You’re coming to the Crafty Fox market, right?

You are?

PHEW! (I’m a little bit involved y’see, having curated a section of it)

Here’s the deets.

• Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December, 11am – 5pm, The Dogstar, 389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton

• It’s FREE

• From the press release: “Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the high street, a unique shopping experience awaits.  The Crafty Fox Market will be returning to the Dogstar, Brixton, on 8th & 9th December where a hand-picked cast of 80 UK designer makers will transform the old Victorian pub into a wonderland of Christmas shopping. Crafty Fox takes place on all three floors of the Dogstar, so when you’ve filled your stockings take a moment to explore.  You can ‘make and do’ with craft writer Perri Lewis or screen print your own bag with the charming Mr Wingate. Other workshops include origami, knitting and card making.  Or you could just sit back and relax with one of The Tea’s Knee’s cakes and a cuppa in the tea rooms while enjoying tunes from the Crafty Fox DJs.”

 

Material World: meet the craft group experts

Wanna start your own craft group? Or even just bottle up enough courage to try out your local maker meeting? No worries, in Material World the founders of the UK’s biggest and best craft groups are here to advise.

 

Who? Deborah Daniel

Why? She’s founder of the East London Craft Guerrilla, an organisation who hosts events, writes blogs, curates shops and galleries and does all kinds of craft awesomeness in my neck of the woods, Walthamstow.

Where can I see more? craftguerrilla.com

 

 Who? Louise Williams

 Why? She’s the Crafty Pint extraordinaire, behind the lovely dual London events, Crafty Pint South (in Tooting) and Crafty Pint North (more often than not, in Crouch End). The group behind the events are a mixture of makers who want to promote local artisans and creatives and keep people shopping local.

 Where can I see more? handmadeintooting.wordpress.com

 

Who? Nico Dawson

Why? Not only is she head events honcho for the Manchester Craft Mafia, she’s also the lady behind the Manchester craft night Lo-Fi. As well as all that, she makes trinkets and buttons under the guise of Ophelia Button.

Where can I see more? manchestercraftmafia.co.uk // opheliabutton.co.uk

 

Who? Francine Schokker

Why? Birmingham’s premier craft space, Creative Open Workshops (better – and more amusingly – known as COW) is an artist-run project that runs craft fairs, nights, events and more – and Francine is one of their star tutors.

Where can I see more? creativeopenworkshops.com

I heart origami money.

“Driver turns up to police station to pay traffic ticket with 137 origami dollar bill PIGS . . . and cops make him unfold every one” via The Daily Mail.

Martha Stewart, you cheeky mutha.

“Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse are being sued for hawking knock-off knives on the Home Shopping Network.” via Forbes.

 

 

Stitched Stories: the documentary

Please watch this. It was previewed at the London Design Festival this week at the Fine Cell Work pop-up shop in London. (I chaired the panel debate after – it was a LOT of fun.)

Stitched Stories, by Rachel Tavenor, features the following: Neil, a former prisoner whose life was changed by FCW, Sarah Corbett, the founder of the Craftivist Collective, and Jessica Aldred, a FCW embroidery tutor who is also the c0-author of Adventures in Needlework.

(And if you want to read more about Fine Cell Work, read this lovely piece by Huma Qureshi on guardian.co.uk)

The Cambridge Satchel Company is winning.

I mean REALLY winning.

Not only is Julie Deans, the founder of the Cambridge Satchel Company, appearing on the new Google Chrome TV ad, she’s finally got the ruling that Zatchels DID copy her designs.

(And in brilliant news for me [apologies for obligatory plug], she’s also one of over 100 experts who appear in my forthcoming book, Material World: The Modern Craft Bible)

Knit for Pussy Riot!

I wondered how long it would take for someone to do this (via The Drum)

Spotted! Craft invite in the Elle Decor editorial.

I love Michelle Ogundehin’s editorial page in interiors mag Elle Deco, it’s so pretty. But I love it even more when it features the press invite from the Power of Making exhibition, currently on at the V&A and hosted in association with the Craft Council.

Cheers, John Lewis.

This is most definitely from a press release.
‘In celebration of Wool Week 2011, John Lewis are launching a series of free ‘Love Wool’ classes where customers can visit branches and receive hands-on advice from expert knitters, Rowan to learn to knit, felt and weave using Purelife British Sheep Breed Yarns. The programme of ‘Love Wool’ classes will be available at 17 John Lewis branches nationwide for novice and experienced knitters alike. Whether customers are looking to improve their knitting skills, update their current techniques or simply join in Wool Week activities, each class aims to reignite the nation’s love of this fashionable, eco-friendly and durable material. Participants will be educated on the history of British yarn, shown professional techniques and as part of each class, each member will be asked to knit one square in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Research. Knitted squares from each branch will then be patchworked together by Rowan Design Consultants to make blankets for Marie Curie Hospice patients.  To find out the nearest location for a local ‘Love Wool’ class visit http://www.johnlewis.com’;

AMAZING activities to try, by some people I really like.

‘Crochet graffiti, risqué cake-making, guerilla gardening, gin-themed meals, singing sculptures … esoteric activities have never been so popular. Here’s how to join in…’ a feature in the Guardian by Dale, a brilliant sound artist I used to work with at the Guardian, and Katie Antoniou, a PR cum stylist cum all sorts of other things, who I like very much.