400+ miles

Some of my bees made a flight last week, to a new home in Scotland.

Safe journey little ones!

more art for the bees more

reasons to save these http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20114359

and treat yourself to some of these

Golden Bees

I decided I wanted to try something a little different with my handmade bees and swapped the silver for gold to see how it would look....

 I think it suits them:

I will be crafting some hair slides in the gold version too, but for now you can
purchase the broaches from my Etsy store
or from my stall in the Backyard Market on Sundays, 10am - pm.

This little chap measures about 3cm long and including his wings in about 3.5cm high.
The wire I have used is very sturdy and really shines out. 

I am pleased with the result - as I hope my customers will be too!

20% OF PROFIT FROM BEE SALES IS DONATED TO THE SOIL ASSOSIATION TO HELP THEM SAVE THE HONEY BEES

Alex Monroe

I have just discovered a new favourite jewellery designer - Alex Monroe.

He creates some beautiful pieces, including gorgeous bee necklaces, in association with Burt's Bees and donates money from the sales to the British Beekeepers. So I am obviously going to be a fan!

Check out his website here: http://www.alexmonroe.com/.

Or if his exquisite creations are a little out of your budget, but you are pandering for a beautiful bee accessory of your own, then you can purchase my handmade bee hair slides from my etsy store by clicking on them here:

They are handmade from recycled plastics and silver plated wire and I am donatin 20% of my profits to help save the honey bees.

Egg Mag!

I have been using my old copy of the fantastic Egg Mag to create paper bags, which I use to sell my items in at my market stalls.

Here they are having made themselves onto the lovely EggMag's website:

http://www.eggmag.co.uk/eggstras/eggcam.html

Check them out and keep your eye out around London & Brighton for a free copy of the mag, it's utterly awesome!!!

Not to mention the magazine which inspired me to donate my profit from all of my bee sales to help save the honey bees!

I have also finally been able to part with my pile of old Howies catalouges; (for some reason they're so lovely it's hard to part with them?!) by recycling them in the same fashion.

Have a look through my previous posts for some pics of them! Better still, come and see me on Sunday's at the Backyard Market on Brick Lane and view them for real!

See my website for more information on my creations & my honey-bee-saving-bees!

www.laurabaxendale.co.uk

Of Cabbages & Kings Market Day

Come along to the Of Cabbages & Kings market day in Stoke Newington this Saturday & Sunday 12th - 13th June.

There'll be lots of stalls full of jewellery, knitting, accessories, stationary & more, including my stall with all the usual recycled creations & some beer tastic fathers' day gifts!

See here for more: www.ofcabbages.co.uk/OCK-news.htm

Backyard Market @ Truman Brewery

COME SEE ME AT THE

TRUMAN BREWERY BACKYARD MARKET

THIS SUNDAY!

For directions and more info please go to:

http://www.backyardmarket.co.uk

ALL THIS AND MORE!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

WWW.LAURABAXENDALE.CO.UK

One Year On - Photos

This year I was selected to showcase my work as part of the established One Year On section of New Designers.

It was a fantastic compliment to be chosen and not only did I meet some fantastic people but made some brilliant contacts too.

The exhibition was curated by Thorsten Van Elton and a cardboard theme was used throughout both weeks of New Designers to present the products being showcased in One Year On - which looked fantastic! The boxes were re-used afterwards for their intended storage & packaging use too.

The week gave me the opportunity to present some new pieces to the public - including this decorative crochet necklace, made from bin liners and second hand plastic faceted buttons. This design differs from my usual technique as it has not been heat treated, but still has a soft texture.

Here is another new design debuted at O.Y.O. My newest pieces have really been focused on creating a big statement - I like the idea of my creations growing in every sense of the word; it is another common feature of nature.

There were some old favourites back - glad to say that the bees were just as popular as ever!

For more information please see:

http://www.newdesignersonline.co.uk/laurabaxendale

Or my website:

http://www.laurabaxendale.co.uk for further information of upcoming shows, latest news & my online shop.

RANK @ Grundy Art Gallery

A selection of my jewellery work is currently being showcased as part of the

RANK

exhibition at Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool.

The exhibtion is of the touring variety and is unleashed 22nd August untill mid October. (Exact closing date TBC).

Visit www.grundyartgallery.com for more information on the gallery, exhibition and fellow exhibitors.

My crochet bees and recycled carrier bag necklaces will be rubbing shoulders with fellow exhibitors from the likes of the V&A, Tate and British Library; as well as an array of other emerging designer/makers.

My pieces will be available to buy and there is a larger selection to view and purchase on my website www.laurabaxendale.co.uk.

RANK

Grundy Art Gallery

Queen Street

Blackpool

FY1 1PX

01253 478170

grundyartgallery@blackpool.gov.uk

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.