Love it: Pop Up Shops

Pop-up shops are currently opening up everywhere you look and if it's not a shop it's a restaurant in a retail unit or living room (for a supper club type affair).  For anyone who doesn't already know pop-up shops are basically short-term sales spaces that are fitted out to utilise a retail unit whether that be in-between lets or more recently for units that are laying empty for longer periods of time. 

As I mentioned these first started coming about with restaurants and perhaps even Christmas time short lets, but now these pop-ups have been utilised by craft collectives to showcase their work and use the designer/makers as volunteer shop staff to keep them going.

I thought I would talk about a couple that I have come across and perhaps you can find some and tell us where they are to check them out.

I am sure you have heard us talk about the Craft Coop over in Maidenhead and you can see a few posts here and here.  We also did a who's who with them right back in early 2012 and you can also find out a bit more about their current pop-up in Maidenhead town centre here.

I also managed to have a look at the We Make London pop-up shop in Camden Market this week, which I have been meaning to go to for a few weeks.  A few of our friends have got some of their wares in the shop and so it was a good excuse to go take a nosey when I knew Becky from The Craft Closet was on duty. You can see their kits in the photo above.

Plus I had seen a sneak peek on their website and had my eye on one of the 'I am acrylic' blackbird necklaces - top picture.  (which I can safely say I got, oh yes and another necklace from Boobou jumped into my bag!) I did just about manage to leave the rest of the shop behind though, but Kate Rowland's rocket earrings are next on my list I think! (see below)

So, if you see a pop-up shop go check it out and if you happen to be in Maidenhead or London, do check out the shops above as you won't be disappointed.  You will, however have a lighter purse when you leave as there are so many lovely products in store for you to buy something really unique and special as a present or just for yourself!

Live it

H

Live it. Love it. Make it. What a year 2012

This year has had chaos, panic and some grumpiness but show me a year that doesn't! Above all else though its been fun and this little blog has kept us both going, even with some quieter moments.

We thought we should share some moments with you that really stood out!

The time we did a Bunting workshop for the Craft Coop pop-up shop in Maidenhead in the summer and then Kelley sent us this lovely picture of her daughter with her finished bunting.  Kelley got married recently too, so congrats!

For me it was my niece being born, and in this picture we give another great achievement this year, the Olympics a mention!  She is so cute and although I have lots of friends with children, a few who were born this year too, there is something about having a niece that is so so special!, loves her, xxx.

There was quite a few 30th Birthday parties this year and of course Sammy had to celebrate in style with a sweetie bar and a rainbow cake!  It was the BIGGEST cake I have ever seen!  We have established that we are best friends and that we are never getting rid of each other and I think this blog of ours cements that, so it makes it all the more special and shows how much we like cake!

We accomplished quite a few firsts this year, this was a picture from our first workshop with the Craft Coop, back in March, wow time flies, I can't believe that this time last year we hadn't met all you lovely Chicks! Deborah, Teresa, Anna, Yolande and the rest of you, we feel so privileged to call you our friends.

As H said it has been for myself and a few of my friends, our 30th year, one of the best parties has to be our friend Kelly's Barbie party, I am biased as I was involved in decorating the venue, but it was genuinely one of the best nights, so many giggles!

One of our best memories of the year has to be 'Live it Vintage' the event we put on in the summer. We are still a little surprised that we managed to get Sammy organised enough to run an event, but then I  have been doing it for years so I knew we could pull it off. Again I think the best thing that came out of it was the friendships that we gained. Carly, Laura and of course Anna in particular have become like members of the Li.Li.Mi family, love you guys.

Roll on 2013 then and check out any of our other posts from the year if you managed to miss anything!

H & Sammy

Live it.  Love it. Make it forever!

Love it: Craft Coop Jewellery shop, Buy Our Jewellery

Just in time for Christmas present hunting, we have some of our handmade jewellery for sale in the Craft Coop Jewellery shop in Maidenhead town centre. I took some instagrams of it earlier today, it's looking lovely in there. H and I both make jewellery and we both have a number of pieces for sale in the shop. Pop down and get buying. All our pieces are one off's and H uses Stirling silver to make her rings... which are yummy!

I also have a number of my Bridal Headpieces in the shop too. You can see them here alongside Thumbelina's darling knitted cardigan, and in the window.

 

The shop is located opposite Clinton Cards in the Nicholson's Shopping Centre, Maidenhead.

Just round the corner from the main pop up shop which is also crammed full of gorgeous gift possibilities!

Hoping to get some better pics this weekend when I pop in for a shift in the the pop up shop.

Stop by and see me if you are around, and pick up some beautiful jewellery too!

Love it

Sammy xxx

Make it: Kits

We have been busy bees this last week down at the Craft Coop shop in Maidenhead and we wanted to shout about our wonderful kits that are available in the shop until it closes on the 24th June - check out the lovely picture above, don't they look good in a vintage suitcase!  So be quick and pick up a kit to try your hand at something new.  And if you want to send us a picture once you have done it we would love to see your work!

So back to this last week, we had our Bunting workshop on Friday which was a hive of activity due to children being on half term and so there were fabrics chosen, sewing learnt and letters cut to make all 8 of our particpants their own name bunting to take home with them.

Then on Sunday, we linked up with Little Pickles for a Hand Puppet workshop where we made Batman, Pirates, Four arms from Ben 10 and an Octopus.  Phew! 

We thought it only fair to let you know that our kits are still available at the Craft Coop shop, meaning that you can take home your own little piece of Live it.  Love it.  Make it.  You can have a go at making something really unique in the comfort of your own home and have the choice of:

Name Bunting

Sewing Machine Cover

Rosette

Mobile Phone Case

Shopper Bag

Oh yes, and we have Fabric Bundles too

Don't forget this Friday we are doing the Mobile phone case workshops, from 1-4pm and on Friday 22nd June we will be doing our final session and it will be to help you with your Maidenhead quilt squares from 11am -5pm.

So for now, we are back to the day jobs, but hope that you will pick up a little bit of us at the shop.  This week also promises to have a new cafe as part of the shop.  So we are both looking forward to having some cake with our workshop on Friday!  It just wasn't the same without it last week.

Make it

H

Love it: Craft Coop One Day Pop-up

The Craft Coop were open again on Saturday to give us a little taster of what was going to be available when they officially open on the 18th for Six weeks of crafty fun.  Our friends Little Pickles were there, sparkles in hand making name magnets with the kids, and a few adults too.

A Craft Cooper we had not come across before was the lovely Caroline Marriott 

and her frankly Gorgeous woollen textile creations, colour combinations and textures to die for.  H and I both took home some super fun weaving sticks to have a go at creating some fun weaving, I cant wait to have a go.

I think her Cushions were my favourite. simple but so effective, Caroline was such a lovely Lady to talk to, please go and check out her website if you get a moment and view some of the other beautiful goodies she creates. www.carolinemarriott.com

As well as Stalls, there were make and take workshops, Our friend Sophie from Arts and Laughs was there with decopatch shapes, having fun with paper and glue.

As we are doing Six make and takes over the six weeks we had a little presence there too. Our vintage suitcase was there showing visitors what they can come and make with us and of course leaflets for our Maidenhead quilt.

We are in good company as there are lots of other workshops and make and takes going on as well as ours, from Yolande Dennis Jewellery to Gil Hoolie lampshades there is so much to have a go at. Everyone who signs up for a workshop over the six weeks also gets a 10% off voucher for my shop Sew Crafty so it's worth it for that alone, I think you will agree.

For more information about The Craft Coop Shop and about the workshops check out their website www.craftcoop.co.uk

Love it
Sammy xxx

Make it: Maidenhead Pop Up Workshops

The Gorgeous Ladies (and Gents) at the Craft Coop are at it again! 

This Saturday, the 5th of May they will be in their usual place - now becoming a second home - at the old Waterstone's unit in the Nicholson's Centre, Maidenhead, 

for a taster session of 'Make it Maidenhead'!

This weekend is a one day pop up... but don't panic, they are back on the 16th of May.... 

for Six Weeks! Yes you read that right, Six weeks of Crafty Goodness!!! We are especially excited because every Friday we will be there too!!

There are six sessions of crafty fun.

Friday  18th May

 'My Name Bunting' - make and take 1pm-4pm 

Friday  25th May

 'Funky Mobile phone Case'  - make and take 1pm- 4pm

Friday  1st June

'Make your Maidenhead quilt square'  free session 11am - 5pm

Friday  8th June

'My Name Bunting' - make and take 1pm-4pm

Friday  15th June

'Funky Mobile phone Case'  - make and take 1pm- 4pm

Friday  22nd June

'Make your Maidenhead quilt square'  free session 11am - 5pm

My Name Bunting.

Come along and hang out with the 'Live it. Love it. Make it' girls and make yourself some lovely mix-and-match personalized Bunting. Using fabrics and felt and a little hand sewing.  £5.00 each

Funky Mobile Phone Case.

Join the 'Live it. Love it. Make it' girls in making a fun tech accessory, with some simple hand sewing, make one for yourself or as a gift for a friend. 

£5.00 each

Make your Maidenhead Quilt square.

In this FREE session with the 'Live it. Love it. Make it' girls, Sit, Chat and Create your Square for the Maidenhead Quilt. There will be a range of goodies to choose from to use on your square and advice on-hand if your feeling a little lost or want to experiment with a new technique.

We look forward to seeing you there!!!

Sammy and H xxx

Love it: Mothers Day Pop Up... Part Two!

We had had such a lovely day last Saturday, on Sunday It was our turn to bring some pretty along to the pop up shop. We set up our little table with as much lace, ribbons, trimming and buttons as possible and waited for our crafters to arrive.

We were joined by some new faces in the pop up too their pics and links are below, do check them out there was some very lovely crafts on sale.

 

Our first visitors of the day were My two Gorgeous God-daughters Amber and Summer aged 3 3/4. they started off in style making a corsage each for their Mum.

 They were big fans of Auntie Sam's button jars.

H and I had fun making up some examples and wrapping up some gifts. Getting some inspiration for our own Mothers day gifts. I have gone with the spotty bag blue ribbon and tag combo for the Necklace I bought for my Mum.

 Our friend Sam (yes another one) also came down to have a go, and ended up taking home two lovely brooches, one of which I am reliably informed is now adorning her daughters bedroom door.

Our lovely friend Anna also had a go and came up with this very 'on trend' neon design, I am tempted to make one like this for myself!

This lovely was made By my friend Denise founder of Little Pickles, a class for 3-6 year olds based at Bovilles in Maidenhead, can you tell she's an artist!

Denise emailed me on Wednesday and told me that she has used this idea in some of her latest pieces to be sold at Art on the Street, in May this year, She sent me some pics and they looking great! cant wait to see them later in the year.

So that's what we got up to, let me show you who else was there.

Sunday Stall holders...

 Elissa Jane Jewellery

 I couldn't resist a pair of plectrum earrings they just had to be mine.

  Lauren Denney Ceramics

Oh yes and quite a few of Lauren's Magnets and that divine button dish also came home with me.

 Cookham Candles 

 Glass Farthing

 Rohanna Jewellery 

Crafty B's

The lovely lady at Crafty B's (who's name I didn't get {sorry} let us try some of her yummy truffles,

 I regret not bringing any of those home,

but  I did indulge in one of Happy Cakes lush Lemon tray bakes.

We were not the only workshop available on the Sunday there were also workshops by

 Felicitations Jewellery design

And of course Teresa Mills

Who b.t.w. is going to be in the Nicholsons shopping Centre again this Saturday, so if you missed your chance to have a go last weekend get on down and join in! I am planning on going down and having a go, and asking Teresa if she can make me one of her Skull mosaics, because I need one of those in my life!

Teresa Mills Mosaics

We had a great day, being a part of the Craft Coop is such a Joy! 

This weekend H and I are off to Stitch and Craft, and on Sunday the Husband and I are off for an  look at the new Star Wars Miniland Experience at Logoland Windsor... Yes we are geeks and we love it!

Live it. Love it. Make it.

Sammy xxx