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!

New in Handmade Happiness

Two seascapes painted by Christine Burgess. 'Dawn' left and 'Dusk' right.

Specs or phone cases made by Bee Mellor. £19.50each

Porcelain candle holders by Ali Cooper. £16.50 each

Single bed quilt made by Pam Dew.

This week Christine Burgess delivered large wooden boards, more twig hooks, lino cut printed Christmas cards and these two remarkable acrylic paintings - much bigger than they look here, inspired by Turner. I'm seriously thinking of re-decorating my house to suit the paintings. That is if no-one else beats me to it! They are really good!

More all silk specs cases from Bee Mellor. These make super gifts.

Ali Cooper came in with lots of mugs. I particularly like the ones with raised dogs and a skating bear. She likes working with porcelain clay and these night lights pictured are an example of what she achieves with it.

Pam Dew came in with her latest quilt. A riot of reds, oranges and highlights of yellows and greens. I love it as will anyone who loves Kaffe Fassett's fabrics.

Tanya Williamson has brought in more of her popular applique cushions.

The shop is bursting at the seams at the moment.  It was so busy yesterday. Come and see before someone else buys your favourite gifts.

Making Christmas cards

Glittery bauble card by Jenny Stacy

Card by Jenny Stacy. See instructions below.

Christmas card by Jenny Stacy

These cards were such fun (and quick) to make. The shape is raised with foam pads so it's a bit 3D.

Do you tear off Christmas stamps at this time of year? I have to squirrel them away and this year I've made my collection of lovely Christmas stamps an essential part of my cards.

If you want to make a card along these lines this is how it's done:
First draw your bauble shape (or a tree/piece of holly/ whatever you fancy drawing) onto card. Cut it out. This is your template.

Then go through any Christmas magazine and tear out Christmassy pictures/ colours and glue them onto a sheet of white copy paper. I use stick glue for this like Pritt stick. Lay your template on and cut round it. Keep cutting out shapes until you've used up your collage sheet.
I then used a hole punch to make the hole in the top of the design. Add a Christmas stamp, star, whatever you have and then use glitter to make the whole thing sparkle. Leave to dry.

I found an old necklace of little coloured gold discs in a charity shop. I threaded a disc through a length of ribbon to tie in to the hole on the design. Then apply sticky foam pads to the reverse of your shape and press it onto a piece of folded card. Done. 

And if you don't fancy making cards or you haven't got time these cards and more are available to buy at Handmade Happiness for £2.50 each.

Creativity

A selection of the stuff Jenny Stacy makes. Picture taken a few years ago.

I remember making this bunting and seeing the red pom-pom braid near to hand.

My friend Carol asked me to write about creativity. So I'm writing this off the top of my head so forgive me, its just my personal thoughts on the subject.

First of all I know we're all creative. Some people feel they haven't the time to express their creativity but it's still in them. Others may play instruments or do a painting or write down their thoughts and get the same creative satisfaction that making something gives to us makers.

Visiting Handmade Happiness often triggers visitors to go off and make something.  So exposing ourselves to inspiring artwork or a view when out for a walk, a certain photograph or even a colour of paint any of these things could make us sit down and use our creative powers to good effect. The enemy here is the practical side of our brains which tells us we'd better do the washing up first or check our bank statement or make the phone call we'd been dreading - anything to keep us away from the happy making time. I don't know why we trip ourselves up like this but I do and I dare say you do too.

Once we allow ourselves to get lost in creativity it's almost like stepping into another realm. Time seems to stand still. The focus is all on the job in hand. And once we finish making something the tremendous satisfaction and peace if what we produce is what we hoped to produce. For creativity starts as the germ of an idea in the imagination and we think about it, write about it, draw it even before finally getting down to making it. This is called the creative process and few of us are lucky enough to get paid for this vital planning stage that goes into producing anything original and worthwhile.

The creative person gets fulfilment from making something that is truly of them. From their imagination. That is why it's so hard for the maker to sell their own work. When a shop turns them down it's like a personal rejection. I am acutely conscious of this when makers show me their work. That is why I have a lot of respect for the quirky and weird, almost experimental pieces that people arrive at. Not much respect for work that is obviously a copy of something seen elsewhere.

Creativity is fed by all we see and experience around us. I think of the imagination as a big sieve. It extracts all that's relevant or exciting to us personally and anything we make is ideally a mish-mash of what we've seen but with our own unique personal spin on it.  

Selling at a country house

Handmade Happiness on a table and (not pictured) a coffee table where Christmas decorations were on a tree

Karen Boller's dog, cat and bird brooches

Handmade Happiness carrier bags with my dolls in the window

The house owner's fabulous cushion made out of one of her old jumpers.

 Yesterday a friend looked after the shop while I sold at a country house 'Christmas shopping event.' 
When I first started making things I was invited to peoples' houses for charity coffee mornings. I would sell my makes and give a percentage of takings to the charity. They generally lasted for two hours and were better for me than any craft fair. 

I soon learned there was something called the Charities List which you could apply to be on and would then be sent a list of events you could ask to have a stall at. I never actually applied as I got swallowed up into making for shops and the twice yearly Country Living magazine shows in London.

Now the shop is the selling focus and it's far easier to praise other peoples' work than to big up my own!! 
By the way I really like this cushion. Although picture knitwear isn't exactly on trend any more, doesn't it look good as a cushion? An old fairisle jumper made into a cushion would also be very saleable... 

In Handmade Happiness now

Tree decorations by Pam Dew

Collaged wood angel decorations by Jenny Stacy

Spec or phone pockets by Bee Mellor

Just a few of the unique-to-Handmade Happiness things you can buy in the shop now.

In the shop I am serving customers and making carrier bags. I would like to be making new products but just at the moment the demand for bags - those ones I make from magazine covers or Vogue pages is high. Little items or single purchases go into the little bags made of one magazine page. But when someone buys several things I like to put them into a magazine carrier bag and so I need to replace them regularly. 

I'm day dreaming that after Christmas when I have my worktable in the shop customers might like to join me in making. Firstly their own projects or something we make together but sometimes we could just make a good stock of carrier bags!

Kate Hackett's ceramic decorations

Kate Hackett's ceramic robin, pudding and angel

Pictured are Kate's popular decorations for tree or to tie on a present. £3 each in Handmade Happiness.

Today I will take photographs of all the new handmade things I haven't shared with you yet. I am conscious that there is quite a lot that hasn't yet appeared on the blog. So bear with  me while I catch up.

My weekend is very scheduled. On Sundays I see my mother and on Mondays I see my adorable 4 month old grandaughter. 

Yesterday it was lovely that my son Tim was able to spend the day with us. We walked in the park and ate lunch at Jade, a French cafe I'd recommend to anyone. A proper day off.

Daughter Amy has to return to work in March. And I'm working out how I can juggle the shop with baby sitting. The answer may be to close for an extra day after Christmas. At present the shop opens Tuesdays to Saturdays and I'm aware that similar specialist shops are only open for four or even just three days a week.

 On the other hand I would hate to think of someone travelling to see the shop only to find it closed. That would be totally unacceptable.

 So if I do close for an extra day that day would be Tuesday and the new hours would anyway not start til after Christmas. 
For now until Christmas it's business as usual 10-5 Tuesday to Saturday.

Beautiful Christmas fair venue

The enormous barn at Buriton Manor usually used for weddings

Yesterday I set up the Handmade Happiness stand in this lovely setting. The Buriton Christmas fair was in aid of the Liberty Foundation which helps people in Belize. There were dozens of stalls, many in the attached marquee. It was a long fair from 11am to 8pm with setting up from early that morning. The organisers kindly provided three meals for stall holders. 
For me it was a chance to tell the many visitors about the shop and to meet other stall holders, one of whom will have her unusual handmade items for sale in HH as from today. (Watch this space!)
Today come and see me in the shop. I'll be there. A bit more tired than usual. I plan to be making more cashmere lavender-filled bunnies. Unexpectedly they were the best selling item at yesterdays show.

Making dolls

Jenny Stacy's dolls for sale in Handmade Happiness

I love to paint the faces best. And I love the way each one is different. The centre doll has the prettiest face but it's just luck. The lady in green has a haughty, looking down her nose expression which I also love.

 It's also fun to chose scraps of fabric and ribbon for their clothes. I don't buy anything new, just use what I already have. The green and the yellow velvet ribbons for instance are ribbons I had as a child when my mother used to tie my hair back with a different ribbon every school day. I made the felt and the knitting on the right was to have been a mohair heart warmer cardi for Juno but the pattern was so complicated I abandoned it. The treasured piece of Liberty fabric, far right was given by my friend Yvonne who's given me many nice things to make with.

Traditionally we've made with what we have to hand. And it's  satisfying to find a use for a pretty scrap saved for many years. Nearly all the women I meet seem to have magpie tendencies when it comes to yarn or fabric. I didn't like to use my favourite pieces I don't know why, but now I want to use everything up. To make good use of it - that's my resolve. To turn all of my hoarded stash into nice things to sell during the next year.

Cat brooches

Karen Boller has made these cat brooches for Handmade Happiness. £9.50 each.

Karen Boller already makes dog brooches for Handmade Happiness. Last week she brought in some bird brooches (pictured recently) which I love too. And yesterday these cat brooches turned up which I know will delight many cat-loving customers. At £9.50 each any of Karen's brooches would make a thoughtful gift for a friend or family member.

All the shops are about Halloween at the moment. And maybe Handmade Happiness is missing out by not hopping on the Halloween bandwagon. The window is dressed in autumn colours but sorry, not a cobweb or scary mask in sight. I've nothing against Halloween but it's a nice opportunity for families to make their own costumes/masks/scary cakes out of sheets and cereal packets etc. Save your money. Spend it on cat brooches instead!!

Thinking online

Silk velvet dyed by Alison Crosthwaite

Last night a friend said, 'I do all my shopping online now. It's so much easier.' And I expect a lot of people think the same. But when you enter a bricks and mortar shop like Handmade Happiness it's a sensory pleasure. You can feel the materials,  you can look through the kaleidoscopes, you can share your reactions with a friend,  you get personal service from a real live shop assistant (me!) and a warm (human) welcome.

I love it when customers respond enthusiastically to things in the shop. I encourage them to pick things up and try things on. I wouldn't trust myself to make a decision to buy if I couldn't do that. 

(If I see the sign Please don't touch in a shop or at an exhibition I always read it as Please don't buy.)

 So I personally couldn't buy off the internet. I wouldn't be able to tell the quality from a mere picture. I need to pick things up.

It's much cheaper to have an online shop. You don't have to pay rent, or for your electricity, water, card machine hire and telephone. 

At Handmade Happiness those bills have to be paid whether people spend anything or not. The fact is an awful lot of people come in and say 'I'm just looking for ideas'. If they knew that for the shop to survive it has to take more than £50 a day just to break even would they occasionally buy something? Just a card or a button would do.

Don't get me wrong. I am thrilled when people get inspiration and excitement from seeing the beautifully designed and made items Handmade Happiness has  on sale. I love it when they leave dying to get home and on to their sewing machine to make something for themselves.  I'd just like them to know that for the shop to continue to provide this free service, to continue to be the wonderful, sensory overload experience that makes them happy, they have to occasionally buy something, otherwise bills can't be paid and the next time they come 'just looking for ideas' the shop will be gone.

More new things in the shop

Karen Boller has made these beautifully stitched bird brooches £9.50 each

Great fabric for this bag with matching ceramic button by Pam Dew £24.50

Emily Watson's delicately made silver jewellery, priced from £17.50

An avalanche of gorgeous new handmade gifts is coming into the shop this week:

 

Kate Box has designed and made some new style wrist warmers, scarves and neckerchiefs all in her trade mark, soft 100%  lambswool in lovely colour combinations. (Picture to come.)

Emily Watson has brought in new silver jewellery designs and more of her popular tiny word pendants.

Karen Boller, whose dog brooches are so popular is now doing birds as well.

Pam Dew is making some gorgeous textural fabric tree decorations I am really excited about stocking.

I've made lots of fairy boxes which are out on display, surrounded by lots more of Tanya Williamson's applique animal cushions.

Each day seems to bring fresh surprises. More to come.

New in Handmade Happiness

Four oak serving boards by Chris Black £32.50; fish cushion by Tanya Williamson £48; heart by Eileen Brown £3

New owl cushion by Tanya Williamson  £48

New ceramic mugs and jugs £16 and £18 by Kate Hackett. Note her Christmas decorations too.

Kate Hackett display with crochet bluetit £29 by Michelle Green and set of 6 cherry wood boards £36 by Chris Black

Sue Flux handspun Jacobs wool and dyed wools £8 and £10 per skein

 Last week lots of makers brought in new work and Handmade Happiness is full to bursting with new things ready for early Christmas shoppers. Only a fraction of it is pictured here. Come in to see more and I'll show more pictures later in the week.

What I bought at the Knitting and Stitching Show

Love the colours of this silk ribbon pictured on a 'pre-felt' by PIIKU

Reds and pinks silk that will be good for Christmas makes or imagine it tied round a present!

Greyed pinks and bronzes from MoBair

Pre-felt from Piiku, blue wool from MoBair and Drops Alpaca silk for baby knitting

I didn't consciously choose things that blend in with one another but these do which tells me I should perhaps use a bit of everything in one project...

This pre-felt or 'needle-punched fleece' from Finland www.piiku.fi is interesting. You buy it by the metre and then can felt it by hand or just start off the felting process and put it in the washing machine to turn it into an attractive, thick felt cloth  robust enough for handbags.  I bought a metre of the one pictured and another metre in greens. It will be fun to experiment with using other wools in with it maybe.

I love the colours of this silk ribbon and plan to use it for jewellery, needle-felting and just for hanging stuff on the tree, present tying, and garland making. Gorgeous.

Victoria Smedley spins and dyes the lovely thick wools pictured. She keeps angora goats and her business www.mobair.co.uk  is based on their wool.

The Alpaca silk fine yarn is by Drops and I'm picturing a baby heart warmer knitted from one of these. Does anyone know of a pattern for this cross-over little cardigan? Actually more like a little shawl that goes round the back of the neck and fastens at the sides under the arms. I could try and make it up as I go along but it would be quicker to follow a pattern!

I've just noticed the date. 14th October. The shop's third birthday. Wow! 

The Knitting and Stitching Show 2014

'Marking Time' by Josephine Edwards

'Swirl' by Helen Mastrandrea (silk fibre cloth)

If you know who made these impressive felted pieces tell me and I'll add their name/s

A pergola covered in knitted flowers in the entrance hall.

Yesterday I had a lovely day off at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace in London. There is so much to see and inspire.

  This top picture of random smocking has stayed with me. 

This year I bought more than I usually do. Some things for the shop and some Alpaca/silk for knitting for baby Juno. It's the colours I am tempted by. I'll show you pictures of what I bought tomorrow.

 The greatest thrill was trying out weaving on a table loom on the Shetland Islanders stand. Tweed patterned in contemporary colour palettes is produced here and loom owner Andy Ross explained the mechanics of how colours and patterns are interwoven with shuttles through warp and weft threads. Fascinating. I'm inspired to make a basic loom with picture frame and wrapped threads but Andy Ross would say this is tapestry making not weaving. www.globalyell.org  The tweed used for making jackets and skirts is made on huge industrial machines but a small woven piece for a picture or brooch could be made on a home-made loom. Perhaps I could try out that lovely sari silk ribbon I just bought. Show you next post.

Beautiful pendants and brooches

Pendant made by Bee Mellor from fabric made by Jenny Stacy

Brooch by Bee Mellor and Jenny Stacy with appropriate button!

Heart brooch £15 by Bee Mellor and Jenny Stacy

Pendant £19.50 on silk tube by Bee Mellor and Jenny Stacy

Heart pendant with old lace £19.50 by Bee Mellor and Jenny Stacy

Embroidered needlefelt brooch by Bee Mellor and Jenny Stacy 

Heart brooch £15 by Bee Mellor and Jenny Stacy

Bee Mellor and I have been friends for a very long time and it is fun to work together on this jewellery project. I do the felting and needlefelting providing the base for our items. Bee cuts into and machine embroiders this  adding buttons or dyed silk ties making the brooches and pendants. We tend to like the same colour combinations and both love the designing/making process. This jewellery is only sold in Handmade Happiness.

I never know who is going to come into the shop next. Yesterday I had the first request for a Christmas raffle prize (I get lots of those and I'm not sure, to be honest, whether it is good for the shop to oblige or not!) And a joyful conversation with an expert knitter who loves knitting aran jerseys (the ones with all those cables). Her mother enjoys knitting Fair Isle patterns which I'd also love to have in the shop and her sister loves making all kinds of things. Fingers crossed they will be happy to see some of their work for sale in Handmade Happiness!

Just thinking...

 Like all of you I was profoundly shocked at the latest beheading of a good man.  A man who risked  his life to help others. And it makes me wonder how we can have a more effective response to kidnap and blackmail. 

Our current bombing response is bound to kill the innocent as well as the guilty. And by innocent I include young people swept up by religious fervour into a nightmare situation neither they, nor we can control. 

I have no hope of a James Bond type hero swooping in to rescue the remaining hostages. Our governments will not allow ransoms to be paid nor negotiations to take place. But if it were my son being held I would want my government to negotiate. By being seen publicly to be the voice of reason in the world we could potentially calm some of the blood-lust and change peoples' allegiances. Right now we are just increasing the misery...

Knitting, notebooks and pictures

Handknitted ear warmer headbands by Jenny Stacy

Leather bound notebooks by Sheila Barrow

Leather and painted collage notebooks by Sheila Barrow

View over the South Downs. Embroidered framed picture by Sheila Barrow

Wintery view over the Downs by Sheila Barrow.

Artist Sheila Barrow visited Handmade Happiness this week with these examples of her work and two big pictures, one of trees and and one of daisies and other flowers both not shown. I photographed them but the pictures aren't good enough to show you. I'll try again today!

Anyone who visited the shop this week probably saw me knitting these headbands. The idea was to do them wide enough to keep your ears warm. The wool/silk mix is especially nice to knit with. Like all things handmade I think I can do it quickly but it always takes far longer than I expect. Still a joy though, just a time-consuming joy!

I've also made some new buttons, felted some autumn leaves to hang in the window and I'm starting to collage some Christmas cards. Christmas stockings are also nudging to be made as are dolls and angels. As usual I wish I'd stockpiled for Christmas early in the year but as usual I haven't. I guess I like the sense of urgency that having to make a lot in a short time gives me!!

This month I am looking forward to baby Juno and my daughter coming to stay for a week. I hope Juno approves of the shop and finds plenty to catch her eye and be entranced by. When can I start training her up to be shop assistant extraordinaire?!!