Make a Vintage Cake Stand Tutorial

Are you getting ready for the royal wedding celebrations? Holding a tea party? Or you just fancy getting your craft on to make something practical, inexpensive and very cute…

All you need is a spare 20 minutes, a hot glue gun or super glue and some plates and glasses of your choice. I got my plates and glasses from some local charity shops, (sherry glasses are the best as they can be so dainty)

There is only one step to make this cake stand, It really is as simple as it looks, it’s just a case of layering and gluing, layering and gluing and to add some stability to the weight turn the glasses upside down. 

Follow the images for your own unique cake stand.

Lesson learnt from making this cake stand is to measure to the middle, this stand is a little wonky!! But as I explain to people, it's obviously a design feature!

Turn the glass upside down, add glue and add the next layer of the stand

Three layers is the most weight it will take

Finished! One Cake Stand in 20 Minutes

 

I already had the glue, but the plates and glasses came to a grand total of £2.90. These vintage cake stands are perfect for cupcakes and sliced cakes, depending on the size of the cakes they hold around 10 cakes. 

Be imaginative, you can use odd plates, shot glasses, glass plates, saucers the list is endless.....

Tooting Bracelet Making Workshop

Learning a craft can sometimes be an expensive hobby or career to start and when looking into or researching workshops or courses, you may be considering the price, length of time, quality of the activity and maybe is it appealing enough for a friend to also join you…?

I think I may have cracked it, I believe I've found the perfect workshop, recently launched by an Arts collective called Handmade in Tooting  the ‘Crafty Pint Workshops’ also in Tooting are quickly becoming a monthly fixture on the SW Craft Club calendar, these workshops offer inexpensive introductory classes into different crafts each month. They tick all of our boxes for price (a mere £15!), quality, time and it’s been a huge appeal for friends to join in as it's a great way to spend an afternoon catching up, over craft, learning something new and feasting on homemade cupcakes. Having recently blogged about the ‘Mothers Day Treat in Tooting’ we thought it was only right we try out the local courses we talk about, obviously for research purposes!

First on the Crafty Pint calendar was the bracelet making workshop, a workshop offering simple demonstrations of how to use jewellery tools, apply beads to a bracelet and hopefully you'll end up with something which looks very fashionable and expensive.

With such a name as the Craft Pint it's rude not to have a pint or two throughout the workshop and whilst I’m not a beer or larger drinker, I’d recommend the strawberry cider, but be careful it tastes much like squash and goes down very quickly!

We started by selecting the beads

Slowly added the beads to the bracelet

Yummy cupcakes went down very quickly!

After 3 hours, 2 pints and 3 cupcakes later... the finished bracelet

Everyone's bracelets were every different...

...and very pretty

Each came with their own pouch and packet of Love Hearts!

This was a great way to send an afternoon and my bracelet hasn't been off my wrist since!

These classes are suitable for children from around 10 years (but check before you book a course) and adults and booking is highly recommended, a few people did just turn up on the day and they managed to join us, but I fear had the workshop been any busier they would have been turned away. 

The next class is the Textiles Brooch making class on Saturday 7th May 2pm-5pm, you can book at Tooting Crafty Pint or contact them via twitter @craftypint

West Norwood Feast - Part 2

It’s been 4 months since the very first Feast meeting, which saw the introduction of the high energy and enthusiastic team which are the Space Makers Agency and along with Lambeth council they talked through what they have planned for West Norwood to help to regenerate the area, to help give it a little bit of a cooler edge.

Over 13 weeks the local residents worked together week after week, creating and planning their local market, which many people had little or no experience of doing before, but what everyone had was a determination and common goal to make where they live more appealing, this was an amazing example of people power!

Over 91 days we saw more and more people join in on the Feast planning weekly meetings, volunteering their time over the weekendsgetting out onto the high street to talk to local people and shops owners, marketing the event and publicising the benefits it will bring to the area.

Finally after 2184 hours of preparation, on a very sunny Sunday 3^rd April the Feast arrived to West Norwood. Many local residents got up early to prepare the market, setting up the stalls and assist the stall holders etc. and in short the market was a huge success. I’m not sure about everyone else but the market attracted more people than I had anticipated, local people were out in full force, supporting and shopping.  

This sort of project shows the importance of supporting and buying local but don’t take my word for it, check out all of the positive comments on the WN Feast Facebook Page

 The Artisan Market, attracted some amazing stall holders, all very diverse and made locally, cushions, candles, crochet, soaps, teddies, sunglasses, earrings, illustrations and many more...

Thankfully this isn't a one off event, the idea is that with the continued support of local people, this market has a long term future. The weekly meetings will still continue on Tuesdays from 6.30pm at the Railway Pub by Tulse Hill train station and anyone can get involved. 

Add a note to your dairy for Sunday 1^st May for the next Feast. The plan is for the market to take place on the first Sunday of every month.

Contact details:

@wn_feast

http://westnorwood.spacemakers.org.uk/  

10 minutes on the couch with…. Fiona, the founder of Oh Sew Brixton

Never heard of Oh Sew Brixton? It’s a gem, in the heart of Brixton, across the road from the tube, it is a great place to learn to sew or even to scratch up on the experience you already have and learn something new from a variety of courses for all levels.

Tell us more about Oh Sew Brixton?

I started Oh Sew Brixton a couple of years ago now as I had had enough of corporate life.  I’ve always loved to sew (I learned at about the age of 12) and I could see that it was at last making a comeback.  I still might not have opened the school if it hadn’t seen the studio space in Piano House.  It was just perfect (light, spacious and a stone’s throw from the tube station) and I really didn’t have any excuse not to go for it!

What workshops do you have to offer for beginners?

Beginners are our speciality.  We have a one day Introduction to the Sewing Machine which gets people up and running on the sewing machine.  I really love teaching this class as, in the space of 5 hours, people go from slow and diffident to mowing up and down with the machine.  Everyone makes a bag, they are all different and all great.

Which classes are your most popular?

Beginner Dressmaking is probably our core course.  This runs as a 6 week evening or morning course and also occasionally as a 3 day Intensive.  Everyone makes a simple dress and we cover how to follow a pattern and some of the basic construction techniques.

What class would you recommend and why?

We’ve more recently started an Easy 50s dress course which is a follow in course to Beginners Dressmaking.  We’ve run this a couple of times and the dresses are just gorgeous.

Have you got any new courses coming launching this year?

I’ve got Rosie Martin of diy-couture coming back to do a workshop in May on her elasticated dress.  She is writing a series of books on how to make stuff without using patterns and the workshop is based on one of these.

 

The majority of your courses take place during evenings and weekends, we’ve received requests for daytime courses, in south London, Do you also run classes during the day?

I’d love to run more classes during the day, but I don’t seem to have the demand.  When I first set up, we put making children’s clothes on the schedule but didn’t get enough people for the class to run.  Maybe I should put it back on the schedule for after Easter?  I’m also thinking of running a patchwork club to use up all the lovely scraps I have left over from the dressmaking classes!

Your workshops are really on trend, giving people the opportunity to make a piece of clothing from the 1950’s, do you have any examples of what’s made in your class?

Latest on the schedule is a 50’s beachwear course.  This is a bikini top and shorts based on a 50s pattern, but using pattern software for made to measure shorts.

Describe Oh Sew Brixton in 3 words?

I can’t do this in three words!  Hopefully my students will vouch for the fact that I am very committed to teaching people to sew and have pledged to support those that continue their sewing journey.

http://ohsewbrixton.co.uk/

Course dates & costs

 

Ms Cupcake Shop Opening in Brixton tomorrow!

A Mother’s Day Treat in Tooting

Seven days to go until mother’s day and instead of ordering flowers or taking your mom out for an over priced meal, we’ve got something crafty on the menu, which is inexpensive, good fun and gives you both quality time, over a pint or two!

This Saturday and every first Saturday of the month at the Tooting Tram & Social are the Crafty Pint workshops. The next is the charm bracelet workshop, part of a collection of amazing little workshop, which until now has been a secret… So, Ssssshhhhhh keep it until yourselves.

Louise from LouLou Workshop will show you how to make a beautiful, sparkley charm bracelet. All tools and materials are provided, including a silver plated bracelet chain.  Louise will show you step by step how to make a bracelet from her collection of very lovely beads and charms.  Handmade cakes are included in the price and drinks are available from the bar

Organised and run by local people, this local workshop will mean you only have to walk down the street, hop on the bus, jump on the tube or pop along in the car to spend time with your nearest and dearest over drink & cakes, we'll be going along, hope to see you there!

To find out more information or to book online go to: 

Tooting Crafty Pint

MakeMe

Last week I travelled to Cobham (not strictly south London) only 20 minutes on the train from Clapham Junction and it was well worth the trip. Having never been to Cobham before I was greeted with pretty houses, a helpful taxi driver and a stunning place called the Medicine Garden which is hard to describe as we don’t have anything like it in London, but words which spring to mind are, relaxing and nurtured, as It’s still being landscaped and restored. I can’t wait to go back in the summer to see how it has grown and to enjoy the gardens.

Nestled in the Medicine Garden is MakeMe Workshops in what resembles a cute stable conversion, which I totally had craft envy over when I arrived. MakeMe workshops has not one button, thread or felt out of place.  Everything has a place and every work station has its own sewing machine, iron and ironing board. Too perfect is not a phrase which can be associated with MakeMe, just right is how I’d describe it.

Knowing that many craft courses require a weekly commitment or a whole day, MakeMe Workshops are different, usually taking place on a morning or afternoon. They’re great courses which last a few hours and you leave with something gorgeous (and a few extra lbs from the delicious chocolate brownies and tasty cherry and ginger sponge) to go home with.

Melissa set up MakeMe Workshops last summer and I decided to pop down because they offer a great selection of courses, some of which I can’t always find in south London, i.e. felting, silver bracelet making, furniture stencilling, photography for parents, Spring flower arranging and many more. 

This picture doesn't do the felt flowers justice.
Best to see them in the flesh or felt!

From one of the many jewellery making workshops

The course I attended was the union jack cushion making course, there was only 4 of us, but the smaller groups make it much easier to get one to one help from the tutor and also having individual work stations makes it easier to achieve your finished article in the short time.

 

Between drinking tea, eating cake and sewing together a cushion the time flew by. The tutor was very patient and was able to accommodate people of all levels but especially beginners and at the end we had created some amazing cushions!

Beginners sewing workshop

I would whole hearted recommend MakeMe workshops, not just because the surrounds are amazing, but because I believe that they have a great selection of courses, for all levels of people, which are reasonably priced.

Cupcake Workshop

Decopatch workshop

MakeMe also run children’s workshops  - Sticky Fingers Cupcakes, Decopatch, Mini-MakeMe Junior Jewells and Creative Creatures (sew a monster)

Children's Creative Creatures

Contact details – MakeMe Workshops, The Medicine Garden, Downside Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3LU, www.makemeworkshops.com, info@makemeworkshops.com

10 Minutes on the Couch with Lydia the founder of a very cute little tea shop, Earl Gray & Rose in Streatham

Before going to interview Lydia I happen to think about what Streatham meant to me, I use to live in Streatham and I suppose before I mentioned that I had lived there people would be quick to put it down. But and this is a very big BUT! It’s not so bad, I frequently venture back to Streatham because there are simply some shops I can’t do without, for instance…

Krystal Drycleaners – on Streatham High raod (next door to Perfect Blend) half price dry cleaning on the first Wednesday of the month

The abundance of charity shops, for my 10p films and fabrics

Perfect Blend for their fry-up breakfast and freshly squeezed orange juice

And now to add to my “can’t do without” list is Earl Gray & Rose, a tea shop just opposite Streatham Hill train station, it’s a little 1950’s oasis. Coming from a design background, my eyes were wondering all around the room, this little shop is guaranteed to put a smile on your face as soon as you walk in. You do have to pay close attention to the detail, there is so much it’s easily missed, it’s very kitsch from the bunting to the vintage buttons and the handmade jewellery (made by Lydia).. I even had a huge appreciation for the wallpaper!! And Lydia was lovely, here are her 10 minutes….

Why the name Earl Gray & Rose?

I’m a trained florist, which is where the flower element came from and Earl Gray tea is my take on coffee shop.

You are slightly tucked away here on Leigham Court road, how long have you been open?

We opened 4 months ago and the time has flown by.

What made you pick Streatham?

I’m originally from London, but moved away a few years back and when my husband and I decided to move back, Streatham was a good choice for our tea shop, for location and price.

For the past few months we’ve been hearing a lot of good things about Earl Gray & Rose, tell us about yourself?

We are little different and we’ve tried to create a homely feeling, where people can come to feel comfortable, I bake all of the cakes we serve. We want to be part of the community, anyone is welcome.

And you offer craft classes?

Yes, we currently have a regular weekly knitting class on Wednesday 5-7pm, it’s only £5 and includes a cup of tea and cake. We are going to be offering mother & children beading classes and make a tote bag classes. We’ve just ordered 6 sewing machines, which will be great for the classes and they’ll be available for people to drop in and do their sewing by the hour.

Where else makes you unique?

People have committed on the great atmosphere and the food (we aren’t mean with the portions) there is always something going on.

What next?

Now the shop is up and running, we are now focusing on getting the workshops, up and running. We have some great workshops planned.

Check Earl, Gray & Rose out, it’s guaranteed to make you smile, there isn’t a website yet, but they are on twitter if you have any questions @EarlgrayandRose

Guest Blogger - Liberty Stitch

Liberty Stitch has a whole host of workshops on offer, and whether you're a beginner or experienced seamstress we want you to come down and get involved! From basic classes aimed at building confidence to professional finishing, millinery, and customisation we're covering all bases this Spring at Liberty Stitch.

Specialist workshops include fair isle and intarsia with Margaret Rowan, summer bunting with Erica Pask, lavender heart making with Jan Constantine and button jewellery with Charlotte Liddle.

 The Liberty Stitch workshops are run by top industry professionals, allowing you to receive expert advice and guidance. Each takes place in the historical setting of our Heritage Suite, an intimate space with stunning mahogany clad walls. Should you wish to go shopping after class, the suite sits alongside our world renowned haberdashery which has recently been expanded. Choose from high quality Rowan Yarn wool, V.V. Rouleaux ribbons, a wide selection of buttons, needles and tools plus not forgetting reams upon reams of iconic Liberty Print fabric!

Click here for further details:

http://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/content/NewsArchiveItem5/newsarchive

@LibertyLondon