Ace Jet 170

Dufle Minor

It was my birthday on Monday. No, please, there's no need to apologies, when you get to my ages, you know…something, something. Anyway, got some nice presents. A sea fishing rod, Iron Man on DVD, a four-pack of Cadbury's DoubleDeckers, a part-used pack of crayons that was actually given to us last month on the ferry to Scotland (special thanks to Seth for that one).

I also got a rather lovely mini Dufle — for my pocket-sized device — from super-talented/would-be-nothing-without-her Edie Sloane, aka Karen, my wife.

Loose Threads

Cotton thread is ever present in our home life. Largely because the International manufacturing hub of Karen's handmade empire is located in our dining room, with its centre of production pretty much overwhelming our dining table. A few minutes before dinner, almost everyday, the table has to be routinely cleared. And it's not uncommon to find small clumps of discarded threads here and there.

It struck me the other day that these spartan cotton nests are kind of beautiful.

iPod Touch Man Sleeve

Trade proved brisk, on the run up to Christmas, for Karen (aka Edie Sloane) on Folksy, for her fantastic iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad and Kindle covers. It surprised and delighted us both. And on the big day, I got to unwrap the first ever all male version, complete with Dad button and elasticated man-cord. Coming to Folksy early 2012.

Kraftwerk

This is more Karen's domain than mine really, but we all need to know how to make a Hipster Headdress or knit a beard right? Well, thanks to Ziggy from Cicada this man's got the plans: State of Craft includes 60 step-by-step projects to keep you off the streets and away from those places you just should not go. And don't pretend you don't know what I mean, you wierdo.

If you're not looking for a little something for your head or your chin, there's a pretty impressive jam jar anglepoise to knock up. Or, if the notion takes you, a cross-stitch protest sign that'll keep you busy between riots.

 

Mac(kerel)Book Pro

Karen (aka Edie Sloane) has made me a new jacket. Well, she's made my MacBook Pro a new jacket really. And what a dapper sight it makes. Made-to-measure, its dad-buttonned mackerelbone tweed outer and fern green brushed cotton lining will keep my laptop safe and snug (not to mention handsome) on its journey to and from the studio.

Found Type Friday #93

My wife's mysterious alter-ego Edie Sloane has a most interesting sewing box.

Edie Sloane

For lord knows how long the soundtrack to evenings at Ace Jet Towers has been the steady daggadaggadaggadaggadagga of Karen's sewing machine. She's been making lovely things for as long as we've lived in NI. Longer really. First it was just things for our boys when they were younger. Then Karen started making things for other people's kids, which went down really well.

Before long it was craft fairs, with a whole range of things for children and grown ups. Karen makes a great stall; it's always the best and during the summer, at the Mount Stewart Craft Fair, she was approached by a rep from the National Trust who did us a major favour. Not only did he ask Karen if she'd be interested in supplying NT shops (they'd recently changed their buying strategy and wanted to stock more locally produced crafts) but the interest put a rocket up our whatsits.

First off: a brand. Karen had been selling under a name that had come out of making things for kids but now she was making more things for adults. So we needed something new and Edie Sloane was born (well, reborn actually). Edie Sloane was Karen's Gran. Karen's been told, many times, how like her Gran she is; ES made loads of stuff, grew loads of things and also got her husband to do all the shitty jobs - with a smile on his grumpy face (Karen is very like her Gran).

Next up: a super-simple micro-portal-site (designed by me, built by Ryan) to launch interested parties into Edie Sloane's onlineness. It's not quite sewn up* yet, there's a blog to set up, but we have managed to set up a Folksy shop. And with that Karen's first online sale. Now that's pretty exciting in our little world.

Of course, you can follow Edie Sloane on Twitter and if the notion takes you, browse her hand-crafted wares here.

And if you missed it above, you can check out the Edie Sloane mini-site here.

* Groan.