Sweet and Spicy - interview with Paul's Pickles

Way back in March I had the great privilege to meet Paul of Paul's Pickles at the MK Handmade and Vintage Extravaganza. I was so impressed by his delicious range of pickles and chutneys and the really simple yet beautiful packaging.

Paul very kindly agreed to do a little interview for the blog. So here's some food for thought as well as mouthwatering pictures of the handmade goodies. Mmm!

What led you to set up Paul’s Pickles?

I went to our local farmer’s market but couldn’t find anything that I particularly wanted to buy… so I went home and tried making something I would want myself – locally sourced (where possible), locally produced chutneys and relishes, and I haven’t stopped since.

 

So you keep bees…?

I have two hives at the moment, on the friendly farm behind our garden. They produce enough honey for my family and friends, and to be used in some of my chutneys.

It’s probably unfair to ask but do you have a favourite pickle or chutney?

I would have to say chilli-lilli – piccalilli with a kick up the backside!

Do you have a favourite dish which incorporates one of your products? Can we have the recipe?

My favourite would have to be Piccalilli – I like it spread on toast, covered with cheddar cheese and grilled.

Without giving away trade secrets how do you go about creating a new product?

I get a lot of feedback and ideas from customers at fairs and the farmshops I stock, particularly when it comes to adapting traditional recipes to a more modern taste, or giving them a bit of a twist. I came up with my trademark Carriots of Fire because I wanted to create something completely different, with a unique taste and texture. I had a few trial and error runs, trying techniques I had picked up from different recipes, and landed with my most popular pickle! Sometimes I trawl through traditional chutney recipe books and adapt the ingredients to what’s in season locally – this is how Carriots of Fire became modified into Chilli-zini when I found myself with a tonne of local courgettes.

Can you name three major influences on your products?

First is the good local produce which will always influence which ingredients I choose to use – with piccalilli for instance, I use broad beans in spring and runner beans in summer. Feedback is really key too – mainly the faces of those who test my hot chutneys at fairs (dubbed ‘The Man Test’), but also from friends and family.

My third would have to be the supportive, constructive criticism I get from my wife and daughters.

Can you name three things about where you live that benefit/inspire you and your work?

Sandy is a great place to live, and one of the many benefits is that Bedfordshire is a veg growing county with plenty of produce on your doorstep if you go looking for it. I’ve also found a lot of fantastic support in my suppliers and stockists in Sandy, and from the many generous local residents who will never forget to contact me when they have a glut of veg or fruit.

This year there’ll be street parties a go go with the Diamond Jubilee – which pickle would you recommend to her Majesty?

As a keen supporter of the Commonwealth, I’m sure she’d appreciate some Mango, Kashmir or Spicy Pineapple.

 

What can we look forward to from you in 2012?

I’ve already had a massive weekend at Milton Keynes Vintage and Handmade Crafts Fair in March, and I have the same event on the 26^th May. On Father’s Day I’m going to the Chilli Fiesta at Shuttleworth so we’re expecting a big turnout for the Man Test. As usual I’ll be at various Sue Ryder events throughout the year, so please check my website www.pauls-pickles.com and keep up to date with me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Pauls-Pickles.

Vintage local loveliness

Today's local loveliness interview features two very lovely ladies who are vintage clothing aficionados. Together Abi and Emma form 'Before We Were Friends'. Their beautiful treasure trove of a stall caught my eye at the MK Handmade and Vintage Weekend and I had to find out more. A big thank you to Catrin Arwel the talented photographer who provided some of the images for this post.

1. Tell us a bit more about yourselves

'Before We Were Friends' was born about 14 months ago, out of a mutual love of all things vintage and two ever expanding vintage clothing collections! We both have busy careers in the Performing Arts in various guises and have worked in theatre, dance, film and TV in various corners of the world for the last 10 years.  With so many costumes and experiences along the way, we have both always enjoyed developing our own sense of style and expressing ourselves with our wardrobes.

We studied at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, but were in different year groups, so we only really knew each other to say hello and have a quick chat. A few years later, our paths crossed at an audition, neither of us ended up in the show but we did end up with the seed of a new friendship and blossom it has! We have so many people and places in common but get confused with the chronology of when we knew each other and when we didn’t, hence our name 'Before we were Friends'! Whenever one of us was telling the other a story we would say 'was that before we were friends?!' It became our little joke. We were searching for a name for our Vintage Clothing Company and Emma suddenly said 'I've got it!' We think it's perfect. 

2. Give us the story behind your playing card business cards (which I love by the way!)

We were looking for an economical and unique way to price our items.  We knew we wanted something recycled and environmentally friendly but with a vintage design flare.  Packs of playing cards seemed the best choice!  Old cards are easy to source and come in endless designs and colours. We soon decided to hand-make our business cards using the same idea!  To be honest hand-making them is quite time consuming but we have had such lovely feedback about them that we have decided to stick with it (although Abi needs a little work on her handwriting)! They have proved to be quite the conversation starter!

3. When I met you at MK handmade and Vintage fair, several things about your stall really stood out, grabbed my attention and made me come and chat to you.  In particular a polka dot dress prominently displayed. Would you say that vintage pieces a more likely to create a lasting impression.

There's no doubt about it!  The polka dot dress you mentioned, we fondly refer to as 'The Bumblebird' - a yellow with black polka dotted stunner of a dress! It’s a hybrid of a bumble bee and a ladybird! Come to think of it, we often name our items. I think that's because vintage clothing naturally exudes character.  Vintage clothing so often uses patterns and textures that we don't see as much in today’s fashion. So Vintage inevitably stands out from the crowd. There is nothing more satisfying than putting a few vintage pieces together; that you know no one else will be wearing.  Fashion can be so diluted in today's 'disposable' society and we see the high-street full of clothing that replicates vintage styles.  It's much more thrilling to have the real thing! Plus, the quality and detail of a vintage piece is almost always superior. It's much more personal; a way of expressing who you are and what YOUR slant on a current trend is.

4. Vintage means different things to different people - what does it mean to you?

The word ‘Vintage’ is banded around a lot these days, causing much confusion. From our point of view, as lovers and sellers of vintage fashion, it is an original item from a bygone era that exudes style and design, therefore never going out of fashion. Officially, (I just googled it, so it must be true?!) ‘Vintage’ clothing is anything that was made at least 20 years previously. So, yes, the 90’s are rapidly being considered vintage….  Although we’re not sure the stripy legging and DM’s look of ’93 will be having a resurgence quite yet?!

Personally, we do have an issue with the word being misused. You hear some people looking at 80’s clothing and claiming ‘it’s not real vintage’ and then see a 50’s style Primark dress being sold on Ebay as Vintage. So many high street shops use the word to describe their brand spanking new clothing or furnishing’s that are in fact ‘Vintage style’ or ‘Retro’, which means something else entirely.

We are careful to source genuine vintage. A lot of the time you can tell a piece must be of a certain age simply by the label stating ‘Made in Great Britain’.

5. Can you name 3 major influences on your vintage collections?

The two major influences are of course us! We source what we love. It’s as simple as that. This can of course cause problems, as we end up wanting to keep everything.

Abi: I love the feminine timeless images of the 30’s and 40’s screen sirens. My wedding dress was heavily influenced by that look.  Alongside the obvious elegance of those fashions, there was also a ‘there is a war on’ practicality about clothing, making it wearable but still undeniably feminine. In my teens I was very into the bohemian 70’s look, I still dig a pair of high wasted flairs! That’s the great thing about vintage clothing; there is something for every mood and stage of your life.

Emma:  Being honest I’m not sure my choices are influenced by a particular decade at all.  I tend to think about CONTEXT when sourcing items.  It may sound silly but I instantly build a picture in my head of who could wear that item, what with and in what situation?  I often say to myself “ooo yummy mummy does a bbq with friends dress” or “trendy 20 something layers chunky cardigan over floral dress for effortless beer garden chic!”  This is all in my head you understand!  I actually bought a divine pair of jade green heels in Las Vegas once and was convinced they would look great with jeans whilst hoovering!!! True story and no I didn’t!  Anyway, on a serious note, one of the great things about the different influences that Abi and I migrate towards is that we tend to buy very different items which really helps us cater for our varied customers.  There should be something for everyone!

 

6. Do you follow certain curation themes or rules?

‘Wearable and Affordable’ are our rules of thumb. We don’t want people to be intimidated by Vintage fashion, just see how it will work for them. We of course have some more ‘outlandish’ pieces in our collection, just waiting for their new owner to discover and fall in love with them.

We tend to keep our eyes and ears to the ground about what is big in the fashion world and see what is being worn by everyone around us. The resurgence of 90’s grunge means our shirts have been doing very well of late. Lots of young women are sporting denim cut off shorts with a tucked in shirt. Try it for yourself!

 

7. Does where you live influence which items you choose – perhaps it provides particular inspiration, maybe it is a great source for or people are particularly keen to buy a certain type of item for example.

We are learning to tailor our stock to the markets we are visiting.  There are some sales where people are more comfortable buying vintage and know what they like. Others, where people don't feel as brave and that's where accessories tend to sell best.  A belt or clutch is not as bigger commitment as an 80's jumpsuit!  Having said that, vintage items are so unique and specific to a person's taste that there is no rhyme or reason to it.  Sometimes it's just about waiting for the right person to come along. We sold a dress to a lady in Ecuador from Brixton market once! A few photo messages from her friends through the wonders of modern technology and she was the proud owner of a phenomenal cerise 60's mini for her friend’s wedding. We were as thrilled as she was…. 'Before We Were Friends' goes global! Seeing someone ‘discover’ an item on the stall, makes those cold early morning set up’s all worthwhile!

8. I love that on your Facebook page you have some fabulous photos of people wearing vintage items, showing how they can be worn in an up to date and stylish way today. If you were giving advice to a first time vintage clothes buyer what sort of thing would you recommend they look for?

Definitely start with accessories.  Bags, belts and scarves.  It's an easy way to integrate something vintage and unique to your style.  There is nothing better than a vintage scarf to give a twist to a modern outfit. They are so versatile and come in such gorgeous colours and patterns.  If you've got one of those in your bag you have a belt, a head scarf, a neck scarf and something to pep up a handbag! It's easy to start there and become braver as you become more familiar with what is available and what suits you.   

A certain decade’s shapes and styles often appeal to certain people or body shapes. Do you usually opt for the cinched in waist with a feminine touch when choosing modern clothes?  Then perhaps look at clothes from the 50's. Are you less curvy but with a pair of killer legs?  Then the 60's mini shift dress trends may be more your thing. There really is something for everyone and how far you take it is entirely up to you. The same rules apply to buying vintage as modern clothes; choose clothes that flatter YOUR body shape, that make you feel confident and express who you are.

9. How do you use vintage fashion items in a modern wardrobe?

Abi is the dress fiend!  She has a vintage dress for every occasion, whilst I (Emma) tend to opt for vintage shirts and blouses that can easily be paired with skinnies or skirts.

It’s all about WEARABLE vintage for us. There’s no point spending your hard earned cash on something you love but are not going to be able to wear (believe us, we have done it!). Both of us mix vintage pieces with modern clothing, creating a fun and personal look. By teaming a vintage dress with a contemporary blazer/leather jacket or adding vintage accessories or a hair style to a high street dress, you avoid looking like you are in 'in costume' but will exude creativity and individualism.  You just have to find what makes you feel great.

10. What can we look forward to seeing from Before We Were Friends this year?

As well as our regular markets and sales, our ‘Before We Were Friends’ Parties are really taking off! They have proved really popular for Birthdays and Hen Do’s. As our business is based on friendship, we love being surrounded by wonderful groups of friends enjoying one another’s company. We offer any combination of ‘vintage dress up’s’, make overs, photo and video shoots and if that isn’t enough we draw on our other passion and offer dance classes in every and any style, to a song of your choice and with plenty of love and laughter.

These events have proved so popular, there is a ‘Before we Were Friends’ Tea Dance ‘on the cards’ (pun intended!) with all the splendour of a ‘B4WWF’ party, but on a larger scale.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details of our future sales, events and of course, get in touch should you fancy a party of your own!

I do hope this interview has inspired you to add a touch of vintage style to your wardrobe (or enlarge your collection!).  Do take a look at Before We Were Friends on Facebook, and visit them at the next MK Handmade and Vintage Weekend in May.

Local Loveliness - Interview with Laura Eaglesfield from Ava and Arthur

When I visited the MK Handmade and Vintage Extravaganza at Centre MK in March I purchased this rather lovely phone case from Ava and Arthur. Laura who runs the business very kindly agreed to do an interview and tell us more about her work and passion for fabric....

Tell us a bit more about yourself!

I live in Newport Pagnell with my husband Phil, Ava my daughter and Arthur the cat- hence the name. I am very much a people person and love taking my wares to market and meeting the customers. 

What led you to set up Ava and Arthur?

Ava and Arthur came about when I was on maternity leave and I started to get itchy fingers about doing something creative with my time at home, so I dusted off my sewing machine, bought pattern books to give me some inspiration and met up with a sewing friend to discuss ideas. I started to show my baby buddies what I had made and one of them asked me if I would make a nursery/ toy bag. I found a bag pattern that fitted the criteria and the rest is history as they say..

When I saw your stall at MK Handmade and Vintage I was blown away by the bright colours and sense of fun. Tell us more about your relationship with colour.

As soon as I went to Art College my eyes just opened up to so many creative people and possibilities, it had a huge influence on me.  Not having the corporate constraints anymore of uniform dressing and thinking really has allowed me to free up my passion in life, which is colour and fabrics.

Do you have a favourite product? If so why?

I don’t really have a favourite product as it is down to the fabric at the time of making. I am however very proud of the more complex items I make as I can’t quite believe I have actually made it! Especially if I have had to work it out for myself.

What’s special about fabric?

Fabric, textures, yarns, threads, buttons, beads! All haberdashery excites me.

I actually majored in knitwear design at college but I can’t knit for toffee anymore!

Using fabric is much more gratifying when you only have small bursts of time to achieve anything.

What is your favourite part of the creative process?

BUYING! This has to be the best bit. I love browsing, finding and thinking about where and how I am going to use the fabric. I love unusual colour combinations and I’d say that is my USP.

Can you name three major influences on your products?

Having had Ava I would say she is largely responsible for my children friendly products. Toy bags, mummy pouches, headband’s, lavender bags, wash bags, little children’s book bags, tooth fairy bags!

Friends, family and customers are very influential to the products.

Fashion and home magazines lead my creative thoughts to seasonal fabric buying.

Tell us more about your sewing bee course.

The “Sewing Bee” idea came about from a group of girls I teach at the moment. It’s really fun, sociable and a relaxed way of learning a little to hopefully go a long way.

I teach very basic techniques on the sewing machines and the rest is confidence building so that you can undertake small projects around the home or make gifts for friends and relatives.

It’s time out of a hectic life to catch up with friends whilst learning a new skill.

What can we look forward to from you in 2012?

I hopefully will be attending all the Vintage and Handmade fairs in the city centre this year.

I have already started to collaborate with a few out lets as to stocking my product, one being the Wollaston Garden and Home gift shop. Please find on Facebook , they are fantastic ambassadors of handmade items and deal with over 40 in the shop alone.

The next obvious step is a website or at least setting up a “shop” on Etsy or Folksy. But until I can focus on it 100% I will be doing an injustice to myself and the product by rushing into something I can’t maintain.

I am gaining valuable feedback by doing craft fairs big and small, and I have started a Facebook page that is in development as we speak. I plan to have my products on there for all to see, browse, comment or buy!

Find Ava and Arthur on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/#!/AvaAndArthur

Find out more about MK Handmade and Vintage Extravaganza here:
http://www.mk-handmade-and-vintage.co.uk/

Wasted Fashion Interview

Sometimes you see a company’s product range that is truly unique. Wasted Fashion is one such company. I met Rob at the MK Handmade and Vintage Extravaganza in March and was really impressed with his innovative use of materials. So impressed that I asked him for an interview, and here it is…

Image - Wasted Fashion

Tell us a bit more about yourself!

I’m 22 years old, from Milton Keynes and have lived here all my life. I’m a very creative person who’s not happy unless I have some sort of project to work on. If I see something being thrown away, I like to try and reuse or recycle it.

Image - Wasted Fashion

What led you to set up Wasted Fashion UK?

I set up Wasted Fashion as a brand to market the things I design and make under. Initially I used to give the items I made as gifts for birthdays etc and always got very positive feedback. I then decided to try selling the things I made to the public. I chose the name Wasted Fashion as it describes the things I make very well – fashion accessories made from recycled materials!


When I saw your stall at Mk Handmade and Vintage Extravaganza it really stood out because your product offering was so unique – is it an advantage to be so different?

I think it is. The reactions I get from people vary from surprise at the way I reuse and recycle old or familiar objects, to shock that their favourite records are still around and being turned into bags or jewellery. I like to think that my designs are a good talking point and that people are getting something completely different and bespoke.




Image - Wasted Fashion



Where did the computer theme come from?

I am myself a bit of a computer geek and like anything computer related. Luckily I’m not alone in this and people seem to like the idea of computer fashion accessories. Also computers are also something that is regularly being thrown away or up graded and so are reasonably easy to come by.  At the same time I enjoy design and craft making, so combining the two just made sense.

Image - Wasted Fashion

You also reference scrabble, old games and vinyl – do you have a favourite?

Anything retro or unusual appeals to me but my favourite to work with is vinyl records. They are instantly recognisable and very versatile to work with. You’re also never sure what records you will come across – good or bad!

Image - Wasted Fashion

How does the use of unconventional materials influence your product design?

I like to make my designs evolve around the materials (computer keys, records etc) so I tend to take an item and almost design around it. This is challenging but interesting as an idea I have in my head can turn out completely different when complete.

Image - Wasted Fashion

Where do you source your materials – floppy disks can’t be easy to find! Do you have to hunt or do they find you?

A lot of my materials are ‘hunted’ down. I find this quite a fun task, when looking through an old box of board games or computer disks you never quite know what you will find. I’m also very lucky occasionally and kind people will donate computer parts, disks and records that were otherwise destined for the dump.

Image - Wasted Fashion

Can you name three major influences on your work?

My major influences are my surroundings, I come into contact with computers and records most days, also if I see a product (bag, keying etc) thats design really stands out I will sometimes try to take that design and put my own recycled slant on it. Feedback from the public is a great influence and I’m always open to people’s suggestions on possible materials I could use or design ideas I could develop. Finally my own personal interests definitely influence my work. I’ve always loved vinyl records and buy them to listen too, and this is what inspired me to use them in fashion design.

Image - Wasted Fashion

Can you name three things about where you live that benefit/inspire you and your work?

Milton Keynes in general is a good city for recycling so it is something I’ve grown up doing.  It has some great places to find old second hand and unwanted items (boot sales, charity shops etc) which are great for resources and inspiration. Milton Keynes is a young city and my designs and ideas have so far been popular with the people who live here and the people who visit me at local craft fairs.

Image - Wasted Fashion

What can we look forward to from you in 2012?

I’m always working on new ideas and designs so expect more interesting and creative items from me in the future. I will be appearing at the next Mk Handmade and Vintage Extravaganza on the 26-27^th May and at the MK Festival Fringe Street Bazaar on the 10-12^th July, this is a new event I have never attended before.

You can find out more about Wasted Fashion on their Facebook Page here

And more about the MK Handmade and Vintage extravaganza on their website

http://www.mk-handmade-and-vintage.co.uk/

Local Loveliness- Interview with Emma from Hapitat

You may remember that I recently visited the MK Handmade and Vintage Extravaganza at Centre MK. I had the opportunity to speak to a number of extremely talented people who kindly agreed to do interviews for this blog. Well we are kicking off in style with an interview with Emma Read who is the talent behind Hapitat. Emma creates beautiful floral headpieces, fabric flower bouquets and much much more! So without further ado - here is the interview:

Tell us a bit more about yourself!

I was bought up in a sleepy village in Hampshire, I studied Art and Design when I left school, and planned to go to University to do a degree in Art, but I got scouted by a model agency, and decided to put my art on hold for a year to model in London. A year turned into about 10 in the Big Smoke, but when our little boy came along, we decided to move out to Buckinghamshire to be close to my husband’s family.

 I found I had more time to myself as our boy grew up, and that’s when my creativity started up again.

I was invited to Ascot for a hen weekend. I had a vision of what I wanted to wear on my head, a huge flower headpiece, but couldn’t find anything big enough, so I set to work making my own.  Using some leftover silk from the dress my sister made me for my wedding, I created a huge silk flower. The comments on race day where amazing, so when I got home I set to work creating more. I found inspiration from my collection of vintage fabric lace and netting, I set up a shop on Etsy and my first customer was Courtney love Cobain. Since then the customers have been flooding in.

When I saw your stall at MK Handmade and Vintage fair I was blown away by the attention to detail and luscious materials that you use to create your products. It’s probably unfair to ask but do you have a favourite material?

I absolutely love working with all vintage fabrics. Each piece is unique, whether it be faded by the sun over the years or slightly frayed, I just love working with it. Each piece has a story to tell. New fabric can be great too, but vintage is the one for me. Call me weird, but I even love the smell of it. It reminds me of when I was growing up,.My Mum and Dad did a lot of amateur dramatics and they borrowed clothes from an old lady who had a massive collection in an old barn,. My Mum would take my sister and me, we would run around trying on top hats and feather cancan dresses- a little girls dream giant dressing up box. I think that’s where my love of vintage really stemmed from.

You’ve recently had your items featured at the national wedding show and by Etsy France. Tell us more…

I was contacted by Etsy admin a few weeks ago. They said two of my huge silk flower headpieces had been selected by the National Wedding Show to appear on the catwalk. I was so excited, but also nervous. Shipping my beloved flowers off to be borrowed and having worked in catwalk shows I know how clothes and accessories can be flung around in the mad rush, but I’m very please to say, they arrived back to me in perfect condition this morning. The response has been amazing. Etsy said they had literally 100’s of people enquiring where they could buy my headpieces for their wedding.

I also sent a similar ivory headpiece to Paris for Etsy France’s first press day. They are recreating an apartment of a young family and are filling it with handmade Etsy goodies, one area is dedicated to a wedding and that’s where my headpiece comes in. Apparently it’s going to have huge press coverage, so I’m looking forward to hearing feedback from that.

One of the products that really caught my eye was your Indian headdress. Can you tell us more about the inspiration for the piece?

The Indian headdresses have been a really big seller especially in the run up to the  UK festival season, but I’ve also sold a lot to US customers. I believe their festival season has already started.

I just love dressing up, and the festivals are an ideal opportunity to let go of your inhibitions. I don’t take things seriously at the best of times, but this is a good excuse to just go utterly mad. I often team my headdress with gold hot pants and leopard print leggings. I think we all have an inner child and it’s good to let it out every now and again.

The vintage leather I’ve used is from a collection I’ve had for years. I just love the look of vintage leather. It can be distressed by hand, but it never looks the same as real battered vintage leather. Some of the vintage trim I’ve used was bought from an Etsy seller in Texas. I started off using recycled feathers, but I’ve recently been buying luxurious German cockerel feathers from a supplier in Wales. The natural iridescent colours are just so pretty and they create a very striking result.

What is your favourite part of the creative process?

I get very excited by fabrics, as you have probably already gathered. I think I get most excited when different textures and colours really work together. I have so much fabric I’m forever finding new combinations, and when I come across a bag of fabric I’d forgotten about in my attic, I’m almost falling down the stairs rushing to get started (and yes I have a bruised bottom, where I have fallen a few times)

Can you name three major influences on your products?

As I mentioned before, the amateur dramatic wardrobe/dressing up dream when I was a child.

The huge collection of vintage fabric and lace in my attic that I have acquired over the years is an enormous influence.

Nature all around influences me, especially this time of year when the new blossom and shoots are coming out through the entwining tangled plants that winter left behind. I’m always a bit sad when it all needs tidying up. I love natures beautiful mess.

Can you name three things about where you live that benefit/inspire you and your work?

The charity shops and car boots around here are great. I’m always picking up vintage fabric, lace and old vintage clothing and hats that I can recycle into something beautiful.

I love the peace and quiet of the countryside, spending time searching for fairies at the bottom of my garden or by the riverbank with my children help inspire me too.

I don’t drive but I manage to find everything I need right on my doorstep.

You’ re committed to recycling – what sparked that passion? Does it have particular delights or challenges?

My family have always recycled and have been very eco friendly since I can first remember. My grandmother was thrifty during the war. They didn’t have a lot of money and that rubbed off on my Mother. Nothing was ever wasted and they were taught to make and do. My Mum made all our clothes and grew their own produce and we were bought up around jumble sales and craft fairs.

I don’t find that recycling hinders me, I find it’s more of a challenge than just buying something new from a fabric shop, that’s what makes it so exciting.

I noticed that you have been creating flowers with new materials – plastic bags! Is this something we can expect to see more of?

I’m always looking to recycle different materials to work with. I discovered that you can iron plastic bags together in layers between greaseproof paper and it makes it sewable and less flimsy and crinkly. I think I’ll be using this at the summer festival where I run Hapitat flower workshops and teach people how they can make flowers out of just about anything.

What else can we look forward to from you in 2012?

My little girl is still quite young (16 months) so she takes up a lot of my time, but I’m going to continue with my online Etsy shop and Hapitat website, as well as doing my craft stall every 3 months  at MK Handmade and Vintage Fairs in Middleton Hall Central Milton Keynes.  I’ve been approached by few local boutiques’ that would like to stock some of my flower headpieces. I’m also hoping to be getting a lot of giant flower headpiece orders from brides who saw them at the National wedding show.

Emma will be at the next Handmade and Vintage Extravaganza at Centre MK on 26th/27th May but if you can't make it then or can't wait that long then you can find her here:

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hapitat
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hapitat/330593435772
Tumblr: http://hapitat.tumblr.com/