Meet the Maker - Seasick Joe

I love the fact that my passion for knitting turned into a career and enjoy discovering others for whom the same has happened.

Seasick Joe (not her real name, which is Nicky) is one such artist.  I’ll let her explain in her own words.

'When I grow up I want to be an artist'.....seasick joe aged 8.5

These were my words, oooh <cough> 30 something years ago. I was always very creative as a child, but as I grew up somehow life got in the way and I never got to fulfil my childhood ambition, I took a totally different path and after a degree in Computer Technology behind me and a job in IT I was as far away from creative as you can get!

    

In 2010 I moved from a big city to a tiny village in South Lakes, Cumbria, one of the most beautiful places on earth, breathtaking mountains and stunning coastlines...I was inspired by its beauty, and the creative girl inside me woke up....

Whether at work (yes I still work in IT) or at home I am never more than 10 mins away from the beach, I started collecting driftwood and seeing shapes in the pieces I found, I set up a workshop in my kitchen and got crafty, making anything I could out of this beautiful strange, ocean whipped, sun bleached wood.  

This was my new hobby.....but I never thought it would be more than that, just a hobby, my way of unleashing the 8 year old artist inside of me..... but somehow my hobby turned into a small business, crazy as it seemed to me, people wanted to buy the things I made, they made people smile, which made me smile and thus...... Seasick Joe was born P-)

Her seven year old son is also a source of inspiration and his love of pirates is plain to see when you look at her fantastic boats.

You can find out more about Seasick Joe and find out how to buy her products by visiting her Facebook page ... www.facebook.com/SeasickJoe

Find out more about Su's products here ... www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Meet the Maker - Rhubarb and Cider

In keeping with our blog about birds, we just love these little creations by Rhubarb and Cider. 

Currently available through Facebook, these colourful handmade gifts are handstitched by Mandy and Wendy in Gargrave, N Yorkshire.

All images (c) Rhubarb and Cider

Boutique and Unique - Hambledon Gallery, Blandford Forum, Dorset

Another great reason to live in Blandford - Hambledon Gallery on Salisbury St.
Slightly off the beaten track this shop is a hidden nugget of retail treasures.  

They have two floors full of beautiful things: women's and children's clothes, toys, glass, china, toiletries, table linen and quilts.  And if you really insist I suppose any of their products would make perfect gifts too!

The upper level is devoted to beautiful designer women's clothing.  Labels include Great Plains, John Smedley, Masai Ali Capellino and Johnstons Cashmere.

Downstairs in the toy shop, we love their traditional and wooden toys.  It is a veritable treasure trove for little people.  Labels include Charlie & Lola, Olive & Moss, Trunki suitcases and the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

There is something to cater for home makers too.  Vintage inspired baking utensils, paper party pieces, glassware, picnic essentials and gardening implements too.

    

And their stylish window displays are sure to tempt you in - at any time of year.

All images (c) the Hambledon Gallery

     

Surf's Up - Nelly Pepper: Interiors and Kitchenware.

If, like me, you like vibrant and quirky this website might be just what you're looking for.

With products are as bright as their website there are a number of 'departments' including Kitchen, Home, Accessories, Kids, Gifts and Jewellery you can browse through.

Nelly Pepper was conceived by Jane Kelly and Zoe Friskney who were fed up with having to scour the internet looking for kitchenware that offered quirky, modern and unique quality products.