Introducing...

With the Designer Open House & Arts Trail only two weeks away I decided to take the opportunity to get know some of our contributers a little bit better so I'm very pleased to introduce to you Erica Godfrey - creator of the deliciously quirky, 'environmentally trendy' fashion brand Oddly Enough. Erica's work was first brought to my attenion by Leren Connor of to-be-irreplaceable as another designer who gets their thrills from breathing new life in objects people once regarded as junk. As a blogger, it probably comes as no surprise that I'm a big fan of up-cycling and more and more these days it seems to be cropping up as the fashion buzz-word of the moment so I'm thrilled that Erica has decided to jump on board as we created the Designer Open House  with a view of it being one of the ways we can help promote local creative talent and I would certainly view Oddly Enough as one to watch. She was kind enough to tell us a bit about her self so here she is in her own words:

WHO IS ODDLY ENOUGH?

Oddly Enough makes handmade and up-cycled, gifts and accessories. All items are handmade from odds & ends, we give them new life in one form or another.

Each item has its own individual personality, and is guaranteed to be 100% unique.

WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF YOUR WORK?

My aim is to show the world that with resourcefulness and imagination up-cyled, ethical fashion should not have to compromise on style or more importantly colour! My designs are heavily influenced by the resources available to me, through gathering and hunting for unwanted or unusable stock.

WHAT IS YOUR INSPIRATION?

Oddly Enough was born as a reaction to waste, responding to the fast changing fashion industry which rids itself frequently of last seasons prints, fabrics and trims. By using traditional craft techniques in new ways and using alternative materials, I turn this waste into something new and desirable.

Taking on a new aesthetic; 'Pop Vintage' our new collection combines garments and accessories incorporating up-cycling and re-use.

Crooked Knitwear Videography

Behind The Scenes: Crooked Knitwear Spring/Summer Collection 2012 from Hatch'd Magazine on Vimeo.

Hello Everybody,

Sorry it's been a while since you've heard from inside the Crooked House but I assure you this is because we've been super busy, but we've got a long awaited treat in store for you today, our friends at Hatch'd Magazine have published a benind the scenes videography of our day at the Clockworks made by the lovely Lara Elizabeth Elliot who's done a cracking job. As promised the website is now also up and running, we still have some odd ends to tie up but we hope you all take some time to check out all the brand new items on sale for the first time online and I promise you can expect much, much more. Read the article at Hatch'd Magazine here.

Pushing the Boat Out

Well it's been an interesting week in the Crooked House, we've had some great feedback about our day at the Clockworks and now we're looking forward to getting ready for the launch party on April 21st. We've been catching up on commissions and Megan put in a performance on Wednesday as a guest creative professional at the Quad, lending her expertise and advice to young Derby creative. Now we're getting set for the big Crooked House reshuffle so soon we will have a new attic workroom in which we'll be hosting Crooked House workshops so all you budding designers and makers can pick up some exclusive mad skills from our own Megan Crook. Megan is also taking a well earned holiday in Berlin this week where she'll be sporting the new collection for the first time, which leaves little ole me captaining the Crooked ship this week.  Also I'm pleased to see our entrepreneurial friends ElizaLeren getting some great publicity lately, they've been featured in today's Derby Telegraph with an article about their boutique on Green Lane which you should all check out and you can read the article here. Not only that but Bambi managed to find her way into a national Ugandan publication New Vision  courtesy of one a favourite blogger of ours, Isaac Fashionare256.  Nice one guys.

Courtesy of Fashionaire256

Here Comes The Sun

Well we've just got the first photos back from Sunday and are really happy them.  Mother nature decided to be on our side and broke out a another gloriously sunny day for us and now, that we've had some time to relax and digest the day I can tell you that thanks to an overwhelming response from our community we felt the whole day was a tremendous success, so thank you!
Our friends at the Clockworks we're great hosts, everyone pitched in and what can I say? Teamwork makes the dreamwork.  We had some great music, food, performances even had our own rag tag stage that we borrowed from D-man's school. 
It's been great to hear over the last 48 hours or so, that everyone had a lot of fun and there were a lot of memorable moments, like Meg jumping up and down screaming whilst Emilie Lecocq spews fiery breath in a pink handmade tweed jacket that's just the right side of the circus.  I remember feeling glad that I'm not the only one who gets that exited about clothes and I can't wait to see more of the pictures.  Don't forget that this event is just the beginning, we've got a fabulous summer planned and our Relaunch Party is already under a month away where we will be exhibiting all of our favourite photos from the day and celebrating our brand new website so stay tuned. x

Pictures Courtesy of Lawrence De Gruchy

A Stitch In Time

So it's here finally, tomorrow is the big day. All hands are on deck and the Crooked House is brimming with people. The outfit count is up to 31, everybody's sewing cutting and the knitting machines have been whirring relentlessly all day, even I've been pulled of the computer/phone to muck in on the knitting. There have been a few hiccups but we've been doing our best to put out fires all over the place and as far as I can tell everything seems to be finally coming together. We've dropped off the stage, had hair consultations, found a new make-up artist, picked up food, tracked down decks, finalized outfits, been filmed/interviewed and called to remind just about everyone. All these bits and pieces, odd and ends are really taking form, the excitement is brewing, we're kicking this to-do-list in the ass. Not much else to say except can't wait to see you all tomorrow and we can't thank everyone enough for all their help so far.

Last Minute Event Added!

Hi everyone!
There's a mad rush in the Crooked House today as Megan was offered a last minute place at the Contemporary Texiles Fair in Teddington. If you're lucky enough to make it to the show you will be one of the first people outside the Crooked House to get the view the samples from the new collection which will be available made to order.  We hope to see a few of you there but don't worry if you can't make it because I will posting the dates for all the summer shows very soon so keep an eye on the events page. For those of you interested in this weekend you can find the website here.

Menswear like you don't care.

Here's the first ever mens jumper from Crooked Knitwear. It's  of course 100% handmade and took two days to make. I know it's supposed to be for the guys but how badly do I want want one?

Booty Tooch Skirt!

Yes it is a picture of her bum!

Megan's newest creation, like nothing she's made before and in which she periodically breaks out into the "booty tooch" dance. Jumping round corners and swaggering around the house like a proffessional, er... swaggerrer? Think summer knitwear meets rave princess in flamingo pinks with unmissable florescent orange fringing. Literally as I type Meg is next to me wildly shaking her hips and shouting "Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle Yeah!"

Tom Bailey

Had a visit from one of our favorite Derby entities, Mr Tom Bailey, singer/songwriter for The Longford Family Band and self-proclaimed drunk poet who was good enough to remind me that his new website Record of the Self now holds all of his poems, stories and articles. I'm particularly fond of his poetry, Nan's House stands out to me as a modern elegy to afternoons with your dear old Grandma that speaks of warmth and unconditional compassion. Tom also has a new book of poems that he has self published in true style. I haven't got a copy yet but you can be sure to hear about it when I do. In the mean time indulge yourself  on this recordoftheself.com/