Tuesday 30 December 2014

Penny Seume - in Anthropologie and Handmade Happiness

Penny Seume velvet cushions in Anthropologie
Striking velvet print by Penny Seume on a chair in Anthropologie

Penny Seume's distinctive fabrics in Anthropologie
 It was a thrill for me to see Penny Seume's work in the new Anthropologie store in Bath. 
I feel privileged to have Penny's cushions and lampshades in Handmade Happiness because her work is so original.  Inspired by city landscapes at night Penny paints and collages pictures which are  transferred to velvet and linen and made into household objects. To see more of Penny's work visit her website www.pennyseume.co.uk   

Monday 29 December 2014

Bath - shops

Shannon. What a good idea to have little shelves on each side of the window.
Katherine Fraser, weaver. I like these cushions
Interesting fabric...
Wish this had been open. Nice lettering. Close up of door in previous post.
A little bit of France. Patisserie Valerie.
Clothes I want to see again.
Could this be Handmade Happiness Too?! 
Looking at these pictures makes me want to go straight back to Bath! 
I'd visit by train next time. It took too long by car. I'd like visit these shops when they are open. 
Meantime I have the Petersfield branch of Handmade Happiness to consider! The shop will be open this Saturday January 3rd. Before that I plan to give it a good clean and sort out.

The emphasis in 2015 will be about making. Making in the shop, especially in those quiet months of January and February... I also want to have a selling website - anyone tried Shopify? and more publicity in magazines for Handmade Happiness.

Sunday 28 December 2014

Bath - buildings

An interior design shop
Old church, now a restaurant



Like the big lit star in the top window

Saturday 27 December 2014

Christmas in Bath





We stayed at this house on a very steep hill

Georgian buildings, pale yellow stone, nice little shops. Bath was a wonderful place to spend Christmas in. The family and I, including baby Juno were together in this four bedroom house just a short walk from the city centre. We walked, we played games - 'Articulate' being the favourite, we ate too much and enjoyed chatting together. I hope your Christmas was just as happy! 
More pictures tomorrow.
  

Wednesday 24 December 2014

Merry Christmas to you from Petersfield


I love these traditional little jackets from Janet Paley pictured high in Handmade Happiness's window
I wish you a serene Christmas! 
It's all rush round here and I'm sure you feel the same. Getting everything ready for tomorrow.
Handmade Happiness is open this morning. After today it will be closed for a short break. 
I'll write again at greater length after the Christmas holidays. Have fun!

Friday 19 December 2014

Woven scarves by Katrin Eagle

Katrin Eagle scarf
Woven scarves by Katrin Eagle
Katrin Eagle has just moved to Petersfield and yesterday she showed me the lovely scarves she makes. Kristin dyes the wool, spins it and then weaves it to make these one-off scarves.
There are 7 for sale in Handmade Happiness and I have a feeling that 7 lucky people will be receiving them for Christmas...

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Love this and appreciating people

I love this. Sooo beautiful!
 I'm feeling very lucky to have found the makers whose work makes Handmade Happiness so special. Makers who are on their own creative path, developing their ideas and creating really original products. 

Some makers come up with one idea and stick to it, creating a lot of the same. This is probably all right when your work is being exposed to millions of people all at once, many of whom won't have seen it before. But in a small shop like Handmade Happiness in order to satisfy regular customers with continuously changing stock I prefer makers who are experimenting with what they do, pushing their own boundaries if you like and regularly coming in with new ideas. Each is on his or her own journey and it shows in the distinct look of their work.

In January I hope to develop some of my own ideas which at present are confined to notebooks. No time to make right now, the shop is too busy. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

Monday 15 December 2014

Shop news

Amazing photo of boxing hares taken locally by photographer Paul Soden
Jacqui Watkins, whose lino cut cards are so popular has brought out a range of notebooks £3-95 each
Paul Soden is happy to lie in wait for hours to get the perfect shot of local wildlife. Handmade Happiness stocks his large format cards (which could be framed) of birds of prey, hares, deer, pheasant etc. for £2.50 each. This framed photo - female on the right connecting with male on the left with a sharp right hook was taken at East Meon. A Christmas present with a difference for £29. www.paulsodenphotography.co.uk

Saturday was the busiest day bar none in Handmade Happiness. Makers Sue Inglis (knitted ornaments) and Tanya Williamson (applique animal cushions) are coming in with more stock on Tuesday and on Sunday talented artist Sheila Barrow brought in a browser of unframed pictures for the shop to sell and three more framed originals.

I am also excited to see Christine Burgess' new paintings, also coming in on Tuesday. Recently I showed a picture of her atmospheric seascapes. They sold very quickly and now several people are waiting to be contacted when the next paintings come into the shop.

Michelle Green delivered 6 of her beautifully made needlefelted robins on Saturday along with a small herd of her reindeer.
Kate Box whose soft wrist warmers are so comfortable and warm to wear is coming in with fresh supplies too.

Opening hours this week are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Basically if I'm in the shop it's open! Enjoy your week.

Saturday 13 December 2014

Wren picture

Jill Poole's delicate painting of a wren
 Just a reminder that the shop will be open tomorrow Sunday from 10am to 12.30. It will be closed on Monday. Today, business as usual 10am to 5pm.

Today I am fascinated by Fairisle knitting. I am looking forward to doing some serious making in January when there will be a clear work table in the shop for me and anyone that wants to bring along what they are making to work together. Maybe there will be a joint project...But first I plan to re-decorate the shop while it is closed immediately after Christmas.

Monday 8 December 2014

In the shop now

Katherine Wardropper's delicately made Christmas decoration
Katherine Wardropper's decorations come in a range of colours
Kate Hackett's ceramic fairy decorations
In the window Penny Seume's lampshade, Clare Lund's wood tree, and Tanya Williamson's applique cushion
Pale blue velvet duck cushion by Tanya Williamson and set of 6 cherrywood serving boards by Chris Black.
Handmade Happiness is 'a museum of masterpieces' a customer said recently. The quality of the handmade items frequently amazes people. 

 Katherine Wardropper developed her own technique at art school and since then has worked with an Elizabethan costume designer when she designed and created  an intricate head piece for Helen Mirren and she makes jewellery and giant wallpieces. See her work at www.katherinewardropper.com

Penny Seume prints her own artwork onto fabrics to produce very distinctive cushions and lampshades. www.pennyseume.co.uk

Tanya Williamson makes popular applique cushions featuring animals, birds, even a stag beetle. When someone asked if she could make a cushion showing a bassett hound she didn't hesitate and delivered the cushion two days later.

At the last count 43 peoples' work is stocked in Handmade Happiness. Come and see.
In addition to normal working hours Handmade Happiness will be open again next Sunday 10am to 12.30.

Extra Opening Hours -today 10-12.30

Carluccio's boxes of panettone.
It's Monday, normally a day when the shop is closed. I've decided to be open from 10am to 12.30 today possibly longer. I was open yesterday, Sunday morning and the shop was busy. Petersfield is a morning town. I find that nearly all sales are in the morning for some reason. 
Today I'll take some photos in the shop. Somehow there aren't enough hours in the day at the moment. Yesterday afternoon I drove to Waterlooville and had a good look round tkmax, for a bit of Christmas shopping and this afternoon I'll hopefully get into Chichester for a wander. I'm searching for baby girl's gifts. She's already had the best presents ie. the ones from Handmade Happiness so now I have to spread my net wider!

Wednesday 3 December 2014

Lit up London

Little Lowry-like silhouettes in a light box that is actually a clothes store
The Saatchi Gallery and giant Christmas tree
Cascading triangles at Peter Jones. These would be easy to make
Joyful penguins in the Peter Jones' windows.
On Monday I met daughter Amy and little baby for a spot of Christmas shopping. Gone are the days when we used to jump on tubes and cross London taking in as many shops as we could in one day. It is far too tempting to chat over a coffee and play with baby. A teeny bit of shopping got done. And a good look round Peter Jones, M&S and Zara. Amy left early to avoid rush hour. I stayed on and enjoyed looking at Jacadi's chic but expensive baby clothes and just walking admiring all the lights. It's London, it's Christmas and it's inspiring!