Blog re: Arts & Crafts for Summer, Lincoln Cathedral Centre, 10 July 2011

Last Sunday, I exhibited at Arts & Crafts for Summer along with around 28 other designer/makers.  There was a wonderful selection of work for sale and a wide range of disciplines.  Particular favourites of mine were the crisp, monochromatic lino cut prints by Wayne Lockwood and the beautifully made, charming textiles by Jane Lightfoot. The Fair, which was held in the Lincoln Cathedral Centre, immediately adjacent to the Cathedral, attracted a steady stream of visitors.  The venue was beautiful, my stall was based in a wonderful bay window with a magnificent view of the Cathedral.  Craft fairs are wonderful places not only to sell your wares, but to meet new like minded people and get feedback on your products and find out what your best selling lines are.

I was selling my BOOGE64 range of textiles & accessories.  (See below for a selection)

1940's INSPIRED BROOCH

The above brooch features the mot gorgeous 1940's bakelite button!  You can purchase this style and similar others in my Folksy shop.

SEAHORSE CLUTCH BAG

This Seahorse Clutch bag is bright & bold and not for the faint hearted!  Made up from my own design, digitally printed, heavy duty cotton.  Vibrant, quirky and most of all, fun!  Again, available on Folksy 

I am working on a new range or products in earnest next week.  I love the research and development stage.  So, I'm looking forward to much playing, manipulating and experimentation, evaluating as I go! Wish me luck.  You can follow my progress on Twitter or read my regular updates on my Facebook page.

Arts & Crafts for Summer was organized and promoted by Tempo Promotes

Arts & Crafts for Summer Craft Fair, Lincoln Cathedral Centre, Lincoln, UK, Sunday 10th July 2011

I'm really looking forward to taking part in Arts & Crafts for Summer, a craft fair which is being held in the lovely historic setting of the Lincoln Cathedral Centre, Minster Yard, Lincoln, LN2 1PX (United Kingdom) on Sunday 10th July 2011.  I'll be selling charming items from my range of embroidered, screen & digitally printed textiles for fashion & interiors.  The fair is open from 10.30am - 4.30pm.  There will be many craft sellers there and further details can be found on the promoters website (Tempo Promotes)

Why not pop along, show your support for crafts people and designer makers and pick up some wonderful, lovingly handmade products.   If you'd like to see examples of my work and read regular updates, take a look at my Facebook page or visit my website.  I can also be found sharing my thoughts and news on Twitter  

Great album promotion by Kaiser Chiefs

I love it when a band launches a new album and comes up with a creative way to promote it and get some buzz and hype going.  


With their latest album:  THE FUTURE IS MEDIEVAL,
The purchaser selects ten tracks from an available 20.  Snippets of 20 tracks can be listened to, then you select your favourite ten and arrange the playlist order.  That's not all, you can then design your own album cover (using supplied artworks).  Once choices have been made and you are satisfied with your cover, you purchase your album.  You can then promote this album for sale to others.  My effort can be seen here.  It's available to purchase.  I hope you like it.  Here's the album cover I made.

'Eye Eye' - a lovely morning of embroidery

Whilst studying textiles at university, I chose to specialize in print.  I wanted to learn some new skills and seeing as I had very little experience in print, I thought this choice would make best use of my time as a student.  Since graduation, I spend most of my studio time designing digital prints and producing artworks for screen prints.

However, my first textile love was machine embroidery.  It's something I have neglected of late and today was the time to change that!  I have worked on this simple eye image.  I'm a bit rusty, but newly enthused about sewing.  I can envisage combining my print work with embroidery and working on new cross discipline projects.  

I can't believe I have pushed this media to the back of my mind.  I think I better get the Bernina serviced, it's in for a bashing over the next few weeks!

If you like my work, please visit my BOOGE64 Facebook page or follow me on Twitter 

Michelle

Furry Fun

I thought I'd share this sumptuous faux fur leopard collar which I made yesterday.  This is just a prototype, I'm sampling various faux fabrics and styles for a new range of collars, wraps, shrugs and shawls. 

 

These and all my other BOOGE64 products are available in my Folksy store

I'm trying to achieve a nostalgic/historical look with my latest pieces, taking reference from the 1940's & '50s - eras where glamour was celebrated!  I'll keep updating my blog as I progress.

Along with this sampling,  I'm on a mission at the moment to find some some decent contemporary craft fairs in and around the Newark/Nottinghamshire area.  I'm considering organizing my own and am currently look for suitable venues, possibly even a pop up shop.  If anyone knows of any events in the East Midlands or could suggest a venue in the Newark, Notts. region that may be suitable for a craft event for approx 20 sellers, please let me know via my Facebook page.  You just have to look at Folksy & Etsy to see how many talented designer/makers and crafters there are looking for outlets.  It seems a shame that there are so few craft fairs in the East Midlands (or perhaps I'm just not finding them).  Textiles are tactile, and as a customer, I always like to touch and experience the texture of the products I consider buying and it's always lovely to meet the maker face to face.  I'll keep you posted on that one. I'm on Twitter and will tweet any progress.

Amongst all this research and development, I found time this morning to visit the gym (shock, horror).  I haven't been for months, even though I've continued to pay my monthly fee.  It's been so long, that it took me half an hour to find my trainers (that was exhausting in itself).   I expect the staff were thinking "not seen her for a long time..... and it shows".  Well I only lasted 40 minutes.  It would have been less, but I was too ashamed to give up too soon seeing as the 80 year old woman on the bike next to me was whizzing away like Lance Armstrong.  Note to self - always sit next to someone who is even less fit than you - that would have been impossible today however, I was definitely the bottom of the pile!  Another note to self - never go to the gym just after the yummy mummies have dropped the kids off at school - they all hit the gym and well frankly it's depressing when, like me, you're overweight and the wrong side of 40!  I've got the mummy bit just right, but the only yummy for me involves eating!

Right, must knuckle down now and get on with some sewing.   

Michelle - BOOGE64

Collars - new designs

Over the past few days I've been working on some new ideas.  I've produced some lined collars using my own print designs.

This charming bird print has been digitally printed onto cotton sateen.  The collar is lined with peppermint green silk and has a lilac silk bow fastening.   If you like it take a look at my  Folksy shop where it is available along with lots of other lovely textile goodies.

I'm off now to source some fabulous cotton velvet!  So many projects, so little time.....
Thanks for dropping by my blog :)

BOOGE64: What a beautiful day! Fun in the sun and new produ...

BOOGE64: What a beautiful day! Fun in the sun and new produ...: "The sun is shining, the sky is blue and everything looks beautiful. The only trouble is, who wants to be stuck in the studio when it is so ..."

What a beautiful day! Fun in the sun and new product news

The sun is shining, the sky is blue and everything looks beautiful.  The only trouble is, who wants to be stuck in the studio when it is so lovely outside.  I've taken the opportunity to do some primary research and get a bit of inspiration for future projects.  I've taken some photos and generally admired the world around me.

I'm not usually a morning person, but when it's bright outside, there's not stopping me!  At just after 7.30am I took my gorgeous Springer Spaniel for a walk along the river.

It was so tranquil, just me, the dog, the birds and some cows! I'm really enthused now, I sense lots of experimentation with reflective surfaces & mirrored imagery.

On the textile front, over the last week or so, I've continued to produce more textile cuffs.  These are available on Folksy

If you like my products, you can find me on Facebook or follow BOOGE64 on Twitter

The BOOGE64 website is currently under construction.  I hope to have it fully operational in the near future.

Long may this stunning weather continue (with a bit of rain at night for the garden!)   Must knuckle down to a bit of work now, I have a wealth of new ideas to develop!

Another Domestic Goddess (sadly not me)

I had a lovely day yesterday.  I met up with a friend in the morning for coffee.  She is studying Fine Art so we always come up with some concepts and ideas as we sip our lattes.  We discuss our plans to take the art world by storm (well perhaps with a breeze)!

As well as my textile work for BOOGE64, I produce artwork and digitally manipulated photographs under my own name (Michelle Hobbs).   I'm currently working on some batik portraits.  I haven't decided whether to embelish them with free machine stitching yet - watch this space for work from my more serious side.  I'll post some in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, I've produced some more button-up cotton cuffs for BOOGE64.

I hope you like this one - If only I were a Domestic Goddess!

I'm receiving lots of positive feedback for the Cuffs.  I'm working on different shapes, widths, appliqued designs, so expect to see more here soon.

If you like my designs, why not take a look and 'like' my Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Booge64/118477348209617

BOOGE64 textiles can be found for sale on Etsy & Folksy (see links below)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BOOGE64?ref=pr_shop

http://folksy.com/shops/BOOGE64

I produce a lot of my own textile prints (both screen & digitally printed).  Items made from my own designs can be found on both sites. Please take a look at my clutch bags.  These feature prints I have designed myself.

Here's a link to my bags on Folksy:

http://folksy.com/shops/BOOGE64?shop_section=bags

Well that's it from me for now.  The dog is looking at me with her enormous 'take me for a walk' eyes.  I cannot resist any longer! 

Michelle :)

Recent ideas, development & research

BOOGE64 (Michelle Hobbs)  has taken a few months to sample, play, research, have fun.... whatever you'd like to call it.  She now needs to knuckle down and be a little more focussed (easier said than done when you have a million conflicting ideas in your head!)

Here are just a few of the successful results which can be found for sale on:

http://folksy.com/shops/BOOGE64
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BOOGE64?ref=pr_shop