GOODY BAGS! COMPETITION TIME

GOODY BAGS! There will be a limited number of limited edition We Make Christmas Goody Bags available on the door for £3 each. These bags are reusable cotton Totes that you can carry round the fair and put all of your lovely purchases in.

They are filled with fabulous freebies supplied by the cream of the UK designer/ maker scene, many of whom are selling at We Make Christmas, and just as many who were not able to this time.

The bags themselves are screen printed on one side with the We Make Logo and the back has been designed and decorated by individual We Make sellers. There are almost as many designs available as there are bags so get there early if you spot one you want in order to avoid disapointment!

Our designers have really excelled themselves with these designs so as a thank you we are running a little competition. Here are the bags that each seller has submitted to the competition - the winner receives a free stall at the next We Make event. The winning design will become the special raffle prize bag, filled with an enormous amount of goodies!

Please leave a blog comment with the number of your favourite Tote. You have until December 5th to do so!

TOTE ONE: FUR WILL FLY
fur will fly etsy shop




TOTE TWO: MY APHRODITE
my aphrodite etsy shop




TOTE THREE: DAINTYPRETTYTHINGS
daintyprettythings etsy shop




TOTE FOUR: CHI CHI MOI
chi chi moi etsy shop




TOTE FIVE: CHICKP
www.chickp.co.uk/

TOTE SIX: DEBSMUDDLE
debsmuddle etsy shop




TOTE SEVEN: LAURAFALLULAH
laurafallulah etsy shop




TOTE EIGHT: LISA MARGREET
lisa margreet shop




TOTE NINE: LITTLECHOOK
www.littlechook.co.uk/




TOTE TEN: THE BIRCH TREE
www.thebirchtree.com




TOTE ELEVEN: SISILY LOVE
sisily love etsy shop




TOTE TWELVE: KALA ART
kala art etsy shop




TOTE THIRTEEN: HALF AN ACRE (ANNA)
half an acre etsy shop




TOTE FOURTEEN: HALF AN ACRE (RUTH)
half an acre etsy shop

Designer Spotlight- Chalk Hill Studio

Karen has always loved drawing, from an early age she has been making cards and pictures. Crafting is a way of life for Karen, not a hobby. Karen studied Illustarion and graphic design at college.

Karen also has a passion for books. She loves reading them, making them and designing art that may one day be featured in them.

‘I started making wedding stationery for a living as I had friends who were getting married and my brother helped me set up my first website. I was asked a lot for wedding albums to match the stationery so learned proper bookbinding. I’ve since left the weddings behind to focus on my own artwork but I still make the books. They’ve proved a hit with other artists as I can custom make them with their favourite paper.’

Karen uses simple techniques and spends hours on each design choosing the right colours and textures to create a story. Her paintings are a mix of acrylic paint, textured collage and image transfers.

Karen ’s business is two fold. She is an artist first and foremost and her website

www.karenjinks.co.uk is full of art and illustrations . This works as an online portfolio. Then she has her selling website www.chalkhillstudio.co.uk for my cards, books, prints and other pretties.

‘ I am trying to merge my skills more though and have recently returned to my design roots by creating patterns and designs that I print onto fabric that go onto my book covers. This is the most exciting thing I am doing right now. Trying to source unusual papers and fabrics has been the most difficult part of my job. By designing my own not only does this simplify the business side of things it also allows me to solidify my identity and become completely unique. From an artist’s point of view this is invaluable.’

Waiting for We Make Christmas:
Karen will be bringing some of her favorite books. This is one of her favorites made from Indian cotton rag it was the first book Kala made.

For We Make Christmas Karen is producing a new range of Christmas designs; cards and gift tags as well as a new range of books with their smart new fabric covers.

Can’t For We Make Christmas:
For a beautiful range of Karen ’s cards and books take a look at her online shop www.chalkhillstudio.co.uk

To see her stunning online portfolio of art and illustrations take a look at her website www.karenjinks.co.uk

Designer Spotlight- Littleclouds

Alison passion for making things flourished during her Art and Design studies at university. After her studies Alison developed he designs and style to make a career out of her passion.

‘My design process is quite organic & can be quite random, usually through drawing or imagination I come up with ideas that either get built upon & realised or put aside in my sketchbook’

Alisons website http://www.littleclouds.co.uk/ was a project while she was at university. It now follows the same design but offers a great range of her products.

Alison is also working on wholesale orders that will allow her work to be seen throughout Europe.

Waiting For We Make Christmas:
For We Make Christmas Little clouds will be bringing some of her best sellers including her brooches and badges and her cards.

Little Clouds is also making some Christmas goods, like stockings, Santa hats & little stocking fillers like stickers & transferable graphics.

Can’t wait for We Make Christmas:
Check out Little Clouds online shop http://www.littleclouds.etsy.com/. Lots of gift ideas and treats for yourself.

Designer Spotlight- Yumptatious

Emma loves to sew. Her items include bags, purses, brooches, sock monkeys and much more.

Emma wants her work to make people smile as well as fulfilling a purpose.

‘I make all my products in a flurry of excitement and enthusiasm! Working within the confines of my kitchen, I start with an idea but let the ideas flow: I quite often end up with a piece quite different to the one I intended to do: it's one the perks of working for yourself! I tend to make 4 items at the same time, which allows me to try out different ideas whilst stopping 'yumptatious' from being too sporadic! I prefer to use natural fabrics such as cotton and linen, sturdy fabrics that are wonderful to use but are tough enough to withstand day-to-day use’

Waiting For We Make Christmas:
Emma is currently working on some new brooches, perfect for brighten up your winter coats. Emma is also working on a great new range of aprons to protect those Christmas outfits while cooking your wonderful Christmas dinner.

Can’t Wait for We Make Christmas:
Check out Yumptatious online shop http://www.yumptatious.etsy.com/. Its full of pretty items that are just perfect for those extra special gifts.

Designer Spotlight- All The Fun At The Fair

Just off Carnaby St in Kingly Court, All the Fun of the Fair is a sweetie shop for knitters and crafters full of yarn, haberdashery, buttons, vintage finds plus lots of quirky hand knitted and hand made items.

Buzz loves finding everyday objects and recreating them as a fantastic knitted piece. Buzz will spend alot of time finding the correct colour wool to make the item very life like.

‘When I decide on what everyday object that I think needs knitting, ie a knitted pumpkin! I then spend an awful lot of time on getting the colour right. It is often in the most humdum of places that the colour might leap out at me, ie a colour of some packaging whilst out shopping.’

Buzz’s creations are quirky, bright and fun.

Waiting For We Make Christmas:
All The Fun Of The Fair will be bringing some of their most popular designs from their Carnaby Street store. Including their more tea vicar tea cozy. Buzz loves to see who buys it and who its for and loves the ironany of her selling it as her husband is a vicar.

All The Fun Of The Fair also have a fun range of knitted tape measures. These will make great Christmas presents.

Can’t Wait For We Make Christmas:
Why not take a look at All The Fun Of The Fairs website www.allthefunofthefair.biz or you could even treat yourself to a trip to their shop Unit 2.8 Kingly Court, just off Carnaby Street.

Designer Spotlight- My Mum's A Hippie

Monique’s world is a happy world when she is crafting. Inspired by the vibrant and vivid culture of Latin America Monique’s work is both intricate and fun.

Monique works with adults with learning disabilities, helping them learn and express themselves through art and crafts.

‘All the students are here because they want to be here and it is lovely to see people get excited about being creative and making.’

Monique’s work appeals to both Fine Art lovers and Craft lovers. Combining both drawing and sewing adds to the uniqueness of Monique’s pieces.

Waiting for We Make Christmas:
Monique will be bringing some of her best selling work like her gramophone images and her intricate hair pieces and brooches.

Can’t Wait For We Make Christmas:
If you can’t wait to have a look at Monique’s wonderful work have a look at her Folksy Shop www.folksy.com/shops/mymumsahippie

Desiger Spotlight- Storeyshop

Storeyshop is made up from Helen’s Beautiful hand cut personalised greeting cards, sock monkeys and Rebecca’s paper covered frames and hand painted cards. Helen’s freelance graphic design also is a big part of Storey shop.

‘I design magazines and other print graphics from home which is great as it means I can sew handmade monkeys or cut personalised greetings cards too. I love it when a card order comes through and I can stop designing for an hour or two and get scalpelling!’

Helen loves bright colours and loves the contrast of white against bright colours. Helens designs are neat and intricate; she spends along time on each one making sure they are perfect.

Helen’s love for bright colours also shows in her sock monkeys each one made to perfection.

Waiting For We Make Christmas:
For We Make Christmas Helen will be bringing a fabulous range of her sock monkeys. They are just waiting for a new home for Christmas.

Helen will also have her wonderful personalised cards. Each one has a special message and meaning.

‘I think people like the fact that they can choose their message and create a completely unique card made specifically for their friend or relative. They also make nice keepsakes for the future, especially the new baby cards with the new arrival's name and date of birth.’

Helen is also working on a brand new range of little jewellery boxes.

Can’t Wait For We Make Christmas:
Storeyshops online shop www.storeyshop.etsy.com is full of cards, bags, boxes, frames and sock monkeys.

Designer Spotlight- Jaemeekae

Amy is a wonderfully skilled photographers. Inspired by light and the effects it can create. One of Amy’s techniques which often intriques people is here Light Trail shots.

‘The camera is set up on a tripod and the shutter is held open for around a minute for each shot. This gives time for the dark background to burn into the sensor... while I (or a willing volunteer) run around in the freezing cold pointing a torch at the lens. Because the person holding the torch is comparitively dark, and is moving quickly, they don't show up on the picture. It's a fun thing for anyone to try.’

Amy’s style is quite unique. She always works in high contrast and high saturation. Amy mainly works in colour very rarely in black and white.

‘I love the gritty urban aesthetic, throw in a bit of dilapidation, or a bright neon light, maybe a light trail. Sometimes I also like things to be a bit more serene or contemplative and I'm trying to get going on some documentary stuff that will be more involved. Basically, I just like to experiment and try different things and see what happens!’

Waiting For We Make Christmas:
For We Make Christmas Amy is working on smaller prints. Her aim is to make her art affordable to all.

Amy also has some lovely still life pictures, travel and interiors pictures

Can’t Wait For We Make Christmas:
Amy’s website www.amygoodchild.com is host to a wonderful selection of her photo’s there is also some clever photo manipulations and paint and draw pictures.

Designer Spotlight- Creamrose

Nicki loves making accessories, buttons, hairclips, ponytail holders, rings, earrings and brooches. Mixed with her passion for unique Japanese fabrics Nicki’s creations are a perfect way to finish off any outfit.

‘I love accessories, I think they make an outfit and you can create your own unique style, which I find very exciting, I like making little objects that people can take and add to their own individual style. I love colours, flowers, butterflies, fairytales, Japan, I can incorporate all of these loves into my designs and I love it!’

Nicki’s creations can be found in shops and Boutique’s all around the country.

Nicki’s spends alot of time sourcing beautiful and unusual Japanese fabrics. She especially loves the ones influenced by fairytales and folktales. So each of her items represents her passion, hard work and depicts a story.

Waiting For We Make Christmas:
For We Make Christmas Nicki is working on a new clutch bags. Each one will be made from Japanese fabics depicting lots of fairytales. Nicki’s little red riding hood ranges are always great sellers with hair accessories for little girls and buttons and clutches for the adults. A perfect gift for all.

Nicki will also be bringing her buttons, clips, rings and much, much more.

Can’t Wait For We Make Christmas:
If you can’t wait to own some of Nicki’s treasures check out her Etsy shop www.creamrose.etsy.com its is full of fun, cute wearable designs.

Designer Spotlight- Fur Will Fly

Claire’s plush creations are a result of her passion for cuddly toys and her inspiration from science.
Claire loves taken unusual things and turning them into cuddly creatures.

‘I’m inspired by everything that isn’t already plush. I always think that you can make a plush version of practically anything, and love seeing all the crazy things other people have made. I’ve always been fascinated with Science, biology and anatomy in particular, so I use that in my creations rather a lot.’

Claire’s science inspired items are a big hit with science students and scientist. Her ‘undead’ range is also loved by Buffy fans.

Fur Will Fly’s range also includes Acrylic coaster and greeting card. Both of these have brightly coloured images of her plush creations.

Waiting For We Make Christmas:
For We Make Christmas Claire will be bringing some of her best selling items. Including plush creations, cards, notebooks and coaters.

Clair has also been working on a new range of Christmas stockings, decorations and an exclusive range of Christmas plushes which will also be available as Christmas cards.

Can’t Wait For We Make Christmas:
Check out Fur Will Fly’s online shop www.furwillfly.etsy.com it is full of wonderful creations. Gifts for every occasion. Claire’s blog www.furwillfly.blogspot.com is also full of fun and exciting things.

Designer Spotlight- Littlechook

Karin is a trained Textile Designer and has previously worked as an in house designer. Now a full time mum Karin has launched her own range of textile products. Karin started out making cushion covers but has changed direction and is now making a wonderful range of children’s clothing and gifts. These are printed using ‘Flock’ onto children’s T shirts, babies’ blankets, baby gro’s and bibs.

‘I am not really keen on slogan t shirts for children as it seems to be more about the adults than the kids. I’ve tried to come up with something fun, colourful and original that will appeal to children and adults. Customers have told me that the t shirts have helped their children learn new words as the animals and birds are easily recognisable which is nice feedback!’

Waiting For We Make Christmas:
For We Make Christmas Karin will have a great range of her textiles. Including her Blue Birds toddlers T shirt which is her daughters favourite.

Karin is also working on a new range of organic cotton babygros with a rabbit, heart or bird print. Very cute for stylish Christmas babies.

Can’t Wait For We Make Christmas:
A wonderful range of Little Chook’s products can be found on her website www.littllechook.co.uk and her online store www.littlechook.etsy.com

Folksy Angels- Join in the competition!

Have yourself a happy handmade Christmas!
Become a Folksy Angel!

We Make Christmas have teamed up with Folksy to bring you ‘Folksy Angels’, a fabulous competition available to everyone with a little time and a lot of creativity.

The Brief:
You have three weeks (until November 30th) to make a seasonal (Christmas, Hanukah, Yule, whatever you celebrate!) decoration for the home. Easy you say? Well, with changing climates and crunching credits, who would we be to encourage you to spend a lot of money to enter our competition?

To enter Folksy Angels, you must not buy anything new to make your decoration and the bulk of the materials used must be recycled / upcycled from things that you would usually have thrown away.

How to Enter:
Anyone and everyone are eligible to enter. All you need to do is make your decoration to the above specification and post a photograph (or two) of it to the brand new Folksy Angels Flickr Group by the 30th November.

How to Win:
The winner will be judged by you. A blog post will be available on the Folksy Blog showcasing all of the lovely entries. The voting post will go live on the 1st December and close on the 3rd December so you’ll need to be quick to vote for your favourite. Votes will be cast as comments; the decoration that receives the most votes will win.

Hints and Tips:
Use your decoration to showcase your unique style.
Be inventive.
Think about making something that you can and would want to decorate your house with this year.
Your photograph is as important as the decoration itself as this is what you will be judged on.
If you don’t win, why not sell your decoration in your Folksy store?

The Prize:
Become a Folksy Angel!
What does that mean? Well, it means free listings and no commission from sales on Folksy for A WHOLE YEAR starting 1st January 2009 and ending 31st December 2009.
In addition to this the winning entry will become part of the special Promotional Goodie bag given away as a prize at the We Make Christmas raffle.
The most popular photographs will also be made into Greetings Cards which will be available for sale via Folksy and at We Make Christmas.

The small print:
The winning entry will become part of a special raffle prize Promotional goodie bag at We Make Christmas on the 6th December so you must be prepared to post your decoration to the We Make team if you win.

By entering you also agree to your image being used to promote the Folksy Angels competition and also for use on Folksy Angels Christmas Cards. If you do not want your image to be used please email wemakelondon@googlemail.com to let us know.

Your entry must be made from recycled items and be clearly a Seasonal decoration. It must not be offensive to any individuals or groups.

Images for the Christmas Cards will be selected from Monday 23rd October onwards so upload your image as soon as you are able!

Folksy and We Make Christmas reserve the right to remove any entries that do not fulfil the brief.
Your entry must not use any trademarked or copyrighted material that you do not have the license to distribute.

The Folksy Angels, We Make Christmas, and Folksy logos are copyright protected. You may use them for your competition entry but you may not sell any decorations made with these logos or use them for your own promotion.

Happy Crafting!

Designer Spotlight- Moments by Martha

Becci has always loved making things whether it is baking, sewing or jewellery.

Becci’s stunning jewellery incorporates a wonderful range of gemstones and wooden shape. These are complimented with a range of metals including sterling silver.

‘Most of my jewellery is one of a kind... I tend to make what I think would best suit the stones that I have. I love cubes, and the sharper lines that, when included in pieces, get softened by the appearance of the whole item. I love shiny and matte beads, and have recently delved into metals other than silver.’

Waiting For We Make Christmas:
For We Make Christmas Becci will be bringing some of her best selling pieces, including her two square earrings with red sponge coral. The first ever pair of these were actually sold at We Make in June.

Can’t Wait For We Make Christmas:
Take a look at Becci’s online shop www.momentsbymartha.etsy.com
This is a treasure trove full of Becci’s beautiful creations.

Designer Spotlight- Half an Acre

Anna has a passion for colour. Her work is very distinctive. Her hand painted wooden artwork will brighten up any room. They make wonderful gifts for every occasion. Colour and pattern is what inspires Anna, layers of colour and bold designs. Anna loves creating her bunches of fish.

‘When a bunch of fish comes together they are my favourites! I don't plan the designs first so two of the fish might be great then I have a design breakdown over the third!’

Waiting For We Make Christmas:
Anna will be treating everyone to a wonderful selection of her favourite and best selling items. Including her bunches of fish and her lizards.

For We Make Christmas Half An Acre is also working on a beautiful range of Christmas decorations. With red hearts and white and gold spots. They are in keeping with Anna’s style but very festive too.

Can’t Wait For We Make Christmas:
For a beautiful array of colour and design have a look at Half An Acre’s online shop http://www.halfanacre.etsy.com/