Workshops Past


About Me

There's no craft revival in this family, as it never left... thrift and creative enterprise have been a way of life for these working class, feisty women for generations. Borne from an inclination to make and create, Grandmother Violet & daughters Violet, Iris and June (with little Coral as a young onlooker, watching & learning) spent the '50s & '60s making everything from knitted-beaded bags which had a flow of local cockneys knocking on the door to buy to rejuvenated ballgowns, redesigned and rebuilt from the same fabric to be worn at many masonic gala dinners and family parties. The charismatic husbands played their part in making life safe, enjoyable and full of laughter, but it was the women who took the lead role in making sure that every piece of fabric, wool or thread went to use making everyone look beautifully turned out, despite a less than affluent background... the art of turning something into nothing and making beautiful things with inspiration rather than money.. An art which I plan to continue, the next generation of crafters, remembering the '50s and always learning from the skills we've been lucky enough to inherit from our sisters and mothers... ♥

Monday, 1 November 2010

Christmas Thrifting...

Okay so Christmas is a commercialist nightmare, barely have we embarked on November and shops are coercing us into buying gifts and decorations a plenty! So it might be consumerism at its worst, but it's also a chance to show our loved ones how much we treasure them! Now what message would we rather give to our nearest and dearest: "here's a purpose-manufactured smellies set from Boots (3 for 2!) which will gather dust in your bathroom" OR " Here's a beautiful one-off hand-crafted gift which I spent time lovingly seeking out and choosing for you"...? Hmmmm? Okay so the 'lovingly seeking out' part meant a good old mooch around some gorgeous markets and craft events, where browsing is punctuated with somewhat self-indulgent tea, cake, cake, tea, mulled wine, etc... and the chances of someone else buying your favourite Aunt exactly the same gift are minimal!

And if that's not enough to persuade you, don't get me started on where our hard earned money should be going... sole trader crafters who will plough money back into further creativity, or in the pockets of fat-cat shareholders at the top of the multinational corporations of greed...? Enough said.

So with this in mind, here are the details of upcoming markets at which I will be preciously arranging, and offering my wares to the lovely thrifting, gorgeous public... with all the live music, tea and cake and lovely lunches available at these gorgeous 'pop-up' events, Christmas shopping stops being a chore but a lovely way to spend time with friends and get out and about around London... enjoy ♥
  • Sat November 13th 12-5 "Going for a Song" @ The Amersham Arms, New Cross (right opp New Cross Station, from London Bridge or on the Overground)  Good food, great music and choc-full of vintage and bric-a-brac and hosted by the gorgeous and fabulously fun Rupert ♥

  • Saturday November 13th 7pm-late "Church Launch!" St Barnabus Church (Bow/Mile End) is launching as an iconic live music venue! There will be stalls and wonderous and eclectic music http://st-barnabas-music.blogspot.com/ £3 tickets available now ♥

  • Sun November 14th 11-4 "House Clearance" @ Jaguar Shoes, Shoreditch High St. (nearest stations are Hoxton Overground and Old St tube) Trendy yet cosy, packed with some great bargains, why not make it a stop-off between flowers at Columbia Road and that Sunday roast which you deserve for even making it out of the house ♥

  • Sat Dec 4th 11-4 Craft Guerilla Christmas Craft Emporium (this also runs on Sun) @ William Morris Gallery, Forest Rd, Walthamstow. This event will be genuinely excellent with a great variety of stallholders. See the awesome Craft Guerilla site for their amazing workshops and events.. http://www.craftguerrilla.com/page6.htm


  • Sat Dec 11th: Bazaar @ The Star (Bethnal Green, nr end of Brick Lane) run by the gorgeous and glamorous Jet, this will be another spectacular market.

  • Sun Dec 12th 12-6: "Mistletoe & Silk" at the glamorous Beauberry House in West Dulwich. This event is held by youlovefashion and Cherry Picked Styling and will feature a tarot card reader, affordable beauty treatments, a charity auction, live music, a burlesque taster session and a catwalk show plus an in house gift wrapping service!Tickets are £8 in advance and include burlesque, live entertainment, a Christmas Cupcake and a glass of mulled wine ♥

Happy browsing!

♥Violet Iris ♥
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1 comment:

  1. Violet Iris1 November 2010 at 02:49

    If anyone would like to spread the word of any other markets, please feel free ♥

    ReplyDelete

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