I can’t believe it’s the last day of May and we’re almost half way through the year. Next month will officially mark the beginning of summer and Wimbledon will begin, along with Royal Ascot and the wedding season will be in full swing.

If you’re looking for an eye-catching hat to wear take a look at Judy Bentinck Millinery. Judy Bentinck is a couture milliner with a background in textiles and theatre. She produces two collections every year but the majority of her work involves creating customised hats and headpieces. When designing and creating bespoke hats Judy not only focuses on the outfit but also on the individual, taking into account bone-structure, colouring and personality.

I’ve picked out two stunning hats that would dazzle at any event. The first is an ivory parisisal with a check ribbon trim, from the ‘Ascot’ collection and the second is a white sinamay topper with a red trim and white feathers from the ‘Spring/Summer’ collection.

To view all collections, please visit www.judybentinck.com.

Summer Fly jewellery is inspired by everyday life. We never feel the same every single day and Summer Fly reflects this, offering a large range of designs to mirror our changing moods and attitudes.

The Cat Girl Earrings have been created for the ‘girly girl with an occasional edgy side’. The romantic rose quartz, Swarovski crystal pearls and silver cat charm are contrasted with the matte black chain. The Bohemian Rhapsody Necklace is for free spirited hippy chics and is just the thing for the forthcoming festival season.

There are lots of beautiful and unusual styles to choose from. Everything has been handmade by jewellery designer Yi Lian and is either a one-off or made in limited quantities. What I really like about this label are the contrasts, not just in the varying styles but within the pieces themselves.

To view the full range go to www.summer-fly.com.

From contemporary tableware to rustic style soap dishes and feminine jewellery trays, Shevon Gant Ceramics has a beautiful range of products for every room of your home. Unlike mass produced ceramics, these hand built and wheel thrown pieces retain the artist’s personality and inspirations.

I was immediately taken with the jewellery trays. They come in coral and sea green and have a crackled glass bottom and matching ribbon to add a romantic touch. They would look very pretty on a bedside table, or even in the hallway to hold your keys.

And I love the rustic style of the soap dishes. They also come in a range of colours and the bottoms have been carefully smoothed so they don’t leave scratches.

Shevon has generously provided all of our readers with 10% off their next purchase. Just quote indie quarter when you place your order. Purchases can be made through www.shevongantceramics.com. If you’re buying outside of the US, you can email your order through to Shevon and she will forward payment instructions.

Have a great Bank Holiday and I’ll be back on Tuesday with more innovative independent designers. And if you’re at a loose end over the weekend, don’t the forget the Forum which has been very busy over the last couple of weeks.

An intriguing name and a cool range of jewellery and accessories. By the Beard of Zeus stocks handmade necklaces, earrings, badges (pins) and totes.

This kooky ‘One Little Eskimo’ tote is made from sturdy canvas with a cute hand painted Eskimo gal and pet husky. It is completed with a hand drawn wooden heart pin. What’s more, you can fit loads into this bag and it’s machine washable, making it practical as well as pretty.

I also found this charming little ‘Love Note’ necklace. The gold toned envelope pendant holds a letter which reads ‘I Love You’. This would make a really romantic gift.

To view the full range visit www.bythebeardofzeus.com.

Back in November last year we featured fashion label Me & YU. Boyfriend-girlfriend team Gordon and Angela are the designers behind the brand, which combines fashion, graphics, art and photography.

Since then Me & Yu has gone from strength to strength with an entry at the glitzy Little Black Dress awards and winning a place to trade at La Boutique in Barcelona. They have now joined forces with another North West based fashion company - Instant Fashion Happiness and have their own brand spanking new shop at Aflecks Palace, Manchester.

The two companies have similar ideas and inspirations but each label has its own distinct style. Me & Yu specialises in hand-made and hand-printed menswear and womenswear. Each item has its own unique feel and no two items are ever exactly the same. To visit the Me & Yu website go to www.meandyu.com.

Instant Fashion Happiness is the creation of Sarah Randle. Her collection takes inspiration from pop annuals of the 1970s and popular icons such as Madonna, Bambi, David Essex and Marilyn Monroe. To visit the Instant Fashion Happiness website go to www.instantfashionhappiness.co.uk.

And if you’re in or around Manchester, you can visit their shop at

Me & Yu Versus Instant Fashion Happiness
Unit 317, 3rd Floor (opposite lift)
Afflecks Palace
Church Street
Manchester

Something to make you smile on this dull Monday morning. Planet Boo have a crazy range of quirky shirts, cards, badges, keyrings, mirrors, mouse mats and lots of other little gems.

Remember Zammo from Grange Hill? This design is available in to buy as a badge or keyring. Other zany badges include the testcard girl and Wonder Woman. I also picked out this Allsorts mouse mat, for those of you with a sweet tooth. And I couldn’t resist this cute Zsa Zsa keyring which opens up and doubles as a mirror.

Patrick Gray is the creative spark behind Planet Boo. He’s based on the north coast of Scotland and all of his garments, gizmos and gadgets are created in a converted coal shed next to his cottage.

There’s lots and lots of stuff to choose from, so have a good rummage through his cyber shop at www.planetboo.co.uk.

I’m always looking for unusual or innovative things and so I was really pleased to discover Starving Artist. The designer Jennifer Syfu has created a range of biology-themed jewellery, using hand-made glass beads and pendants.

The Amoeba necklace (above left) has been hand crafted with sea foam and orange coloured glass. I also picked out this pretty Eukaryote necklace (above right). It’s made from two colours of glass twisted together and encased in clear glass and then finished with silver beads and a silver chain. The marbling effects are just beautiful.

To view the whole range visit www.starvingartistbazaar.com.

And if you’re wondering what an Eukaryote is take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eukaryote.

Mademoiselle is the S/S06 collection by Isabelle Randall. What I like about Isabelle’s designs is that they are not necessarily governed by season or trend. They are timeless. Isabelle is driven by her love of clothes, something which stems from her childhood. In a sometimes fickle world of fashion she seeks to create clothing with substance and provide value for money for her customers.

The Mademoiselle collection is inspired by conceptual artist Yves Kleins’ choice of colours and the love story from ‘Roman Holiday’. Fabrics used include raw and polished silks in shades of indigo, blue, sand, champagne and gold.

For further details on Isabelle Randall, visit www.isabellerandall.com.