Photo credit: Teresa Mihalko Harbert
It’s Easter next week, so today’s topical Tuesday Huesday post features pysanky – colourful and intricately decorated Ukrainian Easter eggs.
Head over to the Ukrainian Easter Eggs – Pysanky Flickr group to have a look at many more incredible examples!
Aren’t these roses beautiful? I bet they’re dead easy to make… I only wish that I paid more attention and showed a bit more interest when my mother tried to teach me to crochet when I was young!
originally posted on the particularpoetry tumblr
The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2011 is being held this weekend in Manchester city centre – we went to the preview night on Thursday.
It was great to see designer-makers whose work we’ve long admired – there was also the thrill of seeing fresh, new exhibitors.
We featured Ken Eardley, whose ceramics are shown above in last year’s GNCCF blog post – once again, his stand had real impact. Things are going really well for him with magazine features such as this recent one in BBC Homes & Antiques.
Another striking space belonged to Jane Blease who works primarily with bentwood & reclaimed plastic often with her characteristic hand worked thread detailing. A recent artist residency in India has clearly inspired some of Jane’s new pieces. It’s interesting charting artists’ new developments & influences.
The Radiance stand belonging to Hannah Nunn always delivers the goods – her hand cut paper light shades look great when displayed en masse…
…and we loved her new seed pod window hangings.
Ruth Green, who we’ve seen at GNCCF in previous years, also had some lovely new works…
…and she’s also branched out into illustrated books, notebooks & note cards.
With autumn setting in, Andrea Lord’s &made display offered some warm seasonal comforts…
…such as these gorgeous cushions & cosies.
As we mentioned earlier, it’s really exciting to discover new makers and their work…
…we’ll highlight just a couple who made an impact on us.
The first was Gemma Truman, whose hand-blown glass & seagrass hangings and vases are absolutely exquisite – they’re inspired by South African weaverbird nests. We also thought they were very reminiscent of those old fashioned glass fishing net floats.
Second was Louise Hibbert.
Her pieces have a natural feel and use subtle, earthy, yet striking colours.
As you can see from her salt & pepper mills, they’re organic, tactile and oh so beautiful – they just cry out to be picked up, handled and caressed.
The show runs till this Sunday, so visit if you can! We’ve only featured homewares in this post, but there’s also lots of jewellery and fashion on display… and all of it’s for sale… so go on, get your Christmas shopping done early!
We’re known for vintage here at H is for Home…
…but we also like to stock a smattering of new items too.
Things that we think sit well – contemporary products with a vintage or folk art feel.
We look for a handmade aspect too. These are a few examples – all currently available on our website.
Homemade Home by Sania Pell and published by Cico Books is the third in our new series of Bookmarks book reviews.
We’re often in awe of people who seem to find the time and have the creativity to make something out of nothing – in our case, we either don’t get round to doing it or don’t think we’ve got the skills.
Homemade Home will put paid to both – it will motivate you to make a start and it will give you the instructions in how to do it.
Recycling household materials was once common in most households.
There was a certain decline in during the latter half of the twentieth century, but that trend is now very much reversing again…
…whether in the guise of recycling, up-cycling or remodelling.
This could be for many reasons – a new awareness of conserving the world’s resources, saving money or creating an individual/distinctive look.
Whatever the reason, this book’s a perfect companion.
The pages are divided into quick ideas and larger projects.
There are easy to follow, step-by-step instructions – and some lovely photographs of the finished items in household settings.
There’s plenty of opportunity to adapt the ideas in terms of materials, design or finish.
The author’s objective is to inspire you to have a go… and it certainly works!
Before you know it you’ll be collecting buttons & scraps of material.
And, if you already have such a collection, it will offer some fun & interesting ways to use it all.
Homemade Home can also be bought from our vintage design bookshops: Amazon UK | Amazon US
[Many thanks to Cico Books for supplying this review copy]
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