This week's top 10 finds from Designers / Makers

Here is a selection of lovely designers I met at last month's Designers / Makers market in Spitalfields.

First up was colourful Indian inspired Piccadelhi who have a lovely range of cards, prints and notebooks, I bought a couple for presents, they are so cool!

I had a stall next to Cardiff based artist & printmaker Sophie Barras aka Pyklops, she has some gorgeous prints & jewellery.

Punto Belle has a beautiful range of bags & accessories using their own fabric designs! So bright & colourful.

Illustrator Hanna Melin has some gorgeous cards, brooches & sticky tape! I love this top banana tape.

Amazing recycled jewellery from Sally Ayling, this bird necklace is made from recycled tins.

Printmaker Jessie G has some nice designs on bags, cushions & cards.

Homewares & paper goods by Rosa and Clara Designs, include lampshades, coasters, cards & gift wrap with a retro feel.

Betty and Walter has a nice range of bags, accessories, tea towels and aprons in a variety of vintage style prints.

French artist Blandine Bardeau creates these amazing necklaces and bracelets from neon plastic.

Home design company Coconut Grass has a great range of comic book inspired prints and cushions.

Friends of the Earth - Eco Fashion Pop Up

Camden Friends of the Earth - 

Eco Fashion Pop Up

On Sunday I took part in an eco fashion pop up organised by Camden Friends of the Earth group at the Red Hand Gallery (above Tufnell Park Tavern).

It was a small event but full of interesting and like minded artists, designers and vintage enthusiasts. I left feeling inspired!

These amazing dresses were designed & made by Kumiko Tani from Re-cycle-Style and they are truly works of art!

 This is Caroline Jones creating a wonderful flower from shredded plastic bags. She fuses them together by placing them between greaseproof paper and applying heat with an iron, so simple but really effective. 

She also sells bags & purses made in the same way and runs workshops.

For more info contact: carolinemejones@hotmail.com

This is the work of jewellery designer Annie Sherburne, beautiful, colourful & sparkly pieces re-worked from broken jewellery & found objects.

Annie also has a yoga studio on Columbia Road in East London - check out: gogoyoga.co.uk

This is a piece of artwork in the gallery that I couldn't stop looking at, its painted on the glass of a window with the original frame still intact, a great idea. 

Its called 'Brittle Suit of Armour' by David Shillinglaw.

Underneath this picture was a stall by Lumoi which I totally failed to take a photo of, but they offer a great upcycling service for your old unwanted or broken jewellery - go to lumoi.com for more info.

Po-Zu Ecological Footwear had a popular sample sale, unfortunately there wasn't any in my size :(

For more info about their shoes visit: po-zu.com

There was some lovely vintage clothing from Garite French Vintage - I love this colourful cycling skirt! Oo la la

And Mia Loves Coco had this lovely blouse.

Save Lea Marshes Photo Competition

So earlier this year I entered the Save Lea Marshes 'What I Love About the Marshes' photo competition and won!!!

Well I am one of 12 winners and all our photos will feature in the Save Lea Marshes 2015 calendar and an exhibition. How exciting!

This is my winning entry - 'Snowy Walk' taken on 5th February 2012 

I was taking a lovely winter walk across the marshes and on the way to Springfield park, near Springfield Mariner. I could hear the shouts of joy from hundreds of sledgers enjoying the snow.

The exhibition will be on at the Waterworks Centre, Lammas Road (off Lea Bridge Road), E10 7NU from 9th April.

For more info about the exhibition and campaign please visit: http://www.saveleamarshes.org.uk/

New Pegboards!

 I have expanded my range of pegboards this year, to add to the plain white and unpainted versions, I now have a blackboard, stripy & chevron versions available in various colours.

For more info & to purchase vist:

https://beta.folksy.com/shops/girlwithbeads/collections/117371

New Years' Resolution - Get Organised!

Happy New Year

If like me your New Years' Resolution this year is to get organised then check out my new range of Pegboards - the essential craft room storage organiser! 

Handmade peg board for organising, storing and displaying all your craft tools.

I have always wanted a peg board to display all my tools, I think it was seeing one in the CDT room at school. I searched long and hard to find one readymade in the UK but turns out peg board is not that readily available, although there seems to be plenty in the US. So I bought a whole sheet of perforated hardboard and had it cut up so I could make one for myself and a few to hopefully sell.

This image shows a peg board I made for myself and painted an off-white to match the wall of the room.

Check out my pinterest board for more peg board inspiration - 

http://pinterest.com/girlwithbeads/peg-board-inspiration/

If you are inspired to get your own craft room, kitchen or house organised, you can purchase you very own pegboard from folksy.com/shops/girlwithbeads

girlwithbeads & [re]design at Design Junction 2013

 

[re]craft: designs to make at home from waste

[re]design are very pleased to have the UK, London Design Festival launch of their inspiring new Make-It-Yourself book and exhibition at the magnificent Design Junction:

 

at: The Sorting Office, 21-31 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1BA

open: Thursday 19th - Sunday 22nd September 2013.

[re]craft features step-by-step instructions for two dozen fantastic designs made from domestic waste, including 2 designs from girlwithbeads. 

Fun, colourful & easy to make party decorations from recycled plastic bags!

For more info and to buy the book visit: http://www.redesigndesign.org/

 Here are some pics from the stand at Design Junction - 

look at all the cool things you can make from the book!