Sunday 20 September 2009

Gift Ideas - Home Furnishings

In the first of the 2009 series of Gift Ideas we're looking at some of the amazing home furnishings that our exhibitors have to offer.

First up is this magazine rack by Kate and Anna. These ladies produce some stunning furniture - simple, a little bit retro and seriously lovely.


Next we have a couple of pieces of wall art, very different to one another. Louise Mitchel creates digital images with a real sense of movement, and Steph (of Handmade Heaven) creates artwork from fused glass.


Robert is the woodturning half of Turned and Twisted, creating varies wooden items including gorgeous pot pourri containers from all sorts of different woods.


And last, but by no means least, is Hodge Podge Arts. Karen creates decorative ceramic pieces, from spoons to buttons to bowls and wallhangings. This little bowl really caught my eye.

Saturday 5 September 2009

Meet the Maker - Emerald Frames

Welcome to the latest in the series of Meet the Maker posts. This week, we've spoken to Cath Friend of Emerald Frames. Cath also joined us in July at Handm@de Winchester where her frames really went down a storm!


Tell us a little about you.
Hi there. I'm Cath Friend, a picture framer from Buckinghamshire and I am really looking forward to the handm@de fair in Oxford!! I attended the handm@de fair in Winchester and had a wonderful day, met loads of lovely fellow crafters and sold lots of my little reclaimed frames. I am really happy to supply an ECO product for the fair, as ethical and handmade is a good product for the heart and the planet.

Have you always been crafty, or is it something that you've picked up more recently?
I have always been a bit crafty (no pun intended!) but have framed professionally for the last five years. This is my first year out on my own as a full time picture framer and I'm loving it!

Have you been particularly influenced by any other artists or events? I love the huge amount of diversity and talent out there currently. I could spend all day just surfing through blogs, online craft sites and visiting fairs. The quality and workmanship of others is amazing...


What is your favourite piece? My favourite piece changes on a daily basis, however as all my frames are unique and individual, the are often quite different too. By using reclaimed and recycled products, I have to design around what materials I have available, which drives my designs and each completed frame.

What other artists are you excited about seeing at Handm@de Oxford? I love Monda-Loves and although I was nearby her in Winchester I left without buying any goodies. I had my eye on a pink stripey cat that I'm hoping to bring home from Oxford! Also I love Raspberrys bags and Tickly Spiders Perpetual Calendars - aren't they great and good value for money too? I am of course also very interested to see the photography from Drew Burnett, as pictures and art is my world, so I'll be checking them out too!