Christmas craft at Stockport Gallery

 I recently visited Stockport art gallery where they were exhibiting crafts from local Artists. There was many beautiful pieces produced from these exciting designers and it made me very excited for the forth- coming christmas and has inspired me to make some crafts of my own. The pictures above are of just two designers, Faye Power whose ceramic work was on show and Craig Fellows textiles. I will post more info about these designers soon. Other exhibiters were Angharad McClaren's woven textiles, Suzybees textiles and Yu-Ping Lin textile jewellery and all worth further investigation.

Spode Ceramics

Spode in Stoke-on-Trent is a pottery and fine bone china company that first established by Josiah Spode in 1790. The company has produced many designs over the years from the blue Italian range and woodland designs to developing a successful formula for fine bone china. Along with the history and designs of Spode it has produced many a skilled craftsman and has trained some of the most renowned pottery designers. Their wide span of technique and historical designs still influence current designers and are often used for research purposes.

The factory production side of the company shut down 3 years ago after it went into administration. It was rescued by the Portmeirion group and the buildings are now used as a gallery space, where the history of Spode along with new contemporary designs and designers can be exhibited. There is still a master engraver on hand to demonstrate this dying craft and skilled tradition. This gives you an insightful look at the time and accuracies of these designs that were produced by skilled crafters for the more traditional prints of Spode.

Designers and artists that are exhibiting at present are Emma Bridgewater, Elizabeth Addyman, Edward Baldwin, Ryan Connolly, Yuki Ouchi and Trish Spence to name but a few. This fresh influx of new contemporary and collaborative design work has helped form a renewed and exciting interest into ceramics as a visual art. Ceramics have always been a dual -purpose design where aesthetics and function meet. With Spode’s new inspirational setting and workshops; shape, form and surface design hold no boundaries. For Spode Galleries, a new life has been ignited and hopefully with the support of the resident and visiting artist’s and general public visits, it will have a safer future. 

Owl and cat designs.

I recently went to a craft show at Tatton park in Cheshire. It was there that i discovered the beautiful designs, illustrations and crafts of design company, Owl and Cat. The company was established by Nottingham surface designer and illustrator Ester Hall. Her designs are inspired by children's toy's, 1950's posters and book illustrations. Ester Hall has illustrated children's books and her lino print's can seen on cards, stationary and personalised prints, sewing kits and novelty bag's are available too. I found her designs contemporary, simple and a pleasure to look at.  The characters and designs are original and the use of a white void in the background, keep the  focus on the illustration with out the fussiness or distraction that many recent illustrations have.They could  easily be attractive to all generations and be the perfect personalised gift

Sustainability from past to present.

The story of two Guernsey Evacuees

During World War two, the Channel Islands of England and France became under the increased threat of invasion by the penetrating German Army. The occupant’s on the Island of Guernsey was one such island that was evacuated to safety.

Hazel and Mavis two young Guernsey children were both evacuated to the North west of England. Mavis was evacuated with her fellow peers and teachers from school and then followed shortly after by Hazel and their mother.  They were very small children during this upheaval, yet they can still remember very clearly their life and thoughts during this desperate time. They have very kindly have given us a verbal account of this period in their life, which in turn have contributed to our findings on the subject of sustainability.

During this notoriously difficult period in history, it is clear to establish that recycling and thrifty-ness was as much a part of the survival of the people as were there combat skills. Woman became more innovative with their craft and living skills as rationing was introduced. In order to survive it is well documented that people pulled together and that nothing was to be wasted. For example Grease from cooking was to be collected in to jars until full and then handed in to the local butcher. This was then used as part of the vital ingredients of bullet making. Wedding dresses were scarce and made of cotton, as silk was difficult to come by. Old silk wedding dresses were recycled into underwear; men’s suits were re-tailored into new clothing for women and children, as was men’s shirts. It was often the case that only one good dress, one-day dress and a nightdress would be the wardrobe contents of the average female and child during the war. Old knitted items would be unraveled and made into new garments. This included socks for soldiers, balaclavas, underwear, jumpers and scarves.

It is clear to establish that in hard times we can make do and mend. Not only did this generation fight for our safety, they also instilled the knowledge that with very little we can be creative and sustainable. When looking at our lives of the present day, we can see that over time we have become reliant and complacent with disposable clothing, technology and gadgetry. It is only under the increasing pressure of environmental and ethical trading has this ‘make do and mend ‘, become was again a valuable knowledge to have.

Through the stories and memories relayed to us by people such as Mavis and Hazel, we can only imagine the hardship experienced. This was a period where people were separated from their loved ones and they owned such little in a way of belongings. A celebration would be catered for with orange juice and biscuits and a stable diet would be bread and butter, jam when lucky and blind stew [stew with no meat just root veg]. As a generation that is accustomed to disposable clothing and textiles, fast food and continence; it is only now in this uncertain time of a economic change, that we start to rediscover these skills of ‘make do and mend’, It is important to not let these survival skills of life be forgotten if we want to protect not only our planet but also the means for independence and simpler life that so many people fought and died for.

Staircase house Stockport

As part of our design project on sustainability, we have been researching the 1940's. Staircase house in stockport is a fantastic resource if you want to get a realistic insight into a 1940's home. This museum has a careful, sympathetic collection of original artefacts and craft related items from a bygone time.  Through the colour palettes, textures and recycling of materials you have the opportunity to visualise this memorable time in our history. It allows the viewer to establish that in times of crisis we have the ability to survive on next to nothing.

Stockport Air-raid shelter

Our new brief is all about sustainability. With this in mind, we have started to look at the current economy and the impact this is having on our need to Make do and mend in our own present economical climate. We are exploring the need to recycle, upcycle and the art of  lux-crafting. Our first form of research was to look back at the pro's of WWII. A visit to the air raid shelters in stockport helped us to get a feel for this particular period and the life styles, fashion, colour -palette, textures, materials and rationing that were all so important to the time frame. These are some of the pictures taken from an era frozen in time.