Hoolala joins The Festival of Thrift in Darlington.

Handmade by Hoolala has been invited to join the Festival of Thrift in Darlington this weekend. We will be traveling there with the little indie shop For England and Saint George and Realicoul Jewellery will be joining us too.

We will be taking our brand new range of upcycled pieces which were commissioned by The Pitt River Museum for their Need Make Use Day last month. Here is a tiny peak - a Refound Ring created with and Art Deco Mother of Pearl Watch Face set to the Witching Hour.

Make Do and Mend

Ever since I was little I have always been devoted to thrift and making my own things from decorating my dens, to creating tree houses, rafts and boats, clothes, bags, jewellery quilts and all manner of useful things. I think it partly comes from never being able to find things that I liked or expressed me so I made them. We also lived in a tiny village so it was a case of make your own entertainment which resulted in me being a very curious, interested and inventive child.

This month I have been invited to take The Hoolala Circus to Oxford to exhibit and demonstrate at the Need, Make, Use Day in the Pitt Rivers Museum. I am so excited as they have only invited 14 of us and it is in my all time top five museums - they have the most wonderful collection of objects all housed in a beautiful building.

Deciding what to take has been difficult but I decided to go back to the beginning of Hoolala 10 years ago and look through the archives where I found a few of the first pieces I ever made which includes the Sacred Icon Found Object Charm Bracelet as it has inspired so many of my collections. It has all the ingredients for my Pitt Rivers Collection which will include pieces that are part of the make do and mend ethic and using beautiful relics, found objects, handmade charms and even a picture of my Russian Great Grand Father who's picture hangs above the bench in the studio.

Lucky Mano Fico Bone Carved Hand Good Luck Charm from Hoolala Vintage

Lucky Mano Fico Bone Carved Hand Good Luck Charm from Hoolala Vintage.

I love this little charm and it is steeped with meaning and folklore. In ancient Rome, this charm or image was commonly referred to a the mano fico or 'hand fig'. It was a fertility and good luck charm designed to ward off evil.

In many countries these charms or carved images of hands are good luck talismans. In other countries such as Indonesia, Turkey and Russia, the sign has come to have an insulting meaning roughly equivalent to "screw you".

The charm is made of bone and measures an inch and a quarter or 30mm not including the bail. The charm cap is made from silver metal. The chain is silver plated on brass and measures 18 inches.

http://www.hoolala.etsy.com

9 Carat Rolled Gold Stud Earrings from Hoolala

9 Carat Rolled Gold Anatomical Skull Charm Stud Earrings Handmade by Hoolala

These Victorian anatomical skull pictures were originally found in one of my antique encyclopedias. I love using unusual images and ideas in Hoolala jewellery and I have set them into rolled gold studs which is a sheet of thin gold rolled onto a brass base. They measure about 12mm across the face.

Vintage Treasures

Some days you just find a haul which you remember for years. Today's flea market adventures were one of those fabulous days.

I found so many lovely sellers with some really unusual treasures. The first of which was a little silver spade I thought it might just be sterling - it is plated - still a fabulous object.

The next was a wish bone pendant which did turn out to be sterling silver! The last is a little compass which I think is made from Bakelite.

Personalized Charm Necklace from Hoolala

I love personalised jewellery. There is something quite magical about wearing a charm with the words of a your favourite song, poem, passage from a book or even a portrait of someone you admire.

I have a particular affection for characters from history and carry one of Bram Stoker with me on important business! Here are a couple of commissions I have created for 2 customers. One of whom loved John Denver and the song Whispering Jessie.

Alternative Christmas Crackers from The Hoolala Circus

I love decorating trees especially at Christmas and I don't think you have to spend a fortune to make them look brilliant for the festive season.

Last year I decorated our Christmas Tree with little recycled paper envelopes full for treats from The Hoolala Circus. Everyone had lots of fun opening them and reading out the jokes and wearing the charms - it was much more fun making and opening them rather than Christmas crackers. You could even fill your own crackers with handmade goodies instead of the little plastic toys which seems to get cheaper and less elaborate every year.

I am creating several tutorials on 'how to make and do' they will be very easy to follow and enjoyable to make. All you will need are some old books or magazines and a selection of nice surprises either handmade or vintage can be just as exciting. Watch this space.