Monday 30 April 2012

The Creative Line...

You'd be forgiven for thinking that living in the suburbs consisted of not much more then weekly knitting circles, bake sales, commuters, wife swapping sessions and knowing your neighbours by their first names.
It is in fact a completely misguided stereotype though I do know my neighbours! Suburbia has come a long way and most places have their very own identities and micro economies.


The suburbs of outer London are teaming with creativity with the likes of artists, musicians and independent businesses setting up in the outskirts of town.
Many have moved in not necessarily for their love of a the "good life" but mainly because of soaring rents and extremely expensive business rates charged nearer to town. With so many creative people being pushed out to the peripheries it's not a surprise that some exciting projects have flourished. These people are bringing a little flavour of the cosmopolitan life style to the burbs and they are doing it in style!
On opposite ends of The Victoria line you'll find such projects. Both Brixton Village Market and Wood Street Indoor Market have crept up on residents to add a much needed alternative for shoppers in search of some creative retail. We are so proud to be part of the relaunch of Wood Street and are happy to be there working hard to promote the whole market and our business!
You can find everything you'll need from vintage clothing, craft markets, work shop providers, artisan baked goods, restored and recycled furniture, collectables, hand made goods, retro hairdressing to street food and more!


The Victoria Line is teaming with creative independent businesses...from Walthamstow, Highbury, Kings Cross to Brixton... get yourself a travel card and explore! Though we love our corner of London we also love the diversity we have on offer in our fine capital city so we will travel in order to purchase, learn and collaborate with other inspiring indie shop owners. We owe it to each other to make independent retail a viable reality and to help it flourish and grow!

For further information on our "Shop Local" campaign or if you're a creative/independent business in Walthamstow get in touch...we'd love to hear from you! Get involved and support you indie businesses...we need you!!!

Saturday 28 April 2012

Work shops gallore...

So we've asked and you've replied to...WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO TEACH?

Crochet for beginners with Sanna King... all workshops include tea and cake!

And as you can possibly guess the answers were wide and varied so in response to you folk we've come up with quite a few interesting workshops which we hope will get you making!

Booking is easy...just get onto our website and have a look at what we have on offer, plus we are constantly updating so if there's anything which we don't cover and you'd like us to do get in touch:
http://www.craftguerrilla.com/page13.htm

e-mail: craftguerrilla@yahoo.com

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Never mind the Jubilee...

Because we're not one to go with the masses we're hosting a couple of subversive workshops at a few of our craft events to celebrate the Queens reign in power.
The first of the "Never mind the Jubilee, here's the Craft Guerrilla" workshops will take place on Thursday the 10th of May at our craft night at the Rose & Crown Theater Pub from 8pm.
"Punk or Patriot" is a fab paper craft mini workshop lead by paper craft tutor and maker Kirsty! She'll be on hand to guide you so you can come away with your very own piece of royal memorabilia!



"Punk or Patriot – Mark the Diamond Jubilee the Craft Guerrilla way!

We're pleased to present a workshop where you will have
the chance to create a piece of wall art to mark the Diamond Jubilee
of Elizabeth II using a design inspired by the iconic images of Jamie
Reid, legendary designer of the Sex Pistols’ record covers.

We’ll be offering the chance to make one of two designs: a patriotic
one or a punk one, so you’ll have the chance to show your red, white
and blue or your safety pins and sniffin’ glue.

The workshop will include some paper crafting techniques, including
paper piecing, distressing and embossing all set for wall display on a
canvas. It can give you some ideas of how you can come up with your
own designs and bring them to life.

All skill levels are welcome."
To book please contact Kirsty directly via email: kirsty.scanlan@virginmedia.com


6 spaces available. £15 per person. All materials provided and use of tools.

Monday 23 April 2012

Sewing for beginners...

Do you love fashion, would like to make your own clothing but have no idea where to start?
Well then our  beginners sewing classes are just what you need!
The talented seamstress Kirstie from "just can't help it" will be on hand to show you how to use a sewing machine to make your very own threads. From invisible hems to button holes...this lady will get you sewing in no time!  Kirstie specializes in 1950's clothing and has worked as a costume maker in theater as well as owning her own shop selling her hand made clothing for guys and gals!




Fee per hour: £20.00

Booking: Via E mail. Please state your chosen date* (from Wednesday to Saturday 10.30 am to 4pm- *subject to availability)

Payment: Via Pay Pal

Available packages: 
Absolute beginners- simple basic steps like threading a sewing machine, basic stitches and a few hints and tips to get you making including hems and button holes!An absolute must for beginners with a love for making!!!
Coco Chanel- Alterations and pattern use for intermediate sewers! Kirstie will get you feeling confident in pattern cutting/using for making wearable, pretty, bespoke clothing to suite you. For this package you must be already able to use a sewing machine proficiently.

Venue:
Craft Guerrilla Studio/shop 37 Wood Street Indoor Market. 98-100 Wood Street Walthamstow E17 3HX

Friday 6 April 2012

A few of my favourite things...

I love trawling through the internet looking for perfect easy to make craft tutorials. At the moment Pinterest is proving to be a bounty of inspiration and I absolutely treat those hours I spend looking through the many images as "research".
The kind of tutorials which I find inspiring are the ones which the finished article serves a purpose and can be finished in a couple of hours. Plus they need to be nice and pretty!
Believe me I do go for more elaborate projects occasionally but unless I have bundles of time I like to keep it quick and simple plus I have a very low boredom threshold!
Here are a few which have kept me happily entertained:

http://ruffledblog.com/diy-paper-wheels-backdrop/

http://ajoureblog.com/2011/03/03/vintage-handkerchief-apron/

http://threebears.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/little-boxy-pouch-tutorial/



Follow Me on Pinterest


Tuesday 3 April 2012

Creative bloggers...

Thanks to a friend I've been totally sidetracked today and instead of dealing with the mundane but very necessary "needs to be done today" tasks of running my own business this morning has been filled with blog watching! There are so many beautiful and inspiring blogs out there and despite the little voice in my head saying "accounts...you need to do the accounts!" here are my top three blogs of the day which have inspired me and made it less painful to get on with the boring stuff:

1:
"Quasiloja"...A new type of work shop space and gallery in Porto, Portugal.
quasiloja.blogspot.co.uk with a cool little presentation video: http://player.vimeo.com/video/39577212?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0

2:
"Handemade by Charlotte" an American Mom with a love of craft and vintage... and here's a cute project I'll be making ASAP... http://www.handmadecharlotte.com/diy-cloud-mobile/

3: "Gertie's Blog for Better Sewing" A vintage loving lady shares her passion for vintage patterns and a few easy to make tutorials...check out the skirt tutorial!!!
http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/2009/07/look-at-all-fourteen-styles-of-vogues.html


Now back to the dreaded accounts!