Meet the Maker - Elsker

My name is Sian and I am Elsker Creations. Elsker Creations was created from my desire to transform what was my hobby and love (elsker) of traditional crafts into my full time job. This journey began almost two years ago when I started taking this passion for traditional crafts such as; gilding, calligraphy, letterpress printing and bookbinding and applying a contemporary twist through my handmade products and designs. I now also run gilding workshops for adults and a programme of arts and crafts workshops for babies, toddlers and children.

My favourite products are my glass gilded pressed flower frames. I love the process of glass gilding and these works have evolved the most. I feel like I am capturing a season or a moment in time. These works are one of a kind. I love the way I manage to capture the vibrancy of the flowers.

My allotment is my number one place to find inspiration. I love doing things with my hands, I find it very therapeutic and that extends to gardening. The wildness of my allotment is a great inspiration, I feel I am out of London and can think clearly. I have also developed a wild flower meadow and use many of the flowers in my works. 

Queen's Park based Sian will bring her Elsker creations to Homeworks on 8th December. 

Meet the maker - Sophia Langmead

I hand make individual lyrical glitter word pictures on beautiful decorative papers which come from all over the world . Sometimes I make the pictures with slightly saucy women made with a touch of humour.  I use vintage and new frames.

My favourite product in the new font I am using.  Very time consuming as each letter has to be cut out with a scalpel two or three times because of the shadow and colours before being put together.  But I am very pleased with the finished look. I’ve used it for ‘Oh what a circus’, ‘wow’, ‘yay’ and ‘star’.

I get a lot of my inspiration for the pictures from simply listening to music as I walk back and forwards from my studio in Primrose Hill to Queens Park.  I hear a line that I love and think will work and quickly text it to myself otherwise I might forget.

Sophia will be at Homeworks on 1st December. You can see her work at www.sophialangmead.com

Our First Christmas Bazaar

Thanks for coming along to our first Christmas Bazaar yesterday, a great day by all accounts and more next Sunday. Our next preview will be posted later this week, so check back and find out which fabulous stallholders will be with us next Sunday 1 December.

For more pictures, visit our Facebook page:

Mother’s Day Market - Second Preview

With less than a week to go, here is our second round up of lovely makers coming to our Mother’s Day Market this Sunday. Coincidentally all our designers this week are mums themselves. No chance of a lie in for them though, they will be too busy setting out their stalls for you in the canteen.

Somerville Scarves are a Homeworks favourite and Sally will be selling her trademark bold and beautiful silk scarves, cushions, pure pashminas and hats next weekend:

Christa Davis returns with her eclectic selection of women’s and children’s clothing, vintage clothing and accessories. Many pieces use recycled fabrics and all Christa’s clothes are made in the UK or Europe using a fairtrade policy of fair wages:

Tamsin is a costume designer and maker based in London. Inspired by her son’s passion for dressing up, Tamsin created iwishiwasa and her mission is to produce pieces which are vibrant, fun, beautiful and well crafted with an emphasis on colour and design:

These Liberty print friendship bracelets from Cinderela B are from their popular Boho Collection. Cinderela B is a range of contemporary jewellery, handmade using high quality semi precious and precious materials:

Back for a second time, Niddle Noddle are a children’s boutique offering unique and exclusive fashion, accessories, books, toys and homewares:

Homeworks regular Moomu is an online store specialising in an eclectic mix of stylish and individual handmade products sourced from around the world:

And finally, another Homeworks favourite Celia Worster is back again with her luxurious hand blended aromatherapy oils and creams:

See you on Sunday!

Homeworks Christmas Craft Market - Week Two

Thank you to everyone who made it along to our first market last weekend, there’s lots more to see if you fancy dropping by again this Sunday.

Some of our makers will be returning for a second week too - Christa Davis, Somerville Scarves, Smith and Coates, Hermione Wood, Moomu, Ennelle, Lou Rota, Oliver Marder, Samantha Duffy, Mrs Booth, Fiona Bailey, James Brown and Natural Stuff.

Joining them this week will be some old Homeworks favourites and some new faces so let’s get started with our showcase:

Pookie and Peach is a collection of toys, clothes, art and essentials for young children and babies

and Annie Neill's knitted scarves, hats, gloves and socks celebrate her commitment to the skill, creativity and tradition of British manufacturing, small businesses and hand knitting.

Homespun & Vintage will be selling a range of beautiful paper-cut city map prints and gorgeous family tree picture frames, handmade ceramics and jewellery

and Samantha Morris is back for a second year with a witty selection of prints and stationery sets.

Clutterclutch specialise in simple and beautiful leather accessories

and Scarf Dept. will be selling their versatile and stylish scarves.

Dorothy Stiven is back with her covetable selection of vintage homewares

 and Celia Worster, a Homeworks favourite, is also back for another year with her luxurious hand blended aromatherapy oils and creams.

Sasha Kamen returns with her fine handmade jewellery - Sasha specialises in handmade bridal jewellery using freshwater pearls and natural gemstones

and Cinderela B has a collection of opulent jewellery, scarves and vintage pieces - luxury, one-of-a-kind, re-worked investment pieces made using vintage components from 1920-1980, meticulously sourced from around the world.

Another great selection, I'm sure you’ll agree. See you on Sunday!

Christmas 2011

This Sunday is the first of our four Christmas Craft Markets at the Salusbury School Canteen at Queens Park Farmers’ Market. For those of you who have never visited before, the recently refurbished school canteen is a lovely light filled space right next to the weekly Queens Park Farmers’ Market - an ideal spot to pick up some delicious food, vegetables, flowers and decorations as the Christmas season kicks off.

We will be transforming the canteen into an emporium of handmade and designer maker delights every Sunday for the next four weeks with an ever changing selection of good stuff from our talented makers.

There will be an update before each fair showcasing what we have on offer, here we go with a small selection from week one:

Beautiful tableware and decorated vintage china from Lou Rota, 

handmade, recycled and unique children’s knits from Smith and Coates 

and knitting kits for all ages from Fiona Bailey.

Unique pictures and prints from James Brown

and gorgeous vintage and modern fashion and accessories from Christa Davis.

Helen Gordon’s collection of retro inspired clothes and accessories have something for everyone

 and Madame Chalet provides an eclectic range of gifts, cards and home accessories for both children and adults inspired by nostalgic swiss culture.

Award winning designer Ella Doran transforms everyday objects into design conscious pieces through clever manipulation of photography and she will be selling a selection of her instantly recognisable products.

Hand stamped reusable greetings cards, pictures, colouring books and cards from Mrs Booth,

and delicate, contemporary jewellery from Enelle.

With organic aromatherapy treatments from Tabitha Robertson and feel good accessories from Moomu and The Natural Stuff rounding up this week’s selection there is lots for everyone.

See you on Sunday!

Homeworks Christmas Sale Preview Part One

This is the first in an occasional series where we will be showcasing the work of designers and makers taking part in the next Homeworks Christmas Sale.

For those of you who didn’t make it last year, this year’s sale will be over four days instead of two, so there really is no excuse not to come along...

Homeworks Christmas Sale

Twentieth Century Theatre

Notting Hill Gate, London W11

Thursday 26 - Sunday 29 November 2009

Handworks will be selling more of their beautiful cotton quilts, block printed and hand made in India as well as a selection of clothes for adults and children:

Fiona Bailey is launching new knitting kits for adults and children:

Lou Rota returns with her eclectic range of witty and unique homewares:

Smith and Coates are currently toiling away in order to have more gorgeous woollen felted and crocheted childrenswear and accessories ready for the sale. Every piece is unique so get them while you can:

You can read more about the inspiration behind Smith and Coates here.

And last but not least, mrs booth is selling her ever popular alphabet friezes, colouring and counting books, cards and educational pictures:

More details coming soon, keep checking back for updates. x