Wow!! What a day!

What an amazing day!!



Handm@de Winchester was a great success, a huge thank you to everyone who took part and all of you who visited and spent their hard earnt pounds and pennies :)

The sun was shining, and by late morning Winchester was heaving, and we had over 1000 people visit Handm@de, this was a steady stream of people throughout the day, and the Goody Bags went quite quickly!



All the stalls looked great, and we are certainly looking to run it again next year!

Please go to the Flickr group to see more of the photos!

Thanks again if you visited, you helped create a fantastic atmosphere :)

Meet the Maker - Monda

Just over a day to go!! So the last few Meet the Makers today, firstly Monda !!



What got you into crafting?

If I really think about it - it was probably my CDT (craft, design and technology) teacher in secondary school. He was great, and very encouraging - not many teachers had a profound effect on me, but he did. I think he saw the potential in me and nurtured it. I've also got creative parents - my dad is a writer and photographer, and my mum can turn her hand to pretty much anything: crochet, embroidery, knitting, quilting, upholstery - you name a craft, she can do it.
At University I went on to do a degree in Design Crafts - a combination of ceramics, printed textiles and multi-media textiles (and specialised in the latter two disciplines).

What is the best thing about making your softies and mixed media pieces?

One of the things I like best about making my softies, accessories and cards is that I have complete free reign over the creative process and decision making. I don't have this same level of freedom in my day job (not a creative discipline) where 'collaboration' is the buzz word of the moment. Sometimes you just want to do it the way you want to do it without having to involve the world and his brother! Also, because I create in my own time, I think it's generally quite a good stress reliever and a complete contrast from my day job which an be quite mentally and emotionally demanding at times.
Creating makes me happy - I like to produce nice things which I think people will also get pleasure from.



What Handm@de stuff do you have your eye on ?

The handm@de stuff I have my eye on is, well everything! I'll be like a kid in a sweet shop. I'm getting married next year so I'm eager to see what Hatastic has to offer - perhaps some nice wedding headgear for me!. Also, I'd like some more of Kate's (Paperleaf) cards - her printed designs on recycled paper and card are lovely.
I met some fab people at handm@de Oxford last year, so it will be nice to say 'hi' again and see what they've been working on since the last time we met.



Lots of stuff to do, but back later with another!!!

Meet the Maker - Quercus Silver

For todays Meet the Maker, an old hand at Handm@de, well this is the third one! Please welcome Su, also known as Quercus Silver!



What got you into crafting?

From the moment I stepped into the jewellery workshop at my local college and started twisting metal I was in love with silversmithing. Along the way I became fascinated with using colour, too and began working with more unusual materials such as fabric, acrylics and a whole rainbow of resin. I like bold geometric shapes and blocks of colour framed in sterling silver. And the resin is so light I can make lovely chunky forms.

What is the best thing about making jewellery

I confess I always wanted to be a jeweller and it certainly doesn't feel like a proper job. I have a workshop in my garden here in Bath and it's full of bits and pieces, shells and pictures and my much loved tools. It's a real haven.



What Handm@de stuff do you have your eye on?

I'm looking forward to the handm@de sale. I've been at all of them so far and they have a very special friendly atmosphere.. You can't beat a room full of like-minded people sharing their craft and their knowledge and I shall certainly be shopping, too.

A couple of sellers I've spotted who are new to me including Carole King, I collect prints so I shall be heading for her stall and who could resist Nonsuch and Meninafeliz's gorgeous little frame purses?



Thanks Su, I think the one thing I have discovered through Handm@de is the huge range, and how you think that jewellery is just one thing, when it actually is huge!! Another one tomorrow!!

Meet the Maker - Meninafeliz

Not long now!!!

Squeezing in some more Meet the Makers, and here's the next - Meninafeliz, I'll let their answers explain everything!



What got you into crafting?

Anne-Marie and I (Bebe) actually met through a mother & toddler group and - with both of us coming from creative backgrounds - discovered a mutual desire to set up our own little business that would enable us to continue to be creative but look after our children at the same time. We launched in 2005 with the name 'Meninafeliz' which is Spanish/Portugeuse for 'happy girl' and also combines our two eldest children's names: Nina & Felix. I should probably point out that neither of us are Portuguese or Spanish. She's Dutch and I'm Scottish but the name fits well!
We make accessories - jewellery & textiles - in an eclectic mix of cloth, colour, buttons and beads, embroidery, knit, crochet, layering and felting. We're also great recyclers so use vintage and reclaimed fabrics wherever possible.



What's the best thing about crafting?

Making something out of nothing - designing and making a piece from start to finish and then someone loves it so much they actually want to pay you for it! Or when you walk down the street and a passer-by is wearing something that you made! That's a nice feeling.

What Handm@de stuff do you have your eye on?

We're both really looking forward to the fair and meeting all the amazing designers there and especially fellow Etsy sellers. There's such an incredibly high standard and array that it would be difficult to name anybody in particular! I think that Anne-Marie and I will be fitting in some very early Christmas shopping....



Another one on Thursday!