Museround

Heads, Shoulders Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes

Heads, Shoulders Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes

(And eyes and ears and mouth and nose)

Heads, Shoulders Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes

Heads:

1. Retro Repro Handmade make playful one of a kind hats with multiple ways to wear each style.

2. Liza Rietz began designing and sewing custom and retail pieces in 2001. Her designs are structured yet feminine.

3. Natural Born Beauties seeks to embrace the glamourous times of femininity from the past & join it with the strength & power of today’s modern woman.

4. It’s the little things make glorious cocktail heat and statement fascinators completely from scratch. Beautiful art for your head!

Shoulders:

1. Glasgow based Mairead has strong taditional roots – her shop name Breagha, is Gaelic for beautiful.

2. Sinem Inugur from Istanbul, Turkey makes sculpted everyday bags with all kinds of uses.

3. Mia accessories has been in my favourites list for the last few years. Emma, the face of Mia, is in the etsy europe street team. See also her stunning collars and chokers – very Mary Quant.

4. Miloo says “I just love all things handmade!!”

Knees:

1. Post is Gabby and Tal from Tel Aviv.
Gabby is a designer/illustrator and makes the socks, decals and prints.

2. Branch Handmade is a home and fashion accessories line that is focused on original hand screen printed designs.

3. Suppliers to celebrity customers, Amber and her husband have recently moved to Galiano Island and opened up a boutique called Sweet Somethings Gallery.

4. Legyviel in Rivendell sees her yarn as a white canvas – you never know what’s going to happen with it…

Toes:

1. Lila Sandals is the contemporary ambassador of traditional Bodrum sandals. Bodrum is a little seaside town on the Agean coast famous with its endless beaches, amazing sea, night life and sandals.

2. Welcome to SANDALI where all the sandals are completely unique & more importantly it extremely comfortable.

3. Hydra Heart offers vegan Eco-friendly shoes and clothing including these awesome bridal slippers!

4. Bagavond Bags’ objective is to provide stylish and unique bags and accessories in a responsible manner. We aim to make responsibility fashionable. Cue applause!

ALTOGETHER NOW!

Heads, Shoulders Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes

Heads, Shoulders Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes

(And eyes and ears and mouth and nose)

Heads, Shoulders Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes

Yesterday was the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission. The rocket was intended to be the 3rd spacecraft to land on the surface of the moon, until the Saturn V rocket malfunctioned and caused damage to the spacecraft’s cryogenic tank. After the accompanying bang and shudder. Jack Swigert uttered the immortal, yet often misquoted words – “Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here.” A big one really, with vital oxygen venting into space – so with some urgency engineers and astronauts including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (the third Apollo XI team member was Michael Collins btw – remember that for a pub quiz) started work on a solution. Well, the command module did splash down safely ending a mission famously dubbed a ‘successful failure’. Notably, the dedicated crew, even in serious danger took photos of the far side of the moon. My manifesto for the week is to be that dedicated to doing every job that properly.

1. Adding vinyl art on interior walls is easier than hiring an artist and a lot cheaper. Apply to walls, windows, tiles, mirrors and doors etc. From Stickerbrand.

2. The Space Oddity – Disco Apollo headpiece by Mythunderstood who loves to make one-offs using vintage, found objects, organic materials, old textiles, toys and trinkets collected since childhood.

3. Elisabeth of Parsnip and Pear likes rain, blackberries and foxes – a girl right after my own heart. She makes badges from used and vintage books, catalogs, dictionaries and maps found in little shops & dark attics.

4. The brains behind Modern FX was born on a mountain top in Tennessee
 and later made us this wonderful tile of the moons cratered surface. I’d LOVE a room full of these babies!

1. alyoisius is  a displaced Londoner in Sydney who knocked out her front tooth with a lawnmower. She loves ELO – what’s not to love?

2. Space bracelet from Black Kat Designs by bead-maker Kat, who has been crafting since she was just a little kitten.

3. Moon brooch from Murgatroyd and Bean. Murgatroyd and Bean are an owl and  a hare who make wonderful things. Please see also their most excellent fox brooch.

4. Beautiful original Luna pendant by Grace Designs. And it’s ON SALE!

Swap out that plain boring cover for one of a Columbia Shuttle Launch to liven up your room! It’s from ShaZakLar. This kind of design-on-a-switch-plate-thing seems really popular in the USA – I wonder why we don’t do it more here. Perhaps it’s all in the wiring.

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So I’m sure we all know the space race urban myth that NASA spent a wad of dollars developing the Space Pen that writes in zero gravity and the Russians just took a pencil.  I’ve even heard that developed in to the tale of the Russian air filter blocked by pencil shavings. Unsatisfyingly untrue it seems, so in lieu of that, why not make some honorary room for neat-AS pencils.

1. Paper Pastries say that nothing is better than a hand written letter. Unless it’s written by an amazing pencil right?

2. Personalised pencils from Exclamations – your name, shop name, a celebratory message maybe?

3. Mariko (which means ‘bouncing ball’ in Japanese) is a high school English teacher by day and a lover of crafting by night. Try these Jane Eyre themed pencils for size (of coolness!).

4. I like to draw. I am awesome. These two sentences are etched into the sides of two wonderful blue pencils that are included in this pencil pack along with one 50-page drawing pad. Seriously, what could be better? From my craft and stationery heroine, Sarah Neuburger at The Small Object.

Rodger and out.

New and noteworthy… we have an exciting new partner in craft!

Ernest Wright and Son Limited are a the family company hand-producing all our Steel-city-quality scissors and shears. They are based in Sheffield, and have been, since four generations back, Walter Wright – a renowned ‘Little Mester’ of Sheffield – specialised in finishing scissor blades and gained the hallowed title of ‘master scissors putter-togetherer’. Each pair of scissors is produced at the factory in Sheffield’s industrial quarter – Kelham Island and is hand forged, shaped, hardened, sharpened and assembled. The scissors are top class artist’s and crafter’s tools; practical and hardwearing,with the weight and gravity of true workmanship. A lifetime’s scissors.

We are very lucky indeed that company director Nick Wright, on his mission to take the skills and traditions of ‘Made in Sheffield’ forward into the 21st Century is sponsoring our Craft Candy workshops by providing all our scissors. Yep, all of them. Papercrafts, embroidery, fabric shears – we are very privileged indeed. Find more news and see product ranges on the Ernest Wright and Son Limited Facebook page.

Did you know Ernest Wright and Son Limited can also offer scissor sharpening? They have been known to re-sharpen scissors that have been in use for over eight decades!

“We are but two halves of a pair of scissors, when apart… but together we are something.” ~ Charles Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit.

Now into our second year of producing highly successful contemporary craft fairs, Sheffield’s very own Craft Candy are extremely excited to bring you this year’s Spring Fling Fair at the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield.

On 27th March (10-4pm), more than 30 hand-selected exhibitors will showcase the cream of the UK craft scene, jam-packing the gallery with highly sought-after one of a kind pieces. Our guest experience is very important to us and as always our fairs are completely free to attend. You most welcome to browse the stalls, enjoy a coffee in the cafes, and soak up the inspiring atmosphere. Choose from a vast selection of jewellery, bags & accessories, stationery, home-wares and ceramics.

And why not give our treasure-loaded raffle a whirl for chances to win our exclusive handmade goodies!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS. YOUR FRIENDS ARE OUR FRIENDS.

xx

A very quick surrender to the Alice in Wonderland hype type post. I have been slinging in the lab hours for the last couple of weeks am I’m fit to bust without my MUSEROUND fix.

1. Beautifully whipped up by Silent Theatre whilst “waiting for that e-mail when Helena Bonham Carter asks me to be her personal costume/accessory designer”

2. Anyone for tea? Meet The Mad Catter – he throws the most amazing tea parties I know, mountains of cakes… overflowing cupfuls of tea… mmm just divine! He even brings his own cup of tea with him too…by The Other Mousie.

3. Alice character notebooks from Niche Handmade. The cover print is from a scan of the endpapers of an edition of Alice in Wonderland, published in 1898.

4. Fluffs Stuffs wonderment. Alice, the white rabbit, the Hatter’s teapot and the Queen’s crown accompanied by a key charm and a black glass heart. Good stuffs.

OK see you Wednesday for a ‘proper’ MUSEROUND {winks}

Today’s lesson is Greek Mythology. Inspired by a couple of film trailers I’ve seen recently (Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief, and, the Clash of the Titans remake) I’ve unearthed some titanic crafts for you this week.  I can’t think of a pun with Perseus in…

1. Dionysus’ Muse cameo by Nouveau Motley, A neo victorian wonder emporium. Dionysus is the Ancient Greek god of wine, the inspirer of ritual madness and ecstasy, and a major figure of Greek mythology. (And No. 1 role-model for students?)

2. ‘Owl on the Sill’ is Steph, jewellery maker based in Norwich, UK. See her Grecian Goddess Earrings.

3. The Athena headpiece is from from Pomp and Plumage, their work is inspired by the nesting patterns of the magpie: pretty, shiny, fancy things intertwined with the mossy, twiggy, rough world of the organic. Athena is the goddess of civilisation, wisdom, strength, strategy, CRAFT, justice and skill (and posters?).

1. Greek Goddess dress by Veronica Reis.

2. Beautifil grecial-styled evening gown by Eleen Fashionista.

3. The Le Sac dress from American Apparel is a very simple jersey dress that can be  done up in loads of different ways to give very different looks. Here’s the ‘grecian look’ tutorial on You Tube. And it’s basically two rectangles of fabric so once you’ve bought one you can make yourself another, and another.

1. A necklace like Jason’s shield, imbued with the power of the sun and shiny enough to see Medusa coming. By Brooklyn Soul.

2. Vis a Vis Jewelry’s handmade bronze coin earrings of Apollo, god of the sun and embuer of said shield (above).

3. Hand made Golden Fleece recycled circle scarf from Benny Kelly.

4. Achilles ring from Grigio on Etsy.

1. Pegasus t-shirt by COUP, the online store of indie designer Elektra. In Greek mythology, Pegasus is an immortal winged horse that sprang from the blood of the slain Medusa and is a symbol of high-flying imagination.

2. Cupid’s bow captured in crystal clear resin - earrings by nelli D . Shot through the heart…OK I know Cupid isn’t from Greek mythology, but come on, it’s nearly Valentine’s Day and there aren’t that many Eros crafts about.

3. This set of 2 magnets includes a Pegasus and Unicorn by Michelle and Her Dog, handmade with love and a touch of sarcasm.

4. Hunter & Prey, a pair of wonderful prints by the wonderful Hiden Seek of our own wonderful Yorkshire.

Facy some extreme origami folding action? Have a crack at this origami Pegasus – not for the faint of heart.

Medusa was a gorgon, who gazing directly upon would turn onlookers to stone. She was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who thereafter used her head as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield. Aawwww, Happy Valentine’s Day.

1. Gorgon head purse in felt by ferdworthi.

2. Medusa mug from heart layla who has diamonds on the soles of her shoes.

3. Necklace from Le Creazioni di Clarissa a fellow creative soul with  a life sciences PhD.

4. Medusa feathered hair fascinator by mandiesuee.

The cyclops is a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye in the middle of its forehead. The plural of cyclops is cyclopes.

1. Pin back button with Monster Sushi illustration by Notebooks etc.

2. Gary has a lot of time on his hands lately, so he’s decided to take up some new hobbies. He’s learning how to knit and his first project is a nice blue scarf for his Yeti friend Bill. From Kill Taupe.

3. This is a one eyed striped monster made for hugging! Created by Jess.

4. Cyclops ring by Incalesco an emerging jewellery artist based in Melbourne Australia.

I could go on and on on this topic. Instead, I’ll leave it there xx.

It seems everything in the craft-o-sphere is all hearts and flowers (especially hearts) this week, but I’m not into Valentine’s Day with that much enthusiasm. I’m not actually your typical Valentines scrooge moaning about commercialism and the like. You won’t hear me complaining that we only receive displays of Courtly Love once a year – It went out of fashion for a reason, it’s daft. Fellas wielding roses and chocolates, I ask you. But why not be a bit daft sometimes – if you like that type of thing. So, on that note, today’s tenuous MUSEROUND theme is about some more types of things I like. Girls’ best friends: diamonds, lip balm, shoes, handbags. In that order.

DIAMONDS

1. Kalicat, based in London, has trained in jewellery at Central St Martins and Hatton Gardens, in London. I LOVE the Night and Day ring so much. And so I should, it’s my wedding ring. In fact, I think my actual ring might be in that picture. It’s truly the best piece of jewellery I’ve ever owned.

2. A warm champagne diamond in a glowing 18k bezel and oxidized sterling silver by Sara Westermark.

3. Diamond earrings by Oblik Atelier, see the DaWanda shop for more ultra-stylish pieces.

LIP GLOSS

1. Hoggwash Coconut Cake Lip Gloss Pot. Miss Hogg says “What happens when your last name is ‘Hogg’ and you discover you love making sorts of bath and beauty products? You find that you were predestined to be in the soap business and, naturally, to call it ‘Hoggwash’!”

2. Redwood Glossy Lip Tint in gorgeous gift-ready packaging by Flourish Bath + Body.

3. Cherry Blossom Epically Epic Lip Balm.

4. Movin’ to the country I’m gonna eat a lot of peaches… thanks to Clover Hollow.

Ever tried to make you’re own lip balm? I use so much of it I should definitely give it a go in the near future.  Here’s a tutorial from the Not Martha blog.

Here’s another very quick make – a blush lip and cheek tint from the wonderful World Sweet World blog.

SHOES

1. Handpainted Joker shoes by Art & Koi of What?Shop.

2. Ooh I feel a purchase coming on…Happy Cloud mary janes by Em & Sprout. Hey, it’s my 30th birthday next week…anyone?

3. Crochet pumps by Le pied léger, a place where we like to walk, dance, jump, live with a light foot! Sounds fantastic!

4. The Hetty Rose label makes shoes. The collection is based on a theory of re-using and re-working vintage materials in a creative and sustainable way, hand making gorgeous, feminine shoes to fit.These materials are primarily vintage Japanese kimono fabrics: relics of a disappearing world, saturated in significance and hidden meanings.

A little shoe painting tutorial by Toasts on Deviant Art – give your old pair a second wind.  Something for the little ones? A free downloadable cloth baby bootee pattern and tutorial from Stardust Shoes.

HANDBAGS

1. Red clutch by Girl of the Sixties on Folksy.

2. Don’t forget to check out the reverse of this beautifully designed zip clutch, made of hand printed fabric by Orea Duffy. So…did I mention it’s my birthday next week?

3. This clutch is bright, modern, elegant … and so pretty! By Jennifer Ladd.

4. Upstyle Design offers unique, finely handcrafted items using high-end designer fabric.

So, now we’ve covered in brief our girls’ best friends. How about a little selection of man’s best friends.

1. Ceramic Dog brooch from Yorkshire textile artist Louise Taylor.

2. Sarah Waterhouse is a textile printer and designer (and a Craft Candy head honcho) making purses, glasses cases, knitting bags and other home textiles.

3. The Dachshund, a.k.a.the Wiener Dog, is the official dog of Vienna you know. T-shirt by Motmot on dawanda.

4. hehehehe he’s so cute. Mister Wiener is a friendly dachshund made of soft fleece fabric. Care of Flufftail.

And, well, if you must have a more Valentinesy fix…see this round up from the Mad Scientists of Etsy blog.

See you later Joe!

I bought a new satchel today – it’s been a good month for being paid for fulfilling large orders. I already have my ever popular pillar box red 14″ satchel (my school bag) and I am always being asked where I got it. And I’m happy to tell people. Cambridge Satchels is a British company, making tremendously high-quality, heirloom products and I’m delighted to recommend them.

(BTW I got the 11″ navy hand-bag type today)

So, satchels it is today:

1. Cambridge Satchels.

2. Clutterbux on Folksy. I carried one of these army surplus bags all through senior school. Mine was not this beautifully decorated though. Mainly I tipp-ex’d ‘Greenday’ all over mine.

3. Another Folksy beauty in gorgeous soft brown leather from Hold on to your Handbag.

4. The howies Hand Me Down satchel. As howies says “These products have been made to last. So that one day you can hand them down to someone else. And they can carry on their little journeys.”

Want to see some more? Go on then:

1. Sarah North on DaWanda.

2. Small and pretty eco satchel from giant dwarf.

3. I heart Wooly Bison. Their designs really appeal to me.

4. Ready Set Go. Nostalgic name, nostalgic wares. With something extra.

And finally:

1. One of a kind satchels in vintage and recycled fabrics from The Ladyship.

2. Satchelman on Etsy – hand stitched in England.

3. Edinburgh based Soda + Kitsch.

4. rennes le chateau: “Physically attached to her Juki sewing machine, Julia spends most of her time cutting out leather and drinking tea.” Good girl!

Fancy making one then? Nould I leave you without tutorials? Never!

Heart of Mary’s tutorial – messenger bag with zip-top closure.

Beautiful messenger bag tutorial from Fishsticks & Fries.

Tutorial for making a messenger bag from a pair of cargo pants! Go Recycling! Thank you Noodlehead.

Go on, get on with it then!

Here is the link to Etsy’s Seller Handbook, an online tool indexing all the tips and how-to’s for sellers that  the Etsy blog has produced. If you haven’t seen it before it it well worth a read through. Possibly go at it in short instalments, there’s really a lot of information for you to digest and implement there. Happy hunting!