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Animation Hot House Q&A: Katharina Koall

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Something magical is happening on the Tatty Devine website. Our Hot House collection has come to life, thanks to animator Katharina Koall, who created three short animations inspired by our Hot House collection. Our Tortoise Ring, Ultra Flora and Fauna Necklace and Butterfly Necklaces take flight and explore the world in the adorable animations.

Inspired to enter our Animation Hot House competition? Katharina is hosting a hands on animation workshop at our Brick Lane store on Saturday 18th May to help budding animators get started. This event is fully booked but Katharina has shared her top animation tips with us so you can try your hands at home. Notebooks at the ready – the class is about to begin… 

Hi Katharina! How did you first get into animation?

I am also an illustrator and it seemed natural to combine that with animation – just to see what happens when your drawings come alive! I always liked drawing, so it felt like animation was the next step in how I could make my drawing more interesting.

How long have you been animating?  

I started in college in 2002.

Who have you worked with and where has your work featured? 

I have been working on a range of projects for exhibitions, installations and artists publications. My clients include Chorus and Echo, Womens’ Resource Centre, The Woodland Trust and RSA Film. Exhibitions and publications include The Loop, Freistil in Zuerich and Berlin / A View of London at the London Transport Museum / Lost to View at The Museum Of London and Late at Tate Britain.

What influences your animations? 

In general, I am influenced by the music of Deux, the films of Jan Svankmajer and Len Lye and Don Siegel, the books of Julie Doucet and Philip K Dick…!

We love Julie Doucet’s work, too! What do you like best about making animations? 

I love the freedom – the fact that you can play god for a while and create anything out of nothing.

What advice would you give to people starting animation for the first time? 

Just be experimental. Don’t worry or be intimidated by animation rules.

How did you go about creating the Tatty Devine Hot House animations? What processes did you use?

Two are made with stop animation. With this process, patience is key! You can’t control the object, which is both daunting and beautiful. You just have to see what happens. One was done using CGA. Digital animation allows for a lot more control. It was interesting to such different methods with the same objects and see quite different outcomes.

Thank you, Katharina! We can’t wait to get started on our own masterpieces!

Want to get animated? Watch Katharina’s Hot House animations here and get involved in our Animation Hot House competition now.

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Posted on May 14, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Get Discounts at Tatty Devine with a Time Out Card

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Who doesn’t love a bargain? The new Time Out London loyalty card launches this week and subscribers can make the most of an exclusive offer in our Brick Lane and Covent Garden stores. Whether you’re an East London fashionista or West End shopper, you can get £5 off jewellery purchases of over £30*. The best part? Up to five friends can share your discount too!

Treat yourself to a pair of statement Eyelash Sunglasses, refresh your jewellery box for summer with our exotic Hot House collection or snap up a gift for that special someone. Our top tip? Style the bridesmaids for your big day in traditional, vintage or contemporary wedding accessories and match rings to your nail art with your BFFs. Who says shopping has to be selfish?

Happy shopping! Discover more information on the Time Out London card here and sign up now.

* This discount does not apply to Name Necklaces and sale items.

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Posted on May 14, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Competition: Animation Hot House

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Tatty Devine

It’s time to get tropical! Create a short animation inspired by our Hot House jewellery from the S/S13 collection to win in our Animation Hot House competition. Whether you’re skilled at stop motion or a bright eyed beginner, we want your animations to capture the fun, exotic feel of the collection. Head deep into the heart of the hot house. Brightly coloured butterflies are hand painted with resin and lush leaves are spotted with glossy dew drops. Candy pink ladybirds and tortoises the size of real baby tortoises add the perfect touch of cuteness.

You can download the full brief and an image pack to get your creativity flowing here. To enter, upload your animation to YouTube, Vimeo or Vine, tag it ‘animationhothouse‘ and send the link to us at competition@tattydevine.com.

Three winners will receive £100 of jewellery of their choice from our S/S13 collection. All three winning animations will also be screened at the London Short Film Festival in January 2014 and in our Brick Lane and Covent Garden stores.

The competition closes at midnight on Sunday 2nd June. Our judges will review each animation and announce the winners in mid-June.

The Judges:

Tatty Devine’s founders, Rosie and Harriet head up a panel of judges full of industry talent:

Katharina Koall who has created three animations for Tatty Devine and will be running an animation workshop during the competition. Katharina co-runs illustration collective Cloud Cuckoo Studio and her work has been shown at Tate Britain and the Museum of London.

Philip Ilson, Director of the London Short Film Festival and Short Film Programmer at the BFI London Film Festival.

Jude Lister from Encounters, the Short Film and Animation Festival in Bristol.

Maria Grund from The Smalls, an online community for film makers, dedicated to the discovery and promotion of new creative talent and content.

Good luck and get animated! Looking for inspiration? Watch all three of Katharina’s Hot House Animations here and get ready to enter the jungle!

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Posted on May 9, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Rhiannon: My Feminist Name Necklace

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Feminism is the word on everybody’s lips. Fifty years after Betty Frieden wrote The Feminine Mystique, Charlotte Raven has announced she is reviving seminal feminist magazine, Spare Rib. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Rosie and Harriet were asked the eternal question, “Would you consider yourself feminists?” Last week, we had a very exciting meeting with campaign group No More Page 3. It all came to a head when our workshop team commented on the sudden flurry of ‘Feminist’ Name Necklaces orders after our Emerald Street promotion. We headed to Twitter to explore the phenomenon and meet the feminists behind the necklaces.

Join us for the first in a new series of blogs, where we talk to Tatty Devine customers about what feminism means to them. Discover why they identify as feminists, what inspired their choice of necklace and their views on the future of feminism. Meet Rhiannon:

Hi Rhiannon! What inspired you to choose a Feminist Name Necklace?

I’ve had a Name Necklace of my name for about five years and wanted to get another but with a different word on. I thought about it for ages, and in the end “feminist” just seemed like the right word; like my actual name, it’s something that identifies me and defines who I am. 

Why do you call yourself a feminist? Do you have any feminist heroines?

I call myself a feminist because I believe in equality for the sexes, simple as that. My feminist heroes are my godmother Elsie, who taught me about the suffrage movement and everything that led on from it in a way no-one had before; the Suffragettes, beacause without them society as we know it today would probably not exist and Caitlin Moran. Her book ‘How to be a Woman‘ reminded me that being a feminist is just “being polite to people” – and every person, male or female, who has stood up for the cause of feminism over the years.

 What do you think is the future of feminism?

The future of feminism? The dream situation would be for it to no longer be necessary because those things that feminism strives for have become ingrained into our culture and are done automatically. Realistically, in the nearer future I’d like the term feminism to be reclaimed, and rather than being something which is used either as a negative term or in the sentence “I’m a feminist but…” becomes something people see as a good, positive thing to be associated with, and people say “I’m a feminist” without the need for explaining that it doesn’t mean they hate men or want to burn all their bras (although if some feminists want to do that I’m not going to stop them!).

Thank you for sharing your story, Rhiannon! Stay tuned for the next blog in our series!

Inspired by Rhiannon’s Name Necklace? Whether you want yours to say ‘Feminist’, ‘Socialist’ or the name of your hero or heroine, design and order it here.

We love seeing pictures of you with your new Name Necklaces. Tweet or Facebook them to us, or tag us on Instagram #tattydevine on Instagram.

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Posted on May 8, 2013 by Tatty Devine

How It’s Made: Dinosaur GIANT Necklace

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Whether you’re a Jurassic Park fanatic or just like to make a serious sartorial statement, there’s no bigger (or better) way to accessorise than with our Dinosaur Necklace. Originally inspired by a visit to London’s Natural History Museum, it has become a much loved classic Tatty Devine piece, appearing in the press and worn by celebrities including Lauren Laverne.

What could possibly be better than a Dinosaur Necklace, you ask? We have the answer – a Dinosaur GIANT Necklace! Yes, our classic Dinosaur Necklace also exists in a giant form for maximum impact. Not for the faint hearted, this super sized glamorous tyrannosaurus is the perfect date for nights out and adds much needed drama to everyday jeans and t-shirts.

Rosie says, “The Dinosaur Necklace doesn’t sit firmly in the fashion world. It’s not a seasonal piece, either. It’s made to be worn forever!”

Harriet agrees, “When we came up with the Dinosaur Necklace, we were obsessed with the idea of articulation. It was a really ambitious and experimental process to design it.”

There is still an ambitious and time consuming process behind each piece – as our team and anyone who has attended our Dinosaur Necklace Workshop will agree! Explore behind the scenes at our Chatham studio and let our production team show you how this magnificent giant T-Rex is made:

First things first: each dinosaur bone is laser cut from gold mirror perspex and linked by hand using golden jump rings. Over forty bones make up this sizeable statement necklace – and each one is designed to sit in a very specific order.

Cody carefully gives our dinosaur a tail by linking together the pieces with pliers. Steady hands are a must!

“Have you heard the one about the T-Rex crossing the road…?”

Lastly, the protective film is peeled off each individual bone (this stops the perspex burning whilst it’s laser cut) and careful cleaning begins.

Et voila! The Dinosaur GIANT Necklace is ready to make the journey to our stores or straight to your house! Show your bones and shop this shiny dinosaur skeleton necklace now.

Want to try your hand at making a Dinosaur Necklace? Join the Tatty Devine team for a jewellery workshop and learn the skills and techniques needed to make your own. At the end of the workshop, it’s yours to take home! Book your place now.

Exciting news: we’re headed to Edinburgh for our first ever Dinosaur GIANT Necklace Workshop! Hosted by The Red Door Gallery, the workshop will take you through each stage of making one of our most complex designs. Book your place now.

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Posted on May 2, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Rosie and Harriet’s Sample Sale Picks

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Can’t wait to shop our Sample Sale this weekend? Don’t miss Rosie and Harriet’s Sample Sale star picks. They took a trip down memory lane to pick their favourite pieces for sale this weekend. Explore the stories behind their must-have pieces and add them to the top of your wish list…

Harriet’s Star Picks:

“I love the Chip Fork Barrette. It’s just so witty and feels so real! I like that an object that should be totally disposable is turned into a precious piece of jewellery by high level of craft. It originally appeared in our Spring Summer 10 collection, Sundae Best and it was inspired by trips to the British seaside.”

“The X Ray Specs Brooch was inspired by cult movies and the excitement of going to the cinema. I’ve always loved 50′s Americana, especially John Waters films and the B-52s! This brooch appeared as part of our S/S08 collection, Movie Mayhem, alongside Popcorn Necklaces and 3D Glasses Brooches.”

“I came up with the idea for the Aviator Goggles Headband in a dream! Our A/W10 collection, Age of the Blazing Trails, was inspired by fearless heroines like the pilot Amelia Earhart. It’s made from leather, with hand curved perspex lenses and an adjustable elastic strap so you can wear it on your head or round your neck for a laidback look.”

Rosie’s Star Picks:

“The Bow Headband is amazing! I love the Minnie Mouse feel and its cartoon-esque quality. Red is my favourite colour, so this is definitely my favourite sample sale piece. I even wore it to the Tatty Devine Christmas party! I think Father Christmas liked it too.”

“What’s not to like about the Watermelon Necklace? It’s just so juicy and is full of movement! I really loved the S/S12 collection it first appeared in. I wear this necklace with a brightly coloured dress and summery white cardigan.”

We’ll take one of each, please! Find out which of your friends are heading to the Sample Sale and make new ones at our Facebook event. Can’t make it in store that weekend? Shop our Lucky Dip Weekend from your sofa and keep up with the fun on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtags #samplesalebricklane and #luckydipweekend.

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Posted on April 30, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Competition: Win a copy of “Start Your Dream Business”

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Dream of starting your own business? Start Your Own Dream Business: Secrets of Successful and Happy Enetrepreneurs is the brainchild of business guru Sarah Wade and life coach Carole Ann Rice. The book is an inspirational guide for anyone with an idea for their own business but needs advice, help and guidance for putting it into practice.

Excitingly, Rosie Wolfenden, Tatty Devine co-founder and Managing Director, features in the book, sharing the story behind Tatty Devine, the benefits of working with a business partner and her top tips & advice for budding business owners.

To celebrate the book’s launch, we have one copy of Start Your Dream Business: Secrets of Successful and Happy Entrepreneurs to give away. We know how important it is to spread the word once you’ve started your dream business and we have the perfect solution. Our lucky winner will also receive a Name Necklace or Speech Bubble Necklace featuring the name of their business. Make a statement with your Twitter handle or say it loud and proud with your business name – it’s your choice! Don’t forget to tell us the name of your dream business in your comment, too!

Want to win? Simply answer the following question:

Everybody dreams of starting their own business. Tell us about yours! Whether it’s a mini street food empire or the successor to Facebook, we want to hear about it!

Leave your answer as a comment below and Rosie’s favourite will win a copy of Start Your Own Dream Business: Secrets of Successful and Happy Entrepreneurs and a bespoke Name Necklace or Speech Bubble Necklace.

This competition is now closed. Good luck!

Starting your own business? Order your copy of Start Your Own Dream Business: Secrets of Successful and Happy Enetrepreneurs now.

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Posted on April 29, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Yes I Like That: a beginner’s guide to sewing

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee but not sure where to start? Following Team Tatty’s very own take on the GBSB, we invited one of our favourite craft bloggers Kathryn of Yes I Like That to compile a beginner’s guide to sewing. You’ll be whipping up your own spring capsule wardrobe in no time! Take it away, Kathryn:

1. First things first – you’ll need a sewing machine.

Maybe a relative has an unwanted one stored in a dusty attic, or you can borrow a friend’s machine and have a go. Look out for second-hand models, most sewing machine shops will sell them and it’s a thrifty way to get started. Or if you’re the kind of gal or guy who needs to colour co-ordinate all their accessories to their outfits, how about these adorable mini machines from John Lewis?

2. Got the machine? Now you need to learn the basic skills.

There are sewing cafes and workshops springing up all over the UK, like the Make Lounge in London, Super+Super in Brighton, or Make It Glasgow in Scotland. If there’s nowhere like that near you, don’t fret – Craftsy run online video workshops on everything from sewing an A-line skirt to re-creating a pair of your favourite jeans.  Or if you couldn’t get enough of Tilly’s retro style on the Sewing Bee, she’s got a whole series of beginner sewing tutorials on her blog.

3. Supplies are next on the list.

Fell in love with a pattern, a fabric, or a trimming on the Great British Sewing Bee? The Thrifty Stitcher blog has put together a handy list for every episode, listing what each contestant used. Sadly, as yet there’s no pattern available to sew your own Patrick Grant complete with beard and three-piece suit.

If you’re shopping online for fabric, check out Ditto Fabrics, a Brighton-based shop which sells ex-designer fabric. You could make your own catwalk recreation for a fraction of the price! For haberdashery, head over to Jaycotts. They’ve got everything you need from neon metal zips to dressmakers dummies.

4.  So now you want to make something. But where to start?

The standard way to begin is with a paper pattern, but you might find these intimidating when you first start sewing. They can also be pretty frumpy, with illustrations straight out of the 80s.

We’ve found a solution though. Take a peek at the DIY Couture site and join the patternless revolution. It’s full of picture-based instructions that are really easy to follow, with style that’s more haute couture than home economics. At the moment you can download a totally free tutorial for making a pleated tulip skirt.

 

5. Inspiration time!

New independent sewing companies are popping up all over the world. Here in the UK, two super-stylish ladies recently set up By Hand London selling on-trend patterns like the Charlotte wiggle skirt, and the retro Elisalex dress.

Craft blogs are a great way to get ideas on what to sew next. Check out our favourites – the hilarious Lladybird from Nashville, DIY queen Zoe of So, Zo, What Do You Know, and retro New Yorker Gretchen of Gertie’s New Blog For Better Sewing.

What are you waiting for – it’s time to DIY!

Thank you for creating an amazing starter guide, Kathryn! Looking for inspiring makes, the latest sewing gossip and hilarious reviews? Head over to her blog, Yes I Like That for all this and more. (Seriously, you have to read the David Bowie exhibition post!) 

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Posted on April 24, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Competition: Win London Rollergirls Anarchy III Tickets!

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Tatty Devine

In our dreams, we’re members of the London Rollergirls, an all-female, skater-owned-and-run roller derby league based in London, England. We squealed with excitement when we saw the cover art for their third Anarchy in the UK event, Anarchy III by Krista Harrison and Victoria Roversi. This weekend, the girls are heading out of town to the Guildford Spectrum for a whole weekend of action, workshops and after parties. Don’t miss fast and furious roller derby bouts featuring Berlin’s Bear City, Chicago’s Windy City, Edinburgh’s Auld Reekie and of course, the London Rollergirls!

Want to be rinkside for all the action? Of course you do! We have a pair of Anarchy III tickets to give away for the night of the winner’s choice. To enter our competition, simply answer the following question:

If you were to start your own roller derby team, what would you call it and why?

Simply leave your answer as a comment below and our favourite will win a pair of tickets to the Saturday 27th or Sunday 28th April Anarchy III event. This competition is now closed.

Discover more about the London Rollergirls now and book tickets for Anarchy III here. Caught the roller derby bug? Find details of your local league here!

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Posted on April 24, 2013 by Tatty Devine

Tatty Devine does the Great British Sewing Bee

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Tatty Devine

 

It’s official: we’re obsessed with the Great British Sewing Bee. The smash hit BBC show where amateur sewers take on challenges as they compete to be named Britain’s best home sewer has captured our hearts – and our sewing boxes. In honour of the show’s finale tonight, Team Tatty rifled through our collective wardrobe to tell the tales behind our home made garments. Warning: it’s impossible to read this blog without catching the DIY bug…

We headed to our Brick Lane boutique and caught our Stores Manager Lou in her homemade jumpsuit and Hot House Ultra Flora and Fauna Necklace:


“I bought the fabric in my home town, Norfolk, from Anglian Fashion Fabrics. I like the print because it looked a little Parisian but also had a bit of a Hawaiian twang to it! I have millions of vintage jumpsuit patterns at home, which I normally buy off Ebay, so I used the trouser section of the vintage pattern and then adapted the top half to what I fancied. I put my jumpsuit addiction down to always wanting to go to work with my dad and fix motorbikes in overalls!”

Our Marketing Manager Sonja layers her Goddess Hand Strand Necklace over a home made sleeveless top:

“I bought the pattern for this top in John Lewis, after finding it really hard to hunt down a pattern that I liked. It had a really vintage look to it. I have some wallpaper in the same print that I’ve never actually used, but I’m hoarding it in case I do! It’s the first piece of clothing I’ve made from a pattern and even though I found it a little difficult, it was really pleasing. The best part of making it? I loved learning how to make a button loop. I recently learnt that this pattern is called windowpane check and it’s a micro trend at the moment. I even spotted Susie Bubble wearing it on her blog! I’ve started to wear this top a lot more often now…”

Our Production Manager Becki teams her GIANT Lobster Necklace with a homemade colour pop patterned blouse:

“As soon as I saw this jazzy fabric in a shop in Shepherd’s Bush, I had to have it! It took me about two weeks to make this shirt, working on it in the evenings and at the weekends. I’ve been making my own clothes since I was 15 years old and my biggest achievement has to be making my friend’s wedding dress! My next project? Well, I have some sixties silk which I might turn into a shift dress…”

Meet Tatty Devine’s resident Nigella Lawson, Lucy, whose extravagant birthday cakes are the stuff of legend. Not only is she a culinary queen, she’s a dab hand at sewing, too. Just take a look at her home made kimono jacket: 

“I made this kimono jacket back in the day for my GCSE Textiles exam! The vintage silky cherry blossom fabric belonged to my Grandma and dates from the late 1940′s. I wear it with the Blossom Branch Necklace in pink, keeping with the floral theme. The sleeves are excellent for keeping things in, particularly snacks!”

How do you rate Team Tatty’s sewing skills? What’s your favourite thing you’ve ever made? Tell us – and tweet us your photos, too!

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Posted on April 23, 2013 by Tatty Devine