UK Handmade

MEET: Emma King of Empathy Holistics

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:52:48 +0100

Today we pleased to meet the lovely Emma King, the brainchild behind Empathy Holistics…

Please tell us about yourself and how you got started.

Hi, my name is Emma King I have always had an interest in complementary therapies since I was ten years of age. I was given a book by Danielle Ryman about Aromatherapy this then jump started my passion and interest in the subject. I attended the university of Salford in 2001 were I obtained a BSc (Hons) Complementary Medicine and counselling Studies. As part of the degree I was lucky enough to gain a diploma in Aromatherapy this is when my interest in essential oils started to grow. After university I got a job as a mail order assistant at Neal’s Yard Remedies. I was able to sometimes work in the shop front, I got inspired by their products and how they blended their products. In 2006 I decided to launch Empathy Holistics; a mobile holistic therapy business. Last year when I was expecting our first child I decided to develop and create my own handmade products including oil blends and creams.

What is the story and ethos behind your work?

The ethos behind my products is to produce an array of natural products for everyone to enjoy. As a therapist I have been using a variety of different products made by other holistic businesses when carrying out massage and relaxation workshops, hence I wanted to start using my own. These products can help people with different medical conditions and allow people to relax their mind, body and spirit. A lot of people I have worked with in the past have been living with terminal illness, going through pregnancy and childbirth and others just want to de-stress more my products have helped them to do this.

Can you tell us a bit about where you make your products, can we take a sneaky peek at your studio?

At the moment I make all my products from the study in the comfort of my own home. I feel very inspired in this room because I also love all the different aromas that are in the air a mixture of Lavender, Chamomile, ginger and many more; I chose the colour of the room, how the storage would work with plenty of space for my materials and tools and I wanted to have a lot of room to spread out and get creative as well!

What do you love most about what you do and what do you find the most frustrating?

I love having an idea for a new oil blend or cream, then creating it and then selling it to real customers all over the UK and sometimes Europe to help them feel better and more relaxed. Choosing which oils will go well together for example Lavender great for soothing busy minds, Chamomile to aid restfulness and Ylang ylang which helps to ground busy people.

I find the paper work very frustrating when running a ‘business’ I do realise that accounts need to be done, but I have often struggled with numbers; it is very lucky that I have a family member to help me with this.

Do you have any special projects you are working on at the moment and, if so, can you tell us a bit about them?

At the moment I have been running Baby Relax courses at a local Sensory room in Bury to help relaxation between babies and their parents. I want to develop this course, but I also want to create some creams which are gentle on baby’s skin and calm them at the same time and that can be used during the sessions; while also helping them with baby related ailments i.e. colic, cradle cap, digestive problems and nappy rash etc.

Gift baskets for special occasions like the birth of a baby, birthdays and weddings I really feel as though customers want a gift that encompasses a variety of products, and products which complement each other.

What are your tools of the trade and which is your favourite?

The tools of my trade are my hands and essential oils. I love Ginger, Cinnamon and Orange; I have chosen these three oils as they complement each other, they remind me of Christmas and each of them has different properties. For example Cinnamon is very biblical oil and is used in a lot of incenses and is great for busy minds. Ginger is great for digestive complaints and aids digestion. Orange is often used to uplift our moods.

What’s your main goal for the next 6 – 12 months?

My main goals for the future are to concentrate on getting my products out there to parent and child groups, midwives and other allied health professionals.

I would also like to focus my efforts at being at craft and gift stalls or trying local markets to help with my product awareness.

To keep creating yummy blends for everyone to enjoy! I would also love to expand the product ranges for labour and childbirth. I want to develop my own range of hand soaps that are kind to everyone’s skin, especially the young and elderly.

Really all I want is for my creations to get out into the local community and then the world.

Who are some of your favourite artists/designers/makers?

Danielle Ryman. I was given her book by a family member for Christmas when I was very young this then sparked an interest into wanting to know more about Aromatherapy and other complementary therapies.

Robert Tisserand was a name I came across regularly when researching for university assignments. He had a vision to bring aromatherapy based products into everyone’s home. As that is what he has done; he has also written extensive literature in relation to essential oils. He has inspired me greatly in my own work.

Neal’s Yard Remedies inspired me not only because I used to be an employee, I was lucky enough to be able to handle their different product ranges, I would love to one day be known as widely as they are!

Starting a small crafting business in tough economic times is always a challenge. What advice can you give those who want to start their own craft business?

I would say that believing in yourself and your own talents are very important. Know your competition, try to be a little different from them in what you are offering the market and enjoy what you do, if you enjoy what you are doing people and potential customers will pick up on this and will inspire them to want to buy from you.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I enjoy relaxing with my new family (husband and our little son) on days out to local farms, walks and holidays. I enjoy taking part in yoga and I am a keen believer that everyone should try it at least once in their life. I love watching films at the cinema, home baking and sewing.

How do you get the word out about your work and where can we buy it?

I am also known to sell my products at local events in and around Manchester and surrounding areas for example local craft fairs.

Thank you for taking the time in reading this article I really appreciate it and look forward to connecting with you!

MEET: Emma King of Empathy Holistics

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:08:02 +0100

Today we pleased to meet the lovely Emma King, the brainchild behind Empathy Holistics…

Please tell us about yourself and how you got started.

What is the story and ethos behind your work?

Can you tell us a bit about where you make your products, can we take a sneaky peek at your studio?

What do you love most about what you do and what do you find the most frustrating?

Do you have any special projects you are working on at the moment and, if so, can you tell us a bit about them?

What are your tools of the trade and which is your favourite?

What’s your main goal for the next 6 – 12 months?

My main goals for the future are to concentrate on getting my products out there to parent and child groups, midwives and other allied health professionals.

I would also like to focus my efforts at being at craft and gift stalls or trying local markets to help with my product awareness.

Really all I want is for my creations to get out into the local community and then the world.

Who are some of your favourite artists/designers/makers?

Starting a small crafting business in tough economic times is always a challenge. What advice can you give those who want to start their own craft business?

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

How do you get the word out about your work and where can we buy it?

I have a website for the business: www.empathyholistics.co.uk I also promote myself on facebook and Twitter, I love social networking and connecting with other like minded people and businesses within and out of my sector. I also run a small online shop as part of the folksy.com community where I sell my oil and cream creations: http://folksy.com/shops/empathyholisticshop www.empathyholistics.co.uk I also promote myself on facebook and Twitter, I love social networking and connecting with other like minded people and businesses within and out of my sector. I also run a small online shop as part of the folksy.com community where I sell my oil and cream creations: http://folksy.com/shops/empathyholisticshop

I am also known to sell my products at local events in and around Manchester and surrounding areas for example local craft fairs.

Thank you for taking the time in reading this article I really appreciate it and look forward to connecting with you!

EVENTS: Wisbech Arts Festival

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:00:32 +0100

UK Handmade’s Creative Director Karen Jinks will be holding a bookbinding workshop as part of the Wisbech Arts Festival this Friday 24th May. The Festival features the cultural resources of this Fenland town and is organized by volunteers from Octavia Hill’s Birthplace House to continue her pioneer Arts for Everyone work.

Crafts day, workshops and demonstrations, including bookbinding, jewellery, digital art cards, crochet, sewing, knitting, tatting, watercolour, flower arranging and more.

Friday 24th May

Octavia Hill’s Birthplace House, 7 South Brink, 10am-5pm

£2 per workshop

For further details contact individual venues or Octavia Hill’s Birthplace House between 9.30am – 1pm.

Call 01945 476358.

Online at http://wisbechartsfestival.org.uk for up to date information.

http://wisbechartsfestival.org.uk/workshops/bookbinding/

NEWS: Turtle Doves Reaches Finals of National Recycling Awards

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:58:33 +0100

A Shropshire company, which turns once-loved jumpers into beautiful accessories to be enjoyed all over again, has been nominated for a top national award.

Turtle Doves, based in Shrewsbury, has reached the finals of the National Recycling Awards 2013, which recognizes excellence in all parts of the waste and resource management industry.

Kate Holbrook founded her company in 2009 by turning unsellable jumpers from charity shops into wrist warmers, named Turtle Doves.

Her work soon branched out to include Hugs, a versatile wrap of patchwork jumpers, which can be worn in many different ways. The product range now also includes hats, scarves, snoods and blankets.

Turtle Doves has been nominated in the Retail Recycler of the Year and Best Recycled Product categories.

For the next stage, which takes place in mid-April, a panel of industry experts will examine Mrs Holbrook’s business.

She will then find out if she has won the coveted prize at a glittering awards ceremony at the London Hilton Hotel, Park Lane on July 3, which will be attended by more than 1,100 waste and recycling professionals.

“I am really thrilled to be recognised for a National Recycling Award,” she said.

“It really gives a stamp of authority to what we are doing. It is so important to me to have an ethical and environmentally friendly business.

“It makes sense to reuse wherever possible; so many things that we get rid of have plenty of life left in them really.

“We buy many of our jumpers from charity shops.

“They are often the ones that can’t be sold for whatever reason and we turn them into beautiful, unique pieces of clothing.

“We make a huge effort to use up as much of every jumper as possible. Each jumper is washed and de-fuzzed as necessary so it’s ready to be worn again.

“If there is any of the jumper left, it’s given back to a charity shop to be sold on to the waste trade for rags.

“By sourcing our material in this way, we have given more than £9,000 to charity just by running our business.”

Mrs Holbrook said she also loves the fact that the items she makes are full of history and memories.

“It’s not only recycling the material but also breathing new life into the clothes, which would otherwise likely end up in landfill,” she said. “Typically every jumper will be used in at least three different products. A long cardigan might make four pairs of Turtle Doves, five scarf pieces and several heart appliques for Hugs.”

The recycled nature of the product means the accessories are unique.

“Our Turtle Doves come in all the colours of the rainbow and make a great eco present and they also come in stylish recycled packaging.”

“We also make cashmere Turtle Doves. Second-hand cashmere is pretty hard to get hold of so we offer a service where if people send us their old cashmere jumper, we will make them a free pair of Turtle Doves from it.”

Mrs Holbrook started making patchwork blankets in 2013 to use up some of the chunkier jumpers.

“They make really lovely throws to snuggle under and we have a great range for children’s prams and beds.”

“We really try not to let anything go to waste” she said.

“We’re always thinking about new ways of using our fabric to fulfill it’s full potential.”

Turtle Doves can be found at a variety of markets around the county, including ‘Made in Shropshire’ markets based in Ludlow and Shrewsbury and also Telford Farmer’s Market.

The products are also available to buy through the website at www.turtle-doves.co.uk, where you will also find a video about how to wear the hug.

For more information about Turtle Doves, see http://www.turtle-doves.co.uk, call (01743) 344702 or email kate@turtle-doves.com. Also follow on Twitter @LoveTurtleDoves and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Turtle-Doves/229552123805640?bookmark_t=page

http://www.nationalrecyclingawards.com/633820

EXHIBITION: Designed Interiors

Sun, 19 May 2013 22:42:32 +0100

Designed Interiors is an inspiring, innovative collection of British Designer made work with the home in mind in Kingston’s historic market hall.

Including

* Hand crafted innovative lamps and chandeliers
* Cutting edge contemporary furniture
* Tiles and wall coverings
* Soft furnishings
* State of the art metal and glass work
* Cermaics
* Unique wall art

Meet the designers, browse, buy or commission work not available on the high street.

Admission FREE

Saturday 1st June 10.00 - 18.00

Sunday 2nd June 10.30 - 16.00

Kingston Market Hall, Market Place, Town Centre, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey. KT1 1JT

http://loverslightsgallery.co.uk/designkingston/

EXHIBITION: Designed Interiors

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:40:32 +0100

Designed Interiors is an inspiring, innovative collection of British Designer made work with the home in mind in Kingston’s historic market hall.

Including

Meet the designers, browse, buy or commission work not available on the high street.

Admission FREE

Saturday 1st June 10.00 - 18.00

Sunday 2nd June 10.30 - 16.00

Kingston Market Hall, Market Place, Town Centre, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey. KT1 1JT

http://loverslightsgallery.co.uk/designkingston/

REVIEW: Draw Your Own Fonts

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:26:02 +0100

If you are interested in craft, there is a distinct possibility that at some point, you are going to want to incorporate type, either into your actual work (such as creating cards or prints), or should you decide to sell, as part of your branding.

You might be content to choose a font that is already sitting on your computer, but there is an alternative, you could create your own hand drawn font. It would after all, make the type unique to you, as well as sitting comfortably alongside your creations, that are also hand crafted and have that personal touch.

While some might happily begin drafting letterforms freehand, others may feel daunted by the prospect. If you wanted more information about type, there are plenty of books available, but if you are a complete beginner, and only want to learn some basics without getting too overwhelmed, then Draw Your Own Fonts is a great option. It’s not only simple and accessible, but author Tony Seddon also incorporates friendly humour and fun.

It’s a funky looking book, and although it isn’t bursting with colour, the distinctive palette of beige, grey, black, white and bright orange reinforce the feeling that hand drawn type is individual and edgy, rather than slick and commercial.

The book is divided into three main parts, beginning with a fairly long introductory section that gives you a brief history of hand lettering, and how it has developed into digital fonts that we use today. You are then advised to copy alphabets by hand, trying to recreate them as accurately as possible, and the benefits of such an exercise is explained. This is followed by ‘Tracing and Tampering’, another exercise that asks you to choose an alphabet, trace it, and then add things to each individual letter, or take elements away, so you can begin to experiment with the structure of individual letters.

The second part of the book introduces you to thirty alphabets that have been created by a variety of designers and illustrators; short biographies of whom can be found at the back of the book. Each alphabet is introduced with a small paragraph briefly explaining the idea behind its creation, key features and details are also highlighted, and you are given suggestions of other fonts that may work well alongside it. You are shown the entire hand drawn alphabet including upper and lower cases, numbers and glyphs. This is accompanied by a blank page of graph paper which is for you to practice recreating the lettering.

Alphabets included are expressive and can verge upon gimmicky, and maybe it should be reinforced that they aren’t the kind of fonts that can be overused. I think it would have also been useful if the fonts could have been shown in context. There are a couple of simple examples, but I thought a little more focus on this may have given the reader more awareness of when and where they could use the fonts appropriately.

The fonts included exude fun, and include many shapes and forms that you can take ideas from. I really liked the quirky Hairy Beast, as I have an interest in picture books and could easily imagine how this lettering could be used. I also liked the highly decorative Octobet by Alex Wells, as although it’s inspired by the Kracken of Norse Legend, it’s still strangely beautiful.

The final part of the book teaches you about type as a digital font: how it works, and brief instructions on how to turn your own hand drawn letters into a usable font, using, in this instance, the computer programs Adobe illustrator and Fontlab. I found this information extremely valuable, I’ve previously tried to create my own font using a similar program, but without any instructions had failed to be successful, and I now realise where I went wrong. It appears with the right program and a little practice (for anyone unfamiliar with creating vector graphics) it’s a fairly straight forward process.

It’s worth remembering, and being aware before turning to this book, that if you would like to complete your own digital font, you will need access to these various computer programs. In the meantime however, you can work your way through the book, doodling, scribbling, sketching, and letting your creativity run wild, until your basic alphabet has been created.

Initially I thought Draw Your Own Fonts may be a bit of a novelty, and contain more style than substance, but as lighthearted as this book is, I was impressed by the amount of key information that has been condensed into a relatively small amount of space, such as the importance of maintaining some kind of structure, and retaining consistent sizing in order to prevent your fonts looking amateurish. Everything is written in a relaxed, easy-to-read manner and is ideal for newcomers. It serves not only as inspiration by giving you lots of examples of letterforms, but also as a workbook, asking you to experiment and play, in order to learn how individual letters and whole fonts are structured, by actually doing. It’s a fun way to learn and this is definitely one of the most enjoyable type-based books that I’ve had the pleasure of reading.

Draw Your Own Fonts
Tony Seddon

RRP: £12.99
Ivy Press

ISBN-10: 1908005815
ISBN-13: 978-1908005816

REVIEW: Draw Your Own Fonts

Sat, 18 May 2013 07:24:32 +0100

Draw Your Own Fonts
Tony Seddon

RRP: £12.99
Ivy Press

ISBN-10: 1908005815
ISBN-13: 978-1908005816

CRAFT FAIRS: Palace Art and Craft Fair

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:09:03 +0100

The Palace Art and Craft Fair opens to the public today, Friday 17th May at midday. It’s a lovely new event to be held in the stunning surroundings of Fulham Palace - the old Palace of the Bishops of London - by the Thames at Putney Bridge, complete with walled kitchen garden, vine house, botanic gardens, Tudor courtyard and spacious Georgian drawing rooms.

The show features equal numbers of fine artists (painters, printmakers, sculptors and photographers) and designer-makers (ceramicists, textile designers, jewellers, silversmiths and more) Featuring some of best artists and makers in the country.
Have a look at our 130+ exhibitors http://www.palaceartfair.co.uk/gallery

There will be a cafe in the Drawing Room and garden terrace overlooking the
East Lawn and walled kitchen garden - come and make a day of it.

http://www.palaceartfair.co.uk

Comic Workshop with Aurora Cacciapuoti

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:40:02 +0100

Spaces are limited, so please book early. nekocherry@gmail.com

MEET: Zoe Mitchell of Urban Magpie

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:37:02 +0100

A warm welcome to Zoe Mitchell, the Leeds based Urban Magpie, who transforms antiques, salvage and scrap into wonderful, whimsical (and sometimes slightly weird) pieces of jewellery.

Please tell us about yourself and how you got started.

I studied Fine Art at university in Leicester, where I was introduced to mixed media assemblage sculpture (and met my husband). We then moved to Leeds where, after a few years in a dull job, I re-trained and studied Interior Design & Decoration at Leeds College of Art. I now split my time between looking after my little boy and working part-time as a space planner for a large supermarket chain.

Urban Magpie started after I made some necklaces as Christmas presents for family. I found the making process addictive so I kept making more. Then a friend asked me to set up a stall at her charity tea party and it has continued from there.

How would you describe your work and what inspires it?

It’s jewellery which is elegantly recycled from junk! I love things with a patina of age, so I often work with antiques, salvage and scrap. I live in central Leeds so the pieces I make usually reflect the urban environment. I’m inspired by the colours, textures and the flotsam and jetsam of the city.

Where do you find your materials and how do you go about designing and making a new piece of jewellery?

Each piece starts with a found object, which inspires its composition and colour scheme. I called myself the Urban Magpie because that’s essentially what I am; I incorporate bits and bobs I find in the street and I scour flea markets and charity shops for interesting things. I use a sketchbook to work out the more complex designs or to jot down ideas to develop later. I also make test pieces to explore new techniques or materials. Sometimes I start a piece then abandon it for ages until something ‘clicks’ and I can get it to work.

What is the most unusual thing you’ve used in a piece of jewellery and what’s the story behind it?

Probably the big brass Victorian drawer handle backplate which I made into a necklace. I loved the result so much that I’ve kept it. I’m also obsessed with mincer discs and chandelier crystals, but right now I’m working with those dinky little fish-shaped plastic bottles of soy sauce, which you get in packs of sushi.

Tell us about your workshop.

I make my jewellery at home. My materials are stashed in an antique chest of drawers in the living room and my display equipment and packaging are in a spare bedroom. Messier work, such as drilling, sanding & polishing takes place at the kitchen table, but I usually do beadwork and final assembly in the living room, on the coffee table with the TV on in the background. Making jewellery is how I relax, so I prefer to work in the heart of the home rather than shut away in the attic.

What’s your main goal for the next 6 – 12 months?

I’m new to craft fairs, so I’m getting a few more of those under my belt this year. I’ve also recently been approached about running jewellery making workshops at vintage-themed hen parties, which sounds like huge fun.

What would be your dream commission?

I’d love the opportunity to make someone a really large-scale statement piece that pushed the definition of jewellery. I recently made a bespoke solitaire ring, using a huge chandelier crystal, for a friend who fronts a rock band. She often wears it on stage and I was delighted when she wore it in a band photo shoot. It would be great to have more commissions like that.

Who are some of your favourite artists/designers/makers?

At Uni I was influenced by Joseph Cornell, whose intricate mixed media work still fascinates me. The biggest creative boost I’ve received recently came from discovering the extraordinary work of mixed-media jewellery artist Daniel von Weinberger in a gallery in Belgium. His use of found plastic objects is really exciting and he doesn’t seem to take jewellery too seriously. He has fun with it.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

There’s not a lot of spare time left after the day-job, looking after my son and making jewellery but what I really love is spending quality family time with my husband and my son. We’re big into food so we chill out by cooking, baking and eating together.

Where can we find out more about your work and where is your jewellery sold?

Folksy: http://folksy.com/shops/TheUrbanMagpie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUrbanMagpie

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Urban_Magpie

WORKSHOPS: Two-Day Ballet Tutu Boned Bodice Course

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:21:02 +0100

Prescott & Mackay is the only school in the UK providing short courses in the construction of classical ballet dancewear.

The techniques gained in the Boned Bodice Course have a variety of interesting applications. Suitable for dance, this fitted bodice course has much less constraint than a corset, so the techniques learnt on this course can be easily applied to a more comfortable fashion outfit such as bridalwear and decorative corsets.

The course would also be useful for students who have done our Two-Day Tutu-Making Course and would like to complete their costume with a bodice.

The course is tutored by dancewear specialist Amanda Hall, who is a costume and dancewear specialist. She graduated from Wimbledon School of Art in 1987 and has worked ever since making costumes for theatre, film, television, many West End musicals, and with Mr Pearl, for couturers Christian Lacroix and Thierry Mugler.

Amanda has made costumes at the Royal Opera House in a freelance capacity for over 20 years; as well as making tutus for the Royal Ballet, she has also worked for English National Ballet, Northern Ballet and Scottish Ballet.

To find out more visit http://www.prescottandmackay.co.uk/courses/tutu-making/tutu-boned-bodice-trial-course

Two-Day Ballet Tutu Boned Bodice Course

Prescott & Mackay School of Design and Accessory Design

52 Warren Street

London W1T 5NJ

11-12 June 2013 10am-6pm

www.prescottandmackay.co.uk/

RECIPE: Raspberry and Apple Crumble Cake

Sun, 12 May 2013 08:54:02 +0100

Cake or pudding? This recipe gives you both, and the ‘crumble’ topping adds a lovely crunch to the moist and fruity sponge underneath. Serve in thick slices with a good dollop of clotted cream or crème fraiche, and a handful of fresh raspberries.

Ingredients:

250g self-raising flour

175g margarine

175g caster sugar

2 rounded tablespoons of soft brown sugar

I small or medium eating apple, coarsely grated

3 medium eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon of almond or vanilla extract, whichever you prefer

1 teaspoon baking soda

225g of raspberries, fresh or frozen (set a few aside to serve with the baked cake)

_You will also need a 1kg loaf tin (or similar sized cake tin)_

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°c/Gas 4/356F. Grease and line the loaf tin. Sift the flour into a large bowl and add the margarine and sugar. Rub the flour, margarine and sugar together to make a fine, crumbly rubble. Set aside 5 tablespoons of this mixture for the topping, and stir the soft brown sugar into it.

2. Mix the eggs with the grated apple. Add the baking soda to the rubbed-in mix, and then quickly stir in the egg and apple mixture along with a teaspoon of almond or vanilla extract. Do not over mix or you will end up with a cake heavy enough to sink a duck.

3. Fold in the frozen berries and spoon the mix into the loaf tin. Gently level the surface of the cake mix and sprinkle the reserved sugary rubble over the top. This will give you the ‘crumble’ topping when the loaf is baked.

4. Bake for approximately 1 ½ hours in the middle of your oven, testing with a skewer or sharp knife after an hour. If the top starts to ‘colour’ more than you would like, cover loosely with foil.

5. When baked, leave for half an hour to cool (if you can resist a warm, fragrant slice) before removing from the tin.

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED...Gail Iredale

Sat, 11 May 2013 06:41:02 +0100

Tell us about yourself

We are Wayne & Gail Iredale, founders and creaters of Hush Baby Sleeping. We work from our purpose built studio at our Derbyshire village home. We manufacture wooden blocks and signs from design to market. A recent move into vinyl lettering and wall art along with supplying clients with stencils sees Hush Baby Sleeping as a fast growing business in its fifth year of trading

Give a brief description of your career path up before you started your creative business

Prior to becoming Hush Baby Sleeping, I trained in Print & Design upon leaving school. Technology changed the way designing was done, computers took over and I didn’t find it challenging. I then ventured into a career of sales and marketing eventually running a team throughout the UK. Wayne spent 22 years in logistics and management. Wayne has 10 years of digital design as a hobby which soon proved to be instrumental in the new product development

What prompted you to pursue a creative career?

Having two young children and a demanding job meant that I felt much the same way as many working mums felt. After a nasty fall and dislocating my shoulders, I found driving painful and while I was off work at home, I found myself thinking about designs and couldn’t switch my brain off from colours, textures, designs and new ideas. I eventually handed in my notice at work and went for it… It was a case of making it work and utilising all my design and marketing skills to create the business from scratch and build a customer base of trade clients and develop retail platforms. Wayne joining me after such a fast growth was a natural progression and worked faultlessly.

What was the most difficult thing about this decision? And what was the easiest?

It felt right, a normal progression from working for someone else running the merchandising side of things to doing it for my own products, implementing all the skills I had learnt over the years to create a successful business.

How supportive of your decision were your family, friends and (former) colleagues?

Being self employed means alot of hard work, late nights and lack of weekends. My husband has supported me as I do him every step of the way. Now Hush Baby Sleeping is established 5 years down the line we still work late nights and long days while we are increasing the range of products and establishing a new sector helping clients do exactly what we do by supplying designs and stencils to a fast growing base of customers.

How has pursuing a creative career been compared with your previous career? What are the challenges, and what are the highlights?

Every job/career has its own challenges but being self employed is far more family friendly. Working from our home studio reduces the overheads of having a business unit, tackles the problem of childcare (especially when children are off school or poorly) and allows for a better balance - who else can pop a load of washing in or unload the dishwasher while waiting for the kettle to boil at coffee break?

Have you had any regrets about choosing a creative career?

None at all. Now my husband runs Hush Baby Sleeping while I develop our new second business, Iredale Towers. We work closely together helping each other and recognising who has strengths in what area and exploiting them. He’s not so good at book keeping but excels at creating vinyl wall art. It’s vital to be time efficient and a regular breakfast meeting once a fortnight gives us the opportunity to evaluate the direction and growth of the business while we recognise not so popular areas/products

What has been the best thing about your decision to pursue a creative career?

Loving what you do for a living has to be the biggest reward in itself.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering taking up a creative career, what would that be?

I would suggest listen to your client base first and foremost, try a product before creating a full range so you know how that product works both financially and design wise.

What are your plans for the future?

Our plans for the future are to continue developing our stencil and vinyl range. we shall continue with our range of signs and blocks but spend more time working with new businesses creating their designs and products. with five years’ experience doing what we do, we feel we are in the right place to be offering this service and advice to our ever growing customer base.

See more of Gail and Wayne’s lovely work at their website, and while you’re at it, take a look at Gail’s new business venture, Iredale Towers, which is also on Facebook.

EXHIBITION: Inkus at the Windmill

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:32:47 +0100

Inkus artists and Susan Jones (tutor at Curwen Print Study Centre) return to the picturesque and spacious premises of WindmillArt, bringing new and exciting prints using traditional and innovative techniques, plus cards and hand-made books.

Subjects range widely, including figurative work, landscapes, graphic designs and abstract images, and are given a variety of treatments, reflecting the several interests and interactions among the artists.

This selling exhibition will be held at WindmillArt, Long Lane, Linton, CB21 4NS, from 12pm to 6pm, Saturday 11th to Sunday 19th May 2013, with a preview (by invitation) from 6pm to 10pm, Friday 10th May. Also on sale in the gallery will be examples of work by Tereza Votre, jeweller and silversmith.

EXHIBITION: MAKERS

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:16:01 +0100

MAKERS is the only contemporary design craft exhibition in the North that is dedicated to the highest quality items for interiors. It is welcomed by design-orientated thinkers who will now be able to access design of the highest calibre on their own turf. Imaginative Furniture, Textiles, Glass, Ceramics, Silverware, Woodturning, Soft furnishings, Wallpaper, Lighting, Mirrors, Boxes, Wall panels and Corporate installations that embody an uncompromising quest for beauty with function for your own place or your clients space. See, buy, collect or commission the highest quality interiors products from skilled craftspeople creating unique innovations made to a level that few other countries can replicate. Top international interior designer Mark Gillette confirmed as judge for the ‘SHAKER MAKER’ competition - the exhibitor who best exemplifies the term Modern British Classic. MEET THE MAKERS!
A rare chance to experience a large collection of contemporary fine furniture, the latest work by members of the Northern Contemporary Furniture Makers, professional designer-makers, all based in the North, who support each other and celebrate the excellence of 21st Century design. High End not High Street. “CUBE Gallery is one of Europe’s most exciting art, architecture and design centres, dedicated to broadcasting the ideas and issues that lie behind the buildings, spaces and cultural networks that make up our built environment.”
“One of the coolest and classiest galleries around, CUBE continues to stage exhibitions that cover our cultural intermix of fine art, architecture & interior design”The Guardian
PREVIEW Night
Tuesday 14th May
5.30pm - 8.00pm CUBE Gallery113-115 Portland Street MANCHESTER M1 6DWt: 0161 237 5525 www.cube.org.uk FREE Entry15th - 25th MayMon - Sat: 12noon - 5pm www.contemporarymakers.com
@MAKERSofGB

Natasha Newton - Artist and Illustrator

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:25:02 +0100

Today we are pleased to meet Suffolk based artist and illustrator Natasha Newton to find out what inspires her art.

Please tell us about yourself and how you got started.

I am a full-time artist and illustrator from Suffolk, UK, but I also spend part of my time in Paris, France, with my boyfriend Leon. I have been working as a professional artist since 2007, but painting is something I have always done from a very early age. For several years I worked on building my art career while I earned money from other part-time jobs; always with a view that one day I would be able to create art on a full-time basis. At times I wasn’t sure how this was going to happen, but with determination, a lot of hard work, and a bit of luck, I got there eventually!What do you love most about what you do and what do you find most frustrating?
I love the fact that every day I wake up excited about the day ahead and the work Iwill be making. It’s fantastic to have a job that you love! I enjoy almost everything about it, but I would say that the paperwork and admin side of running a business can sometimes be frustrating. Even though I just want to make art, I know it’s necessary to keep on top of the ‘business’ side of things too, which also involves setting aside time to answer emails, update websites, respond to comments, and publicise and market my work. I often spend as much time on this as I do on actually creating the work! Can you tell us a bit about where you make your products (your creative space), can we take a sneaky peek at your workshop/studio/office?
When I’m in Suffolk, I have a studio in which I create my work. I recently redecorated and refurnished the studio. I now have a designated space for a table/desk, where I work on watercolour paintings on paper, drawings, or my painted stones. A separate of the studio is devoted to my easel, where I create my large paintings on canvas. Over on this side of the studio I have a special little table on wheels to store my huge collection of acrylic paints and brushes. I try to keep the studio relatively organised and tidy because it’s quite a small space, and I find I can work more effectively that way. But when I’m busy preparing work for a show, or packaging lots of orders, it inevitably quickly ends up looking a bit of a mess! When I redecorated last year I decided to invest in beautiful studio furniture, and I painted the walls and woodwork pale grey and white - I decided that even though it’s a ‘workspace’ it needed to be beautiful and inspiring too. And do you know what? When I walk in to the room, it’s a pleasure to be there and I find I’m creating more work than ever before!
Do you have any special projects you are working on lately? If so can you tell us a bit about them?
Alongside an exhibition I’m currently preparing for, I have a couple of special projects I’ve been working on. One of them is my project for 2013 called A Bird A Day - you can find out all about it on the blog or in the A Bird A Day shop, but basically I’ve set myself a challenge to create a new piece of bird art for five days each week, throughout the year. It’s been very well-received so far and I have sold many of the pieces I have made, which is a great start! I’m also working on a project with the illustrator Simon Wild; we are setting up a partnership, but until we launch in September I’m sworn to secrecy and can’t tell you any of the details yet - sorry! We’re both incredibly excited about it though. Who or what inspires you most in your work?
I’m inspired by many people, from artists to entrepreneurs and businessmen and women. Anyone with a good work ethic inspires me. The list of artists I’m inspired by is too long to mention - there are many! But mostly, I’m inspired by the nature that surrounds me here in Suffolk, not to mention gazing at the night sky and thinking of the Universe beyond (I’m a bit of an astronomy geek!).
How do you get the word out about your work and where can we buy your work?
A variety of ways. I’ve been lucky enough to have my work featured on some very popular websites which has really helped to get the word out. My art has also been used for book covers, in magazines, and by Moo Print Ltd, which raised my profile too. Personally, I use Twitter and I have a new Facebook page , my website and my blog , and I now have two online shops on Etsy. My main shop is The Blackbird Sings, which I opened in 2008 and the new shop, A Bird A Day, where I sell the work made for the project I mentioned earlier. My work is also shown in various galleries - a current list of exhibitions can be found on my website!

How old were you when you realised you wanted to do what you do now and how did you get started?
I guess I was in my early 20s when I realised I actually wanted to be an artist and that maybe I could somehow make it happen. I think up until that point I’had always known what I wanted to do but lacked confidence in myself, and couldn’t see a way of making it a reality. To cut a long story short, I started out by exhibiting my work in small local exhibitions, and I also entered larger, more prestigious shows in London. A few pieces were selected for several shows, and I even won an award at one of them. These shows are pretty hard to get into, so it helped me realise I could be on to something! Gradually I approached galleries, and my work was exhibited and became more known. I started to build a customer base with regular buyers/collectors, and then I discovered the internet, along with Etsy, social networking etc., which has helped immensely.
What jobs did you have before this?
While I was building my art career I worked part-time in retail - most recently in a lovely independent clothes shop. I spent most of my earnings on clothes, but I loved that job!
What advice would you give someone starting a creative business? You will probably have to work harder than you ever have in your life to make it succeed, but it won’t feel like such hard work because you’ll be working for yourself and you’ll love what you do. The long hours are worth it. If you have a passion for your business, it will carry you through the hard times. Determination, an ability to adapt and change, and never resting on your laurels is also sound advice. And when the going is good, squirrel away that extra income so that you have a financial buffer for when you have a quieter month or two (because you will, and then you’ll be grateful you did!).
If you had time what new craft would you like to learn?
I’d love to learn to sew and make my own clothes!

Natasha’s website, blog, Facebook page and etsy shop:

Website:www.natasha-newton.co.uk

Blog:www.theblackbirdsings.typepad.com

Facebook:www.facebook.com/natashanewtonart

Etsy:www.etsy.com/shop/theblackbirdsings and www.etsy.com/shop/abirdaday

NEWS: Summer Issue of UK Handmade Magazine is out now!

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:02:32 +0100

After a long wintery spell we all need a bit of sunshine to brighten our days. The summer issue of UK Handmade magazine is now out and packed full of gorgeous summer finds, inspirational makers, useful business tips and more. A big thanks to Jane Ormes who kindly let us grace our cover with her vibrant “Bring Me Sunshine” print…

We are delighted to bring you an insight into the creative lives of Kirsty Elson, Mrs Eliott Books and Janet Bell, as well as business such as Vintage Vacations and This is Your Kingdom that positively make you want to drop everything and go and enjoy the delights that the UK has to offer.

We also speak to Kate Hills of Make It British who aims to bring together makers and designers with UK manufacturers to get their products made here instead of outsourcing to companies abroad and we provide you a Marketing 101 to get your business working for you.

Shake out that picnic blanket, grab those buckets and spades, and take a stroll with us down the beach. Come and explore this little island and discover glorious things to see and do this summer….

Read the magazine in full here http://ukhandmade.co.uk/magazine

NB: We have decided after years of using a combination of a self hosted magazine reader and yudu.com (both of which were struggling to keep us up to date with changing technologies and our increased readership) we are moving everything over to http://issuu.com/ukhandmade which will enable everyone to read the mag with ease on your mobiles and tablets as well as on your computers. PDFs are still available for sale for you to download and keep via http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/ukhandmade. I will slowly migrate all the past issues over to issuu in the coming weeks so do come and follow us there and share with your friends and family. We are all volunteers and work hard to keep the magazine free for all to read so we need your help to spread the word as much as possible on your own social networks. Thank you for your support!

REVIEW: Making Peg Dolls

Sun, 05 May 2013 08:41:05 +0100

On hearing the words ‘peg doll’ I can’t say that I burst with excitement. I have a vague memory of playing with some as a child, wrapped in scraps of cloth, with blank little faces. Apparently blank faces are supposed to encourage creativity, imagination, and expression, but I always thought they were just a little sad and unloved. I certainly wasn’t convinced in the entertainment value of a whole book about peg dolls, so it came as a surprise when a rather substantial, chunky book, called simply, Making Peg Dolls, arrived at my door. Even more surprisingly, it’s full of all kinds of cute and adorable, and if I can bring myself to admit it, a little bit of excitement.

Making Peg Dolls contains over sixty doll designs, based on the theme of the seasons, along with various annual festivals. We are informed that the peg doll is part of a Waldorf education (an independent alternative education movement founded in Germany, based on anthroposophy and spiritual philosophy) handcraft tradition, which may go a little way in explaining why I’m not so familiar with some of the Christian festivals, such as Martinmas, and Michaelmas. Christian, Jewish and Japanese festivals are included, and my one little criticism would be, that it would have been nice to see other multicultural celebrations featured, that we are more familiar with in the UK, such as the Chinese New Year, and Diwali. With that said, the doll designs merely represent characters that can be adapted for use for any form of story telling or play: a king, a princess, a wizard, a dragon, regardless to whether the festival mentioned is relevant to an individual.

The little blank peg dolls used throughout the projects are flat-bottomed and come in a variety of sizes. The variation in size lends itself neatly to some of the different characters, so for example, the Easter Hen is larger than her chicks. However, after a quick search online, I’ve found that most pegs available in the UK are the standard long ones that won’t stand, and would therefore need the bottoms sawn away. I only found one supplier of the dolls featured in this book, so it looks as though supply would be limited.

After a thorough introduction to the dolls and materials, the first chapter embraces Spring. It includes turning peg dolls into sweet little Spring Flowers, Bluebirds, Easter Bunnies, Hens and Chicks. Each project has an opening spread that includes and introductory paragraph, a poem, song, or quotation, a list of supplies, and a full page image of the finished peg dolls. Construction of each of the peg dolls then continues on the following pages. Instructions are written in a step-by-step format, are very thorough, but incredibly simple and easy to follow. They are accompanied by hand drawn diagrams, that look a little wonky and naive, but are quite charming, and add to the feeling that peg dolls are achievable for anyone willing to have a go. The diagrams also include actual-size templates, that can be traced and used to cut out the felt shapes needed to create clothes and hats.

The dolls themselves are quirky and quaint, and I found that each page turn filled me with wonder and delight, they are so simple, but they just make you smile. I think it’s something akin to when a parent dresses their child up in cute costume for their own amusement, while some dolls are simply painted, the ones in hats, that look like a small person in costume, are so adorable.

I have two favourite chapters, the first Autumn, features all the things I love: Toadstool Gnomes, a Family Of Gnomes (with pointy felt hats), Owls, and Halloween Witches, Ghosts and Cats. The other chapter is at the very end of the book and is entitled Tell Me A Story, and we are shown how to make characters from the classic fairy tales: Goldilocks and the three Bears (peg dolls in bear hats - oh my!), Red Riding Hood, and Hansel and Gretel.

Making Peg Dolls is a lovely family book that can be turned to as a wet day activity. It’s well presented, and I adore how the the finished peg dolls are presented within a set, as props and scenery really help bring the little people to life. It’s easy to imagine how children could become totally immersed in creating their own little theatrical worlds, developing their creativity and skills in storytelling.

This is a great book to enjoy with the kids, as a parent or teacher, but even if you don’t have children, let yourself reconnect with your inner child and fall in love with this magical world of tiny wooden characters. I don’t have any children, but I confess, I’m completely enchanted by these sweet little dolls, and at some point I’m going to cave in to the need to create my own little Gnome, or Bear, or Bunny, or Dragon, or Owl, or maybe even a Cat!

Making Peg Dolls
Margaret Bloom

RRP: £19.99
Hawthorn Press

ISBN-10: 1907359176
ISBN-13: 978-1907359170

REVIEW: Making Peg Dolls

Sat, 04 May 2013 07:10:02 +0100

Making Peg Dolls
Margaret Bloom

RRP: £19.99
Hawthorn Press

ISBN-10: 1907359176
ISBN-13: 978-1907359170