Meet the Shop Elves

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Jingles

Jingles Elf is Santa’s right hand Elf. He is in charge of the Naughty or Nice list and making sure that all the elves are working and not getting into too much trouble. He is very sensible, and loves his books and lists a lot. Sometimes the other elves play tricks on him.

Loves: Maple Syrup

Hates: Coffee

Bubbles

Bubbles Elf is our resident potter helping all the amazing ceramic artists create pretty pots, mugs and soap dishes. Sometimes Bubbles make a lot of mess though and he is not very good at cleaning it up.

Loves: Candy Canes

Hates: Making his bed

Pinky

Pinky Elf is an artist, he loves painting pretty Christmas scenes of trees and presents, he also did some painting in Cornwall on his last holiday before he started work with us. Sometimes he is very cheeky and paints naughty pictures to trick Jingles. 

Loves: Hot Chocolate

Hates: Feeding the reindeer

Twinkle

Twinkle Elf is the best sewer in the North Pole. She loves nothing more than sewing up a new outfit for one of her fellow elves or creating pretty artwork with delicate embroidery stitches, however she often ends up in quite a tangle with her threads.

Loves: Fabric

Hates: Brussel Sprouts

Gumdrop

Gumdrop Elf if a wiz at knitting and always has a trusty pair of knitting needles to hand. They adores making clothes but mostly socks. They make so many pairs of socks all the elves get them for Christmas. 

Loves: Knitting magazines

Hates: Missing tea time

Mittens

Mittens Elf undertakes the most dangerous of jobs. Pyrography. He helps to burn designs onto wood, which often leads to disaster, fire and time in Elf A&E.

Loves: Butter Beer

Hates: Burns

Trixie

Trixie Elf is in charge of making sure the Elf Sleigh is fully stacked with all the presents for Santa. She takes them from the workshop to Santa ready to depart on Christmas Eve. A very responsible job Trixie takes it very seriously, and is now always careful to not eat toffees in the sleigh after the toffee gate incident. 

Loves: Toffee

Hates: Dark Chocolate

Happy

Happy Elf is kindhearted and generous, he just wants to make everyone around him happy. He is also the most clumsy elf and all his endeavours seem to end in disaster. But no matter what predicament he finds himself in he always has a smile on his face. 

Loves: Helping others

Hates: When he electrocutes himself

Christmas Sorted for under £100

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Everyone is feeling the pinch this Christmas so I set myself a little challenge today in the shop to see if I could get Christmas sorted for under £100 for the average family. Mum, Dad, Granny, Aunty Sal, Sister, Brother and ,of course, the Dog.

We think that there is something for everyone here at The Craft Collective, so let’s see if we’re right.

Mum

£20

Silver heart necklace by Kara Kreft

This beautiful silver heart pendant is created by Terri of Kara Kreft using Precious Metal Clay and attached to a silver 18″ chain.

Shop Silver Heart Necklace

Dad

£20

Wooden Engine House by Cornerstone Crafts

Created by the fabulous Alex of Cornerstone Crafts his wooden engine houses are made from reclaimed pieces of local wood, they come in all shapes and sizes, but this one is perfect for that special Christmas gift.

Shop Engine House

Granny

£8

Small Ceramic Jug by Carolin Hanelt

This small ceramic jug is created using the glazes that remind artist Carolin of Cornwall. Its size is perfect for serving afternoon tea, or just enjoying a brew by your self.

Shop Ceramic Jug

Aunty Sal

£4

Stained Glass Christmas Tree by Glintz Glass

Is it even Christmas if you haven’t bought your best Aunty a thoughtful Christmas decoration? Of course its not!

Shop Christmas Decoration

Sister

£12

Fearless stamped Cuff by Lost Post

For the fearless person in yourself, or for the person who needs to know they are fearless and can face anything, this beautifully hand stamped piece of jewellery is empowering and adjustable!

Shop Stamped Cuff

Brother

£8

Hand Knitted Trainer Socks

Made from 100% cotton, these strong and durable hand knitted socks are just the most perfect gift. In face everyone in my family is getting a pair this year!

Shop Socks

The Dog

£10

Cornish Tartan Dog Bandana

We can’t forget mans woman’s best friend now can we. Modelled by my very own shop dog, Springer Spaniel Lenny, who was being coaxed into this with a handful of treats, looks dapper and ready to hit the party season.

Shop Dog

So how did we do?

WhoWhat££
MumSilver Heart Necklace20
DadWooden Engine House20
GrannyCeramic Jug8
AuntieStained glass decoration4
SisterStamped Cuff12
BrotherHand Knitted Socks8
The DogCornish Tartan Bandana10
TOTAL86

£86

So with your £14 change why not treat yourself to a coffee and cake and Home Ground Coffee shop next door!

And please remember that while it might seem hard for so many this year to be able to afford Christmas in a way that we are used to, sometimes the best gift is you! And chocolates, yeah probably you and chocolates!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Annie’s Top Christmas Picks

Annie is the owner, founder and manager of The Craft Collective and has been at the helm since it’s opening in 2016. Over the years Annie has become a familiar face to everyone who shops in The Craft Collective and once boasted that she knew the price of every item in the shop… I’m not sure thats true anymore.. but here is Annie with her top picks of the best Handmade gifts Cornwall has to offer.

For Her

Mabel Me Candles £9

Annie Says; These candles by Mabel Me are just gorgeous, the scents are created with essential oils, so each candle had a therapeutic nature to it,  as well as smelling devine.

For Him

Cornerstone Craft Engine House from £25

Annie Says; I really love the tactile nature of these wooden engine houses by Alex of Cornerstone Crafts. All made for local reclaimed wood and created using the natural bark to give each piece an incredibly unique look

Stocking Filler

Lost Post Stamped Rings £6

Annie Says; I have one of these, my nieces and nephews have one of these, and they make the best stocking fillers or all ages with their beautiful hand stamped positive words.

For the Home

Ceramics by Carolin Hanelt from £7

Annie Says; I love all Carolin’s work and could never pick just one item. Her choice of colours based on the Cornish sea is so stunning that might be why I keep buying so much of it.

Art Work

Hudson & Jo Seed Heads £16

Annie Says; Everyone has that gift that they would love to be bought but no one has, this is mind. I love the black wire on the white, it reminds me my own scratchy artwork.. Just stunning.

Decorations

Jimagination Creations Engine House £4.50

Annie Says; This best selling decoration is perfect to adorn any Cornish persons tree any year. Nadelik Lowen meaning Merry Christmas in Cornish..

Christmas Cards

Danielle Butler £3.50

Annie Says; Whose up for the annual Christmas day/boxing day dip? With so many of them happening go join in and have some fun… or be like me and just buy the card, give it to the cold water swimmer in your lie and then enjoy being warm.

 

Rosie Top Christmas Picks

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Staff member Rosie has been working at The Craft Collective for about two years as our Saturday person, but she has really been with us since day one, as chief lunch supplier and shelf painter as we built the shop to what it is today. Rosie took a few minutes out of her day to let you know some of her favourite handmade Christmas gifts.

For Her

Mystic Flora Earrings from £15

Rosie Says; I love these big sparkly earrings, they are perfect for festive parties

For Him

The Cornish Gnome Ansum Mug £12

Rosie says; Big enough for a proper builders tea

Stocking Filler

Danielle Butler Moonllight Mermaid Tail £15

Rosie Says; Every knows or is a coldwater swimmer and this would make the perfect stocking filler for them

For the Home

Puffin Lampshades from £18

Rosie Says; I love these matching lampshade, they’d work brilliantly in a childs bedroom or for anyone who loves these special birds

Art Work

Eileen Jacobs Boat House £75

Rosie Say; This piece or artwork is so tactile- the needle felt medium fits so beautifully with the sleepy subject 0 a hark back to lazy summer days.

Decorations

Handmade by Moi Robin Heart £6.50

Rosie Says; This delicate glass robin heart captures that Christmas feeling and you can also mix and match with the rest of her range.

Christmas Cards

Jake Tyler Cards £2.50 each

Rosie Says; I LOVE VWs, so these are perfect for me!! Also come in compostable packing so better for the environment too.

Rachel’s Top Christmas Picks

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Staff member Rachel has been working at The Craft Collective for over a year and is enjoying her second Christmas at the shop. She has been looking through the  amazing products we have in stock and selecting some of her top picks for a very special handmade Christmas this year. Why not see what she is recommending this year.

For Her

Enamelled silver necklace – Sinead’s Silver Design £70

Rachel says: I love this enamelled necklace by Sinead, the blues of the enamelled glass on the silver disc reminds me of the sea

For Him

Mucky Mens Soap – Sapooni £5

Rachel Says: Living with a product grooming lover these are really excellent quality gifts and they smell amazing.

Stocking Filler

Gemstone Earrings and Rings – Absolutely Wired from £4

Rachel Says: These gorgeous gemstone pieces of jewellery are beautiful, affordable and great to mix and match.

 

For the Home

Wooden Cheese Wedges – GT Woodshop £30

Rachel Says; GT Woodshop work is is beautiful, natural and wonderfully made. Fab to serve Christmas party food on,  a  really niece piece.

Art Work

Redruth Railway – Lucky Everett £50

Rachel Says: I love Lucky’s style, capturing Redruth at its most beautiful

Decorations

Glass Tree on driftwood – Glass by the Sea £7

Rachel Says; I love a freestanding decoration at Christmas, I can put these in front of fairy lights or candles to add an extra sparkle

Christmas Cards

Glass Cards – Handmade by Moi £4.50

Rachel Says: These beautiful cards by Moi double as a card and then as a gift, as you can remove the glass decoration and hang it on the tree.

 

100 Houses Redruth

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In 2019 I decided to take part in an Instagram challenge called 100 days. It was a challenge that you set for yourself to create something every day for 100 days. Everyone said it was really hard to finish it and I thought, well I love a challenge! So I decided that I would paint a different house in Redruth every day for 100 days.

I had been watercolour painting for a couple of years at this point and I was hooked, it had taken over the house, but I didn’t feel like I had any focus with my work, and everything I painted looked like someone else’s style, not mine. What I hoped to gain from painting houses each day was to develop my own style.

What I created was a beautiful snapshot of the colours of Redruth, the muted greys and browns of the old miners cottages, the large luxury of the houses on Clinton Road and the Spanish influences in buildings on green lane.

100 houses was never created with the intention to become anything more than some tiny 3 inch paintings in a book but it took over and became cards, prints and a tea towel.

The original work hung on the walls of The Craft Collective for the months of 2020 we were open and is now safely packed away in an air tight box in the hope that the work won’t fade or be damaged. But you can still buy prints and tea towels from the shop and online.

Top tips for getting ready for Christmas!

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Yes, It might still be October, but as the penultimate pay day before Christmas approaches for many of us it is time to start making some plans.

For me we are hoping for a brilliant family Christmas so there is a lot to prepare for.

Presents

Food

Sleeping arrangements

Wet day activities

Dry day activities

So I thought I would share some of my top tips for being prepared for Christmas.

Keep it simple

Every year I see food blogs and tv shows showing me how to spend 4 hours making beautiful breads and cakes that look divine, and takes ages and cost money. So my motto is keep it simple with food. I buy my Christmas cake from a  local bakery, I get amazing artisan bread from Baker Toms, (they do stollen too!!!) I order my turkey from the Butchers and my pigs in blankets and my boxing day ham! And my veg box form the farmers market just outside the village. It’s brilliant, its quick and it’s simple.

Shop Local

 

This is a biggie, shopping local this year is going to be even more important as so many products may end up in short supply, stuck at customs or costing more money than before. Shops like The Craft Collective support over 60 different local artists and makers and have a huge variety of amazing products in store. From stunning silver jewellery and gorgeous ceramics, artisan soaps and candles, and much much more that you just wouldn’t find in a traditional shop, it’s more than worth  visit. Not only are you supporting a high street business and the 60 micro businesses inside but your keeping your carbon footprint low as the products are UK created so the supply chain is short and better for the environment.

A trip to the woods

Take a visit to Tehidy Woods, Portreath, Cornwall over the festive period and enjoy an immersive wonderland walk through the woodlands as the performers of the Rogue Theatre perform around you. Ending in the tent with old man winter, a hot chocolate and a wonderful magical play.

Tickets aren’t yet on sale but keep your eyes on their website for full details. It really is one not to miss.

We took our nephew niece and friends kids last year and it was a great way to spend some festive time together and we loved it just as much as the kids did.

Remember to wear your wellies, coats, scarves and gloves as it gets a little chilli.

Craft day

Plan in a fabulous craft day for the whole family. Book a session at a local pottery Painting cafe like starglazers in Falmouth. Where you can even order a paint at home kit!

So here’s to hoping you all have a super 2021 Christmas and remember! . Keep it simple and shop local!

Craft Project: Knitted Poppy

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With Remembrance Sunday close and in many of our thoughts why not knit your own this year. You can wear your knitted poppy with pride and even make them for friends and family and donate the money with your local poppy seller

Materials

  • Red Double Knit Yarn
  • 4mm Knitting Needles
  • Black Button
  • Brooch Back
  • Wool Needle

Key

  • K = knit
  • P = Purl
  • SS1K1PSSO = slip stitch 1 stich, knit the next stitch then pass the slipped stitch back over the knit stitch
  • st = Stitch
  • K2TOG = Knit 2 stitches together

 

Step 1

Cast on 74 st

Step 2

K1, *K4, P4, repeat from * to the last st, P1

Repeat 3 more time

Step 3

K1, *K1, SS1K1PSSO, K1, P4. Repeat from * to last st, P1

K1, *K1, SS1K1PSSO, K1, P3. Repeat from * to last st, P1

 

Step 4

K1, *K2TOG. Repeat to last st, P1

Repeat once more

Step 5

Cut  a long tail and thread the needle. Run the needle and tail through the st on the knitting needle taking them off the knitting needle.

Pull the thread to gather the centre of the poppy and stitch together to secure.

Using mattress stitch technique sew the edges together

Step 6

Using the red yarn sew the black button into the middle of one side of the poppy

Step 7

Using the red yarn sew the brooch back onto the back of the poppy

Tips: You can use the same tail of yarn to gather the poppy, sew the edge, attached the button and the brooch back.

Interview with the Maker: Cornwall on Camera

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Father of four Marcus started his photography business just two years ago and we managed to find a few minutes in his busy life to have a chat about his work.

 

 

Tell us a bit about what you do?

I am a landscape photographer concentrating on the beauty and diversity of the Cornish landscape from sunsets and seascapes, moorland and beaches to our ancient sites and the remains of Cornwall’s industrial past, as long as it’s in Cornwall and it interests me I’ll photograph it.

How did you get started as a photographer?

I’ve always had an interest in photography I can remember as a child playing with a camera that had belonged to a great uncle, it no longer worked but I was fascinated with it, all through my childhood I always had a camera and I’ve always loved taking photos so when in 2017 I was made redundant I decided to seize the opportunity and try to do something with the photography and so Cornwall on Camera was born.

What inspires you?

Inspiration comes in many forms, as a proud Cornishman I have a strong connection to my cultural heritage and a deep love for my homeland and it is from this that I draw my inspiration, Cornwall has such a diverse landscape that there’s always something new to be found and especially so in familiar locations the challenge for me as a photographer is to find it….there is beauty wherever you look, you just have to look. 

What is the biggest challenge that you face as an artist and how do you overcome it?

The biggest challenge for me is in actually making an income from my work, as fantastic as a nicely framed photo on the wall is its a luxury item and not a necessity as a result of this there is a need to branch out into other products and services such as running a workshop or finding new ways to supply my images, it’s a challenge but I do love a challenge.

 

What is next for Cornwall on Camera?

Next up is to continue building my portfolio of images, increase my product range, prints, greetings cards etc and I’m currently looking into supplying canvas prints I’m also looking to take on some commission work and maybe….just maybe in the future run the occasional tour or workshop. 

Interview with the Maker: Lost Post

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With her amazing brand and eye for something a little bit special creative Carriann Featherbe is the owner and creator of Lost Post and we grabbed her for a couple of minutes to answer a few questions.

1. Tell us about what you make?I repurpose cutlery I’ve collected over the years into wearable jewellery, as well as metal stamping pieces to make special keepsakes and gifts. I handstamp cuff bracelets, ring and keyrings and offer a variety of items that can be customised for any purpose or occasion.

 

2. How did you get started?

LostPost started 5 years ago. I had finished my A-levels and had a summer before I started my Art Foundation at College. I was deep in the creative process experimenting with laminate art,. paper cutting and making various collages out of found and collected materials.

At this time i was also writing letters to people around the world and collecting vintage items. I began using my vintage typewriter in my work and packaging and realised I loved the aesthetic. LostPost is not just one thing, its a collective of interests and it all stems from my love of old, lost and forgotten things.

I collected spoons for many years before finally realising they could be made into usable items, instead of sat in a jar on my desk where I occasionally looked at them in wonderment. It was then that I realised I needed something to use them for and bought my first Dremel. It’s all grown out of trial and error and a love of pretty durable wares.

3. Where did the name LostPost come from?

I can’t remember exactly why I chose this name. I do remember opening a notebook and writing a page of names that seemed the fit the feeling of vintage, nature and the feeling you get when you receive a package in the post. A wonderment of what’s contained inside. I guess I was trying to find a name that fit the feeling when you open your post, and its something you didn’t expect (whether a gift or forgotten order) LostPost seemed to fit that feeling.

 

4. What inspires you?

I’m inspired by a wide range of things, mostly the ever growing knowledge of patterns and designs of vintage items, the attention to detail and durability of these old items. They feel loved and age well. That inspires me to create items that continue to have a use and are just as beautiful. I’m inspired by the Reuse Reduce Recycle movement and being able to be conscious about waste.
 

5. What is coming next for LostPost?

I have my first ever 2 day event coming up in late November, a couple more Christmas Fairs, but most importantly… new products.

I’ve been working a lot of how vintage cutlery can be worn further. I’ve made the move into earrings, and my most favourite ‘spoon rings’ which is an exciting time and has been something I’d hoped to do from the very fist time I picked up a spoon with the intention of turning it into something.

So exciting things ahead!!

Shop online Now Lost Post