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Pica Pica is a brand new website and magazine, celebrating the new wave of craft in the UK. Weâll be bringing you insightful articles, beautiful handmade products, crafty city guides, great projects, and interviews with amazing makers!Pica Pica wants to inspire everyone to get creative â so get out your knitting needles, sewing machines, pens, pencils and scissors and join in!
Citation preview
celebrating new wave craft in the uk #1
#1
3ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Weâcelebrate:
6â PicaâPicks
7â CarrotâCupcakes
8â TheâLetterpressâQueenInterview with Aina Bergerud
11â FireâStarter
12â MakeâaâStandInvestigating Craftivism
17â RiverboatâLoveâAffair
23â PrettyâLittleâBirdInterview with Anke Weckmann
27â What'sâGoingâOn?Join the dots
28â TheâDevilâsâinâtheâDetailCopycat craft
31â DrawnâInThe Scribble Project
33â CuriouserâandâCuriouserJourney down the rabbit hole
34â TiedâUpâinâNottsPica Pica city guide
36â AâDayâatâtheâRaces!A fascinator instructional
38â CraftâBritanniaUK clubs and collectives
42â Kawaiiâ101A lesson in cute
45â LoveâisâinâtheâAir
48â FeltâUp
50â JeâSuisâunâOignonA plush project to make you cry
53â KateâsâAviaryColour it in
54â PicaâPicaâWantsâYou!Cover competition results
56â Reviews
4â â picaâpicaâmagazine
FeelâveryâprivilegedâtoâbeâholdingâyourââcopyâofâtheâfirstâissueâofâPicaâPicaâMagazineââ-âitâsâlikeâgoldâdust!âTraditionally,âcraftâtitlesâhaveâstuckâtoâtheâseriouslyâoutdatedââhobbiesââmarketââânoneâofâthemâhaveâbeenâbraveâenoughâtoâreallyâtackleâtheâUKâsâflourishingââalt-craftââscene.âTheseâareâexcitingâtimesâandâPicaâPicaâMagazineârepresentsâallâthatâisâinnovativeâandâcaptivatingâaboutâcraftâandâhandmadeâcreativityâinâtheâUKârightânow.
Sure,âthereâareâcountlessâwebsitesâoutâthereâââbutâwhoâdoesnâtâloveâthatâfeelingâofâsittingâbackâwithâaâcupâofâteaâandâabsorbingâtheâbeautyâofâaâmagazineâinâprint?âPicaâPicaâisâsomethingâtoâtouch,âcollectâandâtrulyâappreciate.âWeâaimâtoâinspireâyouâtoâmake,âsew,âcolour,âbake,âcut,âpaste,âknitâorâcreateâwithâinsightfulâinter-views,âarticles,âfunâprojectsâandâinspirationalâfinds.
So,âwhatâsâinâtheâfirstâissue?âWeâinvestigateâtheâattractionâofâtheâUKâforâmigrat-ingâyoungâcreativesâbyâdiscoveringâtheâlostâartâofâletterpressâwithâNorwegianâdesignerâAinaâBergerudâandâdelveâintoâtheâlifeâofâAnkeâWeckmann,âaâGerman-bornâillustratorâwhoâseesâLondonâasâherâspiritualâhome.
WeâveâscouredâtheâcountryâtoâfindâtheâUKâsâbestâclubsâandâcollectivesâandâunearthâNottinghamâsâcraftyâside.âWeâalsoâhandâpickâsomeâAliceâInâWonderlandâthemedâfindsâtoâtieâinâwithâtheâreleaseâofâTimâBurtonâsâremakeâandâpresentâthreeâfantasticâbeginner-levelâprojectsâtoâgetâyourâcreativeâteethâinto.
So, read on for these and much more!
Weâdâlikeâtoâthankâourâcontributorsâforâtheirâwonderfulâwork,âDesmondâOâRourke,âDavidâPenfoldâandâKeithâMartinâforâtheirâcontinualâsupportâandâguidanceâthroughoutâthisâproject,âTonyâYard,âScottâHouse,âJimâMcBrideâandâRobertâSaintsâfromâtheâLCCâprintâteamâforâhelpingâbringâourâvisionâtoâlifeâandâallâthoseâgreatâfolksâwhoâveâchampionedâusâthroughâFacebookâandâTwitter.â
Love and stitches,
and the Secret Squirrel Society x
GreetingsâstrangerContributors:
ChristineâandâDavidâPenfold,ââGemmaâLatimer,âAmyâBlackwell,â
GeoffâWebb,âChristineâNairne,ââBrianâFitzgerald,âAnnalisaâDâUrbano,ââ
LisaâHack,âJoâWant,âKateâBroughton,âLuciaâBiagi,âDKâGoldsteinâ
PicaâPicaâMagazineâisâaâprojectââcreatedâbyâaâteamâofâMAâPublishingâ
studentsâatâtheâLondonâCollegeâofâCommunication,âLondonâSE1â6SB.
PrintedâonâRobertâHorneâReviveâ100%âRecycledâPaper
CoverâdesignâbyâStephanieâBaxterâ
©2010âPicaâPica.âAllâworkâremainsâcopyrightâofâindividualâcontributorsâ
andâowners.âNoâpartâofâthisâmagazineâmayâbeâreproducedâwithoutâpriorâ
permissionâofâtheâcopyrightâholder.
www.picapicamag.co.ukwww.twitter.com/picapicamag
5ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Cat M
illar
â Editor
Marie Haargaardâ ProjectâManager
Rebecca Antrobusâ Editor
Belinda Johnsonâ ArtâDirector
Natalie Ridgwayâ WebâEditor
Kathrin Myrvangâ DesignâDir
ecto
r
Elena Biagiâ ProductionâDirector
Gillian Harrisâ Marketingâ&
âProm
otio
nsâM
anag
er
Madeâby
illustrations by belinda johnson
6â â picaâpicaâmagazine
cat:ââBecause... well just look at its wee face!âYummyâdonutâplushââbyâHeidiâKenneyââ
kidrobot.com
natalie:ââThis necklace just calls out to meâ
VintageâPhoneâNecklaceâbyâSheâDrawsâ
hannahzakari.co.uk
gillian:â
âBecause no one likes getting
their arms trapped!â
Snuggieââ
getsnuggie.com
elena: âHow to be animal-friendly without renouncing the thrill of an animal
around the neckâFantasticâMr.âScarfâbyââohioja.blogspot.com
becky:ââOMG I m
ay cry!!!â
PugsânotâdrugsâbagâbyâGemmaâCorrellâ
lazyoaf.co.uk
kathrin: âBecause cups should be cuteâ
HandlelessâcupsâwithâoakâlidsââbyâSandraâIsakssonâ
isak.co.uk
marie:ââIâm a sucker
for corny things, and
just had to have this!â
EdwardâCullenââ
byâManllowâ
etsy.com
PicaâPicks
belinda:â
âBecause itâs just like me
and my misterâ
TheâsecretâprintâbyâBlancuchaâ
etsy.com
the teamâsfavourites!
becky:ââOMG I m
ay cry!!!â
PugsânotâdrugsâbagâbyâGemmaâCorrellâ
lazyoaf.co.uk
8â â picaâpicaâmagazine
PicaâPicaâsâGillianâandâCatâmetâAinaâBergerudâonâaâSaturdayâmorningâbrightâandâearly.âTheyâwereâtoldâthatâsheâwasâaâmorningâperson,âwhichâworkedâwellâforâGillianâbecauseâsheâisâoneâasâwell!âEvenâifâtheyâhadnâtâknownâsheâlovedâmornings,âtheyâwouldâhaveâassumedâsoâfromâherâbubblyâpersonalityâandâpassionateâconversation.âAsâpublishingâstudentsâimmersedâinâtheâevolutionâfromâprintâtoâdigital,âAinaâandâherâletterpressâisâaârefreshingâlookâatâprintâasâart.â
To start with the basics, what is letterpress? Basicallyâeveryâsingleâletterâisâindividual.âSo,âtoâactuallyâsetâaâwordâyouâneedâtoâphysicallyâputâthemâtogether.âThereâareâdifferentâblocksâandâbrakes,âdifferentânamesâlikeâleads,ârulersâandâfurniture.âThereâareâdifferentâsizesâandâmeasurements.ââYouâhaveâtoâputâthemâallâtogetherâintoâaâformâthatâdoesnâtâmove.âIfâitâmoves,âitâsânotâaâveryâgoodâprint.âSometimesâthingsâdonâtâturnâoutâhowâyouâwant,âsoâyouâhaveâtoâmoveâtheâtypeâandâtryâagain.âIâalwaysâtakeâaâpictureâofâmyâprintsââsoâIâcanâkeepâaârecordâofâhowâeachâoneâlooksâphysically.â
TheâLetterpressâQueen
words by gillian harris and cat millarphotos by cat millar and aina bergerud
Balancingâherâtimeâbetweenâherâworkâasâaâgraphicâdesignerâandââasâaâdedicatedâletterpressâartist,âAinaâBergerudâsharesâherâinspiringâ
accountâofâhowâsheâfellâinâloveâwithâtheâlostâartâofâletterpress.
picapicaâs gillian and aina bergerud
9ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
You initially came to London to study graphic design, how did you get into letterpress?âIâtookâmyâMastersâinâGraphicsâatâLondonâMetropolitanâUniversity.âIâhadâlearnedâaboutâletterpressâduringâmyâBAâbutâneverâgotâtoâuseâone.âWhenâIâcameâhereâtoâgoâtoâuniversityâtheyâhadâaâletterpressâroom.âIâmâaâtotalâtypographyâgeek,âsoâIâwasâlike,ââWowâletters,âletsâtryâit!ââIâgotâsoâfascinatedâthatâIâdidâmyâwholeâMastersâprojectâonâletterpress.âIâspentâthreeâwholeâmonthsâaloneâinâthatâroom.
So is setting up a letterpress piece time consuming? Itâdependsâonâwhatâitâis.âIfâitâisâaâsimpleâpieceâitâcanâtakeâ15âtoâ20âminutesâbutâotherâpiecesâcanâtakeâdays.âSometimesâyouâhaveâanâideaâofâhowâyouâwantâyourâprintâtoâbeâbutâitâcanâbeâfrustratingâbecauseâletterpressâisâveryâlimited,âespeciallyââbiggerâsizeâfontsâbecauseâtheâbiggerâsizesâareâalwaysâmadeâofâwoodâandâtheâpiecesâcanâbeâwornâout,âorâdamagedâorâmissingâsomeâletters.âForâinstance,âyouâwillâwantâtoâprintâtheâwordââHopeââbutâthereâisânoââo!ââ
Is there any way to design your own letterpress letters?Yes,âyouâcanâdoâitâseveralâdifferentâways.âYouâcanâmakeâaâdesignâandâsendâitâtoâaâplaqueâmaker.âHeâmakesâmetalâplatesâthatâreplaceâtheâindividualâtype,âaâprecursorâtoâoffsetâplatesâinâaâway.âIâveâneverâdoneâthisâbutâIâhadâaâtwo-weekâinternshipâatâaâletterpressâstudio,âduringâmyâMAâandâtheyâdidâthisâaâlotâtoâmakeâlogosâandâbusinessâcards.âTheseâareâdigitalâfiles,âwhichâareâmadeâintoâplates.âIâdidâsomeâresearchâandâthoughtâaboutâdoingâthisâwithâoneâofâmyâpostersâbutâitâsâveryâexpensive!âItâsâniceâtoâhaveâbecauseâyouâcanâuseâtheâplateâoverâandâoverâagain.â
Where do you get all of your letters? Do you buy any letters from markets? Thereâareâpeopleâthatâsellâtheirâstuffâwhenâtheyâretire,âorâevenâgiveâitâaway.âThereâareâalsoâplacesâwhereâyouâcanâexchangeâfonts.âIfâyouâgoâtoâSpitalfieldsâitâsâreallyâhardâtoâfindâtheâsameâfontsâbecauseâtheyâsplitâthemâup.âThisâisâreallyâannoyingâbecauseâitâisâsoâhardâtoâdifferen-tiateâthem.âItâcanâlookâcoolâwhenâeveryâletterâisânotâtheâsameâbutâsometimesâyouâwantâtoâuseâtheâsameâfont.âItâisâalsoâreallyâexpensiveâwhenâtheyâsplitâthemâupâlikeâthat!â
Do you know many other people who do letterpress? Iâamâaâmemberâofâaâletterpressâdiscussionâgroup,âwithâpeopleâfromâallâoverâtheâworldâbutâmainlyâAmericans.âTheyâpostâthingsâduringâtheânightâandâIâreadâthemâduringâtheâday.âItâsâveryâcool,âIâwouldâloveâtoâgoâtoâAmericaâandâtryâtoâmeetâsomeâofâthem.
TheâLetterpressâQueen
some of ainaâs letterpress work
So does this mean you havenât done many collaborations with other letter pressers?âNo,âIâhavenâtâdoneâthatâyet.âItâsâgoodâinâaâway,âbecauseâinâNorwayâIâhavenâtâfoundâanyoneâthatâdoesâletterpress.âIâknowâaâcoupleâofâuniversitiesâthatâhaveâaâletterpressâroomâbutâtheâstudentsâdonâtâuseâthemâoftenâandâitâisânotâaâbigâpartâofâtheirâeducation.âAtâtheâmomentâIâmâsettingâsomeâpiecesâinâNorwegianâandâEnglishâasâmyâfriendâatâhomeâcanâsellâthemâinâherâshop.âIâllâbeâatâanâadvantage,âbecauseânobodyâelseâisâsellingâletterpressâartâinâNorway!
How are you going to showcase your work? Are you thinking about an exhibit?âIâhaveâaâfriendâfromâuniversityâwhoâsâsettingâupâaâgroupâofâstudentsâandâyoungâprofessionalsâtoâshareâtheirâdesignâwork.âIâmâalsoâgoingâtoâsetâupâaâblogâwithâpicturesâofâmyâwork.
What do you think you will charge for one print? Iâamânotâsure,âthatâsâtheâhardâpart.âIâwentâtoâanâexhibitionâofâtwoâveryâfamousâartists,âAlanâKitchingâandâCeliaâStothard,â
10â â picaâpicaâmagazine
whoâareâbasedâinâLondon.âTheyâareâgreat,âandâsellâtheirâpostersâforâÂŁ1000.âAsâlongâasâIâcanâsellâmyâartwork,âandâpeopleâknowâaboutâit,ââIâdonâtâreallyâcareâaboutâhowâmuchâtheyâpay!â
Do you do any other hobbies or crafts? Iâplanâonâdoingâsomeâsmallâbooksâwithâletterpressâandâhandâbindingâthem.âIâlearnedâhowâtoâdoâthisâduringâmyâMA.âItâlooksâsimple,âlikeâitâisâhandmadeâbutâIâlikeâstuffâlikeâthat.âIâmadeâaâsmallâbookâforâmyâfriendâforâherâbirthdayâwithâletterpressâandâwhenâIâgaveâitâtoâherâsheâstartedâcrying!
It must be refreshing because everything is so digital now. Do you think that this is part of the appeal? âYes,âitâis.âItâsânotâbecauseâIâhateâdigital.âIâhaveâaâMacâandâIâloveâit!âItâsâaboutâgettingâbothâsides.âIâthinkâitâhasâtoâdoâwithâhowâIâgrewâupâinâtheâcountrysideâandâamâusedâtoâbeingâoutsideâandâusingâmyâhandsâphysically.âIâmânotâveryâgoodâatâdrawingâbutâwantedâtoâdoâsomethingâwithâmyâhands,âIâfoundâletterpress!
How long have you been doing letterpress for? It is nice to see someone so passionate about something!âOneâandâaâhalfâyears.âForâmyâMAâexhibitionâIâwantedâtoâshowâwhyâIâenjoyâitâsoâmuch.âIâbroughtâwashableâinkâfromâNorway,âmadeâsomeâwoodenâblocksâandâhadâseveralâdifferentâpapersâtoâprintâon,âsoâpeopleâcouldâseeâwhatâitâwasâlike.âEveryoneâlovedâit!
Finally then, if you could leave behind one object for the world to remember you by what would it be?âIâwouldâleaveâaâhugeâletterpressâposterâthatâspansâtheâwholeâroom.âWhateverâitâis,ââitâHASâtoâbeâwithâletterpress!
11ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
FireâStarter
words and images by geoff webb
Printâoutâtheâtemplateâ(picapicamag.co.uk/tp-dragon).âTryâsketchingâitâoutâinâsmallâformâfirstâââcutâitâoutâandâtryâfoldingâitâtoâseeâifâtheâdimensionsâareâworking.âIfânot,âyouâcanâtweakâthemâforâtheârealâthing.âYouâmightâfindâthatâevenâwithâtheârealâthing,âyouâllâhaveâtoâmakeâmoreâfoldsâinâorderâtoâmakeâitâwork.â
Thinkâprofile!âWhatâdoâyouâwantâyourâdragonâtoâlookâlikeâfromâtheâside?âWhileâaâ3Dâheadâisâcool,âmostâpeopleâdonâtâmindâifâtheirâdragonsâhaveâflatâlimbsâthatâlookâgoodâfromâtheâsideâ(asâlongâasâtheyâholdâupâtheâbody!)
AboutThisâdragonâisâforâyourâlittleâsister,âorâforâyourâgirlfriend,âorâforâyourâfatherâwhoâjustâdoesnâtâunderstand!
Materials Toilet roll tubeScissorsSticky tapeYour choice of paper
Rememberâtoâcutâoutâtheâtabsâonâtheâtemplateâtoâhelpâwithâgluing,âfoldingâandâtaping.âIâdârecommendâcolouringâtheâpaperâwithâwatercolourâpencilsâbeforeâyouâcutâoutâtheâindividualâpieces.âDrawâtheâheadâsoâthatâyouâcanâfoldâitâintoâshapeâwithâtheâhelpâofâsomeâtape.
âTheâbackâlegsâlookâtheâsameâasâtheâforelegs,âbutâbiggerâsoâasâtoâelevateâtheâhipsâmoreâangledâtowardsâtheârear.âMakeâtheâtopâtabsâlargerâtoâcurlâoverâtheâbody.âFoldâtheâfeetâdownâsoâtheâanklesâareâkindâofâspringyâlikeâaccordions.â
âWrapâpaperâaroundâtheâtoiletâpaperârollâtoâmakeâtheâbodyâandâtapeâitâallâtogether.âYouâcanâdecorateâwithâspikesâonâtheâback,âorâwingsâorâanythingâthatâtakesâyourâfancy.âThereâyouâhaveâit!âTaadaa!
2
1 3
4
5
make a dragon!
12â â picaâpicaâmagazine
13ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Rememberâtheâdaysâwhenâanâ-ismâwasnâtâaâflashingâbeaconâofâtrepidationâbutâsomethingâtoâcushionâyourâbeliefsâlikeâaâmollifyingâhug?âSocialism,âcommunism,âveganism,âevenâfascism,âwasâsomethingâthatâwasâgoingâtoâsaveâusâatâoneâpointâorâanother,âsomethingâtoâtakeâcom-fortâin.âIfâyouâwerenâtâhappyâwithâaâdoseâofâbolshevismâyouâdâwhackâonâsomeâMussolini,âheâdâsortâyouâoutâwithâanâ-ismâbetterâfittedâtoâyourâliking.âButânowadaysâweâreâdrownedâinâdespondentâ-ismsâââsexism,âracism,âageismâââ
MakeâaâStand
theseâneverâleaveâtheâlipsâlightly,âandâwhenâtheyâdoâthoseâlipsâmeanâseriousâbusiness.âItâsâdifficultânotâtoâseeâthemâshroudedâinâsocialâawkwardness,âsoâforâcraftâtoâamalga-mateâwithâactivismâunderâtheâguiseâofâcraftivismâisâaâboldâstep,âespeciallyâwhenâactivismâisâseenâasâconfrontationalâbyâtheâunapprised.â
Originallyâcoinedâinâ2002âbyâtheâGoldsmithsâgraduateâandâcraftâqueen,âBetsyâGreerâwhenâherâfriendâcombinedâtwoâcommonâwordsâinâGreerâsâvocabulary,âtheâtermâ
DelveâaâlittleâdeeperâintoâtheâUKâcraftâsceneâandâitâsoonâbecomesâclearâthatâmanyâofâthoseâinvolvedâareâseekingâtoâcreateâchangeâandâpromoteâawarenessâforâissuesâthatâareâoftenâignored.âWantingâtoâfindâoutâmoreâ
aboutâthisâundergroundâmovement,âPicaâPicaâsentâjournalistâDKââGoldsteinâonâaâmissionâtoâfindâoutâwhatâitâmeansâtoâbeâaâcraftivist.
words by dk goldsteinpictures by carrie reichardt and sarah corbett
craftivist collective members
at their protest banner
workshop in east london
14â â picaâpicaâmagazine
âcraftivismââdidnâtâfullyâcatchâonâuntilâherâfirstâbook,âKnitting for Good,âwasâpublishedâinâNovemberâ2008.âGreerâbelievesâthatâitâsâaboutâtheâânot-so-radicalânotionâthatâactivistsâcanâbeâcrafters,âandâcraftersâcanâbeâactivists,ââandâoneâpersonâwhoâagreesâwithâthatâisâSarahâCorbett,âtheâfounderâofâLondon-basedâCraftivistâCollective.âAsâwellâasâlobbyingâherâlocalâMPsâandâboycottingâmajorâbrandsâsuchâasâTopshopâandâPrimark,âCorbettâusesâherââcreativ-ityâtoâmakeâtheâpublicâawareâofâtheâstrugglesâpeopleâareâstillâgoingâthrough.ââInâtheâyearâthatâtheâgroupâhasâbeenâestablishedâtheyâhaveâhostedâeventsâsuchâasâtheââCraftiv-ismâCornerââatâtheâQueenâElizabethâHall,âSouthbank,âtoâmakeâbadges,âwishesâandâbannersâonâthemesâsurround-ingâtheâconflictâinâSudanâandâcollaboratedâwithâOxfamâtoâholdâcreativeâcampaigningâworkshops.ââIâwantedâtoâbeâsurroundedâbyâlike-mindedâpeopleâandâchangeâtheâworldâforâtheâbetter,ââstatesâCorbett.ââIâcouldnâtâfindâaâgroupâinâLondonâthatâdidâthat,âsoâIâdecidedâtoâsetâupâmyâown.â
AnotherârenownedâcraftivistâonâtheâsceneâisâCarrieâReichardt,âwhoâactsâregularlyâwithâpoliticalâprisonersâinâmind.âSheâworksâfromâherâhome,âTheâTreatmentâRooms,ââtheâUKâsâonlyâceramicâhouseâofâresistanceââasâsheâcallsâit,âwhich,âforâtheâlastâeightâyearsâhasâbeenâcoveredâinâongoingâmosaicâart.âReichardtâhasâbeenâplacingâherâ
anarchicâtiles,âmosaicsâandâceramicâpiecesâaroundâtheâworldâforâyearsâandâbelievesâthatâcraftivismâworksâasâaâbetterâalternativeâtoâold-hatâpetitionsâandâbanners.ââCompareâaânormalâstallâwithâpoliticalâleafletsâonâitâwithâaâbeautifulâmosaicâcoveredâtruckâorâlargeâknittedâbanner,ââsheâmuses.ââItâsâobviousâwhichâoneâwillâattractâmoreâpeople.âOftenâtheâartâallowsâconversationsâtoâopenâupâandâforâmoreâofâanâexchangeâofâideasâtoâtakeâplace.ââAsâwellâasâbeingâinvolvedâinâaânumberâofâcommunityâprojects,âsuchâasâtheâmuralâunderâtheâWestwayâinâLadbrokeâGroveâasâpartâofâtheâMutateâBritainâWinterâShow,âsheâwasâalsoârecentlyâartistâinâresidenceâwithâtheâSHPâ(SingleâHome-lessâPeople)âcharity,ârunningâmosaicâworkshops.
Withâallâthoseâheavilyâinvolvedâinâtheâcraftivismâsceneâbeingâgirls,âitâmayâseemâaâdaunting,âfeministâterrainâtoâenterâintoâifâyouâreâaâlike-mindedâguyâtryingâtoâgetâyourâfootâinâtheâdoor.âButâunlikeâsecond-waveâfeministsâofâpreviousâgenerations,âwhoâcastâoffâtheirâhomelyâdutiesâwithâscorn,âtheseâthird-waveâfeministsâareâallâaboutâaâDIYâ
the treatment rooms
reichardt at work
I wanted to be surrounded by like-minded people and change the world for the better
15ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
philosophy,âself-sufficiencyâandâchange.âSoâitâsâencouragingâtoâseeâthatâinâ2005âfourâblokesâgotâtogetherâandâfoundedâEtsy.com.âInâanâattemptâtoâoverthrowâcapitalismâthroughâcraftâandâcutâoutâtheâmiddleâman,âtherebyâconnectingâtheâbuyerâdirectlyâtoâtheâseller,âRobâKalin,âChrisâMaguire,âHaimâSchoppikâandâJaredâTarbellâstartedâupâaâwebsiteâthatâmadeâpeopleâfeelâlikeâindividualsâagain.âInâtheirââAlchemyââcustomersâcanâappealâforâcustomâmadeâitemsâandâsellersâwillâbeginâaâbiddingâwarâinâtheâhopeâthatâtheyâllâbeâtheâoneâtoâmakeâandâsupplyâthoseâdesirables.
âNoâoneâlikesâtoâshowâupâatâaâpartyâwearingâtheâsameâdressâasâsomeoneâelse,ââwritesâGreerâonâtheâCraftivism.comâblog.âUpâuntilâtheâIndustrialâRevolutionâclothesâwereâmadeâtoâfitâtheâindividual,âratherâthanâtheâindividualâsqueezingâthemselvesâintoâthoseââit-says-size-10-Iâm-usually-a-10ââjeansâorâconstantlyâgrapplingâwithâthatâdressâthatâwonâtâsitâproperlyâbecauseâtheyââsimplyâhadâtoâhaveâitâ,âandâallâactsâinâcraftâareâhelpingâusâtoâachieveâindividualism.âEarlyâlastâyearâtheâEtsyâcraftivismâteamâhadâaâdebateâoverâcertainâmembersânotâbeingâinâitâforâtheârightâreasonsâandâifâreasonsâwereâevenârelevantâwhenâitâcomesâtoâcraft.âConservativeâmembersâofâtheâgroupâbelievedâthatâtheâModusâOperandiâassumedâaâliberalâagendaâandâarguedâthatâasâtheyâallâhadâdifferentâbeliefs,âpoliticsâshouldânotâbeâbroughtâintoâit.âShouldâpoliticsâ
beâleftâbyâtheâdoor?ââNever!ââarguesâCorbettâfeistily.ââTheâcoreâelementâofâcraftivismâisâtoâmakeâpeopleâawareâofâissuesâandâencourageâthemâtoâactâasâwellâasâthinkâaboutâinjusticesâinâtheâworld,ââsheâexplains.âButâthereâareâotherâorganisationsâwhoâdisputeâthatâactingâthroughâcraftâwillâraiseâfurtherâawarenessâthan,âsay,âaâgoodâoldâsit-in.âLCAPâ(LondonâCoalitionâAgainstâPoverty),âaâdirectâactionâadvocacyâgroupâhelpâironâoutâinjusticesâbyâofferingâlegalâadviceâandâorganisingâdemosâratherâthanâjustâraisingâawarenessâthroughâdiscussion.ââIfâyouâreâtryingâtoâbringâupâkidsâinâLondonâonâtheâminimumâwage,âyouâprobablyâdonâtâhaveâtimeâleftâoverâinâyourâdayâforâcross-stitch,ââputsâinâRoyâMarmelstein,âaâspokespersonâforâLCAP.ââTheâappealâseemsâveryâmuchâforâstudentsâandâseasonedâpoliticos.âYouâcanâtâchangeâanythingâwithoutâtheâsupportâofâallâsectionsâofâtheâcommunity.ââButâCorbettâexplainsâthatââlotsâofâpeopleâwhoâjoinâ[theâCraftivistâCollective]âfeelâthatâtheâactivistâworldâcanâbeâelitist,âscary,âjudgmentalâandâextremeâinâviews.ââAndâthisâisâwhereâcraftivismâcomesâin,âtoâformâaâlessâintimidatingâenvironmentâandâprovideâyouâwithâaâcushyâsteppingâstoneâintoâaâworldâofâactivism,âwhereâyouâcanâactâandâchangeâtheâworldâatâyourâownâpace.â
check out:
carriereichardt.com
craftivist-collective.com
Craftivist Collectiveâs mini protest tool case
A banner from the Renegade Potters and Extreme Craft exhibition
Riverboat Love Affair
17ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Riverboat Love Affair
OneâofâEastâLondonâsâfinestâplacesâandâmeansâofâtransportationâmustâbeâtheâShoreditchâCanal.âWhetherâtakingâaâstroll,âcyclingâorâfeedingâthe
ducks,âtheâcanalâgivesâLondonâanâunmistakablyâromanticâtouch.âOurâfavouriteâlocationâonâtheâcanalâ
isâaâholeâinâtheâwallâcoffeeâshop,âwhichâappearsâtoâyouâoutâofânowhereâandâsellsâdelightfulâcoffeeâandâcakes!âEmbracingâthisâromanticâfeeling,âPicaâPicaâgatheredâtheirâbestâsecondâhandâpiecesâandâturnedâthemâintoâ
inspiringânauticalâoutfits.âWhetherâyouâpreferââdressingâasâCaptain,âCabinâWenchâorâevenâBestâMate,PicaâPicaâwantsâtoâshowâyouâhowâevenâaâregularâdayâinâ
theâcityâcanâbeâtransformedâintoâaââRiverboatâLoveâAffair.
18â â picaâpicaâmagazine
19ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Aâflowerâisâaâgreatâwayâtoâaddâsomeâcolourâtoâyourâlook.ââ
Putâitâinâyourâhair,âorâpinâitâtoâyourâjacket.âThisâisâaâfakeâ
flower,âbutârealâflowersâworkâwellâtoo,âandâsmellâaâlotânicer!
CheckâoutâtheâPicaâPicaâwebsiteâforâinstructionsâonâmakingâ
aâfabulousâfabricâflowerâforâyourself.
20â â picaâpicaâmagazine
Keepingâwarmâthisâspring:âIfâyouâwantâtoâbringâoutâyourâ
shortâshortsâaâfewâmonthsâsooner,âjustâaddâaâpairâofâthighâ
highsâorâkneeâsocksâtoâyourâensemble.âGetâyourselfâaâhotâ
latteâandâyouâcanâbattleâthoseâgoosebumpsâinâstyle.
21ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
22â â picaâpicaâmagazine
photos by brian fitzgeraldmodel: lisa hack
stylist: annalisa d'urbanoassistants: cat millar and elena biagiwords and direction by gillian harris
23ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
PicaâPicaâtakesâaâpeekâintoâtheâwhimsicalâworldâofââillustratorâAnkeâWeckmannâandâfindsâoutâwhatâitâsâlikeâtoâ
seeâyourâfirstâpaidâworkâinâprint.ââ
PrettyâLittleâBird
words by belinda johnson and natalie ridgway illustrations and photos by anke weckmann
byâHeidiâKenney
24â â picaâpicaâmagazine
Ankeâisâaâfreelanceâillustratorâwhoâdrawsâtheâmostâgor-geousâofâimagesâââmainlyâcuteâindieâgirlsâwearingâquirkyâoutfits,ârosyâcheeks,âandâsuperâsweetâshoes.âChubbyâcats,âenchantingâplants,âflowersâandâloved-upâcouplesâalsoâfeatureâprominentlyâinâAnkeâsâwork.âWhenâsheâsânotâworkingâonâoneâofâherâmanyâcommissions,âAnkeâsâprobablyâtendingâtoâherâEtsyâshop,âsellingâdigitalâprints,âgreetingâcardsâandâotherâsmallâtrinketsâlikeâmagnets,âmirrorsâandâpendants,âtoâherânumerousâfansâacrossâtheâglobe.âAnkeâsellsâandâworksâunderâtheânameâofâLinotte,âwhichâmeansââprettyâlittleâbirdââinâFrench,âperfectlyâsummingâupâherâdistinctiveâstyleâforâallâthingsâbeautiful.â
OriginallyâfromâGermanyânearâHannover,âAnkeâmovedâtoâLondonâinâ2001âwhereâsheâstudiedâillustrationâatâCamberwellâArtsâCollegeâandâKingstonâUniversity.âSinceâgraduatingâinâ2005,âsheâhasâbuiltâupâherâportfolioâtoâincludeâanâimpressiveârosterâofâclients,âincludingâtheâlikesâofâTheâGuardian,âChannelâ4,âNewsweek,âandâVogueâItalia.âPicaâPicaâdecidedâtoâcatchâupâwithâAnkeâtoâfindâoutâmoreâaboutâwhatâmakesâherâtick.â
What was it about the UK that attracted you to come and study here?âIâdecidedâthatâIâwantedâtoâliveâinâEnglandâwhenâIâwasâaboutâ12âyearsâold.âIâjustâlovedâlearningâtheâlanguageâandâprobablyâhadâaâveryâromanticisedâideaâIâgotâfromâfilmsâandâbooks.âYearsâlaterâIâwasâstudyingâfashionâdesignâinâGermanyâandâwasâveryâunhappy,âsoâIâthoughtâââitâsânowâorânever.âItâwasâtheâbestâdecisionâIâeverâmade.
Do you think itâs important to be somewhere like London, as a creative place, or could you work anywhere?âTheoreticallyâasâanâillustratorâyouâcouldâworkâfromâany-where,âasâlongâasâyouâhaveâeverythingâyouâneedâtoâcreateâyourâwork.âIâdefinitelyâfeelâsomeâsortâofââvibeââinâLondon.âIâcanâworkâmuchâbetterâhereâthanâfromâmyâparentsââhouseâforâexample,âwhichâisâinâaâveryâsmallâtown.
Were you very arty at school â what other things were you interested in?âIâalwaysâreallyâlikedâdrawing,âalthoughâtheâartâclassesâatâschoolâwerenâtâalwaysâveryâgood,âwhichâIâfoundâfrustrating.âIâwasâalwaysâreallyâgoodâatâEnglish,âandâIâlikedâmaths.
If you werenât working as an illustrator what else do you think youâd be doing?âIâreallyâdonâtâknow,âIâthinkâillustrationâisâperfectâforâme.âInâanotherâlifeâIâwouldâlikeâtoâbeâaâdancer,âIâthinkâitâmustâbeâamazing.â(Iâdonâtâhaveâanyâtalentâforâitâinâthisâlife).
What was your first ever paid commission? How did you feel when you saw it in use?âMyâfirstâcommissionâwasâaâyoungâfictionâbookâcalledâRoar, Bull, Roar,âwhichâIâillustratedâforâFrancesâLincolnâPublishers.âItâwasâsurrealâtoseeâmyâworkâinâprintâforâtheâfirstâtime.âAndâaâlittleâanti-climatic,âbecauseâitâneverâquiteâlooksâlikeâyouâimagined.
You are seen as being quite successful as an illustrator â are you making enough money to live off or is it still a struggle?IâstillâfeelâlikeâIâamâjustâstartingâoutâinâmanyâways.âIâcanâliveâoffâillustrationânowâandâspendâallâmyâdaysâdrawingâandâdoingâwhatâIâreallyâwantâtoâdo,âsoâIâmâveryâhappy.
Do you use an agent, or have any thoughts on using agents?Iâmadeâaâchoiceâtoâworkâwithoutâanâagent,âbecauseâIâwantâtoâlearnâasâmuchâasâpossibleâaboutâeveryâaspectâofâtheâjob.âIâthinkâitâsâimportantâtoâknowâaboutâpricingâjobs,âdealingâwithâcontractsâandâknowingâaboutâfinancesâandâofâcourse,âpromotion.âItâsâaâlearningâcurveâbutâitâgivesâyouâconfidenceâtoâdealâwithâallâtheâdifficultiesâalongâtheâway.
Where do you do your work? What does your desk look like on an average day?âIâworkâfromâhome,âwhichâIâlove.âIâhaveâtwoâbigâtablesâthatâgetâridiculouslyâmessyâwhenâIâwork,ânoâmatterâhowâmanyâtimesâIâtidyâthemâupâŠ
Is there one piece that stands out in your portfolio that sums you up as an illustrator or that you are most proud of?No,ânotâreally.âWheneverâIâfinishâanâillustrationâIâveâalreadyâmovedâtoâtheânextâthingâinâmyâhead.
We know time is an issue for any freelance artist, but do you do any other crafting in your spare time? Iâlikeâknitting,âitâsâniceâtoâknitâwhileâwatchingâaâmovie.âSometimesâIâthinkâofâsewnâprojectsâforâmyâEtsyâshop,âbutâthereâsâneverâenoughâtimeâforâthose.âIâreallyâwantâtoâmakeâaâquiltâthisâyear,âIâhopeâIâcanâfindâtheâtimeâforâit.
What advice would you give to any budding artist or crafter looking to break into the world of freelance?âIâthinkâyouâhaveâtoâreally,âreallyâwantâit,âworkâveryâhardâandâhaveâaâlotâofâpatience.
It was surreal to see my work in print for the first time. And a little anti-climatic, because it never quite looks like you imagined.
25ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
ankeâs inspiration board!
linotte pocket mirrors
âtoo cool for schoolâ
make up range designed
for toda costa (korea)
visit linotte.net to see ankeâs lovely portfolio!
27ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
WhatâsâGoingâOn?illustration by geoff webb
DidâyouâknowâŠâMarvinâGayeâlovedâtoâcrochet?
28â â picaâpicaâmagazine
Pica Picaâs top tips!
Copyright DOES exist on the web so make it clear from the outset that you mean intellectual property business!
Display your © everywhere!Makeâsureâtoâexertâitâbyâmarkingâyourânameâonâallâcopiesâofâyourâwork,âalongâwithâtheâdateâandâcountry.âAlsoâconsiderâtheâuseâofâCreativeâCommonsâlicensing.Donât forget your textEditorialâcontentâisâcoveredâbyâcopyright.Watermark your imagesAâtranslucentâbutâhardâtoâremoveâwater-markâisâanâeffectiveâwayâtoâdiscourageâimageâtheftâonline,âbutâitâdoesnâtâmeanâtheyâhaveâtoâbeâugly.Keep a log of everything you doRecordâandâhaveâaâcopyâofâeverything,âincludingâwrittenâcontentâthatâmayânoâlongerâappearâonline.
TheâInternet!âItâsâkillingâtheâmusicâindustry,âtelevision,âmoviesâŠâyouâknowâtheâscore.âButâthatâsânothingâtoâdoâwithâcraft,âright?âSure,âatâsomeâpoint,âweâveâallâprobablyâdownloadedâaâfewâsongsâorâsharedâaâfilmâonlineâandâwhyâfeelâguilty?âThereâsâalwaysâtheâRobinâHoodâdefence:âstealâfromâtheârichâtoâgiveâtoâtheâpoor.âButâwhatâhappensâwhenâtheâtablesâareâturned?
Takeâtheâmusicâindustryâasâanâexample:âifâanâunsignedâbandâisâanyâgoodâitâsâlikelyâaârecordâcompanyâwillâsignâthemâup.âThatâbandâprobablyâhadâaâMyspaceâpage,âorâsimilar,âwhichâcontributedâtoâtheirâsuccess.âSoâwhyâisâitâwhenâindependentâdesignersâpromoteâtheirâworkâonline,âtheyâincreasinglyâfindâthat,âratherâthanâhelpingâthemâwinâaâcommission,âtheâmediumâhasâleftâthemâexposedâtoâintellectualâpropertyâtheft?
Anyoneâwithâanâinterestâinâart,âdesignâorâcraftâisâprobablyâawareâofâtheâgreyâareaâofââborrowedââideasâandâmayâhaveâevenâcomeâtoâacceptâitâasâinevitable.âIfâyouâreâtalented,âpeopleâwillâwantâtoâemulateâyou.âTheâartâworldâevenâlegitimisesâthisâtoâanâextentâthroughâsuchâgenresâasâappropriationâart,âinâwhichâexponentsâsuchâasâJeffâKoonsâandâSherrieâLevineâreinterpretâorârecontextualiseâtheâworkâofâotherâartists.âModernâartâisâallâveryâwell,âbutâwhenâitâcomesâtoârealâlife,âcopyingâjustâisnâtâacceptableâtoâtheâfewâfeistyâindependentsâwhoâveâhadâenough.
Forâaânumberâofâyearsânow,âwebsitesâlikeâYouâThoughtâWeâWouldnâtâNoticeâhaveâbeenânamingâandâshamingâtheâcopycatsâandâchroniclingâtheâcountlessâdesignsâthatâhaveâappearedâaâlittleâtooâsimilarâtoâprevi-ouslyâpublishedâindependentâwork.âItâmakesâforâshockingâreadingâbutâhasnâtâreallyâgarneredâmuchâmainstreamâpressâattention.âManyâdesignersâhaveânoâchoiceâbutâtoâletâthingsâlikeâthisâgoâquietly,âtheyâjustâcanâtâaffordâtoâtakeâlegalâaction.âHowever,âforâsome,âtheâmeansâbyâwhichâtheirâdesignsâareâstolenâhasâfinallyâprovidedâaâwayâofâfightingâback.ââââ
OneâofâtheâfirstâtoâdetailâtheirâfeelingsâaboutâdesignâtheftâonlineâwereâtheâSydneyâdesignâduoâMadeâByâWhite,âwhoseâLittleâRedâRidingâHoodâbroochâwasâpoorlyâimitatedâbyâTopshop.âTheyâtweetedâandâFacebookedâandâloââandâbeholdâitâdâbeenâhappeningâtoâotherâindieâ
âTheâDevilâsâinâtheâDetailâPicaâPicaâlooksâatâhowâtheâInternetâhasâopenedââ
aâPandoraâsâboxâofâcopyrightâissuesâandâinvestigatesâtheââeffectâonâindependentâcraftâandâdesign.
words by cat millar and belinda johnsonillustrations by gemma latimer / gemmalatimer.com
jewelleryâdesignersâtoo!âInspiredâtoâspeakâout,âLadyâLuckâRulesâOKâpostedâaâblogâdetail-ingâtheânumerousâdesignsâtheyâveâhadârippedâoff,âmostârecentlyâaâRussianâdollânecklaceâcopiedâbyâfashionâretailersâASOS.âThisâhotâtopicâbuiltâupâaroundâtheâonlineâcommunity.âTattyâDevineâââanotherâLondonâbasedâjewel-leryâdesigner,âgotâinâonâtheâaction,âpostingâ
29ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
âTheâDevilâsâinâtheâDetailâ
30â â picaâpicaâmagazine
if it happens to youâŠ
Stay calm and gather evidenceTheâfirstâthingâyouâmightâwantâtoâdoâisâwriteâaâhystericalâemail,âTweetâaboutâitâorâshoutâitâfromâtheârooftops.âBut,âfirstâthingsâfirst,âtakeâscreenshots!First contactBeâniceâandâsendâaâfriendlyâemail.âShowâthemâyourâevidenceâandârequestâthatâtheâoffendingâitemâisâremovedâfromâtheirâwebsiteâandâfromâsaleâimmediately.âBackâupâallâcorrespondence,âbeâtheâbiggerâpersonâandâdonâtâletâitâruffleâyourâfeathers!
aââspotâtheâdifferenceââcollageâofâcopiedâpiecesâandâtheirârealâcounterpartsâbutârefusingâtoârevealâtheâculpritsââidentities.â
LadyâLuckâRulesâOKâhadâaâsmallâvictoryâinâgettingâASOSâtoâremoveâtheâoffendingâarticleâfromâsale,âattribut-ingâthisâtoâtheâeffectâofâsocialâmedia.âSometimesâbrandâdamagingâincidentsâlikeâthisâjustâarenâtâworthâtheâtroubleâforâtheâbigâcompanies.â
However,âdonâtâtakeâthisâasâanâadmissionâofâguilt.âCorporateâcompaniesâhaveâteamsâofâlawyersâwithâtricksâupâtheirâsleeves.âMostâlargeâfashionâretailersâbuyâtheirâjewelleryâinâbulkâfromâAsiaâandâthusâcanâclaimânoâresponsibilityâforâintellectualâpropertyâtheftâasâthisâliesâwithâtheâoriginalâsupplier.âItâsâhardlyâupâtoâthemâtoâcheckâeveryâsingleâpieceâpurchased.âOrâisâit?âTheâvalidityâofâthisâexcuseâcouldâbeâquestioned,âwhyâareâcompaniesâthatâemployââtrendâspottersââtoâkeepâonâtopâofâundergroundâfashionâseeminglyâsoâpoorlyâinformedâaboutâindependentâdesign?
ASOSâreactedâquicklyâtoâLLROKâsâblogâpostâandâtheâbadâpublicityâitâgenerated,âbutâwhatâofâtheâprofitsâtheyâhadâalreadyâmadeâfromâtheâdesign?âTheâlineâseemsâtoâbe,âasâillustratorâHiddenâEloiseâfoundâoutârecently,âifâtheâcompanyâhasâpaidâforâaâdesignâthenâtheyâbelieveâitâisâtheirsâtoâsell.
Inâoneâofâtheâmostârecentâandâsurprisingâcasesâofâdesignâtheft,âEloiseâfoundâherâworkâhadâbeenâcopiedâandâreproducedâinâaâlineâofâproductsâforâPaperchase.âThroughâbloggingâextensivelyâandârevealingâherâexperiencesâbat-tlingâtheâstationers,âtheâyoungâBritishâartistâhasâfoundâaâlotâofâsupport.âDuringâtheâincident,âEloiseâsâtaleâbecameâaâtopâglobalâtrendâthroughâTwitterâandâpeopleâoutsideâofâtheâ
craftâcommunityâbeganâtoâtakeânotice,âwithânewspapersâsuchâasâTheâGuardianâcoveringâtheâstory.â
ButâwhatâdidâthisâmeanâforâEloise?âHerâblogâdetailsâtheâlessâthanâeasyâride.âStandingâfirmâamidstâanâonslaughtâofâexcusesâandâblameâshiftingâsheâstillâwonders,ââWhatâtoâdoâandâwhatâtoâsayâtoâaâcompanyâthatâhaveâmadeâmoneyâoutâofâmyâownâeffort.ââ
Atâtheâtimeâofâwriting,âPaperchaseâhaveâyetâtoâadmitâanyâwrongdoingâandâdesignâcompanyâGatherNoMossâhaveâtakenâresponsibility.âAttemptingâtoâcircumventâanyâlegalâmisconductâtheyâsentâEloiseâaâchequeâforâtheâdesignâfeeâreceivedâfromâPaperchase.âSheâpromptlyâreturnedâthis,âasâtoâcashâitâwouldâmeanâacceptingâpaymentâfromâPaperchaseâindirectly,âthusâlegitimisingâtheâsubstandardâversionsâofâherâdesigns.
Inâaânastyâturnâofâevents,âElosieâbeganâreceivingâsomeâunpleasantâemailsâaboutâtheâsituationâandâherâstandâagainstâPaperchase.âWhenâsheâtracedâtheâIPâaddress,âitâwentâbackâtoâtheâcompanyâsâcentralâofficesâinâLondon.âInâfurtherâfalloutâfromâthisâsorryâtale,âtheâoffendingâemployeeâhasâbeenâfired,âalthoughâEloiseâisânotâsoâsure,ââPaperchaseâseemâtoâbeâhappyâtoâjustâsendâmeâaâprivateâreplyâandâclaimâthatâtheyâfiredâsomeoneâŠâwhoâelseâknowsâtheâwholeâstory?âNotâmanyâpeopleâIâbet,âandâPaperchaseâwouldâbeâhappyâtoâkeepâitâthatâway.â
Whilstâaâsatisfactoryâresolutionâisâstillâpending,âwhatâlessonsâcanâbeâlearnt?âAsâLLROKâandâEloiseâdiscovered,âtheâveryâfactâthereâisâaâcommunityâofâcraftersâoutâthereâwhoâareâwillingâtoâhelpâisâaâgreatâasset.âWhileâitâsâaâpersonalâchoiceâtoâspeakâoutâifâthisâhappens,âitâsâcomfort-ingâtoâknowâthatâshouldâyouâchooseâtoâcallâtheâbigâguysâout,âthereâsâaâlotâofâpeopleâoutâthereâwhoâveâgotâyourâback.
Think before you actThinkâtwiceâbeforeâreachingâforâtheââsubmitââbutton.âHeadingâaârevengeâcampaignâatâtheâearlyâstagesâofâaâdisputeâcouldâpotentiallyâharmâyourâcase.Find out moreown-it.orgcreativecommons.orgipo.gov.ukyouthoughtwewouldntnotice.com
31ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Oppy,âakaâLisaâCurrie,âisâaâyoungâdoodlingâwhipper-snapperâfuelledâbyâpureâinstinctâandâplentyâofâguacamole!âStraightâoutâofâillustrationâschool,âherâworkâisâcharminglyâbrightâandâboldâââdefinedâbyâherâuseâofâvividâcolour,âthickâpenâandâink,âwildâpatternsâandâgeometricâtextures.âAsâjustâaâlittleâOppyâfromâMelbourne,âLisaâdreamedâofârun-ningâherâownâmagazineâtoâbringâcreativeâmindsâtogether.âThinkingâupânewâwaysâtoâgetâinâtouchâwithâpeopleâallâoverâtheâworldâandâavoidâanyâscaryâface-to-faceâcontact,âsheâfellâuponâtheâideaâofâusingââscribbleâsheetsââtoâcollaborateâwithâothers.
PutâsimplyâbyâLisaâherself,ââaâscribbleâsheetâisâanâA4âpageâofâsimpleâshapesâandâwordsâthatâencourageâbio-graphicalâdoodlingâ.âTheâfirstâsheetsâwereâpostedâoutâtoâherâfavouriteâillustrators,âwithâtheâinitialâplanâofâmakingâaâzineâfromâtheirâhandiwork.âLisaâwasâsoâblownâawayâbyâtheâresultsâthatâsheâsetâupâaâblogâandânowâthatâsheâcouldâshareâtheâdoodlesâwithâothersâŠâtheâScribbleâProjectâwasâborn!
Drawn Inwords by belinda johnson
illustrations courtesy of hello oppy / thescribbleproject.com
Inâ2009,âtheâprojectâgrewâandâgrewâinâpopularityâandâbecameâsomethingâofâaâphenomenonâamongstâtheâonlineâillustrationâcommunityâââeveryoneâfromâCaitlinâShearerâtoâGemmaâCorrellâwantedâaâpieceâofâtheâscribblingâaction.âItânowârepresentsâaârealâcommunityâprojectâforâanyoneâwithârestlessâfingersâandâanâuntamedâimagination.
âTheâbreadthâofâtheâScribbleâProjectâcontinuesâtoâexpandââânoâlongerâlimitedâtoâtheâbiographicalâsheetsâthatâmadeâitâinfamous,âtheââBigâTeamâScribbleââencour-agedâsubmissionsâforâaâsuperâtotemâpoleâdoodle.âOverâ100âscribblersâassembledâtheâfinalâtotemâpoleâandâaâsmallâportionâofâitâcanâbeâseenâinâtheâJanuaryâ2010âissueâofâAnorakâMagazine.â
Thisâyear,âLisaâisâcreatingâanâextraordinarilyâlongâdoodleâtrain,âwithâeachâscribbleârepresentingâaâtrainââcarriage.âSubmissionsâhaveâalreadyâclosed,âbutâkeepâanâeyeâonâtheâScribbleâProjectâwebsiteâtoâbuyâaâlimitedâeditionââBigâTeamâScribbleââcolouring-inâzine,âwithâallâprofitsâgoingâtoâUnicef.
POP CULTURE
Curiouserââandââ
Curiouser
âIâm late! Iâm late! For a very important date!âbyâLoveâHeartsâandâCrossesâ
loveheartsandcrosses.co.uk
âWeâre all mad here!â
byââSarahâWheatleyââ
akaâtheothermousie
folksy.com
âExaketededly, what is your problem?â
byâLoveâHeartsâandâCrossesâloveheartsandcrosses.co.uk
âWhy is a raven like a writing desk??â byâRachelâHastieâakaâ
LunarraâStarââetsy.com
âWhoâs been painting my roses red?âbyâRockâânâRoseâ
rocknrose.co.uk
âMmm...tastes like cherry tart!âbyâLovefromHettyandDaveâetsy.com
âClean cup, clean cup. Move down!âbyâMeganâPriceâakaâMrPSâ
etsy.com
33ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
âIf you donât care for tea, you could at least make polite conversation!â
byâLoveâHeartsâandâCrossesâloveheartsandcrosses.co.uk
âAliceâs Adventures in WonderlandâbyâLewisâCarrollâhasâcapturedâtheâimaginationsâofâmanyâmakers,âdesignersâandâartistsâ(includingâoneâMr.âTimâBurton)âdueâtoâitsâfantasticalâcharacters,âbeautifulâstorylineâandâedgyâ
undertones.âManyâcraftâprojectsâhaveâtakenââinspirationâfromâtheâmuch-lovedâthemesâsurroundingâ
theâbookâandâsoâweâhaveâcollectedâourâfavouriteââaccessories,âprintsâandâjewelleryâthatârepresentâ
everythingâweâloveâaboutâAlice!
words by rebecca antrobus
34â â picaâpicaâmagazine
Pica Pica Magazine :: Nottingham
TiedâUpâinâNottsâ
Eyâupâmeâduck!âThisâisâNottinghamâââaâcityâasâfamousâforâcreativityâasâitâisâforâRobinâHood,âBrianâCloughâandâtheâannualâGooseâFair.âItâsâaâtripâ
downâmemoryâlaneâforâourâArtâDirectorâasâPicaâPicaâtakesâyouâonâaâjourneyâthroughâNottinghamâsâcraftyâside.â
words by belinda johnson illustrations by jo want / hello-sunshine.co.uk
âApples and Pears and Crafty WaresThisâmonthlyâartsâmarket,ârunâbyâtextileâcollectiveâcuriosity.haus,âisâdoingâwondersâforâtheâreputationâofâtheâcityâsâeastâside!âFromâworkâbyâestablishedâdesignersâtoâlocalâstudentsâandâgraduatesâ-âyouâllâfindâaâhugeârangeâofâclothing,âpapercraft,âaccessories,âjewellery,âprintsâandâtextilesâonâsaleâhere.4th Saturday of every month. Sneinton Market, Gedling Street (they do crop up in other places too!)applesandpearsandcraftywares. blogspot.com
Kathleen & LilyâsSewingâwitchesâRachaelâandâJennaâfightâtheâwarâagainstâtheâmundaneâatâtheâheadquartersâofâKathleenâ&âLilyâs,âsellingâvintageâandâcustomisedâclothing,âhandâcraftedâjewelleryâandâaccessoriesâsourcedâbothâlocallyâandâfurtherâafield.âAlso,âlookâoutâforâtheirâSewingâMagicâstallâoffering:âalterations,âmendingâandâcustomisingâatâtheâregularâAffordableâVintageâFashionâFairâ(vintagefair.co.uk).205 Mansfield Roadkathleenandlilys.co.uk
Lee Rosyâs Tea ShopIfâyouâneedâaâquietâcornerâtoârelaxâ(andâknit)âinâorâcatchâanâintimateâshowâfromâaâlocalâband,âthenâLeeâRosyâsâsoundsâlikeâyourâcupâofâtea.âOfferingâprobablyâtheâwidestârangeâofâloose-leafâteasâyouâllâseeâoutsideâofâLondonâandâdeliciousâhomemadeâtreatsâdailyâââ10amâtillâlate.âAâpotâofâGreenâTeaâBlueâSkyâandâaâsliceâofâchocolateâcheesecakeâcomeâhighlyârecommendedâ(youâcanâthankâmeâlater).â17 Broad Street lee-rosy.co.uk
craftycity guide
35ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Get MadeFoundedâinâ2008âtoâbringâtogetherâtheâcityâsâmulti-disciplinedâbutâscatteredâcraftâcommunity,âtheâNottinghamâCraftâMafiaâaimsâtoâencourageâeveryoneâtoâgetâcreative!âVisitâtheirâHQâandâboutiqueâGetâMadeâtoâgetâyourâhandsâonâsomeâbeautifulâhandmadeâproducts.â16 St Jamesâs Street (next to The Malt Cross cafĂ© bar)nottinghamcraftmafia.com
Spinsterâs EmporiumAâlackâofâgreatâsuppliesâcanâbeâsuchâaâburdenâtoâanyâcrafter!âTakingâprideâinâtheirâethosâofârecyclingâandâre-using,âthereâsânothingâârunâofâtheâmillââaboutâthisâuniqueâsupplyâshop.âSpinstersâisâtheâplaceâtoâgoâforâoriginalâfabrics,ârainbowâcolouredâyarnsâandâcharmingâhaberdashery.
3rd Floor (above The Vintage Warehouse)82â84 Lower Parliament Streetspinstersemporium.com
â
Knitty GrittyEmbracingâknittingâsânewfoundâpopularity,âthisâcontemporaryâshopâsuppliesâeverythingâyouâllâneedâtoâknitâupâaâstorm.âSell-ingâfresh,âhome-grownâandâinternationallyâsourcedâhandâandâmachineâyarns,âpatternsâandâequipment.
Unit 225, Victoria Centre Marketknittygritty.net
Le Chien et MoiAâshortâwalkâfromâtheâcityâcentre,âthisâlovelyâandâinspirationalâshopâisâtotallyâworthâtheâuphillâtrekâofâDerbyâRoad.âBeâcharmedâbyâtheirâcollectionâofâvintage,ârecycled,âantiqueâandâlocallyâsourcedâpiecesâandâtheâshopâsâadorableââchienâ,âMulberryâtheâbassetâhound.âYouâllâdefinitelyâbeâspoiltâforâchoice,âwhetherâyouâreâbuyingâforâsomeoneâelseâorâtreatingâyourself!
60 Derby Road
lechienetmoi.com
The Art OrganisationEncompassingâfourâhugeâbuildingsâââinclud-ingâtheâformerâpoliceâstation,âthisârecentlyârevampedâindependentâartâcentreâandâcom-munityâprojectâoffersâexhibitionâspace,âartistâstudios,âcreativeâworkshopsâandâaâcosyâteaâbar.âTimeâyourâvisitâwithâtheirâfantasticâcraftâfair,âheldâonâtheâfirstâSaturdayâofâeachâmonth.3â21 Station Streettaonottingham.co.uk
Workshops with Hannah & BellaBrushâupâyourâsewingâskillsâwithâlocalâseamstressâextraordinaireâHannahâWroe!âHerâworkshopsârangeâfromâmakingâflowerâcorsagesâtoâpatternâdraftingâandâalterationâofâvintageâpieces.âIfâyouâveâfallenâoutâwithâyourâsewingâmachineâandâwantâtoâmakeâfriendsâagain,âHannahâalsoâoffersâprivateâhomeâtuitionâthatâpromisesâtoâgetâyouâraringâtoâgoâagainâinâanâhourâandâaâhalf!âThe Textile Workshop678 Mansfield Roadhannahandbella.typepad.com
Want to find out more? Go online and get more Notts!Visit Nottingham â visitnottingham.comLeft Lionâ leftlion.co.ukNottingham Visual Artistsâ nottinghamvisualarts.net
Lakeside Arts CentreTakeâaâshortâtripâoutâofâtheâcityâtoâenjoyâtheâpalatialâsurroundingsâofâtheâUniversityâofâNottinghamâsâcampusâandâtoâtakeâinâsomeâcultureâatâitsâuniqueâpublicâartsâcentre.âLakesideâalsoâplaysâhostâtoâLustre,âtheâmostâprestigiousâcraftâeventâinâtheâEastâMidlands,âfeaturingâworkâfromâselectedâUKâdesigners.âHeldâinâNovember,âitâsâperfectâforâthoseâChristmasâsplurges.South Entrance, University ParkUniversity Boulevardlakesidearts.org.uk
36â â picaâpicaâmagazine
AboutLastâyearâIâattendedâaâbirthdayâpartyâatâtheâHastingsâhorseâtrack.âLivingâinââVancouver,âBC,âgoingâtoâtheâhorseâracesâisâhardlyâanâaffairâtoâdressâupâfor,âatâleastânotânormally,âbutâthisâtimeâwasâdifferent.âEveryoneâwasâtoldâtoâdressâtoâtheâninesâwithâRoyalâAscotâasâtheâtheme.âIâdecidedâtoâgoâallâout.âUsingâpicturesâofâheadpiecesâandâhatsâfromâtheâRoyalâAscotâasâmyâinspirationâIâcreatedâaâturquoiseâandâpurpleââfascinatorââtoâmatchâtheâfloralâdressâIâplannedâtoâwear.âThisâprojectâstartedâoutâsimpleâenoughâwithâsomeâfeathersâandâtulle,âbutâgrewâintoâoneâheckâofâaâheadpieceâandâwasâaâhugeâhitâatâtheâparty!âHereâareâmyâstepsâtoâmakeâaâfascinator,âsoâfindâsomeâinspirationâandâmakeâyourâown.
â
AâDayâatââtheâRaces!
Findâyourâinspiration,âtheme,âcoloursâandâsuppliesâ(feathers/flowers/buttons/bows).
Useâaâheadbandâthatâworksâwithâyourâcolourâschemeâorâcoverâoneâwithâribbon.âToâdoâthisâsimplyâputâaâdotâofâhotâglueâatâtheâendâofâoneâsideâofâtheâheadbandâtoâattachâtheâribbon,âthenâwrapâitâtightlyâaroundâtheâheadbandâatâaâslightâangleâandâuseâaâdotâofâglueâatâtheâotherâendâtoâsecureâtheâribbonâinâplace.
Cutâaâfeltâpieceâandâglueâitâonâtoâyourâheadband.ââThisâwillâbeâtheâbaseâforâallâofâtheâfabulousâfeathersâandâtulleâyouâwillâbeâattachingâtoâyourâheadband.âTheâsizeâofâtheâfeltâpieceâallâdependsâonâhowâbigâorâsmallâyouâwantâyourâheadâpieceâtoâbe.âIâsuggestâwearingâyourâheadbandâwhileâyouâdecideâwhereâtoâplaceâtheâfeltâpieceâandâmarkingâitâwithâaâpin.âIfâyouâareânotâusingâaâheadâmannequinâyouâmightâwantâtoâwaitâtoâglueâtheâfeltâpieceâonâatâtheâendâsoâitâisâeasierâtoâdecorate.âOrâyouâcanâuseâtheâbackâofâaâchairâtoârestâyourâheadbandâonâwhileâyouâworkâonâit.
ââ
âMaterialsHeadbandFelt (heavy-weight)TulleFeathersFabricRibbonHot glue gunScissorsHand sewing needle and threadStyrofoam head mannequin (optional)
Ifâyouâwantâtoâcreateâaâveil,âcutâaâsectionâofâtulleâandâletâitâhangâoverâtheâedgeâofâtheâfeltâpiece,âglueâitâdownâfirstâwithâaâslightâgatherâtoâcreateâaâniceâshape.
Startâgluingâdownâyourâfeathers,âflowers,âfabric,ââbuttonsâandâwhateverâelseâyouâwantâontoâyourâfeltâpiece.âIârecommendâstartingâatâtheâedgesâandââworkingâtowardsâtheâcenter.ââ
Theâflowersâareâmadeâbyâcuttingâfiveâcirclesâoutâofâyourâfabricâofâchoiceâandâfoldingâtheâcirclesâintoâquarters,âthenâtackingâthemâtogetherâatâtheâfoldedâpoint.âTheyâareânowâreadyâtoâbeâgluedâontoâyourâheadband.
ToâmakeâtheâfancyâfeathersâlikeâIâdidâinâmyâfirstâfascinator,âtearâtheâbarbsâofâtheâfeatherâdownâtheâshaftâleavingâonlyâaâsmallâclumpâatâtheâend.âTrimâtheâendâintoâtheâdesiredâshape,âorâleaveâitâasâisâforâaâmoreânaturalâlook.â
Onceâyourâfeltâpieceâisâtotallyâcovered,âyouâreâdone!âVoila!
words and pictures by christine nairne
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make a hairband!
37ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
HEADBAND
a fascinator instructional:
learn how to make your own!
CraftââBritannia
38ââ picaâpicaâmagazine
PicaâPicaâinvestigatesâtheâUKâsâburgeoningâcraftâscene,âwithâ
coolâcollectives,âclubsâandâotherâcraftyâorganisationsâbeingâ
spottedâeverywhere.
words by rebecca antrobus and natalie ridgwayillustrations by belinda johnson
patchwork by casia patchworkphoto by david penfold
39ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Craft GuerrillaWalthamstow, East London craftguerrilla.com
What do you do?âWeâreâaâcraftâcollectiveâmadeâupâofâtrainedâartists,âcraftspeopleâandâself-taughtâcrafters.âWeâholdâimpromptuâcraftâeventsâwhichâincludeâmonthlyâDIYâcraftânightsâinâpubsâandâmonthlyâcraftâmarkets.âWeâveâalsoâhostedâCrafternoons,âswishingâeventsâandâaâCrafteaâParty.Aims: Ourâaimâisâtoâshare,âteachâandâspreadâtheâenthusiasmâforâoriginal,âhandmadeâobjectsâasâwellâasâteachâforgottenâhouseholdâcraftsâlikeâdarningâandâmending.âThisâisânotârestrictedâtoâtheâcreativeâcommunityâandâincludesâtheâgeneralâpublicâandâlocalâcom-munity.âAsâaâcollectiveâweâaimâtoâshareâourâwebâtraffic,âexperience,âethosâandâknowledgeâwithâourâmembersâbutâweâalsoâaimâtoâserveâasâaâfacilitator.âWeâgreatlyâencourageâpeopleâtoâworkâtogetherâwithâotherâcraftâgroupsâtoâstartâupâtheirâownâlocalisedâcraftâguerrillas.âInspiration: Itâwasâaâquestionâofâwantingâsomethingâdoneâandâtheâonlyâwayâtoâdoâitâwasâtoâdoâitâyourself!âAnotherâreasonâwasâtheâfactâthatâthereâareâmanyâwebâbasedâcommunitiesâbutâanâactualâcommunityâwhereâpeopleâmet,âsocialisedâandâmade,âwasâsomethingâweâdidnâtâhaveâinâtheâarea.â
Stitch By Stitch Southsea, Hampshire tinyurl.com/stitchbystitch â
Aims:âToâbuildâaâcommunityâthatâisâinvolvedâinâcontinuingâcraftsâthatâareâbecomingâobsolete,âhavingâfun,âandâplayingâwithâthisâmedium.Inspiration: Iâmâonlyâ25âandâIâdressâlikeâanâoldâladyâandâsoâIâthoughtâitâwouldâonlyâbeâfittingâtoâmatchâmyâpinstripeâstockingsâwithâknittingâneedles!âIâbelieveâinâmakeâdoâandâmendâandâbecauseâofâthisâknittingâhasâalwaysâbeenâaâskillâthatâIâwantedâtoâlearn.âIâdecidedâtoâteachâmyselfâandâsoonârealisedâthereâwereâmanyâlike-mindedâpeopleâthatâalsoâwantedâtoâlearn.â
Make, Do and MendExeter, Devon makedoandmend.info [email protected]
What do you do?âEncourageâpeopleâtoâtakeâupâcraftingâandâpassâonâskills.âWeâmeetâregularlyâtoâshare,âinspire,âstart,âcontinueâorâfinishâanyâtypeâofâcraftâproject.âWeâencourageâeachâotherâandâchallengeâourselvesâwithâprojects.âInspiration:âThereâwasânoâgroupâlikeâthisâinâmyâareaâandâIâwantedâtoâstopâtraditionalâcraftsâfromâdyingâout.â
UK DIY UK wide ukdiycraft.blogspot.com twitter.com/ukdiycraft
What do you do?âUKâDIYâisâaâwindowâonâaâmovement.âItâstartedâinâAutumnâ2005âwhenâIârealisedâsoâmuchâwasâhappeningâwithâsubversive/DIYâcontemporaryâcraftsâinâtheâUSâandâwonderedâwhyâitâwasnâtâsoâapparentâinâtheâUK.âTheâoriginalâworkâinâ2005/06âwasâtoâresearchâDIYâcontemporaryâcraftsâacrossâtheâUK,âwhichâIâreceivedâaâgrantâfor.âMyâaimâwasâthatâtheâresearchâwouldâthenâleadâonâtoâaâseriesâofâevents,âprojectsâandâexhibitionsâtoâshowcaseâwhatâwasâhappeningâtheâUK,âandâtheâpotentialâitâhad.âAâcuratorâinâmyâareaâwasâalsoâreallyâinterestedâinâtheâprojectâsoâpaidâmeâtoâworkâtheâresearchâupâintoâanâexhibitionâwithâotherâgalleriesâinâtheâNorthâWestâofâEngland,âandâmakersâacrossâtheâUK.âCurrently,âweârunâtheâblogâwhichâkeepsâtheâresearchâandâdocumentationâgoing.âItâsâdifferentâfromâotherâcontemporaryâcraftâblogsâasâweâlookâatâtheâtheoryâandâcontextâofâthingsâââtheâwhyâasâwellâasâtheâwhatâandâwhere.âInâthatâwayâitâcontinuesâtheâresearchâandâisnâtâjustâaâbulletinâboard.âInspiration:âAâpassionâforâshowingâthatâtheâUKâcanâandâisâcompetingâinâcontemporaryâcraftâonâanâinternationalâlevel.â
40â â picaâpicaâmagazine
ArtYarnUK wide, based in Salford, Lancashire artyarn.org
What do you do? Contemporaryâknittingâandâcrochetâinstallations.âAims:âToâuseâtraditionalâknittingâandâcrochetâtechniquesâinâcontemporaryâvisualâartsâprojects,âtoâpromoteâtheâdiversityâandâversatilityâofâknit-tingâandâcrochetâasâaâmedium,âandâatâtheâsameâtimeâexploreâwaysâtoâmakeâartâaccessibleâthroughâparticipatoryâmakingâandâcollaborativeâexchange.Inspiration:âAfterârunningâaâknittingâclubâforâaâyearâandâseeingâhowâmuchâcommunityâengagementâthisâcouldâbring,âIâdecidedâIâshouldâuseâmyâloveâofâknittingâandâcrochetâinâartâprojectsâthatâwouldâben-efitâtheâlocalâcommunitiesâandâpassâonâmyâskills.â
ââUK Handmade UK wide ukhandmade.co.uk/magazine
What do you do?âUKâHandmadeâisâaâdesignâledâonlineâmagazineâasâwellâasâaâcommunityâofâhandmadeâartisans,âdesigners,âcraftersâandâcreatives.Inspiration: WeâwantedâtoâcreateâaâcentralâhubâforâtheâhandmadeâcommunityâinâtheâUKâandâprovideâsupportâandâinformation.
Craft Crunch London craftcrunch.com
Aims:âToâencourageâpeopleâtoâshopâlocallyâandâdirectlyâfromâtheâartistâorâcraftspersonâratherâthanâpayingâinflatedâpricesâinâposhâboutiques.âInspiration:â2008âsâeconomicâdownturn,âwhichâisâstillâreverberating,âmadeâaâlotâofâpeopleâturnâtoâalternativeâandâmoreârewardingâwaysâtoâmakeâaâliving.âCraftâCrunchâwasâsetâupâtoâattemptâtoâpromoteâtheseâpeopleâasâwellâasâotherâmoreâestablishedâartists.
Nottingham Craft MafiaNottinghamshire nottinghamcraftmafia.com [email protected]
What do you do? Weâreâaâcommunityâofâlocalâart-istsâandâmakers.âWeâworkâtogetherâtoâshowcaseâourâmembersâworkâandâarrangeâexcitingâeventsâtoâremindâNottinghamâofâitsâhugeâcreativeâartâscene.âNottinghamâCraftâMafiaâisâpartâofâtheâlargerâCraftâMafiaâfamiliaâfoundedâinâAustin,âTexas.âItâservesâasâaâmodelâforâindependentâbusinessâownersâtoâassembleâwithâothersâinâtheirâownâcommunitiesâtoâamplifyâtheirâvisionâthroughâtheâpowerâofâaâcollective.âAims:âToâbringâlike-mindedâmakersâandâartistsâtogether,âtoâshareâaâwealthâofâexpertiseâandâexperi-ence,âhelpingâeachâotherâturnâhobbiesâintoâcareers,â
toâmarketâandâpromoteâcraftâinâtheâregion,âtoâsupportâotherâlocalâindependentâgroupsâandâbusinessesâandâtoâinspireâaâwholeânewâgenerationâtoâpickâupâtheirâpens,âfelt,âknittingâneedles,âthreadâorâwhateverâtheyâfancyâtoâcreateâsomethingânew,âuniqueâandâhandmade.âInspiration:âWeârealisedâthatâthereâwasâaâgapâinâtheâalt-craftâsceneâforâpeopleâofâvariousâdesignâback-groundsâtoâgetâtoâknowâoneâanotherâandâcollaborateâonâprojectsâââspecificallyâinâtheâhandmadeâarena.âWeâfeltâweâcouldâcreateâtheârightâenvironmentâforâthisâtoâoccurâandâhappilyâweâveâseenâmanyâcollaborationsâsinceâthen!
41ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Yarn and Yarn Cardiff tinyurl.com/yarnandyarn
What do you do? Collectsâpeopleâwhoâlikeâorâwouldâlikeâtoâlearnâknitting,âcrochet,âquilt-ing,âsewing,âcrossâstitchâandâmore.âInspiration: Theâgroupâwasâsetâupâbyâsome-oneâelseâwhoâhasâsinceâmovedâtoâLondon,âbutâitâwasâconcievedâasâaâwayâofâmeetingâwithâlikeâmindedâpeopleâandâdoingâcraftyâstuffâtogether.ââ
Craftivist CollectiveLondon and worldwide craftivist-collective.com [email protected]
What do you do?âWeâwantâtoâshowâthatâmakingâpeopleâawareâofâtheâinjusticesâandâpovertyâinâtheâworldâcanâbeâfun,âfulfillingâandâcanâbuildâfriendshipsâallâoverâtheâworld.âItâdoesnâtâhaveâtoâbeâstressfulâorâelitist.âAnyoneâcanâbeâaâcraftivist,âwhateverâtheirâskillâorâunderstanding.âWeâmeetâeveryâmonthâinâLondonâtoâplanâprojectsâandâevents,âcraftâtogetherâandâdiscussâinjustic-esâthatâweâareâpassionateâabout.âWeâsometimesâholdâworkshopsâtoâimproveâourâcraftâskillsâandâweâalsoâhaveâguestâcraftivistsâinâourâmeetingsâwhoâbringâaâprojectâforâusâtoâbecomeâpartâof.âAims:âToâexposeâtheâscandalâofâglobalâpovertyâandâhumanârightsâinjusticesâthroughâtheâpowerâofâcraftâandâpublicâart.âThisâwillâbeâdoneâthroughâprovocative,ânon-violentâcreativeâactions.âInspiration:âIâhaveâalwaysâbelievedâthatâweâshouldâtryâandâloveâourâglobalâneighbourâandâmakeâaâpositiveâimpactâinâtheâworldâinâwhateverâweâdo.âWhenâIâmovedâtoâLondonâtwoâyearsâagoâIâwasâlookingâforâgroupsâtoâjoin.âIâlovedâcraftivism,âalthoughâIâdidnâtâknowâthatâthereâwasâaânameâforâitâuntilâ18âmonthsâago.âManyâpeopleâIâknewâsharedâthisâinterestâsoâIâsetâupâaâgroup.
Craft CandySheffield craft-candy.org
Aims:âToâpromoteâcraftâwithinâSheffieldâandâtoâhelpâmakersâandâartistsâjoinâforcesâtoâcollectivelyâpromoteâtheirâworkâinâaâfriendlyâenvironment.Inspiration: Weâwantedâaâsupportiveâforumâforâcrafters.âBeingâanâindependentâmakerâcanâbeâquiteâisolating,âsoâitâsâgoodâtoâknowâthereâisâaâsupportânetworkâaroundâyou.
Sugar Paper zine UK wide sugarpapergang.blogspot.com [email protected]
What do you do? Weâmakeâaâbi-annualâzineâthatâfeaturesâtwentyâthingsâtoâmakeâandâdo.âAims: Weâwantâtoâtoâgetâmoreâpeopleâcraftingâandâcreateâaâcraftingânetwork.âItâsâalsoâforâthoseâthatâcraftâforâaâliving:âitâgivesâthemâsomethingâtoâdoâforâfun,âwithoutâtheâpressureâthatâmakingâforâaâbusinessâsometimesâhas.âInspiration: IâveâmadeâzinesâsinceâIâwasâ16.âOften,âafterâputtingâoutâaâzine,âIâbecomeâunhappyâwithâit.âWhatâIâwroteâbeforeâisnâtânecessarilyâhowâIâfeelâaboutâthingsâtoday.âWritingâaâcraftâzineâtakesâawayâtheâfearâthatâwhatâIâwriteâoneâday,âIâwillâhateâtheânext.âWeâalsoâreallyâlikeâmakingâstuffâsoâitâseemedâtheâperfectâcombination,âespeciallyâasâinâtheâpastâfewâyearsâthereâhasâbeenâaâboost,âspecificallyâwithinâfeministâcommunities,âofâcraftingâandâgreaterâself-sufficiency.
Thereâisâaâhiveâofâactivityâgoingâonâwithâcraftâclubs,âcollectivesâandâotherâcraftyâendeavoursâallâacrossâtheâUK.âTheseâareâjustâsomeâofâourâfavourites.âWeâhopeâlearningâaboutâtheirâmotivesâandâinspirationsâhasâsparkedâyourâinterestâtoâfindâoutâmore.âRememberâthough,âthisâisâjustâaâsmallâselection.âYouâllâfindâevenâmoreâlistedâonâourâwebsite,âandâifâyouâstillâcanâtâfindâsomethingâsuitedâtoâyou,âwhyânotâstartâyourâownâgroup?â
42â â picaâpicaâmagazine
Attentionâclass!âWhatâstartedâinâclassroomsâinâJapanâwithâcutesyâhandwritingâandâkittiesâthatâsayâhello,âhasâgrownâintoâanâunstoppableâ
forceâthatâsâcertainlyâhadâitsâinfluenceâonâtheâcraftâworld!âDesignersâandâcraftersâeverywhereâareâcreatingâquirky,âcolourfulâcharactersâthatâareâ
justâbeggingâyouâtoâtakeâthemâhome!âSoâwhenâtheâbigâscaryâadultâworldâisâgettingâyouâdownâandâwakingâupâtoâyetâanotherâgreyâandâmiserableâdayâmakesâyouâwantâtoâcry,âtakeârefugeâinâtheâlandâofâkawaii,âwhereâevery-
thingâ(andâIâmeanâeverything)âwearsâaâhappyâsmile.
words and illustrations by cat millar
NOM NOM NOM! Avoidâtheâgoldenâarchesâwithâthisâtastyâsweatshirt!âFoodstuffsâwithâeyes?âWeirdâbutâkawaii!âlazyoaf.co.uk
Purr-fect! Brightâpink?âCheck!â
Kittensâfrolicking?âCheck!âThisâpassesâtheâcuteâtestâ
withâflyingâcolours!lazyoaf.co.uk
Lesser than three <3âJustâhowâweâfeelâaboutâthisâadorableâbrooch. By GemmaâHoganâakaâRosesâ&âGingham.folksy.com
Wolf like me Stayâaheadâofâtheâpackâwithâ
thisâsweeterâtakeâonâtheâironicâwolfât-shirtâcraze.â
lazyoaf.co.uk
Birdy Song Shakeâyourâtailâfeatherâinââthisâtotallyâtropicalâtee.âlazyoaf.co.uk
Rain rain go away! Butâlookâcuteâonâaât-shirtâorâbagâanyâday! ByâEmily Boydâ
akaâemilythepemily.folksy.com
Hold on to the handlebars! Expressâyourâloveâforâallâtheâ
mustachioedâmenâoutâthere.âByâEmilyâBoydâakaâemilythepemily.
folksy.com
From Russia with loveâGiveâtheseâmatryoshkaâdollsâaâhome.â
ByâBonitaâKeayâakaâBeaky.folksy.com
Let the sun shine Letâtheseâhappyâcloudsâbrightenâyourâday.âByâLucyâFarfortâakaâLucyâsâHappyâPlace.folksy.com 43ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
45ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Loveâisâinâtheâair
PicaâPicaâchatsâinspiration,âchallengesâandâfutureâplansâwithâLoveâtoâPrintâsâKarolineâRerrie.
Ifâyouâveâbeenâpayingâattentionâatâanyânumberâofâtheâhandmadeâandâindieâcraftâfairsâthatâhaveâbeenâtakingâplaceâaroundâtheâcountryâthisâpastâyearâorâso,âchancesâareâyouâllâhaveâencounteredâLoveâtoâPrint,âorâatâleastâoneâofâtheâartistsâinvolved.âWithâgorgeousâscreenâprintedâandâGoccoâprintedâcards,âpostcardsâandâprints,âPicaâPicaâbecameâbesottedâwithâthemâandâtheirâidealsâofâmutualâcollaborationâandâco-operation.âWeâcaughtâupâwithâillustratorâKarolineâRerrie,âoriginalâconceiverâofâLoveâtoâPrintâandâmemberâofâsisterâprojectâGirlsâWhoâDraw.
What is Love to Print? LoveâtoâPrintâisâaâcollaborativeâprojectâwhichâinvolvesâprintingâvariousâmultiplesâtoâsellâorâuseâforâself-promotion.âBasicallyâitâsâaâmeansâforâmeâtoâproduceânewâworkâonâaâregularâbasis.âWorkingâwithâothersâhasâitsâdrawbacks,âitâisâtime-consumingâbutâalsoâhasâtheâadvantagesâofâsharedâcostsâandâtheâpotentialâtoâreachâaâwiderâaudience.
words by natalie ridgwaypictures by love to print
pica pica
favourite!
46â â picaâpicaâmagazine
How and when was it started and whose idea was it?LoveâtoâPrintâstartedâaboutâ18âmonthsâagoâwhenâIâwasâworkingâonâtheâfirstâGirlsâWhoâDrawâpostcardâbook.âIâwasâhavingâproblemsâgettingâenoughâpeopleâtoâcommitâtoâtheâbook,âsoâIâsuggestedâtoâYeeâTingâKuitâthatâweâjustâdoâitâourselves.âInspiredâbyâMarkâPawsonâandâSaraâFanelli,âIâwantedâtoâmakeâaâhandâprintedâboxâsetâofâA6âprintsâbyâdifferentâillustrators.âItâwasâintendedâtoâbeâpartlyâaâself-containedâexhibitionâwhichâIâcouldâsendâtoâgalleriesâtoâpromoteâourâworkâasâwellâasâsomethingâwhichâcouldâeasilyâbeâdisplayedâandâsoldâinâshops.âWho are the different people that are involved in Love to Print and how did you all meet?âLoveâtoâPrintâwasâinitiallyâconceivedâasâaâoneâoffâprojectâforâValentineâsâDayâ2009.âItâinvolvedâmyself,âYeeâTingâKuit,âSarahâRay,âClaireâLynch,âSarahâLynch,âGemmaâCorrellâandâKateâSeaward.âDueâtoâtheâsuccessâofâtheâprojectâitâcarriedâonâbutâbecauseâeveryoneâisâsoâbusyâwithâtheirâownâworkâitâsâbeenâimpos-sibleâtoâmaintainâaâsetâgroup.
IâmetâYeeâTingâKuitâandâSarahâRayâonâaâcourseâforâillustrators,âweâstayedâinâtouchâandâeventuallyâworkedâtogetherâonâtheâfirstâGirlsâWhoâDrawâbook.âIâdidnâtâknowâGemmaâCorrellâbutâlovedâherâworkâandâinitiallyâap-proachedâherâaboutâtheâpostcardâbook.âGemmaâputâmeâinâtouchâwithâbothâKateâSeawardâandâHelenâEntwisle.â
IâtookâaâscreenâprintingâclassâalongâwithâSarahâLynchâandâherâsisterâClaireâLynch,âIâlovedâtheirâillustrationsâsoâLTPâwasâtheâperfectâopportunityâtoâworkâwithâthem.âInâfactâtheâmajorityâofâLTPâcontributorsâareâbasedâinâtheâMidlands.âAdditionally,âsocialânetworkingâsitesâlikeâFacebookâandâTwitterâhelpâusâkeepâinâtouchâasâwellâasâhelpingâtoâfindâotherâillustratorsâtoâworkâwith.âWas it deliberately female only? Would you welcome guys? NeitherâLoveâtoâPrintâorâtheâpostcardâbooksâwereâde-liberatelyâintendedâtoâbeâfemaleâonly.âBut,âadmittedlyâitâwasâaâgoodâgimmickâandâhasâworkedâinâtermsâofâgettingâbothâLTPâandâGWDâextraâattention.âAtâtheâveryâleastâitâsâbecauseâthereâareâsoâmanyâtalentedâwomenâaround,âthereâsâjustânoâroomâforâmen.
âDo you think more women are involved in illustration at the moment?âIâhaveânoâideaâifâmoreâwomenâareâinvolvedâinâillustrationânowâorâhowâmanyâwereâpreviouslyâinvolved.âIâknowâmoreâwomenâillustratorsâbutâthatâmayâbeâbecauseâtheyâareâmoreâapproachableâthanâmen.âPossiblyâmoreâwomenâgravitateâtowardsâillustrationâbecauseâgraphicâdesignâisâtraditionallyâquiteâmaleâdominated.âIâdidâaâdegreeâinâgraphicâdesignâandâveryâfewâofâtheâfemaleâstudentsâcarriedâonâtoâhaveâcareersâinâgraphicâdesign.â
Oneâthingâthatâsâinterestingâatâtheâmomentâisâtheâcrossâoverâbetweenâcraftâandâillustration.âAâlotâofâwomenâareâillustrating,âmakingâandâsellingâtheirâownârangesâofâproductsâincludingâcards,âbadges,âceramicsâandâjewel-lery.âObviouslyâthisâisâhelpingâtoâraiseâtheirâprofilesâandâmakeâitâappearâthatâthereâareâmoreâwomenâinvolvedâinâillustration.ââ
What projects has Love to Print done so far? TheâfirstâprojectâwasâaâlimitedâeditionâhandâprintedâboxâsetâofâA6âprintsâforâValentineâsâDayâ2009,âaccompaniedâbyâaârangeâofâcardsâandâaffordableâA5âprints.âTheânextâbigâprojectâwasâtheâObsessionâzineâwhichâfeaturedâ9âillustrators,âeachâofâwhomâdrewâsomethingâtheyâwereâobsessedâwith.âSarahâRayâscreenâprintedâanâalternativeâcoverâdesignâsoâweâcouldâalsoâsellâitâasâaâcolouringâbook.âThereâhaveâbeenâaâfewâlowâkeyâLTPâexhibitionsâsuchâasâtheâWinterâoneâlastâyear.âThisâalsoâincludedâaâboxâsetâofâA6âprints,âChristmasâcardsâandâA5âprints.âAdditionally,âthisâwasâfollowedâbyâaâmuchâsmallerârangeâofâprintsâandâValentinesâcardsâforâ2010.
How does it work practically â where do you do your screen printing?âOriginallyâhalfâofâtheâgroupâhadââGoccosââsoâwereâableâtoâuseâthem,âsoâitâdictatedâtheâsizeâofâprints.â(PrintâGoccoâisâsimilarâtoâscreenâprintingâbutâonâaâveryâsmallâscaleâandâwithâeverythingâneededâenclosedâinâoneâsmallâpieceâofâequipment).âSomeâofâtheâscreenâprintersâareâ
One thing thatâs interesting at the moment is the cross over between craft and illustration.
47ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
membersâofâBirminghamâPrintmakersâwhichâisâwhereâClaireâLynchâprintedâtheâcoversâofâtheâValentineâsâboxâset.âIâwasâofferedâuseâofâtheâprintâfacilitiesâatâBirminghamâInstituteâofâArtâandâDesignâsoâIâprintedâsomeâofâtheâObsessionâzineâcoversâthere.âSinceâthenâIâveâalsoâjoinedâBirminghamâPrintmakersâandânoâlongerâuseâmyâGoccoâasâmuch,âtheâscreensâandâbulbsâareâgettingâtooâexpensiveâandâbecauseâtheâinksâareâoilâbasedâtheyârequireâsolventâbasedâcleanerâwhichâisnâtâgreatâtoâuse.âHow long have you been screen printing and what attracted you to screen printing as a method?âIâspentâaâlotâofâtimeâscreenâprintingâatâschoolâandâthenâonâfoundationâbutâstoppedâwhenâIâgotâtoâUniversityâbecauseâtheâprintâfacilitiesâwerenâtâgreatâandâtheâtechnicianâwasâsoâunapproachable.âIâveâonlyârecentlyâstartedâprintingâagainâandâitâsâaâshameâIâwastedâsoâmanyâyears.â
Screenâprintingâhasâenabledâmeâtoâbecomeâmuchâmoreâself-sufficient.âIâcanâseeâaâprojectâthroughâtoâaâfinishedâproductâwhichâcanâbeâexhibitedâorâsold.âItâalsoâsuitsâmyâstyleâwithâitsâboldâoutlinesâandâlargeâareasâofâsolidâblackâorâwhite.ââWhatâs next for Love to Print?RightânowâIâmâcollaboratingâwithâgraphicâdesignerâKatieâParryâfromâSupercoolâonâaâzineâofâpatternsâwhichâwillâhaveâaâsimilarâformatâtoâObsession.âTheâzineâfeaturesâdesignsâfromâscreenâprintersâSarahâLynch,âDaisyâWhitehouseâandâHelenâEntwisle.âIâmâspendingâaâlotâofâmoneyâonâgettingâthisâzineâprintedâsoâitâmayâbeâaâwhileâuntilâtheânextâLTPâproject.â
IâalsoâneedâtoâstartâworkingâonâtheâGirlsâWhoâDrawââMenagerieââexhibitionâwhichâwillâbeâatâHereâGalleryâinâFalmouthâinâJuly.
Check out lovetoprint.blogspot.com
48â â picaâpicaâmagazine
Owl Brooch byâAddieâPearlââhannahzakari.co.ukââ
Little Maki⊠Salmon Roll byâscrumptionsdelightâetsy.comFish Fingers, Chips, Peas and Tomato Ketchup Set
of Recycled Felt Food Sculpturesâ
byâbritishcreamtea
etsy.com
Penguin with red scarfâbyâallthingssmalletsy.com
Felt Pencil CaseâbyâRoiscroixâBoutique
folksy.com
Felt,âtheâweirdâfuzzyâfabricâusedâtoâcoverâpoolâtables.ââOrâsoâyouâthought!âPicaâPicaâhasârediscoveredâtheirâloveâforâfeltâ
andâtheâthingsâyouâcanâmakeâwithâit!âWeâinstantlyâfellâinâloveâwithâtheseâcuteâbrooches,âfiguresâandâfakeâfoodstuffs.âBelindaâandâMarieâevenâwentâsoâfarâasâtoâcreateâtheirâownâfeltâfriends.â
words by marie haargaard
49ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Squirrel Keyring KitbyâStichâIt
John Lewis
Camera Felt Badge
byâLupinâHandmadeâ
folksy.comKawaii Dinosaur Barrette Hair ClipbyâHeroineIndustries â
etsy.com
Felt Crown
byâMistyâCottageâCrafts
folksy.com
10 Pink Fox Felt Brooch
byâtheboxofbirdsshopâ
etsy.com
50â â picaâpicaâmagazine
âJe suis un oignon!â
Be careful! He could
make you cry!
Ratherâaâchestnut?ââJustâchangeâtheâcolourâ
andâturnâthatâfrownâupsideâdown!
You will needâŠfelt
sewingâneedle
stuffing
glueâ(lookâforâaâfabricâ
bondingâglue)
strongâthreadâ
(whiteâandâpurple)
whiteâwool
1.âPhotocopyâtheâpatternâ-âdou-blingâtheâsizeâofâtheâbody,âbottomâ
andâtheâringsâandâcutâout.
2.âFixingâtheâpatternâtoâtheâfeltâwithâaâfewâstripsâofâstickyâtape,ââ
cutâoutâtheâfelt.
3.âGlueâtheâseparateâsidesâofâtheâarmsâandâlegsâtogetherâbutâleaveâ
theâveryâtopâpartsâunstuck.
4.âBeginâsewingâtheâtwoâbodyâpiecesâtogetherâbutâstopâwhenâyouâ
reachâtheâarm.stickyââtape
HowâtoâmakeâanâonionâplushâtoyâŠ
51ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
5.âHereâsâtheâtrickyâbitâ-âturnâtheâbodyâinsideâoutâandâsewâtheâflapsâyouâleftâonâtheâarmâtoâ
theâinside.
Patterns
50%â* 50%
50%
This is my ass!
x4
x2
*âRememberâtoââdoubleâtheâsize!
made by lucia biagi / whenaworld.com
x2
6.âSewâallâtheâwayâtoâtheâtopâofâtheâbodyâandâinsertâaâlittleâwoollenâ
storkâ(madeâbyâknottingâaâfewâstrandsâtogether)â
andârepeatâtheâprocessâforâtheâ
otherâarm.
7.âMakeâtwoâcutsâinâtheâbaseâ(asâmarkedâtoâtheâleft)ââ
andâinsertâtheâlegsâbyâgluingâthemâtoâtheâinside.ââ
Glueâtheâwhiteâringsâtoâtheâbase.
8.âStuffâtheâbodyâandââsewâonâtheâbase.
9.âGlueâonâtheâeyesâandâmouthââandâŠâheâsâready!
53ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Kate's AviaryBreakâoutâyourâcrayonsâandâgetâcolourfulâwithâtheseâbeautifulâbirds.âAâloverâofâwildlifeâandâ
crafting,âartistâKateâBroughtonâcreatesâuniqueâfeltâanimalâbrooches,âcards,âtoteâbags,âpursesâandâ
notebooksâfromâoriginalâdrawings.ââKateâsâproductsâareâavailableâthroughâherâownâ
websiteâandâEtsyâpage,âincludingâherâbrandânewââColouringâBookâofâBirdsâ.
katebroughton.co.uk
54â â picaâpicaâmagazine
âWhenâsearchingâforâaâgreatâcoverâdesign,âtheâPicaâPicaâteamâstruckâuponâ
theâideaâofârunningâanâopenâbrief.âIllustratorsâandâgraphicâdesignersâwereâinvitedâtoâsubmitâpiecesâforâtheâfrontâandâbackâonâtheâthemeâofâcraftâandâ
creativity,âusingâthreeâcoloursâonly.â
Weâwereâblownâawayâbyâtheâqualityâandâvarietyâofâeveryâsubmissionâandâtheâfantasticâlevelâofâsupportâeachâartistâhasâshownâforâourâlittleâmagazineâ
projectâfromâLondon.âTheseâareâourâfiveâfavouriteârunnersâupâbutâthereâareâmanyâmoreâavailableâforâcloserâinspectionâonâourâwebsite.
âOurâoverallâwinnerâwasâStephanieâBaxter,âwhoseâworkâgracesâtheâcoverâofâ
thisâissue.âWeâfeltâherâadorableâcompositionâreflectedâPicaâPicaâsâvaluesâandâperfectlyâillustratedâtheâdiversityâofânewâwaveâofâcraftâinâtheâUK.âStephanieâ
livesâinâLeedsâandâworksâunderâtheânameâSteph Says Hello.âSheâlovesâdrawingâhappyâthings,âcats,âdrinkingâteaâandâofâcourse,âcrafting.â
PicaâPicaâWantsâYou!
words by belinda johnson
Melinda Francis meeohmy.com
55ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
make sew colour bake cut paste knit create
pica pica
246
mm
(inc
ludi
ng b
leed
)
203 mm (including bleed)
Rui Ribeiro & Sophie Williams behance.net/ruiribeiro
Amy Blackwell amyblackwell.co.uk
Joseph Fells hijamesarkblog.blogspot.com
Sarah Bagshaw patternsfabricartpaperthingsilike.blogspot.com
to see all the entries, visit
picapicamag.co.uk/competition
56â â picaâpicaâmagazine
Made & Sold: Toys, T-shirts, Prints, Zines and Other StuffAgathe Jacquillat & Tomi Vollauschek (Laurence King, ÂŁ19.95)
Loveâindependentâdesign?âMaybeâthisâbookâwasâmadeâ(andâsold)âforâyou!âMadeâ&âSoldâisâaâcollectionâofâtheâself-initiatedâprojectsâofâoverâ90âdesigners,âartistsâandâillustrators.âItâwasâputâtogetherâ
byâFl@33,âaâLondonâbasedâdesignâstudioâatâtheâforefrontâofâtheâscene.âFromâsuperâcollectibleâvinylâtoys,âtoâtheâhumbleât-shirt,âtoâoutâthereâfurnitureâdesigns,âoverâ500âproductsâareâdisplayed.âAnotherâniceâtouchâareâtheâquotesâfromâeachâartist,âwhichâdiscussâhowâtheâdesignersâfeelâaboutâcommissionedâversusâindependentâwork,âtheirârelationshipâwithâclientsâandâtheirâthoughtsâonâdesigningâproducts.âTheâbookâcouldâhaveâdelvedâintoâthisâsubjectâfurtherâandâitâmightâhaveâmadeâitâseemâaâlittleâmoreâsubstantialâinâtermsâofâcontent.âAsâis,âitâsâaâgoodâstart-ingâpointâifâyouâenjoyâthingsâthatâareâwellâdesigned,âgetâexcitedâbyâlimitedâeditionârunsâandâareâhungryâforâmore.âIfâyouâareâaâdesigner,âthereâsâplentyâinâhereâtoâinspireâaâmyriadâofâwaysâtoâpromoteâyourâworkâonâyourâtermsâandâmakeâaâbitâofâextraâcashâinâtheâprocess,âsoâgetâmakingâandâselling!â(CM)â
Knit, Purl, Save the World: Knit and Crocher Projects for Eco-friendly Stitchers Vickie Howell & Adrienne Armstrong (David & Charles, ÂŁ14.99)
Findâoutâhowâyouâcanâhelpâtheâenvironmentâthroughâyourâhobbyâusingâsustainableâandâeco-friendlyâyarns.âWithâ31â
projectsâthereâsâboundâtoâbeâsomethingâthatâtakesâyourâfancy.âWhilstâIâmânotâsureâyouâllâquiteâbeâsavingâtheâworld,âitâsâprobablyâaâstitchâinâtheârightâdirection.â(NR)â
Iron Me On: 30 Sheets of Awesome Fabric TransfersMike Perry(Chronicle Books, ÂŁ6.99)
IâmâoneâofâthoseâpeopleâthatâbuyâotherâpeopleâpresentsâIâsecretlyâwant.âSoâwhenâIâwasâChristmasâshoppingâforâmyâbrotherâandâspottedâthisâbook,âIâhadâaâREALLYâgoodâlookâthroughâitâbeforeâreluctantlyâhandingâitâoverâ
onâChristmasâday.âIâdâneverâheardâofâMikeâPerryâbefore,âbutâsinceâturningâpageâafterâpageâofâseriouslyâcolourfulâandâsometimesâjustâdownrightâdementedâdoodles,âIâcouldânowâbeâconsideredâaâfan.âTheâconceptâofâtheâbookâisâsimple,ââCut,âIron,âFlaunt.ââOneâmightâquestionâtheâcrea-tiveâinputâinâthisâprocess,âbutâtheâfactâthatâtheâtransfersâcanâbeâironedâonâprettyâmuchâanyâkindâofâfabricâandâtheâinclusionâofânumerousâpatternâpagesâtoâcutâyourâownâshapesâfromâmeansâthisâproblemâisâsidesteppedâneatly.âIfâIâdidâmeetâsomeoneâwhoâhadâusedâtheâtransfersâinâtheâexactâsameâwayâasâIâhad,âitâwouldâhaveâtoâbeâconsideredâasâsomeâkindâofâawesomeâcosmicâeventâthatâwouldârenderâusâbroâsâforâlife.âSpeakingâofâbroâs,âturnedâoutâmineâlovedâthisâbookâasâmuchâasâIâdid,âandâasâluckâwouldâhaveâitâsomeoneâwhoâobviouslyâknowsâmeâveryâwellâindeedâgotâmeâitâforâChristmasâtoo!â(CM)
How to make a pleated skirt: An instruction book by DIYcoutureRosie Martin(DIYcouture, ÂŁ9.00)
Thisâpleatedâskirtâhow-toâisâjustâoneâinstalmentâinâaâseriesâwhichâfeaturesâotherâbasicâandâversatileâitems.âWithoutâtheâsometimesâcomplexâandâpre-
scriptiveâinstructionsâofâshopâboughtâpatterns,âMartinâsâhighlyâvisualâstyleâwillâguideâyouâthroughâtheâprocess,âdemonstratingâhowâtoâtailorâtheâskirtâtoâyourâownâmeasurements.âBeautifullyâproducedâandâbrimmingâwithâinspiration,âthinkâofâthisâbookâasâpartâofâanâinvestmentâinâaâwholeânew,âhandmadeâcoutureâwardrobe.â(NR)â
reviews by natalie ridgway, cat millar, rebecca antrobus and gillian harris
57ââpicaâpicaâmagazine
Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft and DesignFaythe Levine & Cortney Heimel(Princeton Architectural Press, ÂŁ14.99)
Producedâalongsideâtheâmakingâofâaâdocumentaryâfilmâofâtheâsameâname,âFaytheâLevineâandâCortneyâHeimelâhaveâmadeâitâtheirâmissionâtoâchartâtheâfastâ
growingâindieâcraftâscene.âFeaturingâinterviewsâwithâmakersâacrossâtheâUSA,âincludingâJennyâHartâofâSub-limeâStitchingâwhoâmakesâquirky,âcontemporaryâhandâembroideredâpiecesâandâkits;âSueâDalyâtheâwomanâbehindâRenegadeâHandmade,âaâChicagoâcraftâfairâwhichâwasâoneâofâtheâfirstâofâitsâkindâtoâbringâtogetherâhip,âyoungâcraftersârebellingâagainstâtheâtraditionalâartsâandâcraftâscenes;âandâStephanieâSyjuco,âofâAnti-factory,âmakingâhandmadeâclothesâinâoppositionâtoâmass-produced,âandâinevitablyâsweat-shoppedâgarments.âTheâcraftersâexpressâaâsharedâsenseâofâaâDIYâethos,âtappingâintoâdissatisfac-tionâwithâmanufacturedâcommodities,âandâartâandâcraftâworldsâtheyâcouldânotâidentifyâwith.âAnâexcellentâreflec-tionâonâtheâmeaningâofâaâhandmadeânationâtoday.â(NR)â
Radical Lace & Subversive KnittingDavid Revere McFadden, Jennifer Scanlan & Jennifer Steifle Edwards. (ACC Editions; illustrated edition, ÂŁ18.99)
BasedâonâtheâexhibitionâofâtheâsameânameâforâtheâMuseumâofâArtsâ&âDesign,âthisâbookâisâaâfascinatingâexplorationâofâhowâmaterialsâcanâbeâtransformedâ
fromâtheirâpre-assignedâconnotationsâintoâworksâthatâquestionâtheâcurrentâestablishedâgenresâofâtheâartâworld.âDavidâRevereâMcFadden,âtheâChiefâCuratorâexplainsâthatâthisâworkâstrivesâtoâaskâtheâquestions,ââhowâdoesâsomethingâasâinnocentâandâharmlessâasâknittingâbecomeâsubversive?ââandââhowâcanâlaceâserveâradicalâends?ââManyâofâtheâfeaturedâartistsâareâtryingâtoâshakeâupâtheânormsâthatâexistâinâourâsocietyâwhilstâpromotingâtheârenewalâofâcommunitiesâandâtheâdemiseâofâtraditionalâdefinitionsâofâknittingâandâlaceâmaking.âWithâimpressiveâimagesâandâinterestingâexplanations,âthisâbookâallowsâtheâreaderâtoâgainâinsightâintoâtheâfluidityâofâartâandâtheâever-growingâresurgenceâofâradicalâcrafting.â(RA)â
Felt, Cut and Sew Unique: Upcycle jumpers into one-of âa-kind clothes and accessoriesCrispina Ffrench(David & Charles, ÂŁ14.99)
Thisâbookâisâchockâfullâofâcrea-tiveâideas,âforâbothâchildrenâandâ
adults.âItâisâalsoâanâinspiringâaccountâofâwhatâoneâpersonâcanâachieveâbyâtakingâsomethingâcompletelyâordinaryâandâmakingâitâintoâsomethingâsensational.âCrispinaâfirstâbeganâupcyclingâbyâturningâfeltâandâoldâsweatersâintoâadorableâdinosaurs,âwhichâsheâcallsâRagamuffins.âTheâfocusâofâthisâcraft,âandâothers,âisâtoâturnâsomethingâfunc-tionalâintoâsomethingâdesirableâwithâlittleâmaterialâcost.âCrispinaâguidesâyouâthroughâthisâphilosophyâwithâherâremarkableâknowledgeâofâusedâmaterialsâandâtheâbasicâskillsâyouâwillâneedâtoâcreate.âNotâonlyâisâthisâeconomicalâbookâpackedâfullâofâgreatâideas,âitâwillâhelpâyouâgetâridâofâthoseâuglyâsweatersâtoo!â(GH)
Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit GraffitiMandy Moore & Leanne Prain(Arsenal Pulp Press, ÂŁ13.99)
Streetâartâhasâbecomeâsynony-mousâwithâtheâurbanâlandscape.âTakingâitsânameâfromâtheâgraffitiâ
termââtoâbombâ,âmeaningâtoâcoverâanâareaâinâyourâtag,âyarnâbombing,âusingâknittedâorâcrochetedâtags,âconjuresâupâaâmoreâcuddlyâimageâthanâtheâstereotypicalâgraffitiâartist.âOriginatingâinâ2005âinâHouston,âTexas,âwithâaâbrightâknittedârectangleâattachedâtoâaâdoorâhandle,âyarnâbombingâcapturedâtheâimaginationâofâaânewâbreedâofâcrafters,âwithâtagsâappearingâallâoverâtheâworldâinâtheâformâofâsweatersâforâtrees,âstreetâfurnitureâcoverings,âoutfitsâforâstatues,âorâjustâlittleâknittedâflowersâleftâinâtheâstreet.âNowâwithâinternationalâfollowing,âevenâtheâsleepyâseasideâUKâtownâofâWhitstableâhasâitsâownâcrew.âFeatur-ingâinterviewsâwithâyarnâgraffitiâartistsâwithâstreetânamesâsuchâasâPolyCotN,âAKrylik,âandâDropztitchâtogetherâwithâamazingâpictures,âtheâauthorsâgoâbeyondâjustâchartingâthisâgrowingâtrend.âParticipationâisâencouragedâwithâadviceâonâgettingâstarted,âimportantâthingsâtoâconsiderâandâpatternsâtoâhelpâgetâyouâonâyourâway.â(NR)â
58â â picaâpicaâmagazine
Loopâisâaâtreasureâtroveâforâanyâknitterâorâcrocheter,ânestledâjustâoffââtrendyâIslingtonâsâwell-heeledâUpperâStreet.âHavingâopenedâinâJulyâ2005,âtheâshopâpridesâitselfâonâsourcingâonlyâtheâmostâgorgeousâandâhigh-qualityâyarnsâandâaccessoriesâfromâacrossâtheâglobe.âPicaâPicaâcaughtâupâwithâshopâowner,âSusanneâCropperâtoâfindâoutâmoreâaboutâtheâstore.â
What was your background before the shop? Iâwasâasâanâartâdirectorâonâmagazines.Why did you want to open the shop? IâopenedâLoopâasâIâwantedâaâgorgeousâknittingâshopâinâLondonâthatâIâcouldâgoâtoâandâgetâgreatâsupplies,âinspirationâandâclassesâbutâthereâwasânone.âSoâIâdidâitâmyselfâandâopenedâLoopâhopingâitâwouldâbeâanâinspirational,âcosyâandâhelpfulâspaceâforâknittersâandâcrocheters.What are you favourite designer pieces and yarns that you have in stock at the moment? MyâfavouriteâyarnâatâtheâmomentâisâMalabrigoâ4âplyâyarnâwhichâisâhandâdyedâfromâUruguayâandâtotallyâbeautifulâtoâlookâatâandâtoâknitâwith.
Loop, 41 Cross Street, Islington, London, N1 2BB, 020 7288 1160 loopknitting.com(Moving to Camden Passage in early June. The new address will be 15 Camden Passage, Islington N1, so even handier for the Tube!)
GoingâLoopy
Websites we love:
Lapin & Me Homeâofâsuperâkitschâbags,âpursesâandâachinglyâcuteâstationery.âYouâcanâbuyâonlineâorâswingâbyâtheirâshopâatâ14âEzraâStreet,âjustâoffâColumbiaâRoad,âLondon.âlapinandme.co.uk
Be-Bop-A-Lula SpecialisingâinâfeltââappliquĂ©dâcushions,âbroochesâandâaccessories,âwithâaârockabillyâtwistâandâpricesâyouâcanâafford.âbe-bop-a-lula.com
Lola-Pop TickingâallâourâboxesâwithâbrightâjewelleryâhandmadeâinâtheâUK. lolapop.co.uk
words by natalie ridgwayphotos by loop
pica pica favourite!
illustrations by amy blackwellamyblackwell.co.uk
GoingâLoopy