Gold Love

Following on from last week-ends craft fair, I couldn't help but shout from the roof-tops about my new favourite find. Based in Glasgow, jewellery inclined, and of quite a botanical influence. Abigail Percy makes well considered, dainty yet bold and beautiful pieces of jewellery. If you fall in love, venture into the goldy world of smooth lines and adornment over at her shop...enjoy. Z.

CraftyFest

Well CraftFest finished yesterday, it was a fun weekend, I made some happy customers and a few new friends! Thankfully Sunday turned out to be a sunny day and the live Jazz band with all the visitors made it my favourite. A little selection of pics below...If you didn't make it down, you can still purchase from my shop online or watch out for another fair... either way, Summer is still here, I hope you have a lovely week...Z.

I sold lots of cards...but my favourite story was a lady who bought this one for her husband, it was their 15th anniversary.

Some happy girlies with their 'MagicComb' covered in vintage pearls...

and a feather hairband...cute!

I borrowed some bubble-wrap from the generous Lynda B... very beautiful pottery, have a look at her ceramic jewellery too.

And my neighbouring stall was lovely Lesley Frew of LAF Designs, she makes jewellery from recycled plastic bags...I got a pair of cute earrings, see below! {sorry it's a bit pixely!}

Drum Roll

Nervous, excited... it's that time, a great craft fair to take NoThrowaway from here to there. I've been making making making, preparing for the 2009 CraftFest in Castle Ward this weekend coming. If you're on this small slice of land, (Northern & Southern Ireland) then you should really be going...especially if you like hand-made anythings, or limited editions or original designs. I'm so excited, I think I've got the eye of the tiger. More from Tony later, see below for a small taste. Z.

'Love notes' is a little box full of designed blank cards, envelopes, pegs, bookmarks and other loving tokens for your sweetheart. Perfect engagement or wedding pressie!

A pretty gold-plated brooch, with hand-painted paper roses, sealed in place with some varnish to take the knocks of a well worn piece. (Other colours at the fair)

Some rosette badges... for whoever your local hero is!

Scratchy

I've been busy printing these days, dry-point etching to be specific pacific. This series is based on the bizarre, lovely, tragic and enlightening relationships within family and friendships... sounds a bit heavy i know, but the images are set in natural outdoor environments, it gives these little thoughtful people some perspective, we're never as cool as we think we are. I'll get some more up soon... Z

Use Me

This is what happens when I get too involved with the PVA glue and lots of left over fabrics, scraps, materials... bits and pieces that I've held onto for one reason or another. Sometimes what stands alone isn't all that impressive but when you give it a few friends and mix it with glue...it's a textile revolution!(For dramatic effect.) See below for how I cut my new 'fabric' up and stitched it into a piece.

Viva Le... Reclaimed. Z.

Ebony Bizys

This is one busy girl, read her interview here... and check out her first exhibition in the Sydney 'Kudos Gallery' (below) As well, the vid she made, which is stupendos... oh colour colour colour...and fun!! You go girly whirl. Enjoy! Z

Oh America

Across the sea west-ward, there is talent abounding, ofcourse, as there is in all other directions too! Linda Johnson has caught my pottery loving eye though, if only we could hold these little hand turned and painted pieces of crockery in our hands... they are beautiful, you could always buy them from her... that would work a treat. To cup the 'bird on a wire' cup in your hands... My favourite is the cookie jar, what's yours? Enjoy. Z

A Year Ago

Although it was a year ago, I thought I'd sneakie you a peek at my comfy chair...I created the fabric as a digital repeat patten based on sky scrapers window patterns. It's a hardly used reclaimed chair from a UTV set! Very smart, fresh and comfortable... space light and print. Do you like it? It is for sale : ) More to come.

Buy Nurses Purses

They aren't really for nurses...but they are purses... calico fabric is cute and these two are made out of 100% floral pattern! Reused fabric from an old friends gift, I have also put on some marble and glass beads, with a Ms Kahlo trinket. Available now over at my new shop...

Make A Mark

Tattoos come in all shapes and sizes, obviously, just like all of us...and I'm sure your opinions on style vary... but I've enjoyed looking out some not so inky lookalikes. Here are some tattoo stylee hand embroideries, found over on flikr, by rectangel, kittyzilla1 and s@r@lynn. Enjoy, Z.

The Time Has Come!

It's time I put some of my own work up here for you to see... I'll post what I'm working on from week to week...for now, this is a photograph from back in 2006 when I spent some time making little structures...pretend it's the size of buildings!

I'll post all sorts from now on, from photographs to cushions and prints to bags... I hope it's of interest to you all. Let's be simple and natural. Z

Draw Me In

I just can't get enough of Paul Hollands' handy work...based in Paris and busy with commissions, he's a gem of an illustrator. The art of collage is seamless in his work, digitally enriched, I can't help but wonder about the layers and how he manages just the right balance to make us feel 'it's amazing!' Good to see details in the collage work and note the drawings within, especially beautiful. Some examples below, but go find him for yourself too. Z.

Dish Washer Friendly

We ourselves are the dish washers, no machinery as of yet. Our friends bought us a new dish rack which makes dish washing that bit friendlier, I have always had a bit of a frosty disposition towards the washing up...except for on days when your hands are cold and you want to think about something... Here is a pic of the present we received (accompanied by its various colour options!) and another few beauts to encourage you to soften the chore! Z.

Home Sweet Home

Where I took my first steps as a 'terrible two' or around that, is The Sheelin, a thatched cafe in Bellenaleck, County Fermanagh. (Northern Ireland for those of you further flung!) Of late, Rosie Cathcart has unearthed a quaint little tea house, all the decor and furniture is re-claimed or antique, so below are some pictures to carry you there...included is my grandmother, a regular tea drinker. Enjoy, Z.

Treatsies

HiddenArt... (a membership organisation that supports and promotes designer-makers, while offering companies and members of the public access to original design) ....(breathe)... have some new goodies up on their shop pages, take a look around via clicking on the title 'Treatsies' or just drool over these fine pieces for now. Either way, it's good to see some fresh designers getting some air, all very exciting and inspiring if you ask me! Z.