Dizzy and Creative meet two young and exciting designers.

As well as trying to search out as many Easter Eggs as the Bunny hid for us, we recently caught up with two young exciting designers showing humour and fabulous style through their work. We hope you their enjoy and like their work too, take a peek through their links and see what they are up to.

We love Sarah's quirky sense of humour!!

Sarah Edmonds is a self taught illustrator living and working in sunny Worthing. Raised on a farm on the Welsh
borderlands, she has been making and drawing since a young age. She creates illustrated maps, alphabets, colourful characters and explorations of the natural world using a fusion of hand drawn and digital techniques. Sarah draws inspiration from vintage print production, instructional children's illustration and mid-century colour palettes. She is a huge fan of word-play and is a self-professed crayon nerd, always carrying a sketchbook with her to capture intriguing ideas, people and places. In summer 2015 she held an interactive exhibition entitled Bird Life at Fika, Brick Lane, London. This new body of work explored the relationship between humans and birds. She divides her time between client work for museums, publishers and organisations and producing her own illustration-led collection for sale. She is currently developing a more narrative portfolio and is represented by The Catchpole Agency for children's books.

Visit Sarah's Etsy shop www.sarahedmondsmarket.etsy.com to browse her ranges of cards, prints and bags. As a special treat she's offering readers of Dizzy & Creative a 10% discount off any order with the code DIZZYCREATIVE16 (offer ends 31 May 2016).

Rebecca's work is full of colour and vitality

R E B E C C A  M A R K L E S S

Rebecca is a print and interior textile designer originally from Rutland now working from her studio in London. She is inspired by nature and the weird and wonderful creatures of the world.

All her work starts in the form of hand drawings to which she then adds a contemporary colour palette and works into repeating patterns. 

Her product range currently includes cushions, teatowels and framed prints and she is working on a wallpaper and fabric range due to be launched later this year.

www.marklessdesign.com

© Jay Hooper & Carol Kennedy 2016.  All rights reserved.

Dizzy and Creative loose at London Olympia Knitting Stitching Show

Greetings to all our Dizzy and Creative readers and followers. We have just returned from our fabulous launch at the Knitting and Stitching Show at London Olympia 2016.

Dizzy & Creative Embroidery projects www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk

Creative and I have returned happily tired, and bubbling over with excitement as we prepare our next collection.

We met so many lovely people, from established stitchers to young textile students who gave us encouraging positive feedback about our current sewing projects.

Creative and I had the opportunity to sneak away from our stand, thanks to Sam, who arrived armed with food supplies and lovely chocolatey treats to sustain us. 

We met talented Knitters and Stitchers with a variety of wonderful skills and products, so over the coming weeks follow us and we will tell you about them and share their details with you.

Being an extravagant pair, we held a special prize draw to win one of our sewing projects and Nicki from Gosport, was the lucky winner!  Congratulations Nicki, please send a photo of your finished Bird panel embroidery and we will picture into our new customer gallery that is coming to the Orchard Learning Studios website soon.!  ( don’t worry we won’t set a deadline!).

Bird's eye view of the show

Carol and Jay, under the illusion that they are our carers, perched us (Dizzy and Creative Dolls) up onto a shelf, thinking it would keep us out of mischief ! We had a birds eye-view of the show and many admirers, who couldn’t resist buying our pattern, and have promised to send us pictures for our picture gallery. We would love to meet them, maybe at another show?

Peter Lanyon Furniture

We would like to thank Peter Lanyon Furniture, for providing us with an exquisite stool to display our cushion, both were greatly admired. Peter, offers courses and workshops across Devon and Cornwall, which would make an ideal gift or a holiday retreat for inspiring furniture makers. Contact Peter for details at www.peterlanyonfurniture.co.uk

©  Jay Hooper & Carol Kennedy 2016 all rights reserved.

Dizzy gets pampered.

Dizzy & Creative Doll Pattern

It’s all so exciting, I can’t believe that we are off to London next week, to the Knitting and Stitch Show at London Olympia   3 - 6 March 2016.  Carol and Jay are launching a ‘Dizzy and Creative’ doll pattern based on us, including patterns for a
dress, pants and shoes! How good is that?

To top it all, Carol and Jay have also produced the most amazing collection of quality sewing projects suitable for beginners and accomplished stitchers. When you see their new collection you will appreciate the quality and versatility, which will make fabulous gifts.

Quality embroidery projects from 

www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk

 

March Hair 01822- 859090        

marchhairyelverton@gmail.com   

www.marchhair.co.uk

Ed pampers me

 Creative had her curly locks brightened up with highlights, the things she will do for attention!  My hairdresser, Ed, at March Hair (Yelverton Branch) sat me in a very special high chair to have my fringe and hair trimmed. I was pampered and given a lovely cup of tea and magazines to read, it was lovely and so relaxing. 

Sarah, at MH gave me a few tips to pass onto Creative, on how best to apply her make up, especially her eyeliner! (a story for another day)! 

That reminds me, I must get my nails done just before we head off on our journey, what colour to choose, decisions, decisions....!

Dizzy x

c Jay Hooper & Carol Kennedy 2013 all rights reserved.

Creative gets Foiled!

Extracts from Creative's Diary

www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk

Testing a Dizzy & Creative' project

 

 

 

Sunday 14th February

Bit disappointed to receive just one Valentine card, but as it was signed by all the boys in the Regiment, I suppose that wasn't too bad!
Dizzy and I went to help Jay and Carol of Orchard Learning Studios. 
They are packing up their beautiful range of 'Dizzy & Creative' embroidery and sewing projects to launch at the Knitting and Stitching Show at London Olympia. www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/spring/
They have invited Dizzy and I to go with them!  Sooo exciting!  I offered to 'test drive' one of their projects, so looking forward to a bit of stitching.

Dizzy didn't realise that I'd noticed her get stuck on some of the hanging hooks - I pretended to ignore the bleats and Carol went to the rescue. Honestly not too sure how I'm going to share a hotel room with her for a week! Must look through the wardrobe and decide what to wear in London.

Devon Life Magazine (March Issue) www.devonlife.co.uk

Tuesday 16th February

 Bought a copy of the March issue of Devon Life magazine - and there we are, Dizzy and I (with two of Jay and Carol's designs), on Page 20! So gratifying to be noticed.


                                                          Sunday 21st February

Embroidered Panel (Tulip)

 

Finished off the embroidered panel, Tulip design. Jay whipped it up into a cushion cover and I think they're taking it to show on the stand at Olympia. 
I'm really pleased with the result and I have to say that it's largely due to the quality of the materials and instructions in the project. 

My new shoes - I love the colour!

Dizzy's new shoes

Tuesday 23rd February

Dizzy and I tried on some new leather shoes made especially for us by Penny B of The Hat Studio. 
www.thehatstudiotavistock.co.uk
 
They are sooo pretty - and very comfortable. Penny's matched the colours to our dresses really well. Jay and Carol have asked us to particularly focus on telling people about the doll pattern they've created, based on the two of us. So we have to really look our best.    
Must iron my dress.

Wednesday 24th February

Getting foiled by Laura

Went to see Laura at Rachels Hairdressing, where I had both Laura and Georgia attending me. 
 www.rachels-salon.co.uk/

Laura made sure that all the foils were in place, and they  worked hard to make sure my hair will look it's very best next week. 

Must book an appointment for my nails.

Dizzy's Diary

Dizzy's Diary, Sunday 14th February 2016

Dear Diary,
I had such a strange day yesterday! It was not exactly raining (for once), so I took myself off to see Carol and Jay and see if they needed any help. They're counting down to the launch of their new embroidery and sewing projects at the Knitting and Stitching Show at London Olympia, and now in the middle of packing everything up in readiness.

I got a bit carried away

I called in to the printer RedRok (http://www.redrok.co.uk/) on my way to pick up some labels for them, then Carol pointed out that I'd left a curler in the back of my hair!! What Lee must have thought at the printers, I blush to think of it.

Carol and Jay invited Creative and I to go to London with them!  So excited. C & J asked me to take a look at the furniture they've put together for their stand at the show (G88) and I got a bit carried away. Jay came along after I'd been stuck for about 5 minutes, and helped me down.

Creative testing the new projects

Creative is testing out some of their new projects, and was so engrossed in sewing she didn't really notice what happened to me so can't do the superior act, for once.

Valentine's day today. Didn't get a card, but as didn't expect one am not disappointed. 

http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/spring/

www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk 

© Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy 2013 all rights reserved

2016 Here We Come!

Christmas seems a long way away, now that we're well into the New Year!  We hope that everyone managed to find Christmas cheer, and wish all our followers a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016.

Our hearts have gone out to all those around the world who have suffered with the elements, and have had to cope with flooding and worse. We may be miles away, but our thoughts are very much with everyone affected.

Our Christmas and New Year celebrations were quieter affairs than planned, because our London cousins Boo and Bea LaCheste were not able to come and stay, after all.

Dizzy test drives her stocking

Instead, we had a quiet and relaxing time and enjoyed each other's company. Dizzy hung out her Christmas stocking, having given it a test drive beforehand, and tried it on for size! Father Christmas delivered some lovely treats and we count ourselves two very lucky girls.

Now, we just need some good long walks and exercise classes, then we'll be ready for our next exciting trip. Because we've just received an invitation to be at the Knit and Stitch Show at London from 3rd - 6th March (www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com)
Our good friends Jay and Carol will be at their Orchard Learning Studios stand (www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk),  launching a brilliant range of - would you believe it - Dizzy and Creative embroidery and sewing kits!

We are so excited, we'll be taking a sneak preview of their beautiful designs in the next few days - and we'll try to pass on whatever we can!

Meanwhile, Dizzy's off to the kitchen to convert the last remaining bit of stale stollen into the most scrumptious pudding - our very last and final indulgence. Here's the recipe, for anyone who'd like to give it a go.

Recipe of the month:

Dizzy’s  easy peasy tasty stollen style bread and butter bread pudding.

Ingredients :

Stollen cake or bite sizes  pieces approximately 100g (4oz)

250ml milk (8 fl oz)

1large egg well beaten.

A knob of butter to grease 20cm (8-inch ) square pie dish

Pinch of cinnamon

75g Toasted flaked almonds (optional)

  

Serves 2-3

Grease the pie dish with butter.

Break up the stollen into chunky pieces and evenly distribute into the pie dish.

Beat the egg into the milk and pour the custard mixture over the stollen and leave to stand for about 20 -30 minutes.

 NB. note that sugar has not been added to the custard, the stollen will make it sweet enough.

 Sprinkle with cinnamon

Top with toasted almonds (optional)

Set the oven to 180C / 350F /Gas 4. Bake 30 - 40 minutes until fluffy and lightly golden.

Serve warm. mmm yummy,  you can be extra naughty and enjoy with a dollop of cream or creme fraiche.

Top tip.

For an extra treat, add frozen blackberries into the mixture just before popping into the this helps to prevent the blackberry juices leaking into the custard.

 © Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy 2013 all rights reserved

Dizzy is Creative in the kitchen...and it's nearly Christmas!

Tell-tale tasting

" Hmmm.....I see that Creative has done the Christmas and New Year cleaning and re- organising the kitchen again!  Where has she hidden the brandy? I know the cousins are partial to a drop or two,  Creative could have at least let me feed the cake before hiding it ! Oh, there’s some in that rather smart X.O cognac bottle, that’ll do." 

"I think I’ll do a vital taster on those pretty chocolatey things, there are loads, if I surreptitiously spread them about a bit, them Creative shouldn’t miss the odd one or two. mm..yummy, yummy yum , ooh, look at the time!

Must crack on, as the cake needs to be decorated."

The cake looks lovely

 'Dizzy! - What happened to the chocolates I bought  to decorate the cake?  Don't tell me -

I saw that guilty look when I came in with the shopping, and I'm sure that's the remains still smeared across your cheek!  

Sorry, I forgot to buy more cooking brandy, what did you use instead? No, don’t answer, I'd rather not know. I have to admit it, though - the cake looks lovely, well done.'

'I see you've left me another mess to clear up in the kitchen!  but glad to see that after your fall, your poor hand has recovered enough to do some baking, though the antics you will get up to to avoid the washing up or loading the dishwasher! ' 

Dizzy and sticky tape - not a good combination!

'I've found the perfect innards for our crackers, so having practiced on those we made last week, we can make them for real, and will have the table looking really beautiful on Christmas Day.  I bought some extra wrapping paper as well, because I know how you get all wrapped up yourself; just go easy on the sticky tape this year and I won't need to cut you out of it again. Well, not much, anyway.'

'Is that a card from Boo and Bea? Do our celebrated London cousins say when they will actually be arriving, or do we just have to guess? Oh, do wash your hands, there's a sticky mark on the front of it - and now you've got glitter on your face along with those brown choclately marks.'

Creative checks Santa's definition

Dizzy hangs her stocking

"Boo and Bea said they will arrive early evening- ish on Christmas eve, Pebbles is dropping them off on her way down to Cornwall. No doubt Boo and Bea will be in top form and high spirited, in more sense than one!  

At least we're both ready for Father Christmas, just some mince pies to prepare for the reindeer, then...."

........................Dizzy and Creative  would like to wish everyone  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

A Quote for Christmas:

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!  (Author Unknown)



© 2013 Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy. All rights reserved.