Autumn Issue of the UK Handmade Magazine is out now

The Autumn Issue of the UK Handmade Magazine is out now.

It features my interview with EJ the creative mind behind Hatchet + Bear.

Hatchet + Bear create a beautiful selection of handcrafted wooden utensils and objects for the home. Run by EJ, a woodworker with a background in arboriculture, she is perfectly placed to understand the visceral pleasure of crafting with wood. EJ’s work blends traditional methods, simple hand tools and locally foraged timbers to create pieces that have a timeless quality. Alongside her range of products, EJ runs regular spoon making workshops, many of which combine camping, cooking and carving. We caught up with EJ to find out more about her influences and what the future holds for her business.

I found EJ to be an incredibly interesting interviewee. I particularly like the way she felt compelled to follow her creativity which she had neglected for many years. She explains how unfulfilling her work was and the decision she made to turn her life around:

“I was not listening to or taking my creativity very seriously at all. Eventually, I came to my senses - I felt unsatisfied. Actually, I felt ill. Over time, I had amassed a jumble of design ideas and design opinions in my head, that I thought were amazing and yet I wasn't doing anything about them. I have always loved trees and being in the woods, so I went on to study Arboriculture with the Royal Forestry Society. I then went on to do an Art and Design Foundation at Trowbridge College - which was brilliant. I was on a roll so I studied further, in Product and Furniture Design at Kingston University, which taught me alot - including what kind of designer I did not want to be. I left university and tried my hand at a few traditional and heritage crafts. Green Woodworking was the one that really got me. I merged everything together, and here I am”.

Alongside Hatchet + Bear, the magazine also features Amanda J Simmons, Serena Smith, Dazzle @ Dovecot, Handmade at Kew and much, much more...

Head on over to our website to read the magazine online.

UK Handmade Summer Issue

The Summer Issue of the UK Handmade Magazine is out now!

"After a long wintery spell we all need a bit of sunshine to brighten our days. The summer issue of UK Handmade magazine is now out and packed full of gorgeous summer finds, inspirational makers, useful business tips and more. A big thanks to Jane Ormes who kindly let us grace our cover with her vibrant "Bring Me Sunshine" print..."

I'm also really excited to see the Summer Issue because it features two articles written by me.

I worked on a feature detailing the work of the UK Scrapstore network, in particular focussing on the work the Bristol Children's Scrapstore carries out in the local community and their 'Super Saturday Sample Sessions'. My niece provided all the photos that accompany the piece. You can read her photography blog 'King of the Sheep' here. We had a great time at the Children's Scrapstore, my daughter features in the photoshoot. It really is a fantastic place and all the scrapstores across the UK do a wonderful job of reusing waste in a creative and productive way.

I also penned a feature on Vintage Vacations. Based on the Isle of Wight, this holiday company offers a unique way of getting off the daily treadmill and taking a step back in time. Take a look at their website to see more wonderful images of their vintage Airstream caravans and unique holiday venues.

Plus the Summer Issue is jam packed with interviews with designer-makers, makes, recipes and details of upcoming crafty events across the UK. Enjoy!

Spring 2013 Issue

Brighten up a drab and dreary day, and blow away those cobwebs with the UK Handmade spring issue!

Alongside the regular selection of gorgeous handmade goodies, tutorials, recipes and reviews, UK Handmade brings you exclusive interviews with inspiring designers and makers who use their own unique creativity to provide us with a fresh take on everyday items. So throw off those winter woollies, fling open your windows and breathe in some FRESH air.

You can view it here

UK Handmade is a design led online magazine committed to showcasing and promoting the best creative talent the UK has to offer. You can find out more about the magazine and submitting articles here

House & Gardens press feature

I was really pleased to see the finished results of a photo shoot featuring my vintage trims in House & Garden Magazine this month.

To celebrate being featured in House & Garden, I am offering a 20% discount on all vintage trims in my Etsy store. You can see my full range of vintage trims here.

I love the way the trims have been styled, especially the corsage effect using my vintage scroll trim in mustard yellow and sage green in the second photo.

Crimson weave vintage fabric trim is placed around the waist of the mannequin in the above photo.

My vintage woven trim in oatmeal and apple green is around the waist of the mannequin in the second photo and the corsage/rosette on the hip features my vintage scroll trim in mustard yellow and sage green.

My first magazine tutorial!

I've just received a copy of the latest issue of the Handmade Living magazine and if I turn to page 78 I can see my first ever published tutorial!

It's for a Pouch foldaway market tote. This handy tote folds away into it's own pocket. Perfect for storing in your purse for spontaneous shopping sprees!

It's lovely to see it in print and I'm really pleased because they have asked me to design another item to be published as a tutorial later on in the year...

Unfortunately the pattern for the market tote was left out at publication stage. The editor of Handmade Living has added it to the Errata section of their blog. I have also included it here too.

UK Handmade Summer Issue out now!

The new Summer 2010 issue of UK Handmade magazine is out now! This bumper issue is packed full of fantastic features, summery tutorials, recipes and finds, and also takes an in depth look at the trend of upcycling and recycling.


Click on the image above or follow this link to start reading!
UK Handmade