New ceramics at Handmade Happiness

Bowl and teapot by Justine Jenner

Coffee cup and saucer, two dessert cups on tray and mug by Justine Jenner with cushions by Kate Box

This week Justine Jenner brought in her ceramics. I love these grey, contemporary pieces. Just simple, good design and beautifully handmade. Justine's work is totally different from any other ceramics stocked by Handmade Happiness. They are a welcome addition.

New paintings by Christine Burgess

Three seascapes by Christine Burgess. New ceramics below by Kate Hackett.

Lemonade by Christine Burgess

A beautiful painting by Christine Burgess.

I had two 'Wow' moments this week. The first when Pam Dew bought in her stunning new quilt (see post below) and the second when Christine Burgess bought in her new paintings on Friday. 
I am immensely proud to display these two peoples' work on the walls of Handmade Happiness. I think you will agree that their work is first class. Displaying these pieces in Handmade Happiness creates a special atmosphere and makes the shop even more of a pleasure to visit. 

Pam Dew's stunning new Quilt

It's immensely colourful and really big. I love it. Quilt by Pam Dew.

Pam Dew's new quilt is a magnificent piece of art. It would say welcome in a big office foyer. It would cover a whole wall in a cosy cottage. I just can't imagine it across a bed. Far too special for that!

Celebrating Spring at Handmade Happiness

Kate Hackett's spring flower decorated ceramics. Mugs £16; jugs and plates £18.

Easter tree by Sue Inglis. Chicks, bunnies and sheep £5.95 each. Pom-poms 50p 

Today Christine Burgess is delivering her latest paintings. I can't wait to see what they are like! 
Today also marks the start of the Contemporary Textiles show at Landmark Arts in Teddington. The preview is tonight. I hope to get there on Sunday. Younger daughter is staying tonight which will be lovely.

Keep the creative flame burning

Some of Alison Crosthwaite's gloriously dyed velvet

When was the last time you were truly creative? When you drew/designed a new making project that was unlike anything anyone had done before? Some people are naturally creative and have ideas flashing into their brains night and day. Others have to work harder at it. But I believe all of us are born creative if we only allow ourselves to be so.

Last September was when I was last truly creative. I made lots of medal brooches each entirely individual and I was pleased to come up with something that looked so different.

Today I was looking at one of my 'design notebooks' and I was amazed at how every day it seemed I jotted down new things to make. Most of them never got made. But my notebooks remain a rich source of inspiration.

Right now I want to make some original necklaces. I've made lots of jewellery in the past:  conventional jewellery, painted bead and modelled bead jewellery and textile jewellery. It's time I focussed on it again. 

Few things in life are more exciting than the thrill of making something you've thought through for yourself. Techniques can be learnt from library books or the internet.  Ideas and the special way you use them pop into your head and will help you produce something different that is uniquely 'you'.

Stars and daffodils

Origami star garlands made by Sue Inglis. £7.99 each.

Spring daffodils in the window in front of Tanya Williamson's popular cushions. £48 each.

I've just managed to burn an egg. One day I caused an egg to explode and litter the kitchen with tiny bits of egg shell.  I set an egg on to boil and then forget it. I get distracted by a phone call or immersed in a bit of research on the computer. And egg explodes!

That is what has happened with my blog this month. I have been distracted by other things and the blog has suffered.  My poor mum, who some of you will know, suffers from dementia, has had a tough month. After lots of discussion we are moving her to another care home where I am hoping, she will be a lot happier and soon I will be able to focus on other things, like this blog!

Unravel at Farnham - impressions

Great display for small needlefelted creatures by Jenny Barnett

Hooked items in kit form.www.hookedbydesign.co.uk

I still love Fairisle knitting.

Yarns dyed with natural dyes have this soft, pretty look.

Yesterday my friend Chrissy looked after Handmade Happiness so I could go to Unravel at Farnham Maltings. It's also on today and tomorrow if you live nearby.

You have to love yarn to enjoy this show. Nearly every stall has banked skeins of yarn in billions of tempting colours. 

I've tried stocking skeins of yarn. They look great. The problem is a) the customer has to wind it into a ball herself and b) many skeins are not standard 50gm or 100 gm weight like ordinary balls of yarn which makes it difficult to work out what a skein will make or how to use skeins in a conventional knitting pattern. They are extremely decorative though.

 What stood out for me was the unusual hooked pieces shown above. Like rag rugging in miniature. It looked a fun thing to try. The made up pieces are examples of what the kits look like. I asked about selling the samples in my shop but understandably, this is not an option. 
I found angora yarn on another stall, unbelievably soft and look forward to knitting with some of this.  www.bigwigsangora.co.uk 

Jenny Barnett's imaginative stall showing her needlefelted animals was interesting. Jenny holds needlefelting classes.  www.jennybarnett.co.uk

The natural dyed yarn shown above translates into the most gorgeously coloured crochet throws, just visible on the left of the picture. Again I asked if HH could sell those but again they are really just samples of what the yarn can do. Patterns for the throws are available.
www.thenaturaldyestudio.com

Teddies, bare brooches and knitting

New handmade teddy by Lindsey Agostinelli with fish cushion by Tanya Williamson

Another teddy by Lindsey Agostinelli

Grey baby top with cashmere £29

Carol Smith's amazing stitched people brooches £19.50 each.

Love this new card knitted  by Sue Inglis.£4

Yesterday I cut out dozens of felt Easter bunnies for an instead-of-chocolate little Easter present. It feels good to sit at my worktable and make stuff instead of getting the counter cluttered with bits of materials, threads and torn paper.

I must have one of the nicest jobs in the world and I do feel lucky.

New scarves and how to make pom poms

Soft and warm silk mohair scarves knitted by Gill Martin £24

Deep pink mohair silk scarf knitted by Gill Martin £24

Knitted bunting by Sue Inglis £20. See instructions to make pom pom flowers below.

These pom pom flowers are quick and easy to make.

 First get a pack of tissue - this is from Rowswell's for 70p. Tesco stock similar. Open out the tissue and cut it in half across. You'll have two multi-layered rectangles. 

Take one stack and starting at a short end fold it in by about 3 cms/ just over an inch. Turn over and fold again on top of the previous fold, concertina style. Turn over, fold and carry on until you've used up all the tissue and have a ruler shaped pile of pleats.

 Fold this in half, lengthwise, open out again and tie a piece of strong thread round the middle crease leaving two long tails of thread and knotting it several times tightly.

Now cut each end into a point with scissors.

Carefully pull one layer of tissue out without tearing it, pull another layer out and carry on until you have made a ball, and there are no more layers left to separate.   

Using your thread ends tie somewhere high as Carnival style decorations. I used gold tissue at Christmas and pastels would be pretty for a spring wedding tied together in big bunches.

Charity shop bargains

Sevi child's necklace £1 and child's knitting needles 20p

Glass vase 75p; green Denby pot £2 and pleasing white lidded pot 50p

Book of fashion illustrations 50p these are by esdar maren.

Love this ceramic egg holder.£1

 I felt like a run round the charity shops yesterday and these things are what I found. 
The necklace reminds me of the first time I saw a Sevi necklace and how it inspired me to paint beads for childrens' necklaces and even wacky dressed animal beads and people beads. Some of them were bought by Neiman Marcus. That was a long time ago.

I always look for heavy glass vases to hold spring flowers. I really like the design of this one. And that green pot. Is it me or is there something special about certain shades of green right now. I want to paint walls green in my house. Deep lime or olive.

The fashion illustrations book is ideal for making into carrier bags for the shop. They will look great. 

And I remember seeing these ceramic egg holders being sold on a stall somewhere. I have a feeling I liked them but they were £20 each.
There is something satisfying about finding just what you like at a bargain price.
Today I'll take photographs in the shop to share with you. 

Bunting and boiling over

Bunting by Jenny Stacy

Bunting by Jenny Stacy

This week I am growing increasingly tired of waiting for people.

Waiting for my boiler replacement to be sorted. I've been without a boiler for months now and having discovered I qualify for a government warmth scheme back in September(ie. free replacement boiler) I'm still waiting for (a) to get back to (b). When I speak to (a) of course he professes ignorance. 'Nothing to do with me.' So I ring both (a) and (b) regularly to be told they personally will chase it up and ring me. Do they ring? No.

Waiting for other peoples' decisions on matters of importance. Waiting for people to do what they say they are going to do. Doesn't it drive you mad? I wish I could side step all the hurdles in my way and just do what I think is best (I'm not talking about the boiler now). But I can't, I have to wait, impatiently, for other people to get back to me.

I sometimes wonder whether bureaucrats would act faster on my behalf if I was a man. There I've said it. Has the world not moved on at all???

Big Valentines cards

Making Valentines cards. A mosaic of paper by Jenny Stacy

A finished card.£2-50 by Jenny Stacy

No two cards are alike. Valentines cards by Jenny Stacy

Yesterday 10 Valentines cards were sold in Handmade Happiness so next week I will again be making them in the shop.It feels like playing to make things like this. I love it. Although part of me feels I should be focussed on making jewellery - the big handmade bead necklaces I used to make - there will be time for that later. Right now it's February and time for all things hearts!

Tiny Valentine's cards

Tiny handmade Valentine's cards with envelope £1 by Jenny Stacy

This week the floor of Handmade Happiness is littered with tiny scraps of coloured paper. I'm making Valentine's cards. These tiny ones and much larger ones, some of which have the word Love embossed in gold on them.

I remember in a previous year painstakingly threading red rose petals and hanging them in the window as part of a Valentine's window display. I do love real flowers in the shop. Soon I'll be able to have white hyacinths and their lovely scent.  Tulips might be nice for now but they do tend to flop over the moment they are put in water.

Yesterday was a celebration day for me. I submitted my online tax return.

By the way I've used up all my old magazines and the ones that customers have brought me. So instead of puting your old magazines into the recycling bin could you possibly drop them in to me? They would be gratefully received and turned into carrier bags and paper bags for the shop. Thank you. 

New cushions made by Kate Box

Kate Box's knitted cushion £57 and Jenny Stacy doll £29

Kate Box cushion £57

 These soft cushions are knitted front and back in 100% lambswool by Kate Box. Luxurious and smart. 
Regular visitors to Handmade Happiness will know that Kate also makes colourful striped and bobbled wrist warmers, snoods, scarves and baby blankets.

Spot the difference

New improved bracelets by Jenny Stacy

I wasn't happy with the bracelets I showed yesterday. So I re-did them. Now the loops are thicker and easy to do up. I've removed the large wooly rounds and replaced them with more delicate pieces. I've taken beads out to make the bracelets smaller. Now I am happy to actually sell them!

Making bracelets

Bracelets by Jenny Stacy

Today after another heavy frost it was too cold for browsers at Handmade Happiness.
I spent the day playing with bits of fabric and wool and building up these unusual bracelets.

Paintings by Christine Burgess

 Christine Burgess brought in her latest paintings to Handmade Happiness on Saturday.

Screen printed dog cards by Sue Inglis

I watch many dogs and their owners pass the windows of Handmade Happiness. It always seems to me that every family in Petersfield has a dog. Not too many pink poodles though!
These cards, screen printed by Sue Inglis, are for sale in Handmade Happiness now at £2-95 each.

That time of year

Purple hyacinths

It's that time of year when snow is forecast and I long to fill my house and shop with flowers.
Spring is coming!

Apologies for not taking photos in the shop recently. I want to show you Christine Burgess' new paintings of the sea. Four paintings one of them large. All seascapes with a Turner-like appreciation for clouds and their reflections on the ever changing colours of the sea.

Sue Inglis brought in some new screen printed cards she has made of different breeds of dogs. I think these will be very popular. 
And Katrin Eagle has needlefelted some brooches which I've added to the big board of brooches in the shop. Photos to come (promise!)

Gentle reminder: This month the shop is closed on Tuesdays. January opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 10-5. If you can't make those days and want to come in to the shop email me (look right) and I'll meet your there at your convenience if I possibly can.

Btw I've sorted out the comment box below so all you have to do is click on Comments,write what you want to write and click on the 'I am not a robot' box. Done. Couldn't be easier.

Handmade UK

Pam Dew's gloriously colourful quilt using Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

Looking round Handmade Happiness textiles are very well represented. I may need to balance things up with blown glass, quirky ceramics, wrought iron etc. So I need to look for these things further afield. Handmade still of course but handmade in the UK not necessarily handmade in the Petersfield area.

This week the Top Drawer trade fair incorporting 'Craft' is on in London.  I wondered whether to go and have a look but actually I can see all the exhibitors' products on their website. Has the internet made such shows unnecessary? Serious buyers need to touch and handle what's on offer but for browsers like me I can probably see what I want to see online.

I went to Top Drawer a couple of times before I had the shop and I was shocked that individual sellers demanded £500 minimum orders. I expect it's more than £500 now.

My next opportunity to view lots of craft under one roof is at Unravel at Farnham Maltings in February. A show about all things wool, oops, textiles again.
Now excuse me while I check out the websites of the people whose work I like who are exhibiting this week in London.

On Friday Christine Burgess is bringing in her latest paintings. Can you remember the seascapes pictured before Christmas on this blog? Loved them. I can't wait to see her latest work. 

A different way of buying = treats

New stitched, painted and collaged picture by Sheila Barrow

I just flicked on the radio and they were talking about the bad state of the economy, as per usual.  I've noticed in the shop that people are careful. They don't rush to buy, they go away and think about it and then come back. 

Before Christmas people said:'We're only buying for children this year.' Or they did Secret Santa where each person only buys for one other and the person they buy for is drawn from a hat.

So was less spent overall last Christmas? I doubt it. But I do think there are different patterns of spending now and shops like mine need to be alert to it.

I think people who are sensible and careful most of the time because they have so many calls on their money need to have the occasional splurge. The occasional treat to make life rosier.
A colourful brooch or a keyring; a pair of soft, cosy socks; a thick magazine with a cup of hot chocolate. Nothing expensive so there is no guilt attached just a small indulgence to make being good and restrained for 90% of the time that bit easier.

If I'm right and people want special things to buy for themselves through the year then the emphasis moves away from Christmas spending to give a more even spread of spending in other months. And that has got to be a good thing.   

All change!

I like the way they've drawn on the big windows at Anthropologie

A clean and tidy display of book magazines at Anthropologie

I'm reaching for something without being quite clear as to what it is I'm reaching for!

This is day three of a big re-arrange in Handmade Happiness with the help of my friend Chrissy Pearce.  The furniture has all changed round to allow room for a work table which I will try to keep clear of things for sale. It is for making on!  

The new emphasis for this year at Handmade Happiness is that things will be in the process of being made either by me and/or by others while the shop is open.  There will also be lots of things for sale of course but it will not be all about selling. It will be more inspiring and more have a go and, for me, a more productive place to be.

I remember a shop in Midhurst where a designer dressmaker used to sit at her sewing machine all day running up pretty gowns, sometimes for Hollywood actresses. There were clothes to buy there and a brilliant £10 basket that my girls loved rummaging through but the shop owner kept right on making.

The shop opens tomorrow, Saturday. Come and see what you think of the new layout. I'll put pictures on my blog too. Please note that next week I hope to focus on my poor neglected house and the shop will only be open on Saturday January 10th after which it's business as usual.
 January opening hours are Wednesday to Friday  9.30am to 5pm.