Craft and Design Magazine

I was so pleased when my latest issue of 'Craft & Design' magazine arrived because my work is featured in the Makers Gallery! Fame at last!

(Craft & Design Magazine Sept/Oct 08)

Even better was that someone emailed me to tell me that they had seen a copy in the bookshop and recognised my designs.

Today is a good day:) Enjoy!

An artist in the making?

This is a drawing my daughter (3 years 1 month) made on her Magna Doodle (magnetic drawing board). She loves drawing, in fact she loves any sort of craft activity.

We always have paper and crayons on hand plus an Aqua Draw set and this Magna Doodle. From being about a year old she has loved making huge scribble patterns on rolls of lining paper.

But this is the first time she has made a recognisable self portrait. Watching this process has been fantastic! Sometimes I draw with her but I never tell her how to draw her pictures.

She was drawing while I made dinner. When I asked her to come to the table she called "I'm coming, I'm just doing my toes!" It was a great surprise when I went to take a look! :)

Saltaire Arts Trail Makers' Fair

Victoria Hall, Saltaire

I have been invited to exhibit at this event on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th of September. Exhibitors to this fair have to complete an application form which is considered by a panel of artists before acceptance, so I am very pleased to be attending!

The Makers' Fair is held in the imposing Victoria Hall, pictured here (apologies for the pics, I struggled to take these as the road was quite busy).

The Arts Trail is a well known and popular arts event which takes place in Saltaire, Shipley, West Yorkshire, annually. There are open house / studios, children's exhibitions, theatre events - something for everyone! Please take a look here to find out more.


Saltaire is also the home of Salt's Mill which houses a huge collection of the works of David Hockney. I love visiting here as well as the galleries there are two great places to eat, a brilliant bookshop and home store and a jewellery shop. For more information see here.


This is a fabulous place to visit at any time of year, it is steeped in history and the architecture is breathtaking!

Claire Laraine

is a woman on a mission! As well as creating beautiful pouches and purses from 'scrap' fabric she has been very busy promoting the UK handmade movement via her blog, Claire Laraine Partners in Crime. Here's the mission statement

"To promote fellow indie designers and tell everyone about their wonderful work and just how amazing they are. So what!? Why are we different? We have noticed that despite a high demand, there is lack of free representation for Indie designers in the UK, there are plenty of US sites, but what about when you want to reach an audience closer to home? So we are making it our business to fill the gap and get you designers and crafters seen - for free!"

And today she has featured little ol' me! You can read all about it here

Claire Laraine Clasp Purse

New designs...

Last Monday I spent the day in the award winning Heart Gallery in Hebden Bridge. My jewellery has been for sale in the gallery for a couple of months and Alison, the owner, had invited me along to a private event to do a demonstration as one of her regular makers.

During the event Alison asked if I would like to make a range of designs for her upcoming 'Black and White Exhibition' commencing 16th August.

I was very excited at this prospect but at the time I didn't have the papers I would need. Anyway with a bit of flapping and with fingers crossed I ordered the only good quality chiyogami papers I could find - from Japan. Unbelievably they arrived just 5 days later! So it's been all systems go here!

Here are two of my favourites, I intend to add black and white designs to my current range so they will be for sale in the next few days, sadly the butterfly design is a one off until I can source more paper. Hopefully it will be for sale in the Gallery from the 16th August.