Please don’t just stop in my shop, there are lots of others, all wonderful and handpicked by Dottie, also waiting to be explored and more being opened all the time.
The world is our oyster and we want to share it with you.
JOYSOFGLASS is OPEN
Category: Artisans blogs
A Little Introduction
Hi I’m Kay – Welcome to my first ever blog post.
I wanted to introduce myself and tell you about how I started painting and how Kay Lacey Watercolours developed. It took me almost three years before I was convinced to submit some paintings to a local Art Exhibition.
I love to paint, mainly in Watercolour but occasionally add some ink or aqua bronze / silver embellishment. I love and am inspired by nature, particularly flowers and strive to interpret what I see using both colour and texture. In addition to Original Art, I am now able to offer Prints, Cards and ‘Arty Gifts’ plus home decor items featuring my work so everyone can have a pretty and useful piece of art in their home.
Originally from the Midlands, I have lived in Suffolk since 1989. Now semi-retired, I have run my own Garden Design and Landscaping Business with my husband for the last 15 years following a career based mainly in Local Government.
I began painting following a brief holiday workshop in the Mediterranean in 2011 and now I have more time, I am able to Exhibit my art locally and enjoy contact with people at local handmade and art events. I have a small studio at my home in Monk Soham surrounded by the beautiful Suffolk Countryside. I am always thrilled that people can take pleasure from my art and even if there is no room for a painting then my art may be enjoyed in other ways that I like to describe as ‘useful art’.
Online platforms allow a comfortable and unique exposure to affordable art when many people may be put off from visiting galleries. I hope that you enjoy what you see here.
Thank You for your visit.
Kay.
A little bit about me
About me
I have been sewing since I was very young. I didn’t learn anything about sewing from my Mum, she was a knitter, and made our cardigans and jumpers, but my Dad taught himself to sew using my Nan’s old Pfaff sewing machine (one of the old hand crank models), and I too learnt to sew on this machine. People were always amazed that he made mine and my sister’s dresses! So I suppose I come from a creative family, in fact my Dad’s Dad was an upholsterer. My Dad was always making things for us children. I remember him making cardboard Thunderbird models and a garage with a working lift for my brother, and a dolls house for me, and dolls bedroom sets for me and my sister that included bunkbeds, wardrobes and dressing tables. Unfortunately neither my daughter nor my son seem to have inherited the ‘crafty’ gene, but I can see a little of it in my grandchildren.
My Dad was an inspiration and a great teacher. At first I didn’t really know what I was doing, my first attempt at making a dress for my doll was basically a tube with holes cut in for the arms! Not technically brilliant, but I was delighted that I had made something that my doll could actually wear. At school we were taught cross-stitch and I remember making a sewing needle book, In fact they thought me so good that I was asked to help the younger children. In my last year at junior school the girls had to make a completely hand sewn sleeveless blouse – lots of backstitching in that! At secondary school I continued to learn and even made my own school summer dress.
Since then I have made everything from clothes for myself and my daughter, to curtains and soft furnishings. In fact I had my own business making the latter for a few years. I gave up my curtain making business, (not because it wasn’t successful – it was, I had a three month waiting list), but to look after my Granddaughter so that my Daughter could go back to work. Once she started school I got a part time job working as a merchandiser for a well known greetings card company. Gradually the job changed, became more pressured and my hours were cut, and I soon started hankering after working for myself again. I began thinking about making bags – why? I don’t really know where the idea came from, but it did and it stuck. So having nursed this ambition for a couple of years, I finally took the plunge and left my job in June 2010. On October 23rd of that year I launched Wild Rose Designs, selling handmade evening bags. I’ve since added everyday bags, accessories and accessories for the home as a nod to my former soft furnishings business. I also offer a bespoke service.
My inspiration
I love beautiful things! I have neither the income nor the lifestyle where I need lots of fabulous evening bags, but they’re so gorgeous that I just want to make them. I draw inspiration for a lot of my evening bags from the Hollywood glamour of the 1930’s, I do love a bit of bling! For my everyday bags, the chic designs of the 1960’s give me lots of ideas. For my home accessories it can be anything from retro, to ostentatious silks and velvets in rich jewel colours. Anything beautiful really.
I feel very privileged to have been able to set up a business doing what I love.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Meet the Artisan, Max Pring, aka The Crafty Welsh Mam
For me it’s all about the metal, the thing I love most about it is that it’s so versatile, you can melt it, recycle it, hammer it, bend it, stamp it, shape it, fuse it, mix it, add stones to it and if that’s not enough you can texture it, paint it, heat it, etch it and polish it too. You will see the majority of these techniques used in my work as I do love to play!.
I find my inspiration from the lush Welsh countryside, living near Pontypridd in the Rhondda Valleys I have beautiful views across the rolling hills and a wildlife reserve just down the road. There’s also a lot of old industrial sites where nature has stepped back in, but you can find some really old interesting textures and patterns on abandoned machinery so I’m never short of inspiration and try to protect the environment by being as environmentally friendly as I can be in my work using recycled materials where I can and plastic free packaging.
I learnt to knit and sew when I was really little, sat next to my lovely Nan, my first make was a hand-sewn dress for my Tiny Tears Doll, I can even remember the colour it was purple with flowers and made from an old dress of my Nan’s. I still knit and sew nowadays but only occasionally as my real passion is for metal jewellery, though I’ll always find time for a bit of papercraft or drawing, often sketching out new designs and little pictures for etching or making my own boxes or hand finishing my packaging with hearts and making little matching gift cards to go with each order.
I have a small bench in the spare bedroom, but have to decamp to hubby’s garage for hammering and using the blowtorch.
As well as being a maker I have a day job working in the NHS in Human Resources and I am very fortunate that I love both my jobs, my passion for metal matches my passion for people. When I’m not metalsmithing or working you will find me colouring in with my granddaughter, baking or reading with an occasional night out at the theatre.
A little hello….
Hello and welcome to jcudesigns on The British Craft House!
Some of you may be familiar with what I do but for many this will be the first time you’ve come across me! I thought a little intro would be nice for those interested…
Having been creative from a young age – drawing, baking, embroidery, knitting (badly!!) to name just a few – I started making jewellery over 10 years ago. My first pieces were simple beaded designs and charm necklaces – which I still adore as I love to wear them myself. I soon moved into working with leather, being a bit of a boho-style lover, and this has become a staple in many of my designs. It is just one material I love working with and enjoy finding new ways in which to use it.
About 5 years ago I made a move from beaded jewellery into hand-stamped pieces…. and haven’t looked back! It is rather fun wielding a hammer and using it to add text and design to aluminium which is such a lovely, soft metal to work with!
In my shop you will see an array of personalised and inspirational pieces of aluminium hand-stamped jewellery and I’ve combined my love of working with leather to provide some wonderful pieces for men and women alike.
Aluminium is a fantastic metal, like silver in shine, but is more cost effective and hypo-allergenic, so perfect for those with sensitive skin. The British Craft House will see the exclusive introduction of silver into my designs – so keep an eye on what is to come!
The British Craft House is such an exciting venture – and I’m so glad to be a part of it from the start!
Jill
How Photofinish Jewellery began.
My Story
Serendipity – finding something good/beautiful without looking for it – has played a major role in this venture.
Fascinated as I have always been with the myriad forms, shapes and colours of the natural world, it has been a delight to discover a way in which I can combine this love of nature with my love of design and artistry, to produce a unique range of jewellery.
Photography has also been a life-long passion with me and it has brought so much satisfaction to have developed a process that has allowed me to be able to transpose images on to aluminium, creating individual items that are both beautiful and easy to wear.
How Photofinish began
Although basically a very practical and logical person, I also have a very strong creative streak and this has been apparent in so many ways throughout my life. It could also be said that there is something of the “butterfly” about me, with a restlessness of spirit that provides the drive towards the next idea and challenge.
Growing up, I was always drawn to construction in one form or another; be it model making or designing and building an adventure playground in the garden for a pet rabbit. At work, my role for a number of years was to design and produce equipment to be used in conservation projects. Eventually the post became more project management based and I missed having a practical outlet for my creativity.
“The great outdoors” has always held an attraction for me: from a walk in the local park to a journey to see the spectacular wild places of the world. Any location, from the simple to the exotic, always finds me with a camera in readiness. In fact, most snaps of me – other than at my own wedding – show me with a camera, usually in the act of taking a picture.
A change in circumstances and serendipity led me to sign up for a couple of workshops as part of the Surrey Artists’ Open Studios. Jewellery was not something that I had previously considered, but I booked in for Aileen Hamilton‘s workshop where I made a silver pendant. It was, however, the aluminium jewellery on display that caught my eye and I duly returned for another course to learn the techniques needed for the dye process.
Over the next year, I developed a procedure that allows me to “print” my photographs on to recycled aluminium, so creating jewellery with a unique finish and appearance. Photofinish was born, celebrating nature at its best!
David Hitchcock
Meet The Maker!
Hi! My name is Kelly, and I am a self-employed artisan jewellery designer and maker, currently living in the south of England with my husband, our three young daughters, and a loyal old grey cat. I am a retired Royal Navy Officer, having left the military after almost fifteen years of service in order to have children and raise my family.
I have always been a creative person and enjoy any pastime that allows me to be imaginative and indulge my love for art and design, including gardening, graphic design, sewing and photography.
I began making jewellery many years ago, originally starting with bead stringing and wirework to create things for myself and gifts for friends and family. More recently I have expanded my techniques and skills to incorporate metalsmithing into my work. This gives me much greater flexibility in my designs and has opened up a whole new world of creative possibility. In particular it allows me to combine my love of creating jewellery with another of my hobbies – collecting sea glass!
I have always loved the sea and for the last few years I’ve been lucky enough to live right on the coast where I regularly enjoy walks along the beach, combing for treasure and picking up sea glass and random bits of driftwood that I hope one day to find a use for!
I also draw inspiration from trees, plants and flowers. Having grown up in the countryside I maintain an affiliation with and a great fondness for nature and natural materials, which is often reflected in my work.
As my children are approaching school age I created Willow & Twigg to help sustain and fund my passion for crafting jewellery, to provide me with a regular and steady occupation once again, and to enable me to share my designs. It also gives me the freedom to work from home, allowing me to always be available for my daughters and spend as much time as possible with them.
I thoroughly enjoy making jewellery and I’m hopeful that my work will appeal to like-minded people who also possess a fondness for handcrafted items and who will love wearing my designs as much as I love creating them.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my shop and my blog! If you are interested in knowing more, then please also check out my social media pages using the links below, and if you have any questions, comments or feedback please get in touch!
Kelly
Find me on Instagram and Facebook
Welcome All!
Hello Everyone!
Well it is the week of the official launch of The British Craft House and excitement is in the air. I feel very honoured to have my little shop here amongst these amazing Artisans, definitely no need to go anywhere else for Christmas Shopping this year.
There have been many, many months of hard work by Dottie to make her vision a reality and build this site so huge thanks to her for her determination!
As for Adien Crafts, I will be adding new items regularly so I do hope you pop back and check on me now and again 🙂 The kettle is always on and there’s usually some virtual lemon drizzle for you too. Here’s one I made earlier, and yes I really did!
I will try and post here often, life gets in the way sometimes doesn’t it but the intention is there.
I look forward to getting to know you, I am always happy to hear from you so if I can help in any way do just ask. I will be sharing new makes here, as well as some work in progress photo’s as I know I love to see how it all starts so hope you do too.
I will leave you now and hope you have a wonderful day, just one question, for you … tea or coffee with your lemon drizzle?! If you have time to leave a reply below it would make my day, in fact I would be happy dancing round the room knowing someone has seen this!
Di
There’s now a ‘RUSTY’ Harriet Hare Sculpture…
It took me about a year (off and on!) to sculpt the original Harriet Hare Sculpture in wax and she has now been in production for a further year.
I began by making her as a ‘Moon-lit’ Hare in cold-cast pewter, but I now also produce a resin bronze lacquered piece (which has a green verdigris patina), and this latest cold-cast iron version.
This rusty Harriet is first treated with acid to accelerate the rusting process and then I highlight the detail and add shading with various metallic and black waxes. I think rusty Harriet is my new favourite … ?
She’ll be listed in the next few weeks once I’ve got a few more cast!
Kirsty
Fairtrade for Handmade
Fairtrade for Handmade
Pricing correctly is something we take very seriously at TBCH.