The Handmade Fair 2015 - Live Craft Mash Up

It was a case of Knitter vs Glitter this weekend as I returned to Kirstie Allsop's Handmade Fair as one of her Craft Experts to take part in Friday's Live Craft Mash Up, sponsored by Mollie Makes magazine and HobbyCraft, and this time I was up against the fabulous (and feline friendly) Deadly Knitshade. We were both given a plain polysterene wreath to decorate, in front of a live audience in just 45 minutes.

In advance of the Mash Up we were asked what materials we'd like, I opted for the stuff I love best: sparkles, spangles, glitter, confetti, sequins and lots and lots of gemstones, while Deadly Knitshade brought in yarn (obviously!)

As she wound her wreath with a pre-knitted fluro magenta panel, I got messy decoupaging the base - both of us crafted while being interviewed by our Mollie Makes host.

I hadn't tested out my design, just did a few sketches and developed a concept, inspired by both of our mops. DK is usually seen with blue hair while I'm currently rocking purple and green. Together we are a human peacock so I took my lead from that and whipped up a themed wreath.

Due to time restraints it wasn't the neatest of craft projects but I did manage to cover the base, create some giant peacock eyes lined with sequin trim and filled them in with think confetti glitter, stick on lots of gems (whilst also welding some onto the table), before completing my design with a feature section made from peacock feathers and my piece-de-resistance, a felt peacock which I had stitched the night before in front of the telly.

Meanwhile Ms Knitshade transformed hers into a monster door knocker complete with bulging eyes and slithery bits.

The Knitter just pipped the Glitter to the post and Deadly Knitshade was crowned the champion of the Mash Up. 

 I loved her creation and was pleased with mine too - I'm going to hang it proudly in my pad somewhere. 

Think you don't have time to craft? Although we both did a wee bit of prep, we still managed to create crafty showstoppers in under an hour, see, it's possible! 

Afterwards we hung out at the Fair, hooked up with some fellow crafters including knitter Louise Walker, printer Zeena Shah and animatronics/designer maker for film and TV, Emma Brassfield. I also had a good old natter with some other crafty folk which was superb.

A fine afternoon of living the crafty life. I have a few more craft events appearing in my diary in the lead up to Christmas which is nice, including guesting at my local WI, hopefully running a workshop for a well-known brand and possibly recording a video too. Exciting!

Thanks to Lauren & Emma for taking most of these pics - if you were at The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court, I hope you had fun and extra special thanks to everyone who came to see us : ) 

101+ Things To Do With Glitter Book Launch, Blogs & Publicity

My new book 101+ Things To Do With Glitter is published on 23rd October, and was launched in style on September 25th at The Hackney Attic as part of a super sparkling Glitter Festival. Around 100 people got sprinkled in shimmer as they made bow ties crafted hair accessories, tried their hand at scrapbooking and had glitter make overs. There were glittering prizes, an exhibition, special guests, live music and even twinkling drinks. 
I have some amazing photographs of the event taken by SwaniDotCom...but as he took over 300, I'm still sorting through them!! 
I will post a link soon.
In the mean time, here are some blogs of the event and some other glitter publicity worth checking out! 

 Asian City
There's an exclusive extract of the book in the current issue of Asian City newspaper.
View it online. (got to page 25)

Jennifer Grace
Came all the way from Devon to enjoy the night.
Here's her account: JennifersJumbles

Perri Lewis
Got together with one of the speakers Deadlyknitshade and did some scrapbooking.
Here's what she made: Make and Do With Perri.

Kareem Short
Was the first girl to win a raffles prize (6 of the 8 went to boys!)
Here's what she got up to. Tea and Blankets

Victoria Bell aka Plum
Invited me to speak about glitter at The Dalston Darlings WI
She wrote about what happened.
And she interviewed me too.

The Asian World
Interviewed me and called me the Asian Kristy Allsopp, though I expect they meant Kirsty!
Read it online here. (page 19)

Bollyspice
Meera Sharma did a pre-launch article and then came along and interviewed me on the night. 

I also took some glitter into the BBC Asian Nework Studio and got DJ Nihal to make a glitter keyring for his wife in my own version of Ready Steady Make (based on the TV show Ready Steady Cook where you have 20 minutes to cook something) though this time it was 'make something', live on air, and I also chatted about crafts on Hayes FM.

Still to come an article in Eastern Eye newspaper and the book will also be appearing in Bliss Magazine's Christmas Gift suggestions!

Thank you to everyone who's written about more book or are going to! Please send me a link so I can share it too!

Me in The Metro and my new Bollywood Jewellery collection...

 

Yesterday I was in The Metro - a free London newspaper - talking about me, my clothes, my inspiration and dreams - I even revealed some secrets too! 

The article is available online so if you missed it you can read it here.

I had the photoshoot a few weeks ago at The Metro offices in Kensington and I was really pleased that the lovely Bel Jacobs who edits the page let me choose my fave two photos from the shoot - she then made the final choice. It was amusing looking at lots of photos of me and trying to notice the difference between them - was my knee pointing too much in one photo...was my smile a bit too cheesy?

 My friend Sohail who is an amazing photographer tweeted a photo of what the article looks like on an Ipad which was interesting as I've still had very limited access to them. I've only been near my nephews, who's 5, but when I saw him over Christmas he was more interested in using it to play games with my brother-in-laws than letting me have a peak! 

Choosing what to wear was easy but knowing how to accessorise was the hard part. I have so much to choose from! I wanted to use the space to promote some of my favourite designers. The amazing clutch bag I'm holding (here's a better close up) was made from an upcycled rice bag by handbag designer ReddSkinGyal.

While the fascinator which is obscured in the paper was this incredible Bat Girl fascinator by Janine Basil who's work I LOVE!

   

I'm also wearing a necklace that features in my new jewellery collection. I love Bollywood & I love jewellery so clearly I had to make some Bollywood jewellery!

My initial launch range consists of statement pendants and brooches.

Each phrase has special film connotations. This one is in hommage to Helen and is the one I'm wearing in the Metro.

The term 'Desi Girl' was popularised in Dostana a few years back.

 I've always loved the phrase 'Filmi' it's a good way to descibe things that are a bit strange or surreal but could happen in the realm of Bollywood! 'It's just so filmi yar......'

All the pieces are for sale ranging from £7.50-£12 and are handmade by me! 

Visit my online store to purchase!

All in all it was a fun and surreal experience and I'm really pleased with the article and the photo. It's a good record of me at 31 and a great confidence boost for what I do.

Tutorial: How to make a Mexican Chilli Bangle

Too hot to handle!

For me, chilli's are the most iconic motif of Mexican & Latino culture. Not just because they feature in the cuisine (one of my fave holiday memories is eating fresh mango sprinkled with chilli powder on the street markets of Mexico) but because they have so much personality. I love their graphic shape, the bold, bright colours they come in, and the way they embody fire and passion. I designed this chilli bangle project to celebrate Crafty Chica's National Craft Month celebrating 30 days of Latino inspired crafts. Here's my contribution - check out her blog for more HOT inspiration from other designers who love Latino flavoured crafts, every day this March.
To make a chilli bangle, you will need:

Shopping list

Sheet of red neoprene (craft foam)

Red glitter

Green glitter

PVA/white craft glue

Paintbrush

Plain paper

Pencil

Scissors

End roll of sticky tape

Yarn

Strong glue or glue gun

Sticky situation

1. Start off by making Glitter Foam. Paint a layer of PVA glue over the whole of your foam sheet, ensuring every bit is covered and that it's even and not too lumpy. Lift it up and place it on a clean paper surface.

Shake it!

2.  Pour red glitter over the glue, shake it off and pour the glitter that falls off, back into the jar. When dry, you can use glitter foam in any number of craft projects not just to make sparkling chillis!

That's a wrap

3. While the glitter foam is drying, prepare you bangle. Use the card roll that is left over from sticky tape as the bangle base, or a plain wooden or plastic bangle if you have one. Cut off a long piece of yarn, tie it to the bangle and then wrap it around until you reach the end. Tie another knot and feed the end into the bangle so it's hidden and secure.

4. Draw a chili shape onto paper to create a template and cut it out. Lay it on the back of your foam and draw around it several times, enough to cover the bangle. Then cut them out.

Chillis to go

5. Paint the tops of each chilli with PVA glue, then pour on green gitter to ensure each chilli has a green stalk.

6. When completely dry, glue the glittered chillis along the bangle using a strong glue. 

Hot stuff

See more Latin crafts on Crafty Chica's blog.  I guarantee you will get hooked!

Spice girl

Now then...who fancies a burrito??

Valentines Day spa craft tutorial: How to make soaps

Soapmaking is a cheap, quick, satisfying craft that is a great gift idea - not just for Valentines, but also for thank you gestures  and house-warming presents. The best thing is that complete novices, any one new to making or lacking in confidence with crafting will get results they'll be proud of within minutes and you don't need much to get started.

You will need: 

*Melt & pour soap base OR any glycerin soap as it melts in the same way

(The soap base in available in craft stores or search online)

*Silicone mould (ones for baking are fine)

*Microwave, microwavable bowl & fork

(Alternatively, melt the soap in a pan on your cooker)

*Knife

*Optional - food colouring

*Things to suspend (like dried flowers, glitter, ornaments etc)

*Scent
*Clingfilm

1. Chop up the base into small pieces and measure out how much you will need in each compartment of the mould. You will need to add double the quantity of how far it fills up, because it will reduce in size when melted.

2. Heat the base in the microwave for 15 seconds, then stir. Keep melting for 15 second intervals until it's completely liquidised. 

3. The base solidifies very quickly. So get ready to put it into the mould as soon as possible. If you are using food colouring add it now. It will lower the temperature of the base making it solidify. If that happens, place it back in the microwave. If you're using glitter, stir it in as well. Now is also the time to add a few drops of scent like a diluted essential oil (they are often too strong on their own.) You can leave the soaps fragrance free but I think they are more fun to use (and more impressive if you are giving them as a gift), if they are scented.

4. Setting takes up to a couple of hours so leave them in a cool place. Then pop them out like ice cubes.

My designs:

1. Hundreds & thousands - I placed plastic initial beads at the bottom of the mould then sprinkled cake decorations on top. 

2. Plain blue soap - I coloured this soap by blending blue food colouring into the melted soap base.

3. Plastic beads - I suspended plastic beads in the mould - as it gets used, the beads fall out and you'll end up with enough to make a bracelet!

4. Sequins - I suspended silver star confetti in the base.

5. Red glitter - I mixed glitter and red food colouring into the melted base.

6. Rose buds - First I poured melted clear base into the mould then placed small rose buds directly on the top surface.

Because the soap base is transparent you can see everything that's suspended in it. The top surface of the rose soap shows off the petals, but when you turn it over, you see the lovely buds underneath.

For more soap making ideas this book will fill you with inspiration. Brimming with colourful photos I've used it in spa crafting workshops before and everyone is amazed by it - the instructions are clear and accessible.

Have fun making your own soaps but be warned: buying a shop bought soap is not the same once you're discovered how easy it is to make your own 'bespoke' ones in a matter of minutes at home!
NB: Tightly wrap cling film around each of your soaps to preserve them.

Top secret photos from my forthcoming book!

I'm so excited I may burst! The only way I can prevent this from happening is if I share some sneaky, top secret photos from my forthcoming book '101+ Things to do with Glitter', published by Vivays Publishing this Autumn - the photoshoots started yesterday! 

It's a bright & sparkling craft book which contains 200 suggestions for what you can do with the shimmery stuff including papercrafts, food, toiletries,gifts, interiors and of course some glistening ideas for your wardrobe. I took some photos of yesterdays fashion shoot in order to share them on my blog nearer the time of publication but I just couldn't wait!

We took photos around Islington in North London and also stopped by Teletubbies land.

It was the only place we could find a yellow brick road for the fairytale project.*

(Roger from Struktur who is the book's art director & designer has contacts with munchkins.) My amazing model Nadia Kamil (an actress. writer, comedian and now craft star) was freezing but was prepared to lie on a damp floor to get the shot.

I think that's about all I can reveal. Watch this space and my twitter account for more sparkly updates over the coming months about the most glittering book you will have ever seen!

*(I'm sure you know which fairytale I mean....but ssshhhh for now!) 

How to make & customise: super simple stockings

Stocking fillers are the best Christmas gifts. I’d be happy is Santa delivered me something cheap & cheerful from Poundland...as long as it’s not coal (but I’m not a naughty girl so I don’t need to worry!)

Of course Santa gives the best prezzies to the people with the best stockings. I recently designed stockings for Dog’s Monthly magazine (for the pet and the owner!), pictured above. And below are a selection of handmade stockings to inspire you, made by staff from the V& A Museum. I ran a special Christmas craft workshop for them for their recent away day.

  The plan was for staff to hang them in their work corridor for everyone to admire.

  I gathered lots of spangly materials and let them loose on my supplies.

They beavered away for 1.5 hours. All 25 of them!

To make your own super simple stocking, simply draw two basic stocking shapes on a piece of felt (these ones were just less than A4 in size), and cut them out.

Then pick your embellishments and get crafting! Sew, glue, paint, draw, glitter, bead, sequin, embroider or write…whatever takes your fancy!

 

To join it together use a basic in and out running stitch all along the sides.

 

Or a whip stitch which is a diagonal stitch that goes along the sides holding the pieces together.

Finally stitch a piece of ribbon in a loop in the inside corner, to hang up your stocking.

Santa if you’re reading this, here’s what I would like in my stocking this year, (just incase the stock in Poundland is sold out and your elves can swing by somewhere posh):

1. Chocolate from Hotel Chocolat (any as long as it’s not dark!)
2. Lip Gelee lipgloss from MAC (they’ve stopped selling it, but you’re Santa, you can make it come back!)
3. A jar of Chilli Marmite….I’ve got friends who have tried it but I’ve not seen it yet : (
4. A voucher for TK Maxx (no explanation needed)
5. A date with John Abraham….well he’s split up with Bipasha, surely you can pull some strings? ...for me??????

Oh and clementines are ok as long as they are sweet! Thanks : )