Happy New Year to you! I’m not really one for resolutions, and I won’t be living off a diet of kale washed down with juices peppered with baobab powder for the entire month of Jan-but one thing I shall try and stick to is a blogpost once a week. Ok, well maybe once a month-that would still be a vast improvement on last year. 2014 was a big year, our 1st year in business and a massive learning curve with many ups and downs. We had a cracking December packed with Christmas markets and pop-up events, so we would like to say a massive Thank-You to all who have supported, listened, advised and generally buoyed us along in the minefield that is the 1st year of starting your own business!
Like the majority of people, I’m slightly lamenting the end of the festive hols and am mostly living off a host of stale & slightly past their best christmas delights, in a bid to eek out that tingly feeling a bit longer. I also wanted so share a few of the amazing crafty gifts given and received over my yuletide; one of my favourite parts of being involved in the craft market scene is all the other wonderful designer/maker treats out there, and what excellent original gifts they make. I was also slightly concerned that myself and my husband seem to have completely morphed into the same person, and had doubled up on his/her gifts on several occasions-worryingly tragic, or sweetly in sync-draw your own conclusions!
Assorted animal prints by Charlotte Farmer
First up was our choice of anti-festive Christmas card-we’d both gone for Charlotte Farmers’ tropical fluoro bird prints having been fans after spying them in The Turpentine, we snapped these up (separately) at Renegade and Crafty Fox Christmas Markets, and now have a lovely quartet to put up!
Indigo ombrè candles; Designers Guild
Next up there was a distinct ombrè theme going on as we selected matching gift-bags (Ikea…I know!) and stocking filler pillar candles-pink for the husband naturally. Something tells me ombrè is going to be making a CL.AM appearance in 2015!
Marbled soap and handmade Christmas card
Finally there was the twin exchange of soap bars for each other-something we usually never buy or use but obviously felt needed this year.
I also had to insert here my gorgeous knitted Christmas tree card, from my very talented younger sister-who completely put me to shame by creating a stunning handmade range for the family (well I was doing markets, that’s my excuse!)
Handmade face pots by Emma Carlisle
I was delighted to receive these supercute little pots curated by illustrator Emma Carlisle on Etsy, and first spotted at Renegade Winter Craft Fair at the Truman Theory. Perfect for tea-lights or mini cacti to add to my ceramic display hoard.
Handwoven Christmas Gift-wrap
Another place I was surpassed in the effort stakes was gift wrapping (nothing new there). My husband Chris comes up with a different theme every year, this time he created handwoven patchwork genius wrapping paper, which I must admit I slightly overlooked in the frenzy of Christmas day unwrapping and turkey checking. Luckily he pre-empted this and took a pic himself in the making process(!) makes my mind boggle just looking at it, and certainly explains the hours locked away being ‘unhelpful’! Another new idea for the range perhaps…
I think you’ll agree, it was a thoroughly crafty Christmas all round. Finally I have paid homage to the wonder that is the watermelon-it was one fruity filled christmas at CL.AM HQ I can tell you! I think I have a watermelon themed version of anything you could want or need in life, but the search for new additions will never stop!
Shop our LA SANDIA range if you’re a megafan yourself, and if you have loads of Thank-you’s to send to we’ve got it covered!
We are currently working on expanding our Wedding range ahead of some exciting Wedding Fairs, dates to be announced next week. Remember Correspondence is Cool x
CLAM Correspondence 