A few weeks ago I finally made to The New Craftsmen shop, a place I have been meaning to visit for a long time. What a beautiful and well curated space this is, dedicated to showcase high quality craft from British makers. They represent a network of makers, showing their work, skills and processes. I think it is very refreshing to see a place/gallery such as this, where people can appreciate and buy handmade sustainable products.

As a designer/maker myself I am tired of constantly being presented by high street brands with version/copies of our products being mass produced to target a much wider audience. I am not naive to think that everybody, (including myself) have the spare budget to purchase these gorgeous but rather expensive products; but I wish we all made a more conscious decision when purchasing things. The realisation that less is better, and that buying handmade products by independent designer/makers is more sustainable in a long term. I rather save and save to get a piece that I really love, and I know I will treasure for ever, than buying cheaper similar options.

The New Craftsmen shop is a gorgeous shop, well worth a visit. A very inspiring space, surely you will fall in love with many of the things on display. Here are some of my favorites pieces.

(Photos by thenewcraftsmen)

CHARLENE MULLEN NEW SHOP

Welcome Monday, I hope you all had a good weekend and are feeling ready to take on another week!! 

For me, it has been quite an stressful and eventful weekend, but I have now returned to normality. 

A few weeks ago I went to visit designer Charlene Mullen's NEW shop in London, located at 7 Calbert Street, Shoreditch. I met Charlene back in 2008 at 100% design, and since them have followed her career and success. The more I get to know her, the more I respect and admire her hard work and determination, of course it helps that she is lovely. Not every designer out there, has the desire to open a shop, but I think that for us, it is very important to have a showroom where people can come in to appreciate the products and talk to us face to face.

Some of us work from home (me), some others have studios/workshops, but opening a shop, is altogether a different responsibility and big risk that at some point in our business, we may decide to take on, knowing that we will have to face the shop keeping as well as carrying on with the designing and running of the business. For all these reasons are more, I send you, Charlene, my congratulations, for making your gorgeous shop happening, long life to it young lady!! 

One of the her latest products, is a collaboration with Royal Doulton, a striking B&W new tableware range of ceramics, now available at her shop, and other retailers. I have my eye set on the dinner plates!! 

What to find in her new shop, her signature cushions, lampshades, cute cats and a selected range of other interior's products from some of the best British designers and artists. 

Photos by me

CHOCOLATE CREATIVE AT THE ETSY-WEST ELM POP- UP IN LONDON

Hello and how is everybody? I hope well and enjoying the sunshine that we are having lately!!
February has been a very busy month and it seems March would continue the trend...

I am very happy to announce that I am going to take part in the first esty pop-up shop at west elm in London. The event has been curated by Arianna and Carole from Heart Home Magazine.  I am really excited to be part of it, and see how big stores such as west elm are doing more and more collaborations with small independent designers/makers/brands.

If you are in London and happen to come along to the event, please come and say hello, I don't know in which area of the shop I would be yet, but I am sure you will find me there!! See you all soon!

TALENTO CANARIO

Last month I had the opportunity to take part in and event called 'Fashion&Friends', back in Gran Canaria, where I am from. I was invited to give some lectures on creative enterprises, and the hows and dos of how to run your own independent design brand/company. As a preview of what was happening, 4 designers were invited to a magazine program on our local TV channel, to talk about the upcoming event and to tell a bit about our own work. Needless to say that the 4 of us were very nervous. I have never appeared on TV and I didn't know if I was going to be able to speak at all, but funny enough we all did very well haha...In the photo above, Charlie de Navarro, Ana Yaiza, Maisu and myself. 

There are certain things that makes me truly happy, and are very close to my heart, Being invited to be part of this event and have the opportunity to share my knowledge with people from my home town, who are starting and want to pursue a creative career, has been a very rewarding experience. GRACIAS to everybody for making me feel very welcome and loved, Antonio, Lucia and so many others for having me there, I really enjoyed it, despite of being a very stressful and busy week, over 30 degrees, 2 planes, and a full on event!

I met Ana Yaiza, at the TV make up room, she was very friendly and chatty, I din't know her work, but hey she knows how to sew!! Love her new range of bags with the wooden handle. 

Charlie de Navarro, yes look closer, they are not photographies but real drawings! that is what I call a talentent illustrator/artist eh? Charlie's work is based on fashion photos he find in editorial, etc...he is as charming as his work, young, cute and a promising artist! 

Maisu, from Tenerife, (where I was born), is the designer behind Va de Vivas, a brand focused on designing and making bags for an urban life.

GRAN CANARIA FASHION & FRIENDS

On Monday I will be flying to Gran Canaria, to take part in the most exciting event happening in the island for quite sometime. It is a creative platform where people will be selling, and showing their creations alongside, professional workshops and talks. I have always wanted to contribute somehow to the design/craft/teaching scene back home, and taken part in this fair will give me a great opportunity to meet creative people, and find out more about what is going on over there as well as bringing some of the knowledge I have acquired over all this years studying and working in London. 

I will have a stand to show chocolate creative's products, as well as teach some workshops and give a talk. I must admit that I am very nervous about the perspective of talking in front of a lot of people, I rather stay behind the scene and let the others do the talk, but this time I am going out of my conform zone and embrace this unique opportunity. I hope to do it well, and inspire others to follow their dreams...

I love the campaign behind Fashion & Friends, the photos and their quotes are very inspiring and that is the whole point of this event, to inspire and motivate people to explore their creative paths. 

Above, a photo of Jose and Paco, the talented owners of the most glorious interior shop, 'Trastornados',  in Gran Canaria, and below snaps of the last year event. 

Photos by gcfashionandfriends

POUR PORTER

Wife and husband team are behind Pour Porter, and online boutique that stocks independent and innovative designer's creations. I have already selected my favourites pieces. I am so grateful to keep finding so many talented and creative people out there. The cruel reality is that we, independent designers, work super hard at creating new products and coming up with fresh ideas, to later on have the big brands copying our designs, or paying a good salary to their designer's team to based their collections on what is already out there rather than thinking and coming up with their own concepts. 

I can only work at a certain peace, and launch new products and designs, when money and time allow for taking them into production. I know it is impossible to compete with the big guys, and that our prices are much more higher than the high street ones. From here, I would like to encourage, when possible, a more responsible and conscious buying.

Check Pour Porter to at least dream with one of their pieces, or start saving or if budget allows get them...I have started saving to get the sandals.

Photos

BLOGGER'S WORKSHOP AT MADE.COM

Do you know about made.com? A hub for well made designed products at a very competitive price due to their clever way of manufacturing. I am sure you have seen their advertising banners in the tube, magazines, the internet, etc...I knew about it but has never been at their showroom in Notting Hill, up until this Monday, when I was invited to come along to a blogger's workshop organised by made.com. 

It was a very interesting talk about affiliate marketing, and how to monetise your blog, given by Daniel Nelson from Heart Home Magazine, and Vivien Man from Affiliate Window. Me personally I am not sure this is a path I would like to take on right now, as this blog is very much about my work and things I really love or inspire me. I don't make money out of it, spend hours working on its content but I do it purely out of passion and of course as a marketing tool for my own brand. Nevertheless, I will consider some form of affiliate marketing in the future. I get approach by quite a few companies about having guess posts or sponsors, but I have never been interested, as this blog is a personal space, edit by me, and only for the things I LOVE. 

I left made.com impressive showroom feeling inspired and very jealous of their huge space, views, and pieces on displayed. I could have easily taken with me, a couple of sofas, armchairs, lamps and tables. Their prices are very reasonable for well made designed pieces and they have some gorgeous pieces on my favourite colours, yellow, grey, blue and black. These are some example of their latest collections. If I had room in my current crowded house, I will get the yellow armchair, together with all the pieces above, they match my cushions and colour wooden knobs and hooks, please I need a bigger house...

Daniel, Vivien, James and a few of us, listening to the talk, I found it very interesting, as I don't have much knowledge on the subject. It was great as usual to meet and see familiar UK based bloggers faces and meet new ones, chat about design, blogging, life, etc...

Thanks made.com for having me, and given me the opportunity of visiting the showroom together with enjoying such a nice evening. Went home feeling full (I ate far too much as I was super hungry), happy and inspired. 

photos made.com

HADOS – LIVING IN CREATIVE HARMONY

I mentioned Hados before, when I was talking about the designers I met back in my island. I have the fortune of meeting Elena among the other creative's in one of our networking events. I instantly clicked with her, she is a very nice, talented and spiritual person, someone who I can relate in terms of work and personality. She invited me over to her beautiful home/studio, but time didn't allow at the time, after seeing this photos of their space and her with Alvaro, (the other half of Hados), I will make sure to come along next time. I LOVE it, this is what I need back home, a big airy and bright room where to work and keep meeting interesting people, who are working very hard towards achieving a good balance life, doing what they love and remaining true to their values.

Elena and Alvaro, were both artists before they met, (you can check their artwork in their respective blogs), and slowly started to work together on Hados, a joint project, where their art and skills come together. Hados is about integrity and beauty, all the pieces are handmade, with the best quality materials, and equality gorgeous. 

The hair clips (Bombom de seda) are made of silks and titanium, more styles at the shop.

My favorite pieces are the rings, I am going to save some cash to treat myself with one. This pieces remind me of the volcano and mountain landscapes we have in the islands. 

Photos by onphotos.es

I am glad it is the weekend, the decision making process continues...I just had a very stressful week and I am looking forward to have some rest and social time with my friends. Yesterday I spent all day at my friend Bree's wedding, love and romance makes me happy, and today spent the afternoon at the Renegade craft fair in London. I met some of my designers friends and got to see new designer's work, bought some stuff and had a nice lunch by myself. The fair was busy and very warm, it was glorious and busy outside, and you could feel the buzz an heat indoors too. Have you been at renegade? I hope it becomes as big as it is in the States. People need to know about all this amazing designers and crafters out there.

 Above, 1 nice prints by hello dodo, 2 cute products and display by mrnico.

 Love the ice cream prints by Sean Mort.

 Entrance to the fair, plus leather goods by Love Jules leather.

 Making lounge, plus Folksy stand, the English equivalent to Etsy.

Friends Zeena (above) with her textiles, and Mary and James (below) stands at the fair, 

it is always so nice to see and chat to them. 

And gorgeous vintage paper woods by Ladybird likes

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.

Selina Lake Homespun Style book

Eternal Winter in London...still raining, still grey, still cold... totally feels like Winter, but hey, wait a minute it is April! and then I wonder why I need my breaks back home, in my sunny and warm little island. I keep motivating myself by buying yellow and red tulips, wearing colourful scarfs and jumpers, eating plenty of biscuits, chocolate and looking at pretty interiors filled with gorgeous textiles and homewares. 

Last week I went to the launch of Selina lake's latest book and all the sudden I found myself in a hall full of pink, red, blue, green, you name it, I felt instantly at home and very cosy. I saw some of my friends, Lynne from tea for joy, Bianca from kissher, Zeena from heartzeena and Clare from clare nicolson, they were selling their gorgeous products alongside other very talented makers/designers. 

I had the chance to browse the Homespun Style book with photography by Debi Treloar, and it looks just as you would expect by its cover, colourful, vintage, personal and with a touch of homemade that is characteristic of Selina's style. I own several books of her and always go back to them for inspiration. Here are some images of the book spreads and launch event, I did not take my camera, so photos are from different visitors and designers.

  THE EVENT  

papermash's products, I bought some tapes, note books and doilies

 Clare Nicolson's products

Heart Zeena's textiles

Photos: Zeena, Clare, Selina and  Skin & Blister