Brooch Making Workshop

I'll be running a brooch making workshop on Saturday 14th June at Arts at The Old Fire Station, Oxford. This is a drop in between 2pm and 4pm, no tools required, just a simple understanding of sewing and a love for making! We'll be using fairtrade organic cotton to make the brooches, which you will also learn the benefits of using instead of conventional cotton. 

A little bit of gardening

I woke this morning with a few aches and  feeling very tired! Yesterday I went to Braziers Park, a beautiful manor house set in the Chiltern Hills, not far from where I grew up. It houses a community of like minded peeps, all wanting to live a more sustainable and alternative way of life. This is the house...

We started with a morning introduction of the group and cup of tea, the sun was starting to break through the blanket of mist so we set to work outside. A day of lifting the path slabs, cutting back and weeding was hard work but very rewarding. A magical place that creates conversations and acquaintances that may never have happened, surrounded by nature and existing to break the norms that we have become so accustomed to in our every day lives. 

I needed new curtains!

The curtains in our bedroom, well I should say curtain, yes only one, was really quite gross. A dirty old grey thing, that had been there years. So with a week off work I decided to make my own! I've recently painted my chest of drawers a lovely French linen so needed a colour fabric that would compliment both the drawers and our beautiful vintage bedspread. I have trunks full so had a rummage. A soft, colour grown organic cotton in olive caught my eye as well as a cream organic cotton for the lining. Now, I'm not the sort to spend hours on this so needed a quick fix, I found these handy curtain clips in a store nearby and set to work!

Here are the results... 

My new hairdressing love...

 Now, if you're like me and a bit lazy when it comes to 'hair' then I know that products, blow drying and maintaining neatly trimmed locks doesn't come easy.  I'm not fussed about what hairdressers I visit, probably because its generally only twice a year! I'm low maintenance (when it comes to grooming) so will normally visit my local home hairdresser for £17. I do however care about what ingredients are in the products I use on my skin, whether it be the washing up liquid, deodorant or shampoo, it's all natural.  So when I discovered an organic hairdressers just 30mins drive away I went for a snoop at Tabitha James Kraan's salon in Stow on the Wold.  They run late nights on a Wednesday which was perfect for me finishing work at six, the girls at the salon were welcoming and we got straight into talking about 'what I wanted', erm sort my mop out?!! Gemma my director stylist was lovely, very knowledgable and easy to chat to.  My first surprise was when I sat in the 'chair' to have my mop washed, legs went up and a rippling motion started on my back.. This was no ordinary chair but a massage chair.. I was in heaven! I admit I almost fell asleep. Gemma used some lovely organic products on my hair to give it a well needed water, and Argan oil. This oil has 80% fatty acids and high levels of vitamin E, it has been used by the Berber women for centuries to protect their hair, skin and nails.  Now gimme some of that! My time being pampered was just under an hour and well worth the £50, so if you want to go natural, organic on your locks then head straight to TJK. Here is me in the car afterwards... 

Chokers fit for a Wedding!

It has been a while since I have made a  choker so when my lovely customer asked me I was over the moon! The best thing about designing them is that they are completely new designs, one off pieces. Inspired by Spain and the beautiful flamenco costumes I used hemp silk, lace and ribbon. The rose detail was tricky at first but I'm very happy with the finished look and will most definitely be making some as winter brooches! These chokers are going all the way to Germany to be worn at a wedding, if you would like one designed for you then please get in touch! 

Window Visual Merchandising... Summer Vibes!

Exclusive Roots have the most fab Summer colours running through their jewellery collection ' Exotic Holiday', hand thrown ceramics and hand woven baskets... Not to mention the beautifully made dresses from Malawi designed by Feng Ho. This window shouts colour, fun, summer and happy days. 

Organic cotton brooches

I've been asked by my lovely friends Arts at The Old Fire Station to make more brooches and coin purses! I'm always so happy when I receive new orders, and still can't quite get my head around people actually wearing my creations! I have always felt a need for an output for my creative bursts, as a child I would fill up with ideas and the need to 'create'. My Mother would often find me rummaging in the garage gathering pieces of wood and nails. So this evening I'm peacefully drawing circles on my selected fabrics... Summer days spent in hazy corn fields inspire my choice of yellows and blues.