I’m back at the workshop making some jewellery for a couple of orders and preparing for The British Craft Trade fair. I am making the new pieces in my collection that will available for shops and galleries to order. I’m really excited about offering the new pieces to order as they have proved popular throughout the year.
me^working!
Just read this article about Graham Hughes, Art Director of The Goldsmiths’ Company, I have just pasted the introduction but the rest is well worth a read……
“Graham Hughes was a tall, ebullient, dashing figure who created a postwar renaissance of British silversmithing and jewellery, as art secretary, and subsequently art director, of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, in London, from 1951 until 1981. Hughes, who has died aged 84, grew up knowing many of the most eminent silversmiths of the interwar period. His father, George Ravensworth Hughes, had worked at the Goldsmiths’ Company until his retirement as the company’s clerk in 1953, having initiated their most important commissions, purchases and patronage during the interwar years……”
www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/nov/09/graham-hughes-obituary
Imagine objects three-dimensionally printed from a bed of nylon powder; shapes appearing to seamlessly morph and merge with each other; and new forms randomly self-generated by computer software. Lab Craft, a new Crafts Council touring exhibition, presents the imagined as real objects.
Curated by design commentator Max Fraser, the exhibition features 26 of the most experimental names in craft and design, each of them combining traditional craft skills with the use of cutting-edge digital technologies.
Lab Craft is at the Turnpike Gallery, Leigh, until 18 December
Chair upholstered with ‘White Moth All Over’ by Timorous Beasties
Timorous Beasties’ work often incorporates illustrations of triffid-like plants, birds and other animals. To create the White Moth All Over design they have repeatedly built up a scanned image of a white moth to create a busy and detailed pattern.
To celebrate the launch of this new event Made by Hand are giving one lucky Ideal Home reader the chance to win this limited edition 40x50cm black wooden framed hand made screen print from Ruth Green Design. Made from high quality Fabriano paper, it is one of only 50 limited edition prints, worth £160.
This December sees the launch of the very first Made by Hand event in Newport, South Wales, showcasing 140 of the UK’s finest designer makers.
Set on the outskirts of Newport, the 3 day craft and design spectacular aims to raise the profile and popularity of such disciplines in the UK. Visit from 3rd to 5th December and enjoy inspirational design stalls, family entertainment, workshops and craft demonstrations. From ceramicists and jewellery makers to silversmiths and furniture designers, not only will this be the perfect place to shop for Christmas but also to gain an insight into the impressive array of stunning craft and design that is now being produced and promoted in the UK.
To enter click here!
Origin is the Crafts Council’s annual showcase of original contemporary craft, bringing together 220 of the most innovative UK and international makers for 1 week. It offers visitors a rare chance to buy directly from the makers and meet them face to face. I have visited Origin in the past at Somerset House and the diversity of craft is amazing and would thoroughly recommend a visit!
I am always inspired by fashion drawings as I love the different styles and techniques used, this book is defiantly on my wish list!
These two pictures are a couple of my favourites!
“Fashion Designers’ Sketchbooks by Hywel Davies explores the creative processes of contemporary fashion practitioners. For designers, sketchbooks are companions that capture and facilitate research, support design development and communicate new fashion ideas. Going beyond an instrument for drawing, sketchbooks secure a varied range of that inspires, fuels and transforms initial fashion ideas into final concepts.”
Antonio Marras for Kenzo
Fabric inspiration and silhouette roughs
“I need many things to nourish my inspiration: objects, images, stories and pieces of cloth. Everything that can make my mind travel and work, I continuously need to see new things, new places, to meet new people to listen to. At the same time, I need to be sure I can still count on old, steady things, things with a past and that already belonged to someone else, often things that have outlived time.”
Peter Jensen
Design drawings
“I like to draw using a black fine-liner and white copier paper. I always like there to be to be a bit of a story to each collection and I always have this idea of the muse, so I am always thinking about that.
Nicki Clee a fellow designer and friend has been busy creating these fab new designs for Margo Selby! The results are luscious and I love the colour combinations! The designs fit easily into Margo’s current collections.
“Margo Selby is proud to introduce this exciting new fabric in the brand new cross floral design.
Luxurious silk and lycra fibres woven in a double cloth structure to create a 3-dimensional quality. Cleé colourway is a harmonious mixture of purple, olive green, smokey grey, mint, pearl white and grey. ”
The scarf and the cushion can both be purchased on Margo’s website!
‘Best of Brum’ Exhibition @ The RBSA Gallery, Birmingham was a great success and many of my jewellery/silversmithing friends and collegues also exhibited including: ALICE GOW, ANNA LORENZ, CLAIRE PARDOE, ESTHER LORD, JO POND, KATHERINE CAMPBELL LEGG, KATHLEEN BAIRD, KERRY O’CONNOR, LOUISE CHESSHIRE
MELANIE TOMLINSON, MICHELE WHITE, MIRANDA SHARPE, RAJESH GOGNA, RITA PATEL, SHONA MARSH
This piece was my star attraction:
It’s a 4 layer bloom necklace, the petals are silver that has been oxidised/blackened and each layer has an 18ct Yellow Gold petal.
I picked my work up this week and the new exhibition was full of delicious cupcakes! (knitted, cast and ceramic however!) The new exhibition is called:
“The Art of Dining”
“Explore the relationship between food and object. Including jewellery, ceramics and textiles, this exhibition will investigate the social importance of food and dining. It includes direct representations of food and tableware that is purely decorative. ‘The Art of Dining’ will be a sumptuous exhibition and an intriguing insight into the varied techniques and skills utilised by makers in their creative practices.
Ceramic cupcakes by Julie Pettit
textiles from Lucy Pritchard
jewellery by Annie Banian
I’ve created a flickr account that means I can put on all my photos rather than choosing one to put on my blog as a representation. I’ve started with the photos I took of the workshop where I work, although I work in the slightly cleaner room next door and use this room for the sink and for any ‘dirty’ work like polishing.
The photo’s are called: “Ye Olde Workshop” as that’s always how I describe this room to anyone!
This is the Front page of my long awaited catalogue!
This is the back page of my long awaited catalogue!
I shall put up the rest of the pages on my blog as soon as I can or perhaps even pop it on the front page for people to have a little look through! The photos will eventually be up on the website but I have to re size them first! The catalogue will be available for trade buyers on my stand at The British Craft Trade Fair 2010
Harrogate is open to Trade buyers
11th April 10am-6pm
12th April 10am-5pm
13th April 10am-5pm
At:
