Handm@de Cambridge - 5th December 2009: October 2009

Tuesday, 27 October 2009

Meet the Maker - Kiran Ravilious

This week our featured seller is Kiran of Inkling Prints

Tell us a little bit about you.

I'm Kiran. I'm from Singapore. I moved to England 5 years ago. I now live in Leicester with my husband Ben, our two year old daughter Jill and my seven months old border terrier puppy Daisy.

Have you always been crafty, or is it something that you've picked up more recently?

I've always liked art. I trained as a graphic designer. I've always enjoyed illustrating and painting. I was inspired to get into printmaking when I met my husband whose grandparents were both printmakers. It was only recently though, that I started printing on fabric.

Have you been particularly influenced by any other artists or events?

I think I am influenced by nature and things I see all the time. I love botanical illustrations and the works of artist Alois Auer. I also find folk art very inspiring.

What other artists are you excited about seeing at Handm@de Cambridge?

I'm excited about seeing Yunisacs and also The Print Tree. Looking forward to popping round and getting myself a lovely purse or two!

What is your favourite piece?

My favourite piece has to be my napkins. I've printed 4 different designs to be sold as a set of 4. I like them because I think they are colouful and fun!

Are there any specific pieces you fancy that will be at Handm@de Cambridge?

I'm interested in Trash Chic's cushions And also Bread of Many I love the style of illustration!

You can follow Kiran and her work on her blog http://blog.inklingprints.co.uk/

Thursday, 22 October 2009

Seller Selections

Another trio of beautiful items from the sellers who will be at Handm@de Cambridge on December 5th.

1. Bread of Many - http://breadofmany.etsy.com

2. Hodge Podge Arts - http://hodgepodgearts.co.uk

3. Inkling Prints - http://blog.inklingprints.co.uk

Handmade Cambridge Supporting EACH

Besides supporting designer makers, some of whom who are taking their first steps into craft fairs with us, each Handm@de Craft Fairs fair reserves a free table for a local charity so that they can raise their profile. We are very pleased that at that the East Anglia's Children's Hospices will be attending the December show.

EACH provides care and support for life-threatened children and their families in their own homes, as well as at the charity’s hospices based at Milton in Cambridgeshire, Ipswich in Suffolk, which also serves North Essex and Quidenham in Norfolk.

EACH aim to maximise the quality of life for children with life-threatening conditions and complex healthcare needs, and to support their families.

Some children may only have a short time to live, perhaps only weeks or months, others may reach early adulthood but EACH’s aim is always the same – to enhance their quality of life and support their family.

EACH delivers a full range of children’s hospice care services which includes: care at end of life, short break care, specialist play, music therapy, practical help and advice and bereavement support.

EACH provides supportive care to families before and after the death of their child. This helps all members of the family, including siblings and grandparents.

This year it is anticipated that it will cost around £5.8 million to run all three hospice services - approximately 72% of this is required from voluntary donations.

For further information about EACH please visit the website www.each.org.uk.

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

Meet the Maker - Emma Passey

This week our featured seller is Emma Passey

Tell us a little bit about you.

I'm Emma Passey a 25 year old Ceramic Designer /Maker.

My ceramic studio is based in Newport South Wales, I was once asked to particapte in the auditions for the BBC's Dragons Den show, I didnt think I could pitch for bags of clay and glaze somehow.

Have you always been crafty, or is it something that you've picked up more recently?

I've never thought of myself as always being creative, I certainly took a more designer maker approach during and after University. But sometimes looking back at my school years I guess I was. I remember in one DT class we had to produce an insect, I produced a stuffed Woodlice, while the other girls made pretty insects, it was certainly thinking outside the box although slightly strange.

Have you been particularly influenced by any other artists or events?

This is something which constantly changes, at the moment Im looking at Leeds Pottery old drawing sheets and tranfers from the victorian era. In terms of artists Im particulary interested in the ceramic designer Maxium Velcosky, he produces fun high quality ceramic items which often have a story behind them.

What other artists are you excited about seeing at Handm@de Cambridge?

Corryvreckan's Button cufflinks particulary caught my eye, I'm looking forward to seeing that stand.

What is your favourite piece?

At the moment Ive been working on some flocked work called 100% Flocked, reusing old ceramic ornaments and plates which otherwise would be discarded and applying brightly coloured flocks too.

Check out Emma's beautiful and unusual work ahead of the show at her website http://www.emmapasseydesign.co.uk

Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Meet the Maker - QHere

This week we hear from another new exhibitor with Handm@de Cambridge; Ruth of QHere.

Tell us a little bit about you.

My name is Ruth Schmid. I'm 47 and I am from Switzerland. Seven years ago I moved with my husband, our son and daughter to Cambridge.

Have you always been crafty, or is it something that you've picked up more recently?

I have always loved creating things and working with with my hands. I studied sociology but never felt really happy working in this field. Here in Cambridge, I grasped the opportunity to do what I always deamt of doing: to be creative. I started to design and make very colourful bags made from coated fabrics and recycled advertising banners.

Have you been particularly influenced by any other artists or events?

Coming from Switzerland, I have been influenced by the famous bag makers Freitag, who make bags from recycled lorry banners. I especially like the idea of recycling materials that otherwise would be disposed of in landfills.

What other artists are you excited about seeing at Handm@de Cambridge?

I am excited to see the range of recycled clothes and accesories from TrashChic.

What is your favourite piece?

My favourite piece is the very useful and practical shopping bag that I make from new coated fabrics but also from banners. I very much like making bags and accessories from recycled materials because they are all unique and very special.

Are there any specific pieces you fancy that will be at Handm@de Cambridge?

I will show my new range of shoulder bags with animal print (faux fur) like zebra, giraffe or leopard.

Tuesday, 6 October 2009

Meet the Maker - Nat's Nest

This week our featured seller is Natalie of Nat's nest...

Tell us a little bit about you.

Hello! My name is Natalie, I'm 23 and currently living in Leicestershire. This is the first craft show I've ever done so I'm a bit nervous but using all my spare time to just sew, sew, sew!

Have you always been crafty, or is it something that you've picked up more recently?

Last year I finished a degree in fashion, but although I love to make clothes I can't afford it, as fabrics can be so expensive! So after about 8 months of not being creative at all, I came up with an idea for fabric mice dressed in minuture clothes and hats. The bunnies came along after the mice. I have always loved being arty though and spent most of my time at school drawing all over my notebooks.

Have you been particularly influenced by any other artists or events?

I have always loved the work of photographer Tim Walker, as he creates such dreamy images with almost sunbleached colours, another reality to escape into! Also I spent some time in London this year and did a bit of work for Camille Roman of Le Tour de Force, and her headpieces are fantastic. She is also such a creative person with loads of enthusiasm, that was very inspiring.

What other artists are you excited about seeing at Handm@de Cambridge?

I'm excited about seeing everyone else! I'm hoping to have some time to shop too for christmas presents! I'm looking forward to seeing Claire Hurd design for her cute embroidered and appliqued cards and accessories.

What is your favourite piece?

I'm fond of all the mice and buns as they all seem to have their own personalities and its difficult to part with them! I have a soft spot for the pirate mice though as they were some of the first.