Welcome the Calico Crafts Design Team
Welcome everyone, to the new Calico Crafts Design Team Blog…We would like to start off by introducing the team to you by adding a short, craft relevant biography…
Firstly me:
Louise aka Zuzu:
My personal blog: zuzuspetalsstuff.blogspot.com
My name is Louise but in the craft world I am known as Zuzu (or Z). I started crafting about 7 years ago by taking up simple card making. (I shudder to think at some of the cards i churned out and thought were fabulous). I soon realised that card making wasnt for me and I discovered things like, tags, ATCs, fatbooks etc and did that for a while. Still I didn’t get comfy with crafting until I really discovered Altered Art. 3D objects seem to give me more satisfaction or adding a lot of texture to flatter objects. I have Linda Baldock to thank for that (someone I hope you will all be meeting here at some point). Basically that’s it, I love altered art in a vintage shabby chic style and fail terribly at clean techniques. I am not a great stamper either yet love using them in my altered art projects.
I am a trained Counsellor and worked for two years for place2be (a charitable organisation running counselling for kids in schools), play guitar and a few other instruments and love cooking for dinner parties. Married with one 30 year old son.
Trish:
Personal Blog: inkpaintbeads.blogspot.com
My name is Trish Latimer and I’m a full time mixed media artist. I write and design for a few magazines, and also teach classes near my home in sunny Blackpool!
I’ve been crafting seriously for over ten years, and teaching for nearly that long. My passion is using paint, ink and rubber stamps to create quirky colourful art on a variety of surfaces. I love making cards, but am probably most happy working on wood, chipboard or canvas. Any size, any shape! I adore getting messy, glue and paint accidents have turned into some of my favourite pieces!
I find inspiration in the oddest places, paint charts and fabric stores are an endless source of interesting colour combinations, and I’m always on the lookout for that strange piece of ephemera that can be a starting point for a creation of some sort. I would say the people who inspire me most are Teesha Moore and Dina Wakely, I am in awe of the way they use colour and shape in their work!
Pat:
Personal Blog: laughincolour.blogspot.com
My name is Pat. I am semi-retired (I look after my youngest granddaughter – do the school run and holidays), but give myself plenty of time to craft.
I have been interested in crafts for as long as I can remember – learning to knit and crotchet from my grandmother as a child and developing my skills and interests throughout my life. Currently my interests are with mixed media – I am inspired by the Tim Holtz and people like Beryl Taylor. I am one of those people that keeps all sorts of bits and pieces – and have even picked up old rusty bits to use in my work. My family would call in junk – I look on it as treasure. I had my own craft shop for years – but was glad to retire and have more time to concentrate on my own work….
Gillian
Personal Blog: scrappydoo-gillian.blogspot.com
My name is Gillian Simson, I live on the North East coast of Scotland. I have been crafting for around 10 years . I started with paper crafting and stamping but quickly discovered the world of altered art and working on 3D objects. My favoured styles ranges from grunge, distressed, shabby chic and vintage. I enjoy experimenting with a variety of mediums including, paints, inks and texture using them in as many ways as possible and trying to think “outside the box”.
That’s all from us just now but look out for projects appearing this week and regularly from now on.
I love all of the projects, I want to try them all – keep them coming you are all a great inspiration.
Thank you Susan
x
Hi team. I work in the funeral industry and am tired and disappointed of how the ‘mum’ ‘dad’ etc floral tributes are pretty much unchanged in decades. Is it possible to make grapevine letters for floral decoration? Thanks for your comments. Michelle
Hi Michelle…
I must be honest and say that I do not fully understand the question and wonder if this is more of a stock/supplies question?
We, at the design team, are asked to use the scrapbooking and altered art supplies stocked and sold in the Calico Crafts shop, to make pieces that will inspire altered art artists and scrapbookers. I personally have no experience of floral decoration or display but would imagine if you have the correct vine for weaving or bunching then making letters would just be a matter of skilled shaping and tying? perhaps you could ask your floral wreath suppliers/ connections to look in to this for you as I suspect its not really our field of expertise; or give it a go yourself… could be very therapeutic if you know how.or learning how might be a nice branch out (no pun intended)
Thank you for visiting the blog.
Zuzu x
hi to all the team,
must say i love calico
anne
Hi Team, I have just found you and your shop and will make an order later today. I was trying to get to sleep, but even Kalms didn’t work, I’m actually glad they didn’t cos I found you and now I love love love you and everything about altered art. I think I’m altered ha ha at least I’m craft crazy and don’t think of much else. I think I should try and get some Z ‘ds now and meet you peeps later on. Nice meeting you, even if it is on strange terms ie : 5.42 am oops.
Hug and happy crafting Jan x :0)