Lost in the Wood

Get set for Valentine's Day with this crocheted kit to cover all eventualities: love potions to help you win over your object of attraction, fruity condoms for protection and penicillin for recovery if that protection didn't quite work out!  Disclaimer : other lifestyles/ romantic preferences are available, spells don't work + wool makes an awful prophylactic! I love creating potion bottles. There's real glass inside each one so they maintain a rigid, precise structure, so hopefully they appear a touch more sinister, rather than squashy and amusing.  Previously, my failure to let go of any interestingly shaped bottles has led to a mildly out of  hand glass hoarding situation developing in my already over stuffed little house. Thankfully the Great Glass Clear Out intervened to save me, and a lot of shelf space, from this collecting compulsion. These days it's special bottles only that are saved from the recycling to await transformation into curious potions, poisons ...

It's been a ridiculously long time since I last posted (2016!) but I feel it's high time to revive this blog so this will once again be a place for me to expand on my social media posts about the things I love doing: wandering around old, pretty streets (mostly admiring colourful paintwork and excellent doors and knockers), visiting niche/quirky museums, finding dodgy waxworks, spotting steet art, exploring medical history, fake food and enjoying being a history geek (who makes things). Next post coming soon!

Crochet Anatomical Hearts by Lost In The Wood February has been set aside for a much needed catch up with the paperwork (dull but essential), a move into my new cute little studio (exciting), finishing commissions (overdue) and an exhibition piece (satisfying). However, I was a very busy little bee in January, working on some new anatomical designs (which will be a key focus for my work this year). I've started with hearts, the most appropriate bodily organ for this time of year and one of the most interesting to crochet with all it's ventricles, veins and arteries. I'm not claiming these are anatomically correct (no student of biology/ physiology should look to these as learning aids or we're all done for) but they make a reasonable attempt. Intended as large wall pieces, hang them as statement art works or nestle a smaller one under a bell jar and let them be brazen about their well crafted weirdness! They have been hanging splendidly in the Lotti & W...

Crochet & Needle Felted BB8 (by Laura Cameron) My unintentionally shambolic approach to work and life means I don't manage to make presents for family and friends as often as I'd like to. It always seems a little indulgent when there are looming deadlines on the horizon and not enough back-stock of work, to go about crazily making things which aren't for sale. Occasionally though, I can still get my act together in time to make a special birthday or Christmas present. Here's a little bit about my recent two efforts. This week my marvellous friend Paul had this birthday surprise droid delivery. While I'm pretty sure he would have preferred a real, full sized, fully functioning one, to help with all those dull household tasks and to set off on intrepid adventures with, he heroically hid his disappointment. Previously the recipient of one splendid but decidedly wobbly crocheted Tardis (not life sized), Paul once more warmly welcomed a sci-fi themed crochete...

Welcome in 2016 with a Crocheted Cocktail Happy New Year! Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and adventure-filled 2016. I'm most pleased that my first new make of 2016 is a crocheted cocktail, start as you mean to go on I say...!  I love the start of January with all it's forward looking optimism, the potential to get new things moving after Christmas, and the cheerfully naive hopes bound up with resolutions. It's a refreshing and invigorating time, ripe for planning and scheming. 2015 generally and especially the run up to Christmas seemed to hurtle past in a bit of a blur, with a sense of chasing deadlines which were either looming or whizzing past. This year, I'm aiming for a bit more control over everything and time to explore new ideas and work. Change is in the air: I move studios this month, I'm starting to work on new art pieces for open exhibitions and there's lots of plans buzzing around my head. Dishearteningly, I also have a riotous chaos o...

I've assured my poor neglected Blog that it will receive some serious attention soon, but not until the Christmas making / selling frenzy is over! For now then, here's a jolly picture showing the Christmas fairs I'll be involved in... 14 Nov- 24 Dec: Winter Treaures Craft Fair @ Oriel Ynys Mon (Llangefni, Anglesey) 21 + 22 November: Glynllifon Christmas Fair (Parc Glynllifon, nr Caernarfon) UPDATE: Please note , I will no longer be a t the Portmeirion Fair! Laura x

Me & Evie Dress Up (can't help ourselves) Last weekend kicked off the 10th annual Helfa Gelf (Art Trail). Spanning five counties right across North Wales, this brilliant open studios event gives access to all manner of studios, creative spaces and interesting artists and makers. I'm happily taking part for the third time (as Laura Cameron , no.9 in the HG booklet) and Friday saw the set up at the 'Creu' studio in the pretty courtyard at Parc Glynllifon along with some of my fellow Helfa Gelf Glynllifon gang: Gareth Brindle Jones (painter, film maker), Sioned Hywel (textile artist), Richard Jones (photographer) and across the courtyard, the lovely Irene & Edith (potter/ceramics).  Anglesey Elvis (a creation of the very patient Gareth Brindle Jones) indulged my love of dressing up by allowing me to borrow his wig and sunglasses, until his head fell off and Evie (my rabbit headed lady) stole the glasses. That's the sort of thing that happens round here....

Me & New Friend Pavlov @ Hendrick's Emporium... Yes, it's that time of year again, when I've had such a lovely time in Festival-time Edinburgh that I can't help but go on about it a bit. I make few apologies for this however as it really is the best place to be in August (unless you hate crowds, comedy, all forms of theatre, poetry, books, pop up courtyard bars and vibrancy and random happenings). I'll try to keep it brief this year so you can make it through to the end. Firstly, cake . Here I excelled. This year I decided to prioritise catching up with friends over trying to see everything that had good reviews (a Herculean & very expensive task anyway). Some recommendations: C afe Angelina (London St) was visited twice, once for very fresh morning scones and spontaneous dressing up (we found a case of hats that whispered to us to try them on), then again for a delicious afternoon tea which was a thing of beauty and paid proper attention to the savou...

Gwen Owen painting in the Creu suntrap It's all change at Parc Glynllifon at the moment. Our shared Creu studio has seen been transformed by Gwen Owen's efforts to ready the workshop for the current exhibition (hopefully the start of an occasional series), 'Tranquility'. Now, 'Tranquility' is a concept I've rarely experienced and don't particularly expect or strive for. However, I'm glad it evidently exists and it certainly sounds like a desirable state. Chiefly, this bijou exhibition showcases the paintings of Gwen Owen and Barbara Larkin (most of the rest of the Creu collective are on the poster because Gwen is inclusive and kindhearted). I particularly like Gwen Owen's large square canvases with vibrant, almost abstracted, floral landscapes bursting with colour and texture. Based in her coastal studio, Barbara paints mostly in oils but also employs water colours and encaustics (hot wax) and she's a very warmly welcomed guest artis...

Ar Y Gweill, Successful 1st Meeting, 6th May 15 Gerry: Apple Tart (her words) Excitingly, May has seen the debut of a new knitting & crochet club in Caernarfon! 'Ar y Gweill' (literally meaning 'on the needle' in Welsh) is a weekly group to knit/ crochet, chat and eat cake together, 5.30-6.30pm, at Palas Print bookshop. The intention is to create a relaxing and sociable environment to support and inspire each other. For more news/ pics/ our ongoing adventures please follow: Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , Ar Y Gweill Tumbler Blog . It's important to get off on the right foot so the first meeting dealt with the important issue of cake. Part icebreaker, part genuine scientific (ok, cakey) research, everyone was required to state their first name and favourite type of cake. Lemon drizzle cake and coffee cake (with the strident caveat of 'no walnuts') emerged as favourites although clearly the best answer was 'large cakes' (unanimous agr...

Ann Crompton's garden, Menai Bridge Yesterday I had an afternoon so enjoyable it prompted me to finally rouse myself to writing a new blog post (my previous weekly posting ambitions having gone astray almost immediately). As the last weekend in Anglesey Open Studios approached, I was feeling slightly ashamed of missing this fortnight every year and determined to visit at least somewhere this time! With my knowledgeable arty friend ready to whisper insightful things, we set off over the Menai Bridge to visit Ann Crompton in her idyllic looking workshop right on the banks of the Menai Straits. The workshop proved a treasure trove of intricate, astonishing miniatures with little vignettes ranging from a First World War trench, with rats and actual soil from the garden, to meticulously woven tiny rugs for more traditional dolls houses. Ann Crompton (fab lady) Ann Crompton's Bountiful Workshop Much of the  work is infused with a wit and playfulness, such as a tiny h...