Caroline Swift's website and online shop is a lesson in the art of understated and simple style. Beautiful photographs show luxury items designed by Caroline herself who was once head of knitwear design for Benetton. Ceramics, linens, cashmere and glass are all available - delightful objects to grace your home and yourself!
Her philosophy for her products are that.. 'all materials are natural, all products are made with integrity, often inspired by nature, and that every piece is unique'.
Caroline Swift: tel: +44 (0)7814 250032
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Online Shop of the Week - Caroline Swift
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
The Sliding House
I fear this post indulges my occasional techie envy, but the techiness of this design seems to be at one with the environment and landscape. This is the new "sliding house" by dRMM architechs built in Suffolk.
(same house with sliding sheath in 4 different positions)
The House itself is a number of elements protected, shaded and unified by a 20 ton sliding sheath which can be slid back and forward to expose or shelter the house and the occupants to light and darkness. To my eye it looks great, fits well with the landscape and is very cool!
Wallpaper have made a video about it on utube - you get the feel better than still pictures.
MADE09 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair
The deadline for applications for MADE09 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair, is coming up at the end of March.
MADE 09 will take place on 19th - 22nd November 2009 at the Brighton Corn Exchange.
MADE welcomes applications from individual makers, groups and South East based galleries.
The deadline for applications is 31 March
The Selection committee will sit in April.
Application Form is available here
(Brighton Art Fair application deadline is also at the end of March)
Maxine Sutton
"Fancy that"
Maxine Sutton has just launched her new website! Maxine's work focus' on memories of home, childhood. She uses Irish machine, and hand embroidery and a combination of traditional techniques, such as applique, patchwork, needle-punch and screen print. Embroidered lines and richly embroidered areas create further layers of texture and tension.
"Conversation"
Maxine has recently played with imagery and ideas springing from our relationship with familiar domestic objects, everyday pastimes, the meaning of ‘home’ and home-making activities.
"Ethel" - tea cosy
The shops not up quite yet but it's great to have a browse through her new and old work including embroidered tea cosies, pictures, works on paper and lavender bags!.
"Marjory" - tea cosy
"Heart - lavender bag"
Monday, 9 March 2009
Dragons Den
Have just received an email from Arts Council saying Dragons Den are looking for creative businesses to pitch at the next series of Dragons Den.
Good luck to anyone who's up for it. Although I do wonder whether the Dragons Den method - produce something unique and popular, reduce the cost and role it out in as many places across the country is quite in line with what the arts is about. Producing an individual vision irrespective of what the market demands, not cutting corners just to meet a price. Can a great artistic vision ever be mass-market in the first instance? Or does that logic condemn creative genius's to poverty?.
If you do try to get on the programme let me know and we'll follow your progress and shout for you!
Entrepreneurs wanting to apply can do so via email to dragonsden@bbc.co.uk or by visiting the website www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden
Friday, 6 March 2009
Bellis Gallery
I popped into the Bellis Gallery yesterday to see a mixed exhibition there which had opened the previous week.
It was a very good exhibition with a number of old names from Brighton Art Fair as well as quite a few craft makers on the ground floor. The Gallery itself is tucked behind the Seafront on Kings Road where it leaves the seafront by Dr Brighton's. The space itself is large - surprising as we are used to Brighton's rather pokey shops and galleries - the ground floor comprises a large double fronted shop with little rooms and nooks and crannies to display the art and makers work, displayed in very friendly and accessible way. Then upstairs is a large clear gallery space where larger exhibitions can be hung.
The present exhibition features painters - Patrick O'Donnell's new beautiful and powerful figurative work which still retails the atmosphere and intensity of his previous nature inspired paintings.
These are balanced by the smallerscale and more monocrome but equally intense collagraphs by Phillippa Karakashian and the ink landscape memoires of Angie Meaden.
In an upper room are Tony Owers Encaustic Paintings incorporating elements of found photographs and print.
Harriet Butler - printmaker and illustrator is exhibiting some of her humourous and lively illustrative etchings down-stairs and there are more in the browser.
Overall a great exhibition showcasing - in the main - great Brighton talent.
Do seek out the gallery, its well worth a visit and the exhibition will be on for a good while.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Online Shop of the Week - Loop
Loop is a 'knitters paradise'. A beautiful shop in Cross Street in Islington, London packed full with yarns, haberdashery, books, magazines and delightful craft items. The shop's knowledgeable staff are always on hand to guide you too so it really is worth visiting. Loop organises knitting classes for all levels as well as some wonderful workshops with makers such as Julie Arkell, Claire Montgomerie and Laura Long.
If you're a long way from the capital fear not. Loop's online shop is easily accesible, quick to use and delivery always very prompt. The shop stocks most items available in the shop so you don't miss out on a thing! Look out for Donna Wilson's beautiful creatures, the perfect combination of Ruth Cross knits with Linda Bloomfield ceramics and Maxine Sutton's embroidered artworks.
Loop
41 Cross Street
Islington, London
N1 2BB
email: info@loop.gb.com
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