A Review of the Crafternoon Tea Club Christmash Spesh with Etsy 2011

Crafternoon Tea Club and Etsy put on a splendid DIY craft party with an ethical message – here are our highlights from the Bevenden Street event, held on Thursday 8th December 2011.

Illustration by Rebecca Strickson
On the evening of 8th December, close to 50 people of all ages came together for something resembling a drop-in DIY craft party – the Crafternoon Tea …

Vintage Tea Party, by Angel Adoree: Book Review

A cook book with a difference: Vintage Tea Party guides the reader through the whole process of putting on an old school tea party, with style tips galore amongst the recipes, and lots of wonderful illustrations.

Time for one final book review before Christmas. Tea and Cake, enjoyed in all their fashionable old style glory have never been more popular – I suppose it’s a retaliation …

An interview with illustrator Emma Block, as featured in Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration

The beautiful collages of Emma Block have been wowing Amelia's Magazine readers since 2010, and since appearing in ACOFI she has embarked on numerous other exciting projects. Read on...

Carlotta Gherzi A/W 2011 by Emma Block.
I’ve been working with Emma Block since 2010, when her beautiful work first started to appear in Amelia’s Magazine. Since graduating this summer she’s …

Christmas Gift Ideas 2011: Eco-friendly, Ethical and Crafty Gifts

A diverse range of gifts for the ecologically, environmentally aware and craft minded in your life: from Kirsty Allsopp's aspirational range for M&S to an arts activist pamphlet from Platform.

Christmas gifts by Sinead O’Leary.
Just in time for a last minute eco Christmas round up before the Royal Mail goes totally pear shaped….

Firstly, I am a bit in love …

An interview with Anna Felton of Monkstone Knitwear, created with wool from sheep who live on Trevayne Farm in Wales

Abi Renshaw talks to Anna Felton of Monkstone Knitwear, purveyors of the finest designer hand knits, created with love on a sustainable farm in Wales. It doesn't get much better than this...

Monkstone Knitwear Stripe Sweater by Stephanie Brown (FAIIINT).
With the mild Autumn being over, the weatherman now talks of snow. Panic! Wondering what wardrobe essentials can help fight the impending chill? …

Review: Silver Metal Clay Jewellery Class with Sima Vaziry at the London Jewellery School

Last week I learnt how to work with silver metal clay at a London Jewellery School taster class. My teacher was an expert in the technique... and by the end of the evening I was hooked.

Silver metal clay has intrigued me since I did silversmithing classes a few years ago, simply because it promises so much: all the gleam and precious feel of silver and… …

Christmas Gift Ideas 2011: Jewellery and Hats

The first in my Christmas gift round up features jewellery and hats from the likes of Rosie Wonders, The Aviary, Ridley and Dowse and Spirithoods. Plus much more!

Rosie Wonders Dala Horse Necklace by Janneke de Jong.
It’s getting scarily close, this Christmas malarkey. And I bet that if you are anything like me you’ve done very little about …

Lush Christmas Gifts: 2011 Product Review

My pick of extra special Lush bath time goodies for Christmas. Presents with attitude and heart.

Lush Christmas products by Katrina Conquista.
Lush prides itself on in-house inventions such as the solid shampoo bar and the shower jelly – and Lush inventors like to have particular fun …

An interview with Stratis Kastrisianakis, co-founder of Nakedbutsafe magazine

Principal Colour have just introduced me to one of their newest clients: a very exciting art, fashion and photography magazine, straight out of Greece. Meet Stratis Kastrisianakis and Manos Samartzis, creators with principles. We like.

Nakedbutsafe magazine is a beautiful new arts, fashion and photography magazine with a conscience, produced in Greece, printed in the UK at Principal Colour, and available worldwide. Co-founder Stratis Kastrisianakis …

Introducing the Closet Swap community from Channel 4: Don’t Shop – Swap!

An exciting new initiative promotes the idea of swapping clothes between friends rather than buying new. Supported by Tatty Devine and Ada Zanditon. Read on...

Closet Swap by Pia Bramley.
Introducing Closet Swap, a new online fashion community site from Channel 4 Education. As part of a wider debate about sustainable and ethical fashion, Closet Swap …

Lush Gorilla Perfumes: The Smell of Freedom in Three Parts, Fire Tree, Old Delhi Station and Oudh Heart

The latest fragrances in the new Gorilla Perfume range from Lush were inspired by stories of freedom from around the world. Created by founder Mark Constantine's son, Simon Constantine.

The Smell of Freedom (Oudh Heart) by Vicky Fallon.
Love perfumes? Love Lush? Or know someone who does? Then how about these three new fragrances for potential stocking fillas?
The Smell …

Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland S/S 2012 in Łódź: Showroom

The best of the stands, including some wonderful upcycled shoes from Kollana, fashion illustration from Maggie Piu, hand made owl bags and jewellery made from plastic bottles by Ekoista.

Kollana Shoes by Celine Elliott.
Time for a quick round up of the best brands that I found in the Showroom at Fashion Week Poland. Held in the industrial sized factory …

The 3rd Annual Fashioning the Future Awards

The London College of Fashion's Centre for Sustainable Fashion hosted the 3rd annual Fashioning the Future Awards at a futuristic ceremony at the East Wintergarden, Canary Wharf, on Thursday 10th November 2011. Hosted by Caryn Franklin, this was a visual treat - minus some very special celebrity guests…

Caryn Franklin hosting the ceremony, by Antonia Parker
The third annual Fashioning the Future Awards took place last Thursday, where guests from the world of fashion, business and sustainable living came …

Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland Off Out Of Schedule S/S 2012 in Łódź: Dominika Naziebly

Dominika Naziebly presented Cold Summer as part of the Off Out Of Schedule shows on Saturday 29th October 2011. Eco fashion at its best!

Dominika Naziebly by Rebecca Higgins.
Having won the Golden Thread Awards earlier this year, Dominika Naziebly stepped up to the mark with another beautiful ethically produced collection that used eco fabrics …

Halloween 2011: a Ghoulish Celebration of the Dead in Illustration

Halloween. Celebration of the dead, autumnal right of passage, fancy dress party time and an excuse for mass consumption of tat. All this inspired a lovely set of illustrations...

Halloween by Karolina Burdon.
And so Halloween rolls around again! I’ve loved Halloween since I was a pre-teen, when I hosted annual parties for my schoolmates where I always dressed as …

Lu Flux introduces Sea and Be Seen A/W 2011 and A-Lu-Ha S/S 2012 collections

Lu Flux produced her jewel coloured A/W 2011 collection in collaboration with Shetland wool brokers Jamieson & Smith. For this season she returned to patchwork, inspired by Hawaii Hour on her local Isle of Wight radio.

Lu Flux S/S 2012 by Antonia Parker.
This year Lu Flux decided to show in the main exhibition area of London Fashion Week, away from Estethica for the first time. I …

Renegade Craft Fair in London 2011 Review: Ceramic Design

Unique hand made ceramic wonders from Melody Rose, JimBobArt and Zosienka & Rosie. Discovered at the Renegade Craft Fair, held on the 8-9th October 2011.

Upcycled vintage crockery from Melody Rose at Not On The High Street.
Plenty of fab ceramic design at the Renegade Craft Fair last weekend. Here’s my favourites.

Melanie Roseveare – aka Melody …

Renegade Craft Fair in London 2011 Review: Textile Design

Wondrous textiles from Art Equals Happy, Mary Kilvert, Robin & Mould and more at the Renegade Craft Fair in London on 8-9th October 2011. Plus workshops from The Make Lounge.

Making stuff for oneself is the bedrock of the crafting scene so of course there were quite a few workshops ongoing when I visited the Renegade Craft Fair. The Stitch …

Renegade Craft Fair in London 2011 Review: Illustration and Wall Art

The inaugural London Renegade Craft Fair took place on the 8th and 9th October 2011 at the Truman Brewery. Here's a look at some of the best illustration and wall art that I found, including The Bungaloo, Being Natalie, Julia Pott and upcycled wallets from Magic Industrie.

Music posters by John Vogl of The Bungaloo.
The Renegade Craft Fair obviously has some clout back in its home country of America, since quite a few of the stallholders had …