Points of The Compass Exhibition, at Craft Central. If you are out enjoying the weather this week, why not join Gillian, Xtina and Linda (The Seaside Sisters is a London-based craft collective selling handmade textile and paper goods), in Clerkenwell for a dose of British seaside? The exhibition runs until Saturday (11.00am – 6.30pm each day) and includes a pop-up shop with lots of coastal themed goodies to buy. And don’t forget the Afternoon Tea Party at 2.00pm on Saturday! Well done girls, it looks gorgeous, more photos at their facebook page and blog. 

Gorgeous vintage fabrics and handmade goods.

Extracts from 91 magazine

I am starting a new column called Extracts from 91 Magazine, just a few words and pictures from the quarterly online magazine – read more of this article & see more images at 91magazine.
Interview by Nicola Sanders 

Rosie Brown Runs online store Papa Stour

What did you do before Papa Stour?
After completing a Master of Design at Glasgow School of Art, I worked for Sanderson in London where I was involved in developing a more modern incarnation of the brand. I then went on to become a freelance stylist and art director, working with the likes of Sunday Times Style, Homes & Gardens and Elle Decoration and with companies such as The White Company, Dulux and Laura Ashley.
What gave you the idea for the business? What research did you do before starting up?
When I moved back up to Scotland I produced a range of hand-screen-printed Harris Tweed products and I was looking for outlets to sell them; at the same time, I kept coming across really interesting work. I thought it would be a great idea to bring together a collection of contemporary craft and design under one roof, with everything made in Scotland. I looked at the competition in this area to see if any websites were doing the same thing and noticed that there was a gap in the market. I contacted artists whose work I liked and seven years on, the collection we have is still carefully curated in this way.
What advice would you offer to other potential online businesses?
Believe in what you are offering, do your research and try to show that you are different from the thousands of other online shops out there.

(Extract from Issue 3 of 91 Magazine)

Having fun with mum and friends...

Good morning Monday, nice weekend? Hope so, sun has been out, but doesn't feel like proper Summer, rains almost everyday, and feels chilly and very windy, so I guess I would have to wait until October to have some kind of Summer, I am going home for a few weeks, so I can rest, be with boyfriend, and enjoy the good weather...

Last week I went along to the papermash crafting event, 

organised by Lynne from the tea for joy blog and held at the Papered Parlour in Clapham.

Lynne alongside nice Caroline from Patchworkharmony and more friends...

 My mother came along to the event, she really enjoyed it and got to decorated her jar, which is now on her side table by her bed. Below myself with mum, I don't know why we look so serious haha...

 Delicious cup cakes, I took a few home but they never made there, they were eaten on the bus...

 It was very busy, the place had a very cosy and nice atmosphere

 Gorgeous Zeena doing her screen printing workshop

Thanks Lynne for putting together such a nice afternoon, the decoration, the activities, and the people gathered at the papered parlour were great. Nice photos by Michelle of My Creative Photography, thanks for taking this great photos, it makes a different when you have someone talented like her doing the job, I am hopeless when it comes to taken pictures, so thanks again Michelle for the nice shoots, my mum looks great in them.

Three friends at Pulse...

First of all a BIG THANKS to all the people who came to my stand, friends, colleagues, customers and all the new people who expressed interest in the brand and its products. All your support means a lot to me.
I am back at the studio after Pulse, the show (very good show, amazing designers and products), ended last week, and I am glad it did. I must admit it is not what I enjoy the most. I am not a reserved person, in fact I am quite the opposite, but for some reason this big shows keep intimidating me, and are a killer. The before, during and after are very stressful periods, and I have realised, after exhibiting at three of the best trade shows in London, that I am not made for them... so I am very glad I had two very good friends, (Kate and Sian) exhibiting this time too. We have met along the way of our careers and support and help each other, meet up for tea, cake and chats, exchange knoledge and sometimes motivate each other when one of us is feeling overwholmed or confused by the whole 'running a business on your own' deal. I feel very lucky to have them, among many other great people I keep meeting in shows, networking event, etc...

Bellow photos of my stand, I displayed the products in sections: 

cushions, hooks/knobs and prints.

 Below the new logo and packaging for the new tealight candles, 

they will be soon available at the shop online.

 I love to see all the hooks displayed together on the wall, they look great like that, don't you think?

I specially want to thank Gassy (boyfriend) for flying from Gran Canaria to be with me, for putting up with my stress and bad mood, for cooking nice meals, setting up and taken down the stand as fast and efficient as he did, and above all, for supporting me in my business and life, te quiero amor!

Here are some photos of our stands, we all design and make similar products, but as you can see our styles are very different from each other, and that is what I like, how different a cushion can be depending on who is designing it?

KATE CLARKE LONDON STAND

 Her tea towels are a must, her work is very refreshing and colourful, with a scandinavian touch.

 The new trays would be available soon at her online shop.

SIAN ZENG 

 Above Sian at her stand and below the cool bears, you can buy them already made or in making kits, all her products are available at her shop online, the gorgeous magnetic wallpaper was featured in the latest issue of ELLE deco, well done Sian!!

I promise to post about other designer's stands very soon, I didn't have the chance to go around as I would have wanted but still took some photos with my mobile but can't upload them to my facebook or Picassa album, I am hopeless when it comes to technology so any tips on this department would be very welcome!!

(Photos Piero Pierini)

Get crafting with papermash and company

Fancy an evening crafting away in company of some very talented ladies? My friend Lynne from the gorgeous shop papermash has organised this event at the Papered Parlour. More info at her blog.

1 more day to go at Pulse 2012

Hola hola, I have been away from the blog, organising, making, finishing some products and being at Pulse, the trade show in London. Here are some quick photos of the new tealight holders and hooks that I just launched at the show two days ago. There are so many amazing designers and products on display, truly inspirational, I hope to take some more photos tomorrow, being on my own at the stand is difficult, run to the loo, run to get tea and chocolate to get going, run to chat to friends haha...hard life being a designer...if you are in London and are passionate about design or are looking for new products for your shops, come along, I am at stand LP74.