Emma Ferguson

Moving some shapes

2011-09-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

I have some new necklaces up in the shop this week in the form of these bold brass shapes. And don't forget I'm still giving away a mystery free gift with every purchase!

Renegade craft fair comes to town!

2011-09-15T04:46:00.000-07:00

The Renegade craft fair will be in London for the first time next month on 8th and 9th October. It will be a huge crafty event with heaps of stalls including my good friends Custom Made and Uncommonly Beautiful. Don't miss this one, it will be A-mazing!

Free gift!

2011-09-01T13:37:00.001-07:00

As a little thank you to all my lovely customers I'm giving away a free gift with every purchase while stocks last. It will be chosen at random and could be anything from a pair of earrings to a vintage brooch. Anyone who makes a purchase from ilikebirds.bigcartel.com will automatically be sent something special!

Lately

2011-09-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

I've just finished a 5 month contract at M&S (putting together the Xmas Gift Guide) and with a week until my next contract starts I have been able to enjoy some lie ins and generally taking it easy! As well as an update in the shop I am on the look out for some new jewellery ideas, so expect a few newbies over the coming weeks. I have had Christmas on the brain since April what with my job so I'm well and truly in the zone!

Bonbi Forest lockets

2011-08-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

I am loving these new illustrated lockets from Bonbi Forest! Each one is so beautiful and so much work has gone into them. What a clever lady she is, now you can wear a little piece of artwork around your neck!

New earrings for Summer!

2011-03-28T04:55:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I uploaded a load of new (very pretty) earrings. I am so in to these fruity pairs...

Happy Banana Earrings

Happy Pineapple Earrings

And then some new florals...

Gold Floral Earrings

Floral Multi Earrings

Some birds (of course!)

Flying Birds Earrings

And some lovely vintage domed studs with a gold topping...

Domed Floral Earrings

All these are available at www.ilikebirds.bigcartel.com

New necklaces in the shop

2011-03-15T06:34:00.001-07:00

New in the shop today are a few necklaces. I have some lovely etched Envelope necklaces as well as some dainty little Teacup necklaces in two colour ways.

I have more new bits on the way including some vintage floral earrings in greens and golds, looking forward to getting those up!

And you may have noticed I am back on the blog all of a sudden with two posts in one day. Well I'm back in London for good now, with the contract up on my job in Southampton. I am very happy to be home all week long instead of just the weekends, and it means I can spend more time on I like birds - yay!

I also have some very overdue embroideries to finish up and will get them on the blog as soon as they're finished.

Quest complete!

2011-03-15T04:45:00.000-07:00

I have found my lovely new cabinet and it is exactly what I have been searching for - hooray! And my little creatures are all very happy on top of their new home. So its out with the old and in with the new, I'm selling an Ikea locker on ebay for anyone in need of a metal sideboard. I would quite like to keep it but alas I only have limited space.

Have a look here.

Quest for a cabinet

2011-02-19T09:19:00.000-08:00

I need a cabinet for my living room, something that can fit in some craft supplies, packaging for the i like birds deliveries and to hide all the junk that seems to accumulate on a weekly basis!

Here are some I have my eye on...

cubic filing storage

1930s oak cupboard

60s teak record cabinet

1950s metal cabinet

kitchen cabinet/larder

Bright eyes

2011-02-07T09:40:00.001-08:00

Let me welcome a new critter to the i like birds web shop...

This is Bright eyes and with his twinkly black eyes he will jazz up any outfit. Click here to buy. There's also a sale on still so grab yourself a bargain while you're at it.

Is it just me or was he in Donnie Darko?

New year New lockets

2011-01-10T04:39:00.001-08:00

I've been away for a while - new job, new town which means I'm not by my computer or making stash for most of the week. But I've finally managed to upload some new jewellery to the website, in the form of these three new Locket necklaces.

And some slightly sad news, the stall on Brick Lane is no more. I've been doing it for the last four years and have had a lovely time especially making such good friends with my fellow stall holders Custom Made, UBRA, Jill, Andrea Garland, Bobby Dazzler and of course Buddug and Jessie Chorley who I started the stall with all those years ago! I like birds is still going strong and will be sold online www.ilikebirds.bigcartel.com and at its regular stockists; The Red Door Gallery, Hannah Zakari and Cherry Cherry. It does mean that I'll be having a big clear out, a lot of things are going on sale and more will be going up over the next few weeks. Head on over to the site and grab a bargain!

Something pretty

2010-11-12T03:02:00.000-08:00

What better to do on a sick day than a bit of online window shopping. So here is what I have found today - some beautiful quilts and home furnishings from Urban Outfitters. Who knew they even stocked such lovely home wares! Want!

Gemma Correll goodies in the shop

2010-10-09T07:02:00.001-07:00

Just in time for the Christmas rush there are some lovely Gemma Correll totes and cards just arrived in the I like birds shop. The adorable Pugs not drugs totes are back in stock plus some new cards. Have a look here.

In other news I have just got a new job in Southampton working in the extremely exciting world of catalogues. So I will not be able to do every Sunday on the market stall on Brick Lane, however, I will still keep the web shop going and will let you all know via Facebook and Twitter when I'll be back. So keep updated by becoming a fan or a follower or both!

Owls now in!

2010-09-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

These rather cute little owls are now in the shop, click on the pictures to go straight to them. It's taken me a while to get them up as my camera fell in two not too long ago and I've only just got round to replacing it. I found my pictures from Bust on the old memory card so even though its a little late here's how the stall looked!

Ceramic Hearts Online

2010-09-02T03:41:00.001-07:00

The new collection of Ceramic Heart Necklaces & Rings are now available to buy online! Go straight to the I like birds shop here.

Brian Cronin

2010-08-31T10:32:00.000-07:00

I came across the work of Brian Cronin the other day whilst browsing the shelves of my local book store. He had illustrated the cover for The Day of The Triffids amongst many others which can be found on his website. His portfolio of work is so beautiful, I suggest you take a gander. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that he had worked for Milton Glaser - one of my all time faves!

Cake Britain

2010-08-28T02:56:00.000-07:00

The other night I went to the launch of Cake Britain at the Future Gallery which is all about celebrating Tate & Lyles switch to Fairtrade. Cake makers collaborated with artists to create weird and wonderful cakey things! I went along with my friend Jemma of Crumbs & Doilies, she made these with the help of Jon Burgerman. They even have chocolate brownie burgers, buttercream sauces and custom made boxes & wrapping - pretty special!

I do love a forest and this beauty was made by Lily Vanilli and Alex Turvey. You can just about make out the finger caught in the venus fly trap!

We drank scrummy punch served in vintage tea cups and ate cake by Ms Cupcake. Surely the best vegan cake I have ever eaten and in forrero rocher flavour my mouth was truly watering.

Its on until Sunday 29th and is well worth a visit. Quick before it gets auctioned off and eaten!

Back to school

2010-08-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

It's taken me a little while to get back to the blog but now that I am well and truly back to work in gloomy London what better way to start than with sharing some sunnier times with you!

I started off my holiday with a wedding in Puerto Rico, unfortunately my camera fell in two so I only had my phone to take pictures while I was there.

These iguanas were EVERYWHERE! They were so funny when they ran with their legs flailing about - not that I was chasing them!

We had two days of solid thunderstorms which put a bit of a dampener on outdoor activities. So we headed out to the mall for some retail therapy at forever 21 - such a guilty pleasure! The sun did come out eventually for some much needed rest by the pool.

No photos of the happy couple I'm afraid - my phone camera just wouldn't cut it in a dark room. It was very lovely and romantic, had lots of fun on the Bachelorette and managed to get a nice sun burn. Then after 5 days I headed off to New York for a very busy 2 days. We split our time staying with friends in their New Jersey family home and their flat above a church in the Upper East Side.

Off to LA to stay with more friends, they took us to a bar on Mailbu beach on our first night where we had cocktails overlooking the sea. It was love at first sight with LA...

Thanks very much to our lovely friends Ed, Varrick, Greg and Mel for putting us up and making this holiday possible. I didn't want to come home apart from maybe to see my cat Ruby!

Holiday time

2010-07-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

I'll be jetting off on my holidays next week so any orders placed during 19th July - 3rd August will be posted on my return. So if there is anything you urgently need get it ordered asap as I will be posting out all this week.

www.ilikebirds.bigcartel.com

All set for Bust!

2010-07-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

This week has been a manic making week all in aid of the Bust Craftacular taking place tomorrow (10th July). Its my favourite craft fair by far, there are so many great sellers that I often end up abandoning my stall for a couple of hours to have a look around. Don't worry though the I like birds stall will be manned by at least one bird at all times! I still have a little bit of making to do but managed to find time to make a new sign - here are some in progress pics...

Ta Daa!! Very pleased with the colours, will look very nice on the stall if I say so myself.

The Bust Craftacular will be open from 12 till 7 at

York Hall

5-15 Old Ford Road

Bethnal Green

London

E2 9PJ

Nearest tube: Bethnal Green

Vintage embroideries

2010-07-05T14:41:00.001-07:00

I bought some lovely sets of vintage embroideries today from my local charity shop. These place settings are my favourite, they are all so beautifully made, it would be a shame to put them in a drawer with the rest of my embroidery stash. I might try and frame them...

I used to make clutch bags out of tray cloths like these. I think its high time I made some more, the problem is they are so lovely I never want to get them dirty by taking them out on a night out.

New Domino Brooches

2010-07-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

I've been searching high and low for some new dominoes to transform into these lovely brooches for ages - and I've finally found them! Three new sets which include some beautiful vintage french multi coloured dot ones. I've never come across this colour combination before - I may have to keep the red and blue one for myself!

I'll have them on the stall on Sunday and will be putting some up online very soon...

Update!

2010-06-12T03:51:00.000-07:00

Its been a bit quiet on here lately as I've been a busy bee working away. So I do apologize for the lack of news! Here is a bit of an update to keep you all up to speed...

I guess the newest news (as I just had an email this morning) is that I'll be doing Bust Craftacular! I sure am excited about this, its such a lovely day full of vendors so I get to have a good catch up with all my fellow crafters and makers.

Here is the invite I designed for the lovely people at Soup Film in Berlin. They are celebrating their 10th birthday, I do hope they enjoy themselves tonight! I'm now starting to design some more embroideries for their website which I will share with you all soon...

I had a lovely little feature last week over on the Sugar Scape website, thanks guys! I was definitely a Sugar girl when I was in school so its nice to have a mention on their blog. Have a look here.

And very very excitingly I have just booked my trip to America which starts with Puerto Rico to see my old friend get married, then off to New York for a few days staying with some friends in New Jersey. And finally off to LA for a week! I've been to NY before about 2 years ago, we stayed in the Chelsea Hotel which was amazing! I'm looking forward to seeing it from another angle as our friends we're staying with have a big house in the suburbs with a porch and everything! I do hope they have a rocking chair...

New cross stitch rings

2010-05-14T04:09:00.001-07:00

I've been working on some brand new products - rings! Now you can look down and admire a little squirrel friend or if you can't afford the real thing - a diamond ring!

Head over to the online shop to get yours here.

Make Jewellery Magazine

2010-05-06T15:16:00.001-07:00

The lovely people over at Make Jewellery magazine have feature some of my tea themed accessories. In fact there's a whole article on the stuff! Its out now so go grab one!

Hello & I heart you cushions now online

2010-04-27T04:24:00.001-07:00

You can buy these cushions from my online shop right here. Brighten up your sofa and make your guests feel welcome! Or just hold them up next to your mouth for a kodak moment!

Sale On!

2010-04-12T05:58:00.000-07:00

SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE!

There's 20% off at I like birds NOW! Just enter SPRING at the checkout and it will be taken off your whole order. So go on, treat yourself!

www.ilikebirds.bigcartel.com

HobbyCraft Magazine

2010-04-10T03:01:00.000-07:00

I've just picked up the current copy of HobbyCraft magazine which features a tapestry cushion I designed for them as well as some little cross stitch badges. That little cushion took a lot of work! Having not done a tapestry since I was about 10 I had forgotten how long it takes but I was very pleased with the results! You can get your copy of the magazine either in store or online.

Hello Plush!

2010-04-09T03:11:00.001-07:00

Meet Hello Brooch and I heart you Brooch's big brothers! They are soft cotton cushion versions for your couch and will be available soon in my online shop.

Fabric Wall Hangings Launched!

2010-04-08T02:23:00.001-07:00

I have just uploaded some of my new Fabric Ornaments range. I love making these keys! There's something so satisfying about turning them inside out and revealing all the corners of the key parts. They can be hung on the wall from the loop at the top and make a nice change from picture frames. I'l be adding more soon, and am in the process of some new shapes! Very excited to get them all up online soon!

New Compass Necklace

2010-04-07T04:46:00.000-07:00

Up today on the I like birds shop is this lovely little Compass Necklace. Not only is it very pretty but it will also get you home!

Gameboy Purse Winner

2010-04-03T11:01:00.001-07:00

So the competitions over and the winner is........

Quincifer!

Who left a marvelous Mario quote on the blog post which made me chuckle. Quincifer get in touch by sending and email to emmaferguson110@yahoo.co.uk and your purse will be on its way to you next week! Woo hoo!

Thanks to all who entered, I've very much enjoyed my bird jokes, factoids and your funny quips!

Gameboy Giveaway!!!

2010-03-29T02:10:00.000-07:00

I'm having my first competition and to celebrate I'm giving away something quite special... a Gameboy Purse!

Some of you may be familiar with this purse already, I made my first one in 2007 followed by many more as it was quite popular! After a few years I decided to retire the little fellow. So this purse can't actually be bought, its not even available on the i like birds shop - its a super special giveaway!! To enter simply leave a funny comment on this post or by emailing me at emmaferguson110@yahoo.co.uk and I'll pick my favourite. It could be a fact about the gameboy, your favourite bird or whatever springs to mind!

I'll be picking one winner this Saturday so you have until midnight on Friday 2 April to enter.

Talion trailor

2010-03-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

I've just finished work on the trailor for Talion. If all goes well the full feature will get made and I'll be spending a lot more time at Pinewood! There were some really cool sets, which I can't really show you just yet so here's a few snippets.

Filming a car crash scene.

This was the start of the padded cell - looked amazing when it was all finished.

My tea set and curtains grabbing the spotlight!

Some paper work for a police station scene - I do love my stationary!

A section of the investigation wall.

New necklaces online!

2010-03-15T10:40:00.001-07:00

I've put some new Thimble Necklaces up on the I like birds shop. They are all one of a kind so if you see one you like grab it quick! Get yours here.

I've also started making some new things for the home - an assortment of fabric ornaments! Expect more over the coming weeks - they will be coming with me to the stall also so come have a look. They're big, bold and lovingly wonky!

The Exploratorium

2010-03-10T06:58:00.001-08:00

I was lucky enough to be asked by The Exploratorium in San Francisco to produce some embroidery kits for their Open Make workshops. I designed a trio of little circuit characters which Luigi Anzivino and his wife made up to hang beside images of my other embroidered art works. The workshop included lots of other fun activities such as Circuit necklaces and electronic badges. It looks like so much fun- I wish I could of gone myself!

I'm so pleased with how the templates turned out, I've been wanting to try some kits for a while. Its great to see how other people can adapt your designs and add their own finishing touches. Its made me want to make some more, so keep an eye out for them on the I like birds stall! You can see close ups of the little circuit characters below...

My new home!

2010-03-09T04:19:00.000-08:00

I've been harping on about this for ages but I finally found my dream home! Well its nothing state of the art and its slightly wonky but thats the way I like it! So here is my new dolls house - now to get cracking on making the furniture and redecorating. I love the hand drawn fireplace!

New Stockist Alert! (and other news)

2010-02-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

My new stockist for February is Seren in Cardiff. Wouldn't it be great if I actually had a new stockist every month! I'm surprised I managed to get any stock out at all this week as I've been stuck on the sewing machine making seven straight jackets - for a film I must add, not personal use! We start filming on Monday so I'm trying to get all prop making finished by then. That's pretty unlikely however as its Friday evening now and I have a full day at the Sunday Upmarket to cram in. It'll be my last Upmarket for a while, I have nearly 5 weeks of straight shooting ahead of me so if I do manage to score a day off I'm spending it in bed!

I must share my latest prop finds! They are pretty amazing...

Two Indonesian puppets

And a rather prehistoric calculator that can actually be plugged into the mains. The buttons are really satisfying - something the iphone sorely lacks!

Some blog love

2010-01-19T03:28:00.000-08:00

I've been featured on a couple of blogs, the first being One Day, One Plan! that has my embroidered purses and also Little Gray Pixel for my Nautical Knot Necklace. Thanks guys!

In other news I'm still in pre-production for the feature film I'm working on, I'm managing to get most props for free thanks to Freecycle - an anti landfill website where people can advertise things they no longer need. I hate waste so really like the idea of people sharing and not fly-tipping! The latter being something that happens very regularly in my area! Sign up to your local group (its done by borough) and get Freecycling!

New Stockist Alert!

2010-01-11T13:01:00.000-08:00

You can now buy a selection of my accessories from The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle. Its Britain's biggest commercial gallery, they will also be featuring me in their magazine Fresh. Photos to follow...

I'm making a movie

2010-01-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

I'm starting work on my first feature film this week. It'll be just me and one other in the art department with hopefully plenty of assistants! Five weeks of filming, 6 day weeks (7 if you include the upmarket) and 12 hour shoots - I'll be pretty busy! I'll be doing updates on Twitter, so if you want to see me losing my marbles slightly over the coming weeks then follow me there.

Humble Beginnings

2010-01-04T02:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I switched on my old computer for a bit of reunion with my old files and photos. I found these photos of the the I Like Birds stall from when we first started, three years ago this February! There were four of us to begin with, Buddug, Kate Sandilands and Suze Gillingham and myself. The stall looks so sparse! We barely had enough stock to cover it and we didn't really have a clue about how to display anything.

My tattoo brooches in felt! They went through 3 material changes over the years. Also to the left of those are some of the cross stitch badges I used to do before I starting using mini frames. The packaging is funny too - its all handwritten on luggage tags.

That necklace/tin/rod contraption we had before we started using rope tied from one end of the stall to the other. It fell down so many times!

The purses were some of the first things I made to sell. I owe a lot to that Gameboy purse!

Feb 2007

No back sheet, no light, no table sheet (but a very nice pineapple table cloth).

April 2007

Buddug made a cardboard sign, we have sheets but I still insisted on the pineapple table cloth! A bit more stall furniture now and a very tanned Kate.

October 2009

Jump forward to a couple of months ago - a very different stall minus Kate and Suze. With Buddug and Jessie Chorley's things still there but they are wrapped up warm in their shop on Columbia Road.

The stall looks different again now, I've changed a few things and added even more. I'll take some photos this weekend which will be the first stall day back in 2010!

Plenty more birds (and flowers)

2009-12-31T06:30:00.001-08:00

There are soooo many new things on the i like birds website, I didn't know what to get more excited about. The mini bird boxes... or the little ships and windmills... or maybe the vintage floral transfer necklaces....

There's more to come as fabric and buttons keep arriving, just piling up waiting for me to turn into bags, purses and accessories galore!

Click on any of the above photos to take you straight to the product.

Muppets!

2009-12-27T14:19:00.000-08:00

I got this amazing book for Christmas! It will teach me how to make the muppet style puppet I adore. To start with I think I'll make a human puppet and it should probably be my boyfriend as he tracked down this out of print book for me. I'll put up photos as I go but I'm not sure how my first one will turn out. The eyes might pop out or the felt skin might peel off slightly but with lots of practice and foam I might even be able to make my very own Kermie!

Some new birds for i like birds

2009-12-21T03:18:00.000-08:00

Its been a very busy month in Craft world! The stall has been super busy over these last two weeks with everyone getting their last minute Christmas shopping done. Which leaves little time for me to do any of my own! I always find time to make new things however and this week I've uploaded some of them onto the website. Feast your eyes on these...

The stall will be back on the 10th January after a much needed rest. But the website will still be open and even more new things will be added so keep checking back!

My week of making...

2009-11-26T08:42:00.000-08:00

I've been working on some new things for Christmas this week as well as some decorations that I'll be selling from the stall. I've made a very ramshakle cardboard tree to hang them on, which will be going up this Sunday. You can get hold of those new geek glasses and I heart tea purses from my online shop.

Gemma Correll Totes

2009-11-14T08:20:00.000-08:00

Pugs Not Drugs

Let's Ride!

Lovely new screenprinted Tote bags by Gemma Correll are now available from the I like birds shop. Get yours now! And quick, they're likely to sell out fast! More Gemma Correll goodies are available from the stall such as badge packs and super cute cards.

Bust Christmas Craftacular

2009-11-13T03:59:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be taking part in the Bust Christmas Craftacular! Some of you may have seen me at the Summer Craftacular which was great fun. There are photos on this blog if you click here. I'll be very very busy in the next few weeks stocking up for this and the stall on Brick Lane.

Woo hoo! See you there!

Halloween and beyond

2009-11-09T08:43:00.000-08:00

Not much blogging of late so here's a little snapshot into my last couple of weeks...

Halloween excursions with the family in Richmond Park

I made a snowman for T4 that was whisked off to Battersea Power Station for The London Freeze. He hasn't got his nose in yet though!

British garden bird cards back on the stall

My guts in action!

Some of the amazing pumpkins at the Crumbs & Doilies Halloween party

Guts!

2009-10-25T13:04:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to show you the guts I made for my friend Jemma. Its part of her Halloween costume and will be splurging out of a chef jacket. She runs Crumbs & Doilies, so she's transforming herself into a zombie version of herself for the evening!

Sneek Peek

2009-10-20T05:58:00.001-07:00

Coming soon to i like birds... MORE BIRDS! Thanks to Orange* by Mark John of Kings. Maria has stocked with i like birds in the past but its been a while and she has a brand new collection. I'm very much looking forward to the arrival of these ceramic brooches!

New things!

2009-10-15T11:17:00.001-07:00

I've been busy this week making lots of new things including the above. I'll also be bringing new sewing sets and mini domino brooches to the stall this Sunday at Brick Lane's Upmarket. See you there!

Hurrah! I'm Naked.

2009-10-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

Hurrah! Hurrah! She shouts from the rooftops (well the lapel of your coat). Pick your own hair and eye colour or stick with the Barbie tones of this little lady and be proud! This will be going up on the Etsy shop from today.

And for those that are not yet in the know, hot foot it over to my twitter page for a Twitter discount on I like birds!

A Alicia accessories available at I like birds

2009-10-09T01:41:00.000-07:00

If you come down to the stall on Sunday you will find a selection of lovely brooches and necklaces by A Alicia. Using felt, lame and net in a variety of delicious colours, she hand stitches each petal into a luxurious yet wearable piece. Beautiful!

New Stockist Alert!

2009-10-05T01:55:00.000-07:00

These past few months sure have seen a rise in my amount of stockists. I have some stock on its way to Lux in Helsinki. I very much like the look of this shop and am also very excited to be selling in Helsinki! Have a look at their website and blog.

New Stockist Alert!

2009-09-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

From today you can buy my jewellery from Beautiful Interiors in Walthamstow Village. Its a lovely shop and a lovely part of town!

Buddug Jewellery online at i like birds

2009-09-30T09:33:00.001-07:00

Newly uploaded to the i like birds shop are three new necklaces from Buddug. Gorgeous enameled pieces featuring birds and nature in three beautiful colour choices. Click here to view them now!

Lips and Nails

2009-09-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

A new embroidery I made today, inspired by vintage Vogue. I'm in the mood to embroider so I hope to have lots more to show you over the coming weeks.

Pin Pals, Let me count the ways

2009-09-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

Three Little Lady Buns Cross Stitch Buttons

Having not really featured random designers work on this blog before I thought what better way to begin with the almighty Pin Pals. I love love love love love their work. Their blog is very interesting too - full of inspiration and pictures of their studio and stalls. Samantha Purdy and Sara Guindon make up Pin Pals pulling together their skills in embroidery and illustration. See here these beeeeautiful badges and paper dolls...

All these are available from their Etsy shop.

New Folk Large Cross Stitch Pin

I see a ghost - me too Cross Stitch Pin

Lady Talk Paper Puppet

Knot brooch in the shop

2009-09-16T02:54:00.000-07:00

You can now but this chunky knot brooch from the i like birds shop. More will be added soon so keep checking back. Just waiting for the latest ship load of rope to arrive!

New jewellery in the shop!

2009-09-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

Some new bits in the i like birds the shop today including a Domino Pin and vintage Cameo ring...

What other people wore today...

2009-09-05T12:03:00.001-07:00

Continuing on from the blogs that document their day to day outfits, Gemma Correll has decided to set up a Flickr group with illustrators submitting their own sketched outfits. Have a look at Gemma's blog and the Flickr group. In her own drawing of herself she is wearing one of my stitched Lovely necklaces. Looks great with the stripy cardi!

Julia Pott goodies now available from i like birds...

2009-09-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

Julia Pott prints and tattoos are now available from the i like birds... stall!

Blanket stitch necklace

2009-09-01T09:04:00.001-07:00

There are some new necklaces in the i like birds online shop. Go see here!

New Stockist Alert!

2009-08-31T03:18:00.000-07:00

Aspex, a contemporary art gallery in Portsmouth in the Vulcan Building is now selling my accessories in the gallery shop. Have a look here. So if you're in the area do drop by!

Craftaholics August

2009-08-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

I'll be taking part yet again in Craftaholics! At the Old Queens Head on Islington's Essex Road this Saturday 29 August. For more details click here!

Script Pins

2009-08-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

New to the stall this week are these lovely and delicately stitched script pins. And at just a fiver you can buy them for the whole family! They will of course be uploaded onto the website soon enough!

Bust Craftacular

2009-08-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

Anna & Anthony from Custom Made looking very happy indeed!

Yey! It was a roaring success and much fun was had. Fortunately for my customers I only discovered the bar an hour before we closed!

Make this weekend a crafty one

2009-08-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to visit me at Bust Craftacular!!

Saturday 22nd August

York Hall

Old Ford Road

E2 9PJ

12pm - 8pm

Nearest tube: Bethnal Green

Ahoy me hearty knot brooches!

2009-08-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

I found this wooden box in my favourite junk shop today and as I was pondering what to do with it a light bulb appeared above my head. Well actually it was a box of knot brooches that had been homeless up until now. Don't they look lovely in their new home!

I'll be taking these down to Bust and of course the stall on Sundays. I will also upload them onto my online shop soon.

Big in Sweden

2009-08-18T03:55:00.001-07:00

Today the postie arrived with the current issue of Vasterbotten for me. There's a piece on the exhibition I am taking part in - Open Source Embroidery. They have featured Motherboard from the series Expression of Femininity which I made in my final year of uni for my graduate show. You can see more from the series here. I have no idea what they have said as its all in Swedish!

Bye Buddug & Jess!

2009-08-17T02:08:00.000-07:00

The last day of i like birds being 3! From now on I'm going it alone eeek! Next up I'll be at Bust on 22nd August - put it in your diary! Then please do pay me lots of visits me at the upmarket as I might be a bit lonely!

I am a mess

2009-08-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

I do tidy up but it just goes straight back to this in minutes! I'm off to get an armchair so I can be really lazy and just sew in comfort! I'm planning on having a granny corner by the window with all my chintz and doilies on display. I can't wait!

T4 on the Beach

2009-08-12T03:11:00.000-07:00

Here's N-Dubz in front of some of my bunting and seaside cutouts that were made for T4. I also made costumes to match the cutout couple - what a shame they're not wearing those as well!

some birds are flying away (but not very far)

2009-08-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

For those that are not aware of my stall at the Sunday Upmarket on Brick Lane I'll fill you in...

It all started about two and a half years ago when I started working at Anna Lou of London. I was working as Graphic Designer, Buddug, Kate Sandilands and Suze Gillingham were making jewellery (before Anna Lou had discovered plastics). We started the stall together as a bit of fun and to top up our puny pay packets. There were a few different line ups along the way, Jessie Chorley who already had a stall with Buddug joined and for the last two years Jess and Buddy and I have been there every week under the collective name of 'i like birds...'

Trying to fit three designers accessories, books, cards, purses, bags and the odd waistcoat into a 2m x 1m space resulted in the stall bursting at the seams with sewing, enamel and paper mache galore. It takes us about an hour and a half to set up every sunday morning and lugging jewellery cases, plates, cake stands and numerous tins around on buses, bikes and cars every week has been an enjoyable chore.

Buddug and Jess opened up their shop on Columbia Road about 6 months ago, they have already expanded into a larger space and with commissions and orders flooding in something just had to give. So its very sad but inevitable that they will now not be doing the sunday market any longer. I will still be there and will continue to stock a selection of their jewellery, sewing sets and accessories as well as some new designers work.

The new look i like birds will begin on the 30th August with lots of new and exciting things and obviously some oldies but goodies.

www.ilikebirds.bigcartel.com

www.emmaferguson.co.uk

Little Mac Buddies

2009-07-27T08:24:00.001-07:00

I made this little guy today. Based on the first mac I ever had, when the paint application could keep you entertained for hours. He's made from leather and measures a towering 6cm x 4.5cm. He'll be available as a brooch and necklace but you'll have to wait a while for his debut. I'll be taking a batch down to the Bust Summer Craftacular on 22nd August and then after that I'll upload the remaining macs onto my online shop. And as there's only a limited amount of the perfect 80's grey/beige leather in the world you might have to get in quick!

Sass & Bide Charity Auction

2009-07-24T02:06:00.000-07:00

Sass & Bide

Emma Hawkins

This week I have been assisting on the Sass & Bide Charity Auction. Twelve pieces of artwork were auctioned off for Barnados including pieces by Kate Moss, Rankin and Barry Humphries. The event took place in The Old Dairy in Bloomsbury, as I imagined myself relocating from the lovely Leyton to a slightly nicer postcode I came across the Brunswick Centre. What would I give to poke around inside one of these apartments! Another dream living location added to my list which begins with a flat in the Barbican centre followed by anything in Greenwich Village!

The Brunswick Centre

New jewellery in the shop!

2009-07-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

All these framed jewellery pieces have just been added to my online shop. They are all £18 each, my favourite is the little dog - I've named him Sparky!

I have just had confirmation that I will be taking part in Bust Craftacular in August! I can't wait! Its one of the busiest craft fairs in the Uk showcasing some of the best designers. Joining me will be fellow crafting friends Custom Made, Kirsty Kirkpatrick, Gemma Correll and Hannah Zakari.

East London Craft Guerilla Market

2009-07-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'll be selling at the East London Craft Guerilla market this saturday from 10am - 5.30pm. Located in the garden of Beautiful Interiors, 34 Orford Road, Walthamstow Village, E17 9NJ. It will be a lovely event full of handmade goods and even some rum & ginger cocktails! Nice!

New Projects!!

2009-07-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from A 1940's Fable that was shot a couple of weeks ago. It is currently being edited and should be ready around August. The lovely Annette did a great job as actor, producer and script writer!

My new project UNITED, a modern take on Romeo and Juliet of which I am set dressing and all round props/art department.

Ebay items up now!

2009-06-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

Another thing I do is sell vintage clothes and accessories on ebay. Here is a selection of what's up this week...

This Jane Shilton bag was particularly hard to part with!

Some nautical loveliness from M&S!

Beautiful tooled leather satchel.

I love dog tooth! This dress is great too - a vintage C&A sparkly stretch wiggle dress.

All clothes modeled by the lovely Gladys. She was particularly fond of the nautical wiggle dress, she thought it accentuated her curves. Sorry Glads! Click here to go to my ebay page.

Interview with Wired

2009-06-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

I was recently interviewed by Wired Magazine for a piece on the Open Source Embroidery exhibition. You can read all about what I had to say as well as Ele Carpenter - the founder and curator of the exhibition amongst others here.

In other news A 1940's Fable is starting filming in under a week! Most props have been bought although there's always space for a bit more clutter. Today I've mostly been fretting over how adverts were stuck up - did they frame or stick or glue?? Even Jeeves couldn't help me on that one....

Open Source Embroidery

2009-06-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

An exhibition I am taking part in has just started in its first venue - the BildMuseet in Umea, Sweden. It will show some original embroidered pieces from The Expression of Femininity as well as some newer embroideries. Other artists include Beck Stern (image below) and Kate Pemberton. It will run until 6 September 09 then move to San Francisco to The Museum of Craft and Folk Art.

For more information have a look here.

Becky Stern
LilyPad Arduino Embroidery: A Tribute to Leah Buechley, 2008

Props Props Props!

2009-06-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

Today was spent trawling through prop houses, who needs museums! I'm looking for living room props for A 1940's Fable. I got a bit distracted and wondered into the 50's fridge section - how badly do I want a pink fridge!

LOOKBOOK.nu

2009-06-03T03:10:00.000-07:00

Gemma Correll - drawer extraordinaire and co owner of Cherry Cherry put me on to this website www.lookbook.nu that features someone wearing one of my tattoo necklaces. I wonder if its a LOVE, HATE or MUM?

Jigsaw Bird Brooches

2009-06-03T02:52:00.000-07:00

I have just uploaded the Jigsaw Bird Brooches to the 'i like birds...' website. They are beautiful vintage drawings on wooden cut outs - choosing between them will be quite tricky - I have kept back a small avery for myself!

A 1940's Fable

2009-06-02T06:23:00.000-07:00

First post! I'll start with the new project I am working on - A 1940's Fable. Set in the 40's as well as the modern day in the East End of London. Written by and starring Annette B Kellow, I'll be working on the prop sourcing, set styling and general art department side of things. I am so excited about looking for all the 1940's themed bits and pieces! Here's an idea of what to expect...