field trip :: crafty fox pop up market

I read somewhere that weekends are good for the soul and this was just about the perfect two days that one could ask for. Fantastic weather... handmade goods.. met EtsyUK... had drinks and good food with friends... explored new boroughs of London... bare legs and flip flops... just perfect.

The first 50 people through the door received a free tote bag from EtsyUK, so early Saturday morning, we headed off to Brixton to check out the Crafty Pop Up Market at the Dogstar, pub by night, handmade pop up event by day! Sound the trumpets, because we have found our people. An amazing selection of handmade goods plus plenty of DIY workshops and tasty treats over three fabulous levels of crafty goodness. 

 

As I mentioned, we were there early for the bags, so it was still pretty quiet. Up on the third floor, the Etsy lounge was set up for people to enjoy some cocktails and learn how to cross stitch. Parul Arora, a London based designer and photographer who creates the most amazing limited edition ceramics was also on hand upstairs to talk about product photography.

Second floor was filled with more handmade goods such as Sweet View. I couldn't choose which image I liked best! Can't wait until we get the official "ok" that we are able to put stuff on the walls. * sigh * Why yes, we have been living here for almost 3 months now! * hint hint *

Back down to the first floor, this place was hopping! You can view more blog posts about the event (and probably better pics!) by these lovely bloggers urban75 | Take Courage | Katherine Hannaford.

field trip :: decor8 at Liberty

Robert and I ventured down to Oxford Circus Wednesday night for the Decorate book launch at Liberty London. The launch was held in the heritage room on the third floor and it was crazy. There were so many people packed in that room that they even had security watching the door. They certainly love their Holly and decor8 over here! As do I. I have been following her blog for quite a while now, so was excited to learn that she was going to be in London - perks of living in such a metropolis!

Sania, Leslie and Holly pre-styled a table set up and spoke about what inspired them and how they chose their palette / base colours / fabrics and props. Having to do this at each Indie I Do, it was great to learn some tips from the pro's!

After the event ended, we walked around Liberty London and checked out their habadashery department on the third floor. Of course, we also made a brief stop at the stationery and the handbag department. Tee hee! Visit decor8blog.com for more pictures and details about her new book!

LHR :: things to do :: pennants + foxes + boogaloo

 

found on pinterest by Eli

Meant to post this yesterday, but there is still time to make it to Craft Guerrilla's DIY bunting workshop tonight! Learn how to make your own punk rock paper bunting to celebrate the upcoming Royal Wedding. Go and make, drink and be crafty!

event: Craft Guerilla's DIY craft night
date: Thursday, April 14th, 2011
time: 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
location: Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre Pub, 53 Hoe Street, London E17 4SA

For more details, follow Craft Guerrilla on facebook here.

The Crafty Fox Pop Up Market returns this Saturday, April 16th to the Dogstar in Brixton. There will be tea rooms with a letter lounge; plenty of workshops including cupcake decorating, brooch making, cross stitch and cocktails and photography; 40 stalls of handmade crafts and DJ's spinning all day! 

event: Crafty Fox Pop Up Market

date: Saturday, April 16th, 2011

time: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

location: The Dogstar, 389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton SW9 8LQ

Visit their website here for a full list of activities, directions and more information.

The Wonder Hill High Market promises to be an afternoon filled with wonderful indie arts and crafts, vintage clothing, accessories, sustainable items and apparently, the best cake in town! You had me at cake... 

event: The Wonder Hill High Market

date: Saturday, April 16, 2011

time: Noon to 5:30 p.m.

location: The Boogaloo, 312 Archway Road, London N6 5AT

Interested in selling? A few stalls are available. Click here for more details.

LHR :: day trip :: selvedges + designer makers market

It's no secret that there are tons to do in London and this weekend especially was jam packed. With the warm weather and sunshine (I've been told not to get used to this since it isn't normal), it was a great day to be out and about. Our first stop was in Archway for the Selvedges Spring Fair. 

Goodies in the store... you can visit their store in Archway or online to buy pretty handmade goods, haberdashery and craft books.

  

The Selvedge Spring Fair at St. Augustine's Church was one of the prettiest shows I have ever been to. Each vendor showcased an amazing selection of handmade goods like the adorable kitten tote I picked up from Charlotte Farmer * mew *.

I always have mixed feelings about taking pictures of people's displays. I really wished I did though. I have never been to a craft fair where every single table had fantastic displays. Wow. I was a bit intimated. Hope mine will look just as good when I start selling locally again!

Feeling all jazzed up and inspired from the Selvedge Spring Fair, we hopped back on the tube and headed to the Designers Makers Market in Bethnal Green. 

We were stopped enroute to the event by a lady and her daughter who was looking for the market. We have found our people (and we look like locals)!

The Designers Makers Market takes place every Saturday until the end of September and it is free to attend. There was a different feel (not in a bad way) to this market then the Selvedge Spring Fair... more community like... maybe even first time sellers... displays were not as polished... less attendees so more vendor chit chat... 

We didn't get a chance to grab lunch and Rob couldn't say no to cake, so we had two iced vietnamese coffees and shared a victorian sponge cake by the little chill cafe.

check it :: fine cell work

found via twitter by @EtsyUK

Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise based in London, UK that teaches needlework to prison inmates and sells their products via their online shop. The prisoners do the work when they are locked in their cells and the mission is to rehabilitate prisoners by giving them the opportunity to earn and save money by reflecting and rebuilding their lives through craft and achievement. Prisoners do fine cell work for an average of 3 years and in 2010, over 400 stitchers collectively earned £71,354.

Here are some interesting facts:

• the program is in 29 prisons
• 80% of the stitchers are men
• inmates are taught by some 60 volunteer instructors and last year, more than 200 volunteers donated their time at events, in prison and at the fine cell work head office.
• stitchers spend an average of 20 hours per week doing embroidery in their cells, the highest earners stitch for as long as 40 hours.

To see some of their amazing work and for more information, please visit fine cell work here. Thanks Amity for sharing! Hope you had a good visit.

LHR :: things to do :: selvedge + makers market

(image found on @Craftzine.com by Selvedge)

I love Selvedge magazine and came across their event posting a few weeks ago over on decor8. After some snooping, I just realized that they have a brick and mortar store right here in London! Needless to say I know what my Saturday plans will be! First stop will be the Selvedge Spring Fair! With Amy Butler as one of the show sponsors, you know this will be a good one. Featuring 30 handmade designers and makers exhibiting a selection of lovely treats!

event: Selvedge Spring Fair

date: Saturday, April 2nd, 2011

time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

location: St. Augustine's Church Hall on the corner of Langdon Park Road and Hornsey Lane Gardens, N6 5QG.

cost: £2.50

For more information and directions by car and public transport, please visit their website. 

Sometimes I think I should have just moved to Bethnal Green since I seem to be there every weekend and this Saturday will be no different. My second stop of the day will be at the Designers Makers Market. This Saturday kicks off their weekly market showcasing 50+ designers and makers working with various mediums including ceramics, paper goods and textiles. 

event: Designers Makers Market

date: Every Saturday from April 2nd to September 24th, 2011

time: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

location: The Triangle, Warburton Road, London E8 3RG

cost: free

For more information and travel details, please visit their website here.

LHR :: day trip :: vintage furniture flea

The Vintage Furniture Flea event is hosted by Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair, UK's #1 vintage fair and produced by a former personal shopper for Selfridges. Vintage clothing in London is very popular, but I like to try my clothes on before purchasing and you don't always get that opportunity at these type of events. Vintage clothing also tends to be small and the fabric is sometimes a bit stifling with the use of polyester, so needless to say, I'm not usually the first in line when it comes to vintage clothing events.

Of course, when it comes to furniture and homewares, that is a whole new ball park. Homewares from the 1950's to the 1970s? 45 hand picked stalls? I will be there! This was definitely one of the best selections of vintage furniture that I have seen since I have arrived. A lot of it was quite affordable and I highly recommend paying the extra £1 for early access. It was packed! 

Here's my bounty. Can't wait to visit again. I have decided that I want one of these cupboards for the kitchen (or somewhere). Saw one at the market, but it was already sold.

LHR :: things to do :: the hive

** london, uk edition **

The Robin Collective has transformed a derelict shop on Leather Lane into a pop-up sunny garden with flowering plants, artificial sunshine and a giant walk-in bee hive complete with real honey bees! There is plenty of things to do at the Hive including honey tasting, talks, food and drinks including Royal Jelly Jellies, Bee Venom Cocktails and the honey based beer, Wells Waggle Dance (a honey-based ale named after the performance a bee gives to alert the hive to a source of nectar). Etsy UK in collaboration with the East London Craft Guerrilla will be bringing some ace workshops to the event including beeswax candles on Tuesday, March 22nd and bee balm making on Wednesday, March 23rd with Violet Iris.

Workshops, talks and courses start at 6:30pm each evening and an Etsy UK craft fair is taking place on March 27th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please visit their website for full details here.

Bee there or bee square! 56-58 Leather Lane Market, London EC1N 7TJ from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.

london :: bus route 88

Bus route 88 from Oxford Circus to Clapham Common. Instagram tilt shift feature. To read more about our move to London, UK click here.

day trip :: love-a-fayre

We ventured out to Bethnal Green station last Saturday for the Valentine's love-a-fayre craft fair. The Working Men's Club reminded me of the Royal Canadian Legion back in Vancouver, but I wish we had this...

Giant light up heart stage with gold fringe!? I wish we had this! Late crafters arriving.. crafters who didn't have their float ready... ah, I have found my people. Saw some fantastic, locally handmade goodies and some that seemed to be priced really low. Not knowing the community yet, I'm not sure what the market will hold, but there was some very well made goods for £5 or less which is low compared to what I have seen in Vancouver and some US craft fairs. By the way, they love their moustaches over here too. Bought this (below) super cute felt pin from Be♥Bop♥A♥Lula.

We never made it to the Ephemera event, but hope to catch the next one on April 7th. Instead, we met up with some friends and had our first Sunday roast lunch at the local pub which is super popular here. By the time we ordered at 2pm, the roast turkey was already sold out and on our last visit to Cambridge, all the roast was sold out by 3pm!