Coming up: Drop In & Draw Craft Night Feb 26th

(Taken from Zomblicity issue 5 by Robin Sandiford and Farcreazy Farid)

When was the last time you drew something?

Whether you're a daily doodler, secret sketcher, passionate pencil perfectionist,  marker pen mad or haven't illustrated a thing since you were at school, this month's Drop In & Draw will get you excited about creating pictures that are flat, 3D & experimental.

We've got FOUR fabulous workshops lined up that will get you expressing your inner and outer artist before the night is out, run by five incredibly inspiring arty folk.

Design a comic strip with Farcreazy Farid

 

FF aka Lucky graduated in illustration and has been drawing. doodling and scribbling since he was born! He's collaborated on web comics about zombies and runs an illustration company. He'll be giving you top tips on how to create your own comic scene. 

Supersize sketching with Michail Sionis

Michail is a visual merchandiser from Athens. He has always being moved by colors, shapes and forms. After graduating with a degree in Interior Design he entered the world of fashion to work with Burberry and Vivienne Westwood. 
Last month he learnt to knit with us and this month he'll take you on a journey of epic proportions with an interactive group drawing session which culminates in creating 3D models. Check out the amazing cardboard lighting he designed.

Still life studies with Harriet Smith

Everyone at school does still life - some love it, some hate it, but one thing's for sure, a session with Harriet and you'll be well and truely converted! Thankfully if you do enjoy it you can go back as Harriet runs a weekly art class on Mondays at the Rosemary Branch pub up the road. 

Harriet will be introducing you to the wonderful world of sketching and drawing from observation.

Experimental collaging with Libby Vickers and Jmebot

Libby Vickers

Jmebot

James and Libby are both professional illustrators who specialise in colourful, graphicy, experimental work so we're handing over the reigns of our Collage Corner to them...they'll be showing you do to draw using mixed media.

And if that wasn't enough we've got our Knit & Knatter spot, where our knitwit experts will teach anyone who doesn't know how to knit, or needs a refresher, how to work the needles.

Join in any of the above sessions for free or bring along your own projects to work on.

We also have a mini craft market where you can buy handmade goodies. This month we're joined by 
Meko Creations

Meko means soft in Bulgarian and that is what Vasilena's creations are like - small animals, warm hats and scarves or colourful jewellery. 

She learned how to crochet four years ago  from You Tube and has not stop since then. Check out her gorgeous work and she'll also show you how she does it. 

Everyone is welcome to join us, whether it's popping in on your own or with a group of friends. 

Take that person you fancy on a date with a difference, invite work colleagues to get together and do something away from the office or simply turn up to unwind and hang out with  lovely friendly people.

We've got the tunes thanks to our fab DJs Spinning Yarns, a bar all to ourselves and lots of comfy seating too.

It's the perfect way to while away the last Tuesday of February.

Find us at The Hackney Attic (5th floor Hackney Picturehouse) from 7.30pm-11pm, drop in and draw with us anytime you can xx

January's Nifty New Year Craft Night Highlights

At January's craft night, we had boys learning to knit with help from a lovely lady...

and girl's learning to cross-stitch with help from a rather fine gentleman.

While over in the Collage Corner we had boys AND girls cutting,sticking, drawing, pasting, designing and glittering...just how we like it!

Our special guests this month were stitch guru Mr X Stitch and Material Girl Perri Lewis, pictured here with The Make Escape's Momtaz and Becky. 

For the uninitiated, Perri is one of the most exciting, inspiring and influential crafters currently in the UK. Her book Material World features gorgeous and unique projects like stamp covered shoes and she's also written countless craft articles in the mainstream press ensuring the word of craft gets the recognition it deserves. 
Her blog is recommended by Channel 4 and you may even have spotted her guesting on daytime TV. Perri brought along a huge pile of fabrics, and ran a session in sewing keyrings that use up scrap, odds and ends to prove you don't need money to make stuff.

And here is one of her workshoppers with her final creation, made from actual Liberty print fabric! Wow!

Meanwhile at the other end of the room, Make Escape records were being broken. At one point celebrity man embroiderer Mr X Stitch had 25 people stitching his motifs at once - the most popular session we've ever had! 

He travelled into London just to be with us and did he get some loving in return or what?!

The girls were mesmerised! Here are some of the proud workshoppers with their stitchy masterpieces.

Regular Make Escape fans Ponting, Zak, Aiyaz, Delwar and Nasrin swapped their usual collaging to also try some needle action.

While newbie Make Escapees got deep in sparkly papers and felt tip pens, collaging like crazy.

Our Collage Corner is legendary! It's stocked with papercrafts goodies and anyone who comes to The Make Escape has free reign to make whatever they want with the materials.

We also ask that if you've got spare stuff at home like used wrapping paper, unwanted sweet wrappers, foil etc, you bring it along to add into the mix!

Suzi, whose just joined our crafty collective of Make Escape volunteers created a beautiful fish. She's going to help us ensure our night stays great and keeps getting better and better, YAY!

Elsewhere on the table, this masterpiece was created but it was anonymous & left behind. 

We're looking after it, if it's yours come back and get it this month!

 

Now this really was impressive stuff, actually jewellery was made in the Collage Corner - gorgeous shiny bangles made from card, fabric and gems.

Plus some ribbon weaving. This is what our free craft night is about, giving people a chance to get in touch with their creative side. Once you start, you never know what you'll come up with!

We like to think of The Make Escape as an Open Craft Night, in other words you can come along and do whatever you like, whether that's using our materials and doing a workshop or bringing something from home to do. This month two jewellery designers joined us, both who had some projects to do that they never quite get around to doing. 
This lovely girl brought along her broken jewellery to fix.

We also had our first birthday do! Teanne chose to celebrate her 30th by crafting! Hip hip hooray! 
(And made a rather snazzy hairband!)
We are also pleased to announce that we now have a regular Knit & Knatter spot where we'll have experts every month who will show you how to knit. All you need to do is turn up and say hello to them - we have the needles, yarns and everything!

Here's two more of the Knit & Knatter tutors!

The Make Escape is run on a voluntary basis so we're always after any support we can get. We were delighted that Zoe from Craft Candy who supports us by listing our nights for free on their amazing website was able to finally drop by and say hello.

If you've not heard of or visited Craft Candy it's a resource everyone should know about. It's the only site in the UK that lists craft activities, workshops, groups etc so wherever you are you can find something to do. Their app is coming soon, we'll keep you updated, in the meantime check out the site!

Our resident DJs Spinning Yarns (who were missing 1 member for some of the night, i.e. when this photo was taken!) treated us to some top tunage. 

If you've ever wondered what our Craft Night sounds like, check out their You Tube playlist.

  Finally here's some really amazing news that we are so excited to share. Our first proper press coverage, a little article about us in local newspaper Hackney Today. 

 YAY!

Thank you to everyone who came to our January Craft Night. 

SEE YOU ON FEBRUARY 26th FOR NEXT EVENT: OUR FIRST EVER

 'DROP-IN & DRAW'

Free Spring Craft Nights 2013!

Diaries out!

This is what we've got coming up!

Spread the word and please join us!

As ever our craft nights are free and open to all!

Coming up: Nifty New Year - Jan 29th

One thing every one has in common in January is that no one has any money but don't let that be an excuse to stay indoors. London is bursting with things to do, one of which is our monthly craft night. You won't find such a fun and friendly gathering anywhere else in the capital, especially on a school night. (These smiling faces say it all!)
Every month we give you the tools, space and inspiration to make, take and create. Come alone, bring friends, invite someone you fancy on an 'alternative' date, arrange to meet a family member, have a work evening out or just escape from normality and get in touch with your creative side.

JOIN US!
We start the year on a high - whether you're a craft convert or yet to be convinced, you will love January's special guests aka the Superman and Wonder Woman of the UK craft scene!

Presenting Mr X Stitch
The most famous man-broiderer in the world, Jamie Chalmers (his other name) has changed the whole meaning of the word Stitch. 
He's a regular in the press...you may have caught him on the telly or seen him looking 'hard' in The Metro, is an official Crafty Avenger helping to save the globe through crafting, runs an incredibly inspiring blog, makes beautiful work and is super friendly and lovely.

Whether you're already nifty with the needle or have never picked one up, Mr X Stitch will introduce you into the marvellousness that is hand-embroidery. 
You'll be able to create your own sampler to take home as he shows you how to stitch your 'February resolutions'.

 

Get ready for Perri
Whatever you've heard about Perri is totally true!

She's the sweetest, loveliest, friendliest, crafty girl in the land and her book Material World was the most anticipated craft book of 2012. In it she's interviewed the most influential people behind British craft from paper cutter Rob Ryan to ceramic star Emma Bridgewater and she show's you how to make amazing things like stamp covered shoes.

The original Material Girl will be joining us running a workshop to make your own keyring using recycled scrap fabrics...don't believe what they tell you in the craft mags, you don't need to spend lots of money to make stuff. 
At The Make Escape we like to promote DIY on the smallest budget possible with the most splendid of results!

Knit one, purl one
In our new Knit & Knatter corner experts will be on hand to show you how to knit, so if it's your new year's resolution to give the needles a go, there's no better place to get it underway. Or bring along a project you're working on and click together.

Collage Corner
No visit to The Make Escape would be complete without a spot of cutting and sticking. Our regular collage corner is packed with paper, card, glue, sequins, stickers, felts...whatever you need to express yourself through art...perhaps even make your own 2013 calendar?

Music on the night is provided by our in-house DJs Spinning Yarns who like to theme the tracks for the night...can't wait to see what they've found for January!

We've got a fully stocked bar plus there's grub downstairs so you won't go hungry!

Drop in any time you can between 7.30pm-10.30pm, you'll need to pick up a ticket from the box office to get access but it's FREE entry and FREE to take part...

All in all the perfect night.

See you there xxx 

Highlights from our Christmas Craft-A-Thon!

Santa without a beard, but the owner of a hairy chest? It's all possible when you make your own Christmas cards which is exactly what we go up to at this month's Make Escape Craft Night at The Hackney Attic.

The great thing about making your own cards is that they can be as experimental as you like. This crafty fan made a four-page mini-book-turned-card with a printed velvet lining. It's amazing what treasures uncover in our scrap fabric box!

Elsewhere we were delighted to be joined by needle felter Susanne Wallis (whose new book The Beginner's Guide to Needle Felting is out now!)

She led a session on needle felting your own Christmas pudding...yum!

In the Maker's Market we were thrilled to be joined by the gorgeous Sheree A Robinson who makes beautiful hand-knitted accessories. She also ran a workshop on how to make the biggest, fluffiest pom poms ever! Now, we would love a Christmas Tree covered in those!

Two other fabulous ladies that joined us were Marcia (aka Got Big Hoop) from SE London craft collective The Funky Fibres (they meet Mondays at the Lord Northbrook pub) and the lovely Jemma from Le Shit Chic Boutique who sells fun, quirky jewellery using wire and kitschy things like dolls shoes. Check out her fabulous on-line store to browse and buy!

Sisters Zoe and Teanne got down to some serious wire work making tree decorations.

Teanne curled up some spectacular wire holly berries.

While these bells made by Jemma are going straight onto Zoe's tree!

The boys were back! In the Man's Craft Corner they got sticking and stitching.

Pat whipped up a rather fabulous ginger bread decoration.

 While Alice one third of our resident DJs The Spinning Yarns proved a girl can crochet while changing tracks.

At The Make Escape you can join in our activities or bring along your own. It's the perfect place to have a cuppa and catch up on your knit as these ladies did. And if you don't know how to knit fear not, from January we're going to have a regular Knit & Knatter spot where they'll always be someone to show you how!

For those who wanted a hand with crafting we provided all the materials and sparkles you needed to make your own stocking.

  Like this masterpiece.

And gave you shimmering papers to make your own gift bows.

 

Always great to see crafters dressed for the occasion. We couldn't take our eyes off this sweet santa sweater.

If we were giving our prizes, the best-dressed would of gone to Purple Claire... her bejewelled dress was spectacular while her necklace was one she made earlier!

Here are some of the spectacular creations that were sold at The Funky Fibres stall.

 And for anyone who had caught the craft bug so much they wanted to spread the love, The Craft Closet were on stand by selling their 'as bought by Gok Wan' craft kits.

And here are The Craft Closet ladies - you may recognise The Make Escape's Becky who is one half of the Closet.

 

 Well it wouldn't be Christmas without a mince pie! Momtaz having a break from taking the snaps!

Thank you to everyone who came down to our Christmas Craft-A-Thon!
We're back next year with more fantastic craft nights, starting with our Nifty New Year 'money-saving craft special' on January 29th.

We'd like to leave you with one of the choice cuts from The Spinning Yarns.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!