This is something that I’ve been mulling over recently. Is craft more than a job or a hobby? Is it a way of life? Someone with some interesting insights on this subject is artist, maker and traveller, Rima Staines.
You can read the full interview on UK DIY Craft.
Karen Mabon is a jewellery designer with a unique interdisciplinary attitude towards her subject. She moves freely between dimensions and media. Her work is often illustrative, with every aspect of the final product euqally considered, right down to the packaging. She refers to her current work as ‘an exploration of the meaning of reality in an age of media saturation’.
Her contemporary jewellery has a distinctive retro flair, withi influences ranging from 1950s packaging to greyhound racing, to the Russian Constructivist movement.
The Russian Constructivists compared the artist to an engineer. Materials were arranged scientifically and objectively, aiming to produce artworks as rationally as any other manufactured object. This is something that Karen aims to adopt in her own work. She arranges images to mirror what she describes as ‘the cluttered bombardment of imagery we are exposed to on a daily basis’. The result is surprising and strangely compelling.
For further information please visit www.karenmabon.com.
When I started putting this post together it was going to be about English seaside towns. But I found so many beautiful pictures that I went a little farther afield. And then the sun came out.
The first two photographs are by Susannah Conway. Susannah is a photographer and writer living and working in the UK. She describes her work as ‘my attempt to unravel the world around me, to see the beauty in all things’. You may also be familiar with Susannah through her Unravelling eCourses.
I love these photographs. They were originally taken using a Polaroid and the colours and hue remind me of old 70s pics. In fact when I think about it all my childhood memories are in this hue.
You can find Susannah at www.susannahconway.com.
Her work can be purchased through www.unravelling.etsy.com.
The next two pictures have been taken by two different photographers. The picture on the left is by French photographer Marc Loret. He came across ‘Le Manége’ or ‘The Carousel’ in Normandy. This is an unmatted print of an original photograph, digitally mixed with texture.
I’ve only ever seen carousels like this in films and photographs. How beautiful they used to make them.
You can purchase Marc’s work at www.MarcoLaGrenouille.etsy.com.
The picture on the right, entitled ‘Sea Grass’, was taken by Sue from ShuGirl. Sue teaches 8th grade but in one of her ‘escapes’ from education she took a course at the Rhode Island School of Design for Advertising and Print Design. This photograph was taken using the TtV method to give it a nostalgic feel. It is printed on the finest quality luster photographic paper for a deep, rich print.
You can purchase Sue’s photographs at www.schugirl.etsy.com.
Now the next two pictures are different again. The left hand pic was taken in Rockport, Massachusetts by Jessica of Oh My Wonderful. Jessica explains, ‘There was this old rundown house on a dock with a wall full of colorful worn buoys that was absolutely beautiful!’ I wish our English buoys looked like this. Such lovely colours.
You can purchase Jessica’s work at www.ohmywonderful.etsy.com.
And the picture on the right shows ‘quintessential English beach huts in cheerful, summery, pale blue and white on a shingle beach’. They were taken ’somewhere on the south Kent coast’ by Tina, aka The Cycling Artist. In addition to photographs Tina also produces beautiful paintings which are based on her ongoing cycle journey around the coast of the UK.
To purchase Tina’s work go to www.thecyclingartist.etsy.com.
And then I found this. A pretty embroidered art canvas by Gillian Bates. This depicts a traditional English seaside scene - Eastbourne Pier, the prom and deck chairs. Gillian has used freehand machine embroidery on white cotton drill fabric to create the outlines. This is combined with an eclectic mix of reclaimed, recycled and new fabrics.
You can purchase Gillian’s work at www.gillianbates.etsy.com.
I’m yearning for a long weekend by the sea. Happy Friday everyone.
It was the butterflies that drew me to Julia Davey’s work. It’s such an unusual and contemporary way of looking at a Victorian concept. The semi porcelain butterfly wings are decorated with hand drawn transfers of cyclamen, seeds and tulips. They have the fragile, almost papery quality of their living counterparts.
Julia works from a small studio and produces small runs of fine art frames and bespoke tableware. She is fascinated by everyday life and documents her experiences through sketches and drawings which are then incorporated into her ceramics. Lustre in silver or gold is added for a decadent touch which complements the shiny clear glaze.
For further information visit www.juliadavey.com and shop direct at www.folksy.com/shops/juliadavey.
At the age of six Virginia Kraljevic’s heart told her that she wanted to be an artist. Over the years this has changed to actress, writer, photo journalist, window dresser, interior decorator, entrepreneur, baker and at one time Jessica Fletcher from ‘Murder She Wrote’. Surprisingly (particularly in relation to Jessica Fletcher) she has accomplished all of the above.
Virginia describes her world as an obscure place that is filled with French pigeons, moustaches, swirls, curls, trees, teapots and clouds. Her work, as you can see, reflects this. With each piece you feel that you’re peering into the recesses of her mind.
Virginia’s work can be purchased from www.virginiakraljevic.etsy.com.
What is it about Gocco prints? I don’t know whether it’s the colour, the texture, the effect of the image on the paper - there’s just something so appealing about them. These Gocco printed cards are the work of Dee Beale. I love her use of colour and the intricate patterns she uses within the main image. Beautiful.
Buy in £s from www.folksy.com/shops/deebeale
Buy in $s from www.deebeale.etsy.com
Navdeep Dhiman is a mixed media textile designer. This for me, conjures up images of largely fabric based pieces or canvas artworks. However, Navdeep’s work is quite different. She works with thread, resin, hand dyed plastic and handmade beads to create unusual installations, jewellery and accessories. Her pieces are unexpected and very pretty.
I particularly like the installations which catch the light to make lovely dividers and wall hangings.
Navdeep doesn’t yet have an online shop but you can order her work by completing the form at www.navdeepdhiman.co.uk.
Made in Manchester
Craft Shop - Royal Exchange Theatre - Manchester
30th June - 29th August
The Craft Shop at Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre is hosting “Made in Manchester” from Tuesday 30th June until Saturday 29th August 2009.
This new exhibition has been curated to coincide with the Manchester International Festival and showcases the work of artists and crafts people from the Manchester area.
The work will be exhibited in the shop and in the glass cabinets along the colonnade of the Royal Exchange Theatre’s Great Hall. All work is for sale for the duration of the exhibition.
Exhibitors include:
Andrea Lord, Beverly Gee, Cloversoul, Dontbitchstitch, Emma Fozard, Evvy, Faine Day, Helen Musselwhite, Helen Tiffany, Ian Chadwick, Lucy May Schofield, Megan Price, Moots, Rowena Golton, Sarah Malone and Stuart Galligan.
Website: www.royalexchange.co.uk/craftshop
.
.
.
