Spring Edition 2014 : Highlights

With our first ever Spring Edition done and dusted and the November show already twinkling on the horizon, we cast a look back at our highlights of our first ever spring showcase

Over three days Spring Edition encapsulated the very best of British Design and craftsmanship, from contemporary ceramics and the ancient art of marquetry to our new graduate showcase highlighting the finest new millinery designers from around the UK. 

After a fantastic few days of design we have had the opportunity to reflect on some of the highlights from Spring Edition 2014 and achievements of some of our best exhibitors, for whom commissions are rolling in and are busy developing work for our November showcase.

But the work doesn't stop for the designer-makers, this week sees fine jeweler and Spring Edition favourite, Kristjan Eyjolffson, presenting his design for an Iris Thor pin for the Chelsea Flower Show Gala Preview- hand crafted by Kristjan especially from recycled silver and sustainably sourced precious stones, and serving as an example of just one of the many successes achieved by this years exhibitors, a delight to see them succeeding in and beyond Spring Edition! Congratulations Kristjan!

Helen Chatterton's map-print scarves 

The Sunday Times' own Katrina Burroughs picked out the industrial beauty of Offkut's reclaimed and reworked furniture and lighting, as a personal highlight, and got us thinking about our own... from the best of British glass, textiles and metalwork, this was no mean feat!

An undeniable standout, the jewellery work of Jed Green draws interest in its ability to disarm the viewer. Appearing like stone constellations, sturdy and robust, her glass bangles and brooches recalling constellations, are in fact feather-light structures both wearable and distinct in style.

In our main hall we were lucky enough to have the presence of two of Scotland's very best jewellers and silver-smith's in the shared stand of Eileen Gatt and Gilly Langton, encapsulating both the essence of spring and the influences of their highland homes in their work.

The tranquil ceramics of Elizabeth Renton stood out amongst the crowds in their glazes of delicate greens and creams

In stark contrast the bold designs and bright printed silks of Taisir Gibreel brightened the Chelsea Old Town Hall with their geometric shapes and Sudanese influences

Spanning such a wide range of practices and disciplines Spring Edition captured not only a flavour of Spring, but brought together designers from all over the British Isles, gathered under the roof of the Chelsea Old Town Hall to celebrate craftsmanship and skill.

If you visited Spring Edition, why not share your thoughts, images and highlights with us via Twitter or Facebook? #SpringEdition

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Handmade in Britain 2014

The Contemporary Craft and Design Fair

14th - 16th November 2014 

Chelsea Old Town Hall London

Now in its 8th year, our annual winter event returns to Chelsea this November to showcase fine, contemporary work from 100 designer-makers.

Information regarding the show and tickets will be available in the autumn.

Spring Series: The Natural World Part Three

We takes a closer look at the creative world and inspirations of Cristina Sabaiduc & Jo Holland and Aline Johnson.

Join us this week as we get a closer insight to some of this year’s designer-makers discovering some of their creative influences and processes. Beginning with the stimuli of…

How do the materials you work in communicate and connect to spring and an awareness of the seasons?

Does the natural world influence your work and creative processes and if so how?

Cristina Sabaiduc designs graphic and colourful scarves with photographic artist Jo Holland, to create stylish and unique statement pieces.

‘Drawing inspiration from some most unexpected sources of beauty—moulding beetroots, crystallized feathers, frozen detergent, Transylvanian salt mines or medieval stained glass windows— they are given new life when captured by Jo through her entirely analogue photographic process that utilises light and colour with positive paper in a dark room.’

‘The resulting original artworks are then developed into scarf and fabric prints to be digitally printed on high quality silk twill.’

‘The imagery created is inspired by the coexistence of natural and industrial elements in our environment. The juxtaposition of animate and manufactured elements has developed into an exploration of dualities—a visual commentary on relationship between the wearer of the scarf and the ephemeral nature of the world in which we live.  The rugged beauty of the landscape in Romania, Switzerland, and Canada, the countries where Cristina was raised, continue to influence her.’  

To see more work from Cristina Sabaiduc: www.cristinasabaiduc.com

Aline Johnson makes glass leaf canopy chandeliers, and is part of cockpit Arts in Holborn. Using candy-coloured glass pieces she draws inspiration from the vibrant palette of beach paraphernalia, seaside rock and windbreak patterns which translate with ease into fused glass.

‘I am very much inspired by nature walking my dogs most early mornings on Hampstead Heath in particular this time of year when the first rays of morning sun shimmer through the delicate spring green leaves and create a beautiful ethereal sequence of movement and light and colour. I try to capture that in using glass and lights.’

‘I also spend a lot of time on the Dorset coast, where I beach comb while my dogs swim all year around.’

‘Found objects like driftwood, ammonites and feathers are used extensively in my work, I make imprints of both in plaster and slump glass into this. I have used driftwood to make frames for chandeliers.’

To find out more about Aline's work: www.alinejohnson.co.uk

All the featured designer-makers in our Spring Series: The Natural World blog posts will be exhibiting at Handmade in Britain's up coming event at the Chelsea Old Town Hall. To find out more about the event, and book tickets head to: www.handmadeinbritain.co.uk

Tickets now on sale

Handmade in Britain 14:
Spring Edition

The Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair

9th - 11th May 2014
Chelsea Old Town Hall, London

Spring Edition is open:
Friday 9th: 11:00 - 19:00
Saturday 10th: 11:00 - 18:00
Sunday 11th: 11:00 - 18:00

Tickets are available online now at £5
Tickets on the door are £7/£5 conc.

Spring Series: The Natural World Part Two

An exploration of the work of marquetarian Ian Smith, sea glass and silver from Almost Perfect, and the vivid scarves of Taisir Gibreel.

Join us this week as we get a closer insight to some of this year’s designer-makers discovering some of their creative influences and processes. Beginning with the stimuli of…

How do the materials you work in communicate and connect to spring and an awareness of the seasons?

Does the natural world influence your work and creative processes and if so how?

Almost Perfect Jewellery is designed and created by artist Rose Cecil who is based in the picturesque Cornish village of Mousehole. Her interest in the human relationship with the organic world inspires her jewellery collections.

‘Surrounded by inspiration, I explore ideas, textures and themes related to nature, the seasons and in particular the sea. I named my company Almost Perfect to reflect the fact that in nature nothing is perfect and is often more beautiful and interesting than the mechanical symmetry of manufactured pieces.’

‘Making jewellery provides the opportunity to be creative with extraordinarily beautiful and interesting materials. I trained first as a painter and then as a sculptor at Camberwell College. I see jewellery as an extension of my work as a fine artist and my materials as a three dimensional palette. Form, shape, colour and feel determine the design of a piece. I find inspiration all around me, especially in Cornwall where I live.’

‘The starting point for a piece may be a found texture or simply the beauty of a string of pearls. Inspired by the coast, and landscape, I use its forms, shapes and colours to create my signature pieces in metals and semi-precious stones.’

To see more work from Almost Perfect go to: www.almostperfect.co.uk/

Ian Smith is a marqutarian who works using age-old traditional techniques from his studio in Manchester.

‘As a professional marquetarian, the materials I work in connect to spring and the seasons as I work in wood and of course the trees are wonderful examples of the way the different seasons develop. A lot of my work directly reflects the seasons and the choice of veneers is an example of that.'

‘The natural world influences my work directly as I use natural materials to create my pictures! All my veneers reflect life and growth and my creative processes are stimulated by what I see. I am constantly looking for good subjects for my work, either from my own observations or those of my collaborators. These starting points are often taken directly from nature, not just from spring but all seasons.’

‘The choice of veneers symbolises the warmth or coldness of the season being depicted. I particularly love winter scenes based on the work of the old Dutch masters as the veneers again perfectly reflect the tone and atmosphere they were aiming for.’

To find out more about Ian and his work go to: www.themarquetryshack.com

Taisir Gibreel's Colourful scarves combine pattern and bold colour to create unique prints taking inspiration from the landscapes of her Sudanese- British heritage.

‘Bold structural imagery drawn from urban Scotland against a backdrop of colours and shapes from the Highlands, provides her with a treasure trove of rich colours and wonderful organic shapes. An eclectic fusion of cultures’

‘The Scottish landscapes provide me with a treasure trove of rich colours and wonderful shapes. I believe by showcasing my Sudanese and British roots and drawing inspiration from the colours and shapes of the Scottish Highlands, I create distinctive and unique prints.'

‘The collections of pure silk and wool scarves are bewitching, bold and abstract designs and we produce them in the UK and Italy insuring quality, which is of the utmost importance. Stunning, luxurious silk shift dresses will also soon be joining my expanding collection!’

To find out more about Taisir Gibreel: www.taisirgibreel.co.uk

All the featured designer-makers in our Spring Series: The Natural World blog posts will be exhibiting at Handmade in Britain's up coming event at the Chelsea Old Town Hall. To find out more about the event, and book tickets head to: www.handmadeinbritain.co.uk

Tickets now on sale

Handmade in Britain 14:
Spring Edition

The Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair

9th - 11th May 2014
Chelsea Old Town Hall, London

Spring Edition is open:
Friday 9th: 11:00 - 19:00
Saturday 10th: 11:00 - 18:00
Sunday 11th: 11:00 - 18:00

Tickets are available online now at £5
Tickets on the door are £7/£5 conc.