Yorkshire Made

'Meet the Maker' #8 - A Crafty Conversation with...

2011-09-29T11:11:00.001+01:00

...Miriam Trent from Mintprint!

Would you like some cake?

Yes please!

Sit down, make yourself comfortable! Time for introductions... What's your name, where do you come from and what do you do?

My name is Miriam Trent, my business is Mintprint. I live in lovely Meanwood in Leeds. I'm a Printmaker and Surface Pattern Designer. I like bold blocky colours and good solid shapes. I print using old fashioned techniques, mainly lino print, monoprint and screenprint. A lot of my work has a domestic theme and is kitcheny based. Probably because I love food and cooking! I print original prints for hanging on walls. Also teatowels, aprons and greetings cards. I've just started a range of bone china mugs. I teach children's and adults printmaking classes. Finally, I'm a Surface pattern designer. Some patterns derive from my prints, but some are made from drawings or cut paper.

Other than that, I eat, sleep and watch telly

(especially Strictly Come Dancing - starts again soon yeah!!)

So... Are you Yorkshire born and bred?

No. I was brought up in the dullest of towns called Welwyn Garden City (nice, but boring!), in Hertfordshire, down south, but my boyfriend is a proper Yorkshire lad from Halifax. If that makes it any better.

What's the earliest thing you can ever remember making, was it any good and have you still got it?

When I was little I used to go to sewing and knitting classes with all my friends at Mrs Oughton's house. I was a bit naughty really, I used to just muck around all the time and get sent to sit on the stairs. She had a REALLY good toilet roll holder with a barbie sitting on it. Barbie's crocheted dress covered the bog roll. I was a bit distracted and used to take many months to achieve very little. However, the short answer to this ramble is, I made a hessian embroidered bag, with a mouse on it, with a number one on it's t-shirt. I think it was pretty cool. But I don't have it any more. I also knitted a jumper, but by the time I had finished it, it was too small. Ooh, also, I made a jacket, with poppers on it, which was red with blue and white deckchairs. That won a competition in the library. But I wonder thinking about it now, whether really, my mum made most of it.

What have you made most recently? (and do you like it!?)

Most recently I have linoprinted some teatowels with a whisk design. I do like them, yes.

What are your 5 craft cupboard essentials?

Oil based Hawthorn Inks

My super sharp Japanese steel lino cutting tools

My chubby Lyra graphite pencils

Scissors

Black paper

Really I couldn't do anything with just those 5. But they are my faves.

What music do you like to listen to while you make? Do you prefer to 'Get on Down' or 'Boogie on Up?

I spend all day listening to Radio 4. More or less. Sometimes I turn off when it's a programme about maths. Or I've already heard that episode of the Archers. I know this sounds dorkish. But I like the sound of voices and I do like listening to stories. Our kitchen radio is broken, you can only listen to it at full blast. So that can be really embarrassing, especially when the Archers theme tune comes on. But I spose the neighbours are used to that by now. Either that or Radio 6.

If I gave you £250 to spend on craft supplies and equipment what would you buy?

A metal edge for tearing paper. A plan chest for storing papers and prints. That's probably already more than £250.

Other than your own, name a shop, website or blog that you really love:

I love Marimekko. I love Liberties. I love Twitter. I love lamp. Only joking. I love Jezze Prints blog, a wonderful blog about block printing fabric http://jezzeblog.blogspot.com/.

Ooh and I love Spoonflower.com

And now for the quick fire round!

What's your favourite craft magazine?

Printmaking Today

What online craft site do you prefer?

Liz's Crafts

Intaglioprintmaker.com

What is your favourite part of the designing/making/selling process?

Favourite part is finishing a print, and it looks cool and I feel soaringly happy.

And finally...

What question would you like to ask the next person who features in 'Meet the Maker...'?

What is your favourite biscuit?

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

My blog: www.miriamtrent.tumblr.com,

twitter @mintprint

facebook: www.facebook.com/Mintprint

etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mimsyt

http://vimeo.com/27407313

Sheffield-On-Sea

2011-08-12T18:43:00.000+01:00

If you're visiting Sheffield - please pop by and say hi! At least one of us will be there between now and next Wednesday! You'll find us in the Beach Hut at the top of the steps. We'd love to see you!

'Meet the Maker' #7 - A Crafty Conversation with...

2011-08-04T10:29:00.000+01:00

... Debbie from debbiegreenaway.com

Would you like some cake?

Yes please...with a cup of tea?

Sit down, make yourself comfortable! Time for introductions... What's your name, where do you come from and what do you do?

My name is Debbie and I come from Huddersfield - currently living in a village called Denby Dale. I am an illustrator and printmaker and I try my best to draw every day but at the moment I am doing at lot of printing, sewing and painting. Am hoping to return to the starting point - drawing - once the to-do list has been whittled down to a very small to-do list.

So... Are you Yorkshire born and bred?

I am. I was born in Huddersfield. Lived here until I went to university in 2005 in Preston, then I moved to Manchester for nearly four years. I returned to Huddersfield last year. I enjoy living here in Denby Dale as it is very green, hilly and open but I have to say that I miss Manchester a little bit.

What's the earliest thing you can ever remember making, was it any good and have you still got it?

I remember that I used to draw and colour all the time and I have a couple of cards that I made for my grandma. Also, come to think of it, I think she still has an embroidery I made her and grandad for their golden wedding anniversary that was in the early 90's. I use a flexi-hoop that I got from a 'Get Set Sewing' box and 'stitched' two people dancing. I remember sewing it in the summer holidays, sat in the garden with my cousins and my grandparents had it on their wall for years.

What have you made most recently? (and do you like it!?)

There are two things that I have made recently, one is a screen-print on fabric that I have stitched in to and framed and the other is a two colour screen-print design of a bird holding a feather. The first one had been waiting nearly a year in the to-do box for me to sew into and I recently finished two of these within the last month - there is one more to sew. The bird design I am very pleased with as it took me ages to hand paint the screen and I wasn't sure if it was going to turn out as I had planned it.

What are your 5 craft cupboard essentials?

I think I have more than five! I have been on a clear out mission this last year to reduce the amount of stuff I use. Off top of my head I would say,

1. Scissors. I splurged on a pair of proper fabric scissors last year and I have to say they are the best. I also have a very small pair for sewing jobs and about three others that are general scissors.

2. Rulers. You cant beat a straight line and they are good for measuring everything. Favourite one is a very slinky metal one.

3. Silk Screens. I use these for printing. I used to use the ones in the print studio, but invested in a couple of my own so that I can use them at home

4. Paints - mainly acrylics for painting or mixing up to use for printing and I am attempting to use watercolours.
5. Threads - embroidery threads that I have bought, been given and found in charity shops. I arranged them in to a colour co-ordinated box and I would recommend sorting things out into colours as it makes starting a project so much easier.

If I could add two more - I would say my sewing machine and box of buttons. The sewing machine was a gift from my mother-in-law and she got it from a second hand shop. It is very sturdy and I push it to the limit all the time! The box of buttons only gets used when I am sewing them onto my robots but most of them are being saved for them special projects and probably will never get used.

What music do you like to listen to while you make? Do you prefer to 'Get on Down' or 'Boogie on Up?

A bit of both. The radio is usually on and it is either Radio 2 or Heart FM. I love to listen to a mixture of music and find that I concentrate better than if I was to put an album on as I would always be drawn to swapping and changing tracks/albums. The best thing is to plug my mp3 into the radio so Ii can have it on a super mega shuffle of everything. I quite like a bit of Bon Jovi, Lenny Kravitz, Prince - I am a fan of sing-a-long songs and like guessing the year for 'Nine at Nine' that is on the Pulse on a morning.

If I gave you £250 to spend on craft supplies and equipment what would you buy?

Paints, screens and paper for printing - huge sheets of smooth paper and I would hunt for a huge set of drawers on ebay to put the paper in.

Other than your own, name a shop, website or blog that you really love:

Book By It's Cover is a website about art related books - children's books, sketchbooks or handmade ones. http://www.book-by-its-cover.com/
It is hard to pick a shop as there are many that I like - I would pick Lisa Stubbs' shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/lisastubbs?ref=pr_shop but there are many more!
Blog - my friend Emma McCann's blog - she is a wizard at illustration and knitting, and loves her colours http://emmamccann.blogspot.com/

And now for the quick fire round!

What's your favourite craft magazine?

I have to be honest and say that I haven't bought one in ages but I last looked at Mollie's Makes when I was in WhSmiths the other week.

What online craft site do you prefer?

Folksy.

What is your favourite part of the designing/making/selling process?

Designing. I love drawing and not knowing what may or may not come out of the pencils on to the blank page.

And finally...

What question would you like to ask the next person who features in 'Meet the Maker...'?

If you could learn another craft what would it be and why?

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

www.debbiegreenaway.com and from there, there are many links out to other things, blog, online shops, flickr and twitter.

'Meet the Maker' #6 - A Crafty Conversation with...

2011-07-28T11:11:00.001+01:00

... Caroline from Caroline Watts Embroidery

Would you like some cake?

Don’t mind if I do, lemon drizzle please.

Sit down, make yourself comfortable! Time for introductions... What's your name, where do you come from and what do you do?

I’m Caroline and I’m from a little village in North Yorkshire. I am an embroidery designer but that covers the designing, stitching and a little unpicking of stitching!

So... Are you Yorkshire born and bred?

I am a true Yorkshire Lass. I moved away when I went to University and I have lived in Northampton but I couldn’t wait to get back. Now I am back I won’t be leaving Yorkshire again.

What's the earliest thing you can ever remember making, was it any good and have you still got it?

I was always trying to make things from an early age but I gave up because I couldn’t do anything as well as my Mum or Gran. Once I was older I became a big fan of crochet, I think it was quite good but sadly the dog thought it would make rather a cosy bed.

What have you made most recently? (and do you like it!?)

I have a half finished cushion in my ‘to do’ box but the colours weren’t quite right and the design didn’t translate from paper to embroidery. So, it is one to unpick.

More successful was a Bunny Cushion for a friend which turned out rather well and she loved it!

What are your 5 craft cupboard essentials?

Tricky to limit to just five but the things I use everyday are:-

Linen of various colours, Embroidery threads, Embroidery hoops, Scissors, sketch pad.

What music do you like to listen to while you make? Do you prefer to 'Get on Down' or 'Boogie on Up?

This really depends on my mood and if I need to concentrate! For the concentration moments it is usually a bit of classical to keep me calm but I am known to sing along to Glee albums and Adele. I do a lot of my work sitting somewhere comfortable so the television is often on.

If I gave you £250 to spend on craft supplies and equipment what would you buy?

I have a long list of things I would like! Equipment wise I would like a new camera and a printer. Craft supplies.....I would probably go for some silk embroidery threads, some wool so I could do some crocheting and a modern sewing machine!

Other than your own, name a shop, website or blog that you really love:

I love Snapdragon products and also their blog.

Moonlight and Hares is a wonderful blog full of beauty and inspiration.

And now for the quick fire round!

What's your favourite craft magazine?

I don’t read craft magazines but I have an enormous collection of craft books. Jan Constantine is a favourite at the moment.

What online craft site do you prefer?

Folksy has a fantastic range of crafts.

What is your favourite part of the designing/making/selling process?

My most favourite part would be hearing what people think of my work. It is still a huge thrill when people say they love what I do. I also like the moment when a new design works as an embroidery.

And finally...

What question would you like to ask the next person who features in 'Meet the Maker...'?

Who or what inspires your work?

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

I sell through www. notonthehighstreet.com/carolinewattsembroidery

or my Facebook page – www.facebook.com/carolinewattsembroidery

and my brand new website – www.carolinewattsembroidery.co.uk

I will also be attending a local craft fair in Richmond, North Yorkshire at The Station in November. If you’re there pop over and say hello!

'Meet the Maker' #5 - A Crafty Conversation with...

2011-07-14T11:16:00.001+01:00

...Carla from Maus Haus

Welcome to your 'Meet the Maker' crafty conversation! Can I get you a drink? Tea, Coffee, Soft Drink... Something Stronger?!

Always tea, hands down!

Would you like some cake?

Let me think about that...yes!! (Please be chocolate)

Sit down, make yourself comfortable! Time for introductions... What's your name, where do you come from and what do you do?

I'm Carla and I'm based in lovely Leeds. I make textile accessories under the name 'Maus Haus'. I also recently opened a shop, Nouveau Leeds, in Bird's Yard, dedicated to Handmade.

So... are you Yorkshire born and bred?

I was born in Huddersfield, but I lived in Brazil for four years before moving back. I did my first year of my degree in Bradford before being drawn in by the buzz of Leeds. I now live by Roundhay Park and I doubt I'll ever leave, I love it!

What's the earliest thing you can ever remember making, was it any good and have you still got it?

The first 'proper' thing I made was a bright purple furry hand bag with a huge kilt pin to fasten it. I took it everywhere with me. I gave most of my things away when I moved to Leeds and I guess the bag must have gone with everything else...

What have you made most recently? (and do you like it!?)

I just finished making a set of large brooches. I made one using part of a dress I bought and never wore. It's the best one I've made so far in my humble opinion.

What are your 5 craft cupboard essentials?

It's hard to limit it to 5!

1. My super thin beading needle for sewing microscopic beads.

2. My box of beads, charms and sequins. It fits in my bag and goes everywhere.

3. My scissors - I have four pairs! One for fabric cutting, one for paper, one for sticky things and a tiny pair for cutting thread. Never mess with a girl and her scissors.

4. My array of threads passed down from my Grandma and my Mum.

5. My sewing machine, an absolute steal at £80 and my most prized possession.

What music do you like to listen to while you make? Do you prefer to 'Get on Down' or 'Boogie on Up?

I guess it depends. If I get over excited and need to calm down and focus then I pop on some Adele or my latest addiction - Miike Snow. If I need to wake up and crack on then I stick the radio on and if I need to drown out the builder's from next door, you can't beat Metallica - Master of Puppets! Nothing like some heavy metal to get me sewing like crazy.

If I gave you £250 to spend on craft supplies and equipment what would you buy?

The shiny new overlocker I've been eyeing up ever since my birthday but not had the time to go and buy!

Other than your own, name a shop, website or blog that you really love:

I'll give you a shop, website AND a blog. I spend a lot of time sat in my shop but I tend to run through the Indie Cindy pop up shop, it's seriously bad for my bank balance. I also love the haberdashery at the top of Kirkgate Market, the ladies that work there are really helpful. Many evenings get spent browsing the UKhandmade site, it's a fountain of knowledge. Lastly a blog I love. Abi from SewYou's Blog is really witty, funny and honest. I love the 'hosiery police' and if you don't know what I'm talking about go read it.

And now for the quick fire round!

What's your favourite craft magazine?

Oh Comely

What online craft site do you prefer?

Folksy

What is your favourite part of the designing/making/selling process?

Seeing the finished item

What do you want to be when you grow up?

'I guess the most honest answer is 'content'. Anything else is just a means to being happy so when I grow up that's what I want, to be happy'

And finally...

What question would you like to ask the next person who features in 'Meet the Maker...'?

What is your 'long story', what made you start doing what you do?

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

Either on my website - www.carladeazevedo.co.uk, or pop by my shop and get it from 'the horse's mouth' so to speak... though please don't refer to me as a horse. x

'Meet the Maker' #4 - A Crafty Conversation with...

2011-07-07T11:11:00.003+01:00

... Laura from made by lolly x

Welcome to your 'Meet the Maker' crafty conversation! Can I get you a drink? Tea, Coffee, Soft Drink... Something Stronger?!

Thank you - a glass of red wine would be lovely!

Would you like some cake?

I don't usually say no, but at the minute I have a bit of an addiction to wasabi flavour things.
You don't happen to have any wasapeas do you? In fact, could I have both?

Sit down, make yourself comfortable! Time for introductions... What's your name,where do you come from and what do you do?

My name's Laura, I originally come from 'darn sarf' (Ashford in Kent) and I currently run a small business called made by lolly x as well as working part time out in the real world for a charity called Family Action.

According to my official 'blurb' I create 'beautiful colour themed collections of contemporary accessories - all made from folded felt' but I am quite happy to have a go at most things and am a bit handy at making personalised keepsake books, travel journals and baby books.

So... are you Yorkshire born and bred?

No! Sorry... I'm either a Kentish Maid or a Maid of Kent - but I'm really not sure which it is (apparently it depends which side of the Medway you were born)

What's the earliest thing you can ever remember making, was it any good and have you still got it?

I remember making a pencil holder made out of clay in the shape of a duck billed platypus at infant school. Unfortunately I think my Mum still has it!

What have you made most recently? (and do you like it!?)

I've been trialling lots of different ways of folding felt to create my folded felt flowers. The newest one came into being at a quiet moment at a craft fair when I was idly twisting felt. Half an hour and a few stitches later I had created a felt rose. Much softer and less structured than my usual pieces - but I love it!

What are your 5 craft cupboard essentials?

A3 self healing cutting mat, Rotary Cutter, Metal Ruler, Sizzix machine, Felt!

What music do you like to listen to while you make? Do you prefer to 'Get on Down' or 'Boogie on Up?

I know it doesn't really go with the image...

(I'm well known for using pinks, purples, flowers, felt, buttons)

...but I like to rock out!

I don't always listen to music when I'm creating but if I do I tend to put a bit of Planet Rock on the DAB radio! I love Pink Floyd, Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam. In my quieter moments I'm a bit partial to Martha Wainwright and Nick Drake

If I gave you £250 to spend on craft supplies and equipment what would you buy?

Not particularly a craft item - but I have my heart set on a Samsung netbook!

(Specifically model NF110!)

If there was any change left over - it would have to be more felt!

Other than your own, name a shop, website or blog that you really love:

The dots and spots blog - it's probably the only blog I follow that I read every single post (except for thoughtsbylolly.blogspot.com and yorkshiremade.blogspot.com of course!)

And now for the quick fire round!

What's your favourite craft magazine?

I really like the new magazines Oh Comely and Handmade Living

What online craft site do you prefer?

Folksy

What is your favourite part of the designing/making/selling process?

Coming up with the original ideas. I have quite a short attention span so making lots of the same thing can get really boring! I just love the 'ding' lightbulb moment when you realise that something might just work... but I hate having them on the way to work so I have to wait the whole day before I can get home and experiment!

Other than the products you make currently, if you were to dabble in a completely different discipline or handmade craft/art, what would you choose to have a go at?

I'd love to be able to take a-ma-zing photographs. I really enjoy the composition of a picture and love the way it can be something really quick and snappy or something you have to wait patiently for just the right moment (seagulls rarely sit still long enough to get so close as this!) But... I know absolutely nothing about the technical side of things and don't even own a camera! All my product photos and all my holiday snaps are taken using my mobile phone!

And finally...

What question would you like to ask the next person who features in 'Meet the Maker...'?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

www.madebylolly.folksy.com
www.madebylolly.etsy.com
www.thoughtsbylolly.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/madebylolly

and I'm also on Twitter at @madebylolly

A Yorkshire holiday, through and through!

2011-07-04T19:16:00.000+01:00

I've been on my hols!

... And I have had an absolutely fabulous time touring across Yorkshire! Such a nice time in fact, that I thought it might be nice to share it with you all!

My week long holiday started last Friday in the less than glamorous town of Goldthorpe. But never fear I was here for a reason! First we scouted the charity shops for bargains and found some excellent books and vinyl to buy but then, drumroll please... I went on my first ever visit to Waltons of Goldthorpe! This shop is literally packed to the rafters with fabulous fabric and is an absolute wonderland for anybody who works with textiles and I would definitely recommend a visit!

Saturday and Sunday was taken up with a two day craft fair at Beighton Lifestyle Centre in South Yorkshire where I was joined by my Yorkshire Made friends Nanny May and Our Little Craft Company as well as new friends Dack Images and Spire Face Painting.

Then after a good nights sleep and a bit of hasty packing we headed further north to the city of York for a spot of shopping. The Other Half visited practically every secondhand book shop in the city and bought a total of 10 books, but I got my own back by ensuring we visited every single charity shop too! We had lunch at a lovely little cafe called Picallilli's where I had a totally yummy freshly made beef and mustard baguette!

York Minster

However the highlight this part of my trip was visiting the fabulous Gift Gallery York!

I had heard talk of this shop on the Folksy forums for a long time, but had never managed to go - until this week! This beautiful shop situated right on The Shambles (the most unusual and historic shopping street I've ever seen!) only stocks handmade items. And wow what a choice! I saw items from pants and paper, noodlebubble as well as Sheffield's Kettle of Fish, and that's just the few names I can remember. It is a lovely shop and I would well recommend a visit!

Spring Swallow Wooden Box by Kettle of Fish

The following day we headed even further North over the moors towards the village of Goathland which is apparently famous for being where they filmed a lot of scenes for Heartbeat - but we didn't stop (can't say I've ever been a fan of Heartbeat to be perfectly honest!) We were headed to the romantically named 'La Rosa'- Campsite Exraordinaire and were not disappointed! This certainly was an unusual, magical and memorable place full of all things cool and kitsch! (You can read more about it here)

After an evening spent around the fire and a night spent in 'Elvis' we headed towards the coast and to Whitby. This was our first ever visit and again we were not disappointed! We found...

Unusual tea rooms...

...some very good cake...

...wonderful views and fresh sea air...

...and the most amazing hotel!

And of course we had fish and chips for tea!

Next on our Yorkshire tour was the city of Leeds for another 'first'

- our first ever trip to the opera!

We went to see Das Rheingold staged by Opera North in Leeds Town Hall and for the third time this holiday I was not disappointed! The opera was sung in German but was accompanied throughout by plot summaries and subtitles in English played on TV screens. Although not a full 'dramatic' presentation the performers were in helpful costumes (the giants had the distinct aura of the Kray twins and the trickster Loge looked just a little bit like Jeremy Kyle!) And the BBC were recording the whole event live!

Next morning we just had enough time to pop into the reetsweet event Handmade at the Corn Exchange, followed by a browse round the The Craft Centre and Design Gallery before finishing off with a well earned bowl of soup in the magnificent Tiled Hall Cafe.

Then before you knew it, it was time to travel back home,

come back down to earth with a bump and go back to work...

...until the next holiday!

I'd love it if you could share your favourite places to go in Yorkshire so I can start to plan my next adventure!

Just leave a comment below

Laura x

'Meet The Maker' #3 - A Crafty Conversation with...

2011-06-30T11:16:00.002+01:00

...Jemma from Nanny May!

Welcome to your 'Meet the Maker' crafty conversation! Can I get you a drink? Tea, Coffee, Soft Drink... Something Stronger?!

Always a trusty cup of tea, two sweeteners, and a good old custard cream to get the ball rolling, now doesn't everybody feel much more comfortable? Good, let's crack on!
(Though I shan't deny I'm supping a mojito right now hehe)

edit - we must confess that Jemma answered these questions at 11 o'clock at night and she doesn't usually drink mojito's at 11 o'clock in the morning!

Would you like some cake?

If you've ever read a Yorkshire Made blog post you'll know we like cake, lots. And in fact a craft/selling event rule has transpired that of all the stallholders, some you know, some you don't, at least one of those will be selling something delicious, it's a no brainer really... and makes an already great day incredible! (Of course I'm saying this after whipping a creme brulee from the grill half cooked because it looked too darn delicious to wait that extra 4 minutes!)

Sit down, make yourself comfortable! Time for introductions... What's your name,where do you come from and what do you do?

My name is Jemma, from a lovely leafy green part of Sheffield, and I am the face (and sore hands) behind Nanny May... I make 100% handmade textile jewellery, accessories and homewares in reclaimed and contemporary fabrics. My favourite thing to make is padded flowers, they're just so cute... and bouncy!

So... are you Yorkshire born and bred?

From the small town of Elsecar in Barnsley, I've found myself in Sheffield after years of dotting around different places. It's home to the best tea ever, and quite frankly, who would turn down one of those. Though I have been known to allow my tastebuds stray and have the occasional cream and jam scone... Devon? Cornwall? I'll let that debate continue without me!

What's the earliest thing you can ever remember making, was it any good and have you still got it?

I made lots as a little girl, having a Nan who would rather set her own house on fire rather than pass up a chance to show me the ins and outs of handmade crafts... a favourite of mine was a peg doll, where I vaguely remember a woollen pom pom making an appearance (don't ask me how/where), though my most useful was a huge lump of stone from a school trip with a duck I'd painted on it then varnished, it still helpfully props doors open at my mom's house, so I guess it was ok?

What have you made most recently? (and do you like it!?)

Just finished making a flower chain necklace. I like it a lot, mainly because after strapping my fingers up with plasters to stop the flower making/thread yanking/pain continuum (and it makes me look a little bit like old school Michael Jackson), I've made a successful necklace with a fraction of the usual discomfort... and it also looks pretty cute too, all pinks, and blues and creams :)

What are your 5 craft cupboard essentials?

I HAVE to have my super super strong button thread/topstich... to make my flowers needs brute force and the namby pamby 50p thread just doesn't quite hack it...
So that's my number one:
2. Fluff- as well as keeping my back warm when carrying it in my rucksack on the journey home, it makes the puffs and flowers possible.
3. Sewing machine- obvious but definitely an essential.
4. Ribbon- could never get my head around the fiddlyness of metal clasps!
5. Proper dressmaking scissors- I spent at least a year using regular poundland ones before one day cracking and getting a pair, the difference is beyond words when it comes to cutting fabrics out.

What music do you like to listen to while you make? Do you prefer to 'Get on Down' or 'Boogie on Up?

A rather painful topic, dear to my heart, this one. I recently attacked my 13 year old JVC boomblaster with a set of screw drivers, trying to fix a problem that was never there. Subsequently, it is now broken beyond repair. After years of it being my faithful, cooking, cleaning, drinking and making buddy, it's done for.

Back in the glory days when I wasn't resorting to the tinny wails of my laptop's speakers, I'd crack a bit of Gomez on if it was going to be an 8hr making sesh, weird Japanese pop for chilled out stuff like felt ball making... right through to hard acid trance house type stuff (I'm rubbish with genres) for when I really had to get a wriggle on and make like crazy!

If I gave you £250 to spend on craft supplies and equipment what would you buy?

A lot of fluff and strong thread... Closely followed by plenty of fabrics in every colour. It's surprising that I'm short of the stuff, but someone says they want something making in a mauve fabric, and what are the chances I don't have it! Patterns and tartans, aye- (gratefully supplied by second hand shops, kind donations and outfits from my own wardrobe which have been laughed out of public display), the rest always gets the better of me. And we all know that going 'shopping' for one particular making item turns into a military style pursuit of all things pretty and not necessarily essential... of COURSE I need that fifteenth sewing machine!

Other than your own, name a shop, website or blog that you really love:

For blogs it has to be the Etsy one

On my to-do blog reading list- Frooly... they had a cracking one about how to make a DIY lightbox recently, which I still need to sit and have a play with.

And now for the quick fire round!

What's your favourite craft magazine?

Umm...I'm ashamed I'm not a regular buyer of craft magazines, usually just the handmade craft books I can get from Waterstones on my monthly book-buying binge!

What online craft site do you prefer?

Folksy

What is your favourite part of the designing/making/selling process?

Selling online and at fairs

And finally...

What question would you like to ask the next person who features in 'Meet the Maker...'?

Other than the products you make currently, if you were to dabble in a completely different disclipline or handmade craft/art, what would you choose to have a go at?

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

I'm online on both Folksy and Etsy and my own website, though I'll admit that there's not a huge amount of stuff in the shops as I've been doing a lot of events recently and the turnaround time between finishing making a product and potentially selling it is so minimal that getting them online first is something I'm not so great at... website's due to get a huge overhaul in the coming months, so keep an eye out. I more often post pics of new stock on Facebook, and I'll occasionally 'tweet'.

So, here's the links:-

www.folksy.com/shops/nannymayjewellery
www.etsy.com/shop/NannyMayJewellery
www.facebook.com/nannymaymakes
www.nannymaymakes.blogspot.com
www.nannymay.co.uk
@nannymaymakes

I also do quite a few selling events, which is my favourite way of interacting with people, so to see where I'm going to be, pop along to the Facebook page which is where most of my event details are posted.

'Meet The Maker' #2 - A Crafty Conversation with...

2011-06-23T11:16:00.001+01:00

...Sally from Our Little Craft Company

No, don't worry you're not seeing double after having one too many G&T's with 'Our Lisa' - today we are talking to her sister and partner in Our Little Craft Company 'Our Sally'.... so Sally it's over to you!

Welcome to your 'Meet the Maker' crafty conversation! Can I get you a drink? Tea, Coffee, Soft Drink... Something Stronger?!

Large Vodka Tonic please or a chilled glass of Champagne or Sauvignon Blanc - oh go on then - all three please!

Would you like some cake?

I won't lie...butterfly buns with butter cream are one of my favourite weaknesses

Sit down, make yourself comfortable! Time for introductions... What's your name,where do you come from and what do you do?

Sally Kay Kelly from Conisbrough and I help my sister run Our Little Craft Company. I work full time as a secretary in a residential school for children with severely challenging behaviours and most of my spare time is spent sewing and appliquéing (is that a word?)and getting ready for showing at craft fairs at the weekends.

Our Sally (left) with Our Lisa (right)

So... are you Yorkshire born and bred?

Definitely! I was born in my nanan & grandad's front room on Gardens Lane, Conisbrough, South Yorkshire.

What's the earliest thing you can ever remember making, was it any good and have you still got it?

My nanan taught me to knit when I was little but I didn't keep any of the 20 inch long "scarves" that I made; mainly because they varied vastly in width from about 3 inches to 8 inches depending on how many stitches I dropped and regained by accident. When my daughters were little I loved knitting cardigans and outfits for them - the more complicated the pattern the better to keep my attention from drifting. I couldn't knit for grown ups though as I lost interest before I finished.

What have you made most recently? (and do you like it!?)

I have been using up scraps of material to make little brooches to decorate our Ibiza Bags, which are really cute and I do like them. I have also just cut out some mini yorkshire shopper bags for kiddies out of some curtain material we have had for a long while which we just knew would come in for something one day...like you do. I will be sewing these up tonight and I'm hoping I will like these too.

What are your 5 craft cupboard essentials?

Needle Threader - couldn't be without it for some of the small needles I use for hand sewing.

Little dinky scissors - will not use my teeth under any circumstances to break thread.

Gutterman's Thread Colour 829 - which is a cream/neutral colour that can be used universally.

Lots of buttons - how does anyone live without "lots of buttons"!

Jute String - I just love it! I use it for the letter ladders, for heart scenties, for tying up parcels and fastening our goodies to the craft stall so that we show them off to their best advantage`

What music do you like to listen to while you make? Do you prefer to 'Get on Down' or 'Boogie on Up?

Oh god - I'm useless with music - I'd probably know both of them if you sang them to me but I never recognise a title! I like to think I can boogie with best of them so I shall pick "Boogie on Up" I tend to listen to Radio 2 and Radio 7 - does that give you an insight into my personality?

If I gave you £250 to spend on craft supplies and equipment what would you buy?

Probably treat myself to an overlocker.

Other than your own, name a shop, website or blog that you really love:

Walton's Fabrics in Goldthorpe - an Aladdin's cave of fabrics...

ooohhh I get all goosebumpy thinking of their upstairs.

And now for the quick fire round!

What's your favourite craft magazine?

No answer was given to this question! I wonder whether Sally was being enigmatic, or just couldn't decide...!

What online craft site do you prefer?

Folksy

What is your favourite part of the designing/making/selling process?

Making the items

Despite being a regular visitor to many of the craft fairs Our Little Craft Company attend, Voodoo George hasn't been mentioned by either Our Lisa or Our Sally in either of their interviews....

What is the hardest part of what you do?

The hardest bit of what I do is finding the time!
However, when I make the letter ladders and the name banners, I spend the longest time laying everything out in every which way before I commit to the pattern and then I almost hold my breath in case it all goes catastrophically wrong.
When it all comes together it is like MAGIC!

And finally...

What question would you like to ask the next person who features in 'Meet the Maker...'?

This is really boring but I wondered how Crafters had found out about

Public Liability Insurance because when we started looking for this kind of insurance cover we were quoted some outrageous prices.

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

Website: www.ourlittlecraftcompany.co.uk
On Facebook - Our Little Craft Company
On twitter - @oursallykay & @ourlisa
email: sally@ourlittlecraftcompany.co.uk

'Meet The Maker' - A Crafty Conversation with...

2011-06-16T11:00:00.001+01:00

...Lisa from Our Little Craft Company!

Welcome to your 'Meet the Maker' crafty conversation! Can I get you a drink? Tea, Coffee, Soft Drink... Something Stronger?!

Now I do like a proper coffee from a proper coffee shop....but if the suns past the yard arm then I'll have a large g & t please!

Would you like some cake?

Yes please, but home-made, can't stand shop spewed Kipling crap stuff, I am a cake snob of the highest order.

Sit down, make yourself comfortable! Time for introductions... What's your name,where do you come from and what do you do?

Hi my name is Lisa, I'm from Conisbrough and I do sewing, wltm man or lady or even ladyman to buy all my stuff, for fun, friendship and sales beyond my wildest dreams!

So... are you Yorkshire born and bred?

Yes, from good Yorkshire stock! I'm Trip Jacksons daughter and that's about as Yorkshire as you get!

What's the earliest thing you can ever remember making, was it any good and have you still got it?

That's really hard, I've always made stuff, I remember making teleport bracelets from plastic bottles which looked just like the Blakes Seven ones. They were ace and I wish I'd kept one but we played with them to death.

What have you made most recently? (and do you like it!?)

The last thing I made was one of our Beach Bum bags, in black denim and a mustard yellow William Morris type print and yes it was one of those that I'd have been more than happy to keep if it hadn't sold on its first outing! A sort of Woohoo/boohoo! moment.
(I have a lot of those)

What are your 5 craft cupboard essentials?

Coffee, iplayer, Janet (my trusty sewing machine), good scissors & a cheerful disposition!
Everything goes wrong twice if you're grumpy.

What music do you like to listen to while you make? Do you prefer to 'Get on Down' or 'Boogie on Up?

This is boring I know, but I tend to listen to radio plays and comedy shows on iplayer rather than music all the time. So if the afternoon play is "get on down" I'm that and if The Mighty Boosh is "Boogie on up" then I am that. Although the song I can't get out of my head at the moment is "Telephone Man" by Meri Wilson, it's so saucy I love it!

If I gave you £250 to spend on craft supplies and equipment what would you buy?

Don't tease, unless you're actually going to give me the cash then I think that making me ponder its use is torturous, to both me and Keith at Waltons of Goldthorpe and the boys of Barkers at Doncaster market who would probably get about half each! I'm a cloth hussy I've got men all over South Yorkshire tempting me with there fabric wares as it is, with £250 I'd be putty in their hands....are you trying to ruin me??

Other than your own, name a shop, website or blog that you really love:

Too hard, I can't think of one, I could probably do a top 50 of textiley ones alone!
But Sugar Alchemy make an absolute to die for cheesecake!

What's your favourite craft magazine?

Mollie Makes

What online craft site do you prefer?

www.ourlittlecraftcompany.co.uk of course, can't believe its not an option..tut tut!

What is your favourite part of the designing/making/selling process?
Coming up with the original ideas, Shopping for supplies, Making the items,

Selling online and at fairs, Networking or Other:

All of the above, I love it all I tell ya!

And finally...

What question would you like to ask the next person who features in 'Meet the Maker...'?

What's the worst bit of what you do?

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

www.ourlittlecraftcompany.co.uk
on facebook
on twitter as @Ourlisa
& I also do the odd blog for Yorkshire Made don't ya know!


'Our Lisa and Our Sally'... we will be featuring an interview with Sally next week!

Introducing... The Printmakers

2011-06-04T09:27:00.001+01:00

Little Miss Quarter

I'm not sure if you have noticed, but all of us Yorkshire Made lasses (as well as a lot of the people we know) are fabric freaks. We just can't help it - we are totally turned on by textiles! Whether it be fashion, accessories or homewares we just can't get enough of cloth!

Unfortunately this can sometimes mean we forget to include all of the other fabulous makers out there who work in other mediums - the potters, the silversmiths, the glassworkers, the woodturners... the list of crafts and the people who work in them is almost endless!

So today we start the first in a series of blog posts that will attempt to address the balance. Today I would like to introduce 'The Printmakers'

Doodley Boo

Modo Creative

Memo Helen

James Green - Printworks

Zebedee

An impossible to do list!

2011-05-25T11:48:00.001+01:00

There is so much going on at the moment that I thought this blog post should be a bit of shameless self promotion for all of us, because lets face it we’re all working our socks off this week in the run up to what looks like being a fantastic weekend.

Now before I begin, we can only boast about what we know about so if you’re up to something else you think is just as relevant please post a comment so we all can share the glow of our collective Yorkshire pride!

So in no particular order lets begin

If you fancy one of these fantastically jolly cushions made by Tree Fall Design you will find them and so much more at the Makers Fair, part of the Saltaire Arts Trail

I’ve been reading some of the blogposts and following the panic filled tweets of some of the makers at this event and the enthusiasm and excitement generated is infectious! Its in its fifth year and is a real celebration of Yorkshire Craft on from Saturday through till Monday, if you can get there do!

I would, but I shall at The White Arrow Music festival,

Now truth be told I’ve always been a bit more “Wock-a-chicka” than Rock chick, but none the less I shall be here with...

Sally, Laura , Voodoo George and Jemma on Saturday in a giant Yorksire Made Craft Marquee...(well a couple of gazebos strapped together , fighting the elements but looking fabulous!)

Then after our massive rock out on Saturday Our Little Craft Company shall be relaxing in the sunshine with a more sedate set at The Cannon hall Craft Fair Sunday & Monday 10 till 4

But enough about us, if you can't get to these theres more

In Leeds, Reetsweet is at Nation of Shopkeepers

Beer, Music & craft stalls, does it get any better?

Also if you're around the Leeds area theres a

Gift Craft and Farmers market at Temple newsham, where you could treat yourself to something like this

made by the brilliant John Micheal, who, if you miss him there will be at the Wentworth Festival Craft fair ...Not that you really need an excuse to visit this beautiful little village cos its got some proper pubs in it, but add a splash of the arts and crafts and it is very hard to resist. For more details of whats on there

And thats not all, if you're in York be sure to pop in to this

for all your vintage, kitsch and handmade needs!

And if that wasn't enough to keep you busy, rumour has it some of the Pennine Artists and friends are camping out at the beautiful Stainborough Castle & Made by Lolly will be there too!

Not bad for one weekend in Yorkshire really and I know theres probably a tonne of otherstuff going on, it really is one of those weekends when I wish I was still Dr Who's assistant and then I could be at them all but since alas I can't be in two places at once can I ask any and all of you who visit any or all of these events to post some pics on the Yorkshire Made facebook wall, it would be great to see what we missed!

Enjoy

Lisa x

A Crafty Weekend at Elsecar Heritage Centre

2011-05-16T15:02:00.000+01:00

This weekend both Lisa (and Sally!) from Our Little Craft Company...

and Laura from made by lolly x...

took stalls at a two day Craft Fair at Elsecar Heritage Centre.

And while we were there we met up with some old friends...

Giddy Designs

Curious Cat Creative

Candice Crafts

made some new ones...

Riddles Craft

Alison Pape

And were visited by...

Nanny May

and

Dottys Heart

And as this event included members and friends of Yorkshire Made...
of course there was plenty of chat and lots and lots of cake!

We hope you all had a lovely weekend whatever you got up to - and don't forget if you are looking for something crafty to do - check out our Events Calendar!There are always plenty of Yorkshire events listed!

Laura x

And....Relax!

2011-05-01T06:00:00.001+01:00

Now, I don't want to seem like I'm complaining... and it may just be me, but what with the new Financial Year, the Easter Holidays, the Royal Wedding, and this (gorgeous, beautiful, wonderful) unseasonable weather - recently I just don't seem to know whether I am coming or going!

Perhaps I am a more a creature of habit and a stickler for routine than I thought (it must be my age!) but somehow over the last few weeks, despite the lovely weather, having lots of lovely days off and doing lots of lovely things, life seems to have been than little bit too hectic and time seems to have disappeared.
Christmas seems like only yesterday!

But whether I like it or not, time will march on and before you know it Summer will be here (I refuse to believe the lovely weather we've just had will be all we'll get!) But before it arrives I'd like to take a moment to appreciate the last of Spring, to take a deep breath, enjoy the Bank Holiday and.... relax!

Take time to appreciate the view...

Al Brydon Photography

Go for a picnic...

MakepieceUK

Get some housework done...

EAGERforWORD

Listen to the radio...

Cute as a Button

Watch the Sunset...

Kate Boyce

And have a lovely nights sleep...

deesware

Enjoy your Bank Holiday!
Laura x

I don't do weddings, but.....

2011-04-26T12:26:00.006+01:00

Any one who knows me knows very well knows I don't do weddings. I've tried but they do nothing for me, I have never dreamt of the day I would sweep down the aisle in some overpriced meringue into the arms of my man, sorry I just haven't, the whole idea makes me shudder.
I recoil in horror when invited to the union of devoted bloke and besotted girl at fancy church and fabulous country club reception. I know I'm a crap guest at such events so I make my excuses and stay home instead. On the odd occassion my excuses have fallen on deaf ears and I've had to grace them with my presence I find the public declarations of love make me cringe and I have no interest in dancing with your Uncle Trevor because he doesn't get out much. (Clashing with the series finale of Desperate Housewives,apparently doesn't count as an acceptable reason to not attend!)
So I would like to thank Will and Kate for not inviting me, (they obviously know me well enough) and heres a right royal selection of Yorkshire Made treasures in their honour!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/ImogensImaginationUK

https://www.facebook.com/#!/giddydesigns

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kitsch-and-Stitch/128373181043

http://www.ourlittlecraftcompany.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Dottys-Heart/213921145287810

http://www.etsy.com/shop/feltmeupdesigns?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=App_Seller&utm_content=shops&utm_campaign=fb_seller_shop

Click the links to find out more about these patriotic pieces!

Lisa x

I never even knew this was here!

2011-04-12T19:49:00.001+01:00

Aaargh!

The Easter Holidays have started, my house has been invaded by children, some of which are not mine and chaos reigns.

Jemma and Laura had a brief taste of what the next two weeks could hold for me on Sunday, when our attempt at “ladies that lunch” disintegrated into a free for all, sandwich bribes, stolen biscuits, spilt coffee and Jemma taking one for the team, when she deflected a large exercise ball from smashing the table with the back of her head! (Thanks Jemma and I’ll apologise again for my slack jawed inability to warn you of the incoming missile, despite watching it approach in slow motion.) Oh how we laughed.... Thank God!

Parents out there will sympathise with the now familiar feelings of excitement and dread that school holidays bring. How can I keep them entertained? Can my home physically take this kind of bombardment for the next fortnight? I want to get them out for the day but why is everythings so expensive? and wherever I do end up everywhere is full to bursting with everyone having the same idea!

Aaaargh!!

Well I’m not going to list a dozen days out to the same old places, that would be pointless, instead I’m going to tell you my secret...

Not really , I won't be turning to the bottle just yet!

No, this holiday when everyone else is queuing for ice-cream and juggling for position to get the best view of the invisible mountain goats or stressing at the entry prices of yet another theme park, my family and I shall be Geocaching, or as my friend succinctly puts it, “using state of the art multimillion pound technology to find Tupperware.”

No I have not gone mad, this is what we do.

Our first attempts were not always successful, probably because we were using my Dads satnav, but it is very addictive, and the £60 we spent on our Etrex gps navigator has probably saved us hundreds of pounds on days out. (most of the new phones have gps on them now and there’s lots of apps out there to get you started).

We love it because it gets us outdoors, having our own mini adventures, exploring places off the beaten track that we would never find time to before, more often than not we end up repeating the mantra “I never even knew this was here!”

The girls love it, we sold it to them as treasure hunting and they are as addicted as us, there’s something magical about finding a battered old box under a rock in the middle of nowhere and swapping one piece of priceless treasure for another. (Or in most cases a plastic novelty cracker toy, but you never know...)

Ok so I can dream I'd find something as lovely as a Penny Masquerade trinket but if you’d asked me last year if I’d be happy to wade across a river and sneak past a herd of angry cows to find a clue that may or may not lead to a plastic spiderman, I would have laughed in your face, but now I’m already pulling on my wellies ready to go!!

Ok so it’s not the most craft filled post ever but if you click on the pic's you’ll find some fantastic Yorkshire Made stuff and I hope I've inspired you to get out and about exploring more of this beautiful county that we’re lucky enough to call home!

Lisa x

More than words...

2011-03-26T14:37:00.001Z

Well, like many of you, I suspect the recent warm weather and sunny days have given you the feeling that Spring is in the air - with the promise of Summer yet to come! A perfectly normal reaction to what has been a rather pleasant couple of days! But I wonder how many of you, in response to the lovely weather, have just started thinking:

"Spring has sprung , and the grass is griz. I wonder where the birdies is?"

I'm guessing not many of you?!

This is just one of those peculiar phrases that is stuck in my family history. I have no ideas of it's origins - although I'm guessing Spike Milligan - all I know is that it's something my Dad used to say and now it's something that I say! There are many other phrases too...
If someone says "Yes Dear" to you does it conjure up any memories? Do you feel the urgent need to say anything following this statement? No - I thought not! But me, that's a different matter! Thanks to my Dad I now have to say:

"I wonder whether he's a good boy like you and cleans his teeth every night and every morning?"

Again I have no idea where it's from, why my Dad remembered it and chose to teach it to me, or even if the phrase "Yes Dear" was ever really followed by "I wonder whether he's a good boy like you..." or whether I've just made it up! But, like it or not these phrases are now a part of my life!

So to honour all of the crazy phrases, mis-heard song lyrics, special words and family in-jokes I thought I would create a treasury of the best wordy items that Yorkshire has to offer!

To find out more about the people behind these wordy wonders,
just click directly on the pic! Laura x

A ittle bit of my Yorkshire

2011-03-17T14:00:00.000Z

This has been an unusually hard blog to write, for all the right reasons ,you see I have a magnificent view from my home...

Conisbrough Castle

And I love it, even on a miserable winters day it gives me a thrill, I’ve taken hundreds of photographs of it over the years, I’ve sketched it, painted it, stitched it and even sculpted it back in my schooldays! Its the reason we bought the house I’m in. (And to think I worried that I’d miss my sea view in Brighton when I relocated rate far up north!) Its definitely one of my favourite places, which led me to thinking of doing a list of my other favourite places and thats where the trouble started...

The problem with Yorkshire is its so big and so beautiful that what started as a simple idea for this week’s offering turned into a nightmare. The more I thought about it, the bigger the list got, from tranquil parks and seaside haunts to the bustling towns and cities, I could write a book, and the stress of trying to pick favourites could make your head explode, (I know, mine has) and with that in mind this week I offer a very short but soothing list of inspiring calming and beautiful places you should visit this spring to gather your thoughts and truly relax...

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

You can’t get stressed here, take a picnic and enjoy the fantastic galleries set in acres of picture perfect parkland. Have a wander and discover the magnificent sculptures and finish with scrumptious cake and tea at the cafe.

An Introduction to YSP from Yorkshire Sculpture Park on Video

The Forbidden Corner

If its escapism you’re looking for I can heartily recommend this wonderful folly filled grown up playground (kids like it too apparently) near Leyburn. The website really doesn’t do it justice but I love this secret garden, it’s totally fairytale and fantasy, and don’t let the fact you have to book put you off, its to control the numbers so its never overcrowded!

Roche Abbey

I do like a ruin and this beautiful abbey is hidden in a valley with a stream running through, take your camera and sketchbook and enjoy!

Robin Hoods Bay

I can’t do relaxing without mentioning the sea and this summer I am determined to get up to Robin Hoods Bay, for a spot of rock pooling with Eliza, Tabitha and their cousins.

I could happily spend all day doing a catalogue of much-loved Yorkshire places but as I browsed the internet this week I had a beautiful reminder from a fellow yorkshire based maker, of my other favourite place...

As a rule of thumb if I’m not in Yorkshire I’m here!

Lisa x

The 'C' word...

2011-03-10T23:27:00.000Z

Everybody loves cake right?

Here, at Yorkshire Made, we can't get enough of the stuff, and there's never a meetup that doesn't include it! Whether it's means you're sat whiling away the hours in your favourite bookshop cafe with a wedge of the good stuff, inviting the kids to come 'help' you with icing the cake for the in-laws, or if baking is your job, it's always guaranteed fun to get stuck into!

There's a cake for every occasion. Butterfly cakes, Batternburg, Eccles cake, scones with jam and butter (pronounced how you like, that's a whoooole other blog entry!).

Yorkshire can't claim to have come up with the best cakes there are (American chocolate brownies dating back to the 18th century for example -thankyou Wikipedia!) but we've come up with some ruddy weird ones:-

Yorkshire Old Wive's Sod...... and no this isn't from a disgruntled husband's choice vocab. It is in fact a crumbled oat cake and custard concoction that you bake... sounds odd, probably tasted delicious, unfortunately there weren't any pictures online so it probably would be a case of getting stuck into having a crack at making it.

Yorkshire slab cake, a variation on fruit cake...in a 'slab' (what are the chances?!), probably looks a little like this, fancy trying it? Here's the recipe.

Sometimes when it's not possible to dive face-first into a crumbling pile of cake, cream and calorific glutton, it's also nice to look at them instead, and see just how popular a theme it is with the handmade possies too.

It was Lisa at Yorkshire Made's birthday this week ('Happy birthday') and this was a beautiful card she received featuring not one but many sugary cake-y delights, it's making my mouth water at the sight of it!

Cake and craft must surely go together (after all it can't be coincidence that many social gatherings involve tea and cake!), let's see what's out there to tantalise our tastebuds and have us pondering over where the baking powder disappeared to!

A small showcase of what sweet-toothed goodies Yorkshire has on offer:-

www.etsy.com/people/littletimewasters


http://www.etsy.com/shop/woollyduck

http://touchyfeelytextiles.wordpress.com/


http://www.fancie.co.uk

On that note.....guess what I'm heading to the kitchen for a sneaky spoonful of?!

Jemma at Yorkshire Made
x

Rhubarb

2011-02-23T19:43:00.000Z

I must start with a confession. I found this blog post really difficult to write!

Now, I'm not one that often suffers from writers block (I have my own blog too, and I manage to write something for that nearly every week), nor one of these people that is often lost for words (quite the opposite in fact!) but... never the less, not only did I find this particular post very difficult to write, I couldn't even think of a topic! I have the whole of Yorkshire, and all the lovely new followers of the Yorkshire Made FB page as my inspiration, and I was completely stuck!

But then, suddenly from nowhere, inspiration struck! I remember it clearly, and I expect the other half does too, as suddenly in the middle of watching a very tense footie match on the telly box I proclaim at the top of my voice...RHUBARB!

Now I know he thinks I have finally lost the plot, but I am very pleased with my choice as it links in with us on oh so many levels!

Last weeks blog post from Lisa was about a love triangle....

Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb is only grown in a very small area in North Yorkshire - called the Rhubarb Triangle!

Yorkshire Made likes to promote local sellers, suppliers and events....

Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb is, as the name suggests, locally grown! In fact it was awarded Protected Designation of Origin status in 2010 which means the name is legally protected and the growers receive European funding to promote the product.

Yorkshire Made likes a good party - especially if there is food (but more especially cake) involved....

The Wakefield Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb takes place on the 25th and 26th February!

I also think there is something very special and fascinating about anything that is created in darkness and harvested by candlelight!

If you would like more information about the

Wakefield Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb

just click on the link.

For now, here's a snippet of info from the home page:

The festival celebrates the traditional links with rhubarb growing in Wakefield, while offering the finest and tastiest regional produce and showcasing the most talented local chefs. The festival will include street entertainment, cookery demonstrations, walks, tours, a Deliciously Yorkshire market and visits to the rhubarb growers.

I do hope you'll forgive me for not writing a particularly art/craft/design focused post and will join me in a toast to Yorkshire Rhubarb and the spirit of Yorkshire Made! If any of you are visiting the Festival or have gone to see the rhubarb growing sheds already, I'd love to hear from you! I'm fascinated and would love to know more!

Laura x from Yorkshire Made