Meet the Maker - Sally Hampson

Meet the Maker - Sally Hampson

Sally Hampson weaves with 100% pure British wool and is passionate about being involved in every step of the process, from selecting the sheep breeds to creating the finished blanket, shawl or scarf.

The shawls and scarves are woven in natural un-dyed wool from the fleeces of Welsh Black and Jacob sheep, using a traditional twill which creates warmth in its open structure. Sally has recently started felting some of her shawls. This creates a denser, warmer and softer feel.

The blankets are limited edition, woven in 100% pure Shetland wool. The ‘Family Blanket’ a new addition to the collection, is a replica of a blanket Sally grew up with. The original label read, The Connemara Rug.

Sally has spent time with shepherds in the Cheviot Hills on the Scottish border. This wild and rugged landscape continues to be an important part of what she wants to share through her weaving.

Sally will be at Homeworks on 8th December. 

Meet the maker - Cecilia Child

Meet the maker - Cecilia Child

By Cecil was launched to create modern woven textiles using traditional techniques and provide an alternative to today's mass-produced and environmentally damaging textiles. The intention behind my brand is to produce future heirloom pieces that people will treasure and pass down to the next generation. I design and sample on a handloom in my North London home with a collection of mill woven blankets and scarves produced in Bristol by a micro mill as limited edition runs. I hand-weave a selection of unique and individual products, including cushions, snoods and eye masks.

I love the merino wool scarves that I produce in conjunction with a micro mill in Bristol. I designed the collection in response to visits to various coastal towns such as Whitstable, St Ives and Dunwich. I am forever collecting pebbles from blustery, windswept beaches and fell in love with the bright colours of the Whitstable beach huts. The scarves themselves are generously sized and are so soft and cosy. 
The colours brighten up a grey day and keep me warm on a winter's day.

I love walking around my city, London, and my new collection of cotton snoods draws inspiration from the buildings and skylines of my surroundings. I love the Barbican and taking a stroll along the Thames finishing in the Tate. An afternoon spent wandering around the V&A always leaves me feeling refreshed and revived.

By Cecil will be at Homeworks on 1st December

Meet the Maker - Scamp

As well as running Scamp with sister Stacey, Jennifer is a key member of the Homeworks team and organises our Christmas Bazaars. She recently gave us some time out of her (very busy) schedule to tell us a bit about her creative life:

Stacey (left) and Jennifer (right).

Tell us about who you are:
It’s a family affair at Scamp with myself and my sister Stacey establishing and running the business. We’re both mums, both into design, and both creative souls, who design everything in our range.

When did you start your business?
We began in 2010 making personalised pictures for baby gifts. We’ve grown a lot since then to include printed babywear, nursery accessories and bespoke gifts for little ones (and some for big ones too!). The world of the laser cutter has meant we’ve been able to create a lovely range of wooden kids room accessories and decorations and most recently customised printing has expanded our baby wear range to include pyjamas and blankets as well, all printed in the UK:

What’s your inspiration?
Having our own children very much defines what we want our product ranges to be like - lots of vibrant, colourful and funky babywear, bold and simple graphics on bedroom accessories (we love Scandinavian styles) and personalised products created with stylish parents in mind:

We design all our products ourselves and spend a great deal of design time thinking about how our designs fit in with modern family life - both ours and yours!

Come and meet Jennifer & Stacey at Homeworks on 4 & 11 December:

Last Christmas Bazaar Sunday 14 December - Preview

Only two and a bit days to go until our last Christmas Bazaar of 2014! Don’t worry, there’s still time to save a few pennies, get inspired and shop local for all your festive needs.

Here’s a sneak preview of a selection of designers and makers joining us on Sunday, we open at 10am sharp. Remember - the early bird gets the best stuff (or something like that):

Angela Cork is a silversmith and jeweller based at Kingsgate Studios in West Hampstead. She will be selling her new handmade ‘Pillow’ collection of sterling silver jewellery - beautiful pieces, designed to have a soft, tactile feel with clean, contemporary lines:

Born & Bred Studio, a local interior design studio will be selling a selection of customised vintage mid-century chairs - perfect for last minute seating arrangements and to add some fun to your living space. Vintage silk scarf cushions and other unique finds add to their eclectic mix:

Clara Francis comes from a family of jewellers and she taught herself the ancient craft of bead weaving after a successful career as an actress. Through exploration and experimentation she has developed her own unique style of beadwork inspired by flora and fauna, with a heavy dose of pop culture thrown into the mix.

A favourite with fashionistas and sold all over the world, we’re thrilled that Clara is joining us for Homeworks again this year:

Handmade in Spitalfields, Cinderela B will be bringing their new range of packaged sentimental jewellery to Homeworks, perfect as Christmas gifts. Featuring double charms in mixed metals, each necklace or bracelet comes in a beautifully branded Cinderella B gift box:

Dustbin and Bones will be selling their Dali inspired glass art:

Enelle London return with their simple, stylish jewellery collection:

Jacqui Ramrayka is back for another year with a range of beautiful thrown porcelain and stoneware vessels:

Joanna Weakley created Holistic Silk as an antidote to the fast pace and stress of daily life. Beautiful accessories which inspire harmony, balance and a little inner peace (in other words, perfect for this time of year):

Queens Park local and Homeworks regular Jo Heckett makes all her porcelain gifts and Christmas decorations in her London studio, hand painting them with precious metal lustres. New pieces this Christmas include mini candy canes, giant baubles and real silver platinum lustre versions of her most popular ranges:

Make Accessories will be selling their beautiful UK designed, metallics bag collection in pure leather:

Zoe Brewer, also known as My Interior Stylist will be displaying her first furniture collaboration, The Flower Project (first shown at Queens Park Design District as part of London Design Festival). Unique upholstery for sale or commission. Zoe will also be selling Interior Design Consultation vouchers, a great Christmas gift those wanting interiors inspiration:

Otto London was founded by Eleonore Perez and Otto Lauterbach in 2012 to provide themselves and other discerning cyclists with a garment that would keep them warm and dry while looking good both on and off their bikes.

They will be with us on Sunday selling their stylish accessories for the smart urban cyclist who wants practical alternatives to the obvious:

Pretty Craft will be selling hand craft felt accessories:

Rosemont Vintage is offering a range of fine homewares with a French influence, including monogrammed linens, porcelain, and framed antique wallpapers:

Sahel Design works with traditional artisans in Burkina Faso. Come and meet Charlie Davis, the ex London fashion editor behind the brand and find out more about her collaboration with indigenous crafts people.  She’ll be selling beautiful homewares and accessories:

Sirplus join us again on Sunday selling their high quality menswear made from surplus materials (waste not want not, we say):

And finally, Vanessa Cohen is back for another year with her delicate range of handmade tableware:

 

Well that’s quite a selection to choose from - a Christmas gift for everyone, even those who are hard to please. Actually, especially for those who are hard to please...

Many of our stallholders from last week will be returning too so check our Facebook page for all the independent businesses coming along and see you on Sunday x.

Sunday 7 December - Our first sale preview

Less than a week to go until our first Christmas Bazaar next Sunday and here’s our first sale preview. We work hard to bring you a carefully curated mix of makers so there’s something for everyone. This Christmas we have a mix of new faces and returning Homeworks regulars:

Queens Park local Sonia Shakerley returns to Homeworks with her distinctive hand crafted jewellery. She makes bespoke pieces for private clients as well as earrings, necklaces and rings:

Homeworks very own Lou Rota will be selling her new collection Lou Rota London. They’ll be lots of new products including samples and seconds so come early to bag a bargain:

Simone Selaib Salandini returns with her intricate silver hand made jewellery:

Alpaca Pie are back with childrenswear and accessories made with love in Peru,

but with a classic British quirkiness:

Ruth Hannett and Sharon Chin are Bea Bags - they design and make all their bags and accessories:

Homeworks favourite Celia Worster will be back with her gorgeous aromatherapy oils and creams.

(If you ask her nicely she might give you a head and neck massage, a perfect way to ease

the stress of festive planning):

Knitwear designer Gilly B creates hats, gloves and scarves using only the finest natural yarns

and joins us for the first time this year:

Lighting designer Charlotte Packe is back with her stunning lighting range:

Dorothy Stiven  sources beautiful one off vintage finds in Scotland and France.

Come early to buy something unique:

Moomu returns with gifts and accessories:

Out of the Dark recycle, restore and repurpose furniture as a means to train, educate and employ young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The results speak for themselves and Out of the Dark are selling their beautiful restored furniture next Sunday:

Homeworks regular Sasha Kamen will be back with her handmade fine jewellery:

Christa Davis is back with her sell-out reconditioned cashmere knits and vintage fabric accessories:

Homeworks very own Samantha Frankel Ceramics is back for one day only with hand made ceramics and accessories:

Scamp will be back with their usual mix of bright and bold screen printed baby wear (the London bus is a real favourite) plus new wooden laser cut products and some festive fancies:

Have you ever wished your Ikea bag was a bit more special? Twisted Twee will be selling a limited edition range of these rather lovely Vintage Ikea Bags. That’s more like it:

Newcomer Helene Turbe designs and makes elegant, delicate and timeless jewellery with an ethnic vibe:

Home address will be at Homeworks for the first time on Sunday and founder Celine believes beautiful pieces for your home don’t have to be expensive, as long as they have a story to tell:

There we have it - lots of good reasons to tempt you away from Oxford Street and online shops.

Shop independent and buy local this Christmas.

See you on Sunday!