Things in 3s: The final three from Made London

It's been a while since I visited the Made London show at One Marylebone and today I'm sharing the last of the fabulous makers I met there. In fact it's a timely end to this series as last week I had a day at the Spring Fair at Birmingham's NEC and I plan to start sharing more of what I saw there soon.

1. Head and Haft's functional and beautiful wooden homewares

Wood. Isn't it gorgeous, and who knew you could make such gorgeous bowls from it. These boards too were gorgeous and as smooth to touch as they looked. In some ways they're too beautiful to use everyday, but would I think look great with a nice hunk of English cheese on. Head and Haft are based in Cornwall and as well as these items make some fabulous furniture. Their website isn't live yet, but they say it's coming soon.

2. Theo Wright's silk symmetry scarves

These scarves were just lovely - my favourite is the green and red one on the left. I'd been on the lookout for a non-wooly scarf for MOH and these still are serious contenders. Theo, originally from Derby acknowledged his "latent interest in textiles" while travelling in the late nineties. After acquiring a loom and weaving in his spare time he opened his textile design business in 2011.

These scarves are pure class.

3. Victoria Clare Dawes' hand thrown tableware

Victoria is currently based in Sheffield but her work represents her history which involves travelling and living in New Zealand, North America and the UK. Her designs stand out and she uses simplified icons and repetitions from the Maori kowhaiwhai patterns.

And although the cheese and the cheeseboard were what caught my attention initially - I mean, cheeeese! - it was this jug that I thought was her most beautiful and stunning piece.

There were many more makers at Made London, but the ones I've featured throughout this series are the ones I spoke to and who had plenty of time to speak to the people viewing their wares. It was a pleasure to meet you all, understand more about your craft and share that here on my blog.

A Valentines card that's close to my heart

I can hardly believe it's almost Valentines Day. This year once again I'm making my card to MOH and this year I'm sharing it early - and he's under strict instructions not to read this post until after the event!

For all of my cards I like simple and strong designs and this card is no different. The part of it that's close to my heart, is that I've reused old magazines and made them into something pretty special.  Throughout this post I'm also going to share more about my new craft light from Iconic Lights. It's brilliant.

GETTING STARTED

1. I started with some colourful pages from an old magazine and cut them into oblongs around 5cm x 12cm - just large enough to cover my heart die.

My plan was to roll these pieces of paper up and stick them onto a piece of backing card, and then use my die cutting machine to cut a heart shape.

If you don't have a die cutting machine you can follow a similar approach but you'll need to draw a heart template and cut that out by hand.

2. I used a small amount of PVA Craft glue as I rolled each piece of paper up to stop it unrolling as soon as I'd turned my back, and then attached them to some scrap backing card using the same glue.  

Already you can see how the pattern is building up, and while you only see part of the magazine page I think it's interesting watching the pattern develop.

Before we carry on with the card, let me tell you more about my new light from Iconic Lights. I am clearly using it as a craft lamp, but it's more regularly known as a 'Stell' LED Telescopic Adjustable Desk Lamp. It comes in black and white and folds flat when not in use - so a mega-plus if you're using it for a specific purpose, like me and don't have room to keep it on show all the time.

It gives out a decent amount of light and really helped me focus on the close work. At £18 I think it's very reasonable and am considering buying some as presents for fellow crafters.

Here's a few photos of it fully extended, unextended, tilted and folded flat. What I especially like about this lightweight light is the telescopic bits which remind me of telescopic aerials we used to get on radios - perhaps they still exist, but I don't have those any more.

FULLY EXTENDED

UNEXTENDED

TILTED

AND FOLDED FLAT

Right, back to the card.

3. Once you have stuck sufficient rolled paper pieces to cover your die or template, it's time to leave it to dry. If you're using a die cutting machine you can place it under a large book (or something equally heavy) while it dries, but if you're cutting your shape by hand be careful about how much weight you add, or you'll flatten your rolls of paper.

The rolls of paper will flatten in the die cutting machine which is why it is less important to keep the shape at this stage.

4. Now all that you need to do is to attach your newly created heart to a blank card. I've chosen a brown card to reflect the recycled nature of my card, and I think it shows off the heart well. 

It really is as easy as that.  And as with my other cards, the possibilities are endless - who knows how else I use this technique. I'm pretty sure I'll be using it again though.

What green Valentines crafts are you planning this year?

I was sent the Stell LED Telescopic Adjustable Desk Lamp to review as part of my role as one of Iconic Lights' approved blogging ambassadors, but all views and opinions are my own.

Introducing the Loo Series...

Yes, it seems I have a thing for loos, specifically their decor.  Remember those fancy-pants ones at One Marylebone?  Well this weekend I spotted a trend when I found myself snapping pictures of the decor of the loos in the new Flat Iron in Covent Garden.

We'd had a busy day in town Sunday. MOH had run in the 10k Winter Run and then we'd popped up to the Alessi store to buy some new tableware. Well after all of that, and despite the croissant in Paul, we were both rather peckish, so we headed over to the new Flat Iron in Covent Garden with the hope that there wouldn't be a queue longer than all of our arms put together.

We were in luck, there wasn't a queue at all and we were quickly shown to our table. The menu there is fairly easy to navigate - flat iron steaks, house salad are de rigeur and along with some fries and a side dish of green veg, I'm easily sorted. So leaving these instructions with MOH I headed off to find the toilets - coffee and a pint of beer, followed by lots of walking necessitated a visit.

There wasn't a queue there either, and just as well really or else I'd have looked a right oddball taking these pictures. 

At first I was struck by the funkiness - and well let's be honest, the hardware shop approach, to the taps. They worked well with the trough sink - there were four taps along the length of the sink. And then I took more time to take in my surroundings and they were quite something.

The colour of the tiles for one. Gorgeous aren't they?

A wire basket for hand towels.

And the cubicle doors were great too.  It's not the best photo as well, I hadn't really expected to find myself taking these pictures but with an empty ladies and one looking so funky I just had to.

Remembering the real reason we were in the restaurant - yes to eat - I eventually went back upstairs and arrived back at the table to MOH's questioning look. I'm still not sure he totally got it, even when I showed him the photos - maybe one day when I'm angling for copper pipe taps in a bathroom of ours he'll click, maybe not.

Anyway it's not just the loos at Flat Iron that are fab, the restaurant's decor is pretty cool too. It clicked for me as it mixes old and new so well, something I'd love to be able to do more of at home. Just look at this floor.

And the tiles in the window (to the right of the picture). I'm including this picture because, the blocks are actually bars of chocolate. You can just see some shavings in the foreground, when we left we left with an ice cream rolled in this chocolate - it was heavenly.

So back at the table, with steaks and wine ordered I was still enthusing about the loos. That is until I saw the light above our table...

Yes, wow. Just wow.

A great place. The decor's a mix of modern and reclaimed with a hint of quirky. And the steaks are good too. If you're in Covent Garden stop in, but be prepared to queue.  The worst that can happen is a cocktail while you're waiting - if anyone asks, tell them I said it's the rules!

And the next time I find some fancy loos, I'll be sure to share them with you!