The British Craft Trade Fair is an annual event that has been running for 35 years, giving designer, makers and artists a platform to showcase their work to galleries and shops wishing to stock all manner of interesting things including jewellery, homeware, illlustrations, ceramics and sculptures for the garden to name a few.
This was my fourth year sharing a stand with Samantha Robinson Ceramics. We work well together and always have a well turned out stand. 'The show was the quietest I've seen it. In general there seemed to be less people at the show and a definite decline of students. Of course this is only my opinion. It depends on who you talk to and what wares they are showcasing.
My stand was devoid of my usual array of books sculptures and this was a decision I'd made so that I could display more of my jewellery. This year I took a new range called Be-laced; a combination of lace tatting, pearls, jet and paper beads with oxidised sterling silver and and extension of an existing range called Organic Repose.
Barinder Gahir on her stand
My work is always well received and the welcome orders and the promise of future exhibitions keeps me going for another year in my practice as a designer and maker as I continually build relationships with galleries and shops. I did noticed that there were a lot of Design Factory members this year including some that were making their appearance for the first time.
One such maker had a stand opposite me. Her stand Barinder Designs was a colourful display of silk scarves which would delight any outfit. I noted that her stand was well thought out, but she had the same problem as most stand holder this year. Due to the change in shell scheme, it was very difficult to adhere display items in the stand, this mean periodically items fell to the floor.
Katie Almond on her stand
Another first timer was Amelia Kirk who creates intricate sewing themed silver and copper jewellery. I hope to write a blog post on Amelia, she has come through the ranks of the Prince's Youth Trust and eventually became an ambassador for them for a while.
Then there were regulars such as Katie Almond. There is a
universal appeal to her work and each piece is essentially a canvas for decoration and collage which is combined with drawings and found ephemera. And Rachel, from Facets of Avalon, this is her second year at the event. Last year we did an exchange of work as we were mutually taken with each others creations.
This year my exchange was with Suraya from Mahliqa Knitted jewellery. She will be featuring in a future blog post about my favourites from the show and there were quite a few.
On Saturday 27th April I was one of the Designer/Makers who took part in Speed Craft an event organised by
Debbie Bryan who runs Debbie Bryan Studio and Shop. If you are ever visiting Nottingham I highly recommend you pop in for a visit especially if you are looking for a handmade gift for someone special. She stocks work from many, many talented Designer/ Makers.
The event was held at the Galleries of Justice which is just down the road from the shop and this was to be the second event I had taken part of. I travelled in with the lovely Katie Almond. We had a lovely journey in and chatted excitedly about our coming workshop day which comprised of six activities provided by six designer/makers working in different mediums.
I decided to share my "Forget me Not" flower that I had designed to support the Stroke Association. I have seen first hand what a stroke can do to a person. My mother experienced many mini strokes which went un-noticed. Gradually over a few years she lost the power of communication; first her speech, then her writing and finally the simple hand gestures, thumbs up and down.
Forget-me-Not Flower
Speed Craft is a great way of experiencing craft disciplines that you wouldn't normally access, giving you a 30 minute taster of each. At the end of each time slot Debbie Bryan rang a hotel call bell and participants would then move tables to start the next activity. As you can imagine the excitment in the room was positively crackling. Apart from myself the other designer/makers there included:-
Katie Almond, ceramacist, provided an activity that involved making a colourful plaque from a ball of clay. This involved rolling out
the porcelain clay chosing a shaped template for the plaque shape, then adding texture or lettering using various tools and paper cut out, followed by painting it to the colour of your choice.
Stevie Davies whose medium of choice is glass. Her table was arranged to include a line of old cigar tins each included the materials that were needed for the 30 minute session; wire, glass and beads. Each person was allowed to take there tin with them which I felt was a nice touch.
Nicki Dennett shared her skills as an illustrator
and printmaker. Her activity involved gelatine printing. I noticed that there was plenty of re-cycled and reclaimed papers available to produce prints along with new papers. Nicki gave participants the option to draw freehand or use a print provided. I think writing backwards proved to be the biggest challenge.
http://www.nickidennett.co.uk
I was thrilled that two of my favourite jewellers were going to be there; Judith Brown and Alyse Powers.
Judith Brown provided an array of beads, wire and safety pins. At the end of the session, each group came away with either a pair of earrings or a brooch. The image below shows a button she created for the Button Project.
Ayls Power proved quite a noisy opportunity. Her table had tins stacked full or ephemera, clock faces, beads, old broochs etc also mini anvils to hammer your message on.
It was a wonderful day, I am sure I enjoyed it as much as the participants. It was the extra touches that made the day worth while; never ending supply of tea or coffe and a selection of homemade biscuits and cakes made by the lovely Jo who works at the shop. Would love to get my hands on that lovely coconut cake/biscuit.
I'm happy to say that there will be another Speed Craft event later in the year, not sure which Designer/Makers will be there but if you decide to go be assured that you won't come away empty handed.
My current main work
is producing interesting and thought provoking lighting, sculptures and wall
pieces produced from a mixture of papers and metals.
By using various
light sources I am able to display hidden textures and designs often missed
when using a simple item such as a piece of paper. Coupling this with repetition and
manipulating these shapes leaves me able to produce chandeliers and lights with
a different appeal.
I find your work truly stunning, what is your
inspiration?
Inspirations come
from within the organic forms found in nature and from their constant
repetitions producing an array of designs and patterns.
Have you always earned you living by being
creative?
Throughout my career
I have been involved in various forms of art or craft, and at one stage owned a
knitwear company designing and producing garments for high end boutiques and
shops in SE England.
Why University?
I started to turn my
hand to Interior Design which involved various other crafts I realised a need
to “do something more” and decided to consolidate my skills and return to
University on a design/crafts course. I
felt this would allow me to experience and master various crafts across a
selection of disciplines – my favourites being metals, paper and mixed media.
Did you see any major changes following your
degree?
Yes, on the completion
of my degree the obvious option for me was to work as a self employed designer
and maker. Obviously this comprised of many
applications to various shows and exhibitions throughout the country, building
up a practice and improving and developing my designs. It’s hard work but definitely fulfilling.
It soon became clear
to me that there were very few opportunities for new designer/makers to exhibit
their work within the Midlands and definitely nothing which would show the
opportunities a Design Craft course would offer to a prospective student other
than the New Designers show in London for graduates.
The idea initially
for me to set up the group “The Collective”, was to show the diversity of
skills and quality of workmanship we had achieved, and provide another stepping
stone for new designers building their careers.
The intention for me
in the future is to extend our group, and take the exhibition on tour to
galleries throughout the country, displaying our skills and showing how the
development of a creative group of graduates move on to become accomplished
craftsmen in their fields.
What are the details for this year's exhibitions
This year's exhibition will be at Creative Hinckley Gallery, The Atkins Building, Lower Bond Street Hinckley, Leicestershire, LE10 1QU
Monday 26th March to Saturday 5th May 2012
Opening times:- 9.00am to 5.30pm
There are also plans for some workshops whilst the exhibition is running, by Katie Almond, Phiona Richards and Samantha Robinson. Prices £20.00 - £25.00 To book a place please contact Creative Hinckley
You know when you get one of those moments when you wake up and you just want to do something different. Saturday, was just one. I woke up with SOCK on my mind. Note the capitalization. I don't want you to think I had some sort of strange fetish.
No, the Sock Craft Fair was on this weekend as was the Freecycle 'Give and Take' sale. As the latter was in the afternoon I took a chance that I would be back for it. Unfortunately, travelling from Corby isn't always that easy. Sure, we have a station but the connection for my train to Loughborough is 2 minutes. An atheletic 2 minutes which involves leaping like a loon from the train, hairing at break neck speeds over the bridge to the other platform. If wind, train arriving on time, incoming train slightly late and being physically fit on the day are all in place you have a one in thirty chance of catching the train. Oh, I forgot to mention, I had my son, so that would be another variable.
I hate the stress of it all, then you have an hours wait for the next one, so I decided to drive. Of course taking my son was a last minute decision but it was a good way of getting him away from infront of the blasted computer.
It's my thing at the moment to travel by train. I never thought I would hear myself say that. I love driving, especially when I am driving my Figaro with the roof down, it's something special. I think it's since my mother moved to Manchester. I can't stand driving up the M6 it makes me feel uptight and strangely out of control. A two an a half hour journey becomes three and four hours because of the roadworks. So now, if a place is train accessible I take it. Does anyone remember the old slogan 'let the train take the strain'? So true, unless the train is packed and you can't find a seat. lol It's amazing what conversations you hear when you're travelling. This lady I was listening to announced that Primark was brilliant, you could buy a top or an outfit, wear it once and then throw it away. Then in the next breath she was talking about Japan and how awful it was and how we have destroyed our resources, all the trees have gone. I would have loved to have recorded it and played it back to her.
When we arrived at Loughborough, I realised how cold it was and how we really could have done with some extra layers. Even the walk up from the station didn't warm us.
Loughborough has a great market. This suprised me a lot as most markets and towns these days are all the same very rarely do you get a variety of interesting stalls. I ended up buying a 'Curry in a Hurry' spice pack with instructions which I will make tomorrow for the family. Yum.
Onward and into the town hall. Entrance to the event was free so that always encourages me that people may be more inclined to spend when they get inside. I was handed a brown take away bag with Sock stamped on it and inside was a list of exhibitors. Again, a good thing, I always forget to pick up cards or write down details.
The range of wares on offer was excellent. Click on the link so you can visit the exhibitors sites. SOCK My visit was two fold. I wanted to see the selection of exhibitors and I wanted to provide support for fellow Design Factory members and creative friends.
The first stall I visited was Katie Almond a Design Factoy designer/maker. She works in porcelain and creates nostalgic pieces using ephemera and vintage textiles. The porcelain pieces she makes are very thin which reminds me how fragile our memories really are. She had a sweet link to Easter, there were some delicate egg cups with some handpainted eggs sitting proudly on her stand. Before moving on I had a quick word about how her preparations for the British Trade Craft Fair were going. I think she's feeling like me, very apprehensive.
My son was very intrigued by the work of Corrine Rothwell. I first came across her work whilst at university and it gave me the first insight into the Design Factory which I thought would be way beyond my remit. Jesse loved the playful cartoons that Corrine produces and stood there for quite a while absorbing her work.
The next stand was a new creative I hadn't seen before and due to her muted tones was an instant hit with me. Alex McQuade who produces mixed media textile work. She playfully uses felt and references to stitch to produce interesting corsages, cuffs and wall pieces.
Moving around the hall I came across Kelly McRobie from the Design Factory. Kelly produces very sculptural brooches using leather and felt and other fashion accessories. Kelly is also exhibiting at the BCTF (British Craft Trade Fair) this year so we talked for a while about where we were both up to.
It was then that I spotted Gillian Lee Smith. I have been a silent fan for a while and anticipating when we would finally meet. Her work has a dreamlike quality with a touch of darkness thrown in for good measure. The colour palatte she uses can only be described as liquefied softness with a hazy chemeric undertone. I was then interrupted by my son's cries of delight as he had finally found the sock monster table. There were chickens and frogs and mice and aliens and cats as well as monsters. He was so thrilled he took a photo of one particularly cute character.
I wandered back over to Gillian to continue our conversation from where we left off. I was so flattered when Gillian told me that she also was a fan of my work, that really made my day and put a huge smile on my face. As I was sharing stories and ideas with Gillian I heard a big, 'Hi, Phiona', in my ear. It was Pink. Pink is the name I and many others give to our one and only 'Duck in a Bucket' artist Ema Kelly. She produces beautiful glass beads and characters to rival any of Pandora's work. By this stage my son had glazed (excuse the pun) over now he had seen the sock monsters. Whilst we chatted away about the upcoming British Craft Trade Fair I spotted a glass interpretation of a rubber ducky. I did the obligatory aws and ooo, and that's sooo cute. When Ema added that she was going to make it into a bubble bath necklace with a duck in a bubble, then lots of bubble beads. I can't wait to see it. I might even have to order one. Just before leaving I bumped into lovely Bob who also creates glass structures. Bob was 2 years above me at university and also a mature student. I must find a link to his work. He is a mine of information and ever so helpful when you need links to funding or exhibitions. Unfortunately, I was unable to have my usual long chat with him as Jesse was 'bored' and we were both in need of some nutrition and a drink.
All in all we both enjoyed the day and I even managed to catch the tail end of the 'Give and Take' event at Gretton. I collected a bag of leather and furry scraps which I will donate to Happenin' @ Corby where I used to be their Art Tutor. Sock is a terrific event....
