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/

Cath Kidston Tapestry Chair

Applying the Hessian and ties

The chair before...

Horsehair layer

 

Finished chair in the studio with little blue chair 

The finished chair with Cath Kidston Tapestry seat.

Last week I finished this really lovely little tapestry covered chair, and forgot to blog about it! I just wanted to show you how a little chair can have a big personality. I cleaned and treated the wood, mended the wobbly joints, and gave it new webbing and stuffing. The tapestry had been done by the customer, and was a pattern from one of the Cath Kidston stitch books. The trim was from John Lewis and matched the wool colour perfectly. 

The one thing I would recommend if you are going to do a tapestry is to use a standing or handheld frame - this stops the canvas from becoming stretched out of shape by your hands. (And makes it much easier to apply to a chair if it's all square.) 

Tapestry can be a lot more fun than pictures of kittens in baskets (although if kittens in baskets is your thing - go for it!) I wanted to see if I could find a tapestry I would like to do and came across the amazing work of Charley Harper  Have a look at more of his beautiful illustrations turned into tapestries on the Purl Bee craft blog.  Imagine those beauties on a chair! 

Blanket Boxes in Brights

Before....

...and After!   Ta Dah! 

Right at home in the Attic

Ready to fill with stuff! 

A Lloyd Loom restoration, Attic style! The paint colours are Hibiscus by Habitat and Chartreuse by Sanctuary at Homebase. The fabrics are from  Fabric Rehab. Perfect to stash away all those toys and books in a child's room or brighten up the corner of your kitchen, bedroom or office. Get in touch if you have something similar you'd like revamping: Drop us a line at info@laurasattic.co.uk.

Nursery Rocking Chair

Nursery Rocking chair in Duck egg Spot Fabric

Piped box cushion with invisible zipper & bow ties

Arm padding with white enamel studs

This weeks commission was a customisation of an old rocking chair. The chair was ready painted by the customer for me to add the arm pads and make a box cushion - such a good idea, and perfect for a nursery.
It was a bit tricky getting the Enamel studs in the correct place and there were quite a few wasted --grrr! But  very happy with the overall finish and cant wait to see how it looks in the Nursery with Mummy and the little one (due in a week) in the chair.

wonky tacks 

Slipper Chair ReVamp

This was an old Laura Ashley bedroom chair that was looking a bit 90's and in need of some attention. The old fabric was stripped off, and replaced with a beautiful pink chenille spot and purple velvet fabric. Each of the buttons on the back is a different fabric, the piping is patterned on the back and the silver show tacks add a modern finishing touch.

Highdays and Holidays

The past two weeks have gone something like this: 

Heatwave! Pack house up, load van, unload van, move into new house,work on an armchair, friends' Wedding, Jubilee BBQ, another BBQ, (where my parents met his parents!) Visit a magical chapel,  Steam train ride in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Drive round lake Bala and Vyrnwy, pack for camping, go camping, RAIN! Get washed away, dry out, meet all our friends in Snowdonia for his 30th, go for a walk, get merry round the campfire, go climbing, come home, unpack......and breathe. Somewhere in all of this I have managed to design T shirts for the trip (made by the lovely folk at Loglike), make 2 curries, and eat a lot of meringue. 

Sparkly Jimmy Choo Wedding Shoes!

Magical Chapel otherwise known as Llangar

Patriotic Meringue

Wedding centre pieces - Vintage vases and meadow flowers

 T Shirts designed by moi. 

Camping! 

Helfa Gelf // Art Trail | North Wales

The Helfa Gelf //Art Trail around North Wales was a brilliant success last year, and Laura's Attic is going on the map again. This year in September we will be open every weekend for visitors, but to keep you going till then, here is a sneak peak. There will be lots of furniture on sale and cushions, bunting and gift items to buy. You can have a poke around my fabric stores and see the upholstery process up close. I might also put an order in for some home-baked goodies for my visitors from Birch Bakes. YUM.
Art and cake has to be a winning combo!

Creating a Custom order: Knit Cushions

I've been knitting! A lot! 3 custom design cushions. Working to the customers specifications and design requirements, to match his living room and the first knit cushion bought from my Etsy shop. A few email pictures back and forward and voila! Off they go in the post. They look so cosy and homely, i think i might make myself some now!

  Email me your design ideas for a cushion and I'll make it for you! 

In between the showers

The very tiny amount of sunshine we have had over the past few weeks has been just enough to get a couple of good pictures. Top 2 are Westwoods near Marlborough, bottom one is a beautiful handmade tent, at a wedding in Llangollen. I would love to print the bluebells onto calico and use it on the back of a chair...and make a patchwork cushion like the tent and some special square bunting to match the colours of the marquee.

Country Cottage Floral Chair: Before & After

Top to Bottom: Before - Stripped bare frame - Back on, working on seat - Getting the top fabric perfect - Finished! Available to buy from here: Etsy shop: Upholstery By Laura

Custom Vintage Cushions

Just finished a custom order and thought I'd share the stages of making with you - First of all, selection of fabric and vintage buttons to match - Find cottons to match ground colour of fabric - Sew button holes, seams, and sew buttons on by hand - Finished!