No Sew Fabric Scraps Tutorials

There's something in all of us that prevents us from throwing away those pretty fabric scraps left over from our crafty sewing projects...  but often we end up with a huge stash and we just don't have time to sew up that quilt we've always dreamed of.  

Don't let your scraps go to waste!  Try one of these really quick no sew tutorials instead. There's something magic about a no sew project, it's super quick and no need to get the machine out or go hunting for needles. No excuses for not making something pretty with all those scraps as these projects can be whipped up in no time!

DIY No sew bunting - Use up all of your old fabric scraps to make bright and colourful bunting for your house and garden - and you don't need to know how to sew! Take a look at this step by step tutorial.

No sew fabric flowers - Even the smallest scrappy bits of fabric can be transformed into a beautiful bouquet of flowers with this fun no sew tutorial.

Fabric scrap wreath - Snip your fabric scraps into lengths and tie them to a wire hoop to create a pretty fabric wreath like this, so easy!

No sew fabric coasters - What about some pretty fabric coasters to match the cushion covers you have just sewn up? They may not last too long but they will look very pretty for when special guests come around ;)

Hello ethical - hello beautiful...

...and hello to the new 'Not Mass Produced' Blog!

We have given the blog a little spring spruce up and we are looking forward to filling it each week with lovely juicy articles about craft and ethical design, interviews with our artisans and of course regularly sharing a few gems from the Not Mass Produced website. Just like this fabulous vintage postage stamp cushion, from designer maker Lucy Liz.

Ethical | Beautiful

Keep your eyes out for our regular cool hunting posts where we will be sharing the best in inspiring, ethical, beautiful, design from around the world.  As many of you know (or could guess from our name) we are strong supporters of ethical, sustainable and environmentally friendly design and production - as such we read a fair few blogs on the subject!  

Please let us know if you write a blog which has ethical design and sustainability at it's heart, so we can add it to our reading list and share your thoughts and finds right here.

...and yes, just like many of you, we have fallen head over heels for the time vampire that is Pinterest.  We're often to be found  hoarding  collecting fabulous images, videos and links to share here and over on our facebook page, just take a look at our beautiful Pinterest boards so far. This one is entitled Ethical - Beautiful of course!

Featured Artisans

We'll also be sharing interviews with our designer makers, letting you find out a little more about what inspires them, how they got started and what they have planned for the future.  It's great to get an insight into the lives of our makers, it really helps us to understand the process and the added value in the items they hand make from their homes and workshops.

DIY - Fabulous Tutorials!

So many of us that love to buy handmade gifts, also love to make them ourselves.  We'll be regularly sharing tutorials, diy's and makes that we have found across the web.  The internet is alive with makers sharing their skills and we want to ensure their blogs get seen.  We especially like tutorial that re-use, repurpose and recycle.

Are you excited?  We certainly are!   Please give us some lovely feedback and positive encouragement along the way (comments and shares will really boost our morale, treble wink, double nudge!) and of course let us know what you're up to.  If you, like us have a passion for beautiful, sustainable and ethical design then leave us a link in the comments so we can come and say hello and wave exitedly from our facebook and twitter pages :)

Celebrating creative businesses, artisans and the beauty of handmade

I would like to warmly invite you to our first on-line open day tomorrow on Wednesday 14^th March.  We’re very excited to be sharing the day with you.

It’s just an excuse, if one were needed, to celebrate all the talented and creative designers who make gorgeous products on a small scale and in a sustainable way.  There’s something really special about handmade things.  They are unique, creative and personal compared to something that has been factory produced on a massive scale.

There are so many benefits to supporting designers and small-scale production such as a fairer distribution of wealth, healthier local economies and a better environment.  Importing so many products from thousands of miles away causes massive pollution.

I am a huge fan of designer makes and work hard to get their products featured in the national  press and have succeeded in getting them featured in many of the top titles such as the Sunday Times Style magazine, The Telegraph magazine, Woman & Home, Country Living, Ideal Home to name a few.

What else do you think could be done to promote small-scale production and ‘uncover’ all that amazing talent?

Come along and share in discovering some amazing creations and joining in some lively discussions!

        

What would the 99% do?

If just 1% of the population can cause so much environmental destruction, financial devastation, colossal waste, poverty and human misery on such a vast scale, what could be achieved if the 99% were to work together to go in a different direction to build a new, sustainable and equitable model? 

Do we not have an obligation as the 99% to stop the callous and potentially disasterous disregard for nature and mankind? 

What would you do?




    

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Dads can be difficult to buy for, so here are a few suggestions.  Hope they help!

Arranging a few garden flowers

Snip off a few clematis flowers from the garden if you have them and make a pretty informal arrangement with a few little vases, such as below:

A cause for celebration

The Royal Wedding was a great celebration of a very British institution and British produce.  The theme of 'British where ever possible' is surely to be applauded.  The beautiful dress was by the British designer Sarah Burton.  The lace applique for the body and skirt was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court.  

The food was a celebration of British produce.  For example, Scottish smoked salmon, Scottish langoustines, Cornish crab salad, English goats cheese, lamb from the Windsor estate, British cheese selection, Gressingham duck and wine from Chapel Down in Kent.  The fruit cake was from Fiona Cairns and a biscuit cake from McVities. 

At least the Royals recognise the importance of British produce, especially on such a British occassion.

This is not something to be taken for granted for, at the British Olympics, it is said that only about 8% of the merchandise is made in Britain and the food and drink sponsors are McDonalds, Cadbury's and Coca-Cola.  It would seem our politicians do not have the same principles or loyalties.