Say hello to textile artist Victoria Logan

Handmade Knitted and Felted Gifts from Victoria Logan

Victoria Logan  works with natural materials, mainly lambswool. Her work is usually knitted then felted to create a dense but luxuriously soft fabric - we think her products are highly original and particularly love the cut out pieces.

The  range Victoria currently has available are scarves, cushions,bags and her new 'critters'. They will make perfect gifts for your family and friends - read this interview with Victoria to find out a little more about the maker of these wonderful knitted and felted pieces.

How did your business come about? Is it something you had always wanted to do?

In my final year of university I made scarves for my friends at their request and it helped me realize what I wanted to do with my future so after graduating in 2009 I knew I wanted to make my own products from my textile designs. However I always thought I would have to get experience in the industry before I could possibly imagine setting up on my own, but after a masters degree (a major confidence boost) and the realization that I could make my business my career I decided to just go for it, and now I'm glad I did.

Victoria Logan

Your work is highly original, where do you take inspiration from for your designs and do you do commissioned pieces?

I take inspiration from my surroundings – mainly natural landscapes. It all stems from studying abroad in 2007 for five months in Lapland, Finland. I became entranced by the beautiful landscapes, and used this inspiration in my final year design project, after graduation I translated my designs into products, mainly a scarves collection called the Talvi collection. My next collection was inspired by the Dutch city landscape as I had just moved to the Netherlands then. My Blaadje skinny scarf is part of this collection.


My most recent body of work is inspired by my own country, Scotland. I spend most of my holidays back in Scotland, and using it's beautiful natural landscapes for my new work has made me feel more at home. I'm also inspired by things in my environment, my corgi cushion is inspired by the newest addition to my family, Alvar the cardigan corgi. This cushion has led to requests for a labrador cushion and bull terrier cushion, and I hope many more doggy commissions are on the way as it's lots of fun to translate dogs in to knit.

Is the knitting and felting process complicated, what is involved? – how long does it take to produce one of you beautiful scarves for example?

All my designs are created in a computer program that I can connect to my double bed knit machine. the pattern is then translated to the machine and the knitting can begin. Most of my designs take about 1000 rows to knit, and are then felted, steamed then put together. The felting process shrinks the fabric by about a third, so there is a lot of fabric 'lost' in the process. My scarves usually take about a day to be completed, from knitting to attaching of the label. Most products are made in bulk and I create a sort of production line, knit, felt, leave to dry, steam, put together, then lastly labeling (labeling takes so much longer than you would think!)

Will you be producing any new ranges soon, what do you have planned for the future?

I have recently completed a new collection for 2012/13 based on the Scottish landscape. I have added new critters to my critters collection, and hope to be adding even more by the end of the year. I'm currently working on stock for new stockists and new colour combinations for my current collection, plus I'm working on opening my own online shop in the Autumn. I will be bringing out some seasonal products around Christmas, I'm working on designs for Christmas products now. For the time being I will be working on more commissioned dog cushions and counting myself lucky that I get to do something I love for a living.


Visit Victoria on www.notmassproduced.com - Victoria Logan Knitted Textiles

Say Hello to - Ellymental Jewellery

Vintage Kitsch Dragon Fly Necklace

Ellymental Jewellery

This week we say hello to the very talented Elly Englefield-Morgans, British jewellery designer-maker and founder of Ellymental Jewellery.

"EllyMental vintage styled kitsch jewellery is designed and made by Elly who is inspired by designs based on her own fervent interest in kitsch nostalgia and animals. She incorporates her designs with found ephemera and delicate home-made papers. Items are multi-layered and multi-varnished to create a strong and robust end piece. All items are lovingly and meticulously hand crafted"

How did your jewellery making and design business start?

I started making jewellery full time in April 2011 - before then I had been doing it part time whilst working another job which I was able to quit once I was making enough money making the jewellery. My background is in textile design & practise so jewellery making was a natural progression and I made my first owl necklace after somebody told me my designs would make nice pieces of jewellery and I decided they were probably right!

Vintage Styled Kitsch Owl Necklace

Allen Ginsberg Brooch (Beat Generation Poet)

Your work has a very particular style, where do you take your inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from what I like; animals and books and a vintage appearance. I regularly go to the book town Hay on Wye and get old books to use in my work and my dogs have featured as brooches.

Kitsch Swallow Necklace 'Lover's tale'

Does paper jewellery last? How should we look after it?

Yes it does last, I have even put it through the wash and it has come out fine, although this isn't recommended! It is also thickly layered and compressed with metal so this also makes it more robust. I have experimented with various varnishes over time and I have settled on a good couple that I use to protect the paper. For longevity it is best to wipe clean only and avoid using harsh chemicals or hairspray near it as this could take the sheen off a bit if exposed a lot.

The Queen Bee Necklace

Will you be producing any new ranges soon, what do you have planned for the future?

I produce new items on a monthly basis and I am currently working on a range based on A Midsummer Nights Dream. After that I will be doing a writer range using my drawings of my favourite writers mixed with their books. So far I am thing George Orwell, Charles Dickens, Jack Kerouac, Sylvia Plath and I have already completed an Allen Ginsberg brooch by request. I also do wedding commissions whereby I take details such as names, dates, lyrics and incorporate them into designs for necklaces, cufflinks etc for the couples special day or as a keepsake.

Varnished Paper Fish Earrings

If you love this unique, handmade ( and delighfully kitsch) jewellery, visit Elly's shop at Notmassproduced.com  - Ellymental Jewellery

Random Button - Designer Giveaway!

We're really excited as today we have our first artisan interview including a fantastic giveaway to win this beautiful shabby chic cushion, pictured above, part of the 'Parlour Chic' collection from Random Button.

 Details of how you can win this pretty cushion are at the end of the post, but first lets meet the talented designer maker behind it -  Laura Sollis of Random Button.