Here's to a crafting 2016

2015 was a very busy year for Grange Hollow Primitives and I tried lots of new crafts including needle felting, papier mache, quilting and pottery. Watch this space as once I get round to taking some photos of my creations, I will add them to the blog.

I loved all of these crafts, especially working with clay and I will be taking a pottery course in April with Aylesford Pottery

In the meantime, I would like to share photos of two of my creations that proved popular at the Christmas Craft Fayre.

All of these critters have been sold but if you like anything you see, email me at ellen.johns@blueyonder.co.uk as I will be making more penguins and dogs in 2016.

My garden made it to BBC Chelsea Flower Show..............

Its no secret to those who know me that in addition to my love of crafting and sewing, I am a passionate gardener and, like many, the ultimate dream would be to design a garden for display at the Chelsea Flower Show. However, I appreciate the time, knowledge, skill and sheer hard work that goes into the creation of show gardens and I know my limitations so I accept that this will be one dream that will probably stay a dream.

This year as part of the BBC's coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show, viewers were invited to send in photographs of their gardens and each day a small handful are picked and displayed at the end of the show.

I sent in a photo of my garden earlier in the week and kept my fingers crossed. I didn't get my hopes too high as although I love my little secluded garden, I realised that the BBC would be swamped with loads of photos and only a selected few would get picked. You can therefore imagine my delight when my garden was picked for display at the end of the show this afternoon (21 May).

It is not quite having a garden displayed at Chelsea Flower Show, but in my own little world, to have the photograph of my garden selected for display at the end of the show and to hear the lovely comments from Nicki Chapman and James Wong was my gold medal. Thank you BBC.

See my garden for yourself

Nostalgia on London's Southbank

The weekend of 15/16 March saw the return of the classic car boot sale at London's Southbank on a gloriously sunny weekend (Yes - sunny!)

There were many stalls selling a wide range of vintage items including kitchenalia, clothing, radios everything you need to host a tea party and there were even one or two classic cars for sale. One of my favourite stalls was The Old Collectors Garage (see www.theoldcollectorsgarage.com) where they were selling Coca Cola refrigerated units and a wonderful rusted Gas Pump. If only we could have found the space to put the gas pump in our tiny Victorian Townhouse, I'm sure it would have accompanied us home.

Another stallholder, a very talented guy called Craig Masson was selling dolls that he had made from old tins, jars and discarded junk. I was very tempted.

It was great to see so many classic cars in one place and my favourites were the big American classic cars that come in such dreamy ice cream colours. Those guys certainly work hard to keep them gleaming and the chrome spotless.

There was an excellent range of food on sale at the event, most of which was sold from classic vintage vehicles. It really was difficult to choose. After much deliberating, I went for the Mexican Beef Taco and Malcolm had Mac and Cheese. Both were very good.

The event was well attended and when we left early afternoon, there was a long queue of people waiting to go in.

I have included some photos of the event.

Oh - Yes that gas pump! Just where could we put it?

Pinterest

Have spent a wonderful hour or so this afternoon surfing many boards on Pinterest and pinning lots of photos of barns, clapped out derelict houses and snow scenes. Its like having a never ending scrapbook.

Have also created a board of photos relevant to my fav TV programme, The Walking Dead. Cannot ever have too many photos of Norman Reedus otherwise known as Daryl Dixon

I recommend pinning as its costs nothing and is good fun.

Busy crafting..........................

Hi Everyone

Well the end of 2013 was a busy time with lots of snowmen, angels, chickens and bears finding their way to new homes through sales at a local craft fayre.

There is something really satisfying when someone loves your work enough to want to buy it but even more so when you know that it is being purchased as a present for a loved one.

I am now busy replenishing stocks and working on some new designs for 2014, but I have a small number of snowmen, chickens and cushions still awaiting new homes. I have posted some photos below of the group shots before they went off to the fayre, but if you are interested in any of these items, feel free to contact me.

This year, Malcolm, my husband joined me at the craft fayre and sold out of his Guitar Building Kits which was wonderful as it was his first time selling the kits at a fayre. Below is an example of some of the guitars that Malc has made from cigar boxes, tins and hub caps. Malcolm also teaches guitar building on a 1:1 course or via small workshops. Malcolm can be contacted via www.astickinabox.com

I made a new years resolution to post more regularly in 2014 so watch this space.............................

One Fish.....Two Fish.............

I cannot believe that the Summer is now behind us with the clocks having changed this weekend and the darker nights with us so much earlier.

Late Summer I was asked to provide two exhibits for the 'Tides of Change' Exhibition which is being held now until Saturday 2 November 2013 on the LV21. Now you might well ask what the  LV21 is, well its a lightship moored at Gillingham Pier on the River Medway. The exhibition is being staged as part of Kent Coastal Week and the exhibition is open between 11am - 4pm each day and features local, national and international artists, including the work of Chatham's very own Billy Childish.

My two pieces are named One Fish and Two Fish, mainly because one piece has one fish and yes you've guessed it the other has two fish. It also helped that a few days before the exhibition, I returned from 2 weeks in Florida and decided to name my two pieces after the Dr Seuss 'One Fish Two Fish' ride in Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure Park.

Anyway, here is a picture of One Fish:

And here are two pictures of Two Fish (although its not clear from the photo image, Two Fish depicts the differences between a clean and polluted river with a clean river producing a fish and a polluted river producing a dead fish - hence the fish skeleton) :

I hope you like them.

David Bowie Is.............WOW!

I cannot believe that its been 4 months since my last blog. I feel like I have been hibernating like a hamster through these cold winter months and although the sun has finally begun to shine today, and its possible to venture out into the garden without the safety of a woolly jumper, there is still a cold wind blowing and sporadic rain showers.

Yesterday we ventured out and visited the David Bowie Is exhibition at the V&A. If you have tickets, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. We were admitted at 11.30am (our allotted ticket time) and did not leave until 3.30pm as there is so much to see and experience. Being someone interested in creative sewing, obvious highlights for me were David's clothing, especially the Alexander McQueen Union Jack frock coat worn on the cover of Earthling, clothing from the Reality tour and another stunning frock coat David wore for his 50th birthday celebration (I have always had a love of textile art that is decadent but decayed). However, I was fascinated by the sheer quantity of personal items from David's collection and especially loved the artefacts from his time in Berlin as this is a period of David's music that has a special place in my heart. I had tried to avoid reading too much about the exhibition before our visit as I wanted to be surprised and this certainly worked for me. Therefore, whilst there were many favourite and unusual items I could list in my blog, I refuse to do so in fear that it could spoil the experience for others.

According to press reports the exhibition has sold out, but there is rumour that the exhibition may be extended to meet continued demand for tickets. Let's hope so.

Photos are not permitted inside the exhibition (although the V&A have produced a very detailed book which I recommend) but I did take some photos of the exhibition publicity photos in the tunnel leading from the tube to the V&A and would like to share them here on my blog.

Bye to 2012 and hello to 2013

Well despite this year being one of the wettest years on record (thank you rain - for washing away the dreaded hosepipe ban!), I'm sorry to see the back of 2012.

Its been a great year and one in which I have celebrated a special birthday in Finland closely followed by the country coming together for the whole Summer in celebration of the Queens Jubilee and the Olympics. In the middle of the Summer, Malcolm and I were lucky enough to be picked as finalists for the BBC TV show,  Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution which was broadcast in October. We were also lucky enough to visit Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, which were part of America which we had not been to previously (both of which are recommended).

Anyway, as 2012 bows out, I look forward to welcoming 2013 and all it brings and I would like to express my best wishes to everyone a peaceful and happy New Year.

I will leave you with a couple of my favorite photos from my trip to Finland.

The circus elephants have arrived in town.....................

Well it was a bit of a wait, but finally the circus elephants have arrived.

After many evenings and weekends of staining material, stitching and stuffing, I have a few little circus elephants available for sale just in time for Christmas. These will be the only circus elephants available before Christmas so if you see something that you like please contact me as soon as possible at  ellen.johns@blueyonder.co.uk

Sales will be on a first come first served basis. Prices include postage and packing in mainland UK using 1st class Royal Mail. If you require any other type of delivery e.g. next day delivery, then this will be an additional £6. For countries outside of mainland UK please contact me for prices.

Paypal is preferred method of payment although a cheque is acceptable. However if paying by cheque the  elephant will be posted once the cheque has cleared through the bank.

Please note - my circus elephants are not toys and are therefore not suitable for children under the age of 14.

Anyway, here they are..................

Below is Holly and she is 10 inches tall. She has green ears with chocolate polka dots and wears a sea green tutu.

Below is Pandora and she is 10 inches tall. She has pink ears with creamy polka dots and she wears a pink tutu.

Below is Molly and she is 8 inches tall. Molly has red and white patterned ears (which are very Christmassy) and she wears a pink tutu.

Below is Flora and she is 8 inches tall. Flora has floral pattered ears and wears a sea green tutu.
SORRY I HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.

Below is Rosie and she is 8 inches tall. Rosie has red ears with small white polka dots and wears a pink tutu.

Below is Eliza and she is 8 inches tall. Eliza's ears are pink with creamy polka dots and she wears a pink tutu.

Time to update the blog

Hi everyone

Sorry I have been away from my blog for too long.

Since returning from holiday in October I have had a busy few weeks. The appearance of my little circus elephant on Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution on BBC2 in mid October and a craft fair on 29 November (which I was also organising!) has meant that the last few weeks have gone crazy. Anyway, I've been busy sewing and, as a result, have a handful of circus elephants available for sale. I plan to put photos on my blog this weekend. I will post an update on twitter when they have been loaded on the blog and, if you have emailed me enquiring about my elephants I will also contact you by email.

Watch this space.