Chaise Longue

the chaise before refurb

the frame after stripping down

rebuilding in process

Ta Dah! the finished piece complete with matching cushion and footstool

In between other smaller jobs and things like the pop-up-shop, I have been working on this large chaise. It required a lot of attention, and was given some serious TLC to bring it back to life - but I think its done the trick...just look at her now! Resplendent in bright pink and red with lime green piped trim to make it pop. Complete with bolster cushion to match and she's good to go.

Pop Up Shop - Popped!

Sophie Tilley gave me this lovely card to say 'Thanks'

Laura in a floral camouflage! 

Lora Wyn's beautiful enamel peices

Tilley Dolls

Mum's gingerbread hearts

Jen from Loglike with customers

creative cyanotypes from The Way To Blue

Loglike's Modern Welsh Lovespoon. 

Jenny Murray explaining her Ceramic making process

Crochet heart by Ann Blundell

The POP UP SHOP happened and it was amazing! 

A ton of effort went into the planning and organisation, but we can safely say it was well worth it.

I designed the flyers and had them printed by the wonderful Daydream Designs,  made gift bags  (which included hand-made mini bunting!) cakes, biscuits and tea and coffee were sorted, window display done, online adverts, e-mailouts and postal mailouts, workshops organised, booking stallholders, and of course, a LOT of hoovering and tidying my chaotic workshop, I was ready to open to the public. We had a fantastic turnout, and the stall holders all did really well. There was an excited buzz in the air all day, (mainly fuelled by mini cupcakes and pink lemonade!)

The planning has begun for POP UP SHOP II, but if it doesn't happen we've always got Helfa Gelf // Art Trail on in September. 

In case you missed the past post, the artists at the POP UP SHOP were:

Lora Wyn 

Loglike

Sophie Tilley

Cinder Cottage Crafts

The Way To Blue

Suz Hughes

Emily Birch (Thanks to Emily for the photos from the day: click here for the whole set)

Jenny Murray

Heledd Roberts

Thanks to everyone who came and supported Laura's Attic, and the fab artists who took part. 

Gift Bags!

Breaking Pop-Up Shop news...these little beauties will be yours as a thank you from Laura's Attic for attending the event tomorrow!  Filled with perfect presents for yourself or your Valentine - get here quickly before they all go!

Pop-Up Shop

Saturday 9th February is a date for your diary! From 10am until 4pm we will be hosting a pop-up shop brimming with unique handmade loveliness from Laura's Attic and other local designers and craftspeople showcasing their work which includes ceramics, woodwork, knitted items and jewellery.  With Valentine's Day in mind, there will be drinks and nibbles available made with love and everyone will leave with a gift bag of goodies from Laura's Attic.

The other local designers attending are:

Loglike

Jenny Murray

Emily Birch

Lora Wyn-Taylor

Heledd Roberts

Sophie Tilley

Suz Hughes

Polkadotty

Fiddlestitch

Cinder Cottage Crafts

We look forward to seeing you on the 9th!

My Very Important Christmas Project

Art class in the Kids Home

Jessy and Sunitha Kumar with their 56 children

So, about 4 years ago I worked as an Art Teacher in India at the HARVEST MISSION KIDS HOME.

They live here: http://goo.gl/maps/OCGE7 (Zoom out of the map so you can see where in the World they are)

The room in the photo above is where they play, work and where all the boys sleep. There are about 56 children that all live together here. They are here because they either have no parents or are from a single parent family that cannot support them. They get fed, clothed and sent to school. 

This year instead of buying each other expensive gifts for Christmas I have asked my family to each give a small donation to the kids so that I can send them a present. I want to send them some art supplies so that they can do a fun craft project that will then decorate their living space. (Not a vital living essential I know, but I'm sure having fun is on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights somewhere, and if its not it should be!)

I aim to raise £100 : 

£30 for craft and art supplies , paint etc.

£40 for postage of supplies via a Courier

£30 for food shopping for a Christmas dinner for them all

Follow our progress and hopefully see the art projects that the children do as we get closer to Christmas!  If you would like to help in any way, I am in the process of setting up a Just Giving page but you can send donations to the Laura's Attic Studio : Top Floor, Old Bank Chambers, 1 King Street, Mold, CH71LA. 

Summer in the Attic : August & September

Little stools ready to be sent to the Harley Gallery

for their 50:50 makers exhibition

We were on the front of the Helfa Gelf Brochure...

...and had an action shot on the poster! 

Happy customers buying their first Laura's Attic stool.

After the Royal visit, I went back to the studio to create a couple of new pieces for the Harley Gallery who were having a showcase of makers work in their craft shop. I hope they have new homes now! 

Then it was all go, getting ready for Helfa Gelf whilst finishing off a couple of large commissions and organising cake orders with Birch Bakes of blog: ive got knits Who made these absolutely amazing cake toppers for the delish cakes she made. 

Cake Bunting! Yes!

We had about 150 ish people visit the Attic in September. We did a lot of chatting, a lot of cake eating and a lot of talking about chairs. It was fantastic! In case you didn't manage to make it and would like a visit, we'll be hosting a very special Christmas Shopping Open Weekend on Saturday the 15th December.

If you'd like to hear more about the goings on at the Attic including Workshop dates, new stock and open dates put yourself on the mailing list for details at my website link here: Laura's Attic 

or drop me a line with your address for postal mailouts:  info@laurasattic.co.uk

Meeting Prince Charles : July

St Asaph Cathedral in North Wales

My display inside the Cathedral

a bit nervous! with my new dress on.

hello Charlie! Look at my chairs!

We met, we chatted, he's lovely. Camilla went straight for the guy with tattoos next to me. I actually hadn't realised how far-reaching the work of the Princes Trust is. They help all sorts of youngsters get back into work, get trained up, or even just help them concentrate on their schooling. And they helped me to get a loan to retrain in upholstery, which is essential to my business. If you know someone who might need a helping hand, have a little look here: http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/