I Heart Recycling

Shark Alley recycled labels

ORIGINS

Like most people of her generation born during WWII, my Mum learned to make do and mend rather than buy new things.

Yaaay

Growing up, we reused lots of things. My drawing paper was a long continuous sheet of computer print-out from Dad's work (how I longed for proper cartridge paper), we had a big craft box filled with things like toilet roll tubes, toothpaste boxes and milk bottle tops for when I wanted to get busy with making, and old bedspreads and t-shirts were used as picnic blankets and dusters respectively.

I don't know whether it's that influence, or my tendency to hoard useless, pretty bits and pieces, or the fact that as an artist, I don't have endless amounts of cash to splash about on materials, but I LOVE to recycle in my work.

 PAPER

The Metro newspaper gets made into something far more exciting

The mixed media brooches are made from a papier mâché base of recycled newspaper. They may then be decorated with patterned paper bags and reused gift wrap. I've also been experimenting with pages from old books and maps.  Even an old 500 lire bank note got used very effectively.  Stupidly I forgot to take a picture of this, but here are some other ones.

Leopard print paper bag and a bead from a bracelet bought in Capri.

Pages from an unwanted book.

I think that some papers are so beautiful, it's a shame to just chuck them away.  Why not make them into something usable and wearable, where they can be seen, admired and celebrated?

FABRIC

I feel the same way about fabric.  Having used lots of scraps over the years to make a patchwork quilt (currently nearing completion - see blog post here) I still get the greedy urge to snap up offcuts and remnants and transform them into something AWESOME.

Through my part-time job at U-Handbag I have learned how to make purses and can now use these offcuts to create little coin purses, with animal designs incorporated into the original fabric pattern.

Scampi Moo the otter nestles in some swirly embroidery

Hare transferred onto a beautiful Free Spirit fabric

Basket of purses - some on remnant curtains and cushion covers

STAMPS

Another benefit of working at U-Handbag was the brief access to a truly beautiful set of bird stamps from Hong Kong, which used to adorn packages of metalware.  I couldn't bear the idea of these going into the bin, so I rescued them and waited for inspiration to strike.  Which it eventually did.

The stamps are layered with Japaneses chiyogami paper and resin and the pendants end up looking quite 3D.  I think the postmarks really add to the design, although on some of the stamps they had actually obliterated the birds' heads.

Sadly, as soon as I'd found a use for them, they stopped sending them.

PLASTIC BAGS

In another throwback to my childhood, I remember Mum making a Christmas wreath from Marks & Spencer and Laura Ashley bags (bright green and dark green respectively) cut up and knotted around a coat hanger.  This thing was indestructable and spent many Christmases adorning our front door.

Could I recreate this marvel?  Hmmmm. You betcha.

I used red foil sweet wrappers to make holly berries and pieces of ribbon to decorate the wreaths.

PRACTICAL RECYCLING

In the spirit of not wasting anything if I can possibly help it, Shark Alley otters are currently being stuffed with the insides of IKEA cushions which have seen better days.  This stuffing is excellent - really dense.

I also recycle packaging to send out orders, which means I don't have to charge customers for packing.

 

 BLOGS

Shark Alley gets a mention on a couple of recycling blogs.  Whoop whoop! 

Craft Central Recycles 

Recycle Crafts

Christmas Markets

Now Halloween is over and the Christmas ads are already appearing on TV, it might be OK for me to mention the word without you holding your head in your hands and moaning 'Noooooooooooooo'.  Although of course, you may want to do that anyway.

So, how do you fancy buying handmade this year?  You get to support independent and talented designer-makers as well as finding fantastic original gifts for your nearest and dearest.

The Shark Alley diary isn't quite as bulging as it was last year, but here are a few dates for yours if you would like to join in the fun. 

NOVEMBER

Christmas Open House
202 Ditchling Road, Brighton BN1 6JE.
Held over three weekends, this is a chance to do your shopping in the comfort of an artist's home.
Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th November, Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th November, Saturday 30th & Sunday 1st December 11am - 5.30pm.

Sparkle Contemporary Craft & Gourmet Food Fair 
The Landmark Arts Centre, Ferry Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 9NN.
Over 70 designer-makers under one roof in a beautiful listed church.  Food & drink available.
Friday 22nd November  6pm - 8.30pm
Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th November 10am - 5.00pm
Click here for more details.

 














Craftaganza
Fabrica, Duke Street, Brighton, BN1 1AG.
The event will be held over two weekends, but come and find Shark Alley there on
Saturday 30th November 11am - 5pm

*EXCLUSIVE* 
Sign up to the Shark Alley newsletter before 12th November to receive up to £10 off Shark Alley goodies at forthcoming fairs (excluding Christmas Open House).



DECEMBER

Diggin' Design
The Garden Museum, 5 Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB.
This event features gifts and foods with an eco-friendly and sustainable theme.  Food & drink available plus animals in residence!  Sounds like a fab day out.
Saturday 1st December 10am - 5pm

Bright 'n' Crafty
Corner of Montague Place and St George's Road (big red brick building) Brighton, BN2 1JT.
A new market on the Brighton scene, this would perfect for those last minute purchases, and is Shark Alley's last event of 2013.
Saturday 14th December 10am - 5pm 

London Zoo

When my boyfriend proposed a trip to London Zoo, my (default) response was (adopts whining tone) "I'm too busy.  I have to work".

But most weekends have been devoted to non-pleasurable activities of late, so I thought yeah, why not?  The zoo is always a great place for reference too - the photos I took there in 2010 formed the basis for the otter sewing patterns that I created.

Despite the rain, we had a great time (not too crowded either!).  Here are some of my favourite pics.

Stu - Stu - Studio

Mucho disruption over the last month or so, as I have done something quite alien and ghastly - initiated a big change and moved studios.

I had been in my studio for around twenty years or so and loved it very much, but over the last year or so, my circumstances have changed and I felt that I needed a space that suited my needs more.

L-R  A LOT of doors and locks require a lot of keys; boiler pipes have never looked so arty; my otters have settled in nice; messing my space up good.

Miraculously, a space at another studio came up.  Ten minutes from home, one minute from where I work part-time, a third of the price - and full of crafters.

L-R There's a fridge, microwave and kettle - what more could you want?; What Kate Does; Hania's silver-smithing equipment; Sue's textile space.

Moving was horrible, both physically and emotionally, and I still feel sad (and a wee bit panicky) but it's also exciting to be somewhere new and I can use my time more effectively there, which is paramount at the moment with the lead-up to Christmas.

L-R Entrance at rear; door furniture; part of Kate's tin collection; Sal's space is testament to a clutter I can only dream of achieving

The new studio is less cosy and neat than The Annexe, but I love the crafty chaos that abounds.  This means I feel OK about the huge amount of mess I specialise in whilst working.  Many new creations have been cooked up already and I feel a little bit more relaxed about life now I'm settling in.

L-R A great view of the neighbourhood back yards; ribbons and reels; casting some malachite effect resin (I hope) ; Sal's wonderful space in full

But one day, THIS will appear on my desk.  

AAARRRGGHHHH.

Creating Resin Necklaces

After thinking about it for quite a long time, FINALLY I am making some new resin necklaces to add to the existing Shark Alley collection.

It's quite a time-consuming process even before the pieces are actually cast and finished.

Here's how it starts.

1. The images that I'm going to use for inspiration are collected together and I have them in front of me while I draw.

2.  The designs are sketched out and then refined until they're simple and graphic.

3. I cut the shapes out of cardboard and practice putting them together to make sure they will hang together properly and work as necklaces.  This is also the time to work out where the holes will need to be drilled in the finished resin pieces.

4.  Each design is then placed over rolled-out modelling clay and tiny pin pricks are used to transfer the design onto the clay's surface.

 

5. Then the shapes are carefully cut out using a scalpel.

 

6.  When the clay has hardened, the shapes are smoothed and refined using sandpaper and sanding and buffing tools.

 

7.  Each finished piece is laid into a mould made from acetate, then silicon is poured in.

8.  After 24 hours, the moulds are turned out.  Unfortunately the silicon has oozed underneath the shapes, so I'll have to trim it away with scissors.

9. Ta-dah!  Three moulds all ready to be filled with resin.

Stay tuned for the finished articles!  Hopefully not too long to wait.

Work In Progress

When I still had the time to design textiles, I produced this elaborate fox design.  It duly got sent off to my agent, but never sold.

This turned out to be a GOOD THING.

Whilst being interviewed for my job at U-Handbag, one of the girls went crazy for the design and suggested I do something with it myself, as she was sure it would be really popular.  As it clearly wasn't doing anyone any good tucked away in a portfolio in London, I duly got it back and turned it into cards, prints and purses.

That girl was right.

Now I want to design more animals in the same style, but finding the time has been a problem.  At last I've finally made a (slow) start on another British animal - a lovely hare - and have taken to putting screen shots of it in progress on my Facebook page.  I've never recorded work in progress in this way before, but it's interesting to see how the design changes and evolves on its way to completion.

Here's the story so far.

1. The hare shape is drawn freehand, scanned in, and then redrawn and refined as a flat, graphic shape in Illustrator.  Floral pattern details are drawn separately and then added to the hare's body.

2. The colours are decided upon.  I aim to make them representative of the hare's natural colouring and markings, but with some license!  Areas of pattern are starting to take shape.

3. This is the hare after a decent amount of time spent on it one evening.  At this stage, I really want to feel that the design is working, and that has required some changes in patterns and layout.  Having a background colour helps (with some alternative choices on the left!), though this may change when the hare is completely finished. This happened with the fox, which originally had a dark olive background.

UPDATE: 3rd August

4. Still fiddling with colours and patterns and having trouble balancing the blacks.

5. The hare is finished, printed out and ironed onto fabric.  However, I think the darks look too dark and the hare's hindquarters are too big and rounded.  Some more tweaking is required.

6.  The hare's bottom has been re-drawn and made less rounded and the dark colours have been made lighter, with the black being taken out all together as it's too contrasty.

7.  The hare is finished!

8.  Printed out, cut out and ironed on - now for the big reveal!

9.  The hare is applied to lots of different fabrics to make into purses.