Last week I purchased a beautiful choker necklace from Chic-yCow and did a product review of it just in case you were on the fence of buying from her. I was attending a wedding and needed a necklace to complete my outfit and knew I had to have a leather one in my life, so I approached them with my idea and it went from there. Check out their facebook page here www.facebook.com/chicycowdesigns/

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I asked about having a choker made but I wasn't sure what kind of style I wanted, so I searched through their Facebook photos for different styles they had done before to see what inspired me. I came across a bracelet that had a row of circles on it and that struck out to me as to what I could have on mine. We chatted back and forth about the technicalities, the sizes of these circles and also the colour as I was needing a turquoise colour but metallic and more a green-turquoise, so was a little tricky to get all the details straightened out. Once we were sorted, Jo of Chic-yCow began making it and sent me a photo the next day and it was perfect! Exactly how I'd imagined it.

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The necklace came in this sweet little box with some soft wadding and the Chic-yCow branding, packaged up simply to show off the necklace. I know that if I saw this necklace in the shop, presented this same way, I'd still buy it! Beautiful items like this don't need to be overly packaged and presented, just straight forward simplicity.

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Wearing the choker was super comfortable, I sometimes get aggravated when I have things around my neck and feels itchy, but not this! The circles were on a soft black leather strap with the suede side touching my neck so it was nice and soft, not once during the night I felt itchy or overly aware that I had something round my neck.

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The cost for this necklace was £20, which for a customised commissioned piece I expected it to be more so I was pleasantly surprised at the cost. I really cannot wait to wear this again as I think it would definitely suit plenty more outfits. I highly recommend Chic-yCow, from the customer service, packaging the item, quality of it and the cost all come round to the conclusion that I'll be back ordering more!

All photos belong to Barnsley Fashion Creatives.

'The Stories of the Somme' exhibition at the Experience Barnsley Museum began 24th of August and runs up until 20th of November. Alongside their other Barnsley memorabilia, stories from the Battle of the Somme were presented with items, literature and memories of by-gone soldiers. Dotted around the museum were also garments created by Barnsley College Fashion students from their World War one project earlier this year which brought the theme more to life. The exhibition is definitely worth a visit as well as seeing all the other items within the museum.

Here's the photo journal of the visit.



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We have our first Barnsley Fashion Creatives project! We have been in touch with Trish Evans from Spirit Original Designs who would like to do a photoshoot of her clothing and accessories and is looking for other locals to participate. Here is the run down of the brief with subject to changes as more details are confirmed.

At Barnsley Fashion Creatives, our main aim is to get people connected in Barnsley to work together and help each other out to further enhance our experiences and business. If you have a project in mind and not sure where to go with it, we can help. We can get in touch with the right people to get what you need, find suitable locations and help get it all organised. Feel free to enquire about your project.

Brief by: Spirit Original Designs

Proposed Location: Spring bank Farm (waiting on confirmation)

Date: October

Theme: Rustic, old, quirky, historical, woods

Who we are looking for: Models in sizes 10, 14 & 16, at least one blonde and one brunette. A Photographer and anyone else who'd like to participate. We already have hair & makeup.

Project is unpaid, all participants will get full use of the photos.

This is a fun project for people who are based in Barnsley to all help each other out and get their own use out of it as well, if you require some photos of particular areas that show your own work, we can get those done for you to put in your own portfolios.

If you yourself or if know anyone who would like to help out on the project please use the contact page quoting the brief and with any links to your work. All participants must be agreed by the project leader to ensure you fit the desired brief.

Other than the high streets shops, there are a number of places to get different menswear in Barnsley from independent shops and handmade designers. There's always plenty of places for womenswear and the menswear seems sparce or hard to find. Well we've done the leg work for you, here's our list of possibilities for you guys to explore.

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Down the Victorian Arcade are 3 independent shops, Ashworth & Bird, Originals and The Gallery. Each of these have a different style and look so depending how you're feeling, you can easily pop into all 3 down one short street to figure out what you're wanting.



If you leave the Arcade at the bottom after being inside Ashworth & Bird, cross the road and head to your right and you'll pass the corner shop of Ghia Menswear, for the more sport luxe clothing as well as accessories.



Also On your visit list should be Nomad Atelier, many of their items are unisex, looking amazing on men as they do on women. Be prepared to pay the price for their luxurious fabrics, bu they'll certainly last you many years to come in both quality and style.

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Speaking of handmade, local designer Emily Sharp Fashion creates quirky menswear garments, geometric t-shirts, stylish trousers and one-off cardigans. She can also cater to requests and commissions if there's something you'd like but just can't find in the shops.



And lastly, if you're needing something more formal, Greenwoods Menswear is the place. Now based in the Alhambra shopping centre, they have suits, shirts, ties, jackets and more.

All photos belong to Barnsley Fashion Creatives, except Emily Sharp Fashion's two photos.

Whether it's your office, home studio, workshop, make-up suitcase, or even your dining room! Creative spaces are needed for our hobbies and businesses to make our works of art. From our Facebook Group, some members sent us photos of their creative spaces and we love them!!

[caption id="attachment_1293" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Pam Goodison's Glasswork studio[/caption]

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Nicola Whitfield's Make-up setup at a photoshoot

[caption id="attachment_1295" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Raychel McGuin's Studio[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1296" align="aligncenter" width="261"] Trish Evans' Sewing desk at her shop[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1297" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Helen Booth's Photographic desk[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1300" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Leanne Brooks' Sewing corner[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1301" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Jo Noble's Workspace[/caption]

It's so interesting seeing how people work! We've been diving into the world of Pinerest to see their showroom looking workspaces and gather you some inspiration for your creative space and ideas to keep it tidy and organised.

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Pinboards and corkboards are a quick, cheap and easy way to get things up on the wall. Get your calendar up there, inspiration pictures, reminders and more. Getting things up on the wall can continually inspire you and using wall space will always benefit your room.

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Peg and wire boards are so versatile in making your space more efficient, add shelves, baskets, tubs and more. These can be changed up as and when you want as your workspace evolves and you see what you need more of or less of.

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Getting storage right can be the difference between getting something made in a short time or a long time depending on how fast you find the materials and tools to make it! If you have the space to have a good storage system, make sure if has all the comparments it needs. If space is something you're strapped for, get creative using the backs of doors, stack wooden boxes on a wall with lots of cubby holes, make sure its efficient for the space you have.

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Caddies can be great for having all your stuff on show whilst also being on the move, pull it round the room with you whenever you need it. Implement smaller storage systems within them to keep it neat and tidy.

If after all that you have a gloriously messy room and love it the way it is, here's some other chaotic workspaces to remind you that you aren't the only one!

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Chic-yCow are a local handmade accessories business all based on leather. These almost artistic pieces can finish off any outfit and with being such high quality, will be finishing your outfits for years to come. Through the seasons Jo likes to switch things round and try new designs and ranges from natural floral forms to geometric shapes. You can find her Etsy shop here and follow her Facebook page here.

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Jo: These are some of my favourite 'Geometrix' designs, combining leather that has been hand painted in metallic colours and combined with stainless steel hardware like studs. I've always had a passion for all things crafty and over a number of years, I've learnt how to sew, knit, crochet, paint watercolours and make costume jewellery, many techniques I now use in my work.

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Jo: These are items from my best selling 'Autumn Leaves' designs and are again hand painted in metalics and then embroidered over the top, with added beads. Chic-yCow was set up in 2011 when I started to incorporate my love of Art, Colour, Textiles and Painting to produce individually handmade Leather Jewellery, Handbags and Accessories.

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Jo: From the 'Daisies' range, these are also my favourites and some of my best sellers. My products are made using leather that has been embellished with intricately printed and painted designs before being cut, layered and combined to create softly textural pieces of jewellery and accessories.



Jo: Here are a mixture of bracelets, necklaces and brooches. Whilst I am occasionally distracted by geometric shapes and repeating patterns, my main love is working with natural forms.



Jo: These are the updated version of the 'Flower Bracelet', which I've been making now for over 5 years. During the summer, my work features hand painted and printed flowers, combined with glass and ceramic beads and in the winter you can see pieces that are covered with embroidered metallic leaves and bold hand painted leather, combined with metal hardware.

Sandra hill is a local multi-skilled artist with multiple businesses, all of the creative persuasion. Her main business is creating dog-clothing and accessories, but also has knowledge is crafts such as jewellery making, glass-work, textiles and more.  we asked her about some of her favourite pieces she's made in fashion accessories.

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BFC: Hi Sandra, so how do you make these?

Sandra: These were during a more intricate phase, placing items, inclusions and stringers. The green is my favourite ever! The glass can be a bit fiddly. Its a clear and green piece of glass with a cut copper inclusion and strips of coordinating glass sandwiched between them. This is then fused in the kiln & usually cross toes, fingers and any thing else that it fused ok without oxidizing the copper inclusion, or slipping off deforming the shape. It's like christmas day opening the kiln after a firing, as glass can have a life of its own.

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Sandra: But you sometimes just find a lovely piece of glass, that just needs rounding or softening as these. Some glass pieces are just pretty on their own so I just need to cut the required size, then fuse together, just take sharp edges off, or fuse to a full rounded fused shape.

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Sandra: I really enjoy the freedom wire wrapping gives you, a bead or gemstone & silver or plated wire and let your imagination loose. I use beads for wire wrapping, usually coloured glass or semi precious stones, even just nice pebbles I find on the beach!

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Sandra: This I love! Having a break from the glass and wire work, with a textile, touchy, feely moment. It reminds me of a muppet from my childhood!

BFC: What are they made from and how do you do them?

Sandra: They're made from wool/yarn and they're made using a flower loom. I also make flower hair bands and brooches, etc.

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BFC: Ooh interesting! What is a flower loom?

Sandra: A flower loom is a circle with pins stuck up at even spacings that you can wrap threads, wool etc around. Easy really, but then you need to push the designs and play with it and the materials.

You can contact Sandra through her main business facebook page: A Pawfect Fit.

Spirit Original Designs owned by Trish Evans is one of our local handmade designers and her skills range from bag making, to jewellery, clothing and homewares. The business currently resides inside the Oh Sew Sweet Shop at Wombwell and we had a bit of a chat to her about how it all began. Visit Spirit's Facebook page here.

 BFC: Hi Trish, as a local Barnsley creative, what was it that got into doing your business originally?

Trish: I have loved sewing and being creative from when I was at school. I had a very stressful job and needed to chill and take a step back for health reasons. This is wear my creative and sewing skills made another appearance in my life and now i'm not stressed at all!

BFC: That's great that you almost use it as a relaxation method. Which creative skills did you start out with first? And is that what you still do now or have they evolved to other things?

Trish: I could sew at school so I would say that. I was also good with art at school too, then came making bridal head-wear in the early 80's. Initially this business began with jewellery making and we still do that.

BFC: So that's already a few skills you had under your belt early on. You now also do clothing as part of your business don't you? Could you tell us how that came about?

Trish: I would say from about the second year when we had already progressed into bag making and neck wraps, customers were asking us for clothes. They kept asking "when are you going to start making clothes?". To be honest I was happy with the business as it was but I gave in! I thought, give the customers what they want. That's how our clothes range started.

BFC: It's always good to listen to what your customers want. How would you describe the style of you clothing?

Trish: Individual. We only make one of everything so u wont be wearing the same dress as someone else! Individual with a twist.

BFC: And how would you describe your customer base that wanted you to make these clothes?



Trish: The same customers that keep coming back and new ones too. The age group that initially requested clothes were around 18-35 year old. I tend to get a lot of requests for races and weddings. I love creating something unusual.

BFC: Having returning customers are so valuable to any business. Do they still come to see you in your new home at the Oh sew Sweet Shop? Could you tell us a bit about the new place?

Trish: Oh yes. Since moving here it has gone from strength to strength! New customers all the time! Its a hub of life! A fabric shop, cafe and our boutique all in one!

BFC: Sounds like a wonderful little place! So out of all your fashion-y items, which are you favourite to make? Dresses? Bags? Jewellery?

Trish: Mmmmm I think dresses! 😀

BFC: Haha! And lastly, what piece of advice would you give to new business startups?

Trish: Listen to your customers and hang in there!

All pictures belong to Spirit Original Designs.

Emi B Designs by Emily Roberts creates beautiful handmade bags and accessories. She uses vintage themed fabrics like polka dots and florals whilst keeping a modern touch. All her items can be catered towards your needs, resulting in something that's amazing quality and incredibly useful. We asked her what were her all-time favourite designs and why she loved them.

 Linen Spotted Bag
Emily: "This bag is brilliant for everyday because of all the different coloured spots on the fabric I have used. This is why I love this one. The fabric is linen so feels lovely to touch. I lined this in a bright green cotton and this really makes this bag pop and really stand out."

We think this would make a great day bag, maybe go out shopping with it and would match any outfit with its neutral tones and then pops of different colours. The fabric makes it long-lasting, meaning you can get plenty of use out of it and more value for your money.
Cross-Body Pleated Bag

Emily: "I made this bag as I know lots of people like a decent sized bag that can be worn across the body in order to keep there hands free. This particular bag has 2 pleats in both the front and the back and this is what gives it that lovely shape. This is one of my favourites because of the fabric I love the vintage look of it I even finish most of my bags off with a genuine vintage button."

The vintage print on this fabric is so gorgeous and I'm a strong believer of cross-body bags. The vintage button just finishes off this beautiful bag.
Triple Pocket Bag

Emily: "This Bag was made for someone who doesn't like to cart around a bigger bag but still likes room for everything they need. it contains 3 pockets that are nice and compact when together but expands and opens out when opened. This is my favourite bag to make at the moment and this particular one I love the fabric it has that vintage look to it again which I really like across my designs. The fabric is definitely quirky and something you can't find on the high street."
Triple Pocket Bag

Functionality is something that a lot of mainstream, high street bags lack in. But this one has it all! Perfect for someone who tends to carry everything and the kitchen sink in their bags, hands up if you're one of them. Coupled with a pretty vintage print and a flap opening to complete this beauty.

Emi B Designs can be contacted through her Facebook page and also be sure to check out here blog!

All Pictures belong to Emi B Designs.

Barnsley is home to many independent boutiques, places to get away from the treadmill of high street shops where everything is mass produced at low quality. When you look just a little harder, you can find better quality items, different styles to the norm, local handmade designers and quirky pieces to brighten any outfit. Here just are few of those gems...



Nomad Atelier (previously Pollyanna) is a brand created by Rita Britton based around luxury fabrics. The new store is on George's Yard, Barnsley Centre and also houses to their own curated gallery on it's top floor and their cafe 'Quintessential'. Nomad cater to a higher end clientele, but it's the place to visit for sumptuous silks, velvets and cashmeres.





Moo Designs boutique is based inside the Thomas Whitworth Forum on Hanson Street, Barnsley Centre, house many designers including their own in-house brand. If you're looking for something fun, quirky and edgy, this is definitely the place to visit.









Junction 36 Boutique is in Hoyland Common, Barnsley on Hoyland Road and houses many local designers such as Cottonarts, Emily Sharp, Alice Takes A Trip, Not6Sun and more! You are guaranteed to find something you'll fall in love with in this fun little boutique. Keep up with their newsletters over on their Facebook Group.

If you own an independent boutique, why not get in touch. We'd love to hear about what you do and who you sell. You can either use the contact form above or email hannah456@hotmail.com

All pictures belong to each businesses as listed, none are of BFC.