last year, but nice to have a simple structure but a funny theme to work with. Happy holidays!

Franken-Hoot Plushies

I got the idea for this project as a means of using up scraps from my fabric staff over the summer. Finding a pattern on Pinterest and adapting it, I loved the ideas of mish-mashing remnants of fabric together (thus the Frankenstein concept) to make a one-of-a-kind plushie. Owls are adorable, from their pet appeal from the Harry Potter franchise, to their quirky large eyes making them different from other birds, and even their symbolism for Wisdom. Working with the bird theme for our Christmas table this year, I’ve made a felt version for this project.

Here’s a template for the pattern I adjusted from pinterest. You can make them as large or small as you like! I added the wings and little pouch on the tummy for this particular version to paste the names onto, but you can do as you wish with them.

Felt is a lovely fabric to work with, since you don’t need to hem it! Unlike my original ‘Frankenstein’ concept though, I kept it to the chosen color scheme, golds and silver, blues, purples, and pinks. The pieces were put together in a combination of machine and hand stitching, with a little stuffing for a 3D effect. 

I’ve had a great time putting this flock together, and can’t wait to see them on the table Christmas Day. But if I have any fabric left over I’d like to make some true to my original design, complete with more colors and even eyes in different colors.

Materials:

Owl plushie pattern

Felt fabrics in various colors

Needle

Scissors

Thread

Sewing Machine (optional)

Toy stuffing

Buttons

For Table settings, print out or hand written paper slips with names

December Book Review: The Great Christmas Knit Off by Alexandra Brown

OK, so I’ve officially run out of craft books to review for the time being. However, as a fan of books revolving around crafting, I’ve decided to continue these monthly posts and write about them instead. And I’ll be starting with a title that I loved so much, when reading it on the Tube I missed my stop!

‘The Great Christmas Knit Off’ is one of those books I categorize as part of the ‘Changing Life through Creative Work’ genre, or sometimes ‘Club’ books when it’s focused on a group of characters being brought together through the love of a hobby craft. 

In this title, the protagonist, Sybil or ‘Sybs’, still heart broken months after being left at the altar and experiencing burn out in her finance job, when paying a close friend a visit in a tiny village of Tiddendale in the English countryside finds her life changed. It’s lovely to read about that picturesque Christmas scene we all imagine in the UK, the image of snow covered cottages and yummy pub lunches (I laughed when Sybs exclaims ‘oh my god, I’ve stepped onto the set of Frozen!). And just as Sybs is saved by the warm kindness of the people of the town, from Leo the fabulous gay B&B owner to Ben the gorgeous local GP, she in turn gives back. In hopes of living her life long dream of owning her own knitting business, she aids struggling pensioner Hettie by breathing new life into her beloved House of Haberdashery. When Sybs’ Christmas Jumper designs become particularly popular, she launches Operation Great Christmas Knit Off, bringing the entire village together to produce a massive sweater order to save Hettie’s livelihood. 

As I said, it’s a wonderful read for the holidays, and made my fingers itch to get a hold of some chicks and yarn, and even comes with a knitting pattern! I’ve begun reading Ms. Brown’s previous series based on a department store, but am particularly looking forward to hearing more from Tiddendale. Happy Holiday reading!

Final Score: 5/5 (good for it’s festive feeling, but also well balanced with a truly lovable protagonist)

Dancing Sugarplums Snowflake Tutorial

 This will be my fourth year helping out backstage for the West London School of Dance’s annual run of The Nutcracker...and I am so excited! The experience really makes the holiday season for me, and it has been an utter pleasure being part of the crew backstage for this wonderful program.

After seeing this on Pinterest gave me inspiration for doing twist on the traditional paper snowflake project. The ballerina silhouette is so beautiful, and I've used it again and again in my artwork. The drawings from my Prima Donna watercolors collection make the templates for Sugarplum fairies.

Materials:

Ballerina silhouette design

Watercolor paper or some kind of stiff paper

Scissors

Pencil

Crafting glue

Jewelry making Jelly Cord

Needle

Paper

Tracing Paper

Clear Sticky Tape

Blue tack

1)Draw out your ballerina design onto the stiff paper, and cut out.

2) Flip the ballerina cut out and glue onto more stiff paper, cut around the outline to make a thicker cut out.

3) Cut your paper snowflake, with a slip in the centre wide enough for the ballerina cut out to slide through

4) Slipping your ballerina in the snowflake, secure her snowflake tutu into place with the tape

5) Using needle, thread the jelly cord through the ballerina, tying a knot to make a loop. 

6) Using blue tack, hang your sugarplum dancing ballerina from a place of your choosing, and enjoy her performance in your holiday season!

Exhibition Review: 'Fashion Rules' at Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace is one of my favorite museum spaces in the city, up there with the V&A! The approach their curators take to presenting their exhibits is lovely, for old and young alike, because it draws out our inner child. For a site with such a rich history concerning the English monarch, it makes it interesting. For instance, their wonderful ‘Enchanted Palace’ exhibition some years ago I still remember for their intriguing and, yes, magical displays, combining history, fashion and art installation. Weaving together memorable stories of female monarchs, in each room in the palace they had different designers decorate, including Vivienne Westwood. They make fact seem fantastic, flashing descriptions of the displays on the walls with projects instead of the typical laminated description. You can almost imagine little fairies hiding around you, secretly watching the public as they wander the walls. And their lightning always has an air of mystery, and what better way to get one’s interest than adding intrigue?

I’ve already visited the Fashion Rules exhibition before, but on this wet cold November morning I wanted to experience that nostalgic wonder Kensington Palace holds. Going on until summer 2015, the exhibit is another of many to present dresses worn by royals, including Princess Di, highlighting the changes in the attire of the royals, the leap from regal to chic. 

Working from the 1950’s to the 80’s, it was interesting to learn again how the mind frame of the royals changed when their place in the public’s eye shifted their approach to fashion. Sure, they’ll always have stunning gowns, such as these featured by Norman Hartnell. But it was interesting to look at the wardrobe of Princess Margaret who, unlike her sister, had a little less pressure to look the part in the public’s eye and therefor was at liberty to be more fashion forward-even risqué, like this number!

Of course, there was a whole room for the late Princess of Wales, one of the most fashionable monarchs in history. It was interesting to learn how her wardrobe was influenced by the ‘bigger is better’, ‘power dressing’ prerogative of women in the 80’s, ergo forging a flashy, fabulous collection of gowns.

The exhibition is insightful, well curated, and not the first of the museum’s collections of royal gowns-and surely not to be the last. I say go, not just to see this exhibit, but the Museum itself for a wonderful day out for all the family!

Eliza Wray Brand

For the first time in years I visited the Spirit of Christmas Fair in London. First, to finally get a jump start on some gifts, and second because the stalls are wonderful inspiration for festive decorations.

One stall was truly memorable, the Eliza Wray stall. Formed by two country neighbors based in Surrey who share a love for interior design, the brand has been seen at several fairs and shopping evening events. However, at once I recognized a subtle rustic aesthetic, that seemed to have some Scandanavian influence! The adorable pastel palette is so refreshing and welcoming.

Although the majority of their products consist of home decor (picture frames, lamps etc.) but for the fair they mainly presented their toy range. And they were gorgeous. The idea were simple and charming, but the quality amazing. I bought several to decorate the table for Christmas, in refreshing shades of silvery-grey blue and beige, that have given me some ideas for little felt birds for place settings...

What I loved their play sets. One such item was the little box holding a simple wooden bed piled high with mattresses and a little knitted pea for a rabbit Princess. Another was an inviting circus, complete with a standing tent and a full colorful cast. But the cutest had to be the wooden match boxes with beds inside for their tiny occupants! 

That’s what I found so delightful about their products, how they drew back to simplicity and natural materials, and didn’t need expressive colors to blare out! It’s times like these I wish I had kids of my own to pass these beautiful play things onto. So for all mothers out there looking for gifts alternative to today’s high tech products and complex machinery, I totally recommend visiting Eliza Wray’s site at www.elizawray.co.uk and enjoy!

November Book Review: ‘Day of the Dead’ by Kerry Arquette, Andrea Zocchi and Jerry Vigil

Recently I’ve been really intrigued by the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertes, or Day of the Dead on November 1st. First, because it’s a brilliant continuation of Halloween! Second, the amazing colors and traditions offer so much scope for some wonderful craft projects. And finally, but it’s lovely and heart warming, the idea of a time to reconnect with those who’ve passed on. I’m even really looking forward to seeing the film The Book of Life!

This year I finally added to my Burton Halloween movie collection Corpse Bride. One my favorite parts in the film is when the Dead come up to the sombre Land of the Living. While the villagers are screaming in panic at their other worldly visitors, a single boy walks up to a zombie, embracing him after recognizing him as his late Grandfather. The terror at once is a replaced by sheer joy as the villagers are reunited with their departments friends and family members! And that really is what is so heart warming and appealing about this holiday-how it has power over death by taking away the fear of it.

Sorry to go off target there! The point is, anyone would like to celebrate this holiday. And this book provided some great insight in the festival and its traditions, from the calaveras (skeletons) and ofredas (an altar dedicated to a lost loved one.), giving the projects a little more significance. 

True, I was a little disappointed that most of the projects centre around making calaveras, which are a big part of the holiday. And I was disappointed not to find anything on papel pivadoes, or the paper streamers. But the projects range over many things, from a sugar skull recipe I’m revved to try, to building a basic ofredas.

Final Score: 5/5 (a perfect balance between a fun teaching of Hispanic culture to some great craft projects)

October Book Review: 'Drawing for Fashion Designers' by Angel Fernandez and Martin Roig

This isn’t your typical Learn To Draw book, but more a guide to putting together a design portfolio. And the authors do a great job, acknowledging that every designer’s style is different, and therefor no strict format that should be followed as to show to present one’s work. While I was studying at the London College of Style, my tutors encouraged that professionals prefer seeing the end result of a design rather than the research, the many sketches and mood boards, but some people seek the path of thought that goes into that final product.

The book, true to its title, goes offer some great tips for fashion drawing, not just some tips on life drawing. My technical fashion drawing-fabric folds, draping and more, has vastly improved. Fernandez and Roig also highlight how drawings don’t need pencil and paint, but present the possibility of collage and such to illustrate a design. 

And again, this book doesn’t simply offer drawing tips, but also great insight for fashion design, such as a glossary of fashion terms. 

So not technically a craft book, but a great insight for upcoming designers, students and professionals, for several options in how to best present your creative work in the industry. 

Overall Score: 5/5 (excellent layout and content)

Exhibition Review: Horst, Photographer of Style at the V&A Museum

All the photo shoots I’ve worked on have had the same atmosphere in common: hectic, rushed, and desperate to be the cutting edge. The place is so tense, you could slice through it with a knife. So while wondering through the Horst exhibition at the V&A, seeing the effortless lighting and how the models in each photo look so serene and relaxed, I started to wonder how photo shoots have evolved.

Horst was one of the leading figures in fashion photography, since he joined Vogue in 1931, up there with the greats including Patrick DeMarchalier. His strength was in his lightning, set up to create a 3D effect that was well rounded composition around the subject of his photos. The effect made his models, ranging from royalty to Hollywood sirens like Rita Hayworth, look like pristine sculptures, so centered and relaxed long enough to take the shot. 

Going in, I was a little disappointed at the initial layout of the exhibition. The trouble with photographs is that it’s hard to hold a public eye on something so small. However, as the exhibition shifted to show his further career I was pleasantly surprised to find larger, bolder prints. Today Vogue still owes much of it’s roots down to the gorgeous glossy covers he provided.

Offering some interesting insight into the history of fashion photography, a must see for photographers. The exhibit runs from 6th Sep until 4th January next year.

September Book Review: ‘In This House; a Collection of Altered Art Imagery and Collage Techniques’ by Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn

I just got back from a massive cross country trip around the States for my friend Kelley’s wedding, attending her bachelorette 2 weeks before the day, then spending the time between visiting relatives. I spent a lot of time sitting on planes, waiting in airports, being shuffled about...other than my usual on-the-go knitting projects, I started wondering about other fun travel crafts. This book gave me an idea for a ‘Travel Collage’ book project, carrying a book every day adding things to remind me of my trip-tickets, pamphlets, magazine clippings (I went through a LOT of magazines on this trip!) What I’m finding so alluring about collage is how it can continue to grow and morph as you keep adding to it.

This book is a collaboration of various artists coming together to make accordian style booklets based on the theme of ‘Home’. How did they define ‘Home’? A place for rest and relaxation, a idea of the coming together of loved ones...they each had the same template of a house outline to work from, embellishing the pages with photos, fabrics, paint, the possibilities were endless. Each chapter is dedicated to an in depth look at each collage house, and the artist’s insights into it’s design. Each house had it’s own address, making it seem all the more real somehow. One house was dedicated to an artist’s late sister, in a dreamlike atmosphere where they’re reunited. 

In general, a great inspiration for the endless possibilities of collage crafting. And it makes me want to have a look on the sequel, ‘In This Garden’-if this is what artists came up with for houses, just think of what they’ll make of a gorgeous setting like one’s garden! Beautiful layout and visuals, and in depth tutorials on the artist’s techniques, this title is a must for all collage crafters out there to feast their creativity on!

Final Score: 5/5

Mini Eraser Pendant Necklaces

When I saw the designs of the Tokyo Toy Store Matinee Necklace from Tarantino’s ‘Sparkle Factory’, the idea seemed kinda kitsch so I gave it a pass as a project. But yesterday when finding these mini eraser in Paperchase, I got an idea; a version that uses a singular rubber as a centre piece, instead of using the erasers en masse.

The selection I chose I wanted to be vibrant and personal, but in colors that would mesh well with the metal for a more versatile look. For example, the grey koala version looks great amongst the silver, while the bright orange monkey blends perfectly with gold. The ice cream cone had a nice angular oval profile, so I added the bead and pearl eye pin detail dropping from the cone.

A fun,  gift idea for the upcoming holiday season, and takes about 10 minutes to make.

Project budget: ￡1 (per eraser), though the metal work costs may add-I used left over materials.

August Book Review: 'How to Make Jewellery with Tatty Devine' by Harriet Vine and Rosie Wolfenden

A lot of similarities can be drawn between Tarina Tarantino and British jewelry line Tatty Devine. Both share the aestetic that jewelry should be fun, personal and sparkly. But while Tarina’s work has a nostalgia sense of fantasy, Tatty Devine has an air of British kitschiness, edgy and quirky. You’ve probably seen their signature dogtag like pendants or signature name necklaces, in colors from jet black to neon yellow.

Harriet Vine and Rosie Wolfenden, the partners who started the business as a stall in Camden Market to the mass selling name it is today, released this book with some adorable funky accessories. I love their ‘Sausage Dog brooch’, made from the same line of animal figurines I used to collect. Their Keyboard Necklace, made using the keys from a toy piano with jump rings on a simple chain, also seems so tantalizingly simple to make, while creating a fun statement.

However, when I rediscovered this book in my room, I had to say it didn’t have the same promise of inspiration as it did when I first read it a few years ago. Somehow other titles I’ve read since have made the allure of jewelry making this title has seemed duller. Maybe I’ve experienced how fun and personal jewelry making can be, so flipping through pages I mentally think ‘made it’ or ‘seen it’. Some of the pieces may seem fun to make, but I do question their use in the future after completion. Take the the ‘Shrinky Necklace’, a simple chain with crinkled up crisp bags adorning it; unique, for sure, but not exactly flattering. 

Also the projects are so specific. Like the Fruity Dice necklace; great, if you HAVE a dice painted in funky fruit colors. 

If you’re more daring in your accessories than I am, maybe you’d go for the projects in this. For now, I’ll stick to the more subtle projects, like the Black Bow Tie necklace. A great title for a jewelry novice looking for some tips to get started, I’d suggest this book, but still believe you’d have more fun with Tarantino’s book.

Final Score: 2/5

Toy Hospital

I thought it was adorable last Christmas when I was working wardrobe for the Nutcracker when one of the kids came up and asked if I could mend her Eeyore stuffed animal. I laughed and told her to bring him into the Toy ER. Now recently when my sister’s home from college and going through her room, she’s asked me to help bring some life into her beloved kitty plushie. 

Toys like this aren’t scruffy-they were just loved a lot! All that hugging and tugging does do some damage after a while though. So I decided to breathe a little life back into Kitty, hopefully taking away the ‘run over by a truck’ look to his current state.

This ‘operation’ took more than 5 minutes and was a complete success! Using a seam cutter I simply cut a hole, to poke the toy stuffing through, being sure to evenly place the stuffing. Once satisfied, hand sew the hole closed again. The patient is then released, with a prescription of three or more hugs a day!

July Book Review: 'The Dream Dollhouse: Do-It-Yourself Book' by Julie Shelton

You know that quote from Forest Gump ‘‘sometimes there just ain’t enough rocks’’. For me it’s starting to feel like ‘‘sometimes there just ain’t enough craft books.’’ Desperate for new material to read on a flight, grasping at straws I searched on my kindle for ‘doll house craft books’...and struck absolute gold with this title! And bonus, it was up to borrow on Amazon Prime!!!

There are bloggers and youtube channels on doll crafts, but no published works! The fact that someone took the time to write their ideas down is wonderful.

You can tell Shelton is a true Barbie fan, most the projects done in fuchsia on 1:6 scale. She set out to write her book where the projects were ‘easy and adorable’, that honored the spirit of creating small worlds for ‘tiny people’. 

Shelton and blogger My Froggy Stuff have something in common; The gift of seeing in ordinary objects that can be transformed-for one, crayons being transformed into gorgeous candles! True, she did tend to lean towards picture frames in most of her projects (although her Beatrice Bedhead is stunning! I’m desperately seeking a wired picture frame for this project.) I wouldn’t have minded seeing a little more reinvention in found objects.

I wouldn’t have minded if some of her work wasn’t so geared towards the Barbie collector with the pink themes in the layout. However, she had some amazing ideas for the basics that have given me ideas for things to look out for in the hardware store next time I’m there. So for the budding dollhouse maker, this is a definite must for your bookshelf.

Final Score: 4/5

'Drink Me' Necklace

Summer is upon us, the time of the year when in my heart I pay tribute to my muse of costume design, Alice in Wonderland. That story is so visually rich, filled with such characters and images-the Red Queen, playing cards, keys and bottles...

On pinterest I got some great ideas for accessories inspired by Lewis Carrol’s classic. My favorite part was always the bit after Alice falls down the rabbit hole and takes the various beverages and treats to fit through the doors.  Seeing this project were practically a crafty-calling! This necklace has a small glass bottle as a centre piece with some quirky touches-an acryclic bead, the white rabbit’s watch...

I’ve got some empty mini-perfume bottles that are perfect. There’s a little residue I couldn’t clean out so instead of slipping a paper with ‘Drink Me’ inside, using the sign to hide the contents of the bottle. For the shrinking potion itself I slipped in gold and aqua blue beads into the bottle. 

I’m really into adding these acrylic crystals for some color in necklaces at the moment, not just to zip up the lobster clasp but also details for the centre pieces, so on a jump ring I added some of linked beaded detail.

Project Budget: ￡5...I think...this was a gradual process, I used left overs from precious projects so can’t give an exact figure.

June Book Review: 'Mixed Media Dollhouses' by Tally Oliveau and Julie Molina

When I started thinking about of branching out my doll art, doll dioramas seemed daunting and expensive. But after downloading this book, this art form seems a lot less intimidating.

Here Oliveau and Molina bring together a variety of artists to create dollhouses from altered art assemblage (art thats a combo of 2D and 3D works). The featured dollhouses have insane themes, like the Wonderland House, the Under the Sea and my favorite the Treehouse. Through assembling different shaped boxes, collage pasting and a little tool work, what’s amazing is that the houses have no real pattern, yet the different rooms mesh together beautifully! Of all the dollhouses in existence, you’ll never find one equal to these.

The book covers wide ground, from design concept to construction. For example, the chapter on box structure shows how to widen a box room, and how to manipulate the box frame just to add a little depth and twist. But the authors really emphasize the amazing collision of 2D to 3D features throughout the dollhouses, from using wire to make features spring and stick out to using different wallpapers for contrasting background to make even the most bland room wall seem alive! 

Just flipping through this book again and again gives me new ideas for dollhouse making. I wish the kindle edition had made the pictures bigger so the reader can see all the amazing detail that was put into each room! There are up to seven rooms in each house, so why do the work suggest and show them! There’s always some new technique or design that would be a delight to create a beautiful home for my growing doll collection. 

Final Score: 3/5 (for layout)