So so busy here, that I'm only just now getting a chance to finish my blog post about the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair. It was my first time in Manchester, and this is the only the second time I've tried taking short videos on my phone and uploading them in a blog post, so I'm just hoping it'll work! 

The first video is of the stand of Gillian Harvie, a jeweller I've never met before but who's work I love. I also REALLY admired the way she'd decorated her stand! Anyone who dares draw or paint directly onto that scary white surface gets brownie points from me, but Gillian had gone a step further, with whole scenarios befitting her creations. Raindrops, clouds and birds: some drawings, some wearable, ladders that travelled on dreamlike journeys around little stage sets of beautiful wearable scissors, tables etc. Just great, and really imaginative. And I'm so pleased that searching out her website to give you a link now, I find that her work is actually based on dreams! :-)

While I'm still on the theme of imaginative jewellery, I loved the work of Lucy Elsie Harvey, who displayed several collections using re-appropriated objects which were so beautifully made that they were fascinating and appealing despite also being quite spooky. 

The other jeweller I just HAVE to mention is Yu-Ping Lin - also known as Rainey - who makes fantastic flowing and wonderfully tactile jewellery from fabric. Using origami techniques gives the work great volume although it's wonderfully light, and watching her play with and transform pieces is just mesmerising. Hence the second video! 

Moving on from jewellery, I always love Cathy Miles' wire work, and this wall of shoes was no exception. Although I must admit I love her birds more, but the shoes were just so photogenic, and you can see plenty of her birds on her website!

I suspect this post's getting a bit too long and I'll never get it finished, so I'm going to combine a few more images in a gallery here. Do click through them to get a bit more of a flavour of what was there: hats from Katie Mawson, textile accessories beautifully presented by Rosie's Armoire, lampshades by Hannah Nunn (I fancy some of her hanging pods but my photo of them wasn't so good), ceramics by Tone Von Krogh and Katie Almond, cute little cactus pincushions by &made, intricate scenarios by Kate Lulham and cutlery and dishes by Latimeria.

My final mention is for amazing wooden clocks by Bruce Aitken, which I tried to video but sadly I didn't really do justice to the meditative effect that seeing these clocks in action has. Or maybe mediation and videos just don't go together?

Anyway: great fair, well selected, well run and much enjoyed. 

Just thought I'd share a few bits and pieces from the weekend, in case you missed it...

The Contemporary Craft Fair at Bovey Tracey is really much more than just a craft fair: it's a major event. The landlord in my B&B complained about the £7 entrance fee, but to be honest there was enough there to keep you occupied for a whole day, and considering the cost of entrance to stately homes or other attractions I think this was a complete bargain. Poor little Bovey Tracey must wonder what's hit it!

There's lots going on: music, food, demonstrations and workshops in addition to 165 designer makers. Couldn't resist snapping this little group of knitters underneath a knitting adorned tree...

Wonderful willow huts - I'd have loved one of these as a child (and they still look tempting now)

In fact I nearly opted for another somewhat more adult woven creation: a wonderful hat by Sally-Ann Provan (is that Sally-Ann knitting under the tree? Think so!)

I was also tempted by pots by Katrin Moye, bags and pictures by Dr Bean's Bags, and jewellery by Sarah Lindsay, to name just a few. Wish I'd had time to snap equally fantastic jewellery by Dot Sim, Tanja Ufer, and Suzanne Potter.

One day I'm definitely going to indulge in a bird sculpture by Celia Smith.

This is my stand:

It was all great fun with amazing creations during the day and parties in the evenings. This toy by Robert Race was on an outing to the designers tent...

I wish I'd made it to the toy tent to see more, but the heavens opened on the Sunday and I didn't manage a full exploration.

Never mind - hopefully I'll manage next year!

 

I'm getting really excited now because it's time for the Contemporary Craft Fair in Bovey Tracey again! Last year I had great fun exhibiting: it's one of the friendliest shows, very well run, and is really just a fantastic event with something for everyone! 165 UK designer makers, demonstrations, workshops, entertainment, food: what more could you want?

Good weather? Well amazingly it looks as if the weather this year is going to be sort of sunshine and showery, which I guess is pretty good. A bit of a surprise as it always seems to be either a heatwave or a torrential downpour every time I've been to Bovey so far - this time I might even risk leaving my fan at home!

Anyway - I hope to see you there: I'm on stand B31.

The fair opens on Friday 10th June at 10am, and runs from 10am - 5pm on Saturday and Sunday too. Full details here.

 

May is a month of preparation in my studio, because June is show month! Firstly I'll be setting up in the Barbican for the Designer Jewellers Group summer show, which opens on Friday 3rd June and runs through till 22nd.

London Jewellery Week is from 6th - 12th June, and at that time my work will be on show in the Barbican, Studio Fusion, and Platform Gallery in Hatton Garden.

The bad news is that I won't be in London myself then: however the good news is I'll be heading down to Devon for The Contemporary Craft Fair in Bovey Tracey! If it's anything like last year, this'll be great fun, with 165 top UK designer makers from all disciplines, and loads of activities going on. Well worth a visit. 

Open now till 6pm: 90 designer makers selling direct! Homeware, fashion, jewellery, gifts, and cake! www.craftcentral.org.uk

Chris Owen ceramics

It's only a week now till set up for the Farnham Festival of Crafts, and I'm working hard to make sure I've got a good range of pieces.

I'm sure it's going to be a great event with 75 designer makers including established craft practitioners and new graduates. Ceramics, textiles, glass, wood, metal, and jewellery of course!

I do still have a couple of FREE tickets to give away, so if you want to save the £3 entrance fee then email me now and I'll pop them in the post to you!

How good is this - not only did the wonderful man from Lemon Jelli respond to my requests for iced coffee, but he put it on the menu for everyone else too!

In case the image comes up too small, his sign says: 'Iced Coffee £2.00 (specialy for the lady with the cool specs!)' :)

Charmed? I was! And the coffee was good too: just need to visit his mobile van in Newton Abbot for another!

Now that it's all over I'm really appreciating my souvenir purchase of this lovely silk scarf by Jessica Knott. Just the thing for a rather cool summers day.

Getting ready for another day at Bovey. Yesterday was really busy and I expect today will be too. The weather is so much better than predicted. Who could have imagined that with a forecast of rain and a max of 17 we'd have such a lovely summers day. It was really quite hot in the marquee and I noticed the ice cream stand was doing exceptionally well.

Fun to discover that I've been blogged about again, so you can see my stand here on the 'Grazing Kate' blog.

If you get a chance do come along today or tomorrow - I'd love to see you - stand 15 in marquee A.

It's beautiful here...

... but pretty cold when we arrived. Getting a bit warmer now the sun's cutting through the mist.

Only just gone 10am but pretty busy already.

I'm so pleased to hear that I've been accepted and will be exhibiting at The Contemporary Craft Fair in Bovey Tracey, Devon, next June.

We visited a couple of years ago and it's a great event - I'm looking forward to seeing who else will be there too!