Meet the Maker - Stitched with Love UK

Our shop looks so festive and full of beautiful decorations - why don't you treat yourself to a felt creation from Stitched with Love this Christmas.....

Please can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your work?

Hello, my name is Lisa and I am the designer/maker behind Stitched with Love UK. I often feel like I was born in the wrong era! I'm 24, a Bristolian born and bread and I adore the city. I don't think I'll ever move too far away. I live in a lovely little barn conversion. I'm a full time graphic designer and crafting is my hobby. I first introduced myself to crafting around 2 years ago at Christmas time, I didn't have much money (due to saving for a house deposit) to buy all of the lovely things I wanted to decorate my home so I decided to give it a go at making my own. I had lovely compliments from friends and family, whom suggested I tried them out online. I opened my Etsy shop/created a facebook page, and as they say, the rest is history. My work is inspired by my crafty and handmade interests and thrifty lifestyle.

What do you think makes Paper • Scissors • Stone special?

I love Paper Scissors Stone as it is unique. It's a wonderful collaboration project for creative Bristolians to share our work, and an amazing opportunity for local people to see what a vast array of creative talent that is here in Bristol.

What do you love most about working in your chosen discipline?

I love working with felt and hand stitching, I find it very therapeutic. I find it most rewarding when a thought pops into my head and within minutes I have drew up what I would like the final product to look like and start working out a pattern.

Describe your studio or workspace?

My workspace is either in my home. I live in a wonderful barn conversion. It has a large living space and on winter evenings you will more often than not find me stitching in front of the log burner.

What is your favourite part of Christmas?

It's tough to think of only one thing that is my favourite about Christmas. I love the good food and drink, staying warm and cosy infront of the fire but most of all I love the quality time spent with my good friends and family.

Which fellow Paper Scissors Stone artist would you collaborate with and why? 

I would love a collaboration project with Jess from Yiskha Knits. I have known Jess since we both started out crafting (about a year and a half ago now). She is a lovely lady and I adore all of her creations.

If you could choose one Christmas gift for yourself from Paper Scissors Stone, what would it be?

I love Emily Ketteringhams work. I own a couple of her prints and would love to add to my collection!

Which is your favourite local independent shop or eatery in Bristol & why?

I love Bristol as a city for it's diverse eateries and independent shops. I do love popping into Tenderfoot though. They always have a diverse and exciting range of local handmade and crafty goodies.

What are your plans for 2013?

My plans for 2013 is to create new goodies to add to my range, to continuing to improve my stitching skills, and maybe even introduce a new craft - I'd love to be able to crochet!

What is your favourite Christmas song?

Tough question, perhaps Driving Home for Christmas, it always feels like it's Christmas once I've heard that one :)

Finally if you were a Christmas cracker, what inside treat would you be and why?

I would have to be the little sewing kit. I believe I am much like the sewing kit. I get tool to keep close by and always handy in a crisis!

Thanks Lisa! Great interview and a sewing kit is super handy.
You can find Lisa's lovely creations until the 31st December in our Christmas shop - Paper Scissors Stone.

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Meet the Maker Interview - Laura Mirjami

Please can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your work?

My name is Laura Mirjami and I am a designer/maker of whimsical animal characters mainly made from fabric and leather. I originally come from Finland and I hope that my designs are reflecting a little bit of my roots by depicting animals in a clear, simple style that captures the essence of the animal more than the physical look of it.

What do you think makes Paper • Scissors • Stone special?

Everything is so beautifully presented with interesting work and the whole operation has such a lovely community spirit.

What do you love most about working in your chosen discipline?

I love taking something 2D and crafting it into a 3D item. And as the transformation happens, you can literally see the animals come alive, each one of them growing into their own little character.

Describe your studio or workspace?

I am lucky enough to be one of the resident makers at the New Brewery Arts centre in the heart of Cirencester.  I love my studio! All activity is centered around a large “cutting table” in the middle, the surrounding walls are filled with the materials I work with including leather, vintage fabrics, jars of colourful beads, buttons and trimmings. Sewing machines are tucked into corners while reels of wool and sewing thread are dotted about. Scissors of all sizes and measuring tapes hang from wall hooks. 

It may seem chaotic as every square inch of space is filled up but everything has it’s place and I love having all materials visible and easily accessible.

Are you involved in any Christmas Markets, if so what? 

Sadly no. However as my studio is open to the public, I'll be trying to get a Christmas market vibe going on in my workspace!

What is your favourite part of Christmas? 

I love the run up to Christmas, how decorations pop up and lights make dark evenings so much more endurable. I also love how the Christmas spirit can just sweep over to you from beautiful decorations, hearing a piece of music or having a lovely glass of mulled wine. 

If you could choose a fellow Paper Scissors Stone artist to collaborate with who would it be and why? 

I love Lizzie Pearce's animal brooches and I think by putting our magical animals together we could create something rather special. 

If you could choose one Christmas gift for yourself from Paper Scissors Stone, what would it be?

Lizzie Pearce's Badger Brooch 

Which is your favourite local independent shop or eatery in Bristol & why?

Workshop 22 opposite the Hospital is another wonderful place showcasing local talent and the Spanish cafe next door makes brilliant tortilla! 

What are your plans for 2013? 

I'm hoping to develop my leather animals more and even go a size larger! 

Finally if you were a Christmas cracker, what inside treat would you be and why?

I'd be a set of lovely Christmas fairy lights that would always work, year on year. No more trying to find that one culprit bulb that prevents the whole set from lighting up

Thank you Laura - your little Owl is such a cutie!

You can find Laura's gorgeous creatures in Paper Scissors Stone Volume 5 until the end of December.

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Meet the Maker - Julia Davey

Please can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your work?

I am Julia and I run Julia Davey Ceramics from my small, converted garage studio by the canal in Bath with my packaging Queen mother who helps with all things bubble wrap and Sellotape related. I make small batches of illustrated tableware, jewellery and printed stationary based on small events, places I have visited or things that I love. For example, my robot design was inspired by tin 1950's wind up robots. Each piece is decorated by hand individually by me so that two are never quite the same!

Please can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your work?

The diverse mixture of artists that have been selected, it is a pick and mix of styles and products that would not be put together in a typical craft shop or gallery. 

What do you love most about working in your chosen discipline?

Bizarrely I think the thing I love the most is the search for perfection. I am a real perfectionist and so I find it a real challenge working in ceramics, particularly making tableware. People are used to factory standard tableware so trying to improve my decorating and making techniques to create something people accept into their kitchen is fun! And accepting the odd thumb print, faint casting line or mini scratch out of place in the paint means that I am showing their hand made background.

Describe your studio or workspace?

It is a converted garage in the shared studio building of Bath Artists Studios, 10 minutes by foot from the centre of Bath. There are over 60 of us in units, mine just happens to be in a row of garages at the back of the building. It is great for easy access with the original garage door to open and load boxes into the car for fairs and packing. There are two kilns, both electric and multi purpose... They often act as radiators! I bought the second kiln last year when I gained a big client, it means I can always have one on the go! And a most importantly a sink, it is a messy profession and I always need tea to keep calm. I put in a clear plastic roof when I moved in and this let's in plenty of natural light. I also recently inherited a fab architects shelving unit from a school which I am itching to convert and use for storing wrapping paper after the rush of Christmas. Finally, I have a giant mood board of pictures, sketches and photos on the longest wall to constantly refer to. 

Are you involved in any Christmas Markets, if so what?

I am a great fan of the Artisan market in Frome which I will be attending in my winter warmers and also the new Bath Artisan market which has only just launched and will be at Green Park Station every second Sunday of the month. All of the rest of my events are indoors based... 

What is your favourite part of Christmas?

I love walking my dog who is part whippet on Christmas day with my family. Last year we were seriously lucky as there was snow! So was she... We had bought her a coat for Christmas.

If you could choose a fellow Paper Scissors Stone artist to collaborate with who would it be and why? 

I love fellow ceramicist Alice Shields' work as it has such a sense of humour, I have gathered a collection of her badges and think it would be really fun to work on some quirky tableware.

If you could choose one Christmas gift for yourself from Paper Scissors Stone, what would it be?

I think I would want a big print, or perhaps a few that remind me of Bristol.  Are moving into a barn conversion in the new year and the living room will need something modern and bold. That or a new iPhone cover/cosy... Being a potter is very messy and mine is constantly covered in dust!

Which is your favourite local independent shop or eatery in Bristol & why?

I really like bar no. 51 in stokes croft. Most of my mates live in this area and it is run by a great family! Check out the live music and pub quiz too

What are your plans for 2013?

To keep developing the ranges I have and add a few more. I am also excited to start putting the imagery on textiles and expand the gift wrap designs. I am attending Spring Fair international in February and so hopefully this will give me some fun opportunities. 

What is your favourite Christmas song?

The coca cola advert! I know it is not technically a song but I am always so excited when I first hear it!

Finally if you were a Christmas cracker, what inside treat would you be and why?

I think I would be the measuring tape, it is quite useful and reliable much like me.

Thank you Julia!  We love your ceramics.

Paper Scissors Stone Volume 5 will run until end of December, see you there!

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