Professional Documents
Culture Documents
#1
We celebrate:
6 Pica Picks
7 Carrot Cupcakes
8 The Letterpress Queen
Interview with Aina Bergerud
11 Fire Starter
12 Make a Stand
Investigating Craftivism
17 Riverboat Love Affair
23 Pretty Little Bird
Interview with Anke Weckmann
27 What's Going On?
Join the dots
28 The Devil’s in the Detail
Copycat craft
31 Drawn In
The Scribble Project
33 Curiouser and Curiouser
Journey down the rabbit hole
34 Tied Up in Notts
Pica Pica city guide
36 A Day at the Races!
A fascinator instructional
38 Craft Britannia
UK clubs and collectives
42 Kawaii 101
A lesson in cute
45 Love is in the Air
48 Felt Up
50 Je Suis un Oignon
A plush project to make you cry
53 Kate’s Aviary
Colour it in
54 Pica Pica Wants You!
Cover competition results
56 Reviews
We’d like to thank our contributors for their wonderful work, Desmond O’Rourke,
David Penfold and Keith Martin for their continual support and guidance
throughout this project, Tony Yard, Scott House, Jim McBride and Robert Saints
from the LCC print team for helping bring our vision to life and all those great
folks who’ve championed us through Facebook and Twitter.
Ed
r
i l la
Cat M
Elen
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ia g
Pr
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ion Director
er
tor
r ec
s on A r t Directo
ohn
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gn
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es in
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K athrin My r va n g
B
n a g er
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obus Editor s Ma
tion
a A
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om
eb
Pr
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in
ar ke t
Gillian Harris M
cat: ‘Because...
well just look at
its wee face!’
Yum my donut pl
ush
sucker
by Heidi Ken ne
y m arie: ‘I’m a
in gs , an d
kidrobot.com for corny th
a ve this!’
just had to h
Edwar d C u llen
by M an llow
t to me’ etsy.com
n ec k la ce just calls ou s
his y She Draw
nata lie: ‘T Neck lace b
g e P h on e
Vinta
k ari.co.uk
hanna hza
el l
rr
a Co
!!’ mm
c ry! Ge
y by
I ma b a g
MG ugs
:y ‘O t dr k
ck o .u
be gs n f.co
elena: P u z y oa
‘How to be animal-friendly without la
renouncing the thrill of an animal
around the neck’
Fantastic Mr. Scarf by
ohioja.blogspot.com
:
gilli a n
e tt in g
es g
c a u s e n o one lik pped!’
‘Be s tra
their arm Snugg ie
g ie.com
getsnug
belinda:
me
’s just like
‘Because it ister’
and my m lancuch a
pr int y B
b kathrin:
e s e c r e t
Th ‘Because cups should be cute’
etsy.com
Handleless cups with oak lids
by Sandra Isaksson
isak.co.uk
Pica Pica’s Gillian and Cat met Aina Bergerud on a To start with the basics, what is letterpress? Basically every
Saturday morning bright and early. They were told that single letter is individual. So, to actually set a word you
she was a morning person, which worked well for Gillian need to physically put them together. There are different
because she is one as well! Even if they hadn’t known blocks and brakes, different names like leads, rulers and
she loved mornings, they would have assumed so from furniture. There are different sizes and measurements.
her bubbly personality and passionate conversation. As You have to put them all together into a form that doesn’t
publishing students immersed in the evolution from move. If it moves, it’s not a very good print. Sometimes
print to digital, Aina and her letterpress is a refreshing things don’t turn out how you want, so you have to move
look at print as art. the type and try again. I always take a picture of my prints
so I can keep a record of how each one looks physically.
Fire Starter
About Materials
This dragon is for your little sister, or for your girlfriend, Toilet roll tube
or for your father who just doesn’t understand! Scissors
Sticky tape
words and images by geoff webb Your choice of paper
Print out the template (picapicamag.co.uk/tp- Remember to cut out the tabs on the template to
dragon). Try sketching it out in small form first – cut help with gluing, folding and taping. I’d recommend
1
it out and try folding it to see if the dimensions are
working. If not, you can tweak them for the real
3 colouring the paper with watercolour pencils before
you cut out the individual pieces. Draw the head so
thing. You might find that even with the real thing, that you can fold it into shape with the help of some
you’ll have to make more folds in order to make it tape.
work.
The back legs look the same as the forelegs, but bigger
Think profile! What do you want your dragon to look so as to elevate the hips more angled towards the rear.
like from the side? While a 3D head is cool, most 4 Make the top tabs larger to curl over the body. Fold
2 people don’t mind if their dragons have flat limbs the feet down so the ankles are kind of springy like
that look good from the side (as long as they hold up accordions.
the body!)
Wrap paper around the toilet paper roll to make the
5 body and tape it all together. You can decorate with
spikes on the back, or wings or anything that takes
your fancy. There you have it! Taadaa!
Make a Stand
Delve a little deeper into the UK craft scene and it soon becomes clear
that many of those involved are seeking to create change and promote
awareness for issues that are often ignored. Wanting to find out more
about this underground movement, Pica Pica sent journalist DK
Goldstein on a mission to find out what it means to be a craftivist.
words by dk goldstein
pictures by carrie reichardt and sarah corbett
Remember the days when an -ism wasn’t a flashing these never leave the lips lightly, and when they do those
beacon of trepidation but something to cushion your lips mean serious business. It’s difficult not to see them
beliefs like a mollifying hug? Socialism, communism, shrouded in social awkwardness, so for craft to amalga-
veganism, even fascism, was something that was going mate with activism under the guise of craftivism is a bold
to save us at one point or another, something to take com- step, especially when activism is seen as confrontational
fort in. If you weren’t happy with a dose of bolshevism by the unapprised.
you’d whack on some Mussolini, he’d sort you out with Originally coined in 2002 by the Goldsmiths graduate
an -ism better fitted to your liking. But nowadays we’re and craft queen, Betsy Greer when her friend combined
drowned in despondent -isms – sexism, racism, ageism – two common words in Greer’s vocabulary, the term
oms
t ment ro
t he t rea
reichar dt at wo
rk
:
k out
chec a r dt.com om
ic h e.c
ier e cti v A ba nner from
ca r r t-col l e the Renega de
Potters
i v is an d Ex treme
c ra f t Craf t ex hibi ti
on
Craf ti vist Co
ll ec ti ve’s
m in i protest
tool case
What was it about the UK that attracted you to come and study It was surreal to see my work
here? I decided that I wanted to live in England when I was in print for the first time.
about 12 years old. I just loved learning the language and And a little anti-climatic,
probably had a very romanticised idea I got from films because it never quite looks
and books. Years later I was studying fashion design in like you imagined.
Germany and was very unhappy, so I thought – it’s now or
never. It was the best decision I ever made. Where do you do your work? What does your desk look like on
an average day? I work from home, which I love. I have
Do you think it’s important to be somewhere like London, two big tables that get ridiculously messy when I work, no
as a creative place, or could you work anywhere? matter how many times I tidy them up…
Theoretically as an illustrator you could work from any-
where, as long as you have everything you need to create Is there one piece that stands out in your portfolio that sums
your work. I definitely feel some sort of ‘vibe’ in London. you up as an illustrator or that you are most proud of?
I can work much better here than from my parents’ house No, not really. Whenever I finish an illustration I’ve
for example, which is in a very small town. already moved to the next thing in my head.
Were you very arty at school – what other things were you We know time is an issue for any freelance artist, but do you
interested in? I always really liked drawing, although the do any other crafting in your spare time? I like knitting, it’s
art classes at school weren’t always very good, which I nice to knit while watching a movie. Sometimes I think of
found frustrating. I was always really good at English, sewn projects for my Etsy shop, but there’s never enough
and I liked maths. time for those. I really want to make a quilt this year, I
hope I can find the time for it.
If you weren’t working as an illustrator what else do you think
you’d be doing? I really don’t know, I think illustration is What advice would you give to any budding artist or crafter
perfect for me. In another life I would like to be a dancer, looking to break into the world of freelance? I think you have
I think it must be amazing. (I don’t have any talent for it to really, really want it, work very hard and have a lot of
in this life). patience.
’
‘too cool for school
up ran ge de sig ne d
ma ke
rea)
for toda costa (ko
a n ke’s
inspira
t ion bo
a r d!
if it happens to you…
Stay calm and gather evidence Think before you act
The first thing you might want to do is write a hysterical Think twice before reaching for the ‘submit’
email, Tweet about it or shout it from the rooftops. But, button. Heading a revenge campaign at the early
first things first, take screenshots! stages of a dispute could potentially harm your
First contact case.
Be nice and send a friendly email. Show them your Find out more
evidence and request that the offending item is removed own-it.org
from their website and from sale immediately. Back up creativecommons.org
all correspondence, be the bigger person and don’t let it ipo.gov.uk
ruffle your feathers! youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com
Oppy, aka Lisa Currie, is a young doodling whipper- In 2009, the project grew and grew in popularity and
snapper fuelled by pure instinct and plenty of guacamole! became something of a phenomenon amongst the online
Straight out of illustration school, her work is charmingly illustration community – everyone from Caitlin Shearer
bright and bold – defined by her use of vivid colour, thick to Gemma Correll wanted a piece of the scribbling action.
pen and ink, wild patterns and geometric textures. As It now represents a real community project for anyone
just a little Oppy from Melbourne, Lisa dreamed of run- with restless fingers and an untamed imagination.
ning her own magazine to bring creative minds together. The breadth of the Scribble Project continues to
Thinking up new ways to get in touch with people all over expand – no longer limited to the biographical sheets
the world and avoid any scary face-to-face contact, she that made it infamous, the ‘Big Team Scribble’ encour-
fell upon the idea of using ‘scribble sheets’ to collaborate aged submissions for a super totem pole doodle. Over 100
with others. scribblers assembled the final totem pole and a small
Put simply by Lisa herself, “a scribble sheet is an A4 portion of it can be seen in the January 2010 issue of
page of simple shapes and words that encourage bio- Anorak Magazine.
graphical doodling”. The first sheets were posted out to This year, Lisa is creating an extraordinarily long
her favourite illustrators, with the initial plan of making doodle train, with each scribble representing a train
a zine from their handiwork. Lisa was so blown away by carriage. Submissions have already closed, but keep
the results that she set up a blog and now that she could an eye on the Scribble Project website to buy a limited
share the doodles with others… the Scribble Project was edition ‘Big Team Scribble’ colouring-in zine, with all
born! profits going to Unicef.
“Exaketededly, what
is your problem?” and
Curiouser
by Love Hearts and Crosses
loveheartsandcrosses.co.uk
craf
city ty
guid
e
Tied Up in Notts
Ey up me duck! This is Nottingham – a city as famous for creativity as
it is for Robin Hood, Brian Clough and the annual Goose Fair. It’s a trip
down memory lane for our Art Director as Pica Pica takes you on a journey
through Nottingham’s crafty side.
words by belinda johnson
illustrations by jo want / hello-sunshine.co.uk
Apples and Pears and Kathleen & Lily’s Lee Rosy’s Tea Shop
Crafty Wares Sewing witches Rachael and Jenna fight the If you need a quiet corner to
This monthly arts market, run war against the mundane at the headquarters relax (and knit) in or catch an
by textile collective curiosity. of Kathleen & Lily’s, selling vintage and intimate show from a local band,
haus, is doing wonders for the customised clothing, hand crafted jewellery then Lee Rosy’s sounds like your
reputation of the city’s east and accessories sourced both locally and cup of tea. Offering probably
side! From work by established further afield. Also, look out for their Sewing the widest range of loose-leaf
designers to local students and Magic stall offering: alterations, mending teas you’ll see outside of London
graduates - you’ll find a huge and customising at the regular Affordable and delicious homemade treats
range of clothing, papercraft, Vintage Fashion Fair (vintagefair.co.uk). daily – 10am till late. A pot of
accessories, jewellery, prints and 205 Mansfield Road Green Tea Blue Sky and a slice
textiles on sale here. kathleenandlilys.co.uk of chocolate cheesecake come
4th Saturday of every month. highly recommended (you can
Sneinton Market, Gedling Street thank me later).
(they do crop up in other places too!)
17 Broad Street
applesandpearsandcraftywares.
lee-rosy.co.uk
blogspot.com
the Races!
About Materials
Last year I attended a birthday party at the Hastings horse track. Living in Headband
Vancouver, BC, going to the horse races is hardly an affair to dress up for, at least Felt (heavy-weight)
not normally, but this time was different. Everyone was told to dress to the nines Tulle
with Royal Ascot as the theme. I decided to go all out. Using pictures of headpieces Feathers
and hats from the Royal Ascot as my inspiration I created a turquoise and purple Fabric
‘fascinator’ to match the floral dress I planned to wear. This project started out Ribbon
simple enough with some feathers and tulle, but grew into one heck of a headpiece Hot glue gun
and was a huge hit at the party! Here are my steps to make a fascinator, so find Scissors
some inspiration and make your own. Hand sewing needle and thread
Styrofoam head mannequin
words and pictures by christine nairne (optional)
Find your inspiration, theme, colours and supplies If you want to create a veil, cut a section of tulle and
1 (feathers/flowers/buttons/bows). 4 let it hang over the edge of the felt piece, glue it down
first with a slight gather to create a nice shape.
Use a headband that works with your colour scheme
or cover one with ribbon. To do this simply put a dot Start gluing down your feathers, flowers, fabric,
2 of hot glue at the end of one side of the headband to
attach the ribbon, then wrap it tightly around the 5 buttons and whatever else you want onto your felt
piece. I recommend starting at the edges and
headband at a slight angle and use a dot of glue at the working towards the center.
other end to secure the ribbon in place.
The flowers are made by cutting five circles out of
Cut a felt piece and glue it on to your headband. your fabric of choice and folding the circles into
This will be the base for all of the fabulous feathers 6 quarters, then tacking them together at the folded
and tulle you will be attaching to your headband. point. They are now ready to be glued onto your
The size of the felt piece all depends on how big headband.
3 or small you want your head piece to be. I suggest
wearing your headband while you decide where to To make the fancy feathers like I did in my first
place the felt piece and marking it with a pin. If you fascinator, tear the barbs of the feather down the
are not using a head mannequin you might want to 7 shaft leaving only a small clump at the end. Trim the
wait to glue the felt piece on at the end so it is easier end into the desired shape, or leave it as is for a more
to decorate. Or you can use the back of a chair to rest natural look.
your headband on while you work on it.
Once your felt piece is totally covered, you’re done!
8 Voila!
36 pica pica magazine
HEADBAND
:
ion a l
t r uc t o w n !
i n a t or ins y o u r
a f a sc e
o mak
how t
l ea r n
What do you do? Encourage people to What do you do? UK DIY is a window on a movement.
take up crafting and pass on skills. We It started in Autumn 2005 when I realised so much was
meet regularly to share, inspire, start, happening with subversive/DIY contemporary crafts
continue or finish any type of craft in the US and wondered why it wasn’t so apparent in the
project. We encourage each other and UK. The original work in 2005/06 was to research DIY
challenge ourselves with projects. contemporary crafts across the UK, which I received
Inspiration: There was no group like a grant for. My aim was that the research would then
this in my area and I wanted to stop lead on to a series of events, projects and exhibitions to
traditional crafts from dying out. showcase what was happening the UK, and the potential
it had. A curator in my area was also really interested
in the project so paid me to work the research up into
an exhibition with other galleries in the North West of
Craft Guerrilla England, and makers across the UK. Currently, we run
Walthamstow, East London the blog which keeps the research and documentation
craftguerrilla.com
going. It’s different from other contemporary craft blogs
What do you do? We’re a craft collective as we look at the theory and context of things – the why
made up of trained artists, craftspeople and as well as the what and where. In that way it continues the
self-taught crafters. We hold impromptu research and isn’t just a bulletin board.
craft events which include monthly DIY craft Inspiration: A passion for showing that the UK can and
nights in pubs and monthly craft markets. is competing in contemporary craft on an international
We’ve also hosted Crafternoons, swishing level.
events and a Craftea Party.
Aims: Our aim is to share, teach and spread
the enthusiasm for original, handmade
objects as well as teach forgotten household
crafts like darning and mending. This is not
restricted to the creative community and
includes the general public and local com-
munity. As a collective we aim to share our
web traffic, experience, ethos and knowledge
with our members but we also aim to serve as Stitch By Stitch
a facilitator. We greatly encourage people to Southsea, Hampshire
tinyurl.com/stitchbystitch
work together with other craft groups to start
up their own localised craft guerrillas. Aims: To build a community that is involved in
Inspiration: It was a question of wanting continuing crafts that are becoming obsolete, having
something done and the only way to do it was fun, and playing with this medium.
to do it yourself! Another reason was the fact Inspiration: I’m only 25 and I dress like an old lady
that there are many web based communities and so I thought it would only be fitting to match my
but an actual community where people met, pinstripe stockings with knitting needles! I believe
socialised and made, was something we in make do and mend and because of this knitting has
didn’t have in the area. always been a skill that I wanted to learn. I decided
to teach myself and soon realised there were many
like-minded people that also wanted to learn.
What do you do? Contemporary knitting and Aims: To encourage people to shop locally and directly
crochet installations. from the artist or craftsperson rather than paying
Aims: To use traditional knitting and crochet inflated prices in posh boutiques.
techniques in contemporary visual arts projects, Inspiration: 2008’s economic downturn, which is still
to promote the diversity and versatility of knit- reverberating, made a lot of people turn to alternative
ting and crochet as a medium, and at the same and more rewarding ways to make a living. Craft Crunch
time explore ways to make art accessible through was set up to attempt to promote these people as well as
participatory making and collaborative exchange. other more established artists.
Inspiration: After running a knitting club for a
year and seeing how much community engagement
this could bring, I decided I should use my love of
knitting and crochet in art projects that would ben-
efit the local communities and pass on my skills.
UK Handmade
UK wide
ukhandmade.co.uk/magazine
What do you do? We’re a community of local art- to market and promote craft in the region, to support
ists and makers. We work together to showcase our other local independent groups and businesses and to
members work and arrange exciting events to remind inspire a whole new generation to pick up their pens,
Nottingham of its huge creative art scene. Nottingham felt, knitting needles, thread or whatever they fancy to
Craft Mafia is part of the larger Craft Mafia familia create something new, unique and handmade.
founded in Austin, Texas. It serves as a model for Inspiration: We realised that there was a gap in the
independent business owners to assemble with others alt-craft scene for people of various design back-
in their own communities to amplify their vision grounds to get to know one another and collaborate on
through the power of a collective. projects – specifically in the handmade arena. We felt
Aims: To bring like-minded makers and artists we could create the right environment for this to occur
together, to share a wealth of expertise and experi- and happily we’ve seen many collaborations since
ence, helping each other turn hobbies into careers, then!
Purr-fect!
Bright pink? Check!
Kittens frolicking? Check!
This passes the cute test
with flying colours!
lazyoaf.co.uk
Wolf like me
Stay ahead of the pack with
this sweeter take on the
ironic wolf t-shirt craze.
lazyoaf.co.uk
If you’ve been paying attention at any number of the What is Love to Print? Love to Print is a collaborative
handmade and indie craft fairs that have been taking project which involves printing various multiples to sell
place around the country this past year or so, chances or use for self-promotion. Basically it’s a means for me
are you’ll have encountered Love to Print, or at least one to produce new work on a regular basis. Working with
of the artists involved. With gorgeous screen printed others has its drawbacks, it is time-consuming but also
and Gocco printed cards, postcards and prints, Pica Pica has the advantages of shared costs and the potential to
became besotted with them and their ideals of mutual reach a wider audience.
collaboration and co-operation. We caught up with
illustrator Karoline Rerrie, original conceiver of Love to
Print and member of sister project Girls Who Draw.
Little Maki
… Salmon
by scru m Rol
ption sdeli l Felt Pencil Case up Set
ato Ketch
etsy.com g ht by Roiscroix Bout ique ip s, Pea s and Tom re s
rs, C h Sculp tu
folksy.com Fish Finge ecycled Felt Food
of R is h c r e a mtea
by br it m
etsy. c o
Penguin w
ith re
by a llth in d scarf
g ssm a ll
etsy.com
n
Felt Crow ra fts
C o tt a g eC
by Misty y.com
folk s
rooch
ox Felt B
10 Pink F f birdsshop
oxo
by theb .com
etsy
Be careful!
He could
make
you cry!
Rather a chestnut?
Just change the colour
and turn that frown
upside down!
felt
stuffing
3. Glue the separate sides of the 4. Begin sewing the two body
sticky arms and legs together but leave pieces together but stop when you
glue (look the very top parts unstuck. reach the arm.
for a fabric tape
bonding
glue)
strong
thread
(white and
white wool
50 pica picapurple)
magazine
Patterns x2
x2
50% * 50%
x4
We were blown away by the quality and variety of every submission and
the fantastic level of support each artist has shown for our little magazine
project from London. These are our five favourite runners up but there are
many more available for closer inspection on our website.
Our overall winner was Stephanie Baxter, whose work graces the cover of
this issue. We felt her adorable composition reflected Pica Pica’s values and
perfectly illustrated the diversity of new wave of craft in the UK. Stephanie
lives in Leeds and works under the name Steph Says Hello.
She loves drawing happy things, cats, drinking tea and of course, crafting.
Love independent design? Maybe I’m one of those people that buy
this book was made (and sold) for other people presents I secretly
you! Made & Sold is a collection want. So when I was Christmas
of the self-initiated projects of shopping for my brother and
over 90 designers, artists and spotted this book, I had a
illustrators. It was put together REALLY good look through it
by Fl@33, a London based design studio at the forefront before reluctantly handing it over
of the scene. From super collectible vinyl toys, to the on Christmas day. I’d never heard of Mike Perry before,
humble t-shirt, to out there furniture designs, over but since turning page after page of seriously colourful
500 products are displayed. Another nice touch are the and sometimes just downright demented doodles, I
quotes from each artist, which discuss how the designers could now be considered a fan. The concept of the book is
feel about commissioned versus independent work, their simple, “Cut, Iron, Flaunt.” One might question the crea-
relationship with clients and their thoughts on designing tive input in this process, but the fact that the transfers
products. The book could have delved into this subject can be ironed on pretty much any kind of fabric and the
further and it might have made it seem a little more inclusion of numerous pattern pages to cut your own
substantial in terms of content. As is, it’s a good start- shapes from means this problem is sidestepped neatly.
ing point if you enjoy things that are well designed, get If I did meet someone who had used the transfers in the
excited by limited edition runs and are hungry for more. exact same way as I had, it would have to be considered
If you are a designer, there’s plenty in here to inspire a as some kind of awesome cosmic event that would render
myriad of ways to promote your work on your terms and us bro’s for life. Speaking of bro’s, turned out mine loved
make a bit of extra cash in the process, so get making and this book as much as I did, and as luck would have it
selling! (CM) someone who obviously knows me very well indeed got
me it for Christmas too! (CM)
How to make a pleated skirt:
An instruction book by Knit, Purl, Save the World:
DIYcouture Knit and Crocher Projects for
Rosie Martin Eco-friendly Stitchers
(DIYcouture, £9.00) Vickie Howell & Adrienne Armstrong
(David & Charles, £14.99)
This pleated skirt how-to is
just one instalment in a series Find out how you can help the
which features other basic and environment through your
versatile items. Without the hobby using sustainable and
sometimes complex and pre- eco-friendly yarns. With 31
scriptive instructions of shop bought patterns, Martin’s projects there’s bound to be something that takes your
highly visual style will guide you through the process, fancy. Whilst I’m not sure you’ll quite be saving the
demonstrating how to tailor the skirt to your own world, it’s probably a stitch in the right direction. (NR)
measurements. Beautifully produced and brimming with
inspiration, think of this book as part of an investment
in a whole new, handmade couture wardrobe. (NR)
Lapin & Me
Home of super kitsch bags,
purses and achingly cute
stationery. You can buy
online or swing by their
Going Loopy
shop at 14 Ezra Street,
just off Columbia Road,
London.
lapinandme.co.uk