"Eco" felt camera cases

Today is the start of a month long event Tasting Hastings at the YCN Shop, 72 Rivington Street, Lonon EC2.  Curated by YCN and St Leonards based lighting designer Philip Oakley, Tasting Hastings offers work from astists and based in Hastings and St Leonards, including lucky ol’ me – Nunovalenki in trendy Shoreditch, or very trendy Hoxton!  So if you are in London during February pop along and see some of Valerie May’s hand felted scarves, needle felted dog and cat brooches and even a selection of my new range of “eco” felt camera cases.  Philip very kindly collected my wares on Friday, to take up to YCN – thank you Philip.

YCN Rivington Street

Strangely enough, before moving to the south coast I worked in Leonard Street, just a few minutes walk from Rivington Street.  I would cycle to work from Camden to Shoreditch, crossing Rivington Street on the way!  There was an Italian cafe on Leonard Street called Silvano’s (I think it was called) who sold the best doughnuts EVER.  One of the only things I miss about London – really good doughnuts.

Snow Time

So how much snow did you have?  We live on a hill, so taking our dog Jenna for a walk got more and more treacherous as the day wore on and the snow became ice.  But nearly all gone now.  The trees in local parks still have a covering of snow and the beach too.  Just drips everywhere.

In case you hadn’t noticed, here is Nunovalenki‘s up-dated, re-furbed website; new pictures, new wonderful things to buy, new ideas. My hand felted scarves, with subtle elements of Nuno felting are just right for this chilly cold snap we are going through. My hand felted Flower Corsage are rich and vibrant and will brighten up the dullest morning. They will make wonderful Valentine presents too. Don’t forget my unforgettable needle felted brooches – so cute and wonderfully endearing, for the special person in your life.

New to Nunovalenki is a Specials Page

Liquorice Allsort Necklace

New to the site is my SPECIALS page.  These are new ideas I have.  I then make a one off and if it gets all round approval, I will then make a few more.  The garlands were new for Christmas, but will make wonderful hangings for any time of year. I am currently thinking about a GREEN MAN wreath design (big in Hastings & St Leonards in May).  My Liquorice Allsorts necklaces have always been popular, but sell before I have a chance to put them on my site.  It is one of my New Year resolutions to do this – so here goes!

Nunovalenki at YCN in London

From Monday 6th February until 29th I will have a selection of my work in London.  YCN Shop is based in Shoreditch and is hosting TASTING HASTINGS. Consisting of sixteen  Hastings & St Leonards artists, including Nunovalenki, can bew seen at YCN 72 Rivington Street, London EC2.  More info later….

Two days to go, and just enough time to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

Last Minute Shopping

Our shop at the Dawg’s Biscuits, 65 Norman Roadd, St Leonards-on-Sea, will be open until Christmas Eve afternoon (probably 1pm’ish, or if it is busy 3pmi’ish) for any last minute shoppers.  Please pop along, or call on 01424 424682 if there is anything you are specifically looking for.

Otherwise, there is not a lot of news.  However, I am really glad that I am finally slowing down a bit, and not thinking about making anything new until next year.  I do have a couple of commissions in the pipeline, for January which is something to look forward too, and new ideas for next year.

So once again, thank you for reading my blog this year, and if you have anything to add please let m know.

Christmas Holiday Garlands

Red Rose Christmas Garland

White Rose Christmas Garland

What a storm we had last night, so much wind and rain before Christmas!  Ugh!  But today is beautifully bright, clear and sunny.  The sea looks wonderfull with misty trails blowing off the tops of the waves.

Needlefelt brooches for Christmas

Today my photo is of Mr Tiddles, the Black and White needlefelt cat brooch, and Hairy Legs, a hairy legged dog brooch (if you coudn’t have guessed already.  These 2 have been the most popular  needelfelt brooches I have made and sold this year.  Which is pretty good really, as I really love making them.  I have taken on a number of commissions thiis year, but find them really hard to do.  I usually start needlefelting an animal, and it is probably half done when I finally decide what he will be.  For example a white body could become a Foxy Jack Terrier, a Dalmation or even a Westie;  a grey body could develop into a Bouvier or a Hairy Legs; while a black body could be turned into a Black & White cat or a Scottie!  Flat coated, plain coloured, long spindly legged dogs are the most difficult, while at themoment I am trying to improve my animal heads, as they often turn out too small and I have to start all over again, or add a lot more wool to fill out their cheeks and snout.

Last Christmas Fair

I took part in the Merriments Christmas Wonder at Hurst Green last Saturday, which was great fun.  We were lucky with the weather as it turned out sunny and bright, although very cold.  Well only one more market to go for us.  It is on Wednesday 21st December in Tunbridge Wells outside the Town Hall.  Let’s hope the weather shines on us, and that it isn’t too cold or damp.  Last year it snowed, which in its own way was really quite exciting, and lots of lovely people from Tunbridge Wells came out and supported the Christmas market.  Please come back this year!

So Happy Christmas everyone, and please note that I cannot guarantee delivery of any of my work after Friday 16th, so place your orders as soon as you can.

It has become so busy on the run up to Christmas.  Quite exciting really.  I have a few commissions to finish off, and then still more to make before Christmas Eve.  Our Shop – The Dawg’s Biscuits (65 Norman Road, St Leonards-on-Sea) will be open Monday to Saturday, 10am-5.30pm, so please come in and visit Nunovalenki.  Buy something for yourself, and then some really tasty dog treats for your favourite dog.

Christmas Fairs and Markets

The Private View for the Hastings Art Forum, was held on Friday night.  Loads of people, a choir, musicians and even a Punch & Judy Show.  I am exhibiting there until Wednesday 14th.  I have already had to go down and top up my work – which is pretty good really.  Thanks must go to Angela Childs for organising such a wonderful show.  My next outing is on Saturday 10th December at Merriments Gardens in Hurst Green, for a Winter Wonder Market 10.30am – 4pm, organised by Sally Beresford from St Michael’s Hospice.  Not to be missed!  Then my final market will be on Wednesday 21st December 10am-3pm at the Tunbridge Wells special Christmas Market, outside the Town Hall and Theatre.  I hope to see you there.

Last weekend, was also very exciting – 2 days at Gt Dixter House.  My table was in the Great Hall, beside a huge roaring fire and a huge Christmas tree.  Loads of l0vely things on sale, and many lovely people.  Very very enjoyable, and in wonderful surroundings.

Christmas Pudding Brooch

Traditionally last weekend is when a lot of people bake their Christmas cake.  Never wanting to miss out on this glorious day of baking, I did exactly that and baked our Christmas Cake, following the ever trusted Delia Smith recipe.  I have the next 4 weeks to lace it with brandy, and then cover it with marzipan and smother with icing.   Each year I try to do everything in time, so that all is ready before Christmas Eve but invariably icing the cake always seems to get left until the last possible moment.  Oh well!  I’ll post a photo when it is ready – if I have time.

Christmas Fair at Great Dixter

I was busy last Saturday, selling my wares at the Cooden Beech Hotel Christmas Fair.  Great fun, and lots of people.  This coming weekend, I will be at Great Dixter House.  The Christmas Fair runs over Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November, 10am until 4pm.  I have tried to make enough of everything, as well as a few extra Christmassy things, (hence the Chritmas Pudding brooch) including tree decorations and seasonal brooches.  I will be taking as much as I can to Great Dixter, so please come along.  It is always quite exciting venturing into new territory, especially one set is such a lovely setting.

Handfelted Scarf, Silk Flowers on Turquoise

Christmas is coming

As Christmas draws nearer, I know it will be getting colder, and then you will need your scarf or even one of my scarves.  The are made from the softest of merino woll tops, with added mulberry silk.  Some of them are even “nuno” scarves.  They are generally my white scarves, where I have encapsulated a very fine layer of silk between the merino wool, which binds together during the felting process.  Recently I have been making scarves using some of my richer more vibrant colours – turquoise, apple green, cerise and tomato red.  I hope you have had a look at my new web pages.  Last week I photographed more of my work and have now added them to my site.  There are new Scarves, more Corsage and even some additional Needelfelted Brooches.

Christmas Fairs are now starting

I am also gearing up towards the Christmas fairs.  Next Saturday 19th November I will be at the Cooden Beach Hotel, while on the following weekend on the 26th & 27th November I will be at Gt Dixter House.   Then on the 10th I will be at Merriments. So I am going to be busy busy busy making things for Christmas.

Christmas Weather

Let’s hope it doesn’t snow (I don’t think it will anyway, at least not before Christmas), but we have a chaotic climate here in the UK, and anything can happen.  During the really weird weather a couple of weeks again, we even had a tornado type of thing out at sea – a water spout pulling up the seawater.

New Flower Corsage

I am busy up-dating my site at the moment.  The Flower Corsage page has been finished and there are now 6 new corsage ready and waiting for you to take a look.  These corsage are light enough to wear on you cardigan, even though they have volume.  Great Christams presents for the women in your life, or buy one just for you, to brighten up the grey winter days. (Click on here to go to Corsage page)

Scarves for Christmas

I am now working on the Scarves.  The pages are being completely changed, with separate pages for each of the 6 scarves shown.  You now have 3 images of each scarf – one on the tailor’s dummy; a complete scarf elegantly (!?!) placed on a white background and a close-up, showing both the front and back of the scarf.  I hope you like you the new colours.  Great to brighten up the winter months and wonderful presents for the people you love.  They are warm, but light, and until you’ve touched them, you won’t beleive how soft they are.  Customers coming to our shop, are flabbergasted at their softness.  Expecting something solid because they are felted, my scarves have been likened to the feel of cashmere, no less.  It makes me really feel quite proud. (Click here to go to Scarves Page)

Christmas Fair Dates     An up-date on the fairs coming up:

Saturday 19th November *  The Cooden Beach Hotel Christmas Fair, organised by St Michael’s Hospice (right by the beach!)

Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th November * Gt Dixter House Christmas Fair (with it’s fabulous gardens)

2nd – 14th December * Hastings Arts Forum Christmas Show (overlooking the sea)

Saturday 10th December * Merriments Gardens Christmas Fair, organised by St Michael’s Hospice (near Hurst Green)

Wednesday 21st December * Tunbridge Wells Christmas Market 10am-3pm ( by the Town Hall & Theatre)

Every Monday – Saturday * at The Dawg’s Biscuits, 65 Norman Road, st Leonards on Sea

The clocks changing , and nights getting darker earlier are the signs that mean Christmas is getting closer.  Jenna, our Bouvier, takes a few days to work out that feeding times have changed, but that we will still feed her even if it is an hour later.

Christmas Scarves

I’ve been working on scarves again this weekend – I hope you like them.  Great Christmas presents for your friends and family.  Snugly and warm, and oh so soft to touch.  Merino wool is one of the best wools to wear next to you skin, as it allows your skin to breath.  It is fairly simple to wash – not in the washing machine of course.  A gentle hand wash, using  a natural soap; rinse and roll in a towel to absorb excess water, then re-shape ane iron through a cotton hanky.

I must also start upping the number of needlefelt brooches that I make.  I have had couple of commission in, and MUST get them done first.

Another Christmas market

A new Christmas market to add to your list!  I will be at the Tunbridge Wells Special Christmas Market on Wednesday 21st December from 10am until 3pm.  This is situated just outside the Town Hall and Theatre.  Hope to see you there, looking for lost of last minute Christmas bargains.

and a third way to wear your scarf

3 ways to wear your scarf. #1

Newly made felt flowers

I am thinking of Christmas Presents already, both to make and to buy.  My stock of corsage have been running low, so I have been busy over the past week making up the different coloured felt sheets to form into flowers.  As winter is just around the corner, and the nights are drawing in, I gravitate towards richer deeper colours of  purple, red, maroon and cerise.  I have now sewn together the flowers in groups of three, but need to make leaves and tendrils before I can finish them off.

Flower Corsage for Christmas Presents

The flower corsage make ideal Christmas Presents for the women in your life – mothers, sisters, daughters and aunts and you mustn’t forget you wife or girlfriend either.  They are delicate but rich in colour and fabulously brighten up jackets and cardigans on dull cold winter days.  The are also light and easy to wear, and make you feel a million dollars.

I also want to make a few smaller pieces, and I am thinking about holly sprig brooches with berries made of buttons – pictures to follow next week if I am successful.  To tell the truth it does seem very early to think about Christmas Presents, but some people are already stocking up (ho ho ho).