It's Traid's #Secondhandfirst week!

I was invited to guest write on Traid’s blog this week, so thought I'd post up a copy with a few more pictures on my own blog as well! This week Traid has initiated the first hopefully of many  #Secondhandfirst week, jam packed with interesting activities encouraging us to take the #Secondhandfirst Pledge. It is a great great initiative which also highlights the ways we buy our clothes and a reminder of all the environmental and social problems in the textile and garment supply chain. We all have the capacity to affect these problems in positive ways as conscious consumers and citizens.

The volume of textile and clothing waste in the UK is quite staggering (Source WRAP: 350,000 tonnes of used clothing goes to landfill every year. 30% of our unwanted clothes goes to landfill. 60% of UK households have unwanted clothes & textiles at home) We are throwing away or just hoarding valuable resources!!

In the ‘Hierarchy of waste’; reduce and reuse are at the top of the pyramid. For me this way of thinking and being is very easy. I was brought up on a diet of second hand being careful. Hand me downs (or hand me ups!) was the norm without any shame or stigmas that today’s youngsters seem to feel. As a teenager (and continues to be so!) sourcing clothes from charity shops was fun, a great source of individuality, re styling possibilities and affordable! I still take advantage of Traid’s famous £2 sales!! As I enter my mid years I also appreciate the emotional durability of second hand, especially items from older relatives which hold memories, stories and history. Many vintage clothes were made to last too.

Care and repair is an important part of making our old clothes go further and re connecting with the joy in fixing and looking after items. Tired old clothes gives us an opportunity for re styling an item giving that buzz of wearing something completely different and you had a hand in making it happen! I have observed a skill shortage and lack of confidence in being able to do this. Back in the day these skills would have been passed on through the family or taught in school. This has motivated me to run regular classes in learning to sew and refreshing your wardrobe through simple alterations, mending, darning & embellishing and these classes are popular which is heartening!

Upcycling adds value through creativity and design. Items too damaged for re use present an opportunity for transformation. A few years ago I iinitiated ‘The Upcycling Academy’ to give young people the opportunity to experience a ‘Productive Line’ to re imagine a different approach to fashion, to create rather than consume. Partnering with Traid, War on Want & the Craftivist Collective, we each added ‘Values’ along the line.

Taking inspiration from ‘Cradle to Cradle’ thinking, imagine a garment circulating through many owners in its lifetime? (Truthfully many garments never reach their full potential in relation to resources, energy used to make and distribute the item)

I love the recent trend for Clothes Swapping or its older sister ‘Swishing’. Jo of Mrs Bears Clothes Swap tells me that that she has regulars who use her swaps to ‘rotate their wardrobe’ – brilliant!

Wonderfully TV programmes such as ‘The great British sewing Bee’ which added an upcycling / alteration challenge to the second series and ‘This old Thing’ (the vintage clothes show) have inspired the nation to look at old clothes and lost textile skills with a fresh passion. Even Coronation Street discussed the possibility of an ‘upcycled wedding’! It’s all good!

So now over to you dear reader! Get involved and feel inspired! There are a range of fun activities taking place during #Secondhandfirst week.

My next Fabrications craft club on Thursday 20^th November is a #Secondhandfirst themed evening with a clothes swap upstairs in the shop and revamp / mending session downstairs in the workshop. More information and Booking info.

P.S: All the featured projects in this post use clothing sourced from Traid!

* SUMMER SALE TIME *

 

It's that time of year when I give my studio space and shop a shake up! A 'deep clean' and sort out to make way for new possibilities and shelf space! I've decided to set free some of my stash and treasures including these amazing vintage knitting patterns.

 

 You might recognise a couple of the models! Sean Connery and Lorraine Chase. A lot of great actors started their careers on the front of knitting patterns.

 

Some designs no matter how old are timeless and look fresh today. Come on down and grab yourself some one off bargains. I'm selling patterns and magazines like these for 4 for £1 or 10 for £2

There are also lots of other goodies and deals including 50% off a selection of yarns, craft kits, books and gifts * bag of fabric £3.50 or 4 for £10 * bags of creativity * bags of fun * brick a brack * Other random delights! "Come down and have a look!"
Opening Times: Tuesday - Friday 12 - 5.30pm, Saturday 10am - 5.30pm, Sunday 11 - 5pm

Yarn Shop Day

Fabrications is proud to be a part of the 'Love your yarn shop' campaign. Initiated by Let's Knit and their sister magazine 'Let's get Crafting' the aim of the National campaign is to raise the profile of  bricks and mortar yarn stores, encouraging Crafter's to support their local yarn store and celebrate the value we offer beyond just selling wool! including personalised advice, ideas, expert recommendations, classes, socials, SOS (save our stitches!) and much more!

The campaign culminates with 'Yarn Shop Day' on Saturday 3rd May, when customers and local yarn stores all around the UK will join forces to spin a yarn and share their yarny love. Different shops will be hosting free workshops, promotions and inviting in knitting & crochet 'Ambassadors'.

How will Fabrications be celebrating Yarn Shop Day?

We will have an open house, offering free taster workshops in MACRO knitting, continental knitting and projects advice / SOS in our beautiful and welcoming Imaginerium craftspace. In conjunction with Stylecraft we are also offering Goody Bags - cotton bags containing yarns, haberdashery, knitting patterns to the first 40 Yarn Shop Day customers! Look out for our special window display too, which is going to spill out into the street!

Which Ambassadors will be with us on the day?

- Fabrications own Barley Massey will be sharing tips on MACRO knitting and making your own upcycled yarns
- Jill Bulgan, a regular adviser at our fortnightly Craft Club and teaches the 'progressing your knitting skills' classes will be available to offer some help with your projects and knitting dilemmas.
- Luise Roberts, author of numerous knitting and crochet books including 'First Knits' published by Collins & Brown (and on sale in our shop!) who informs me she loves to demo continental knitting as her party trick and is generously providing a free pattern of her Marilyn Monroe finger puppet for the goody bags!

Do I need to book?

Although it is free and drop in style, we'd be grateful if you could book in so we can accommodate you and ensure we have brewed enough tea and cake and prepared enough materials (for example you can make a MACRO knitted scarf) You can do this HERE!

SALE TIME!

We're having our annual clearance SALE to make way for the new!

Queing up for the bargains! This image was taken by Andrew Boff from East Eight magazine, while he was passing by on his bicycle. Come on down and enjoy a good old rummage through our boxes of bundled up fabrics, haberdashery, yarns, UFO's (unfinnished objects).......

There's also a range of brick a brack, retro items from our shop displays including 2 old fashioned hand winding sewing machines, suitcases, china tea cups and saucers...
Also 50% off orginial designer items including my 'Shirt + Tie' cushions, Donna Wilson creatures, Fine Cell Swag Bags, Little Experience Knit Cases.

WHILE STOCKS LAST!!

Emotional Baggage Exchange

'Emotional Baggage' have been handling different kinds of baggage and helping people feel a little lighter since 2004. Set up by myself and good friend and colleague Belle Tidswell, our check in boothe has appeared at a diverse range of events and we aim to be 99% exclusively inclusive.

Alongside our handling service we have also developed a range of thought provoking gifts including the Emotional Baggage DIY kit and Controversial Debates game. Each year we participate in the Art Car Boot Fair in Brick Lane, creating a different experience or game alongside the boothe including - Controversial Debates (live version) the Lost & Found Tombolla and last year year we encouraged visitors to plant seeds of change with our 'Tree of Life' exercise.

At the year's Art Car Boot Fair, which is taking place this Sunday, we will present our 'Emotional Baggage Exchange'. We will invite visitors to offload their Emotional Baggage at the boothe (or in the privacy of their own home), feel a little lighter and win a limited edition, positive piece of baggage, all this for a mere £5!
Belle and I have been busy designing, screen printing, cutting and stitching to make a collection of amazing types of baggage you can acquire including "Handy Bags", "T-Bags", "Clutch Crutches" and not forgetting those "old Bags"

Meet Paul Gardner, our proud sponsor! Paul has kindly provided the cotton bags, which we've printed our designs onto. Paul is a very warm character and provides an excellent service to all us local traders. His family have been supplying bags and market sundries since 1870, making his shop the oldest family business in the Spitalfields area.

We are OPEN again!

Last Saturday we RE OPENED our shop doors again after 4 months of refurbishment works. The new back space or 'Imaginerium' still has some finishing and signing off to happen but at least the shop is open again! Thankyou to all those hellos, welcome back and we missed you comments! I've got a warm fuzzy felt feeling inside and glad to be back!

A few days prior I thought I'd make an impromptu visit to Prick your Finger to catch up with Rachael and Louise and pick up some of their knitted letters to read OPEN + CLOSED for a new door sign.
On arrival I used their new robust, weatherproof crocheted doorbell! Rachael + Louise bounced out 'Yeah it works!' The doorbell had only just been installed.
I asked about letters for my new door sign and Rachael pulled out their 'forged felted Mark Pawson' door sign from under their counter and presented it to me - 'We think you should have this and keep it circulating'.
The story behind this sign is that when PYF first opened Mark Pawson posted one of his iconic perspex signs through their door with an invoice without invitation. The girls were a bit taken aback as they had not requested the sign and the shop had just opened on a shoe string and no budget for perspex signs! So they decided to re create Mark's sign in felt!

Anyway, no hard feelings only soft fuzzy felt ones and I am chuffed that as PYF gets a new doorbell I have acquired sign! I wonder which shop should have it next?? Suggestions please!

Behind the Seams!

I had a little film made about me recently by Story as part of series of films 'Uncovering East London' for the new Westfield shopping centre (Stratford) website.
I was quite surprised that I had been chosen as my independent cottage industry is the antidote to this global chain of shopping malls. But it's a positive portrayal ,and I'm always for looking for mainstream channels for getting my environmental, social and value of craft messages out there. Hope you enjoy it!

Behind the Seams photos thanks to Story!

Designer Vintage Scarves Collection

I've decided to sell my collection of collectable designer scarves through the ages at my stand at Vintage at Southbank this coming week.
Sorry my snaps don't really reflect how lovely they are - pure silk, hand rolled and stitched edges and in very good condition considering the age of some of them.



I've also got scarves by Chloe, Horrockses 'Imperial Muffler', Givenchy, Lanvin, Laua Ashley, Thomas Burberry, YSL...

Fabrications Out-Back

I haven't been blogging for a while, posts are swirling about in my mind. While the building work takes place at the shop, it's given me the space to think, research and get out and about to soak up the wealth of exciting activity that's taking place in London at the moment. I've been to Somerset House for a talk on 'Art, Activism + the Avant garde', the RSA for a live recording of '4 Thought' and back to Somerset House for a debate on 'Women + the Big society - blast from the past or a new idea?'....to be continued...in the meantime a short announcement:

Fabrications is now open for business on Friday + Saturday afternoons - Out-Back at No 16 Broadway Market. Unless we are running a workshop at an event. Check our website calender for further information on what we're up to this summer.


Sarah who usually runs her retro furniture and brick a brack shop at No 16 Broadway is currently having a rest and will be reinventing her space in Autumn. In the meantime Penny + Les from 'The Garden Shop' on Columbia Road have transformed the front of the shop.

And I've set up my studio and mini shop, which includes a 'Museum of Everything' style counter. Please pop in and say hello!

We are on the move.......

Come and wave us goodbye this Saturday as we embark on an exciting journey of renovation and rejuvenation here at Fabrications. On Monday building works commence to create an extension (Or 'Imaginerium') on the back of the shop. It's been 3 years in the planning, and I am excited that the show is on the road - a new Eco classroom space for even more workshops, events and collaborations.

I've moved out my workshop downstairs, which has become spacious echoing chambers now all my stuff is out!

Getting my floor peddled loom out was a challenge! We had to take off the legs and then we walked it out of the building. It has now been re assembled and installed into Fabrications temporary new home at 16 Broadway Market. We will be there for 4 months.

Katherine May has created a fantastic appliqued banner for us, which will go on display over our shop window, so you know where to find us during the build.
I will also be posting up the design and progress reports on the blog and Fabrications FB page, so please follow our news virtually!

* We would welcome any suggestions for what you'd like to experience in the new space, or perhaps you may have a workshop, event or exhibition you'd like to host.

* Any comments or feedback on what we've already done and how we could do it better would be much appreciated!

Loyalty does pay off!

Congratulations to Caroline for not only her creativity and productivity but also for successfully completing one of Fabrications loyalty cards!

We started issuing these last year as part of our 10 yr celebrations and to show our customers how much we value their custom and support. For every £10 spent you get a stamp, collect 10 stamps to qualify for £10 off your next purchase or get a gift voucher.

Here is Caroline with her cute nap sack, knitted from DK 100% merino blend by King Cole (full of more wool!!)

The Barbican goes Downtown

This week Barbican Art Gallery new show presents Laurie Anderson, Trisha Brown, Gordon Matta-Clark: Pioneers of the Downtown Scene, New York 1970s.

Performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson, choreographer Trisha Brown and artist Gordon Matta-Clark were friends and active participants in the New York art community, working fluidly between visual art and performance.

With the city as their backdrop, canvas, stage and inspiration, this exhibition is the first major presentation to examine the experimental and often daring approaches taken by these three key figures, both individually and collectively, in the burgeoning arts scene in downtown New York during the 1970s.

And now for my personal plug to pop into the gallery shop while you're there, You will find the full range of my 'Rethink Rubbish' craft kits and a selection of upcycled woven bicycle innertube cushions amonst other exhibition complimenting delights sourced by Andrea Toon, the shop's buyer.

Snap shot of Heals...

Following on from my last post, on Monday Knitty Gritty member Ros and I went to Heals to visit Cansu and the other selected Slade artists in residence.....

It was quite a hive of activity within the windows with all types of techniques and ideas being explored. We watched one student bravely roll out bright violet ink onto Heals shop window in preparation for a large mono print. Spoke to another who was creating/destroying/reconstructing warped out Beswick style pottery, while our new friend Cansu calmly kept knitting her pillar covers.

Our favorite installation was Alex Springer's experimental pin hole cameras made from old kitchen utensils and storage jars. He invited us to select one of the cameras and record something in store. Once the image was captured the utensil was then handed over and placed in a small dark room, through which Alex removed the photographic paper and developed the image - quicker than snappy snaps!

Look who we captured via the sugar jar!! (In the pin hole camera of my mind!)
Those knitted bearded ladies get everywhere!

Fab's Top 10 gifts for her

And last but very not least our selection for the ladies in your life.....

1) Neck Tie (£20) by Christene Gonzalez. An upcycled silk tie is simply and cleverly transformed into a stylish neck tie with vintage buckle.
2) Snowflake coasters (£13) by Donna Wilson. Laser cut felt to keep your tabletop or cup warm and protected!
3) Remember Me (£4.95) by Blue Marmalade. 10 reusable plant labels made from recycled plastic and a weather proof pencil.
4) Use my moustache to comb your lambswool (£4.50) by Donna Wilson. A handy devise to get rid of any unwanted woolly bobbles.
5) Remember Me commissioning service (starts at £20) by Barley Massey. See your cherished threads transformed into new items (your children's clothes, school uniform, a lost loved one...)
6) Tig (£25) by Donna Wilson. Another creature from Donna's quirky knitted family.
7) A coupon for having a great day (£2.50) by Knock Knock. It speaks for itself!
8) Head to Toe Knits (£12.99) by Bronwen Lowenthal. Lowie designer presents a collection of stylish hats, scarves, gloves, leg warmers and socks. There is also a great how to glossary at the back of the book!
9) Vintage knitting needle set (£10) from Barley + Belle redistribution centre.
10) Magnetic photo frame (£4.50) by Nick Fraser. Write it, post it, frame it!

Fab's Top 10 gifts for him

Here's our selection for the men in your life...

1) 'Moneybags' holster style bag (£25) by Barley Massey. File away your purse, phone, passport, keys.. in this very handy safe holster made from upcycled textiles (including men's suit jackets + trousers)
2) Pint + half pint T-shirts (£20 individually or £35 for a set) by Twisted Twee. Dad and son twin set!
3) Happy sacks - Christmas puddings (£10) by Suck UK. Putting the rubbish out has never been so festive and so much fun!
4) Key bottle opener (£7.50) by Suck UK. One of Suck UK's original iconic designs taking inspiration from what people do with everyday objects!
5) Remember Me (£4.95) by Blue Marmalade. While were on keys, this is a great pop up key holder with an envelope, to attach to your wall with the tube map on and made from recycled plastic.
6) Charlie Monkey (£47) by Donna Wilson. A charlie is a charismatic character.
7) Tube Cushion (£40) by Barley Massey. Innertubes collected from local bike shop's waste are hand woven and transformed into hard wearing and stylish cushions.
8) Controversial Debates (£10) by Emotional Baggage. A provocative game for 2 or more players - great for family gatherings and after dinner conversation!
9) Bus blind cup (£9.50) by Michelle Mason. For a well travelled brew!
10) Dad pillow wear (£18.50) by Twisted Twee. A lovely big pillow case for you know who!

Fab's Top 10 Hackney gifts

You won't believe your mince pies at this selection!

1) Clapton Pond - Bus blind cups (£9.50) by Michelle Mason. Hackney based designer Michelle Mason's finest bone china range.
2) I Love Hackney cross stitching kit (£10) by Clare Sams. Everything you need to learn how to cross stitch and make a lovely sampler.
3) East London Landmarks mugs (£8 each) by local architect Sara Godrich:
- The Rio cinema in Dalston.
4) The Hackney Empire
5) The Gasworks next to the Regents Canal and Broadway Market.
6) Hackney Sweet Hackney knitted sampler (£25) by Clare Sams. A small taste of Clare Sams's larger knitted tableaux which feature Hackney incidents such as 'The Hackney Siege' and the 'The fire at E.Gibbons' and Hackney people including 'The Mole man of Hackney'.
7) Felt taxi decoration (£5.50) by Michelle Mason. One of London's greatest services and icons and being next door to Cooke's Pie n Mash, lots of taxi's pull up for re fuelling!
8) Shite Food T-Towel (£8.95) by Hackney graphic designer Toby Leigh aka Tobytron stuff. The t-towel features a number of locally sourced delights including Special Brew and fried chicken.
9) I Love Hackney knitted purse (£15) by Clare Sams. Ideal for any spare change.
10) Greetings from Hackney postcard (60p) by the Caravan Gallery. Features local scenes including Hackney city farm.

Fab's Top 10 Craft kits

A range of kits aimed at all ages and abilities. A cross section of textile techniques and fun projects to enjoy over the holidays and fuel you in more crafty action for 2011....

1) Youdoodog (£12.50) by Youdoodoll. Take an image of your dog, or someone else's or choose an image from the Youdoodog gallery and print it out of your computer onto special iron on transfer paper onto a simple dog doll and customise away!
2) Rethink Rubbish - make your own recycled rosette (£10) by Barley Massey. 4 different methods to create a stylish rosette style corsage and enough upcycled materials to make 5, then keep recycling your own materials and before you know it you'll be churning out lots of rosettes!
3) French knitting kit (£5) by Wool-n-Dance. For the young ones french knitting is a great lead into knitting on 2 needles. Or use it to make cording, decorative elements...
4) Know your Knots (£4.50) by Flights of Fancy. A great play on words and handy tube of skills - test your knotting knowledge!
5) Stitch -It Racoon key ring kit (£6.50) by the little experience. Pre cut felty bits to stitch together aimed at 6 - 12yr olds but adults have been making them too!
6) Piss Off! Cross stitch kit (£10.50) by Subversive stitcher Julie Jackson. Everything you need to create a cheeky sampler - mind your fingers!
7) Knit pack (£7.50) by Barley Massey. 9 balls of different salvaged re wound yarns, a set of needles and basic how to knit instructions with a few extra tips too (such as how to make yarn out of a plastic bag)
8) Make your own monster (£15) by Donna Wilson. A pre stitched monster that you can stuff and decorate with offcuts of Donna's wonderful lambswool textiles.
9) Knit - it Sheep kit (£10.50) by the little experience. Knit some mini sheep and transform the box into their pen!
10) The Ancient Lucet (£3.50) by Flights of Fancy. A simple devise to make strong non stretching braids such as friendship bracelets dating back to medieval times!

Fab's Top 10 DIY gifts

A handmade gift is so much more personal, full of love and consideration, and you learn new skills and get the enjoyment factor from creating it, what more could a recipient ask for? Here are some ideas to help you on your way....

1) French Knitting kit (£5) by Wool-n-Dance. Create meters of knitted tubes, use up your wool ends and create woolly chain decorations, knitted jewellery or maybe even a coiled mat.
2) Create -it Flowery jewellery kit (£6.50) by the little experience. Never too young (or old) to make your own gifts! this kit contains pre cut flower pieces to thread together.
3) Cloth magazine winter issue (£3.50) by Real Design + Media. this magazine is such great value and always has really cool, stylish and thrifty step by step projects.
4) The knitted odd-bod bunch (£12.99) by Donna Wilson. Wow! Make a whole family of hand knitted Donna Wilson lovable creatures.
5) Rethink Rubbish - Create a fabulous fascinator (£10) by Barley Massey. Perfect for the party season - everything you need (including some rare vintage materials and haberdashery) to create 2 stylish hair accessories.
6) Bobby Dazler's Make your own Misfits (£12.99) by Fumie Kamijo + Rosie Short. 35 original and extraordinary animals to make and bring to life with a few stitches.
7) Tufty's beard pattern (£4 pattern, £8 kit) by Katherine Eaves. Apparently knitted beards are this year's winter warmers!
8) Fabrications gift voucher (£5, £10, £20 or combinations of!) Can be used for any of our classes or in the shop.
9) Wool-n-Dance 1/2 height giant needles (£20) + handspun wool (from £7.50 per scein) Quick fix knitting possibilities....
10) DIY Couture books (£9) by Rosie Martin. A beautiful series of instruction books that explain how to make items of clothing, making couture clothing affordable and affordable clothing non exploitative.

Fab's Top 10 green gifts

And herewith starts the Christmas gift ideas at Fabrications.... I will be posting up a few suggestions in the next few days. Kicking off with Fab's top 10 green gift ideas that are kind to the environment...

1) Shirt + Tie cushion (£40) by Barley Massey, old shirts + ties are lovingly washed unpicked and re fabricated into cushions.
2) Sun Jar (£20) by Tobias Wong for Suck UK, a jar that collects and stores sunshine so that you can use it at night.
3) Dot to Date (£12) by Dan Usiskin, a calender printed in a very friendly way that reveals a different London landmark each month with a box that turns into a frame.
4) Envelope Angel (£4.95) by Blue Marmalade, every envelope deserves another journey with these stylish sticky labels.
5) Rethink Rubbish - sustainable gift wrapping kit by Barley Massey (£10) Combine the Japanese art of Furoshiki with 3 vintage scarves and 2 handmade bows.
6) Gift Wrapping service at Fabrications (£1 - £2) If you don't want to DIY, we can do it for you! Pick a scarf from our display and we'll wrap your gift (you can bring in gifts purchase elsewhere!)
7) Why don't you (RE) design Christmas book (£9) by Re Design, make it yourself activities by 33 of (Re) Design's designers for a fun and thrifty Christmas. Includes Snowball pom poms and Woolly chains by Barley Massey.
8) Robin decorations sewing kit (£9.50) by Sparrow Kids. Get the little ones stitching up Xmas!
9) Eco - Frenzy badges (£3.50) by Mark Pawson. Recycling and ecology symbols to wear proudly.
10) Darn It! (£7.50) darning kit by Barley Massey. Everything you need to repair and refresh your wardrobe in the new year in a lovely embroidered bag.