A few months ago, a dear friend sent a message asking if I’d heard about Gocco. The message implied that I should know who Gocco was. I racked my brain. Did we go to school with Gocco? Perhaps Gocco was sick? In danger?

I found a whole site dedicated to saving Gocco.

Gocco is not a person but a cute and compact Japanese screenprinting set with an in-built exposure unit and system that allows you to use multiple colours at once in just a flash of a bulb or two. Genius.

Did I immediately want one? You betcha! Exactly the kind of thing I ‘collect’ but with the downsizing into the Borrowers Mansion, I was put off by what looked like its rarity and inability to maybe find parts needed for it. A bit like polaroid film?

I took receiving an email for a free Gocco screenprinting class as a sign anyhow. Always up for second chances and this was a great opportunity to see a real one at work.

Traffic and limited bus routes turned what looked like a few centimetres on google maps into a very long bus journey… followed by a walk through an unfamiliar park which led into an allotment section… in the middle of nowhere (slight exaggeration).

Unfortunately a Gocco machine was not present but there were plenty of people using pre-gocco’d (made that word up) screens to make flags and bunting of sorts.

Pretty.

Workshop run by Xtina Lamb printedwonders.co.uk

But it was the large warning signs everywhere that caught my attention.

In brackets underneath I would have liked to have added ‘Only if they feel threatened!’

This was an area with HIVES! Spotted. I wandered over and watched the ladies at work. All three hives faced out into the allotment area and I wondered if everyone was in their direct flight path, annoying them, which is why there was a need for all these danger signs. There’s not that kind of alarmed messaging at the North London Beekeepers. It is all very zen.

Whilst purchasing two pieces of lemon drizzle (homebaking is expected at these English crafty event thingys), I spied a little pot of honey – yummy.

Beekeeper Zahir Anwar was pleased to pass the honey on to me. He had been taking advice from a 90 year old beekeeper whose wealth of experience clearly helped his bees to produce a lot of honey last year when everyone else reported a pretty slow honey year due to the bad weather.

I’m loving how being a beekeeping beginner can open up a connection to so many diverse people. Instant interest and fascination.

With my lemon cake and honey pot discovery, I felt like I had struck gold.

Treasure at the end of the trail!

The hives

The wild flora

The company!

The gold!

You might remember that, a couple of weeks ago, I attended a print gocco workshop run by Xtina Lamb.  I really enjoyed the workshop and fell completely in love with print gocco.  Since then I’ve been thinking of designs (and buying up as many supplies as I can afford), and this week my plotting bore fruit and I now have a small range of cards available in my Etsy shop.

At the moment I have three designs: a birthday card , an illustration of a dandelion clock (entitled ‘Make a Wish’ ), and a playful illustration of a pup.  Three very different styles, but I’ve been bubbling with ideas and couldn’t settle on just one style just now so I did a bit of everything!  I’m planning to add more designs to the range but will probably wait another month or so before doing that (need to sell the cards I’ve already made first!).

Are there any designs you’d like to see?

You can get your fingers inky too if you want to join in. Book an evening workshop for the chance to make prints from your own artwork with Print Gocco screen printing machines. Or visit during the daytime and you’ll be invited take part in the printing in progress, or just enjoy taking a peek at how Xtina’s colourful products are made.

Printed Wonders Open Studio
The Showcase Craft Central, 33-35 St. John’s Square, London EC1M 4DS – Map
1st – 4th May 2012
11am – 5.30pm Tue – Fri, Free entry
Gocco workshops, Wed 2nd & Thu 3rd May, 6.30pm – 9.30pm, £40

Earlier this year Lucy bought some bunting with lucky motifs and promptly emigrated with it. She sent this great photo with the message “Just to say thank you for getting the gorgeous bunting to me in time before we flew. We moved into our Chicago apartment with nothing but an inflatable bed, a duvet and your bunting, it was the perfect instant decoration and has indeed brought us much luck.“

Greg got in touch in September with the delightful idea of commissioning custom alphabet bunting to help him propose to his girlfriend Cathy. He chose the style that threads onto tape with a hem, so that he could assemble the letters himself and build a sense of anticipation! Plus the bonus of being able to rearrange them into amusing anagrams afterwards. Thankfully Cathy is now his fiancé, and Greg sent this photo with the news “Just to let you know that I finally asked and she said “yes”! Your bunting worked a treat. Everyone was very impressed!“. Phew! What a great idea, who could resist a proposal written in bunting, and someone sweet enough to think of it?

Cally Festival
Noon– 6pm, Sun 3rd July 2011
Caledonian Road between Offord Road and Bingfield Street.
thecallyfestival.com

The show and shop at Craft Central runs from Tue 14th to Sat 18th June. New lines are being launched during this week, including seaside and wedding themed bunting banners, the lucky tape and wrapping paper. You’ll also be able to see the full Printed Wonders range of lucky bunting, alphabet pennants, vintage fabric bags, and stationery.

A cabinet of thrifted curiosities will display some of the paper ephemera, vintage fabric, tin & plastic treasure that inspires Xtina’s work, like a mini museum of printed wonders!

Come along and be cheered by this colourful, positive collection of textiles and paper goods. The foyer will be festooned with bunting and there will be free cake, if you’re quick!

See more about Printed Wonders on Facebook

Craft Central
33-35 St John’s Square
, London, EC1M 4DS

11 – 5.30pm,  Tues – Fri
11 – 2.30pm Sat

Free tea and homemade cakes on Tues 14th June
Private View: 6.30 – 8.30pm Wed 15th June

£2.50 each  or £10 for 5
Available from our stall at Truman’s Brewery – see events.