Time to get cracking with cosy crafts

After a bit of a pause here at Oxford Makers while we adjust to babies and day jobs, we are revelling being back in making mode.

Cosy crafts are underway with handcrafted cushions being made from lovely tartan recycled wool blankets.

Knitting projects are handy and finished photos will be posted here soon. We're keen to see your projects too. Post photos of your craft projects on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/oxfordmakers so we can all admire them.

We're planning a knitting workshop on Thursday 6 December. You heard it here first and will post more details asap.

Best
Annie and Sherrey xx
 

Ahh the English summer back to normal today with buckets of rain!

However never ones to miss an opportunity to do a bit of 'Vintiquing' we Wellington booted our way through the drizzle to Newbury Antiques and Collectors Market today!

Tons of fantastic bargains and a great variety of antiques and collectables, from vintage fashion items to home furniture, antique jewellery and some rather fabulous kitsch textiles of which we brought rather a few!

Here are some snaps of the day!

Deckchair and seat pads made using a recycled curtain

Having had a tired looking deckchair taking up valuable space in the garden for quite some time, today was the day to bring it back from the land of dead looking furniture and jush it up a bit.

Aim: To create a stylish matching garden furniture set, using an old curtain i had be hoarding for months!

Here are some photographs to making your own!

Craft FLASHMOB Meet and Make - Thursday 19th July 2012

Another very creative evening at The Curtain Shop in Summertown on Thursday night!
The inspirational makes people rocked up with were fantastic! Thank you for bringing along such a varied array of projects, it was so great to see them and you all in action!

Here are some of the pics from the night, if you would like to join us for a 'Meet & Make' session in the autumn then please see our website for the autum events schedule.

 

Sophia proudly taking home her lavender Fish, very fishy, love the button eye!!

 A necklace made using a French Knitting method and an oversize button detail. Below Avril made two gorgeous scottie dogs as pin cushions for friends, lovely fabric!

Summer Flashmob tomorrow!

Join us for our final summer FLASHMOB tomorrow Thursday 19 July from 6.30-8.30pm.

We'll be at the fabulous Curtain Shop, 220 Banbury Road, Summertown.

Bring along anything you are mid making or try one of our summertime makes.

As usual there will be tea and cake and we can't wait to see you.

More details here on the link below.

Craft FLASHMOB

Marvellous makes at Oxford Castle

We are itching to share our lovely photos from today's wonderful day of making at the Oxford Castle. 

Today is Archaeology day and we are delighted that the Oxford Preservation Trust invited us to take part in their special day. Enjoy the photos. x

Our beautiful bunting got another outing

 

We are thrilled with the gorgeous makes you all made today

Knitting news and Knit at Home videos

Hello Knitters and how are your projects going since our first workshop last Friday (6 July)?

It's definitely knitting weather. Sherrey and I have been toting our knitting along in our handbags, grabbing every spare minute to fast-forward our new projects. What a great workshop and what lovely things to make. We had a giggle when we saw this photo and our concentrating faces!

...and here is what we were making... these gorgeous necklaces and bracelets are made by Maggie, our expert knitter who leads all our Oxford Makers knitting Workshops and Clinics. Aren't they fab?!

Are you knitting at home but have got stuck? Or maybe you wish you were with us at the workshop but live too far away? Don't worry, Maggie, has popped together three How To videos to help you. Let us know how you get on, email hello@oxfordmakers.com

Knitting: How to cast on and plain knit

Knitting: Purl Stitch and casting off

French Knitting: How to start French Knitting

We will be taking our knitting along to an event at the Oxford Castle this Sunday (15 July). We're running a Making stall at Oxford's Archaeology Day organised by the Oxford Preservation Trust. We'd love to see you if you are in the City, pop along and Meet & Make.

We'd also love to see as many knitters as possible at our craft FLASHMOB next Thursday (19 July) It's a free event at The Curtain Shop in Summertown from 6.30-8.30pm and it would be great to see how your projects are going. We will also be launching our Autumn Programme of workshops at the FLASHMOB and there will definitely be regular knitting sessions at The Victoria Arms, Old Marston. More details of the FLASHMOB are on our website and Facebook page and our Autumn programme will be online after the FLASHMOB.

See you soon

Best

Annie and Sherrey

www.oxfordmakers.com

www.facebook.com/oxfordmakers

Contemporary Knitting at The Victoria Arms

Hello Makers,

Fancy trying knitting? We are moving this Friday's workshop to the lovely Victoria Arms in Old Marston, Oxford, OX3 0PZ. Directions here. So you can now give knitting a whirl and enjoy a Friday night tipple, the perfect combination.
We will be making knitted bangles and bracelets and maybe starting some scarves. Our expert knitter Maggie, will have you clacking your needles in no time. She will be showing some knitting basics and sharing some tricks and tips and will soon have you whipping up gorgeous contemporary knitted jewellery like this.

Book a spot on our website www.oxfordmakers.com or give us a shout and we can do it for you. We can't wait for Friday already.

See you there.

Best

Annie and Sherrey

Craft FLASHMOB Thursday 19 July

We're excited already about our next FLASHMOB and would love you to spread the word.

We'll be at The gorgeous and very inspiring Curtain Shop, 220 Banbury Road, Summertown on Thursday 19 July from 6.30-8.30pm. 

Join us and bring along anything you are mid-making or try one of our makes on the night.

As usual there will be tea and cake and we can't wait to see you.

More details here on the link below.

Craft FLASHMOB

Best

Annie and Sherrey

Try your hand at Modern Weaving

Give weaving a go at our workshop this Friday (6 July). It's very simple but hugely effective. You can make everything from coasters to rugs to 3D textile art. 
Make something unique and beautifully hand-made to take home, oh and enjoy a good chat and tea and cake too.

The workshop is at St Anthony of Padua Church Hall, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7SS. 
We'd love to meet you.
Find out more about the workshop by following this link

Modern Weaving

Contemporary Knitting workshop

Come and make these beautiful knitted bangles and more on Friday 6 July at this wonderful workshop. More details here

Contemporary Knitting workshop

We're coveting the necklaces! We'll look forward to seeing you there. Oh and tea and cake will be plentiful as usual.

Best

Annie and Sherrey

Upcycling; French Chateau Chic

Mid way through beautifying a useful but not so attractive table and it's looking good.

I am using a lovely light grey-ish blue paint from Craig and Rose called Study Room Blue. It's a chalk-based paint and you can buy it locally from B&Q. It suits my French-Scandinavian style conservatory perfectly.

One coat of paint done, hoping to finish the project this weekend. Wish me luck.

Sherrey and I love upcycling furniture and creating a bespoke look. We are planning a few restoration workshops in our Autumn programme so we can share a few of our tricks and tips with you. Watch this space as we will be unveiling our Autumn workshop programme soon.
Best
Annie

 

Step by Step so you can make Bunting at home

Here is a Step by Step guide to making Bunting for all those who couldn't make our workshop last night or who live too far away, now you can try making your own bunting at home.

Click here to find the Step by Step on the Make at Home page on www.Oxford Makers.com. 

You can post photos of your successful bunting-making on our facebook page www.facebook.com/oxfordmakers 

Best

Annie and Sherrey

Brilliant Bunting-making at The Curtain Shop

Strings of beautiful bunting were created by all Makers at our first workshop at The gorgeous Curtain Shop in Summertown, Oxford.

Janet, the Manager of The Curtain Shop, made us all extremely welcome and we all raised some funds for Helen and Douglas House Hospice by donating money in exchange for some beautiful designer fabric remnants.

Have a look at our photos and you will see the bunting is so very different and unique. One string will be brightening up boy's bunkbeds, another adding an elegant twist to a garden party and a third will be given as a gift to an unborn baby to welcome him or her home from hospital very soon, to describe just a few.

Sherrey showed different ways to make up bunting and a variety of bunting styles and everyone chose to do something different. Janet from The Curtain Shop was brilliant throughout the evening sharing some tricks of the sewing trade and tea and cake was enjoyed by all. Well it wouldn't be an Oxford Makers night without it! 

For Sherrey and I, some of our Makers made our night with some amazingly lovely comments. One Maker said she had wanted a sewing machine for ages and now we had taken away her fear of sewing machines, she was going to treat herself. Another said she hadn't used a sewing machine in ages and then quickly whipped up a metre of bunting in no time on the machine and said it had all come flooding back. We really had a wonderful making evening with lovely people.

If you fancy joining us, we are holding our next craft FLASHMOB at The Curtain Shop on Thursday 19 July at The Curtain Shop, Summertown, Oxford. It's a free event and everyone is welcome. Please bring along anything you are mid-making or come and try one of our making projects. We'd love to see you there.

Best

Annie and Sherrey

Upcycling frenzy

Phew, one minute sipping coffee, the next attacking and upcycling a useful but ugly table in my conservatory. The table is one of my latest bargainous finds and is exactly the right size and folds away like a dream, but it isn't going to win any designer furniture prizes any time soon...yet!

Sherrey and I love upcycling furniture finds and giving tired old pieces a new lease of life while creating a totally personal look.
This morning's project was a duck-yellow pine table that does not suit my colour scheme. After a bit of elbow grease it is now ready for painting with the final colour and I'm planning to try a new pot of light grey paint to rock the distressed French chateau-chic look. I promise to post photos of the end result in a couple of days together with a step by step so you can try this out at home.

Sherrey and I are also planning an upcycling furniture workshop to show and share with you a few of our tricks and tips. Watch this space as we will be unveiling our Autumn workshop programme soon.

Best

Annie

Creating our own studio space

Our kitchen tables are lovely places to work but as Oxford Makers grows, we are both craving dedicated studio space.

Luckily we have both been given a craft space to call our own, at home! Sherrey's space is a vibrant garden shed and my space is a light blank loft canvas.

Both will make beautiful studios eventually. Sherrey's looks out over her whole garden and is next to her kitchen garden and my loft has a view of the dreaming Oxford spires. 

We will be posting pictures of our studios as they get more snazzy and we're hoping to pick up ideas and tips from other crafters along the way. Wish us luck.

Best

Annie and Sherrey

Craft FLASHMOB in July

Diaries ready?! Our next craft FLASHMOB is set for Thursday 19 July from 6.30pm at The Curtain Shop, Summertown, Oxford. 

We'll be asking you to bring along anything gorgeous you're mid making! We love to see what people are working on and last time seriously coveted some hand-made paper flowers and chicken doorstops. We'll also be asking everyone to pitch in and help with our group make - a surprise, you'll see on the night ;-). We'll also have some of our own makes for you to try out and take home.

Excited already. Stick the date in your diary and please let us know if you are coming as it helps us plan how much cake to bring ;-).


Here's a pic from our last FLASHMOB. The guys were helping finish our group make - a Decopatch chair. Hope to see you in July if not before.  
Best
Annie and Sherrey 

Make bunting and raise cash for local Hospice

Pop along to our Bunting Workshop this Thursday at The Curtain Shop, Summertown, Oxford and you will be taking home your own hand-made string of bunting and making a donation to Helen and Douglas House Hospice.

Our workshop will be held at The Curtain Shop in Summertown, Oxford this Thursday (21 June) from 6.30-8.30pm. You will be able to choose from an array of beautiful fabrics from the remnant basket at The Curtain Shop to help make up your bunting in exchange for a small cash donation to local charity, Helen and Douglas House Hospice. The remnant basket is full to overflowing and remnants will cost 20 pence or 50 pence depending on size. A bargainous price and the money will be going to an amazing cause.


Once you have chosen your fabric, we will be showing you some hints and tips that will have you zipping up beautiful bunting in no time and we've also got some fab ideas to share about you can personalise it too with children's names, the alphabet and numbers.

As with all Oxford Makers' workshops, we will be stopping for a tea and cake break in the middle of our creativity session. Everything stops for cake! 

We are really looking forward to seeing you at The Curtain Shop on Thursday for our first Summertown workshop. 
Best
Annie and Sherrey

Try Life Drawing this Friday

We're holding our second Life Drawing workshop this Friday (15 June) from 6.30-8.30pm at St Anthony of Padua Church Hall, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7SS.
We'd love as many people as possible to come and join us whether you are an expert or are looking to try something new. Book a place on our website www.oxfordmakers.com

This week our model is a man. Once again we have some new drawing challenges up our sleeves to get you in the mood, loosen you up and introduce you to a few concepts if you are new.
For those who are new, we dont do anything without tea and cake and there will be plenty.
We look forward to seeing you there.

Best Wishes

Annie and Sherrey

Gorgeous fabrics in remnant sale

News for fabric obsessives, The Curtain Shop, Summertown, Oxford is holding a remnant sale on Wednesday (16 June) from 10am. We are both fabric-mad and also love a bargain so we can't wait for Wednesday. The Curtain Shop is our new discovery. We couldn't believe our luck when we stumbled across this local shop selling Designers Guild, Clarke and Clarke, Emily Bond and Jane Churchill. 
Anyway if you are into fabric, this event is for you. They are doing rolls of fabric for £5 a metre, curtain poles, blinds and wall paper. 
We are hoping for some material to jazz up our home studio spaces...and we will be blogging about Project Studio soon.
Maybe see you on Wednesday.
Best
Annie and Sherrey

Beautiful prints, wonderful people & outstanding printmaking! Well done all!

Thank you to the fabulous makers that came to our Mono-printing workshop this evening.
The artwork created was fantastic, new skills were tried for the first time, alongside much chatter and lots of tea and shortbread of course!

Here are some of the lovely images created this evening.

Printmaking workshop tonight!

Brighten up this windy wet Friday and  try your hand at Printmaking! Pop along tonight to our very popular Mono-printing workshop! It is the easiest form of printing, quick and great for beginners!

To book your spot see www.oxfordmakers.com, to create and take home your very own, personalised range of Oxford inspired placemats.

Simkin the Sock Monkey

Meet Simkin the Sock Monkey the newest member of the Oxford Makers team. If you would like to make your own Sock Monkey Mascot then check out our website for a workshop coming soon.

Simkin loves to explore the creative hub that is Oxfordshire, more photos to follow of him doing what he loves best 'Meeting up and Making.'

Here he is getting into the Jubilee spirit!

Step by Step so you can make a Corsage at home

By popular demand, now you can make a corsage at home with our step by step guide below. All the hints and tips to make these cute accessories are below.

We love pictures of makes, please share photos of your finished corsages, we'd love to see how you get on.

Step one

Start with a strip of fabric 8cm wide by 35cm long and fold in half. 

Next do a straight stitch lengthways to secure the two edges. Make the seam about 0.5cm in from the edges.

Top tip: Thread your needle using a double length of thread for thickness and double knot the end.


Step two

 
Decide whether you want an open 'blowsy' style flower or a tighter effect. For an open flower, stitch along your stitched edge, leaving 1.5cm between each stitch, pull the thread tightly and your fabric will start to bunch like in the picture above. For a tighter flower, do narrower stitches.

Step three

Continue stitching and pulling the thread through the fabric until you have reached the end of the fabric and your flower looks like this.

Step four

  

At the back, stitch the two ends together and make a tight seam.

Step five

Next choose a piece of contrasting fabric and cut out to the shape and size to suit your design. We've chosen a circle.

Step six

We've added an extra embellishment to this corsage - a mini corsage on top, made of a gorgeous ticking ribbon. We made the ticking corsage using the same steps you have just followed for your corsage so far. Now you just need to sew the layers together.

Step seven

Voila! The finished result is the one on the left. We find a button really helps to secure the layers together with a neat professional finish. Enjoy.