The Making Hour .14

Last month I bought some air-drying clay to make some little tags for presents. There were lots left so this week we decided to make wonderful wonky things.

The Making HourMhairi Allan31 January 2021making together, making matters, mark making, creative, Creative Wellbeing, Creative MattersComment

The Making Hour .13

I decided to have a play about with some stitching. Revisiting some I used to use a lot in my degree work and some ones I hadn’t tried before. All of the stitches had one thing in common, they were very decorative.

Paper Houses connects with Leanh-La Jewellery

I first remember seeing Leanh’s work, this sunny orange arch popped out through the glass case. It had little flecks of white. It was stand out yet subtle, I didn’t think that could be a thing but this was exactly that. I got the necklace there and then and still have it now.

The Making Hour .12

Stationery is my happy place! I grabbed my notebook, line guide and a selection of lovely pens, pencils and washi tapes to get organised in a creative way.

The Making Hour .11

I seem to be saying this each week but I needed The Making Hour this week, a little bit of creative exercise. This week I decided to make a simple book from a collage I had been experimenting with.

The Making Hour .10

This problem-solving element of making is something I absolutely love but you need to have the time to make mistakes and experiment. Often I get these making hours at night-time and its the way I relax. After making these little cases I got my embroidery out, a cup of tea and some good rubbish on tv. Bliss!

Paper Houses Connects with Camban Studio

Why are you a creative?

I think it’s just a natural part of who I am? I’ve always been creative, and when my creativity has been curbed in the past I felt like I wasn’t really being me!

The Making Hour .9

From scrap paper to ace decorations! Plus there’s something calming about just sitting with a cuppa folding some paper.

Shop Local + Sustainable Christmas Guide

This season we are all trying to be a bit more sustainable with our gift choices, there’s been a great shift to supporting local and small businesses. Sometimes it can be hard to find when our search engines and feeds are being filled with big companies especially at this time of the year. So we’ve pulled together some amazing creatives for this local and sustainable gift guide.

Paper Houses Connects with Helen Ruth Scarves

Our first interviewee is the North East scarf queen Helen of Helen Ruth Scarves.

The Making Hour .8

Drawing just for the sake of it is very relaxing, not knowing what will come of it and just collecting images and marks that make you happy is refreshing. Mark making is my favourite drawing technique, it’s about texture, line and pattern. It’s almost like feeling for what you are seeing as much as it is seeing it.

FORM, The Making HourMhairi Allan15 November 2020making matters, Creative Wellbeing, Creative, The Making Hour, mark making, drawing, sketchingComment

The Making Hour .7

I went on a wander up to a viewpoint with my little family where I popped out my notebook and started jotting down all the things that I had done this year. Sometimes we only remember the difficult times it’s good to make sure there’s space to focus on positives.