Remember Paradise

At the end of last year for my post entitled Art Attack, I interviewed fine artist Luci Metcalfe.

I'm delighted to announce that the painting Luci was then working on - an 8ftx8ft epic masterpiece entitled 'Pink Wall' - is finished!

It can be seen, along with some smaller works, at the Remember Paradise exhibition at Husk, part of the Departure community arts cafe in Limehouse, E14.

The private view is tonight, 27th May, and the show runs until 14 June.

To Market, To Market!

The humble market has been the hub of trading in this country since medieval times.  A population boom and economic growth between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries gave rise to this now very British custom, with an estimated 750 market towns being established throughout England by the year 1500.   Last weekend I visited Spitalfields, in the heart of London's east end, which has held a market on this site since the thirteenth century.

I was invited to attend the first Designers/Makers Bloggers' Brunch to coincide with their market that's held every third Saturday of the month at Old Spitalfields Hall.  

Browsing the stalls is already a great way to spend a Saturday so together with the prospect of brunch (my favourite meal of the day) and the opportunity to meet other creatives, there was not a lot that was going to stop me. 

Over a delicious brunch of pancakes and coffee at CrêpeAffaire we discussed the beginnings of Designers/Makers with its founder, Sophie Rees, the merits of being part of such a fab location, and why one should never travel in India without one's own personal supply of toilet roll!

The idea for a monthly market came about after Sophie, a painter and jewellery maker, founded the Stour Space gallery and exhibition space in Hackney Wick. Since late 2011 she has been managing up to 60 stalls at the site in Old Spitalfields Market, and Designers/Makers now has 84 members on it's books.

Customers browse the stalls

After submitting a short profile and photographs of their work potential stallholders are personally selected by Sophie, whose main aim is to provide customers with a variety of original and beautiful handmade products whilst maintaining a high level of quality and vibrance within the market.  Once selected, stallholders pay an annual membership fee of £45 and can then reserve a pitch for as many or as few markets as their finances will allow.  In addition to the stalls, designers also have the opportunity to sell their products through the Designers/Makers online shop.

Lovely stationery from Paper Heart

With a diverse range of products including jewellery, ceramics and stationery, and an enviable location within London's creative circle, Designers/Makers is leading the charge to change the way we shop and what we shop for.  Markets are no longer a dirty, smelly environment for selling livestock nor, as they became in the twentieth century, the 'Del-Boy' domain of cheap knock-offs and tat.
The twenty-first century market is a chic shopping experience offering quality, unique products made by talented designers and crafts people. They are a place where you can talk to the makers and appreciate the care that has gone in to creating each piece. 
Markets may not be a new initiative, but if it ain't broke...


The next Designers/Makers market is a bank holiday special on Monday 27th May and then Saturday 15th June.

Pulse 2013 Preview

In a few days time I shall be making my inaugural visit to the summer's largest design-led home and gift trade show, Pulse.

After the joy of discovering so many talented designer/makers at the Home show earlier this year, (see my earlier post, Home Sweet Home) to say I'm excited about this one is a slight understatement.

More than half of the exhibitors are exclusive to Pulse and with their unique Launchpad platform, dedicated to promoting some of the world's most exciting new designers, I'm sure  I'll have lots to tell you about.  The show is divided in to five sectors - Home, Gift, Wellbeing, Fashion Accessories and the aforementioned Launchpad - and attracts thousands of buyers from across the globe.

I shall be bringing you my round-up of favourites, and hopefully giving you a bit of insider information on the Autumn/Winter trends, later this month.  In the meantime, I've already singled out a few designers whose star is definitely on the rise and whom I am very much looking forward to seeing next week...

My Three to See:

Jorja Wilkinson Design

I first came across Jorja's  60's inspired designs in last October's Country Living magazine.
Working from an idyllic sounding cricket pavilion studio in North Yorkshire, she creates striking patterns with clean lines and a crispness not unlike Orla Kiely, but with a much fresher, contemporary palette. 
A menagerie of animals, flora and fauna feature heavily in her designs so if you're looking for English countryside with a twist you'll love Jorja's products.  Tea towels, lampshades and stationery are just some of the products available in numerous stockists up and down the country. See Jorja's website for more details.

'Poppy' lampshade in green, from £32 - Jorja Wilkinson Design

Kangan Arora

I met Kangan earlier this year when I was attending evening classes at Central St Martins.   Our course tutor had got stuck in traffic somewhere hours from London and wouldn't make it in time so instead of cancelling the lesson, Kangan stepped in to save the day!  A graduate of both CSM and the National Institute of Fashion Technology, she talked with such obvious passion about her craft to us amateurs I immediately looked her up when I got home.  Kangan's inspiration comes from India's vibrant street culture (something which is also very close to my heart, but more about that soon!) and she combines techniques such as screen-printing and appliqué to create bold, quirky textiles and prints.  Check out her Etsy shop here.

'Circles' screen printed cushion, £24 - Kangan Arora via Etsy

Roddy & Ginger

Having already featured quite prominently in several interiors publications over the last two years, Roddy & Ginger were recently selected as one to watch by official Pulse blogger, Confessions of a Design Geek's Katie Treggiden (read her interview with them here). I've also picked them out as I am particularly drawn to their folksy style which is combined with a distinctly mid-century modern colour palette.  
Producing a range of home wares, textiles and stationery from her studio in south-east London, founder Virginia Armstrong also works as a freelance illustrator and designer.  See the full range of products at the Roddy & Ginger website. I love these fun 'log' books (see what they did there?):

Set of three Log Books, £12 - Roddy & Ginger

I hope that this little pre-show teaser has left you wanting more - be sure to check back soon for a full review. I'm now more excited than I was before I started - it's certainly got my Pulse racing! (I know, sorry!)