Saturday 2 March 2013

Swap Shop


A little while back I asked the crazy awesome Jaymie O'Callaghan of By Jaymie to illustrate a blog header for me. During our email exchange she asked if I'd be interested in doing a swap with her which obviously I was totally up for! After much procrastination we got our swap on at the start of february. 

I came across Jaymie a few months back now on Twitter and instantly became enamoured with her illustrated jewellery, which includes the cutest animals and everyones favourite cultural icons. There are quite a few items I'm currently coveting like the tea cup necklace and the little white bunny earrings to name but a few, alas until I sell some embroidery I must be good. 

I was awed by all the goodies that she sent me which included a handmade card, a necklace, a bunch of beautiful prints and two originals. I was especially excited to receive the portrait she drew of me. She's turned me into a heart cheeked babe, I couldn't have been more pleased with it! My mum's expressed her fondness for it too so I might frame it for her for mothers day (is that a bit egotistical?).

It was super fun working on this swap and I'd definitely be open to more in future once I have my etsy store up and running. Thanks again to Jaymie for asking me.

Underneath are a few pictures of my little By Jaymie collection.


 My first purchase was the double bunny ring.

Much adored Margot necklace. The world needs more Wes Anderson inspired jewellery! 

Collar adornments.

Jaymie's Jewellery and accessories can be found on her bigcartel and her prints can be found on her Etsy. Fill yer boots, you won't regret it!

Sunday 24 February 2013

#imapiece


As ever I'm late to the party with this (A busy work schedule and faulty laptop power cable are to blame). However it's still important to make you aware, if you're not already, of The Craftivist Collective's latest project in support of the Save The Children's Race Against Hunger campaign. I met Sarah at the Bust Craftacular in December and myself and some friends got started on some pieces of the puzzle, for shame I forgot about mine until I found it cleaning my room recently but lots of others are better people than I and have sent in several pieces already. Go you guys!  



Here's the official word from The Craftivist Collective on the project; 

"The aim is to stitch puzzle pieces with words that will encourage and challenge both the general public and the government to do what they can to end world hunger. With the G8 summit arriving in the UK later this year, it’s too good an opportunity to miss.

Each crafter is being encouraged to create three jigsaw pieces - one to send to Craftivist Collective to be a part of a massive art installation March 2013, one to send to your local MP to encourage them to use their position for good, and one to keep for yourself to remind you to keep being a part of the solution, whether that’s by signing a petition or shopping ethically.

We have until the 21st February to post our pieces for the installation & 1st March to hand over a piece to our MPs. Without your help we will have just a handful of jigsaws on a bare wall - we want thousands instead! It will be hard for anyone to not have a reaction to so many personalised messages, whether they’re an MP, Prime Minister or World Leader from the other G8 countries. Check out what some craftsters have already made here for inspiration. But we need hundreds/thousands more to make our crafty voice even louder and more overwhelming!

Remember Aesop’s words: “No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.”

PS one quick thing you can do now is sign the petition here: www.savethechildren.org.uk/craftivist 
and why not share the love also by forwarding it to 5 of your friends to sign it and pass it on too? Share the love, ooo go on!"

This coming friday, March 1st, the installation of all the pieces is going to go up in Central Manchester at the Peoples History Museum. If you're able to attend you will be joined by other craft lovers, media and local MPs and can have your photo taken with the installation as well as hear more about the project in person by the Craftivist Sarah Corbett, Mr X Stitch, Deadly Knitshade and Hilart Pullen of Craft Blog UK. 

You can find the Facebook event and details here 




I hope some of you are able to attend on Friday, I think it will make for an interesting few hours and obviously a good thing to get behind.