Shop of the Week w/c 25/08/2014 - With Hugs and Kisses

This week's shop of the week is the lovely With Hugs and Kisses run by Laura.

Hi Laura who are you and what do you do? 
With Hugs and Kisses sells handmade babies and children's and gifts. Many of which can be personalised.

What inspires you in your work? 
My work is inspired by everyday events, a walk in the woods, a trip to the park.. I love nature and animals so these feature heavily in my work and are probably my biggest inspiration..

Why do you do what you do? 
I do what i do because I love creating. I love to see the process of how something as simply as a few materials can create something beautiful and unique.

What’s your background? 
After studying textile design at college I worked as a freelance textile designer. After a few years I then got a job designing greeting cards, which I loved. After my son was born, I was looking for unique toys for him and found I was unable to find anything. which is when I started making my own and with Hugs and Kisses came about.

How has your practice changed over time? 
I began by making baby shoes and finger puppets. Gradually over time I have added new products and now produce a range of items for baby's and children.

What art do you most identify with? 
I love children's art and illustrations. I love the bright colours and the sense of fun it has to it.

What work do you most enjoying doing? 
I love to sew and paint and at the moment I am really enjoying combining these two techniques.

What themes do you pursue? 
I love nature and animals. Much of my work is inspired by nature and animals. I also really like pattern and texture.

What’s your favourite art work? 
I love the whimsical style of Stewart Moskowitz. His use of colour and themes is something that greatly appeals to me.

What jobs have you done other than being an artist? 
I used to work in retail when I was in my teens. It wasn't something I found majorly exciting but it provided me with some retail experience that has come in quite useful now I have my own Etsy shop and it paid my college fees. Other then that I have been very lucky and have managed to work in design based jobs all my life.

What memorable responses have you had to your work? 
My biggest critiques are my kids. You can always trust a kid to be honest. So my best responses are always when my kids like something. My favourite I think being when my then 5 year old boy saw a space clock I had made and asked if he could have one. He then went onto ask for a door sign and a whole space bedroom. Which is where my space collection comes from.

What do you like about your work? 
I love the freedom my work gives me. It allows me to create and do what I love doing best.

What research to you do? 
I like to research popular colours, themes, new techniques

What is your dream project? 
I think I'm currently doing my dream job. I get to do what I love doing best every day. Other then that I would love to be a baker and make lovely cakes, but I'm the worst cook so that will never happen.

Favourite or most inspirational place? 
One of my favourite places to be is Cornwall. the landscape there is so beautiful and I'm constantly inspired from my trips there.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? 
I have 3 children, 2 of them under 5, so sometimes life can be hectic. The best advice I ever received was to do little and often.

Professionally, what’s your goal? 
I would like to continue to expand my product ranges and develop my shop. 

What wouldn’t you do without? 
I couldn't do without my sewing machine. I've had it since I was 16. 

Tell us about your workspace. 
My workspace consists of two corners of my house. One which I use for sewing and the other for painting. I'd like to say its nice and tidy with beautiful fabrics like you see in the magazines. But its actually a bit of a mess with fabrics and materials every where, but that seems to be how I work best.

Shop of the Week w/c 18/08/2014 - Paladin Glass

This week's shop is Paladin Glass run by Jeannette. 

Hi Jeannette, tell us about you and what do you do?
Hi, I've always had an interest in crafts, spending time with my grandma who had a huge passion for making things gave me an opportunity to learn crafts from an early age. She was disabled and needed a lot of help to do the things she loved. It meant I learnt how to sew and use a knitting machine before I hit my teens. What I do now is part of that creativeness she gifted to me, but in mediums that I love - which is glass and silver, sometimes together!

Why do you do what you do?
I love glass in all it's shapes and guises, I usually see something I like and try and make it happen in glass. With silver it's much more organic, the material is such a joy work with and looks delicious when it's finished, shiny or matt. It's a great way to unwind and be immersed in something that asks nothing from you. 

What’s your background?
I'm a Scuba instructor, IT professional and wife. So not much business being in the artisan world. One day, I will only be an artisan...

What art do you most identify with?
I love blown glass. Phil Vickery's pieces are amazing, as is many others, the skill and physical strength to do some of those pieces is amazing. 

What work do you most enjoying doing?
Right now I am loving the silver work, I just wonder how perfectly you can join pieces of metal together!

What’s your favourite art work?
Of course, always a nod to the masters would be Van Gogh - how could you not love those unique brush strokes. Gwen Seemel is also a phenomenal artist, I can stare at her artwork for hours and just marvel at the intricacies of how she builds her paintings. Erm, shall I stop now?

What memorable responses have you had to your work?
The first time my husband said "wow" to my red wavy bowl as it came out of the kiln! He hasn't said it since either...

What research to you do?
I research things for my entertainment, shapes, colours and textures but there are plenty of things in my scrap bin!

What is your dream project?
I'd love to do statement jewellery piece for a James Bond film. 

What wouldn’t you do without?
The internet! It keeps you connected, you can look for inspiration, you can connect with people to ask advice and share ideas, especially when trying something new.

Tell us about your workspace
Oh, that's embarrassing. I use my utility room for cutting glass, a stolen piece of garage for my kiln, I silversmith in front of my PC using a temporary jewellers peg and finally use my husbands welding bench for lampworking. It's a work in progress to get a studio! Maybe before the winter!

Shop of the Week w/c 11/08/2014 - Silverbird Designs

A few weeks ago we started running a Shop of the Week feature and we will be adding a post each week to introduce you to all the members of the team and share some of their designs.

This week's shop is Silverbird Designs run by Carolyn. 

Here is a selection of Carolyn's work, as you can see she makes some beautiful jewellery.

Carolyn handcrafts sterling silver and copper jewellery using traditional silversmith techniques. Every piece is lovingly sketched, cut, filed, sanded, textured, soldered and polished by hand.

“I like to create simple yet eye-catching designs that can be worn for that special occasion or for everyday wear. My work is heavily influenced by nature – I simply love the colours and textures that each season brings”

Carolyn's background has always been art.  She has a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration and worked for over 15 years in the design industry.  She told us "I loved my time working as a Graphic Designer, but after having my boys I wanted to find work that fitted in with family life and included my passion for arts and crafts!" 

So Silverbird Designs was launched in June 2013 on Etsy www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SilverbirdDesignsUK and Facebook www.facebook.com/SilverbirdDesigns

"This silver bird pendant was one of my first designs and is a favourite of mine, in fact, it's the reason for naming my company 'Silverbird Designs' "

Carolyn is currently in the process of building a workshop for Silverbird Designs.  She told us that "the outside is pretty much complete, but there’s still quite a bit to do on the inside.  We’ll be spending the next couple of weeks completing it in preparation for lots of new projects I have in mind for the Autumn and Winter months! I can’t wait! It feels like a dream come true!"