Creative Crafts and Dizzy Delights

A burst of fine weather at the beginning of June saw us heading off across the majestic peaks of Dartmoor to the Contemporary Craft Fair at Bovey Tracey (www.craftsatboveytracey.co.uk).
As always, we were overwhelmed by the high standard of work, and here we are sharing a few of our favourites.  

Brett Payne's wonderful candlesticks

Silversmith Brett Payne  (www.brettpayne.com) 

Brett creates elegant and exquisite designs which give sleek sculptural shapes to objects such as candelabra, which may be displayed and used in numerous variations to suit the occasion and mood of the moment. We found his designs mesmeric.

The wit of vinegarandbrownpaper

Vinegar and Brown Paper (www.vinegarandbrownpaper.co.uk, Facebook.com/mendyourhead)

Andy Poplar takes glass etching to a new level with his fun and funky ideas to enliven glass storage! 
Off the shelf or personalised pieces, we were delighted with his wit and wicked sense of humour - much along our own lines of thinking!

Trying on hats!

Fiona Baker  (www.fionabakermillinery.co.uk)

We just couldn't resist trying on a hat or two, especially some of the quirky designs so beautifully executed by friendly Fiona Baker.  Her stunning leather dahlias were only eclipsed by the toadstool treasure that Creative is modelling.

Haywood Sisters modelling the fascinators we made

This dressing up session reminded us of earlier in the year, when we created some fascinators for London-based singers The Haywood Sisters (www.the haywoodsisters.com). 
Their fabulous repertoire of Vintage and close harmony singing sees this lovely trio in great demand, nationally and across the channel. 
Our London cousins Boo and Bea LaChest  tell us in their latest emails the Sisters have now branched out further to give workshops in singing - how much fun can that be?!
Dizzy: I challenge us to go to a singing workshop, next time we go to London!
Creative: Oh my Gawd, heaven help the Haywood Sisters!

Getting ready for our vintage frocks

Keeping with the Vintage theme, we spent a fabulous weekend at the Miss Ivy Events (www.missivyevents.co.uk) All Things Vintage and Lovely Show, hosted in the beautiful setting of National Trust Cotehele House (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele). 
We dressed up in our prettiest frocks, taking our time to get ready so we looked at our best.
The rain held off, picnics came out, and everyone had fun with music, dancing, stalls, cars, and craft workshops. Together with friend Lis we helped Jay Hooper from Orchard Learning Studios  (www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk) to run the craft workshops, and to stage 'Get Your Vintage Look' - which we hope to repeat in Plymouth, in September.

Soo embarassing

Dizzy: The only problem with fine weather, great music and vintage cars, is that it also draws in the soldiers and their jeeps - and just guess who couldn't resist the pull of those men in uniform! 

Creative: I didn't spend all my time flirting, you know! 

Dizzy: Maybe, but the lovely wife Helen was a surprise! Thankfully she came along to rescue the moment, and both she and her husband were terrific sports.

Helles Belles, and a little jealousy! 

When Dizzy could finally drag Creative away from the uniforms, we made a new friend in Winnie. 

Dizzy and Creative meet Winnie

She is a Memory Bear, who uses fabric and clothing to create enduring memories of those we have lost. We were touched by the sincerity and compassion of the work that Winnie undertakes with people at their most vulnerable. The comfort and delight her quality designs bring must be considerable. (www.BagsFullofMemories.co.uk) 

Winnie works alongside colleague Sarah Chapman (www.celebrationceremoniessouthwest.com), an independent celebrant who will help to arrange individual ceremonies for individual people.

image from www.vinegarandbrownpaper.co.uk

Quote of the month :

 The Pen is mightier than the sword 
(Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton)

Our next Public appearance:

Friday & Saturday 28th & 29th August 
Moor Foreshore Craft and Gift Fayre, Tavistock, Devon 
(www.aquariusdesignsjewellery.com/moorforeshore/events)

Dizzy and Creative copyright 2013 with CarolAnn Design Studio and Jay Hooper, Orchard Learning Studios.   All rights reserved

Dizzy and Creative, and May Madness

Let’s go back to the beginning. We got together in 2013 over a commission for curtains at The Garden House at Buckland, Devon.  Carolann Design Studio created stunning designs for hand painted curtains, drawing the garden into the interior of the comfortable tearooms.

Painting the curtains to the original designs of CarolAnn Design Studio

Dizzy and Creative with the finished curtains

 The curtains were made in partnership with Jay Hooper of Orchard Learning Studios and the duo had such fun completing the commission, that they staged a pair of scarecrows in The Garden House scarecrow competition in the summer of 2014.    

Scarecrows Dizzy Designer and Creative Cookie

Christened Dizzy Designer and Creative Cookie, the scarecrows drew so much attention that they got above themselves and taking on a life of their own, started to work together on more projects and so we gradually emerged in our own right. In our travels, our names have become shortened to Dizzy and Creative, and we appear to have each developed a persona reflecting some of our more prominent character traits. 

We revisited The Garden House in May, taking time to enjoy the emerging Spring and early summer colours and playing hide and seek with head gardner Nick.

Hiding from Nick

Enjoying the sunshine at The Garden House

May has also seen us pay a visit to the Delamore Arts 2015 annual Art exhibition. This is a stunning venue, showcasing some fabulous art and emerging new talent.

The grass underfoot was damp and the sun was trying to break through an early morning haze when excitedly, we got out of the car and scampered over the lawns and amongst the shrubbery, enjoying the wealth of art and sculpture planted in stunning natural settings. We couldn't resist stopping for a dance with Alice. 

Alice with a Hoop by Antoinette Jackson

Floating Glass Sphere by Sue Smith

Diving In by Allan Mackenzie

The pond looked tranquil and dramatic with the beautiful and colourful Floating Glass Sphere created by Sue Smith rocking gracefully on the water, catching the light as the fountain spray turned it gently around.

Waterlily Group by Emily Stone

Testing the Water by Anna Rothwell

We remained a while by the pond, basking in warm sunshine and absorbing the emotional beauty of the surroundings. Against a backdrop of azaleas in full colour, art and nature combined gentle activity in individual worlds, giving us a pause filled with serenity.

As we explored other parts of the house and garden, we enjoyed seeing work on display from old friends – Drawn to the Valley artists Ian Pethers, Ian Shalliker, Shari Hills and Tessa-Jane Designs.

Horse and Rider by Tessa Pullan

At the end of a sunny and inspirational day we girls said our goodbyes to Horse and Rider, with Creative getting a little carried away – the flirt! Dizzy  managed her blushes well as Creative sought to cadge a ride off into the sunset.  

After this day of inspiration, came a day of hard work, as together with friend Lis, we took the stand to the Moor Foreshore art and craft fair in Tavistock, Devon. Organisers Aquarius Designs managed some warm blue skies for the day, although we admit to getting a little distracted by the opportunities for a little disruption and high jinks! 

We made a new friend called Pebbles, who we will introduce properly in another episode. Thank you to all our supporters who came to say hello, it was lovely to see everyone as well as meet people new to us, and some visiting the town on holiday.  

Distracted by the opportunity for mischief!

Quote of the month: 

Spring Embroidery by Zoe Ager

   

Next public appearance:  All Things Vintage and Lovely; Miss Ivy Events, Cotehele House,Cornwall June 13^th and 14^th.  Do come and say Hello!


Dizzy and Creative copyright 2013 with CarolAnn Design Studio and Jay Hooper, Orchard Learning Studios.   All rights reserved.