Melissa Haworth of Haworth Handmade and Under Construction made these jams and jellies for her mother in law. I just looove how she packaged them up! Melissa has a lovely blog full of great ideas and is frequently featured on this blog. If you need any great holiday gift ideas besure to check our tutorials from last year-several are from Melissa!

Handmade Parade Founding Member - Shannon Weary

Shannon of Cassowary Jewlery tells us a little bit about herself. Be sure to check out her creations at Handmade Parade!

I'm a Memphis born jewelry designer who started collecting rocks when I was small. I mostly am inspired by my supplies, and I'd like to be a counselor when I'm older.

I'm a nondescript person who likes comics, video games, and reading. I have a soft spot for small children, and nearly 500 movies on my netflix queue.


To see more of Shannon's work please go to her flickr page!

Crescent Maille

Our next designer we want you to meet is Crescent Maille. She describes her business and what inspired her to start her line below:

I've drawn and painted, collaged and sculpted, sewn and photographed all my life. Early last summer I was in the middle of my "circle" phase in painting and drawing, when I was craving something more tactile, a real craft. I somehow stumbled upon photographs of chain maille jewelry on the internet and was immediately intrigued. Circles — and shiny circles to boot. I ordered some beginning bracelet kits online, and as soon as I started making my first bracelet I was totally hooked.

I taught myself traditional weaves one by one. I kept reducing the size of the rings I was using, trying to make pieces with the smallest rings I could manage. There is something really wonderful about the intricacy of a small-gauge weave and how delicate it can be. I work primarily with sterling silver rings — they're pliable but durable, luxurious, with such brilliance; it's metal, but it feels soft to the touch. When crafted to perfection, a sterling silver chain maille bracelet is an amazing thing, mesmerizing as it bends and moves and molds itself to your wrist. It almost feels alive.

As I grew more skilled, I began designing my own pieces, and my own weaves, using the traditional weaves as a starting point — for example, using the Japanese style of weave as a basis for patterns that look like lace; now there are four original patterns in the "Crescent Lace" line. Other original designs include pendants and necklaces, such as the Daisy Chain necklace, which is the Handmade Parade exclusive this month.

Chain maille is a passion and a joy. I think many people have a preconceived notion about chain maille, associating it only with knights in armor and renaissance faires. There's such potential to create jewelry that is totally modern, contemporary — different than any other metalworking technique out there. I hope to help bring about more awareness of the unique beauty of chain maille, and I strive to make jewelry that is as much a pleasure to wear as it is to behold.

Net of Area Thrifty One

Hopefully you have had a chance to head over to the new HP site and peruse the cool that is over there. As promised last week I have our first artists to introduce to you - Net of Area Thrifty One. I love her quirky little stuffies and love love love the clever name of her shop.


Hello, my name is Net. I live in the Channel Islands in the UK. I love scraps of fabric and odd buttons and making them into objects that are beautiful and useful. I am a stay at home mum to my 4 year old boy. When I'm not sewing, I'm tending to my tiny plot of homegrown vegetables, baking bread, or playing hide-and-seek. It's important to me to teach my son that you can achieve a lot with your own two hands, that not everything comes from the high street, wrapped up in plastic.

Area Thrifty One has been simmering in my heart for most of my life, but only recently found a place in the real world. After graduating from art college in London in 2000, with a degree in Fine Art I had various day jobs, including prop maker, scenery painter and florist. I painted in the evenings and exhibited and sold my work for a few years. I slowly stopped painting and started sewing, making quilts and toys for my newly born son. Soon, there was too much stuff cluttering up my home and I started offering a few things for sale, and so Area Thrifty One became a reality.
At the core of my working practice is a belief in not wasting things, in making use of the smallest scraps. I use a lot of patchwork and applique in my plush animals and strive to keep them original and quirky. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, with its own unique combination of fabric patterns and colours, yet with a design simple enough to inspire the imaginings of its new owner. I take extra care over the dolls and plush that are intended as toys for children, I believe that toys should be lovable, squeezable and washable.