#madebylove

This month I had the pleasure of meeting the maker behind Made by Love, Jesz and visiting her craft room, a colourful and happy place full of treasures. If you are a bunting fan, she’s your girl!

Read on to find out more about her and for details of our instagram competition...

Hello Jesz!

Tell us a bit about yourself?

Hello! I'm an Aussie who moved to London for work in 2010. Over seven years later here I still am. My middle name is Love (as I was due on Valentines Day, although decided to wait a little longer to be born!) which is where the 'Love' of Made by Love came from.

How did Made by Love come about? How long has it been going for?

My best friend asked me to make her 33 metres of bunting for her wedding reception in early 2017. I enjoyed the whole process of scouting for fabric, sewing and finally seeing them up so much that I thought ‘why not do something about it?’ In September 2017 my Etsy shop was born and I've been doing it since.

Is this your main ‘day job’?

Made by Love is my night and weekend job... by day I work in a Visual Effects Production House looking after the Developers. 

Where do you do your creative work?

I started in the kitchen but my other half kindly forfeited his man cave so I could have a proper work space. I've added some prints, glitter and fairy lights among his more manly prints and I love it!

What inspires you?

I like to make bunting that's fun, colourful and a little bit different. Not everyone wants shabby chic bunting so I hunt for the fun and unique. Mostly I buy fabric that I love and hope that someone out there will too! Where else will you find bunting with dinosaurs holding cameras or rain clouds with rainbow drops?

What has been your most popular product?

It's hard to say as I don't make loads of the one item (I buy limited amounts of fabric). Saying that, my Day at the Duck Pond has sold out and at one market two people bought three sets of Christmas bunting each!  

What do you love about Ealing?

I first moved into Ealing in 2015 when my other half and I moved in together. It was the middle point from where I was (Notting Hill) and where he was (West Drayton) and we've not looked back since.

I love that everything I need is here or in close proximity which means I don't have to battle the crowds of Central London like I do during the week. I've also loved seeing the diversity of food places grow in the time I've lived here and for a foodie that's only good news! 

My favourite place would have to be Artisan Coffee at Ealing Broadway as they make THE best coffees in Ealing. They got me on to Oat Milk! I also love Charlottes W5 and my favourite thing from their menu is their hash browns with tomato relish. OMG they are amazing. 

Where can people see your creations and buy them?

My main outlet is my Etsy store madebyloveflags.

I will have a stall at the next Fox Market W7 on 14th April and I plan to be at a few other markets this year too, including the Sugar and Spice Flea Market where I had a stall last year.

I'm on Instagram and Facebook so people can see my creations and what I am up to on there too.

What is on the plan for the rest of 2018?

I'd like to expand my product line this year but for the first part I'll be concentrating on making more bunting and more love themed enamel pins. I'll be making some waterproof bunting for the summer so hopefully people with like those too.

*Instagram competition time!*

We all know some wonderful mums - either our own, or a friend who is doing a great job as a mum. For the chance to win your mum of choice some beautiful ‘mum’s bouquet’ bunting pictured above and a love pin badge pictured below, all you have to do is head over to the Ealing Insider instagram and comment on one of the Made by Love posts with the mum’s name and why she should win the goodies. 

We would love it if you would follow us both on Instagram too! 

We will be drawing the winner at random on Mother’s Day - Sunday 11th March and will publish the winner on the Ealing Insider instagram.

Gorgeous to meet you Jesz - thank you for featuring. We will be looking out for you in Ealing and filling our homes with as much bunting as we can!

Love,

Ellie

The Ealing Insider

xoxox

The competition small print

·        To enter, you must comment on one of the Made By Love photos on the Ealing Insider Instagram account with the name of a mum who is doing a great job and why she should win.

·        The competition is running from Tuesday 6th March until Saturday 10th March 2018.

·        All entrants’ names will be entered in to a ‘hat’ and the winner will be selected at random on Mother’s Day - Sunday 11th March.

·        The winner’s name will be published on the Ealing Insider’s Instagram on Sunday 11th March and we will contact them directly to arrange to get their goodies to them.

·        The competition is open to anyone who follows the guidelines above, except Made By Love and the Ealing Insider, as long as they will be in the UK for so the prize can be posted to them.