Gift Guide / / Make Your Own Kits

What do you buy for the person who already has everything? Well, I can think of a thing or two...

Welcome to the weekly gift-guide: I am delighted to be sharing with you unique, inspiring & significant gift ideas on Rachael's blog. This week I bring you ideas for Make your own kits . I hope these gift ideas inspire you. Enjoy, Hannah.

Make your own pantry jam design jars by Dotcomgiftshop.

 

Make your own woodland cottage by Dotcomgiftshop.

 

Make your own patchwork scented cushion & purse set by John Lewis.

Make your own bath bombs by John Lewis.

 

Make your own lipbalm kit by Sweet Cecily's via Notonthehightstreet.

 

Make your own vintage plate art by Lou Rota via Notonthehighstreet.

 

Creative Review / / Dottie Angel

I am thrilled to be able to share some inspirational art and design with you every Tuesday morning as Rachael's 'Art and Creative Writer'. This week, I'm featuring the crafty creations of Dottie Angel.

Dottie Angel is the alter-ego of British born but now Seattle based maker, Tif Fussell. She creates fabric goodness out of vintage finds and has developed her own lifestyle brand, coined 'granny chic'. 

She is co-author of a book of the same name which has over twenty projects to help us find out 'inner granny chic crafting soul'. Tif has an inspiring blog, Facebook page and Etsy shop where she sells her hand-made wares. More next week, Justine x

Gift Guide: Arts and Crafts

What do you buy the person who has everything? Well, I can think of a thing or two...

Welcome to my weekly gift-guide; I’m thrilled to be sharing a selection of creative, quirky and downright awesome gifts with you here on Rachael’s blog. This week’s guide is dedicated to the crafters.

Arts and crafts have experienced a huge surge in popularity over the past few years. Hordes of people - young and old - have embraced new skills and are crafting their way through the recession. Some are even turning their talents into a creative career. Craft supplies and DIY books are the perfect gifts for the designers, makers and creators in your life, so without further ado...here are my best picks.

Embroidery is a craft as old as time, but Jenny Hart, the creative soul behind Sublime Stitching has brought it screeching into the 21^st century. Her whimsical, cheeky and fun patterns are beloved the world over. Check out her website for a full selection of products and a list of local stockists.

A sewing machine may seem like an extravagant gift, but this polka dot (POLKA DOT!) beauty from John Lewis is just £49. It’s a mini machine, so has fewer functions that a conventional machine, but it works like a charm. Also available in striking red and an only slightly offensive purple.

Kirstie Allsopp, the Queen of Crafts – there’s no one better to learn from. She has a host of TV shows and books dedicated to the art of crafting, but an all-round crowd pleaser has to be Kirstie’s Handmade Home. 

Just Sew Stories by Katie Allen is a beautiful sewing book for beginners. Easy to follow instructions, great projects and lovely photography makes this a delight to read.

The packaging and use of the word ‘vignette’ sold me on this carnivalesque craft kit. It looks like it could be suitable for children but I know many adults who would also enjoy making their own stylish bag.

Storage - or a lack of it, is a classic crafting woe. This adorable bird house sewing basket saves the day, neatly squirreling away all those beads, buttons and trim. 

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed today’s post! Leonie x

Lilla Rogers - New Book Release!

The amazing Lilla Rogers, who recently I recently announced has become my new agent (read the announcement here), has released a brand new book entitled; 'I Just Like To Make Things: Learn The Secrets to Making Money While Staying Passionate About Your Art and Craft'.

'Gain a wealth of information, inspiration, and know-how on moving your artistic career forward from one of the most successful illustration agents in the industry! I Just Like to Make Things is a dazzling, colorful volume of career and personal advice for artists, filled with ideas, playsheets (as opposed to worksheets), case studies, and tools for staying inspired and creative. These pages are grounded in the wisdom and experience gleaned from a long and buzzing career as creative juggernaut Lilla Rogers shares her analysis of leveraging various working styles and ways to keep your art fresh. Artist interviews provide inside details about the best jobs, as well as tips on how to work smart and stay creative. You’ll also find annotated case studies of several successful art jobs, in addition to coloring book pages, hand-drawn charts, and lots of crazy fun.' 

Can't wait to read it! You can buy the book from Amazon & you can visit the Lilla Rogers website, follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook!