Three books for Christmas

As we get near to Christmas I thought I would do a quick post about three new books which are great for Christmas presents!

All three have just been published this Autumn/Winter and they are available from Amazon or from the artists involved. I have added the relevant links by each books so you can have a browse and maybe find a book, or three, that you like!


Robert Tavener Printmaker and Illustrator by Emma & Richard Mason. www.emmamason.co.uk or via Amazon


Angie Lewin Plants and Places by Leslie Geddes Brown
www.angielewin.co.uk or via Amazon


Greek Myths by Ann Turnbull and Sarah Young
www.jontutton.theartistsweb.co.uk or via Amazon

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Maker of the Week - Miranda Hughes

Miranda Hughes designs and handcrafts jewellery that is distinctive and unique. Contemporary design combined with a love for all things vintage forms the starting point for many designs. Antique objects, words, colours and patterns are used as precious charms and details. This gives these seemingly valueless elements a new life; reinventing them into something wearable and beautiful.

One favourite living craft maker.

I love the work by Rob Ryan at the moment, it brings such a smile to my face; particularly his paper creations. His pieces are whimsical, narrative, delicate, beautiful, romantic and witty!

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased?
A gorgeous little porcelain jug made by Rebecca Callis when I was exhibiting at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair last month.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
Stylewise I loved the ‘retro’ look and must have watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s countless times. As much as I tried I doubt my personal style appeared anything as elegant as Audrey! I had a weekend job in Habitat, which luckily was a much more inspiring environment than working in my local supermarket or pub.
I was quite poorly for a while around this time, bad timing as far as my A-Levels were concerned, so had to catch up on all Photography and Art coursework in a very short space of time. Compared to the Business Studies A-Level it didn’t actually feel like too much hard work, and triggered something in me which make me realise I didn’t want to stop my artistic pursuits and sit in an office just yet. An inspiring art teacher and support from friends & family led me to continue on with creative education and pursue it as a career. Somehow I’ve managed as yet to successfully avoid any dull office jobs!

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
Mumford & Sons, Hot Chip, The Killers and old favourites Beth Orton, Portishead, Massive Attack, Simon & Garfunkel…

Where and what is your studio?
Hatfield in Hertfordshire; in a small spare room in my parent’s house. Quite a strange, yet comforting feeling as it’s my old bedroom. It’s not ideal, and hope to be able to work from my own home one day, but as I live with my boyfriend in a small one bedroom flat that’s not really an option at the moment. However, I am so very grateful for my parents to offer me the space, especially as I’m sure I make more noise and mess now than I did in my teenage years!

What is your favourite (art) website?
I don’t think I’ve explored enough yet, but I do like to glance at the V&A website every now and again to see what’s going on.

Surprising activity/hobbies?
I do love a good pub quiz. And if I go to a beach, I can spend hours searching for the ‘perfect’ pebble.

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
I do try to switch off, but find it difficult as there’s always something I feel I should be doing, and there just never seems to be enough hours in the day. Unfortunately I don’t work on my jewellery full time yet; I have two other part time jobs at the moment so my working life is extremely busy, but varied; which I enjoy. My work as a designer/maker feels like a real treat and escape.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Home.

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Yes, it has such an influence on culture & society so acts as a fantastic record of the times we live in, from cave paintings to popart. I believe craft has a real importance today; our lives are being taken over by technology & mass produced items, so unique products produced with skill, craftmanship, heart and soul are vital. Most importantly, our world would be a very miserable, dull and empty place without it.

What do you think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
I really get angry at those chain style “art galleries” that you see in shopping centres full of awful, reproduced, cartoon like “paintings” and “sculptures”. I get even more angry when I realise they must have enough customers to keep them happily in business, when so many real art & craft galleries find it more difficult.

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Maker of the Week - Esther Coombs

Esther Coombs is a practicing artist living and working in Hampshire, who believes life is a story and that narrative is best told with drawings.

One favorite living craft maker.
Too many to mention them all, so this is difficult, I have always admired John Dilnot, his amazing bird boxes have always inspired me.

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased?
The last time was a amazing little match box with a drawing that pulls out of it by Alice Gabb, who's work is so beautiful!


At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
Honestly I can't remember, which we can maybe put down to a great time at art college, although in a broader sense my foundation course at Maidstone KIAD was a real eye opener, so many different types of media to try, enthusiastic tutors and great people who were into the same stuff as me it was a revelation.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
I just down loaded the Puppini Sisters which was so good I down loaded their second album too! :)

Where and what is your studio?
My studio is a lovely big shed at the end of our garden, about to be a lot nicer next week, when I get a wood burner in its pretty cold out there at the mo! :)

What is your favorite (art) website?

I couldn't live without my design sponge update daily! http://www.designspongeonline.com/

Surprising activity/hobby?
Not that surprising, but I like to run when I have time

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
Nope can't help it, it wakes me up, and is in the back of my mind even when I'm pretending to be interested in something else.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Hectic! (mostly!)

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Of course, items created by hand, with consideration and thought have every place in our society and importance in our lives!

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
I'm pretty much a each to their own kinda person, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

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Maker of the Week - Amy Keeper

Amy Keeper is a contemporary jewellery designer / maker. Amy is inspired by sentimental jewellery of the Victorian and Georgian era and the photographed characters from vintage postcards, circa 1920’s-30’s. She makes contemporary jewellery with a nostalgic narrative, sometimes setting the images behind stones and glass to include them as precious elements, and sometimes using photo-etching to create the suggestion of a modern cameo.

One favourite living craft maker.

Zoe Arnold, I love the narrative of her work, both the jewellery and objects that she makes, she has a wonderful way of storytelling through her pieces.

What one product/item do you really covet?

I really covet Su Blackwell's book sculptures, they're beautiful and I would love to own one.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?

At age 18 I was very much influenced by the indie music scene, I wanted to be Louise Wener from Sleeper! Sadly I wasn't making jewellery back then.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?

She & Him Volume 2, the actress Zooey Deschanel sings, she has the most fantastic voice and they have a great style.

Where and what is your studio?

I have a lovely workshop at Craft Central in Clerkenwell, London. It's one of many studios in a large Victorian (I think) building and they provide a fantastic community there.

What is your favourite (art) website ?

http://www.klimt02.net/, it's a jewellery community website and they always have some amazing pieces on there.

Surprising activity/hobby?

My hobby is quite a lazy one, I go to the cinema as often as possible, at least once or twice a week.

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?

That's tricky because I think even when you're not working it creeps into your mind and you suddenly find yourself writing to do lists, or you'll see something that inspires you with a new design.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?

Hope!

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?

Absolutely I do! I think art and craft provides a window to social history, as long as there have been people there have been forms of art. I also think it's important to conserve the traditional skills involved in art and crafts as well as embracing new technology.

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?

Ooh I couldn't say! To give a diplomatic answer, it's each to their own, that's the lovely thing about art/craft/design, there's something out there for everyone!

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Artists & Makers Winter Market Lewes

Artists & Makers winter market takes place this weekend in Lewes.

This year Artists and Makers are occupying the brilliant open space of the Foundry Gallery, North St, Lewes on December 4th from 10am to 4.30pm and aim to fill it with the spirit of Christmas. The Artists & Makers fair offers a chance to purchase contemporary design, craft and art from highly original local makers and designers across all media. With jewellery, furniture, ceramics, textiles, and clothing the fair offers beautiful handcrafted objects to suit everyone's taste and budget.

Angels with Attitude, a Lewes-based acapella choir, famed for their fine harmonies will be there singing songs with a Christmassy theme – angels and stars – as well as possibly a small amount of Abba!

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New Craft Event for Wales

A brand new craft and design event for Christmas is being launched at Tredegar House in Newport, Wales. Made by Hand takes place from 3 - 5 December and will showcase over 140 UK designer / makers with workshops, live music, family entertainment, locally sourced food and more!

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Maker of the Week - Tracy Evans

Tracy Evans is a textile artist based in the South of England. Using traditional hand weaving techniques she creates hand crafted products for fashion and interiors using a rich mix of natural fibres such as lambs wool, silk and cotton.

One favourite living craft maker.

Margo Selby for her ingenious use of structure on the loom and incredible colour sense

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased?

A silver ring by Sharon Justice, loved for it's simplicity.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
That was about 100 years ago but it was probably Vivienne Westwood's buffalo girls collection, complete with backcombed hair!

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
Jamiroquai, Michael Buble, Damien Rice

Where and what is your studio?
A home office, (or posh shed) in my garden in Gosport, Hants, which just isn't big enough.

What is your favourite (art) website?

http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/ because I love looking through the Craft Directory and having a nose at everyone's work.

Surprising activity/hobby?
Spinning class although you would never know it from the size of my bottom!

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
Rarely, perks of having a studio at home I guess. Although some days it's hard to get motivated when working alone, I always know when it's going to be one because the vacuuming takes priority!

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Control

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Absolutely, it is a celebration of imagination and skill.

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
Copying someones ideas and passing them off as your own.

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Sarah Young at MADE10

MADE10 closes today 5.00 and so far it's been the busiest and most successful show ever. Visitors love the quality and variety of the work on show and sales seem brisk.


Sarah Young is launching 3 new designs for Fabric kits/Tea-towels - Felix (fox) Marmaduke (cat) and Bertha (woman). They're screenprinted in 4 colours on white cotton and at MADE10 cost £10 each or £25 for all 3. They can be cut out and sewn up to make toys, door stops, or left as a tea towel or a picture.

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Maker of the Day - Jean Wilkinson

Jean Wilkinson is a jeweller and silversmith who is fascinating by changing metal into beautiful shapes and capturing the essence of a form. She is currently exhibiting at MADE10.

One favourite living craft maker.
Phil Barnes. Phil is an amazing talented enameller with such a depth of knowledge and experience.

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased? or What one product/item do you really covet?
I coveted a chased silver dish made by Irish Silversmith Brian Clarke, it was exquisite. The last art piece I bought was a piece of lalique opalescent glass, quite amazing!


At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
Brian Clarke Silversmith and Phil Barnes Enameller were essential to where I am now.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
Dire Straits and Santana

Where and what is your studio?
My workshop is outside the village of Headcorn in Kent. It is an old coach house with plenty of space and light.

What is your favourite (art) website?
My Favourite art is Plique a jour enamelling period 1890 - 1920 and I spend a lot of time surfing the whole Art Nouveau, Jungenstil period references to find information and pieces made then.

Surprising activity/hobby?
Latin and Ballroom dancing

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
Not really, it seems to occupy my mind constantly!

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
At One (Sorry that's two words!)

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
I think its vital to us. The makers live it and the customers make it part of their lives.

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
Cheap, bought in, mass produced pieces being sold as hand made items.

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BRIGHTON COLLECTS AWARD

Brighton and Hove Museums and MADE10 each year sponsor a purchase award to buy contemporary craft work to be housed in the museum's specialist craft and design collection which is one of the best collections in the country.


This year the award was split between Choreographer and Jeweller, Sarah Warsop for a piece of jewellery which represents in solid form a series of choreographed dance movements, and Kate Jenkins of Cardigan for a crocheted picture of Battered Cod and Chips. Kate has previously crocheted cigarettes and packets, a whole banquet, a garden and has worked with cartoonists 'Modern Toss'

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MADE10 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair

MADE started last night with a capacity crowd for the private view despite torrential rain just before the start. It's all looking good though with many exhibitors going to town with the designs of their stands.


Kealwork's felted animal hats/sculptures and greenwood furniture, are attracting a lot of attention.

The fair was officially opened by Clare Gogerty editor of Coast Magazine who support MADE.

MADE10 is open today (Friday) till 7.30, Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 10-5pm

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MADE10 - Boat Arrives

Ryan Kearley's beautifully rennovated 1950's clinker dingy arrived looking small on the trailer but much larger in the building. This will be our centerpiece for the MADE10 lobby.

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MADE10 Setup

I'm sitting at the Corn Exchange making sure the preparations go to plan for MADE 10 which sets up tomorrow. So far so good, the banners posters and flyers seems to be out, and our teams from Wales and Cornwall are well ahead with building and lighting the stands. Some nice press this year too.
Demand for tickets and take up of special offers has been high so we're expecting a good turn out.

Guerilla knitters have decorated the statue of Max Miller giving him warm ankles - perhaps in honour of MADE10?

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Maker of the Day - Harriet Chapman

Harriet Chapman is a contemporary handbag designer based in South Wales. Outdoor living and a more nomadic lifestyle is the inspiration for her collection of digitally printed fabrics.

One favourite living craft maker.
One of my favorate craft makers/ artist....Rachel Howard

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased?
My last little purchase was one of Anna Lewis's birds (of which I now have five) from her Cathexis exhibition at the Mission Gallery 2007.




At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
I think i was very inspired at the age of 18 by Art nouveau. It was my farther that helped me on my way.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
Paulo natini, Imogen Heap, Kings of Leon, 0z

Where and what is your studio?
My studio is a 60s purpose built complex which is very cold in the winter , and has a lovely court yard where artists can gather at lunch times in the summer.

What is your favourite (art) website?
Amy Butler is one of my favourite websites.

Surprising activity/hobby?
Camping

Do you have a good work/life balance?
I do have a good worklife it is hard to switch off sometimes though , but I absoloutly love what I do.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Happy

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
I think Art and Craft is crucial and very important.

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
There's no crime you only buy what you like!

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Maker of the Day - Sarah Walton

Sarah Walton is a Sussex based potter. She has run a pottery there since 1975 using a large oil-fired saltglaze kiln. Sarah studied Fine Art at Chelsea from 1960-64 and Studio Pottery at Harrow from 1971-73. In 2008, Sarah began exhibiting her ceramic garden birdbaths at the Chelsea Flower Show, organised by the RHS.

One favourite living craft maker.
Jim Partridge who works in wood because it demonstates a great degree of lateral thinking in design and sensitivity to his material.

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased?
Some months back I spent a lot of money by my standards on 2 books of the B&W photos of James Ravilious. They've been propped open ever since,on the chest-of-drawers at the foot of my bed, at a series of images.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
At 18 I was studying painting and looking at the work of such painters as Giotto, Masaccio, Rembrandt, Constable and Velasques. As far as 3 dimensional work was concerned I wasn't looking at sculpture at all but i was in love with the Lake District, its icy Spring torrents and minute wild daffodils, its stone walls and barns. At school I had as an art master a Pole. We liked each other the moment we set eyes on one another. He'd had a hell of a 2nd. world war, like so many central Europeans. He said to me, 'Go and look at great Art,' which gave me permission to prowl the London museums from my early teens.He died before I became a potter.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
Currently on my cd player - French for beginners.


Where and what is your studio?
My studio is in the garden of my home. I built it 35years ago, including its large salt kiln. It is a rural setting.

What is your favourite (art) website?
I've not got that far digitally.

Surprising activity/hobby?
Dancing

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
It wasn't till I'd been a potter for 10 years that I acknowledged that I had to make some big changes if I was to have a better work/life balance. I've been working at it with zeal in the 25years since then.So much so that it's one of my proudest achievements. I never entirely switch off from work.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Involvement.

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
No

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
The temptation to side-line quality for 'a fast buck'. Then anything goes.

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Maker of the Day - Martha Mitchell

Martha Mitchell produces ceramic jewellery, functional objects and intricate fine line drawings. Her inspiration comes from everyday objects, from food packaging to new and old bottles. She has recently set up a studio in Hove where she is continuing to design and make her own work.


One favourite living craft maker.
The ceramicist Andrea Walsh - she makes bone china and glass vessels, I love the mix of white with bright turquoises and blues.

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased or what one product/item do you really covet?
I’d love one of Kate Malone's pieces - her work is amazing I have never seen another ceramicist produce such amazing colours and forms.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
The designer Andrew Tanner definitely had an influence on my style – he was a visiting lecturer both on my foundation course and on my degree – and it was he who helped me decide on what degree to choose and which direction my work would go in.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
I don’t have an i-pod at the moment so I make do with the radio!

Where and what is your studio?
I am about to move in to a studio with two friends in Third Avenue – Rebecca Cluett, a pattern cutter, and Elizabeth Lock, a milliner. We are all very excited to move in as it is a lovely big space and it will be an inspiring working environment.

What is your favourite (art) website?
Design spotter– it is a database for modern and contemporary design and the content is always changing, I used it a lot for research at university!

Do you have a good work/life balance?
I find it really hard to switch off from work as I can’t sit still without doing something! I am also a worrier which means I am constantly making lists of what to do next!

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Satisfaction!

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Definitely – it is really important for things to not only be designed well but also to give pleasure to people to look at

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
Mass produced badly made giftware

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Maker of the Day - Fiona Howard

In 2007 Fiona Howard was inspired to create “FiFi”, her own collection of contemporary classic home furnishings and stylish complimentary homewares. The ‘FiFi’ collection is based on hand-cut linos created by Fiona in her Brighton studio, which exude a fresh outdoor-living style that is both contemporary and classic, with an eye to making life more beautiful.

One favourite living craft maker.

Christo and his wife Jean-Claude for the extraordinary way they create beautiful statements out of things we have seen a hundred times and never really looked at.

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased?

A Johnathan Adler dove salt and pepper set, given to me by my boyfriend. I love the beautiful shapes they make however they are positioned together.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?

My father pushed me to be as good as I possibly could be. By not really understanding what I was doing I kept striving to be better to help him understand.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?

Whenever I travel there's always piped music everywhere, in airports, hotel lobbies, shops etc, so recently I try to turn everything off and I've been enjoying the silence.

Where and what is your studio?

At home in my beautiful flat overlooking the sea.

What is your favourite (art) website?

www.starck.com for his simplicity

Surprising activity/hobby?

Collecting heart shaped stones.

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work? No....I never stop !

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?

All encompassing

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?

Yes....It is the most important thing, it helps us to relax and enjoy the world around us, to laugh at life and see the extraordinary in ordinary things.

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?

There's frequently too much overdesign.

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