A Peek at My Studio

I love seeing design studios featured on craft and design blogs. It is always lovely to have a sneaky peek at how other designers have set up their work space, have stored all their materials and have surrounded themselves with inspiration. I took some photographs of my work space today to send off to be featured in a 'craft zine' later in the year so I thought I would also share them with you.

I love my little studio! It is where I can escape to and be creative. I am surrounded there by everything that inspires me and everything that is precious to me.

I have a creative Mother and both my Grandmothers were skilled at sewing and knitting too; there are many bits and pieces in my studio that I have inherited from them. These precious items range from fabrics in my stash and yarns on old wooden cotton reels to my Grandmother's little sewing table which was made for her by my Grandfather. When I use these items it reminds me of them and makes me hope that they would be proud of my work and how my little craft business is growing. My large pinboard by my desk was made for me by my Dad and is covered in postcards, fabric swatches, magazine cuttings and trinkets that inspire me. It is always a great starting point for new product ideas.

Claire Hurd Design featured in the UK Handmade Valentine Gift Guide

My appliqué heart 'With Love' card has been featured in the UK Handmade Valentine Gift Guide 2010.

Take a look, it is a lovely guide, beautifully put together with lots of wonderful handmade gift ideas.

Personal Project - 1st Birthday Gifts

I have been working on a personal project alongside my other work this past week. My gorgeous niece turned 1 on Sunday and I wanted to make some truly personal handmade gifts for her.

I created some personalised birthday bunting which was used at her party and now hangs in her beautiful little bedroom. I also made a personalised Cupcake Brooch for her with 'I am 1' embroidered on it.

My main gift was a rag doll which I made from a combination of different patterns and with a little creative licence! My Mum made me a similar rag doll when I was little with removable clothes and a vast wardrobe of handmade outfits. I want to do the same for my Niece and will be making new outfits and accessories for her doll to be given as regular treats. I am really pleased that she seems to love her doll and has been cuddling and playing with it lots.

60th Birthday Artwork Commission

I was recently commissioned to design and make an embroidered and appliquéd framed artwork to celebrate a 60th birthday.

This was a really enjoyable commission and I created the artwork based on the recipient's favourite subject matter, flowers, and the colours she will soon be decorating her living room in. The customer had seen my previous designs for Mother's Day cards and particularly liked my Aqua Flowers design, I therefore based the flower motifs and layout on this card design.

I built up the background using a white pigment print floral fabric and a beautiful lilac silk stripe fabric. I added lace trim, miniature ric-rac and satin ribbon to disguise the join. The flowers were appliquéd on and then detailed with beads, sequins, miniature buttons, lace trim and a combination of machine and hand-embroidery.

The recipient was really pleased with her present and said that she was very impressed with the quality and detail of the artwork and looks forward to putting it on display in her living room.

Handmade Fabric Cupcake Brooches

The latest additions to my range are pink and aqua handmade fabric cupcake brooches. These brooches have been designed to sit alongside my heart brooches which I blogged about previously. All brooches can be found in both my Folksy Shop and my Not on the Highstreet Shop.

I have not listed these brooches as suitable for personalisation but if you would like one personalised with a name or (short!) message of your choice then please email me with your requirements and I shall see what I can do (studio@clairehurd.co.uk).

Claire x

New Handmade Make-Up Bags

I have been busily listing new handmade make-up bags in my online shops today.

I have several designs available at the moment but will only be continuing with a few of them long-term. Additional designs will appear seasonally and in preparation for craft fairs/shows but I feel it is better to only have a few that are constantly in my shop to keep my product range clear and defined.

Here are my latest additions which are currently limited availability, with the exception of the Matryoshka Doll bag which I intend to stock permanently.

All make-up bags are available in both my Folksy shop and my Not on the Highstreet Shop.

Handmade Valentine's Love Heart Framed Artwork

My latest addition to my online shops (Folksy and Not on the Highstreet) - a lovingly handmade embroidered and appliquéd Valentine's Love Heart framed artwork.

The fabric heart has been teamed with gingham ribbon, cotton lace trim and a natural mother-of-pearl button. The motif has a soft grey printed heart tag and hand-embroidered 'Love' text. The artwork comes framed in an off-white locally made textured wooden frame with stand and hanging hook. The artwork has a pale cream mount with a red border and is signed and dated with the year. The frame measures approx. W.16cm, H.16cm, D.1.5cm and has a glass front.

If you would like to order one of these artworks with a personalised message then please contact me at studio@clairehurd.co.uk.

Valentine's Love Heart Brooch

I have just added a new product to my online shops. My new handmade fabric Love Heart Brooch is now available both on Folksy and NOTHS.

This love heart brooch has been delicately handmade with satin ribbon, lace trim and button detail. The text 'Love' has been carefully embroidered by hand. I have used a sturdy vilene on the brooch reverse to give a clean finish and keep the fabric heart in shape. There is a brooch bar securely stitched to the reverse. The heart measures approx. W.5cm x H.5cm.

If you would like a personalised Love Heart Brooch made to your own specifications then email me your details at studio@clairehurd.co.uk.

I shall be adding more fabric brooches in this style to my shops over time based on my favourite motifs from my existing products - cupcakes, teatime, boats etc. Watch this space ....

Happy New Year!

Happy new year! I hope you have all had a wonderful festive season and are feeling fresh and inspired ready for the new year.

I have had a lovely family break and am now eager to get back to work and start filling my shops with new products. I have all sorts of plans for 'Claire Hurd Design' this year and I look forward to sharing them with you.

I have pictures to show you of my final Christmas stocking commission for 2009. This stocking was extra special to me as I was making it for my gorgeous niece's first Christmas. She is an absolute bookworm and has already discovered a love of Fairies (a girl after my own heart!) so I personalised her stocking and added a pretty Christmas fairy for her. The embroidered 'Christmas 2009' text is on the stocking foot-arch reverse.

Just before Christmas I was lucky enough to win not one, but two blog giveaways. I have been extremely lucky recently with giveaway wins as I really do not enter many, only those where I am a real fan of the products!

My first was a lovely festive package from Monda Loves. I received some beautiful handmade tree decorations, some lovely handmade cards, a little stash of red and white fabrics and buttons and some of my favourite chocolates. Such a lovely surprise - thank you very much Monda!

The second was from Ruby Wren Designs. I received a lovely assortment of Ruby Wren handmade greetings cards including the 3D butterfly one below. I now have lots of lovely eco-friendly cards to send to my friends, great motivation to send more hand-written letters. Thank you Hayley for my lovely prize, I look forward to using them.