Artisans blogs Archives - The British Craft House

All or Nothing – New Things!

I’m here… at last! Did you miss me? New paintings and things!

Come and join me on Instagram!

If you’re interested in seeing the processes that I use you can find my creative journey on Instagram! Search for ‘tuuliparkerartist’. If you don’t use Instagram you can follow my most recent Instagram posts via my website – tuuliparker.co.uk

If you’re interested in seeing the processes that I use you can find my creative journey on Instagram! Search for ‘tuuliparkerartist’.

If you don’t use Instagram you can follow my most recent Instagram posts via my website – tuuliparker.co.uk

My Hand Bound Books

The covers for this landscape A4 hand bound book were made using original cyanotype prints. The front cover is a wet cyanotype, created using so many wildflowers gathered from the hedgerows around my beautiful Wiltshire home … there are Wild Mallows, Oxeye Daises, Buttercups and Toadflax. The back cover mainly features Wild Mallow flowers.

So, I should start bybeing straight with you … I am a stationery addict! There! It’s out there! Nowyou know my biggest vice!!I’m also a writer anda keeper of journals. I am a lover of words… their meanings, their origins, and their use. My home has always been full ofnotebooks, there are piles of the…

So, I should start by
being straight with you … I am a stationery addict! There! It’s out there! Now
you know my biggest vice!!

I’m also a writer and
a keeper of journals.

I am a lover of words
… their meanings, their origins, and their use. My home has always been full of
notebooks, there are piles of the things on every available space on the shelves,
in the cupboards, in the drawers.

Then, a few years
ago, I had a life-changing experience … I attended a Coptic bookbinding
workshop with local artist.

Why “life changing”,
you ask??

Well, imagine you absolutely
love music, and one day, someone sits you down at a piano and shows you how to
play, and then imagine that you’re good at it!!

Well, that’s what
learning to create books was like for me! I am a voracious writer, I am a woman
who has always found her voice in the written word, rather than the spoken one.
Hence the aforementioned mountains of stationery!

Here was a way for me
to create the very journals that I love to fill with words.

Here was a way for me
to create something special and beautiful with my own two hands.

: I use recycled cartridge paper, 140 gsm, or heavier

A Candle for Friendship

The Friendship Candle has been one of the most popular in our range since its launch, containing three key crystals – Amethyst, Rose Quartz and Clear Quartz.

Aunt Jessie’s Scullery

Beautiful Handwoven organic cotton cloth in autumnal colours. In memory of Aunt Jessie’s scullery 🍈

Welcome to my shop

I’m Gill and live in St Leonards on Sea which is on the south east coast of England and work in a cabin at the end of my garden although I do also invade the spare bedroom and sometimes even the kitchen in my house. Luckily I have a very patient and supportive husband. I have…

I have been a crafter as far back as I can remember and sewing has always been one of my favourite pastimes thanks to being taught from an early age by my grandmother who was a court dressmaker in the early 20th century and there was nothing she couldn’t do with fabric and a needle. I have dabbled in many other crafts but always come back to my sewing machines and hand sewing.

Since retiring from my bookkeeping business I have been able to concentrate on my creative passion. I enjoy the process and challenges of design and construction of bags and purses and in the past used some wonderful fabrics but now mostly use fine quality real leather.

All my items are hand cut and sewn either by hand or on one of my sewing machines with good quality threads relevant to the material being used and I strive to make each item as perfect as possible. Most of my bags are one of a kind so it is highly unlikely you would meet anyone carrying the same bag as yourself.

Part Science, Part Alchemy … The Art of Cyanotype Part 1

The gorgeous colours of the cyanotype developing

I have been a keen photographer for many years. A few years ago, I was given the opportunity to do a short photography course, and from Day One, when they gave us disposable cameras to mess around with and find our feet, I was hooked! Since I first picked up a camera and realised that…

Since I first picked up a camera and realised that I had a “good eye”, I have delighted in the fact that I am able to create images. I have for so long been envious of artists, who can paint and draw, who could
create “something” from “nothing”.

Discovering that I had a “knack” for photography was such a gift; being told by my photography tutor on that long-ago course that I had a good, was such a gift. Here was a way to create images.

Alternative Photography

A while back a wonderful artist I know introduced me to cyanotypes and from my own first experiment with this medium I was completely smitten by this alternative form of photographic development.

Dickens Christmas Collection

Time was with most of us, when Christmas Day, encircling all our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek; bound together all our home enjoyments affections, and hopes; grouped everything and everyone round the Christmas fire, and make the little picture shining in our bright young eyes,…

Creative Ceramic Handles

A random selection of creative handles from potters in the USA …

Include a Handwoven Gift Card

You may have noticed there is a green flash against each of my product listings in my The British Craft House shop that says “Include a Handwoven Gift Card”. I thought you might like an explanation 😉.

“A yellow flower production” made by me!

Bride-2-B-Textile-art-card-ivory-satin-dress-for Special-Occasion

Welcome to my shop Mimozah! where you will find Special Occasion cards for Brides to B. Hand made with “all things brides and beautiful” in mind. Perfect for unique, individual gifting, not found on the high street.

It’s a journey, not a destination

I’ve realised recently that creativity is like life, it constantly evolves, morphs into something new. We are so busy thinking about where we are headed, where we’ll end up, we don’t realise, we must enjoy the journey. The journey is everything! These are the days! Don’t look forward into the distant future without first enjoying what you…

I’ve realised recently that creativity is like life, it constantly evolves, morphs into something new.

We are so busy thinking about where we are headed, where we’ll end up, we don’t realise, we must enjoy the journey. The journey is everything!

These are the days! Don’t look forward into the distant future without first enjoying what you have right now in all its technicolour glory.