... and Making a Rag Rug Brooch

As part of the Make Reading Christmas Fair, we took part in the Make a Rag Rug Brooch workshop. Here's how we got on!

... and Make Reading Christmas Fair

Make Reading is an 11 day festive celebration of Berkshire’s very best makers, designers, recyclers, art, textiles & handmade brought to you by jelly arts.

... and The Handmade Fair

We were delighted to be invited to the upcoming Handmade Fair which is being hosted by Kirstie Allsopp from 19th-21st September. Here's a bit more about how you can get involved too!

... and Wool Against Weapons (finished pieces!)

You may remember that back in May we mentioned that we were taking part in Wool against Weapons by dusting off our knitting needles! Well, thanks to some fantastic friends we've been able to contribute a 5 metre peace scarf to this great cause!

... and Wool Against Weapons (Knitters Needed!!)

Today, instead of our usual type of post, we wanted to highlight a great cause we are getting involved in...

Wool against Weapons is a creative and direct action protest against renewing Trident (UK's nuclear weapons programme) with 7 miles of knitted wool power!

The plan is to create a 7 mile long peace scarf which will join the Women's Peace Camp at Aldermaston, UK and the other Atomic Weapons Establishment at Burghfield, Berkshire on August 9th 2014

... and Yarn Bombing our Local Library

We've finally got round to getting all of the pictures together from our first Yarn Bombing experience! When we found out that the Coffee and Craft group from our local Library (Battle Library, Reading) were going to spruce up the inside of this historical building, we couldn't wait to get involved!

... and the Yellow Suitcase Exhibition

The Yellow Suitcase project has been founded by a group of people who live, survive and are in recovery from mental health issues. The idea of the project is to get people talking about mental health by taking the yellow suitcase to places of work, community groups and organisations around Reading (UK). More often than not one of the most difficult things about having a mental health problem is talking about it, in fear of stigma and discrimination in the workplace.

You can read more about this project on the Yellow Suitcase Project website. "We all have a common dream and shared hope that people suffering with mental health issues, have the right information, help and support, they need to make the most informed decisions about managing their mental health".

... and Using Local Letters!

This is a bit of a different post from us today. We thought we’d try and play around with some photography and see how we could use it in a project. Recently we saw these Typography safaris on offer in London and although we haven’t been able to book onto it for time (and life!) reasons, we wondered if we could do something similar and use some of the letters in our local area.  Of course we are NOT trying to imply that this is a substitute!

... and Inspiration from Africa!

A few weeks ago, Matt and I went on holiday to East Africa and were lucky enough to visit Nairobi (Kenya), go on safari in the Serengeti (Tanzania)and then onto Zanzibar. Needless to say it was an amazing experience and so I thought I would share some of the crafty things that inspired me...

... and our Handmade Book Class

Having enjoyed our Stained Glass Class so much we always keep an eye out for the workshops and classes on offer at Maiden Erlegh Community Arts Centre.  So when we saw the Handmade Books and Journals, we signed ourselves up!

... and an #imapiece Stitching Event!

The #imapiece Craftivist Jigsaw project is to create a giant jigsaw embroidered with provocative messages to support Save the Children's Race Against Hunger Campaign.  The project will create an art installation to raise awareness of the issues of world hunger and injustice.  To read more about this campaign, click here.

... and some Decopatch Animals!

A while ago (before we started with this blogging malarkey!) I spent a lovely afternoon with Mally at the Arty Giraffe. It's a great place to relax and get creative. You can grab a coffee (milkshake for Mally) and try your hand at some ceramic painting or Decopatch - we opted for the latter! We like to get messy!

... and a Homemade Lightbox!

On our stained glass course we met the lovely Jane Bonney. She is a local textile artist and runs courses at South Hill Park Arts Centre in  Bracknell, Berks. Her latest course is Creative Machine Stitching starting 15th February 2013. Jane first did stained glass with Nicola Kantorowicz about 5 years ago at an Oxford summer school - she has since been to 3 of her week long courses. This time round, Jane was working on the above piece inspired by her love of Rome and was using a technique called Sgraffito. The shaded areas within the glass panels are painted on with a special paint, and then the light details are etched off before the pieces are fired in a kiln. Jane wanted to use a lightbox to ensure the areas she was etching were in the right places. So she made her own!

PS. If you would like to read about our DIY Light Box that helps with taking better photos etc please click here. Otherwise please read on!!!

... and our Stained Glass Class

Back in September 2012 we both booked onto an evening Stained Glass course at a local community arts centre (part of Maiden Erlegh School, near Reading, Berkshire). We decided not to do a blog post on this until we had completed our pieces (especially as one was a Christmas present!!) but can now happily show them off!

... and a Weaving Stick Dollies Kit

As much as I love to create and design things from scratch, sometimes you can't beat a good old craft kit - one where all the materials and equipment are provided for you and all you have to do is sit back, relax and get on with your project.

... and a Visit to the Inspired Craft Fair

Hello! Yesterday we decided to take a break from making things, and do some Christmas shopping. As well as making our own presents, we are trying to buy handmade as much as possible this year...

Elephant Natural Loofah Soap Scrub - Camden Soap Works