SMACK MY STITCH UP

Posted by the Fashion Junior at Large

                               Their promotional poster is as M.I.Y as it gets

                Childhood friends Kristie and Coralie

The Fashion Editor at Large went to the Hidden Art fair last week at Brick Lane, and told me about how she bumped into Coralie and Kristie who run M.I.Y workshops appealing to young, creative (or just skint) types who want to make their own Christmas cards, jewellery, cross-stitch...whatever.Well, I did my graduation project/magazine on the M.I.Y movement, as the FEAL well knows, and am definitely of a mind that, for my generation, creativity begins at home.

What really set my pulse racing when I heard more about these two art graduates, is that they are not just popping up unpredictably at art fairs and the like, they have opened an M.I.Y bar!!! in Kings Cross and running themed nights called the likes of "Smack My Stitch Up".

So on Saturday the Fashion Junior at Large trudged through the rain to Kings Cross to attend "Kristie abd Coralie’s Christmas Cooler", and make stuff. Situated in a building that was once home to a gay bathhouse and more recently a sex shop (apparently the sex shop is still operating out of the basement, but the glitter covered door which links the two businesses is firmly locked) Coralie and Kristie, two childhood friends, have the quaintest most wholesome enterprise you can imagine.

It’s M.I.Y meets cocktail hour, held in a softly lit room with marvellously mismatched furniture. Crafty jewellery, home furnishings (Like Rescued and Revived’s ‘divorce cushion’ as Coralie refers to it – emblazoned with the message ‘I’m sorry. I overestimated forever. Goodbye’) and pick ‘n mix sweets stud the walls. Groups of girls (and some men as well) sat around enjoying mulled wine and cake whilst contentedly making Christmas cards with Pritt stick, glitter and bits of ribbon.  Admittedly this was early in the evening, later it was more of a party atmosphere.

Head down and focus on making those unique Christmas Cards!

The box of craft materials supplied by the girls is full of wonderful and bizarre bits and bobs, and I end up covering my Christmas card to the b/f in animal stickers and a My Little Pony ribbon (I hope he likes it!?!). It was fun fun fun, and the good news is the girls are hoping to stay open into the New Year, continuing events like ‘Bring and Bling’, and ‘Stitch and Bitch’. If you get a chance, GO!!!

The M.I.Y workshops will run from 10-13th and 17th-20th December, from Midday to Midnight at 9 Caledonian Road, N1 9DX.

Check out the website: http://www.kristieandcoralies.com/