Crochet for beginners-Granny squares.

We are almost at the end of the first (hopefully of many) Granny tastic crochet course, run by Yours Truely at The Brighton Sewing Centre. Last week the lovely Ich bin ein baum came along and took these pictures to show y'all how we roll on a tuesday night.

 

The next course of 4 evening classes will be up and running mid July...

Get involved.

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The Assembly Room, May 2011

This weekend I packet up the trolley and wheeled my wares along to The brighton Unitarian church to take part in the 2nd Assembly Rooms Art Market. Organised by Brighton based design company Ridley and Dowse, this event was jam packed with some seriously splendid designers, makers, illustrators and crafters. (Not a single felted item in sight-phew!)

 

 

Sandwiched between a devine cake stall and stunning embroidered brooches by Betty you can probably guess I had a brilliant time! Note to self: extra jumper and wooly socks are essential! Visitors including Ridder , Meg and Ich bin ein baum kept the tea flowing and me company all weekend. Thanks ladies!

Keep up to date with new and exciting goings on here and here !

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many thanks to ichbibeinbaum for the perfect pictures of my stall!

Bell Armoire Magazine Interview (jan/feb 2011)

Find more pics here

 Happy crocheting Y'all 

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Learn to Embroider...the old fashioned way.

The first 3 Wednesdays in March are getting the hand sewn treatment at Brighton Sewing Centre!...

Hand Embroidered Shopper project.... fancy.

£20 per 2 hour class (if bought separately)

£55 for all 3 classes

*ALL MATERIALS INCLUDED + TEA AND CAKE!*

Please book by emailing or phoning the shop.(Max 8 places per class)

1st class - 2rd March - Intro to traditional stitch techniques

2nd class - 9th March - Transferring/deciding on motif and colour work

3rd class - 16th March - Stitching final design and finishing

*Tel: 01273 621 653

*Email: justsewbrighton@yahoo.co.uk

Creating Charactors Workshop at YSP

Here are a few photos of us in action at the Creating Charactors workshop jan 29th at YSP...

 Zara Wood's Little Treasures were inspiration for the embroidery!

With thanks to all the lovely folks who attended for making it such a huge success! And to Amanda, Jo and of course the totally brilliant Zara Wood. We sketched and stitched and explored with thread and pencils. A wonderfully inspirational day at an amazing venue.

Here's My woody charactor collaberation!

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M.A.P in Belle Armoire Jan/Feb 2011

pictures by Belle Armoire, words by Amy Phipps Dec 2010

Look what arrived bright and early this misty Thursday morning! Joy in craft magazine guise.....all the way from The USA! I promise to scan this properly over the weekend (when i have worked out how to use my new machine). You get the gist though right? I LOVE CROCHET. Many thanks to Amanda Crabtree at Stampington Press. Very lovely magazine to work with.

Belle Armoire

M.A.P

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Made by Hand is best

Handmade Brighton is unlike other  non-profit shops i've known of, or had the joy of being part of...its,well, seriously cool!  located half way up  St.James, Brighton (next to the St.James pub) and formed by a group of local designer/makers and run by 7 volunteers, Its refreshing to be out of the lanes area which can often be overwhelming. Handmade has affordable retail spaces to rent to Brighton based artists/designers/crafters on a month by month basis.  (as pictured!)  They host a selection of brilliant people selling exciting and wonderfully made things. From the smallest hand drawn bird brooches, to hand blocked hats and laser cut jewellery. And as of last week, i am super happy to say i have a space there. With much help from Kirstin i hasten to add! You really should drop in. Its a hop skip and a jump away from Red Roaster...what more could you need?

Handmade Brighton

Handmadeb-twitter

M.A.P

Creating Characters Workshop 27th November at YSP!

November is a super exciting time here at M.A.P! Saturday 27th sees my first embroidery workshop colaboration with the marvelous Illustrator and Artist Zara Wood! During the day you will not only learn traditional hand embroidery stitches (with Yours truly)....but how to bring the Woody inspired character, which will be imagined and created during the mornings drawing workshop, into your very own little treasure (see image above).....

This marvellous day will be set against the stunning autumnally drenched backdrop of The Yorkshire Sculpture Park...what else could you wish for? I'll tell Thee.... Mirror Mime ... thats what! Zara's inspirational and utterly enchanting exhibition opened last weekend at YSP and boasts 20 new stunning illustrated works, as well as much anticipated favourites... LittleTreasures, letter pressed cards and totes. I'm sold!

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Spinster's in Brighton

The Spinster’s School of Stitchery is coming to Brighton! We...Donna Bramhall of Spinster's fame and Yours truly will be teaching a range of contemporary textile techniques at the Brighton Sewing Centre on the above dates. Learn hand embroidery, applique and fabric manipulation methods which will teach you how to customise and add a classy homemade loving feel to clothes, homewares and gifts!

To Book online CLICK HERE, email hello@spinstersemporium.com or call  01273621653

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All party'd out...

Well i never...this week has been totally party tastic. Lets start here...

Wednesday saw what i can only describe as a tea party on acid at the hotel Pelirocco, to celebrate my collaboration with the marvellous Natasha Bailie and her vintage dream machine of a website www.natashbailie.com. It was a hoot! a room filled with my nearest and dearest, cocktails a go go and frocks ahoy! we passed several parcels and stuffed ourselves silly on cake (made by my own fair hands of course) If i see another lemon drizzle i think i'll spontaneously combust! We were all wrapped up by the stroke of 12. and i must say it was a marvellous evening. Thankyou to all who attended.

Me and N.B in miss amy phipps frocks made from a pair of curtains and a bed spread. visit www.natashabailie.com for more info.

Thursday. Last week i moved into a brilliant studio with new acquaintance, and fellow designer Catherine Bell. Its a totally fantastic space which she has worked super hard to make so so lovely. The 510 sq ft space was a crazy office before Catherine took it on, and now its a textiles designers dream! There are piles of gorgeous fabrics on every shelf,its simply dripping with vintage trims and glittering shreds of dresses from yesteryear, which inspire her work. To celebrate this brilliant new studio we had a little party... note to self...cava and cherry brandy = danger! Anyway, as we chit chattered the night away the thunder roared overhead and we watched from our 3rd floor balcony as lightening forks lit up the sky over Brighton. To new enterprises!

Friday. Last and by no means least a super party to celebrate 5 years of Last Shoe Boutique! There was definitely something in the air, I cannot remember the last time i laughed so much! seriously! Was it the freaky period character masks worn by all? The overwhelming heat upstairs at the Hope? Or the gayest dancing i have ever seen from a straight man, in the form of our dear samwise! The spiritof M.J was most definately egging him on. Throw in some freestyle dance moves and a chocolate cupcake or 3 and wam bam thankyou mam that was our delirious evening. Congratulations to Alex, who is a constant inspiration and brilliant friend.

visit www.lastfootwear.com

go on!

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