red grape

Love the colours in this leaf from my mums red grape vine

New

red & green themed mini tree with midnight blue buttons

P.S. I am now selling on ebay!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HandMade-Christmas-Tree-Decorations-/260900358041?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Decorative_Accents_LE&var=&hash=item826690bfb9#ht_512wt_1188

I love anniversaries

Bradgate Country Park

Handmade Tree Decorations

After a recent post entitled Have a Handmade Christmas I explored the kind of things you can make for the upcoming christmas season, which are brilliant as decorations for your own home and can also be given as lovely hand-made gifts. 

After exploring some of the suggestions already available, I became inspired and tried my hand at making a few myself! 

Here are my tree and stocking decorations, made using a selection of cotton fabrics, buttons, trimmings and of course a Merry Christmas tag. 

If you are interested in buying any of the items above (just £4 each) or you would like a piece specially made, just let me know. I can work to a chosen colour scheme or base something around a loved-one's initial. You can contact me by email at beckigarrod@hotmail.co.uk  

John Murphy

The New York based artists work 'Animal Collages' are now available from Achica at £20 framed.

(The elephant is my favourite!) 

Take a look at his other work here. 

Have a Handmade Christmas

With money being tight for many this year a little homemade 'do-it-yourself' is a fantastic way to forget about the purse strings and get your creative juices flowing. These handmade decorations can either take pride of place on your own tree or be given as gifts to family and friends. 

Here a few ideas taken from Folksy which are easy to re-create using your own scrap fabrics, buttons and ribbon.

And why not get the whole family involved with many children's felt craft kits on the market

The Royal & Derngate Theatre

For the past week I have been on work experience in the scenic art department of the Royal & Derngate theatre in Northampton and was lucky enough that my timing coincided with the preparation for the Christmas play Alice in Wonderland!

The role of a scenic artist is to work from the model box made by the set designer and make it come to life! This can involve a variety of techniques however most work is to reproduce colour, texture and prepare and age all surfaces. 

This years play is an adaption to the original story of Alice in Wonderland and without giving too much away is based around a circus theme. 

I had a great time help produce the set and cain't wait to see it all together on stage! Information for the performances are below and pictures are to come...