The Make and Do Studio

Winter - it's all in the way you look at it!

I have been so busy that I suddenly noticed...it is winter!

"The Invincible Summer," a quote print by Matthew Kavan Brooks for Society6

You could forgive me for not noticing it as much as the weather has been so mild that one would, at times, confuse it with Spring. But I also have been so busy....obviously not blogging you may have noticed!  But in my defense, I really have been busy:

 - being filmed by the BBC!  Okay - if you have been following the Studio on Facebook and Twitter you will be sick of me going on about it but it was such a great experience that I feel a bit like I need to shout it from the rooftops!  The five minute movie will be ready for on-line viewing sometime the end of February or March. I am in a bit of a hiatus whlist it gets edited but I really want to have fun with it when it does finally become available.  I am thinking I may have to do a movie premiere locally - when will I ever get this opportunity again I ask?  

- I have started writing a section for the Crafty Network called This Crafty Business- which started after a few conversations with the ladies who run the Crafty Network about wanting to include a business section but one that is focused on the special needs of small,creative businesses. I love being crafty but there is a part of me that loves how technology makes it so much easier to own and run a small business - from blogging. to photo editing to using something like Folksy - all of these are essential to running a small business and technology and the introduction of software for the small business arena has made it possible.  I want to make sure that anyone who is starting a business does so with the best possible chance and that is what technology will give you!

- I have added a few additional workshops based on feedback from folks - Loopy about Crochet and a sweet little workshop on Basic Alterations.  These two have been a long time in getting organised as I couldn't seem to find people to do them and suddenly, like busses, two arrived at once!

-and to help make the winter a little more bearable, we will be having Open Craft Night at Coffee au Clay - a local ceramic arts studio - the third Thursday of each month. But just to be a bit awkward - the first one will be 26 January and is an open night kind of night - people can come and meet the tutors and see what the Open Craft Night is about. I will post more details next week on Facebook and Twitter.....watch this space!

So please forgive me for my lack of contact......maybe 2012 is the year I blog with vengeance? 

 

I love the colour in these photos....

I have been taking many photos recently and downloading them into my Picasa files (in an attempt to keep them in some semblance of order!).  It occured to me that the negative to digital images is that you don't tend to keep them anywhere where you can look at them on a daily basis - I tend to look at them. go "wow, that is lovely" and then that is it. So I decided to take a very random selection from the last six weeks and post them  - just so I can see them once in a while!

Children's felt drying alfresco.

Addison catching the last dying rays of the autumn sun.

Canning and preserving stuff - ready for show.

Quilt strips on their way to being finished.

My daughter Sydney made a gorgeous Octonaut cake for Addison's birthday. 

The beginning stages of the Canning and Preserving workshop that just passed.  What a great workshop!

I hope you are all gearing up for the holidays - I know I am but this year I have decided to pace it out a bit. I have slowed down on workshops from the beginning of December and am concentrating on some other studio stuff - putting new stuff on Folksy, sorting out a monthly "Create" night at a local business, writing a business support section called This Crafty Business on the Crafty Network and of all things - hopefully being filmed by the BBC!

All the best and for those back in the States, here is to a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

 

 

 

Think you can't learn a bit of old school food preserving?

As you may know, if you follow what we are up to with new workshops, in a few weeks time, we are doing a workshop that is a bit different from our normal workshops - we have a great workshop for those interested in the basics of preserving and canning (or as someone else pointed out, really it should be preserving and pickling!).

 

I think the idea of preserving your food is so timely, as these challenging economic times means that the emphasis is on making seasonal food last longer and at the same time, trying to reduce the amount of waste that you create. Preserving does all this as you don't have to have fancy packaging - just some glass jars that have been been prepared by sterilising them and fruit and vegetables that are in season (so hopefully, not expensive!).  In our workshop, you make three different items (cranberry and fig chutney, pickled seasonal vegetables and a fruit infused liquor) to show you the ways to incorporate preserving across different food/drinks type.

And when I opened my delicious magazine yesterday, the foodbites section editors choice was all about the "big trend in drinking.....is about added flavour".  They mention Shoots Shots Sloe Gin at £22.95 for 75cl or William Chase Elderflower Liquer is £8.99 for 20cl - by no means a cheap hobby but by learning how to do it yourself (and some of the tips like expensive alcohol is not always necessary as the fruit covers the underlying alcohol flavour!) you can certainly put it in your affordable range. 

I will make sure that we post some basic information about canning (I got a great resource list from a lovely Dutch lady...you know who you are!) so if you can't make it, or want to give it a go at home, then you have a bit of help from us!

Roll on the holidays!

 

Autumn is sneaking in and I need to get back to posting on a regular basis!

It is really hard to get in to a posting frame of mind if you haven't done it in a while!  But I have said that today is the day to get back in the posting saddle again.....

First of all a bit of promotion for a new workshop coming up in November - Basic Canning and Preserving , which is also our first Saturday workshop!  I am really excited to have this workshop as I think it is a great way to add to the idea of being able to Make and Do.  Plus Nathalie Francoise Cosier, who teaches the workshop, grew up in France to a french mother and a british father - she lives and breaths preserving! And she is one of those people that, when she dropped into the studio the other week and was looking at my button mountain, said "when I was living in Russia and working buying fabric, I used to be given loads of free buttons....."  Russia, working, BUTTONS - I will never be able to say a sentence like that!

And for those of you that want to combine the above course with your sewing skills, there was a great post on Skip to My Lou on how to make fabric bow ties for your preserving jar:

And because I love to share anything with folks that makes my life easier (and I am a closet techno geek!) I discovered this download called f.lux  - it is for those of us that work at night and have to adjust from the glare of the screen to the subdued lighting in the room. F.lux, when downloaded (and it is free!) will adjust the colour of your monitor to the light in your room  - so as the nights draw in, instead of facing a bright, white screen it has a lovely, yellow glow to it.  From their website:

"f.lux makes your computer screen look like the room you're in, all the time. When the sun sets, it makes your computer look like your indoor lights. In the morning, it makes things look like sunlight again"

My eyes are so happy! 

 

 

Just a quick one about our Autumn workshop schedule

If you are visiting our website and expecting to be hit on the head with a schedule, we are much more subtle than that! The complete listing can be found on the above link, both a live version and a take away version for reading at your leisure. If you want to register, you do it via the live page where it is a simple, few-click process! 

And now off to have a few hours in the lovely sunshine!

Meet the Makers day three - Beryl Woodcroft of all things felt

First of all, I have to say, I really liked writing that title as we often pick on Beryl about being a master felter - and just think of what her business card would read!

Beryl has a very special place in the development of Make and Do.  About two years ago, I took an ad out in a little paper that gets pushed through people's doors.  At that point, I was only offering sewing workshops but wanted to offer more workshops - but needed other people to add to the list. I am a sewer really, even though I have dabbled in knitting and I remember when I was little crocheting. But I knew my expertise was in picking someone to share their knowledge in this area....not to teach it!

At the bottom of the ad, for some odd reason, I put "if you have tutor potential, please get contact the studio"  - I have only put that once and have never needed to put it again because Beryl replied, saying that she thought she had skills that I would be interested in and could me chat.  

Thought she had skills? - this lady is crazy talented!  She knits small villages on the weekends, has passed her City and Guilds Embroidery Part 1 and recently passed her City and Guilds Feltmaking Part 2 and 3. She is a Member of TX – a North Cheshire Textile Group and is the Regional Coordinator for the International Feltmakers Association.  She is so passionate about her crafts that when she comes around for a chat - she opens my eyes to new experiences (we recently made compostable felt bowls which you can use as an outdoor planter and when left outside to the elements, it will slowly decompose back to earth - and the colours are to die for!). I am 100% certain I would never had been exposed to this if Beryl hadn't politely asked, in that British way, whether we should meet to discuss her skills. 

If you would like to see some of Beryl's creations, please come by our stall at the Stockton Heath Festiva craft market. If you want just have a go at basic feltmaking skills, please come along to the Make and Take sessions in the craft tent - we have several sessions which are great for the curious and creative!

Three down, two more talented Makers to go!

 

 

Meet the Makers - Liz from Liliputs Monkey Hut

I have been up to here getting ready for Stockton Heath Festival, which takes place 7 - 10 July. We are involved with both the market - we have a double stall selling items produced by people who are associated with the Studio on Saturday the 9th of July - as well as an all day sample session called Make and Take (you can read more about it here). 

There are a fantastic group of women who will be selling their items at the Make and Take stall (and in some cases, teaching at the Make and Take workshops) and I would like to feature one of them every day this week so that you can see the variety of crafty items we will be selling but to also try and show you the connection that the Studio has to the local (but growing!) crafty community. In the case of Liz, who makes sock monkeys under the name Lilibet's Monkey Hut, it started when she came to a All You Need to Know to Sew workshop about eight monthes ago!  I will let Liz tell her story....

 



 

My name is Liz, I am 33 years old and I am a crafting addict.

I have always made or created something - from selling friendship bracelets at school, glass painting to making cards and Jewellery. I can’t draw or paint but love colour and pattern, so this was how I fed my addiction for many years.

I started making Sock Monkeys about a year ago. I saw one in a shop whilst on holiday that was very expensive and thought to myself (as many crafters will relate… ) “I wonder if I could make my own.” I had bought a small sewing machine a few months earlier that was still in the box, suddenly I had a use for it and a few weeks later the first Monkey was born. From there, more and more socks were brought to life as Monkeys, when friends and family started to ask me to make them for gifts. I then got brave and decided to join the technological age and set up the Blog - Lilibet’s Monkey Hut and the Facebook page Lilibets MonkeyHut. (Both were surprisingly easy to do for those thinking about doing one!)

Next came the logo and face of the Monkey Hut which is based on Maggie Monkey, my favourite Monkey! She was made for my gorgeous Goddaughter Lucy Margaret, who hadn’t been born at the time and I was trying to convince her mum to call her Maggie. This was then used to make the Adoption tags and business cards.

 

The Monkey Hut has come a long way in a short time! And I’ve lost count of how many Monkeys have been rehomed. The problem now is finding time to make them as I do have a real full time job.

I also have another crafty habit now… An obsession with looking for funky socks everywhere I go to make into Monkeys!

There will be many Monkeys running amok at the Stockton Heath Festival and in need of a good disciplined home to tame them. The monkeys and I hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

 

What a nice way to start my Monday morning!

I had this lovely e-mail waiting in my in-box this morning.....it has made my Monday in so many ways!!

Hi Maeri

 

I just wanted to thank you and show you how much you've taught and inspired me so far.  Eight weeks ago I didn't even know how to use a machine.  I decided to 'make' a present for a christening we were invited to and hey presto, a bunting, a drawstring toy bag and a personalised cushion (why I always make life harder I don't know).  Hey they're not perfect but you'd have to look closely Me and mum me even had our sewing workshop last week, bread and soup too!

Thanks again

 

See you on the 21st

 

Gillian 

How great is that for me to see! Job done....

Actually, not quite done as Gillian and her lovely Mum Kath are coming to Sydney's Simple Box Bag workshop on the 21st....at the rate Gillian is going, she might be able to teach it!

Have a great week folks!

New bag making workshop! - Sydney's Simple Box Bag

This bag really isn't about me - it is about my daughter Sydney and her friends.....

I have made this bag a thousand times and whenever my daughter had a friend who was having a birthday, this is the bag they got. All different mind you - the fabric is what makes each of them special.

A few monthes ago, Sydney and her friends were going away on a three day residential course and when we arrived, with all her luggage in tow, to board on the bus, I saw all these lovely, little bags peeping out from the girls extensive luggage repetoir. And it was so heartwarming to see that the girls actually used the bags - and according to their Mom's, really loved the bags!  And then, when people were coming to the Studio (Gillian and Kath - you were the final straw!) and said "I would come to a workshop if you had one on how to make those" I decided enough was enough...and Sydney's Simple Box Bag was born!

Here is the outside....

And it is even lined - with or without a pocket!

Want to register for the workshops?  It ison 21 June from 09:30 - 1:00 and £40 covers all your costs for the workshop. Follow the link below to hold your place with a £10 deposit!

 

Date of course

Getting to know the tutors: Jenni Harris of OffBeat Beads

 

I am so lucky to have this great pool of tutors who come and share their passion with those that attend our workshops. As I have gotten to know them all, first as tutors, then as friends, I get to find out all these neat things about them that makes me see them as more than just a tutor at the studio.

Jenni Harris, who teaches our Making Beaded Jewellery workshop, and also has her own online shop Off Beat Beads via Folksy, was kind enough to answer a few questions for me so that I could share a bit about her and what makes her tick. Thanks Jenni!

List five words the describe you and what you do? Beadaholic! Designer/maker, Mum, creative, passionate!

 

What inspires you when you are finding it hard to get your creative juices flowing? I am an avid magazine reader and hoarder and when my creative mo-jo grinds to a halt I will flick through some back issues of jewellery and fashion mags and see if there is anything that inspires me again. It's very easy to get stuck in a rut, especially when everyone loves what you make - however you need to keep moving forward and expanding your range and skills - I am forever on the lookout for new ideas!

 

Best part of being a jewellery designer/maker? It's got to be seeing people wearing your creations! I get thrilled to see my designs being worn by people. I recently went out for dinner with friends and everyone of them was wearing a piece of my jewellery! I've recently had commission orders from Germany and USA, from people I've never met.. now that really excites me! I also love teaching and sharing my skills, I recently started the Making Beaded Jewellery workshops at The Make and Do Studios and it was lovely to see my students being able to create beautiful pieces of beaded jewellery from the tuition I had given them.

 

Least favourite part of being a jewellery designer/maker? That's a tough question because I love what I do! I can honestly say the only thing that gets me down is when I have a workshop full of beads and I have zero inspiration, it doesn't happen often but when it does it's frustrating. Best thing to do is to walk away, do something else and come back later!

I also struggle with pricing my jewellery, I often undervalue my work and end up giving it away for next to nothing! I need to toughen up and be more confident in my ability to charge the right amount.

 

One quirky thing about you that we would only find out about by asking! I used to work in Animation! I worked for Cosgrove Hall Films and various other studios in my twenties and helped make cartoons for television. My biggest claim to fame being that I made an animated video for U2 called 'Hold me, Thrill Me, Kiss me, Kill Me' which was the soundtrack for the Batman Forever film.

 

 

Jenni's next Making Beaded Jewellery workshop is 28 April - we have a few spaces left and would love to have you come along! She might even tell you a bit about her animation days - what a great claim to fame!