Tuesday 25 August 2009

Introducing:

Bambi and Snowflake is a newly launched Etsy store bursting with exquisite, one-of-a-kind jewellery from the creative mind of Poppy O'Neill. From her home on the south coast of England, Poppy produces some truly one-off pieces that combine new and vintage chains with found charms and beads. Particularly original are the rope ladder harness necklaces.
Shoegazer is proud to introduce its readers to Bambi and Snowflake with an exciting Q&A interview... Shoegazer: Tell me a little about yourself ...
B&S: I did a degree in creative writing, and a post grad in fashion journalism, but then decided writing wasn't for me! I work for a jewellery company and Bambi and Snowflake is a way to create my own designs, as I work for other brands when I'm at the office.
S: Where does the name Bambi and Snowflake come from?
B&S: It comes from the nicknames my mum has for my two little sisters.
S: What is your workspace like?
B&S: It's in our spare room - a big desk strewn with chains and beads, products hanging on the wall and a lovely vintage mannequin I'm borrowing indefinitely from my mum for photographs!
S: Describe the process you go through whilst making a piece of jewellery?
B&S: Things often come to me when I'm trying to get to sleep ... then I can't drop off until I've written it down or done a little drawing. Then I'll get all the materials together and make it - I usually do things all in one go, even the encrusted chokers, which take ages! (see above and below)S: What are your favourite materials to work with?
B&S: I love to use mixed chains, although they can be fiddly. I also love to work with leather.
S: What are some of your favourite places to source materials?
B&S: There are great second hand shops where I live, but if I'm looking ofr something specific I will head to C&H Fabrics or etsy.

S: Where do you find inspiration?
B&S: I'm often inspired by the materials. I'll order some chain or beads and they'll inspire me to do what suits them. Their weight and texture can dictate what they'll become.
S: What is the design philosophy of Bambi&Snowflake?
B&S: Ooh, I don't have one yet - something to work on!
S: Do you plan to work in any other medium?
B&S: Not really. Maybe I'll go into hair accessories, but I don't have the skills for clothes! I love to customise my own stuff though :)
S: What’s next for Bambi and Snowflake?
B&S: Well I've only just started, so more designs, putting more into my etsy shop - perhaps some custom orders?I'm going to order some studs and start experimenting with them, so perhaps my designs will be a bit tougher for a while.

x

BUST Craftacular

The BUST Summer Craftacular
London - 22.8.2009
York Hall - Bethnal Green
Above: We got to Bethnal Green at about 11.50am, hoping to be one of the lucky first 100 who would get a goodie bag. As you can see, we misjudged the popularity of free goodie bags a bit!
Above: The queue stretched on and on (so we went and had lunch and waltzed in when the quese had almost completely gone)
Above: Inside BUST's Summer Craftacular Above: The stall of Love From Hetty and Dave
Above: More stalls . . .
Above: Tatty Devine
Above: Tatty Devine invited visitors to help them make a record breaking charm bracelet
Above: The Pop-Up Tea Shoppe, run by Lady Luck Rules Ok
Above: Delicious cakes!
Above: We pick vanilla cupcakes with coloured icing. Yum!
Above: Our collective haul! (We popped into the Buckingham Palace gift shop too, hence the cute soldier items!)
Above: I finally got a Little Doodles print! So happy with it! I also got a Bag O' Birds by Kate Wilson - the most friendly crafter I met at the event :)
Above: The print I got <3>



Monday 24 August 2009

Museum of Childhood

On Saturday, after checking out the BUST Summer Craftacular (post to follow, soon) I popped into the Museum of Childhood as it was just across the road. Needless to say, the old, unusual and sometimes very outlandish toys were a rich source of inspiration!

Above: These prototypes of heads for Daisy dolls, designed by Mary Quant, were one of my favourite things from the museum and have given me some ideas for projects . . .

Thursday 20 August 2009

Craftacular

This Saturday I'll be at the BUST London Summer Craftacular with two of my closest friends and Shoegazer Creative/Zine collaborators. Seriously excited about this! We'll be having a good browse and hopefully nabbing a goodie bag each!

I'm always surprised how few contemporary crafting events take place in the UK compared to how many pop up in the US, so it will be great to support this event and maybe encourage a few more!
Saturday 22 August 2009 - 12noon – 8pm - York Hall, Bethnal Green, London.
Maybe see you there! :)

Friday 14 August 2009

Elsa Mora

If you haven't come across her work before, then please allow me to introduce you to Elsa Mora - a multi media artist living and working in LA. Originally hailing from Cuba, Elsa is an incredibly talented woman working with a wide range of mediums to produce jewellery, clothing, illustrations and stunningly intricate papercuts. Make sure you visit Elsa's main blog, her style blog, and please make sure you take a peek at her dedicated papercuts blog.

Examples of Elsa's work:

In a section of Elsa's "About Me", she describes her approach to work:
"My work is about human nature, about the way we are and the way we interact with each other, with ourselves and with the rest of the world. I enjoy working in different media like painting, ceramic, drawing, photography, installation illustration and in 2008 I discovered the magic of papercutting. I have a special blog within my main blog dedicated to the art of papercuts, I am fascinated with this art form. And I also have a blog dedicated to personal style and self-expression."

The item that inspired me to make this post was Elsa's Frida Kahlo inspired necklace, made entirely of paper! It is absolutely beautiful! If you visit Elsa's style blog you can see her wearing this necklace too.
Elsa's Etsy.

Monday 10 August 2009

Joanna Rutter: Fox necklace

I've written about the wonderful work of Joanna Rutter here before, when I bought the Little Chick necklace. Since then that necklace has scaresly left my neck and has been much admired. Last week I re-visited her shop and was really happy to find a little fox cub necklace. I ordered it and was surprised when it arrived the very next day. It is so perfect. I love it! I'm now giving the little chick necklace some time off for good behaviour while the fox cub necklace gets some attention! Haha. Already this weekend it has recieved lots of nice comments from people.
I really do love Joanna Rutter's jewellery. It's well made, beautifully designed, nicely packaged and it really feels like you have something a bit unique on when you're wearing it. I would highly recommend anyone to take a look at her shop, blog and website :)
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