Ghosts of Gone Birds | Brighton

Exciting news for Alexia Claire!

I received some very exciting news a couple of weeks ago and I am now finally able to spread the word!

The amazing people at Moonko have represented me on their website and through their fairs and shop for nearly a year now, and it is through them that I have been given the opportunity to exhibit artwork in this year’s Ghosts of Gone Birds exhibition in Brighton!

The exhibition focuses around the idea that we can “breathe artistic life back into extinct birds species.” (Ghosts of Gone Birds). As you may be aware, I am quite a nature buff and enjoy including British nature in my designs and fabric creations.  My latest basket designs are centred on endangered British species and so being asked to be part of this exhibition is very exciting for me.

The exhibition begins at the start of November and lasts for three months. I’m looking forward to making my own visit to see it too.

Here are a few of my favourite pieces from previous years of this wonderful exhibition: 

Bruce Pearson

Gail Dooley

John Keane

Tessa Farmer

Owl Bicycle Basket

I was recently asked to produce one of my purple owl print baskets to fit inside a bicycle basket for a push bike. It was tricky to work out certain bits and bobs but I came to the decision that the more ties on it the better! So that it fits nice and securely into the bike basket.


The basket features 8 ribbon ties to fasten it to the inside of the bike basket.

It also still has my usual basket handles so that it can be removed and used as a bag also!

It is winging it's way to Germany as a present already!

Autumnal Colours

As it is now (supposedly) Autumn, I have picked out some of my favourite Folksy items in autumnal colours and shapes. I love this time of year when the trees are at their most dramatic. I missed it last year as I was living in the centre of London. I would go for days without seeing a tree! So it is nice to be back in Leeds and surrounded by lovely colours again. Enjoy today's Folksy Friday!

Beautiful beads by Luce di Luna

Little Autumn leaves by Meeni

Autumnal leaf hair pins by Sally

This gorgeous scarf by Broomhead Designs

Needle felt pumpkins by Lana Dolls

New Home Folksy Friday

This weekend I will be visiting my Uncle's family at their brand new home. They have lived in France for quite a while now and are making the big move back to the UK this week. I can't wait to see them and I have been making a few little Alexia Claire specials for my little cousins' rooms to surprise them with! This week's Folksy Friday is inspired by having a new home, some beautiful cards I found whilst browsing. Enjoy!

I love the shadowing in this illustration by Arbee Cards

I fab idea for a card by Lydia Fee illustration

A clever take on a mantelpiece card by Nota Bene Letterpress

I am a sucker for this over all print by Lovat Press

Wedding decoration ideas

I recently sent off 40 hand printed and hand made fabric baskets to Chicago for a September wedding. Each basket had shimmery pale pink butterflies screen-printed, with a medium grey co-ordinating fabric. The colours were chosen by the bride. I am told they are going to be placed in each of the wedding guest rooms! I felt very privileged to be asked to contribute to such a special day in someone's life.

If you are interested in having my fabric baskets to your chosen colours for your wedding or occasion, please contact me at alexia@alexiaclaire.com. I will gladly talk ideas with you! 

Examples of my current ranges of fabric baskets can be found in my Etsy and Folksy shops or on my website. I hand-screen print and sew each basket my self, start to finish. 

Here are a couple of images of the finished baskets. I really enjoyed working with these colours, I can imagine the wedding will be a beautiful one! 

Hedgehog Folksy Friday

I have a 'thing' for hedgehogs. Being quite a nature girl, I always remember the excitement of having a stray hedgehog chilling out in our garden for a whole day when I was a little girl. I've hardly ever seen one before or since then (unless it is on a road, unfortunately).  With "growing evidence that suggests we should be worried about the UK's hedgehog population, here is my celebration of the hedgehog!

You can donate to help hedgehogs here

Isabel's Designs

By Charlie's Hand

Hoobynoo World

The House of Mouse

The imagination of Ladysnail

Folksy Friday - Olympic Rings Colours

Looking forward to the Olympic opening ceremony? I have deliberately not tried to find out / hear any rumours about what is in store for us viewers (apart from the many hints my Mum gave me the other night!). I want the full wow factor. This week's Folksy Friday is brought to you by the colours of the Olympic rings. I was tempted to go down the London theme etc but after a while of browsing the particular colours I found some fab folksy finds (a bit of alliteration for you there!) which I wouldn't have necessarily come across otherwise. These grabbed my eye and I think they are really fun and quirky. Which, after all, is what hand made is all about! Enjoy!

How much fun is this red ninja necklace by Lilley's? I can't say I've ever seen anything like it before.

This robot card by Stampa Cantina definitely has a lot of character

I like the edgy shape to this black cat clock by Big Bad Wolf Design

Again, this is a design I have never seen anything similar of before, by Aftertrees. It would permanently remind me of the beach for some reason having it on my desk

Finally, check out these incredible earrings by Lazysundays