3D Letter stocking filler

On one of my usual craft shop adventures I came across a bunch of 3D letters (£2.99 each – craftyarts.co.uk.) The boyfriend

Pretty present

doesn’t tend to have many colourful items or statement pieces in his room – so I thought this might be the perfect stocking filler to brighten up his boudoir.

Inspiration:The hulk, primary school arts & crafts, anthrapologie.com, statement decorations, bright bold & beautiful colours, and lime green grass.

Project: Mix up a solution that is 3 parts PVA craft glue and one part water, stir until this is smooth. Using two large sheets of tissue paper, cut half in to long strips and the other half in to small squares to fill small area’s and fill patches. Get messy, spreading the PVA solution on to the surface slap on the tissue and add additional PVA solution on top. Repeat this process until you have covered the entire surface with at least two layers of tissue paper. Leave to dry and go over any patchy areas. You can leave the letter blank, or paint spots, stripes, love hearts or special words and sayings on to the dry surface.

PVA & tissue paper

TOPTIP: Because the solution is PVA based it will dry quickly, so move fast but steady (the letter should dry overnight.) Hang up with a length of string and a drawing pin, and away from any walls.

Hang 'em high

Embroidered tree decoration

After my impulse purchase of 6 flexi-hoops on the internet. They were delivered, and until now I didn’t have much of a use for them – They average at around £3-4 for 6 flexi hoops.

"Christmas tree oh Christmas tree!"

Inspiration:Red and green Christmas colours, fonts and typography, Ron Weasley’s Jumper.

Project:Begin by placing the embroidery fabric in the flexi frame, and clip it in place. (Trim with scissors any excess fabric peering out the sides.) With a fabric pen trace your desired letter and style of font – for more than one letter choose a really simple font to stitch, for just one letter go for a calligraphy based font. using a simple free running stitch, build up the volume of the embroidery go over any large gaps. I framed my letter with one line of running stitches around the outside.

Easy peasy tree decoration

TOPTIP:I used a darning thread for the embroidery, it takes less time and is a nice thick cotton texture, alternatively you could use a large needle and yarn thread for a simple star pattern, instead of a letter. Keep the colours bold and statement, for a great festive impact.

Here’s how the pro’s do it – a video of such a beautiful but effective stitch pattern:

Contemporary Christmas tree

Somehow it seems like this has been the coldest winter, ever. So to warm my cockles, save some much needed space and get me in the Christmas mood – it was only right to forge a ‘contemporary’ Christmas tree.

X-mas birdie

Inspiration:Changing trees, fantasy forests, raindrops, lovebirds, withered hands & Christmas cheer.

Project:You can grab hold of some frosted branches, crystalised branches or L.E.D branches from most UK supermarkets or decorating stores, or even from your own back garden. The name of the game is get hold of sturdy branches around a meter in length – they will sit horizontally against your wall. Push two drawing pins in to the wall above where you want the festive twigs to hang, grab some see-through sewing thread from your sewing box (string works just as well) make two hoops holding up the branch at either end, double knot and hang from the drawing pins. (You may need two sets of hands for this.)

TOPTIP:You might want to make paper snowflakes and hang them all over the branches. Also try and hand this piece on a wall that is almost completely bare – that way you’ll have a festive focal point with minimum effort.

B & W lovebird

Contemporary tree

Bookworm bunting Christmas twist

The bookworm lantern bunting has certainly been making my dreams sweeter, and my creative juices are at an all time high.

Christmas cabin lantern bunting

To make this bunting utterly Christmas kitsch I intertwined some battery powered twinkles for the illusion of having Christmas cabin glowing lanterns, for this I used white masking tape – and lightweight l.e.d. lights.

On my cubby-hole sized window I stuck some northern stars (again battery powered) to enhance the Christmas feel. Of course you must do all this whilst sipping on some home-made mulled wine like I did, within no time at all I was beginning to feel the Christmas spirit creeping up on me.

TOPTIP:Ensure you use basic muted colours with the bunting string, l.e.d. Christmas lights, and most importantly the masking tape you use to secure both pieces together.

A touch of tape here & there

Northern stars

Twisted Autumn poetess hair

The cold is starting to bite. So here’s an easy way to continue to look creative with minial effort.

Hair twists & heather

Inspiration:It’s also a D.I.Y. triumph that requires no money at all. Inspired by the dreams and whimsical landscapes of young Belgian born photographer ‘Charlotte Boeyden‘, the key themes for this style are – femininity, poetesses, fairies and la vie boheme. Pre-raphaelite paintings are always a good reference when looking to achieve a unique bohemian edge. (Sadly Sienna Miller’s stylist did not invent this look.)

Project:Grab the hair above your right ear and begin to twist and gather in the middle, following it all the way to back of your head pin this to keep it secure for a minute. Copy this on the left side, then grab both the twisted sections and tie in a slouchy bun (high bun for high impact, low bun for a relaxed poetess look.) Pin down the edges of the bun so it appears as though you’ve gone to more effort.

TOPTIP:Tease out baby curls at the nape of your neck, and in front of your ears. This way you’ll have more texture and achieve the bohemian vibe better.

Amsterdam Vintage

Amsterdam vintage wasn’t just in a select part of town, it was all over the streets.

I Am Amsterdam

Vintage shops dedicated themselves entirely to their theme. In my favourite vintage shop it was unreservedly transformed in to a 40’s/50’s mini-maison. Tiny attic stairs led up to hard leather bound suitcases bursting with silk scarves and quaint pointy shoes (perfect for jiving I assume.)

The award for best vibe in a vintage boutique has to go to ‘Joosje‘ of Spuistraat. They were playing the wonderful soul stylings of ‘Rox – Memoirs’ album (who this year gigged in Amsterdam) – the shop workers were impeccabley styled in 50’s loveliness and they couldn’t do more to help me.

Lady in red at Joosje

Rox - Memoirs

For this late Summer trip (September) grey, beige and crisp white were primary colours for mature professionals. With youngsters in vintage however, it was pretty lace cinched in with hard-faced Levi cut-offs, or all-out Christmas jumpers with piercings and plugs.

The whole of the city were on bikes, with the odd motor vehicle getting in the way. Stay in one spot too long, and you’re sure to get mowed down by a Pashley.

What most amazed me was seeing women racing about the streets on bicycles –  in tea dresses and heels (whilst on the phone of course.)

Amsterdam river view

The best antiques and vintage in Amsterdam are within a huge open air market in ‘Waterlooplein‘ – it’s all there, from record collections, and old letter presses, to vintage clothes or handmade jewellery.

Amsterdam is such a fantastically beautiful juxtaposition of style and sleaze. The vintage scene is most certainly more nostalgic towards the 70’s than the UK. In a lot of cafe’s and vintage haunts the psychedelic wallpaper, art deco furnishings, and wacky rugs are all tell tale signs of a love affair with the Osmonds. Whereas London vintage is taking a post-WWII nostalgia moment.

Joosje stock VICE mag

Kirstie’s homemade Home – must watch!

pic:Naveen Roy

This isn’t just a biased view of a handicraft nut (well it is a little) but Kirstie Allsopp is so very charming, you can’t help but follow her blindly on this arts & craft escapade.

She attends antique fairs, makes stained glass windows, and curtains; it’s all such an interesting journey. The first episode depicts a young couple from Wolverhampton, the woman has a need for all things antique and can’t stop buying, and the man is a practical fellow but shares the same tastes.

However, it’s not all frills and crocheting, there is a good measure of cast iron forging for all the daredevils out there; in this section of the episode the couple create their own stylised book ends (with the help of a blacksmith.)

Ultimately it’s a great watch, and a great ideal to have when perhaps we don’t have too much money to splash out on homeware and nik naks. It’s a great message, and one I’m trying to throw out there with the use of this blog. ‘Make do and mend’!

The programme airs on Tuesday’s at 8pm (channel 4.)  Five sparkling episodes to come.

Northern Quarter Lunch on-the-go

‘The Teacup‘ of Dale street is a darling gem of homebaked loveliness. If you crave mismatched furniture, friendly staff (who genuinely love food & people) and most of all delicious baked goods then this is your spot. There’s frequent usage of organic goods, and locally sourced eggs, tea always comes served in some swell fine China. There’s everything on offer here, cakes, desserts and savoury goods, anything you can think of. I opted for a cutesy cup of cha accompanied by a generous slice of carrot cake (which I’d highly reccomend.)

Alternatively, when the student or recession ridden budget doesn’t stretch far enough for french fanices, and you fancy a dangerously cheap lunch with Northern banter to boot – head to ‘The Loaf’ on Oldham street (a few shop fronts down from the infamous ‘Paul’s hair world’.) I managed to pick up two slices of Marmite on toast, and a cup of tea for just £1.35 – what a bargain. The exposed brick building is rustic and quite endearing for such a tiny ‘hole-in-the-wall’ sized shop.

The Loaf

Tea & toast

The Teacup Northern Quarter

The Teacup bread

The Teacups

Manchester Vintage Scene

Manchester Piccadilly station

My snapshot at Manchester vintage starts at Piccadilly station – it’s either vintage accents like; brooches or faux fur coats, or vintage sports luxe ensembles. It’s interesting how much ‘Vintage’ unites the UK it seems vintage wear has one single voice, and it’s saying faux fur & eyeliner at the moment.

I’d certainly say London takes vintage to a whole different level – guys and girls can live eat sleep and drink vintage on Brick Lane and it’s taken very seriously. Whereas Manchester tends to chic it up (if you’re older) or grunge it down with illustrator-inspired t-shirts (fuelled by the Northern Quarter.)

Pretty flea market Tea dress

The sweetest flea market on the way to Affleck’s Palace (Camden-Town in a bottle) played host to handmade jackets and dresses, and a few handpicked vintage pieces.

Afflecks Palace vintage scene impressed me somewhat, there are about three boutiques I found particularly fabulous my favourite was Pop Boutique, who also have shops in London, Liverpool and Sweden. I even snapped up a fantastic felt khaki hat (which received a few compliements in lectures today.)

Mellow yellow vintagery

The main event however was ‘Vintage Threads‘  held in Manchester’s Triangle shopping centre. It was steeped in forest creature prints, 50’s frames and jewel’s, and designer jems (I got some light brown silk sailor trousers by Jaeger), here’s a snapshot of the finds and stall holders.

Keep up to date with ‘Vintage Threads’ events in Manchester, or alternatively there’s ‘Late night Vintage’ on at the Shipping forecast in Liverpool (First Thursday of each month.)

Honalulu pom pom texture garland

Inspiration:Meadham & Kirchoff’s A/W ’10 vision brought an eclectic global traveler to the runway, the fuchsia veil and tiara’s are what stood out to me the most – I wanted to bring a little bit of India

Glanny models the 'Custard pom pom garland'

and Hawaii to the cold corners of England.

Project:We all remember fashioning pom poms in our youth, aimlessly wrapping the spaghetti yarn around two doughnut discs. The tricky part was always ensuring you had tied it all together securely, lest it would all be in vain.

I made sure I created an odd number of pom poms and merely tied them together (double knotted) with the bright sunshine custard yellow yarn used to fashion the pom poms.

TOPTIP:Ensure the pom poms are scattered around the garland with uneven spacing between, you can make it in to a short ditzy necklace, or lengthen the string to create more of a statement piece.