Gifts for Daddy!

A star is born

I don’t seem to have alot of time at the moment for playing in my studio creating new things. I’ve been full on compiling lots of kits to send to my lovely new stockists. At times it doesn’t bother me when I don’t have creative time. I’m just too busy to notice. My head is too full of everything that needs doing for it to even register. The regular orders for my pictures and cards give me some creative and playing time.

And then something external drives me to make up a new kit or produce a new item. This happened this week. Someone mentioned Father’s Day and did I have any kits their child could make a present for daddy with. They felt the hearts were a bit more girlie and perhaps the daddy in question wasn’t likely to dangle a heart from anywhere.

Hence the new Star kits are born. I’m really pleased with them and think they will bridge that gap for something for the boys. I find it difficult to find kits suitable for the boys to do, as well as presents to give to boys – such awkward buggers! The Mum in question has already bought a couple, so I guess I’ve delivered on what the customer brief was. And, of course, they are available here at www.bluberry-park.co.uk

love Karen x

Compact mirrors at www.bluberry-park.co.uk

Compact mirrors at www.blueberry-park.co.uk

The chicken one is my favourite!!! To see more go to www.blueberry-park.co.uk

Gifts at www.blueberry-park.co.uk

Visitors

We’ve had some new visitors to Blueberry Park As much as we love them, we hope they are only temporary because it means you love them too

Clever Alice, from Alice Apple makes these fabulous Sausage Dogs and Elephants. She always gives me a choice of the most amazing fabrics from which to choose. It’s so difficult because they are all gorgeous. In the end I just give her an idea of the ones I like and I know that whatever she chooses will be great.

We’ve added a new little missy to the collection and she is just so sweet. I think I’ve already lost one to Ruby.

Love

Karen

Welcome www.blueberry-park.co.uk

Meet the artist – Hannah Nunn

Meet the Artist

Hannah Nunn

Yorkshire,United Kingdom

I am designer/maker of lamps. I do the British Craft Trade Fair annually and have gathered around 60 craft galleries that are successfully selling my lamps. This has helped me to spread my work out across the county and gain recognition. I also sell directly to the public from my shop/workshop, Radiance, specializing in handcrafted lighting. Customers love to meet the artist, as it makes their purchases feel more special! I have a PR girl www.happy4pr.com who gets me great publicity in national magazines and newspapers. This helps reach people who then use my online shop.

For more information on the artist please contact:

Hannah Nunn
www.hannahnunn.co.uk

Enter the ‘House to Home’ competition to win a Hannah Nunn Lamp

Housetohome readers have the chance to win one of four Hannah Nunn lamps worth £65 each.

House to Home have teamed up with Hannah Nunn to give away four handmade patterned lamps worth £65 each. Her collection is inspired by the beauty and simplicity of nature, combining a fusion of elegance with a contemporary edge.

Nunn’s designs are hand cut with the finest parchment to create exquisite and detailed finishes on each shade. Hannah Nunn launched her collection at the British Craft Trade Fair in 2003, and since then the company has gone from strength to strength, successfully selling on a national and international scale. Featuring patterns inspired by nature such as alliums, daisies, paper whites and Japanese anemone, Nunn’s own passions are close to ‘The Hannah Nunn collection’ and strike a chord with a modern society, that loves nature and aspires to live in the country.

The shades, tea lights and lamps are strong collector’s items and have proven to be the most sought after accessory, for the fastidious interior fashionista.

“The lamps have been bought for by the ‘experienced’ craft buyer, interior designer, young couples, as wedding presents, …for traditional to contemporary, town or country home or space..the variation in size and design mean that they fit any style of decor.”

Go to House and Home website to enter the competition to win a beautiful Hannah Nunn Lamp

Customers can choose from table lamps, oval table lamps, wall lamps, tea lights, lampshades, floor lights and exquisite strings of delicate fairy lights with a variety of different designs and styles to decide from. Prices start from £55.

New Products at www.radiancelighting.co.uk

Jane Blease has kindly given us the first Radiance Blog interview. We have just got some of Janes gorgeous acrylic wall lights in the shop. Read on and find out more about the artist…

Describe what you do. What materials/techniques do you use?
I am a designer maker of lighting and interior products. I make things from wood, acrylic, recycled and reclaimed plastics.

Where do you live? How does it feed your art?
I have lived in Manchester for the last 7 years since I started university. It is a vibrant city bursting with culture and eccentric people.

Describe your workshop. Where is it? Do you work alone? How often do you go there?
I have just moved into my studio/shop at the Manchester Craft and Design Centre so I do as much making as I can here. Being a shop as well as my workshop means I am open 6 days a week. I think it adds to the experience for shoppers seeing the maker hand crafting their products. Being able to chat first hand to the maker about their work and inspiration turns it into a much more enjoyable shopping experience. The Craft Centre is such a lovely place to work too, it has such a relaxed atmosphere. There is a cafe downstairs and the building has around 20 studios with jewellers, painters, photographers, ceramic artists, furniture makers and me. I am the only lighting shop in the Craft Centre, which is nice. I went to university with a few of the people here and I have also taken part in exhibitions with others so it felt like home straight away. It’s great to have a supportive network around me.

Have you always been a maker?
I have always wanted to persue an artistic career and over the years my desire to become a maker and create a career from what I love grew and grew! I couldn’t imagine doing anything else now. I absolutely love it and seeing the pleasure in peoples faces when they see my work for the first time is wonderful.

Where did you train?
I studied at Manchester Metropolitan University on the Three Dimensional Design Course. I also did the fourth year which was about Creative Business Development, helping to turn your ‘hobby’ into a viable business. After University I was successful in gaining a place on the Design Initiatives two year Setting Up Scheme which gave me a business mentor, training and funding towards equipment and promotion of my business. I think these were vital years in growing my understanding and confidence to set up as a sole trader.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from everything around me, nature, exhibitions, travelling. All of my work is organic, either in form, pattern or materials used. I also love creating contrast in my work by combining sharp angular forms with flowing, organic pattern. I like to collect objects and images that inspires me.

Is there anyone or any style that you’re influenced by?
I get influenced by lots of things. I love looking at designers from the past. At university I discovered Bruno Munari. His lighting from the 60’s has a beautiful clean simplicity. (if that makes sense) His Falkland suspension light is my favourite. I suppose I’d describe my products in a similar way. I don’t like too much fussiness. To be honest I love everything from the 60’s, the fashion was all about clarity and geometry.

What piece of machinery or tool could you not live without?
Definitely my router. I often use it to design new patterns. I like to be quite spontaneous with it, I don’t tend to draw out the pattern in advance I just have an idea and go with it. In my University days, I would be in the wood workshop routing patterns all day long! You can be quite sculptural with it by altering the depths of cuts and using different shaped cutters. I’m a bit of a power tool geek.

Besides the products you sell at Radiance is there anything else that you make?
Yes, I make lots of different types of Lighting. Wooden Light Boxes, recycled C.D. Plastic Light Boxes, pendant, wall and table lights in Imitation Tortoiseshell (Cellulose Acetate). Material from the 60’s that was origionally made for glasses frames. I also make platters from Recycled yoghurt pot and also pendant and wall lights from Acrylic which come in a range of beautiful colours.

What are you working on at the moment?
I am currently introducing new and fresh spring colours into my work and expanding my product range by designing more interior products….

What do you do when you’re not working? How do you unwind?
I like to go for day trips out into the country or just go to the park to relax. Eating is also one of my pastimes, I love food!

What do you like least about being a designer/maker? Any occupational hazards?
It’s difficult to keep your hands looking pretty.

What do you like the most about being a designer/maker?
I love putting my heart and soul into designing and making a product and knowing that someone is going to cherish it. I love some of the reactions from customers entering my shop, it makes me feel proud. I still get all giddy and flustered every time I make a sale.

Any links you’d like to share with us?.

There are so many beautiful blogs and websites to look at these days, one I found today is Mieke Williems, lots of sweet pictures. And here are two of my friends beautiful websites showing their fantastic work, www.bethanlloydworthington.co.uk and www.iamkathrynedwards.co.uk.

Hannah Nunn’s blog’s Ok too!

For more information on the designer please go to www.radiancelighting.co.uk

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

I LOVE these wall stickers and birdhouse lamp by Inke in Holland. I wish I had room to display a tree at Radiance but sadly I have no walls for such a thing! I’m going to get the birdhouse and some bird stickers though. How exciting!
Best Wishes!

Hannah Nunn x

Louise Ditchburn @ Radiance

Radiance just got some gorgeous ceramic light pulls by ceramic artist Lorraine Ditchburn The small ones are £8.50 and the big ones £10. The smooth glazes and the lovely shapes are perfect. Hannah Nunn has one in my bathroom already!

Jalouse launch party – Looking Glass meet Paris Hilton

The Looking Glass girls had a fabulous time at the Jalouse opening in London last night. Our designers were socialising with the likes of Paris Hilton, Mica Paris and Ronan Keating.

We even managed to spread the word about our lovely label, by giving all the wonderful celebrities special goodies from the Looking Glass collection. A big thank you goes out to Jalouse and the lovely Stieve who looked stunning in her Looking Glass outfits (all three of them!!!) Photos to follow – so please keep checking our blog!!!

LG XXX

Love Love Love

bespoke fairy lights

Hannah Nunn has created these beautiful fairy lights. They are a perfect wedding gift or present for the person who has everything. Personalise your gift by saying the thing you want to say the most ‘ i love you’

Go to www.hannahnunn.co.uk to see more……Comissions welcome!

Hebden Bridge Houses

Inspired by where she lives and works in Hebden Bridge, designer/maker Hannah Nunn has created this beautiful ‘house lamp’ that is perfect in any home. I have one in my spare bedroom and my young neice Abigail, loves it!!!

Hebden Bridge House Lamp

All About YOU!!! 15% off the Hannah Nunn Collection

www.allaboutyou.com

Here’s what they say….

Allaboutyou is the online home to the best loved magazines in the UK today, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Coast, House Beautiful, She and Prima. Visit daily as we bring together expert advice, creative inspiration, recipes and food for the home and your family.

Spring is a time of fresh starts and clear outs and we’re looking for a whole new way of living to welcome the new season. from improving your home to looking good, changing career direction or moving away, it’s all about making changes to de-clutter your life and feel great.

Plus this month we treat your home to some natural beauty by offering allaboutyou.com readers a fantastic 15% discount on the Hannah Nunn Collection.

Candle Light

Hannah Nunn Candle collection

Perfect for Mother’s Day or for any birthday gifts. And for £15.00 each, why not treat yourself to a lovely warm glow at night. To see a selection of styles go to www.hannahnunn.co.uk

 

Perfect Gifts for Easter from ‘The Hannah Nunn Collection’

Designer/Maker and all round genius ‘Hannah Nunn’ always creates something magical, inspirational and beautiful. Her new wall light panel designs takes me back to my childhood, in the summer meadows where i was allowed to play freely with my friends and discover the wonders of nature. It is with this innocence and discovery that Hannah Nunn is and will always be, my favourite lighting designer. She puts herself into her work and produces magic everytime! A warm glow and radiant sunshine all in one stunning collection. There is a look, sensation, memory, style for everyone, all year round.

Ps, If you look closely you can see the plants dancing!!!

Hedgerow Panel

www.hannahnunn.co.uk

www.hannahnunn.co.uk

Leaf  Study wall panel

www.hannahnunn.co.uk

www.hannahnunn.co.uk

Seed pod wall panel

www.hannahnunn.co.uk

Choose your Hannah Nunn design today. Go to www.hannahnunn.co.uk

New Products at Elysian

www.elysianlifestyle.com

www.elysianlifestyle.com

New hats by top milliner designer ‘Chrissie King’ for
Elysian. Go to www.elysianlifestyle.com to view more….

Bespoke Wedding Day Event

www.elysianlifestyle.com

Elysian enjoyed there second ‘wedding day event’ with award winning florist, Joanna McCrea had prepared some amazing floral designs. Hat designer Chrissie King and jewellery designer Clare Lupino previewed their latest collections, which are now a permanent feature in the Elysian Store.

‘Bride to be’, Seema Parmar had the Elysian VIP service with champagne, chocolates and tiara treatment , and her make-up done by top Make Artist Fiona Lobo-Cranston, what more could a woman need.

www.elysianlifestyle.com

www.elysianlifestyle.com

Elysian proprietor, interior designer and columnist Dipika Makwana was busy talking and showing potential customers what she could bring to their special day, adding that elegant twist and flare she is so renowned for. The day was a success from beginning to the end and we hope to see you at the next one!!!

Exciting New Gifts for Easter…………..

CE Leathergoods at Elysian

Keep warm this season

Cute and reliable

Green Design at Elysian

www.elysianlifestyle.com

Green design

Our resident expert Dipika Makwana takes a look at the latest trends to take the interior world by storm.

Eco Living doesn’t mean you have to compromise on luxury and design. Designers have been working with different materials for centuries and there are some amazing eco products to invest in for your home and outdoor spaces.

Thinking green isn’t just about improving your ecological footprint, it is about being conscious of every area of your life and the way you live it.

TWIG BENCH Made from coppiced hazel Price £1425 Available at http://www.pinchdesign.com/

www.pinchdesign.com was founded in 2004, and with a ‘Blueprint 100% Design, Best Newcomer Award’ and the ‘Design Decoration Furniture Award’ behind them, it is not difficult to see why designer/founder Russell Pinch has produced a selection of stylish and functional designs for your living spaces. These products include a twig bench made from coppiced hazel that has an earthy and visual appeal and was originally commissioned for Neal’s Yard. And if you are a lover of architectural design, then their alba armoire product is for you. The inspiration for the exterior has come from mid century plasterwork. The interior storage of this product can be designed as a library, a wardrobe, and bathroom or media compartments depending on your particular needs.

Finding products for all areas of your home can be difficult but www.biomelifestyle. com makes buying your gifts easy. Gift ideas comprise of the eco camping kit that includes a solar shower, water powered alarm clock, wind up radio to the eco gardening and picnic kits. On this website there are many ways to save on the environment and your bank balance. My favourite product on the site is the coco tooth sustainable light made from coconut shell shivers.

COCO TOOTH SHADE The light combines aesthetics of naturally gathered products with the durability of modern materials to create a handmade object of beauty www.biomelifestyle.com Retail price £100.

Keeping things in the family and investments in antiquities is very important in the green age, as well as restoration, remember it is important to take stock of what you have before you buy anything new. A reusable material such as cardboard is what the famous architect and designer, Frank Gehry used in 1972 when he created the wiggle and side chair. If you love the wiggle chair you must invest in the wiggle stool available at www.cimmermann.co.uk

For any more information, please contact Dipika on elysianlifestyle@gmail.com or 07960 794 533
Take a look at Dipika website for more information, www.elysianlifestyle.com

Radiance – A day in a life on designer/maker ‘Hannah Nunn’

Radiance – www.radiancelighting.co.uk

Today we follow Hannah Nunn though a day in her life . . . .

Hannah Nunn

Getting up

My daughter Ffion (14) gets up first at around SIX o’clock (way too early) and clatters around the house running the bath, drying her hair etc. Once I’m awake I’m not very good a dozing off again so I get up too and leave Robert, who IS very good at dozing back off, in bed. I get up, feed the cats who are camped outside my bedroom door waiting for their breakfast, make the kids packed lunches and then do my yoga. I’ve been doing yoga everyday for YEARS. It’s utterly ingrained into my routine. I love it. It keeps me healthy, sane and straightened out! Then Euan (13) gets up (he only takes 10 minutes to get ready) and they leave for school at 8. I have my breakfast and then switch the computer on.

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

Starting work

I like this time of day. Kids have gone, Robert’s still asleep. The house is peaceful. I do most of my computer stuff at home at this time of day. I check my emails and Etsy conversations, bumble around on the net looking at blogs and things, update website stuff, do a bit of blogging on either my Hannah Nunn blog or my Radiance blog, print out orders and get anything I might need when I go to the workshop. Then Robert gets up and goes to work and I get dressed. It’s up to me what I do then. My shop opens at 11. This gives me the mornings free to do what I like – I might go straight to the workshop if I’m busy or stay at home working on the computer until then, or I might go for a walk in the woods with my camera for inspiration or go for a coffee. It’s nice to be able to choose!

Hannah’s Desk

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

Going to work

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

Then I make the long commute to work (it’s about 30 seconds away) with my cup of tea and my cat following me all excited. My shop is Radiance – a lighting and craft boutique and I have my lamp making workshop up some steps at the back of the shop. I switch everything on so it’s at its glowing best, I light the fire in the workshop and then get on with my work. I manage somehow to run the shop and the workshop. The shop isn’t that busy in the week so I’m able to get my head down to my making but I’m there for customers if I need to be. On a Saturday when it is busy I just sit behind the shop counter chatting to people and catching up with shop paperwork on the computer there.

There is always a lot to do but I don’t do it in a particular order. I just choose what I fancy doing next. This includes – making my lamps which involves lots of cutting out with my craft knife and then laminating, packing orders for galleries or individuals, making up cables and tripods for the insides of lamps (that’s a boring job), unpacking deliveries for the shop (lovely job), contacting designers and makers, photographing things for the websites, doing shop displays, paperwork and accounts etc.

Hannah Nunn Lamps

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

Lunch

I put a back in a minute sign on the door and nip home to make a quick sandwich and a cup of tea which I bring back down with me. I don’t have a loo in the shop so it’s a good job I only live round the corner!

Afternoon

In the afternoon when all the jobs and orders are done I might do a bit of development work and play with any designs that I’m working on. I’m developing some new wall panels at the moment and have lots of ideas for designs. I like this part. I can get very excited about new things I’m working on.

www.hannahnunn.co.uk

Hometime

I finish at 5 and usually need to walk round to the post office. It’s nice to get some fresh air. Don’t know what I’d do without a post office 5 minutes away. I’m so glad it’s there!
Hannah Nunn Lamps

Evenings

Then home. Evenings are usually cooking something nice for tea, having a glass of wine, cosying up on the sofa with a pile of cats on top of us. Euan’s electric guitar can usually be heard in the distance (but that’s OK, he’s very good) as can Ffion’s tapping away on the computer keyboard.

I try not to work in the evenings but sometimes I get sucked in. I’m doing a new Radiance website at the moment and turning it into an online shop. I can really get into doing web stuff in the evenings but I have to fight with Ffion for the computer as she is Tumblr mad and also always has lots of homework to do.

Things I like about being an indie designer

It’s a pleasure to be able to do the things I do. To be allowed to follow my inspiration and make lovely things for a living. It makes me very happy that people want to buy my work. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. It means I can do the things I love everyday like sitting in the woods with my sketchbook or cutting out pretty things from paper or buying flowers from the flower shop for inspiration. This is my JOB! It’s great!

www.hannahnunn.co.uk

Things I don’t like so much about being an indie designer

Sometimes I can feel a little overwhelmed at the task of keeping everything running smoothly and knowing that I am responsible for ALL aspects of the business. It’s usually just when I’m tired so I have to be careful not to wear myself out too often. When I’m excited about work and full of inspiration I just go and go and go! I have to remember to slow down to keep balanced.

Hannah Nunn Lamps

www.hannahnunn.co.uk

Summing up

It’s a nice life. I’m very happy. Although I work alone mostly I feel quite connected to the other makers through the Internet and through the network built up at trade and craft shows. And I’m never alone for long in my shop. I have lots of lovely customers without whom I would have no business so thanks guys! The indie Craft world is a lovely, friendly and far reaching place and it’s a pleasure to be a part of it!!! Long may it flourish!

——————-

Thank you Hannah! For more information about Hannah Nunn please go to the websites and blogs below…….

- www.hannahnunn.co.uk
- www.hannahnunn.etsy.com
- www.radiancelighting.co.uk

Blogs:
- www.hannahnunn.blogspot.com
- www.radiancelighting.blogspot.com

New Lights at Radiance

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

These beautiful new lights are new from Colin Chetwood. The Snowdrop light at the top is £420 + £20 P&P and is made to order. The two other ‘Oak Lights’ are £220 each and you can find them on wwww.radiancelighting.co.uk along with a selection of other fantastic products.

Easter Gifts at www.radiancelighting.co.uk

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

Lush products are a perfect colourful mix of design, I bought a lovely lampshade for my bathroom.

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

Anna Tayler’s exquisite hand made ‘Majestic Magnolia’ fairy lights are perfect for any living space.

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

These dear little vases are new from designer Wendy Jung. They are £13 each and available at www.radiancelighting.co.uk  They measure up to about 9cm high and you can put water inside for fresh flowers.

New Gifts at www.radiancelighting.co.uk

wwww.radiancelighting.co.uk

These lovely new candle holders by the Log Basket have just arrived at Radiance www.radiancelighting.co.uk

They come in a set of three differing heights for £26 or a set of six little ones for £28. They come nestled in a box of rustic wood shavings. An ideal gift.

The Log Basket is a spin off from Keith Dickson’s other business supplying tipi poles, which in turn was a spin-off of his family’s ‘new life in the country’ – to set up a luxury tipi campsite in the magnificent Forest of Dean. Throughout the summer he fells and peels Douglas Fir trees from the woods that surround his old Forestry Commission cottage. The off-cuts he accumulate from the tipi poles are too beautiful to throw away…and from there we arrive at The Log Basket.

The Hannah Nunn Collection

www.hannahnunn.co.uk

These beautiful Fairy Lights are a fantastic gift, and if you are getting married Hannah makes bespoke fairy lights for your special occassion.

Sarah and William

These Floor Lights from The Hannah Nunn Collection are perfect feature for your living space, to see more designs go to www.hannahnunn.co.uk

Hannah Nunn's Floor lights

Hannah Nunn's Floor Lights

Floor Lights retail at £160 at www.hannahnunn.co.uk

Friends of the British Craft Trade Fair

Friends of the British Craft Trade Fair, Hannah Nunn www.hannahnunn.co.uk, Sam Peare www.samanthapeare.co.uk , Catherine Edwards
www.ce-leathergoods.com, Catherine Woodall www.catherinewoodall.co.uk amongst others have just had three days of selling their lovely products at the British Craft Trade Show. Buyers came from all over the globe to see what the designer makers had to offer, and they weren’t disappointed! Amazing lighting from ‘Hannah Nunn’, her lamps were adored by many buyers and visitors alike, Hannah really enjoyed there appreciation and is going to be very busy in the next few months preparing the orders for her galleries and shops.

Textile Designer Samantha Peare was celebrating when she heard she had been featured in this month’s Marie Claire, ‘Champagne all round’!!!

www.samanthapeare.co.uk

Cathy Edwards had all the other traders trying to place there own individual orders of her bags, and lets face it – they are lovely!!!

www.ce-leathergoods.co.uk

The talented Jeweller, Catherine Woodall showed her beautiful nature inspired work, offering the simplicity and structure that energises a feeling of the outside.

www.catherinewoodall.co.uk

Fiona x

Celebratory Giveaway!

Hannah Nunn

My trade fair was good, spring is in the air and all is well! I’m going to giveaway one of my tea light covers. If you’d like a chance to win one just visit my website www.hannahnunn.co.uk

let me know which is your favourite design by commenting below.  I’ll give it a week and announce the winner next Friday!

Good luck!!!

Hannah Nunn x

www.radiancelighting.co.uk

New Products at www.radiancelighting.co.uk

Hello

Product of the month – www.elysianlifestyle.com

Product of the Month – Bespoke Furniture

Luxuriously embellished, one off interior products, hand dyed and embroidered to your requirements. Guaranteed to add drama to any interior!

Products available, range from lamps, wallcoverings, furniture to bespoke artwork. Featured in The Sunday Times Home section.

For more information on this product or any of the products shown on this blog please email Dipika Makwana on elysianlifestyle@gmail.com

New products at www.elysianlifestyle.com

I love these new bags from www.elysianlifestyle.com for more information email Dipika Makwana on elysianlifestyle@gmail.com

Calling all designers – www.barjiscreativz.com

www.barjiscreativz.com

is a successful design agency that was launched in mid 2008. Founder, interior designer and designer/maker ‘Barjis Chohan’ started the company because she wanted to help designers (new and established) to overcome the obstacles they face when trying to break into the international market. Barjis has many contacts in areas such as Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India and South Korea and visits the countries on a regular occurance.

“I believe that the world is your oyster and in this current economic client you should reach out to new markets and compete effectively in the global community. As a designer I faced tough challenges when entering new international markets hence our aim through ‘Barjis creativz’ is to secure commissions and orders for these designers and promote to raise the profile of talented British designers, globally in the most cost effective way.”

If your a designer and want to know more about the opportunities that Barjis Creativz can create for you, please contact Barjis and her team at info@barjis.co.uk

www.barjiscreativz.com

About the designer: Cj O’Neill

Born Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1978

BA(Hons) Three Dimensional Design, MMU, 2000

‘Next Move’ residency, 2001 – 03

Programme Leader,
Creative Business Development, Manchester School of Art, 2003 – present

Member of the board of directors
for Manchester Craft and Design Centre, 2007 – present

Currently living and working in Manchester, UK

Cj is interested in the building of memories through objects and surface pattern, working in ceramics and lighting across craft and design, with one off objects, production runs, design work, workshops and large scale installations. Main areas of interest are with re-use of materials and engaging communities with craft/design. She is currently Programme Leader for Graduate Diploma in Creative Business Development at MMU, and is a consultant for various organisations and schemes on creative business development.

‘My fascination with pattern and surface texture has been important from an early age with repetition in surface and form being an overriding focus throughout my artistic life – an interest in hidden meanings, layers, secrets and treasures allows me to explore various trains of thought in my work. What is most important is that the pieces work on different levels – aesthetically, the work appeals to the beholder with simple, geometric forms, and organic patterns overlaid – but beyond the aesthetics lies the references to my influences, and often in commissioned pieces there are more layers of hidden meanings for the person involved. A feeling of calm, quiet nostalgia, a sense of belonging, contemplation and thoughtfulness; these are all important to my work.’

For more information go to www.barjiscreativz.com

New Designs from www.hannahnunn.co.uk

For more information on the designer and her work, go to www.hannahnunn.co.uk

welovekaoru

welovekaoru is a boutique design studio based in London. Inspired by traditional techniques and the beautiful heritage of the British ceramic industry, Kaoru designs luxury ceramics that celebrates both the traditional and modern. Only the highest quality of fine bone china is used and Kaoru insists that all products are made in Britain. Most pieces are hand painted by Kaoru herself, some with rich gold lustres. Each piece is therefore unique and special. For more information please contact info@barjis.co.uk or go to www.barjiscreativz.com

www.barjiscreativz.com – Will Hutchings

Designer Information:

Will Hutchings

Having graduated in Furniture design from Loughborough University, Will Hutchings started his career in the Interior design industry. For three years he detailed, presented and oversaw ‘Five Star’ Hotel projects from concept to completion. Now is the time for his own designs to take precedent. Will’s pieces all follow the same principles, straight lines, sharp edges and exciting colours. Will experiments with forms created on the computer then rotated, scaled, twisted and distorted. He then uses traditional techniques to produce beautifully crafted pieces of furniture.

www.barjiscreativz.com

Barjis Creativz is happy to promote and work alongside the artist on many projects in the future. For more information on the designer, or to join ‘Barjis Creativz’, please go to www.barjiscreativz.com

Hannah Nunn’s Adventures

My lovely friend Natalie has been wanting to take me to Londons Columbia Road for AGES to show me all the many gorgeous and inspirational shops she had discovered. This weekend we finally made it and we’ve had a great time. We went to the Commercial Tavern on Saturday night. Lovely lively place…check out the amazing decor (photo by Derry N). Natalie got inspired by the patchwork wallpapers…i liked the crazy lighting. Sunday was a perfect, sunny London day. The Columbia Road flower market was in full swing and the shops (there are SIXTY independant shops on this street) were great! It was wonderful to see Rob Ryans shop in real life at last…in fact I saw many things in the flesh that I had only seen in magazines or on the internet so that was nice. As well as Columbia Road we wandered around the Brick Lane area to the Sunday Up Market at The Old Truman Brewery and then pottered around Spittalfields Market too. After we’d done the indie and the arty there was still enough shoe leather left (just) for a bit of big TopShop. Perrrrfect!

Best Wishes!
Hannah Nunn xxx

Lovely Wedding lights

Happy Bunting!!!

Happy Bunting!

I got some lovely bunting by Sabien Engelenburg for Radiance this week. It is 38 FT long with 24 double stitched flags and comes in a transparent bag for safe keeping. It’s £27. Itwould be lovely for summer garden parties or childrens rooms.