In Stitches

Dizzy and Creative in their new tops

We've been looking through our summer wardrobe, discarding the tired old and faded clothes and then realising that there was not a lot left! 

This inspired us to rummage through other drawers and cupboards and we found the February 2015 issue of the Sew Home and Style magazine (www.sewmag.co.uk), and with it  a FREE Simplicity (simplicitynewlook.com) pattern for a pretty summer top.  

Now really enthusiastic, we dug deeper and found some pieces of fabric and decided to have a go at making our own new tops. We fought a bit over the colours, but eventually agreed that Dizzy would dazzle with purple silk, and Creative would highlight her eyes with a pretty blue.

Here are the results.  What do you think? We are really proud of ourselves and plan to make more clothes soon.


Dizzy went out gardening (not before changing out of her lovely new top), and spent a relaxing afternoon in the sunshine, amid scent and colours. She came upon this beautiful rose, with it's voluptuous shape and deep scent reminiscent of Grandma's bathroom.  

However, neither Dizzy or Creative can put a name to this lovely flower, which starts it's bloom as a vibrant coral pink, fading to salmon and apricot hues as the flower opens fully. Do you know the name of this rose? Please add a comment if you can help us to identify it.

Pontia Daplidice butterfly, photographer Lee Hurrell

This is a picture of the beautiful female Pontia Daplidice butterfly, taken by photographer Lee Hurrell. We love the delicacy of the markings on this fast flying, rare visitor to the UK, have you seen one this summer? 

We kept our eyes peeled in the hope of spotting one when we visited National Trust property Buckland Abbey, Devon - once home of Sir Francis Drake (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey). 

On a warm sunny morning we delighted in the beautiful wooded setting and followed the trail of giant footsteps which lead the visitor towards the ancient buildings nestling at the heart of the valley. 

Peter and David take us for a ride!

We were welcomed by fun and cheerful volunteers Peter and David who gave us a ride the buggy. They were in stitches as we all posed for a snap.

Dizzy - I know they weren't in uniform, but I still had to hold Creative back, you know what she's like! 

There is so much to do and discover in this rich setting full of history and surprises. We strongly recommend a visit this summer, whatever your age or interest.

Drake's Drum

In keeping with our Buckland Abbey visit, our Quote of the Month comes from Sir Francis Drake himself: "There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory"

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

Summer Sensations

Dizzy not yet ready for the beach!

The long-awaited burst of warmth saw us preparing to head for the beach. First job was to dig out the swimwear and try it on, test for moth holes and midriff bulge.

Creative: Dizzy! I'm sorry to have to tell you.... I think you need a little visit to the beautician, before you expose anything further in public!

Suitably chastened, Dizzy made the booking and we took ourselves off to see the lovely Tara at Tara's Treatments in Woolwell, Plymouth (www.tarastreatments.co.uk). 

Tara's Treatments provides the best service!

'Helping' each other!

Tara knows her beauty stuff and also supports the Look Good Feel Better charity for women with cancer. She helps with skin care and make up in monthly workshops at The Mustard Tree at Derriford Hospital (www.lgfb.co.uk).


As well as Tara's gentle ministrations we gave each other some assistance with our treatments. After much mirth and merriment, we emerged in much better shape and fearlessly ready to meet the sunshine and display a little flesh.

The Cool Rider Album release

Our London cousins Boo and Bea LaCheste sent us some exciting news from London.   
Monday 29th June saw the launch of the brilliant original cast recording of Cool Rider. 
This cult musical saw a week-long run in the West End in 2014, following a one night concert performance at The Duchess Theatre.        
Now, following a funding drive through the Kickstart initiative, there is a terrific album which soared into the top ten in the i-Tunes UK soundtrack recording chart before the first day of release was over (www.cooriderlive.co.uk).  We think it's well worth a listen.

Leather outfit for 3-month old T-Bird!

Boo and Bea are urging us to go to London for the offical launch party, but so far we've only got as far as making the cutest leather outfit for one of the producer's 3-month old nephew. We may have to make more for ourselves, when we go to party!

When we saw Orchard Learning Studios at Cotehele House last month (www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk) we met Jay Hooper who was teaching the art of making Dorset Buttons.  Carol Ann of Carolann Design Studio (www.carolanndesignstudio.co.uk) learned the techniques from Jay, and is now combining the ancient skills with her own contemporary designs to incorporate these into her new product range.

Carolann Design puts her own stamp on a traditional craft

Jay will be running Dorset Button workshops on 23rd July at the stunning Madhatters Studio in Plympton, Devon - get signed up now! (www.madhattersstudio.com)

Quote of the month:

It takes two to speak the truth, - one to speak, and another to hear
Henry David Thoreau

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

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.

The Adventures of Creative and Dizzy

Creative and Dizzy drink a toast to their new enterprise

Hello, I'm Dizzy Designer - Dizzy to my friends, and I design. What do I mean by that? I take a concept and from that I play and juggle with ideas, influenced by colours and textures to create something tangible– and I have to admit that Creative has a profound influence on me!  

Hello, I’m Creative Cookie, mostly called Creative, although sometimes something much worse, and I’m not sure what Dizzy means by being a profound influence! I should say right now that my friend and colleague Dizzy has acquired that name for a reason…..I’m sure you can work it out, but regular readers will quickly catch on, I’m sure.            

 Just tell them what you do!   

I run creative workshops, teaching sewing from basics to couture, hand and machine embroidery and other textiles, and a wide range of quality crafts. I’m invited to teach in a number of exciting studio and community locations, working with individuals and groups all sizes and ages.

That's how we met. We became friends over our love of all things beautiful and we began working together when I was commissioned to design hand painted curtains for the Garden House at Buckland Monochorum in Devon, and Creative and I worked in partnership to complete the project.

 While chatting over our work, we realized our business skills complimented each other, and our taste and styles are similar, whilst retaining our individuality.

 After hanging the beautiful curtains, we were invited to create Scarecrows for the month of August 2014, and our life-size Dizzy and Creative stood beside Carol Kline’s (BBC Gardner’s World) tree at the entrance to the new arboretum at The Garden House.

 Our girls not only managed to avoid being bird poo targets for a whole month, but also received so much admiration that we decided we should work together on more projects, and a partnership was formed.

 We both enjoy the excitement and embracing the challenge of helping each other’s businesses and our partnership grow, and where we can, doing the same for other new creative businesses along the way.

That sounds a bit more serious than intended because in fact, we find our pooled experience provides a sparkling creative fizz, together with a wicked sense of fun.

 As we work around the countryside, we find things  happening to us or around us, that make us laugh. So we’re writing a monthly blog to share our adventures.

 During our meanderings, we come upon many skilled and talented people, who are creating beautiful and unique pieces of art. When we are impressed and moved by the beauty and quality of their work, we will promote these artists and artisans through this blog, our own websites and our joint Misi shop.

 Here, we say welcome to our adventures, please raise a glass in toast with Dizzy and Creative. Here’s to our successful partnership, and happy reading.

This month’s favourite quotation: “It’s amazing what you can achieve, if you don’t care who gets the credit”  (Harry S. Truman)

Next public appearance: Moor Foreshore Craft and Gift Fair, Tavistock Town Hall, Devon Saturday 23^rd May. 
                                             Do come and say Hello, we’d love to meet you.

CreativeandDizzy©
orchardlearningstudios.co.uk/carolanndesignstudio.co.uk

Creative and Dizzy are on their way

CreativeandDizzy ©orchardlearningstudios.co.uk 

Creative Cookie and Dizzy Designer are on their way.... watch this space!