Showing posts with label Features. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Features. Show all posts

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Busy Bees

Apologies to regular readers of the OOAK blog. Nicole and I have been snowed under with work for the past few weeks, meaning we have had very little time to dedicate to writing on the blog and other social networking sites.

So to signify our 'busyness' and spring time, here are some busy bees!

Monday, April 12, 2010

British Themed Crafts: Union Flag

OOAK loves the UK so I thought we'd celebrate our love by sharing with you some awesome British themed crafts. Its double the love too, as these items not only celebrate UK themed things, but are MADE in the UK!

This week, it's the Union Flag, so lets have a look to see what's on offer:

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Meet the Maker: Shadows and Tall Trees

Today we Meet up with OOAK seller Charlie Poole of Shadows and Tall Trees to find out a bit more about her creative side.



Hey Charlie! Tell us a bit about you and your work.

I have always had a passion for arts and crafts and am always doing something creative in my spare time.

I went to Poole College where I attended an Art and Design Diploma course for two years. This course involved fine arts, life drawing, animation, sculpture, glass blowing and narrative image.

After leaving college I have still been very busy painting and creating clay ornaments and briefly had an arts stall at the Boscombe Underground.

I specialize in Icons and Movies but have recently been looking at masks and drawing my own designs which I hope to make soon. I hope to save up and get my own kiln so I can create more glass ornaments.


Doctor Who


How did you get into crafting/art?

Ever since I was young I have always loved to draw and make things. The only class I really enjoyed at school was art but after I left school I did not pursue this as I have always been told that I should get a “proper” job.

I went to college on an animal management course but soon realized that this was not for me and that to be happy in life I should follow my dreams and two years later, I quit the office to go back to college and get into art and design again. This was the best choice I ever made as I have learnt so much there and I am now drawing everyday and my skills are always improving.


Brian Molko


Who or what inspires you?

I am very inspired by music. I can just be listening to a song with a blank canvas in front of me and then an idea comes to me and I start drawing. Sometimes I don’t even know what it is until I finished and that’s the most exciting part.

I am also very inspired by movies and characters, I am a huge film buff so I love to paint my own interpretations of my favorite characters.

My artistic style is very unique, I do not worry much about proportions and perfection, making my work sometimes very quirky and surreal. I am very inspired by Tim Burton and his dark, yet beautifully gothic vision.


Dance of Death


When you’re not creating, what do you do?

These days it is very rare I am not creating. I have started to give myself my own projects to and I have been putting all my time into that.

I like to go to the cinema and out to gigs with friends as music and film are my other two big passions.


Cobain


Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

I hope to have produced lots of artwork and have my own little shop in Camden with some other artists. I also hope to start designing and creating my own clothing range.


Ziggy Stardust


You can find Charlie's work for sale on OOAK, or if you would like her to do a commission for you please get in touch.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Easter Bunnies

Easter is nearly upon us and for me Easter brings up images of spring which in turn makes me think of bunnies! Here are four bunnies from UK sellers to fall in love with:


Bouncy Bunnies




Bunny in a Teacup
from sparklehen: £7 - Floppy Cotton Bunny from FruteJuce: £25
Lavender Rabbit from Pouch: £10.50 - European Rabbit from Urbanimal:£25


-Katrina
TomatoTea

Saturday, March 20, 2010

And then there was OOAK!

OOAK is now officially open!

Kitty Pinkstars






I am in love with all of Kitty's wonderful sock creatures, but this one named Chloe has to be one of my favourites. I just adore the colours, she makes me think of summer.

As with all Kitty's sock creatures Chloe has her own little story to share with the world. Chloe along with her other friends are now available to buy on our site!

We hope you like OOAK, please let us know what you think of the site.

-Nicole: Hearts and Skulls x

Friday, March 19, 2010

Tomorrow...

...we open.


Samantha Gillingham


P1250319


This particular bracelet from Gilly is my favourite. Yes yes, the designs are all very similar, she has more on the way but its the blue and bronze that does it for me. Its a combination you don't really see every day.

Sam will be bringing us silver versions of these bracelets very soon, which I am very excited about, as silver seems to go with everything. If you can't wait any longer, why not commission Sam to make you one today?

-Katrina
TomatoTea

Thursday, March 18, 2010

2 Days!

Shadows and Tall Trees




I adore this painting by Charlie of Shadows and Tall Trees. She really brings the Mad Hatter to life in all his colouful glory.

This painting really shows what Charlie can do. The original copy of this painting will be available to buy from the OOAK website. If you would like Charlie to paint you a character from a particular film, get in touch and we will see what we can do.

OOAK would like to wish Charlie a very Happy Birthday for tomorrow!

-Nicole x

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

3 Days...

Samantha Harvey


I love this necklace.



18 hours of hard graft went into stitching this necklace together. It is simply stunning and will dress up any outfit. The best part is, is that it's black so you'll never fail to find an outfit that matches.

Sam has a knack for timeless designs and matching beads together for a piece. If you're looking for something a bit special, why not get in contact with Sam about a commission for a One Of A Kind piece of beaded jewellery.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

4 Days

4 days to go!

TomatoTea




One of my favourite TomatoTea products has to be the little birdie keyrings. With spring almost here these little cuties would be a gorgeous addition to any set of keys or bag.

Katrina of TomatoTea works wonders with wool to create beautiful textile based items for every season. Each product is unique, stylish and will make you stand out from the crowd.

-Nicole x

Monday, March 15, 2010

It's The Final Countdown...

5 days to go.

And for these 5 days, we will be blogging about our favourite products from our sellers.


Hearts and Skulls



My favourite product has to be this amazing Batman Comic Mirror. It's perfect for any comic book fan, guy or gal and would look great in any modern home to add a bit of character to a plain wall. It'll be quite the talking point too, as its unique and one of a kind, as with all items made by Nicole.

As with all of Hearts and Skulls products, Nicole strives to upcycle as much as she can by searching out lost forgotten mirrors and frames in charity shops to make into her amazing, zany designs. If you're after a particular comic book character to be made into a frame, mirror or set of coasters, drop Nicole a line!

-Katrina
TomatoTea

Thursday, March 11, 2010

About us

With just 9 days until the launch of the OOAK website I thought it was time we told you a bit more about us….

Katrina and I have always been avid crafters. Whenever we meet craft is on our minds, we always dream about being able to make a career from our crafts. OOAK, which was originally known as oOAK Tree is the first step towards making our dream a reality.

OOAK is not just about us though, we want to promote independent artists throughout the UK, working together to encourage people to buy handmade items rather than mass-produced goods.

So who are we?


TomatoTea

Katrina is the Co-creator of OOAK, and the lady behind TomatoTea. Katrina makes the most delightful textile treats; you will fall in love with her beautiful yarn creations. Katrina’s famous snuggly neck warmers are a must, and were recently featured in the handmade gift guide.




Hearts and Skulls

Nicole of Hearts and Skulls is also the co-creator of OOAK. Nicole’s work is bright and unique; her love of comic books and all things cute gives her work a distinctive edge. Nicole creates a range of cute and kooky accessories that you will love.



Kitty Pinkstars

Kitty’s work is vibrant and quirky; her amazing sock creatures really make her stand out from the crowd. It is easy to fall in love with all of Kitty’s creations, each one of them bursting with personality. Kitty is a very creative and talented lady who is an inspiration.




Samantha Harvey

Samantha makes beautiful beaded jewellery. Her intricate designs really are a treat for the eyes. Samantha’s careful beadwork gives a stunning effect., each piece is timeless and unique.(see our jewellery on OOAK post for pictures)



Samantha Gillingham

Samantha Gillingham has a real eye for jewellery making and she knows what looks good. Her designs are very complimentary, putting the right colours, findings and beads together to create a perfect piece of jewellery.(see our jewellery on OOAK post for pictures)

Shadows and Tall Trees Art

Charlie is a talented artist with a darkly distinctive style. Tim Burton inspires Charlie and this really shows in her creations. As well as her unique artwork Charlie creates a range of wonderful and strange little creatures that you will adore.


Watch this space for interviews with each of our sellers. You will be able to buy their work on our site, hope to see you there.

The countdown begins: 9 Days!

-Nicole x

Monday, March 8, 2010

Beautiful Buttons

Okay, I admit it.

I am a button addict.

But lets be honest here. I think all crafters have a soft spot for those cute, round embellishments, don't they? They can be used in so many ways, and artisans are finding new ways all the time too! So heres a selection from UK sellers:



-Katrina
TomatoTea

Monday, March 1, 2010

Get Well Soon

Having had a pretty bad weekend of stomach trouble, which has now been topped off with a cold, I thought I would see what items were available to people wanting to wish others to 'get well soon':


-Katrina
TomatoTea

Thursday, February 25, 2010

We love Alice

Here at OOAK we think Alice in Wonderland is great.


To celebrate the release of the new film we have searched the web for UK makers who have been inspired by Alice.





These are made by Hearts and Skulls (ME), see my blog for details.




You would have to be Mad as a Hatter not to love this notebook by thegiftshed,




This beautiful Alice inspired print would add a bit of wonderland magic to any room by Champignons




Make sure your copy of Alice in Wonderland never goes missing with these gorgeous Bookplates. From adorapop




This Cheshire cat by FeltLikeStitchin certainly brightens my day.


I love Alice <3

-Nicole Hearts and Skulls

Monday, February 22, 2010

Jewellery on OOAK

Today we greet two lovely ladies in to the OOAK family. These ladies make amazingly beautiful jewellery in two distinct styles which we think are fantastic. Here's a peek at what they do:


Samantha Harvey

Sam makes the most intricate jewellery pieces by using beading techniques in her spare time. I am fascinated by the craftsmanship that goes into her work, as she carefully pieces each bead into place. Her work stems from simple designs to let the beads do the talking, to complex and intricate bead work which, quite frankly boggles the mind.

Photobucket


Samantha Gillingham

Gilly, as Sam is affectionately known by her friends, creates jewellery due to a profound love of beads. She seeks out beads and findings which appeal to her, building a collection over time in either colour, shape or size. When she feels she has completed a combination, she pieces the beads together using the findings she feels complement the beads best.

Samantha Gillingham



Samantha Harveys' and Samantha Gillinghams' jewellery will be available on our up and coming website. Although they are both studying, they are happy to receive custom orders. Please contact us for any questions or requests and we will pass them on.

-Katrina
TomatoTea

Monday, February 15, 2010

Super Cute Sock Creature Feature!

It's quite amazing what you can make out of a sock or two. Here's a selection from UK sellers on Folksy:



-Katrina
TomatoTea

Monday, February 1, 2010

Features

I want to showcase a few UK Artisans who I love and adore. Most of which I know from Coriandr, a super UK based marketplace for handmade goodies. I love their work and want to share it with you! Here are my three picks for this week:

Dig The Earth
Blog - BigCartel - Coriandr - Etsy - Folksy - Zibbet

Kev of Dig The Earth is well know for his modern cards and prints. He packages his items beautifully and all his cards come in biodegradable packaging. Need a birthday card with a certain age on it? Kev has it covered with his POP! cards, available in 2 different colours and ANY number!






Creativesque
Blog - Coriandr - Etsy - Not On The High Street

Stacey-Ann has a way with paper. She makes the most beautiful paper goods and hand finishes them all. All of her cards are unique as she hand makes each and every one. From gift tags to illustrated bookmarks, Stacey has it covered.






Kitty Ballistic
Blog - ArtFire - Coriandr

A great creator of plush characters, Helen breathes life into her felt creations by giving each and everyone a name and back story. You can't help but fall in love with them, even if they are a zombie potato or a shifty looking lemon with a moustache. Helen also creates jewellery with unique charms and beads she finds in Holland.





Look out for more features next week!

-Katrina
Tomatotea