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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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!