Feature in Knitting Magazine

This month in Knitting Magazine there is a lovely feature on the Student Textile Awards from '08; with a section featuring me; so if you haven't already seen it or got yourself a copy hurry up before the next one comes out (or they all sell out...).

For more information on the award visit http://www.ukhandknitting.com/

It's a wonderful magazine so if you are an experienced knitter or new to the joys of the needles n' yarn goodness then you will find lots of brilliant patterns, yarn advice/reviews and a whole bunch of techniques n' tips!

Now selling in Red Mutha, Brighton

A selection of my jewellery & accessory range made from recycled bottle tops is currently being sold in the alternative clothes & accessories shop Red Mutha, in Brighton.

You can find them on my MySpace page at www.myspace.com/baxendalecreations.

Also buy online at www.laurabaxendale.co.uk for the current range of recycled bottle top bracelets, rings & cufflinks!

Islington Contemporary Art & Design Fair

Last week I was part of the Islington Contemporary Art & Design Fair and am happy to report that it was a success!

Held in the adorable Candid Arts Trust Gallery on Torrents Street, Islington. There were many interesting designer/makers there to see, if you were unable to make it I suggest you take a peak next year.

My new cufflinks made from recycled bottle tops also went down a treat; so am happy to announce they will be making an appearance on my webstore very shortly and I shall be stocked up with them at the following shows I'm doing.

Keep an eye out for them at www.laurabaxendale.co.uk.

Uk Textile Award Winner

From entering the Uk Hand Knitting Association's Textile Award I went on to become one of the finalists and as a result have been exhibiting and selling some of my work as part of the Knitting and Stitching annual shows.

There was one overall winner of the prize and three runners up; one of which I am!

I'm winner of the 3D Installation category!

Apparrently we were all joint and how the judges could pick any winner from the outstanding and extremely varied work that was on offer, I do not know.

This really is the biggest compliment I have had all year long. I do not know how I am one of the winners but I am extremely humbled and happy to be one!

So keep and eye out for the Student Textile Award at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate, from the 20th - 23rd November.

There really is some truely outstanding work and, as always, a chance to buy something that has been made by some of the talented finalists as a souvenir of your visit!

http://www.laurabaxendale.co.uk/
http://www.ukhandknitting.com/

100% Rewearable - New Ranges Available

Continuing my work with recycled materials I have been using the heat techniques I developed during the previous two years to create a range of wearable, individual, sustainable designs.

Below is a selection of braclets and rings; to date the new designs also incorporate earrings, necklaces & charms.

The beauty of these pieces is their individuality ~ not only from recycled materials, but also due to the processes I use on them; which makes each crocheted circle react slightly differently.


Yellow crochet bracelet made from a hazardous waste bag, with gold detail fastenings.

Crocheted lilac bracelet with silver attatchments; made from a recycled Argos carrier bag.

Chunky olive & silver crochet bracelet; made from a hazardous waste bag.

Olive crochet ring; constructed from a hazardous waste bag.

These pieces were first made available at the Knitting & Stitching show 2008 at Birmingham NEC and very well recieved.

Therefore not all items are currently available for purchase, however, all that remain can be found on the website www.laurabaxendale.co.uk which will be featuring more in the very near future and can once again be purchased at the Islington Art & Design Fair 17th-19th October.

Knit N' Stitch '08 - Birmingham NEC

As a result of getting through to the final round of the UK Hand Knitting Award, I have since exhibited at the first of the Knitting & Stitching shows of 2008. This took place at the Birmingham NEC from 11th - 14th September. This also gave me an opportunity to make a small selection from my 100% Rewearble jewellery range accessable to the public for purchase. I am extremely happy with how well my products sold & were recieved. I would like to say a big thankyou to all who attented and showed support; as well as all who purchased something from my 100% Rewearble range.

Updates and a shopping cart & paypall payment option will be added to my website http://www.laurabaxendale.co.uk/ within the coming week; so keep an eye out for more products available soon.
The next Knitting & Stitching show will be held at Alexander Palace from 9th - 12th October. For more information please see http://www.ukhandknitting.com/ and for more information on my upcoming shows & products please visit my website at http://www.laurabaxendale.co.uk/.

Up Coming Exhibition

I am going to be exhibiting my work at Bute Space Gallery in Cardiff Bay, so come and have a look! The opening night is Friday 15th August and the exhibition will last for 4 weeks.

100% Re-Wearable

The first samples of my jewellery collection inspired by my work regarding recycling and the environment. The finished pieces to date include a necklace, earrings and broaches ~

Final Project - Exhibition & Photography

Some shots from my exhibition, showing at Derby University 30th May - 11th June 2008~

I also arranged a photography shoot of my final products; a sample of which can be seen below. The following images were photographed by Tara Shaw. I wanted the shots to take place outside; as an emphasis of the environmental issue which was present throughout my work.

Final Project - Flowers, Leaves & Bees

Following my sketchbook work I began creating corsages using various resources.
All of the leaves were created using a range of naturally compostable bin liners I discovered, which are made from renewable vegetable materials.

Majority of the flowers I created by involving wire into my crochet, which was an excellent way to strengthen and supplement the flowers and leaves with curves to enhance their appearance.
As it was no longer neccessary to heat treat all of the crochet, some of the flowers I chose to leave in their original state.

I also thought about what went along with flowers and began to build bees to match them. I crocheted with wire to create wings and hazard tape with wire for their bodies.

My aim was to create objects of nature from elements that usually destroy it; although with the inclusion of the renewable vegetable bin liners I was able to combine resources of nature.

Final Project - Recycling: Environment Sketchbook

To coincide with my theme of recycling I also began to look into the environment, as it is one of the main reasons & beneficiaries of waste reducing.

Here are some images from my consequent second sketchbook ~

I began by studying leaves and the lines their veins made as it was remeniscent of the stitch marks I created during my collar works.

Chalk, biodegradable bin liners, silver ink~

Silver fablon, ink, pen, biodegradable bin liners~

Wood effect fablon & photodegradable bin liners~

Biodegradable & photodegradable bin liners, recycled labels from Play & Recycle Centre~

Fablon, green acrylic ink, photodegradable bin liners to creat flowers, crocheted leaf made with biodegradable bin liners, wire & fablon~

Green & brown inks, knitted linen twig, photodegradable bin liners, garden twine & fablon~

Bees crocheted from hazard tape, flower centre crocheted with plastic carrier bag, lid centre, garden twine, fablon & second hand labels~

Photodegradable bin liners, crocheted hazard tape, fabon, pen, silver ink, second hand labels~

Crocheted lilac scented bin liner, recycled yellow lid, crocheted green biodegradable bin liner, second hand labels, wood & silver effect fabon~

Green ink background of knitted lines, blue crocheted garden twine, leaves made from biodegradable bin liners & linen; crocheted hazard tape bee, crocheted scented & photodegradable bin liners, flower centre constructed using wire & recycled balloons~

Orange scented bin liners crocheted with wire, crocheted hazard tape, pen, fablon~

My design work progressed during this sketchbook work to incorporate my previous collar corsages as flower pieces.

I also discovered a range of scented bin liners which I used to introduce new colours into my designs. I began to work with the balloon edges again to create 3-D flower centres; as well as crocheting with wire to add structure which is a technique I found very effective.

Final Project - Recycling: Collar Designs

I have been working with my designs to create interesting and individual collars...

Some of my completed pieces to date:

I absolutely love working with the different plastics and have found that through heating the crocheted circles I can alter the form of them from a flat object into a more structured component.

I have used this technique to begin developing a range of corsages, some of which I have included in my above designs. However I am experimenting with further methods, including crocheting with wire, linen and a range of bin liners I have discovered, which are made from recycled materials.

Through this I plan on adding a dimensional element to some of my collar designs and to compile a collection of one-off corsages to be worn as broaches.

Bike Component Project ~ Interiors

Some of my work from a project I completed during my second year of study, which I have since been developing ~

The theme for this project was anything industrial and/or mechanical. I found my visual inspiration from gear cogs, bike cranks, chains and barb wire.

The shapes and patterns formed by such objects really interests me, especially focusing on bike cassettes and how all the components are constructed and work together.

The fabrics I designed were intended for interiors, examples of which I have included here ~

I incorporated gear shapes in my knitted samples, which I created on my knitting machine. I found this a really effective and rewarding technique as it appeals to my love of constructing.

I have since continued to work with the project theme and have begun to develope my work from knitted samples into pieces for interiors.






This is the first of my final works, although there are many more currently in the creating proccess, so the collection will be expanding in the very near future!

Final Project - Recycling: First Design Work

The beginnings of my experimentations, transforming my sketchbook ideas into reality ~

I have found that flattening the circles with heat is a really effective way of increasing their durability and appearance.

My next move is to extend the use of stitch markings and layering the strips of circles to create neck pieces and collars. Additionally I am going to begin to incorporate laser cut wooden shapes, such as lettering.

Final Project - Recycling: Sketchbook

Some images from my sketchbook to show how my ideas have been culminating...

So far to knit with I have collected a supply of second hand blue carrier bags and a pack of bright yellow, environmentally friendly photodegradable bin liners (second hand too, might I add - a relative who did not want them kindly donated them to my cause!).

Following a trip to Derby's Play and Recycle Centre I came away with bags and bags of resources, including MDF, jigsaw puzzles, a variety of plastic buckle fastenings and lots of interesting plastic lids to work with.

Crazy Horses...

My first experimentation using the electronic function of my Brother Electroknit KH910! Although the horse pattern came with the machine as a single design, the pattern layout and rest of the top is all my own work!

Both the green and black yarn is just a standard acrylic 4 ply and the black hem on top and bottom is ribbed.

Final Project - Recycling

As recycling is an important issue for me, I decided to use it as the basis for my final project. This was an idea I had begun experimenting with during a self-chosen brief in my second year, during which I created knit work using strips of plastic bags and found I could get very interesting and effective results. I immediately knew it would be the perfect theme for my final ever project!

As this is my current project, here's just a few pages of my initial design work so far; using recycled and found materials as the visual basis:




These studies were mainly created using knit, fabon and plastic bags. I plan on continuing my work into wearable designs, mainly in the form of neck pieces/collars. In light of the 'disposable fashion' trend of the moment, why not create fashion pieces from already disposed items?