Welcome to the Indie Quarter!

An exciting opportunity has arisen for six small designer / makers to exhibit at the Knitting & Stitching Show in London, Harrogate and Dublin with Craft Guerrilla.

Interested? You will need to apply by mid March by submitting photos of your work and a few words about what this opportunity would mean to you and your craft business. Successful applicants will be asked to undergo a short interview via phone or email and samples will be requested. Winners will be announced by May.

For further details go to www.craftguerrilla.com.

I’m a little behind this week as you might have gathered. I’ve got lots to share, starting with a reminder that Didsbury Vintage and Craft Fair is back tomorrow, with fashion and accessories from 1920 – 1989.

What: Didsbury Vintage and Craft Fair
When: Saturday 20 Feb - 10 ’til 4
Where: Emmanuel Hall, behind Didsbury Library on Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury Village, M20 6TR
More Info: www.kennedymccall.wordpress.com

About to start preparing a romantic meal with my husband.  I know what I said about Valentine’s Day but I have entered into the spirit of things.

Have a great day everyone.

Pic via iStockphoto.  Just because . . . .

PS Checkout Susannah’s pretty desktop wallpaper. It’s free to download.

Button up, it’s cold again. It looks as though we’re in for another bout of snow this week.

I found this versatile scarf from Rhea Clements.  It’s warm enough to be worn as a winter scarf and a nifty loop allows easy conversion to a pretty wrap.  Knitted from 100% bamboo tape, this scarf can be worn all year round.

It costs $32 (approx £20). Buy from www.rheaclements.etsy.com.

This is a movie clip for the New Zealand Book Council. I love how the story comes alive and peels off the page. I wonder how long it took the talented book sculptor to create this? It’s just lovely.

Via Ness Donnelly’s blog.

I don’t like Valentine’s Day. There, I’ve said it. It’s not the romance that I have a problem with. It’s the whole contrived nature of the day. I don’t like to be told that I have to be romantic on this day or that day. For me love and romance should be much more spontaneous.

But anyway, no doubt when the day comes I’ll get on board. And gifts are always good. Here are a few romantic presents that caught my eye.

All You Need is Love Hand Printed Card - £2.99 from Bonbi Forest

Antique Patterned Cold Enamel Bangle - $59 (approx £37) from Style River

Forget Me Not Dish - $17 (approx £11) from Prince Design UK

Limited Edition Blue Heart Print - $25 (approx £16) from Beeb Design

Set of Three Song Bird Ornaments - $20 (approx £13) from Anna Joyce Design

And you can wrap them all up in Love Little’s gorgeous screen printed button print wrap. It’s just £2.50 per sheet and comes complete with a matching tag.

I love the ethos behind Turtle Love Committee. The owner, Adrianne Zahner doesn’t wear much jewellery. Just her wedding ring and a few favourite pieces. And that’s what her company is all about - key pieces that you’ll cherish.

Turtle Love Committee started out as a source of unusual wedding and engagement rings and grew from there. They now stock a range of eco-friendly, artisan jewellery.

Visit the website at www.turtlelovecommittee.com.

I’m thinking that ‘A Bicycle Made for Two’ (top left) would make a lovely Valentine’s Day gift.

I’ve just bought a pack of these for the designers at work.  Such a good idea and yet so simple.  The idea for The Storyboard Book came about a few years ago when the creators were doing some storyboard sketches for a television commercial.  The director wanted to explain an idea and grabbed a piece of paper to sketch out the scene. But of course he had to sketch out the frames first.

The Storyboard Book is lightweight, portable, and durable and perfect for storyboarding, sketching, list making, visualisation, plans, doodles, and just about anything else. The idea is simple - a frame for the action and space for the notes.

Buy yours at www.thestoryboardbook.com. They cost just $12 (approx £7.45) for a pack of three.