Category: Artisans blogs

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution

Plastic is everywhere. Useful and convenient, it’s also a massive pollution problem, especially in our oceans. Turtles and seabirds become ensnared in discarded plastics, and tiny microplastics are eaten by pretty much everything. We need to solve this problem at the source, and produce less plastic in the first place.

Plastic is incredibly versatile and long-lasting, finding its way into every corner of our lives. But the very qualities that make plastic so useful also make it a huge problem. Cheap and disposable, plastic has been a symbol of our throwaway culture. As a result, vast quantities pollute our world. Much of it flows into the oceans, turning them into a plastic soup.

A truckload of plastic enters the ocean every single minute and UK supermarkets produce 800,000 tonnes every year. With production increasing, that’s set to rise.

Bottles, pots and food trays are immediately obvious, but other types of plastic pollution can be harder to spot. When plastic breaks down it doesn’t disappear, it gets smaller creating tiny particles called microplastics. Even clothes made from artificial materials shed microplastic fibres when they’re washed. Microbeads, another type of microplastic, are sometimes added to products such as cosmetics and toothpaste. Impossible to filter from waste water, they end up in our oceans.

Bits of plastic have been found in every corner of the world, including the deepest ocean trenches and on uninhabited islands. Our own researchers have found plastic pollution in Antarctica. Turtles, dolphins and seabirds can become entangled or injured by large pieces of plastic. It can even be mistaken for food. Microplastics are just as devastating. Swallowed by everything from microscopic zooplankton to giant blue whales, they enter the food chain and carry harmful toxins. Microplastics have even been found in human excrement.

Reducing plastic pollution

We’re just beginning to realise the scale of the problem, but fortunately the answer is simple: make and use less plastic. People around the world have come together to end plastic pollution, and it’s working. Greenpeace supporters have challenged big companies to use less plastic, while countries like the UK have banned certain microplastics. Supermarkets are starting to talk about what they need to do.

But we need to go much further to end the flow of plastics into the ocean. Food and drink companies need to slash the amount of unnecessary plastic packaging they use. We also need to get rid of single-use plastics – like cutlery and glasses – once and for all.

Find out how your supermarket ranked in our plastic league table, and get tips on reducing plastic in your own life.

https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/page/s/plastic-free-supermarkets?source=GA&subsource=GOFRNAOAGA034J&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpJOO2-aD7AIVQebtCh37ughwEAAYASAAEgIcovD_BwE

Back to blog

Leave a comment

 
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Essential Guide to Applying Sunscreen on Your Face

As the sun’s rays grow stronger, protecting your skin becomes paramount. Applying sunscreen is a crucial step in safeguarding your skin from harmful UV rays and preventing premature aging, sunburn, and skin damage.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to properly apply sunscreen to your face for optimal protection and skincare.

Step 1: Choose the Right Sunscreen:

Opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 or higher. This ensures protection against both UVA and UVB rays. If you have sensitive skin or specific skin concerns, consider a mineral sunscreen that is labeled “fragrance free” or “oil-free.”

Step 2: Cleansing and Preparation:

Start with a clean face. Gently cleanse your face to remove any dirt, oil, or makeup. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel. 

Apply Moisturiser (Optional):

If your skincare routine includes a moisturiser, apply it before your sunscreen. Allow a few minutes for the moisturiser to absorb into your skin before moving on to the next step.

Step 3: Apply Sunscreen Generously:

Take one teaspoon of sunscreen on your fingertips. Apply the sunscreen in small dots to different parts of your face – forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and neck if it’s exposed. This helps distribute the product evenly.

Step 4: Spread and Blend:

Using your fingertips, gently spread the sunscreen in upward and outward motions. Ensure even coverage on all areas, including hard-to-reach spots like the sides of your nose and your earlobes.

Step 5: Don’t Forget Your Ears and Neck:

Extend the application of sunscreen to your ears and neck, as these areas are often exposed to the sun. Remember that they are just as susceptible to sun damage as your face.

Step 6: Reapply Throughout the Day:

Sunscreen’s effectiveness diminishes over time, especially if you sweat, swim, or wipe your face. Reapply sunscreen every two hours or more frequently if you’re sweating or engaging in water activities. If you’re wearing makeup, consider using a mist sunscreen to touch up during the day.

Step 7: Additional Protection:

Consider using other forms of sun protection alongside sunscreen, such as wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and seeking shade during peak sunlight hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Conclusion:

Protecting your face from the sun is a fundamental aspect of a healthy skincare routine. By following these steps and making sunscreen application a consistent habit, you’re taking a proactive approach to preserving the health and appearance of your skin. 

Remember, sun protection should be worn all year-round, so don’t forget to incorporate it into your daily routine regardless of the season. Applying it daily, even on cloudy days, helps safeguard your skin and maintain its health and appearance over time.

https://equal-ibrium.co.uk/

Posted on by

Life as a (very) mature art student…..

graduation mortar board

If it hadn’t been for the pandemic, I think it very unlikely I would have embarked on a full time degree course at the tender age of 55! As the country locked down back in April 2020, my self-employed taxi business suddenly had no customers; in the absence of anything else to do, my long time watercolour painting hobby suddenly took on a new significance. 

As the summer went on, I reached a point where I couldn’t envisage doing anything else but making art, learning new processes and finding out more about all things arty. I found myself applying for a full-time  BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing and Printmaking degree course at Arts University, Plymouth. To my great surprise, I was accepted! I opted to do an extended course with a foundation year tacked on to the start; as someone who had been out of education for many, many years, I needed the best head start I could get.To my surprise and relief, I wasn’t the oldest student around any stretch and it didn’t really matter. The “youngsters” were great to be around and there was very much a sense that there was more uniting us as new students than there was dividing us. Being around younger people is good for the soul..probably! Also surprising was that as an old dog I could be taught some artistic new tricks and I was still more than capable of writing an essay.

Feeling greatly inspired by my extended foundation year intro, the remainder of my degree has flown by at an almost alarming pace. Exploring new subjects to draw and paint, learning new techniques, particularly in printmaking, engaging in research about other artists and art movements and becoming involved in artistic endeavours in my local community have all contributed to a very rewarding experience. As well as pushing my own artistic boundaries I have also discovered a previously untapped interest in teaching and public speaking.

Hopefully I am finding a new artistic voice and embarking on an exciting new future as my degree course enters the final business end of proceedings, at the tender age of 58. I didn’t really want to retire anyway, so I’m hoping exciting new doors may open for me so I can have many happy and productive years ahead doing something challenging and enjoyable…whatever that may be.

If you think you are too old/ too set in your ways/ too rigid/ too “settled” to try anything new, please disregard these self-imposed barriers. Just go for it! It might change your life!


   

 

Some things I may not have tried if I hadn’t gone to Uni……..

Posted on by

Snippety Moments

December is here and it’s brought its to do list. For all that I love having lists any month of the year, December is the one that gets most strictly tamed with tasks and blocks of time. With Christmas prep added to all the everyday routines, I need to chip away systematically at writing cards, buying and wrapping presents and organising food. This doesn’t mean everything is happening in a smooth and clockwork sort of way (it gets to a running around with hair on fire stage eventually), but I usually know what’s done and what still needs to be done.

In one of my social media posts for this blog I mentioned that these posts give me a nudge to remember to notice details around me. And it gives me a place to write down what I’ve observed, so that I can collect a little parcel of moments together and then take a look at what I’ve got. A bit like filling your pockets on a walk, then taking all the contents out and seeing what you’ve got at the end of it.

 

Yellow and green oak leaves 

 

Throughout the week this is definitely a more snippety kind of exercise. Heading to the shops or the post I notice the golden light and the colour of the trees in the early morning, and the extra nip in the air. There’s a vivid mix of colours around still – evergreens contrast with golden yellow and orange leaves – while other
trees are wintry and bare.

 

On the way down the hill, I can see the jewelled red berries of woody nightshade. A few weeks ago most of them were still unripe, green and firm. Now there is a scarlet glow of juicy clusters – enticing for the birds if poisonous for almost anyone else.

 

At home there are often birds in the garden – the sparrows have been using a shallow plant saucer for a bird bath all summer. We’ve been stopping every now and then to watch them splashing and fussing. The sparrows have been chattering all year, but there’s a blackbird as well. I caught sight of him the other day, looking well-fed and ready for winter.

 

On damp and milder days, the garden still smells warm and earthy. More autumn than winter still. I
am reminded of the very summery February we had some years back, when I could go out without a coat and there were dozens of ladybirds in the hedgerows. It’s both pleasant and unsettling because the seasons are definitely a bit off.

 

Dried hydrangea flower head

 

Snippety moments through the week help to lift the days above the to do lists, if briefly. Weekends are best of course for having more time to get out and look around. The photos in today’s post were all taken at Dumfries House, which has beautiful grounds and a really splendid walled garden. It is interesting at any time of year and the autumn colours were looking delightful in November.

 

Wherever we go, I try to get photos of flowers and trees. Looking through the pictures afterwards is another way of emptying my pockets out to see what I have – I’m always sifting through to see what might spark an idea for a project.

 

Golden trees in late autumn

 

At this time of year, my thoughts are already leapfrogging Christmas to think of spring designs. I’m thinking of the details I love most in the early spring, when everything has been dormant for so long, and then there are flowers again. This year that’s a little topsy turvy, as our primroses are still in flower! The spring bulbs are already making an appearance too, so we will see what January brings…

Posted on by

About me

I’m Chris. I’m an artist based in Liskeard, Cornwall

My local area in south east Cornwall is the inspiration for many of my landscape and seascape watercolour paintings. I am becoming increasingly curious about the bits the tourists don’t always see – the urban, the semi industrial, the residential.  I am intrigued as to how people have shaped Cornwall, the countryside and the world in general. 

Sometimes I like to bring a nostalgic, theatrical or cinematic quality to my work, but very often I will paint something just because I want to.  This is particularly true of landscape. I like to make sketches wherever I find myself. Very often these will evolve into paintings of a wide variety of locations. There is a world beyond Cornwall!”

I am a member of a local art group and am currently working towards a BA (Hons) degree in painting, drawing and printmaking at  Arts University Plymouth, from where I have been experimenting with new ideas and materials. I have a long association with watercolour, but have recently experimented with oil paint, charcoal, monoprint, aquatint and photo intaglio. 

I am also a volunteer with Awenek Studio, a wonderful community arts  group, offering art activities and workshops to people in south east Cornwall. 

I hope you enjoy browsing examples of my work here at British Craft House.  

watercoloue liverpool pierh ead  

fantasy gouache painting     lodekka open top bus southern vectis watercolour

I am new to British Craft House, but I have collected positive reviews from elsewhere on the web. Click on images to see reviews.

Posted on by

February 2024

It’s February 2024 and Dangles HQ quite frankly needs tidying up and a bit of a kick-start to get the creative flow going again.  

I wish I could Dangle all the time but sadly, that’s not an option at this point.  So for now I continue to work full-time and work on all things wire in my spare time.  Until fairly recently, this has meant that wire twisting has very much been on the back burner, although I did have a small flurry leading up to Christmas 2023 when there were some markets to attend and stock to prepare for those events.

In effort to get things moving for 2024 I have re-opened the shop after a long hiatus and am slowly listing some pieces for sale.

So far, there are some reel bouquets, place settings a couple of bee-themed items and a piece of framed wire art.

I love the reel bouquets – each one is different, there will never be two the same so if you purchase one of those, you can be sure of owning a truly unique piece.  I like bright colours and am never one to avoid a bit of a clash of colours if I can.

The Bee my Valentine hanging decorations are fun as well.  I do only have four of those available, unless I can find any more of the red glass beads in my stash!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Spring Botanical Home Fragrance at Hygge and Hearth

Hello Spring!

Goodbye January! Possibly the most maligned month, bad weather, cold, miserable and seems to be the longest month ever. The sparkle and festivities of Christmas and the New Year feel as in the distant past and its back down to earth with a bump. There seems little to celebrate. However, it is not all gloom and doom, at Hygge and Hearth we are getting busy behind the scenes with new ranges of our luxury home fragrance and new offers that will soon be available for our botanical scented candles and reed diffusers. 

It was whilst contemplating the changing of the seasons and the seemingly lack of celebrations during this time of year that a little research uncovered these three festivities pertaining to spring, light, optimism, nature and sweeping away the old to make way for the new. Read on to discover more about these festivities and  what is planned at Hygge and Hearth. 

 

February Celebrations

Three celebrations spring to mind in February. Firstly the holiday of Imbolc, an ancient Celtic tradition celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of February as this marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, marking the beginning of spring. The festival symbolises the first stirrings of spring after a long dark winter. It is associated with purification and the sweeping away of the old in preparation for the coming year, the spring clean traditionally takes place on the last day of January. 

Closely related to Imbolc are St Brigid’s Day and Candlemas. St Brigid’s Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, where she is, after Patrick, the best known and celebrated Irish saint. It is possible that St Brigid is a Christianised form of the earlier Celtic goddess and she certainly seems to share many of her attributes. Brigid means ‘bright’ and she is associated with spring and fire, also the brewing of beer. To learn more about Imbolc and St Brigid read this excellent article by Jennifer Uzzell.  

Finally, Candlemas, celebrated on the 2nd February. Again, Candlemas marks the midpoint of winter and the spring equinox and commemorates the ritual purification of Mary forty days after the birth of Jesus. Candlemas was the one day of the year when all the candles going to be used in the church were blessed – a mass of the candles.

Lighter nights and brighter days lie ahead of us.

 

What’s New?

 

Mindful of the changing seasons and the traditions that are associated with it, the Hygge and Hearth website is going to have a spring clean in the coming weeks! New features are being planned, which will only be available on the website. This includes  Scent of the Month, where a discount will be applied when you enter a code at checkout, on that months collection. We are also expanding our range of botanical diffusers and launching a soy wax candle collection, along with the opportunity to build your own hamper.

So if you are planning on a spring clean and it’s still a little too chilly to throw open the windows, why not select one of our luxury, handcrafted candles or the fuss free option of a botanical diffuser to give constant fragrance? What ever your choice, you will be guaranteed high quality home fragrance that not only smells great, but also looks great and is reusable! Happy Spring!

 

Ps Did you know you can also find Hygge and Hearth at The British Craft House (online) and on Etsy, where you find our home fragrances and the decoupage range.

Dr Erica @Hygge and Hearth  

The home of luxury botanical candles and unique gifts inspired by nature.

 

 

Posted on by

The little workshop in wintertime – January 2024

brown furry mouse doll looking down from a basket at white furry mouse doll

holly leaves and berries surrounding brown mouse doll tail appliqué work ready for sewing with skein of pink embroidery thread placed on left side next to spool of pink sewing threadWelcome to my blog! Here you will find all the goings on from my little workshop, and news about future dollmaking plans.

It’s winter in the little workshop now, and I have been working on little creatures that have always been close to my heart…mice! 

My little mice are inspired by favourite books from my childhood – Brambley Hedge and Brian Jacques’s wonderful Redwall series. I remember getting lost in the wonderful adventures of the mice in these beautiful fantasy world, and I am having so much fun bringing some little mice characters to life.  I’m delighted to be able to introduce you to them.

My little brown mouse doll Benji and little white mouse doll Mabel are so lively! They are good company in a quiet house while the children are out at school.  They are constantly moving and chatting in tiny squeaks. Mostly they discuss chocolate, for they cut their teeth on Christmas chocolate coins. They have a terrible fondness for chocolate, and think nothing of raiding the table for unattended titbits.  Anyone who welcomes them into their homes should certainly be kept on their toes! Sometimes they can be found relaxing together…brown mouse doll with pale skin and white mouse doll with brown skin relaxing in a basket with a brown furry blanket, against a cinnamon background …but I must say it never lasts for long – you turn around to see a flash of a pink tail, a flick of a whisker – and they are gone. Up to their next piece of mischief!

brown mouse doll with white mouse doll from the rear showing blanket stitch pink appliqué tails

I’ve been exploring techniques to enhance my appliqué work, based on the wonderful embroidery and fabric art of Salley Mavor. The use of blanket stitch to edge my little mice tails was inspired by her work.

It is a good job I found this inspiring artist, since Benji mouse demanded a fine curly tail, and Mabel clearly informed me she and Benji needed whiskers – whoever heard of mice without whiskers! Not to mention a pretty little pink nose. little white mouse doll with pink nose and brown skin balancing on a hand with a brown background

Doing these embroidery details bought such pleasure in slow sewing, and I love the end result. I look forward to using embroidery and appliqué techniques again in my new pattern. I have even started on an embroidery sampler book to explore different stitches – when I have made some progress I will share it here.

I have big plans for the rest of the winter, involving UKCA testing my full body doll pattern. It’s moving in quite a different direction than I expected… (joints!). I am also going to be working on a very special, very large custom doll.  Watch my blog for more news and updates! 

Thankyou for joining me in the little workshop this winter. I hope to be sharing blogs with you more regularly from now on, hopefully once a month. I look forward to telling you more about pattern testing in February, including (hopefully) some sneak peeks of my testing prototypes. Meanwhile stay warm and cosy this winter everyone! little mouse doll with brown skin and dark brown eyes looking outward in side profile with brown background.Hee fur is brilliant white and she has large floppy ears with pink fur inside.

Posted on by

About Made By Fee…

The Back Story…

Fee Higgs Made By Fee Silver

I have always loved creative arts and their therapeutic and mindful benefits e.g., drawing, painting, linocut, photography and crochet but when I discovered silversmithing a few years ago, I was completely hooked right from the start…  

I’m absorbed by all aspects of the process from the initial design stage to working with the metal including the filing, soldering, forming and texturing but my absolute favourite technique is ‘piercing’ out the shapes needed with my favourite tool, a very fine jewellers saw.   Genuinely, when I’m away from my bench I truly miss it, it is my sanctuary!

I am, in fact, an experienced primary years teacher with an additional teacher of the deaf specialism, but I have now left the classroom to get back to my creative self.   So, I’m fortunate that I am able to devote time and energy into developing this passion (obsession maybe?) into a small business and thoroughly enjoying the challenges it brings.   

One of the biggest challenges I’ve found is in developing a particular style that runs through my work.  Maybe that’s the Gemini in me?  In any case, I have made a conscious decision not to restrict myself at all, but to make all that I enjoy, that comes to mind and learn lots on the way and therefore I have created and continue to create an eclectic mix of artisan silver jewellery that I hope you enjoy wearing as much as I’ve enjoyed making.

Fee

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Save Time and Money – Free Gift Wrap, Gift Note and Post Direct!

 

Saving you time and money this Christmas whilst you also support Small Businesses

 

Christmas is so busy isn’t it?! One minute the children are going back to school and the next it’s early December! So much to do and not enough time! Well, we are here to help you with this!  Many of our sellers will lovingly wrap your purchases and send directly to your recipient too! So not only saving you the expense and time to gift wrap but saving you on the postage too! You can find lots of shops that offer this service here

Lots of sellers have an area on their products where you can add in the gift message that you require – that will save you a job!

Posting direct couldn’t be easier – just choose to have your gift posted, all gift wrapped and with a note to the recipient when you get to check out! What an easy way to do your Christmas shopping whilst also supporting our small business!

Here are some of my favourite shops that offer free gift wrap to save you money and help you to enjoy the run up to the festive period!

 

Keep checking back to our special section where we have made it easy for you to find the shops that offer this service. You will find it here 

So now that sorted – you can be happy knowing that your festive gift shopping is sorted and you can enjoy all the other wonderful things that are festive stress free!