WINTER SAMPLER 2011
M ODERN B RITISH C RAFT F O L K S Y. C O M
2
THE FOLKSY SAMPLER, WINTER 2011
Chit Chat Hello Goodbye Earrings £3 CANNY BELLE, SUFFOLK
WOW E E . WHAT A YEAR WE’VE HAD AT FOLKSY HQ.
Top 10 search terms in December 2011
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Christmas Felt Owl Bunting Cushions
Average Order Value There’s our fabulous new website, a swish new online magazine and as always, hundreds of new products for you to buy. We’ve been busier than ever bringing you handmade crafts and design from across the British Isles. When you buy on www.folksy.com, you’re buying direct from small UK makers and designers. From bookbinding to knitting, woodturning to printing, Folksy’s designers can do it all and this means there’s something for everyone.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Crochet Cards Buttons Bags Bird
Sales increase December 2010 – December 2011
£17.68 19% Active shops listed or sold in last month
People following @folksy on Twitter
Browse and buy online then sit back and wait for your order to arrive, beautifully handmade and wrapped by one of our talented designers. What could be nicer? With over 400,000 visitors in the past month, it’s a great place to set up shop. Why not pay us a visit... www.folksy.com
8632 10,091
This newspaper was designed and printed via Newspaper Club – a new tool helping people and communities to make their own newspapers. Find out more at www.newspaperclub.co.uk
THE FOLKSY SAMP LER , WINTER 2 011
3
DECK THE HALLS
Mistletoe Robins £25
Christmas Decorations £16.50
Sargasso Hand Blown Baubles £9
KIRSTY ELSON DESIGN, CORNWALL
ALEX MCQUADE, LEICESTER
CORRINA FIELD HANDMADE, BIRMINGHAM
Christmas Wreath £39.99
Petal Fairy Lights £34
Christmas Moustaches £3
MADE FROM MUSIC BOOKS, WARWICKSHIRE
RED BRICK GLASS, DORSET COAST
STUFFED NONSENSE, CHELTENHAM
ALL WRAPPED UP
Mittens Recycled Wrap £5.55
Little Robin Decoration £5
Linoprint Partridge Gift Wrap £2.50
S O P H I A V I C T O R I A J O Y, H A M P S H I R E
STITCHED WITH LOVE UK, BRISTOL
HANDMADE & HERITAGE
Pom Pom Gift Toppers £11.95
Mince Pies Card £3
Cosy Christmas Cards Pack £9.95
LITTLE NEST BOX, LONDON
GAIL GRIGGS, CHESHIRE
SNOWDON, CHESHIRE
4
THE FOLKSY SAMPLER, WINTER 2011
L A D I ES
Cable Knit Headband £19
Cinnabar Moth Necklace £10
Vintage Saucer Candlestick £11.95
CHI CHI DEE, LONDON
KETTLE OF FISH, SHEFFIELD
LOGLIKE, NORTH EAST WALES
Stacking Rings £36
Dress £50
Letterpress Print £15
ALISON MOORE DESIGNS, ORKNEY ISLANDS
PLUM & PIGEON, NORTH YORKSHIRE
PRINT FOR LOVE OF WOOD, LANCASHIRE
Leather Kindle Case £55
Red Wool Mini Dress £179.80
Fingerless gloves £9.50
BEAUTIFUL SKIN, LONDON
FASHION COUTURE, WREXHAM
SUMMERFIELD, CHESHIRE
Make up Bag £15
Turquoise Necklace £48
Wild Rose Earrings £38
BELEDIEN, HORSHAM, WEST SUSSEX
G R AC E S H O W E R S J E W E L L E R Y, D E R B Y S H I R E
J E M I M A L U M L E Y, B R I S T O L
THE FOLKSY SAMP LER , WINTER 2 011
5
G E N TS
The Knitted John Tie £22.50
Lambswool Taxi Cushion £45
Placename Cufflinks £17.95
DOLLY KNITS, KENT
SALLY NENCINI, LONDON
B O O K I T Y, R E A D I N G
Leather Iphone Case £30
Coasters £16
Belt Bag £28
BEAUTIFUL SKIN, LONDON
COASTERS, BRISTOL
TIBORLEATHER, HAMPSHIRE
‘It Takes All Types’ £22
Upcycled Dandy Notebook £15
Maggie Handkerchief £10.50
HELLO DODO, BRIGHTON
PEONY & THISTLE, GLASGOW
MAXIMILIA, LONDON
Beard Envy Pocket Mirror £3
Steampunk Tie Bar £15
Noise Hero Kit £26
N I C O L A C L A R E ’ S S H O P, M A N C H E S T E R
O F F T H E C U F F, C H E S H I R E
CHRIS DODSWORTH DESIGN, LINCOLNSHIRE
6
THE FOLKSY SAMPLER, WINTER 2011
FOR THE LITTLE ONES
Travel Art Case £12.50
Dinosaur Crayons £6
Pete the Robot Purse £15
L I T T L E DAY D R E A M E R S , D E VO N
COLOUR ME FUN, ESSEX
NELLI D, HAMPSHIRE
Gardening Apron £15
Lambswool Monkey Long Legs Forget Me Not Hair Clips £25 £4
WILD THINGS DRESSES, CHORLEY
SALLY NENCINI, LONDON
NICKY NACKY NOO, SUSSEX
Ernie the Penguin Bib £9.50
Crunchy Apple Stamp £4
Flamingo Applique Babygrow £10
NELL, MANCHESTER
SKULL AND CROSS BUNS, DEVON
NOAH & MOLE, SOMERSET
Super Cape £15
Scrabble Tile Bracelet £6.99
Girl’s Breton Striped Dress £18
IWISHIWASA, SOUTH LONDON
BEAUTIFUL SHINY DIAMONDS, LOUGHBOROUGH
JENNY GALE, SUSSEX
THE FOLKSY SAMP LER , WINTER 2 011
7
MEET THE MAKERS F R O M O U R R E G U L A R M A K E R P O S T S I N F R A N K LY, T H E F O L K S Y M AG A Z I N E F R A N K LY. F O L K S Y. CO M
Leanne Garrity is a designer and maker of bright and quirky jewellery, accessories, homewares and toys. With a unique desire to explore, and a passion for recycling materials, Leanne’s work is always full of surprises. If you haven’t come across her yet, kick back, relax and meet the girl behind ChiChiDee Handmade. Your products have a great playful feel to them. Tell us about your work. I’m really passionate about recycling and upcycling existing textiles into new fun things. I tend to make bright and quirky accessories, clothing, jewellery, toys and homewares, mixing and matching colours patterns and textures as I go along. I love using up every last bit of fabric, so, for example, the main part of a man’s shirt will be transformed into a button up ladies skirt, handbag or a cushion, while the sleeves will be used to make yoyos that can be turned into cute brooches. There’s so much material out there already, I think it is unnecessary and even excessive to constantly seek brand new things. We live in a very ‘disposable’ society, which is completely unsustainable and encourages poor work conditions for those who manufacture these garments to meet mass demand. Quite often, clothes are worn a few times and then discarded for flimsy reasons, such as no longer mirroring the fashion of the moment. Landfills are brimming with these unwanted clothes that are often still in perfectly good condition – what a waste! Not everyone has the time or the inclination to make everything from scratch, which is why places like Folksy are so important! How long have you been making? Since 2007 when I graduated from university and moved to a small village in the Bavarian Alps with my partner. At first
Kirsty Elson lives in Cornwall with her partner and two sons and admits they are all mad about the beach. This inspired Kirsty to start her own business making sculpture, collage and textile decorations with a nautical feel. From lavender jelly fish to whale pin cushions, Kirsty’s work can’t fail to make you smile. Jump on board, grab a seat and let me introduce you to lady behind Kirsty Elson Designs. Hi Kirsty, first off, tell us about your work? My work really falls into three categories: driftwood sculpture, paper collage and textile decorations. My favourite medium is the wood, because each piece is inevitably different. The collages are very time-consuming and are usually commissioned. The textile pieces are my bread and butter! With such a broad collection of work, could you pick your favourite? Only the second question in and I want to cheat already - can I pick two? The first is a driftwood piece called Rough Sea. I like the simplicity and vivid colour. I love the sea part: the wood was found exactly like that...there is real movement in that water. It was one of those pieces you are kind of sad to sell in a way!
I didn’t speak any German and couldn’t work so I filled my time with crochet and taught myself how to sew. I made a lot of weird, wonky things and learned through trial and error. We’re always keen to snoop around people’s work spaces. Tell us about yours. In our house we call it the craft room because it’s too small to really be called a studio. The room has great features like a fireplace and a wall of built in cupboards and shelves packed with fabrics, yarns, buttons, bag handles, knitting needles and tons of other notions and oddments. The room is cozy and cute but also bright and airy; it gets great light in the afternoon, which is a good time to photograph new items for my shop. I have a window box with flowers and have a view of chimneyed rooftops. What three tools could you not live without? 1) Sewing machine, 2) Laptop 3) Good quality fabric scissors What do you love most about being a maker? It’s tactile and colourful – very stimulating for the senses. Making can be exploratory and exciting but also meditative and relaxing; either way it totally absorbs me. I really enjoy being able to hand-make gifts for family and friends – I feel it’s special and meaningful. I also like the idea of being self-sufficient: you know, in the future I see myself growing vegetables and making clothes – quite literally feeding and clothing my family! In an increasingly disillusioned world, going back to basics just seems real and honest. What would you say to any makers starting out? Don’t be shy, just get stuck in, follow your creative impulse and make what you feel like! Set your inhibitions aside because making mistakes is part of the learning process. You can see more of Leanne’s handmade products in her Folksy Shop folksy.com/chichidee
You’re an established designer-maker now, where did it all begin for you? I did an illustration/printmaking degree a long time ago, then life sort of took over before I knew it a decade had passed! Then a move to Cornwall coincided with the birth of my eldest son, and I started making driftwood cards for galleries. After my youngest son was born a few years later, I took part in some craft fairs, started a blog and crucially opened my Folksy shop! If you REALLY had to, what three making tools could you not live without? Oooh, hard one. My sewing machine, chisel and scissors! Where do you go and what do you do if creativity is stifled? Fortunately it doesn’t happen very often. I never seem to have enough time and ideas are always swimming around in my head. If I am stuck though, I may read a few blogs or magazines. Or better still, get myself to the beach. The sea always inspires me. What would you say to any designer makers starting out? Good photography and originality is key. If you can tick those boxes, then go for it! If you love the look of Kirsty’s work, you might want to have a snoop around her Folksy shop at folksy.com/kirstyelson
FRANKLY
T H E FO L KSY M AG A Z I N E
8
THE FOLKSY SAMPLER, WINTER 2011
FOR FOLKSY Here at Folksy, we thought it was To get your hands on one, or all, about time that we collaborated of these creative collaborations visit with some of our favourite designers. www.folksy.com/shops/folksy So this Winter, we’ve commissioned seven of them to create a set of functional items that reflect the beauty and diversity of Modern British Craft.
Carafe JUDE ALLMAN, ISLE OF MAN
Working to Folksy’s design brief didn’t come naturally for Jude Allman. The full-time ceramicist usually creates pieces that she needs in her own kitchen cupboards. This one woman business started with an evening class, but now she’s got a library’s worth of books and her own electric wheel. What was once a hobby is now a full blown obsession and she can’t go anywhere without picking up a pot and making notes.
The carafe she’s made for Folksy is hand-thrown stoneware clay, fired in an electric kiln and coloured with an olive green wood ash glaze. Because the glaze is natural, each pot is lovingly different. Made in her home studio they’ve been carefully attending throughout their creation. They’re food and dishwasher safe and hold just over half a bottle of wine. Perfect for ladies (or gents) who lunch.
Fisherman’s Hat D O L LY K N I T S /J O B OXA L L , K E N T
Top quality British yarns, bamboo needles and a comfy chair are part of Jo Boxall’s essential crafting kit when it comes to her chunky knits. She renounced industrial knitting machines after her Textile Degree, returned to hand-knitting and Dolly Knits was born. Jo loves how compact the craft can be and has set up her work space (a big red sofa) so that everything is at arms length - apparently this is the key to a good knitting rhythm!
Part Gallery Manager, part proknitter, Jo spends three days a week on her so-called ‘business hobby’. It’s a constant cycle of making, researching and promoting and she relishes every moment... We asked Jo to make us some of her beautiful fisherman’s hats. They’re 100% British wool and can be worn with either a thick ribbed brim or long and baggy. They’re soft, breathable and very cosy around the ears.
Card Wallet BYMI/HANNAH ASHWELL, EDINBURGH
Whilst some people have itchy feet, Hannah Ashwell has itchy hands. Instead of travelling, she’s got the bug for making and has come a very long way since her Toy Work Badge at Brownies. After studying History of Art at University she plunged into the dressmaking world and her Textile Origami began to take shape. Hannah’s core crafting kit includes a huge bin of cotton and silk fabric, her trusty irons and hundreds of paper origami patterns to test ideas. As her love for the craft has grown,
her dining room has disappeared and dinner parties have been replaced by studio sessions. The By Mi for Folksy card holder is based on one of Hannah’s most popular designs and we love how the military colours are softened by the Liberty Mike fabric. We wanted to showcase the precision of Hannah’s unique skill and she’s done us proud. The card wallet holds six credit or debit cards and will fit snugly in your pocket or inside a coin purse.
THE FOLKSY SAMP LER , WINTER 2 011
Kindle Cover TILLYMOSS/SARAH PENDRICK, SHEFFIELD
Here at Folksy, we like our digital devices to be well-dressed, that’s where Tillymoss comes in. This kitchen table industry began in 2008 when Sheffield-based Sarah Pendrick needed a way to keep working whilst raising her family. Inspiration for her designs comes from an array of sources; a chatter with some friends, trips to vintage shops and Radio 4 all help her creativity flow...
9
Highly organised, Sarah has her name down on studio waiting lists and would love to expand production beyond her home. Often sourcing fabric locally, Sarah is always reading up on new textiles, designers and techniques. Simplicity is the key to Sarah’s success and we love the rustic look of the Kindle cover she’s created for us. It was a bit more fiddly to make than her macbook sleeves, but she’s happy with the finished result and we think you will be too.
Notepad HEATHER DEWICK, SHEFFIELD
Deciding whether her craft is a business or love affair is a tricky task for bookbinder Heather Dewick. After training as a museum conservator, Heather worked as a gilder and ceramic restorer before falling into bookbinding. Blurring past and present, she now makes new, unique books and notepads whilst restoring slightly scruffier ones...
Her favourite piece of equipment is a 1920’s blocking press which does all her lettering, using old letterpress type, heat, pressure and pigment foils. Many of her tools are at least second hand and Heather relishes using equipment that has been ‘broken in’. Working collaboratively with Folksy was exciting for Heather and she inundated us with samples and fabric swatches before settling on the final design.
Craft Apron P E R I S & CO R R /J E N N I E CO R R & DY F R I G PERIS, SNOWDONIA
Jennie Corr & Dyfrig Peris met at University and worked together in telesales before deciding that their true calling was slightly more creative. The pair quit their jobs, moved back to North Wales and put their fine art degrees to good use. They bought screen-printing equipment, rented out an old quarry workshop and hey presto, Peris & Corr began.
Trivet FINK FURNITURE/FINBAR LUCAS, SHEFFIELD
Even the biggest success stories have humble beginnings. Over a decade ago, Finbar Lucas borrowed £100 from a friend to buy a saw- now he’s taking on staff to keep on top of his workload. Despite the huge demand, Fin’s pieces all have a unique story behind them. By using locally sourced timber from tree surgeons and the Peak District National Park, the designer can often pinpoint the exact tree from which an item is made.
Limiting wastage is Fink Furniture’s main priority, saving offcuts and turning them into something new is all part of Finbar’s grand plan. He says that his work is the result of careful thinking and careful making. Our design brief caused a lot of headscratching for the artist, who’s used to making much larger commissions. The seemingly simple trivet takes 26 steps to make, but we think it’s worth it. Each is made from a unique combination of locally sourced or reclaimed ash, oak, sycamore or beech wood and has been beautifully crafted for your kitchen worktop.
Inspired by the 1950s, Japanese woodcut patterns and Mike Perry the pair use only organic fabric, water-based inks and biodegradable chemicals in their work. Their vibrant designs combine quirky patterns with traditional methods and the result is truly contemporary homeware. Cold days in the quarry don’t stop the duo who are fuelled by hot coffee and new ideas. These Welsh wonders have worked their magic with our design brief and have created a craft apron fit for even the most discerning designer.
10
THE FOLKSY SAMPLER, WINTER 2011
ENGLAND, I RELAND, SCOTLAND, & WALES Tweed Bolster Cushion £19
Tea Cosy £45
Birds of Britain Nail Transfers £1.95
FELT FEELINGS, LANCASHIRE
A VERY BRITISH AFFAIR, THE PEAK DISTRICT
KATE BROUGHTON, NOTTINGHAM
Linen Stocking £20
Celtic Braid Bangle £12
Napkin Rings £15
EDIE SLOANE, BELFAST
ARUALA, HAMPSHIRE
FOXES & PHEASANTS, KENT
Vintage Silk Corsage £35
The Raven King Print £9
Welsh Blanket Lampshade £39
CIKKI DESIGNS, NORTH WALES
OLD WIVES TALE, DENBIGHSHIRE
P E R I S & CO R R , S N O W D O N I A N AT I O N A L PA R K
Fairisle Blanket £70
Print ‘Wee Edition’ £22
Tunnocks Wafer Cushion £42
SELVAGE, FIFE
HOLE IN MY POCKET, GLASGOW
NIKKI MCWILLIAMS, DUNDEE
THE FOLKSY SAMP LER , WINTER 2 011
11
S U PPLI E S
Handprinted Red Brolly Fabric Bias Binding £6.95 £3
Sweet Christmas Ribbon £7.99
SARAH WATERHOUSE, SHEFFIELD
B LO N D E S B AC K YA R D
MFH, LONDON
Jelly Baby Buttons £3.50
Grand Stack of Felt £30
Frosted Beads £2
LILLEYS
FELT GIRL
RUBY & DIG
FO R T H E O N E YO U LOV E …
Love Mouse Couple £18
Bird Bowl Duo £29
Copper Folk Heart Rings £26
QUERNUS CRAFTS
PRINCE DESIGN UK, MANCHESTER
ALISON MOORE DESIGNS, ORKNEY
Imprint Me Cufflinks £85
Red Flow Necklace £20
‘I love you more than twitter’ card £4
A L I B A L I J E W E L L E R Y, E D I N B U R G H
SEVENTYSEVENTYONE DESIGN
STOREYSHOP
12
THE FOLKSY SAMPLER, WINTER 2011
FACTS & FI GU R E S
Most remote seller
Most remote seller Alison Moore Designs Orkney Islands 568.7 miles from Folksy HQ Longest serving Folksy shop Craftiest places (measured by number of items listed on Folksy / per head of population) 1. Eastbourne 2. Cambridge 3. Brighton Longest serving Folksy shop Asking for Trouble Glasgow Started 6th July 2008
Average distance a Folksy item travels: 48 miles
Folksy HQ 2269 visits from Chesterfield
Average distance accross the UK travelled by a Folksy item 48 miles
5497 visits from Swansea Crafty place 2
Folksy Addicts... (Randomly selected places and their visits to Folksy, Jan-Nov 2011) 5121 visits from Woking
10619 Folksy visits from people in Plymouth 10619 visits from Plymouth 2269 Folksy visits from people in Chesterfield 5497 Folksy visits from people in Swansea 5121 Folksy visits from people in Woking
Crafty place 3
Crafty place 1