Suffolk, England

by Tara Gentile on June 26, 2009

This week’s Shop Local features the beautiful countryside of Suffolk, England. While a geographical search on Etsy didn’t reveal a lot of crafters, it did reveal some real eye candy! I loved the three shops below and think you will too. And if you can’t get enough of Suffolk, check out the Suffolk Craft Society for more fine crafters creating modern art with traditional techniques.

Lu Summers, of Summersville, creates hand printed fabric and prints in fun colors and a variety of hand drawn doodles. I especially love the surprising color combination on this fabric bound journal. Her designs are all one color, lending a certain retro appeal to the modern colors. While Lu uses her fabrics in tiny art quilts, I could also see these used in little zippered pouches, accents on pillows, or a border on a set of curtains.

Zoe Woods, on Etsy and Coriandr, comes from a family of crafters and design professionals. The family business specialized in retail display & promotion and worked for names such as, “Laura Ashley, Clarks and K Shoes, Jaeger, Debenhams, Harrods, House of Fraser and many more in the UK and abroad.” Her jewelry is created using paper college, wood, and resin. On Etsy, she features a line of cutesy pieces perfect for little girls or the little girl within us all. On Coriandr, you can find a more grown-up aesthetic featuring creatively layered pieces that are at once strikingly two dimensional and deeply three dimensional.

Birgitte, of Sew Danish, is a true textile & fiber artist. Her art is both the manipulation of raw materials and the composition of those materials & found pieces. The container above is crafted from her own handmade cream colored fabric, then lined in lime green Thai silk, and finished with free form machine embroidery. An elegant addition to any shelf!

Tara Gentile is the editor of Scoutie Girl - the blog with a penchant for the passionately handmade! She is also creator & editor of Handmade in PA, a blog and online community that supports arts & crafts in Pennsylvania.

{ Comment :: 2 }

Tweet

more beauty...

Simple and Elegant Baby Receiving Blankets

Industrial Workings II Porcelain Necklace

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Ruth R. June 26, 2009 at 6:24 pm: Shop Local: Suffolk, England :: Featured on Try Handmade: Her jewelry is created using paper college, wood, and .. http://tinyurl.com/l8c72k
2 SewDanish August 4, 2009 at 7:03 am: Thank you so much for the lovely feature and kind words. What a wonderful surprise. I really appreciate it :-)

Who We Are

Erika Jurney
Palo Alto, CA, US
Erika is the founder of Try Handmade. »more...

Ellie Thouret
Manchester, UK
Ellie is a UK-based designer of handknit and crocheted accessories. In her rare time away from the needles and hooks, she can be found scouring Etsy and Folksy for cute and quirky handmade items, and chatting to indie sellers via Twitter, Facebook and blogs. »more...

Diana Prichard
Mid-Michigan, US
Diana is a freelance writer and wanna-be homesteader living in rural Michigan with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, three horses, a small flock of chickens and an ever-changing menagerie of other farm animals large and small. She writes about life and work at dianaprichard.com. »more...

Zoe Grant
Suffolk, UK
Zoe is a self confessed fabric addict having learnt to sew, embroider and knit when she was little.� She also adores printed papers and loves discovering new stationery designers.� In between being a mother and wife she writes about small creative businesses on her blog and sells ribbons and buttons on Etsy and Folksy. »more...

Amy L.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Amy is a freelance web designer, blogger and Etsy shop owner. When not scouring the web for the latest in handmade or building websites she can be found either hiking in the woods, visiting art galleries, or sampling treats at local candy and cupcake shops. Amy is passionate about the burgeoning handmade movement. »more...

Beverly Rustica
St. Simons Island, GA, US
Beverly Rustica, aka BeachyRustica, is a supporter of the handmade movement and an advocate for artisans of handmade goods. Her Practical Art for Beach & Cabin can be found at www.beachyrustica.com. »more...

Valerie Williams
Washington DC Metro Area, US
Valerie is a sewer, designer, and crafter. She loves fabric and making things to wear, but will try any craft at least once. After being a lobbyist for ten years, Valerie has had enough of politics but still loves DC, and is anxious to share the goodness that the area has to offer. You can see the handbags and accessories she makes in her shop Holland Cox. »more...

Sarah Safranski
Honolulu, HI, US
Sarah is a metalsmith, jewelry designer, and owner of the Etsy shop Lilacs&Ginger, sweet and spicy handmade treasures. She works primarily with sterling silver and vintage finds. »more...

Rebecca Hadfield
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Rebecca constantly finds beauty in that which is often overlooked. She combines found objects with decorative papers, ephemera, vintage images and text to form the basis for her collage pieces, magnets, and pins, which she sells online and at local craft shows in her home town of Winnipeg, Canada. »more...

Kim O'Brien
Pawtucket, RI, USA
Kim is a metalsmith who isn't afraid to push the limits of function and color. When she doesn't have a torch or hammer in her hand she can be found buying handmade goods at craft fairs and local businesses, playing with her beloved dog or blogging. »more...