Thursday 27 December 2012

Starting off the New Year with the January edition of the Dandy Lion Market



Wow! I never realised it would be so tricky to get traders, and indeed visitors to RSVP at the Jan edition, happening on the 5th, in 1 & 1/2 week's time. Everyone is away. Fortunately, I do have some, (though a few more wouldn't go amiss!) and I can easily fill out a few spaces muyself! Looking forward to confirming a new trader called Templarcraft, with her wonderful Goth and Steampunk handmades. Very fitting with the Steampunk Cruise coming up in March.




So, let's ease into 2013 with style. After a very busy and exciting 2012, the January Dandy will be offering a warm and cosy haven from the hullabaloo, with it's usual fine array of art, craft and vintage. Join us in the parlour for a post-New Year's recovery session of hot drinks, food and fabulous wares.

Monday 29 October 2012

The Dandy Lion Market 'Home Fires'




    • The Nov edition of the Dandy is all about the peak of Autumn, Bonfires, home comforts. Come along and stock up on some comfy cushions, some warm vintage clothing, kick up some leaves and get ready for your Guy Fawkes night celebrations! Whether you're staying in or going out start out the weekend in a fun and friendly gastro pub, with hot drinks and hot food, full of handmade delights, original art and cherry picked vintage wares. Meet your friends, bring your family and get the fire started!



    The Oxford, 256 Kentish Town RdNW5 2AA London, United Kingdom

    Monday 22 October 2012

    So excited to be a part of this new book!







    I'm so excited to be a part of this new book by We Make London & Mary McDermott called Inspired: London. "A Guide to Handmade in London reveals how and where to buy the best locally-made handmade British products directly from the makers. A brilliant handbook for wannabe designer-makers and a perfect black book for stylists, journalists, creatives and lovers of all things beautiful!" Please ignore the misspelling of my company name. That should be correct in the book!

    "The guide was created by Mary McDermott, owner of We Make London, a series of regular craft events across the city, after she spotted a rise in the interest in handmade products in the UK." She is a great gal and has worked very hard for us crafters in London. The group originally started by Mary on Etsy, she and her team have organised, hosted and participated in numerous craft events all over London, and now a fabulous book! The official launch of Inspired: London will be on the 10 and 11 November at Spitalfield's Market. I feel honoured to be included and am especially looking forward to the press launch party this Thursday. Watch this space!

    Wednesday 19 September 2012

    First Mail Chimp Dandy Lion Market Newsletter!

    OMG! This was a learning curve, and has taken me all day (not to mention several other starts and bursts on other occasions, culminating in giving up and putting to one side) Finally created my first Mail Chimp newsletter, and I'm pretty damn proud of it. Hope you agree! (It is a bit long, but what the hey).
    The latest news from The Dandy Lion Market!
    Is this email not displaying correctly?
    View it in your browser.
    Art, Craft & Vintage at The Dandy Lion Market

    Art, Craft & Vintage at this fresh and viby market: for the individual, the flamboyant and the delicately wild!

    Gorgeous setting for a gorgeous market!
    A lovely setting for a fun and funky market.

    A fabulous mix of a unique and highly creative art and craft mixed in with beautiful vintage fashion, accessories, and homewares.

    The Dandy Lion Market

    Next Market:

    Oct 6th at The Oxford

    256 Kentish Town Rd NW5 2AA

    12:30-5:30 pm  Free Entry!

    Thank you for subscribing, or being an ongoing fan of the market. You are free to unsubscribe at any time.

    Starting in a fresh new home at the Oxford, in Kentish Town, the 
    Relaunch on the 1st Sept was a great success! 

    We said hello to loyal friends and fans and saw many new faces come through the doors, too. A naturally busy shopping area, Kentish Town offers huge potential for the burgeoning Dandy market scene, and even though it was the last weekend of the summer holidays, the footfall was a vast improvement from our previous home. The Boogaloo was a fab venue, but just not the right location. So, here's looking forward with hope and enthusiasm!

    When you arrive at the pub you will find 2 fabulous traders, representative of the rest of the market, at the ground floor entrance. Buy a drink  and some bar snacks and bring them upstairs to the main market space. There is a lounge area specially set up for drinking, resting and socialising. Club, Classic and Alternative sounds through the decades will gently groove and move you. Browse through a beautiful and different array each month of: handmade crafts; fine, illustrative and graphic arts; interior and decorative wares; body products; upcycled & recycled creations; vintage fashion, accessories, jewellery & collectibles. Find something new each month, something special and unique, for yourself or as a gift. They always say the best gifts to give are those you'd like to keep for yourself! Grab a proper gastro meal before, during or after!

    News for the Oct edition! 
    I'm pleased to announced that, along with newly discovered and returning favourite sellers, the Dandy will be welcoming an artist on tour in London during the month of Oct.  The Romanian visual artist, PADURE will be trading alongside other sellers bringing his unique brand of graphic, fantasy and street art. Other artists, makers and vintage traders confirmed at the Oct edition include: Gorgeous JewelleryTomfoolery JewellerySomebeady JewelleryIn Her Name Boutique vintage & reproduction vintage prints,  Amanda Moss vintage, Nice Girl Really upcycled & vintage inspired jewellery, Hanna Demel textile crafts, Called Beautiful, printed cards, paper & book craft, feDodesigns leather ware purses, wallets and bags and many more to be confirmed. 

    There are still trading pitches available (at time of posting), so if you think you've got wares that reflect the ethos of the Dandy, please email Leslie for booking info at lwrjam@yahoo.com with images of and/or a link to your work/products. Please also feel free to enquire about booking future dates. Payment is in advance.

    If you have an idea for the market, want to collaborate with or promote it, please email Leslie at lwrjam@yahoo.com.

    I look forward to seeing you all very soon!
    Copyright © 2012 leslieworks, All rights reserved.
    Your receiving this email because you signed the market guest book, or are a fan of the market page.
    Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp

    Thursday 19 July 2012

    New Home for the Dandy Lion Market

    I have exciting news. My cherished Dandy Lion Market has found a new home at the Oxford Pub, in Kentish Town. After working my butt off for over a year to unpredictable, and sometimes unsatisfactory foot traffic, I have high hopes that things will dramatically improve with the new setting. We will take over the whole of the upstairs area and additional 2 prime pitch spaces downstairs by the front entrance.
    Two hops away from Kentish Town tube and overground station, this area is a hive of activity all day, every day. At weekends, hoards of Camden Lockers, who can't enter Camden underground station on their return journey must go to either Mornington Crescent or Kentish Town stations to exit via tube.

    The Oxford has the busiest streetside area of all the KT pubs, and it is well regarded for it's fine gastropub fare. People come to Kentish Town for its wide variety of supermarkets, pubs and restaurants. It should be a fantastic new home for this fun and funky art, craft and vintage market extraordinaire! Check for updates here and on the Facebook page.

    Re-launch date: Sept 1st, 12-5 pm FREE ENTRY!

    Monday 9 July 2012

    What a wonderful day we had at the Torriano Schools Joint Summer Festival Fair!


    What a wonderful day we had at the Torriano Schools Joint Summer Festival Fair last Saturday, the 7th July. My bird decorating kept a few of the of children busy who came along with their parents in the hundreds. The event was a RESOUNDING success with over £4,600 raised! A sum never achieved before, and enabled largely by the super team work of the combined schools Parent & Teacher groups. WOW!!
    Pictured are myself and our illustrious and much love Head Teacher Bavaani Nanthabalan.

    Sunday 1 July 2012

    Friday 29 June 2012

    Getting ready for the joint Torriano Summer Festival Fair

    Preparations are very focused now for the Team organising my son and his infant schools' joint Summer Fair. Also titled 'Festival' (interesting, eh?), there will be lots of fun games and activities, food and drink. I have offered to help on the craft stall, my fav one to do, and thought I'd share my progress with you.



    A teacher is making a big tree and they wanted the children to decorate birds to put on it, so I found a selection of bird silhouettes on the web, treated them on photo shop and voila!  instant outlines of birds for cutting out. Printed on lots of different colours of paper, I think they look rather nice. They have holes punch so strings can be tied and then used to hang them in the tree. Next step is trying to find/dig out  my school craft embellishments so I can make a few samples, which I will bring along, too. And then next Saturday spend a mad couple hours helping a couple hundred kids make their hand decorated birds to show off and take home!

    Watch this space for the sample embellished ones. Must go now and get ready for our little trip up north to catch The Stone Roses at Heaton Park!

    Monday 25 June 2012

    Just My Cup of Tea



    I had a rather splendid afternoon with my friend, Valencia at the Just My Cup of Tea event yesterday at the fab Brick House in Brixton. I dressed up extra special (don't get too many girly days out), tottered my way over the cobblestone road through the Sunday throngs of Brick Lane day trippers, and arrived to find an amazing array of beautifully dressed women (and a few men!) of all ages waiting to get in. Joyfully greeted, we received our fashion swap number and were directed to one of 4 areas where we could relax, chat and drink tea. We drank amazing hot and cold tea concoctions and had our fortune read from the bottom of one of many gorgeous mix & match vintage tea cups and saucers.
    All the guests' vintage garment offerings were beautifully arranged on rails, with shoes, hats, bags, scarves and jewelry laid out on tables on the mezzanine floor. We eagerly awaited our turn for a rummage, and when it came, I found a cute little shimmery turquoise 80's cocktail dress. Everyone got a goody bag, as well! We watched live presentations with tips on how to enhance those old regulars in our closet. The day was backed with DJ funky and classic grooves.
    The garden beckoned, so we went and had a photobooth pic made, drank more tea (cocktails this time!) and had more cake. The event was well organised and beautifully styled (loved the flowers!) and the hosts and bar folks were ever so friendly and keen to please. The cakes were exquisite. I ate far too many!
    Lovely day had by all and can't wait for the next one! Here's the rest of the pics.

    Friday 11 May 2012

    New Multi-Ribbon Applique Cushions listed on Etsy

    Having been prompted to share new listings on the new Etsy shop group over at UK Handmade, I was spurred to share it here on my own blog. I listed these ribbon applique cushions in my © leslieworks etsy shop, and these are their darker sisters!

    I bought a bundle of off cuts of ribbon on ebay, and immediately after opening the packet, I started lining up various strips, selecting certain colours and arranging them in lines. A cushion cover was born. I set about ordering some more bundles and proceeded to do 2 colourways sets, as you can see here! I used an old soft pink and white pillow case purchased from a charity shop to back the pink tone ones and the left overs of some new black dotty cotton I bought to make curtains for our campervan. So everything is basically constructed from throwaway materials, other than the zips!

    Monday 30 April 2012

    Craft Blog UK

    It's great getting this blog in my inbox each day, as it really offers concise and useful advice and encouragement. "Craft Blog UK is devoted to celebrating the hard work of the UK's best craft bloggers with regular features highlighting talented crafters and lots helpful articles for bloggers to make their handmade blogs a success. I hope you enjoy finding a few new crafty blogs and some great tips and craft tutorials too!"

    Craft Blog UK!




    It is connected to a directory/network called UK Handmade, which is very interactive and user friendly,  and hopefully, will soon be sporting a shop facility, too. Watch out Etsy! This is my page, which I just started recently. You can find friends here and get inspiration from other makers. It's also proving useful for sourcing new talent for my Dandy Lion Market.
     
    My most recent find is Stone Beauty, a natural bath and beauty products maker in London, which is brilliant, as I really needed a beauty products maker for my next market, and so she filled the spot beautifully!



    Friday 23 March 2012

    New 50's Pin Up Bottlecap Brooches on Etsy

    Finally listed some of my bottlecaps on my newer, microniche, etsy shop! These are my Pin up caps, made from piddix designs.



     



    They can also be purchased from Souvenir Gallery, on Archway Rd.
    "A new space showcasing the work of exciting British-based artists and designers. Handmade goodies include prints and illustrations, jewellery, textiles, homeware, stationery and gifts. We also hold an ever-changing selection of vintage treasures."

    Tuesday 28 February 2012

    The Dandy Lion Market Special March Edition 'Ladyfolk'



    The Boogaloo, 312 Archway Rd N65AT 12:30-5:30 pm FREE

    In recognition of International Women's Day & Mother's Day this month's Dandy is dedicated to women, girls, and mothers. We are partnering with Oxfam to celebrate International Women's Day and help raise money to support women living in poverty around the world, through raising awareness, through sellers contributing a percentage of takings, and with visitors being able to contribute, too. Look for the Oxfam Balloons and bunting outside!
    The Dandy Lion Market is an affordable platform for creative people: all kinds of artists, makers, upcyclers and vintage traders. It is also an affordable market for visitors, too! 90% of sellers are women. The economic climate as it is with fewer jobs, low wages, disappearing childcare, and high priced education has forced many women to turn to their creative talents to make things to sell. While creating provides fulfillment, enjoyment and a small income (hopefully), going to markets to sell our wares also provides inspiration for ourselves and others, a place to share ideas, an appreciative audience who give us feedback on our work and a social hub to meet and make new friends.
    The Dandy Lion Market is a regular monthly grassroots event, connected to the local community, while also bringing together many different people from across London, to create a vibrant, creative and friendly space, with something for everyone. The market page is updated constantly and each seller gets a 5 pic feature at the top of the page, with links to their websites. 500+ fans of the page can keep up with sellers wares in the build up to the market day, get updates, interact and make comments, and connect to the wider creative community. The market is a complete event with music, quality food, a full bar and outdoor spaces. Additional features can include workshops, henna or face painting, Holistic remedial sessions, portrait sittings and others. Please see the market page for up-to-date info. 

    'Ladyfolk', the March edition of the Dandy Lion Market is celebrating womanhood across the spectrum: from Gaia to glam, from delicate to dark, frivolous or practical, girly delights and trinkets to vintage homewares, folk and spiritual art, alternative and upcycled fashion, accessories and jewelry, healthy body products, colourful, cool, kitsch or crazy, nurturing or empowering; you will find a gift for mum (yes! don't forget Mum's Day is only the next weekend), your best girl or a treat for yourself, something for your feminine and feminist side!

    Wednesday 8 February 2012

    Some Tips For Starting Out as a Trader at Craft Markets and Fairs

    I had an interesting email from someone inquiring about how to become a trader at craft fairs. They said:
    "I just came across your email while searching for craft fairs and thought I would contact you and ask if you can tell me how to become a trader at craft fairs.
    As craft fairs are a way of bringing my Jewellery and handmade cards to the public... I am hoping you can tell me/ show how to get started.
    Any help and info you can afford me will be greatly appreciated.
    My apologies for randomly emailing you and asking you for your help. I do hope you dont mind. I'll keep my fingers crossed in hope that you will reply.
    With kind regards and wishing you a lovely weekend."


    I felt compelled to help and so replied with this. I hope it might be of use to someone else!

    A good way to start is to register with various craft fair sites as an exhibitor/seller. A couple to get you started are UKCraftFairs and Handmade-Crafts UK Directory. You will be surprised how quickly you get inquiries. If you are on facebook, there are sites which post events to which you can make enquiries.
    Once you establish a space at a market or fair, be professional. Ask any questions you need. Prepare your products, make sure they are clean and tidy, labelled with your co name and priced. Have business cards for people to take away. If you have space a small guestbook for future updates is nice.
    Find out the size of your prospective table and prepare a display in advance. Use a nice white cover and small table boxes and shelves to organise and elevate your display. Photograph it and bring along so you know exactly how you will set up. Saves time and makes you look professional from the word go! Prepare a resource bag with spare tags, pen, pins, string, blue tac, stuff that might come in handy.
    Try not to eat or use your mobile phone at your stall unless you have to, smile and be friendly to customers, don't pack up early. Those are my tips and I hope they were useful!





    Above: My table layout preparation and below, the actual display.