Meet The Maker – Heather Dewick

Heather Dewick - bookbinder

I first met Heather at Saltaire Arts Trail in one of the Open Houses and could have bought half her stock! I didn’t, but I did manage to pick up some very appropriate Christmas presents – yes, in May!

A pile of Heather's journals bound in tea towels - these can be personalised by Heather

Heather has always loved reading, and has always enjoyed making things, so making and repairing books makes her happy (but not rich!). Heather’s journals and notebooks can be made to measure for any purpose – travel, garden, recipes, etc with a customised cover, or lettered if required. She hand-sews the pages using paper in the 80-120 gsm weight range, which can then be either trimmed to the required size, or left untrimmed for a slightly more “handmade” look.

Heather's small notebooks, with old (damaged, so no harm done!) Ladybird books

She finds inspiration for her work in many places – books old and new, typography, pattern, words, and the materials she uses – paper in particular.

A set of Heather's journals, bound in the cover and pages of a 're-purposed' old book

Heather's journals bound in fabric taken from a charity shop dress

From her studio in Sheffield Heather does a wide range of work, from restoration to making books for artists and has been making and mending for nearly 20 years. Her restoration work is true to original materials and techniques and her bespoke work is pure perfection. ‘Family Bibles’ are sent to Heather in often very poor condition, having been passed around the family or stored in damp cellars. They often contain important information about a family’s history and are worth saving – Heather has rescued many. Extra pages for family information can be added if required. However, largely due to their weight and “well used” condition, they can need quite a lot of work to make them useable and displayable again. 

Heather's 'Purple Prose' journals

Heather's watercolour sketchbooks

Although initially starting out as a book restorer Heather is now in demand for her handmade books. Heather hopes you share her preference for original and inspiring high quality materials, conventional or otherwise. Heart Gallery certainly does as she often uses unique hand decorated papers, she doesn’t mass produce and all her books are original and so well made. Heather’s sketchbooks are made-to-measure, using good quality cartridge/pastel/watercolour papers (or a mix). If you use a specific paper, let her know and she can usually obtain it. Heather uses a heavier weight of paper for sketchbooks (120 gsm upwards) and as with journals, cover or size etc can be your choice.

Heather's Autograph books

Because I fell in love with Heather’s work so much last year I booked her in for our Wedding Exhibition February 2012 and then had to count down the days until her amazing books would be on display in the Heart Gallery. Heather can now add bespoke wedding albums to her long list of many talents. Call in to see the pieces she has made for ‘I DO’ 2012 and chat to us about your special day, requirements, colour schemes and desires. You can really go to town on personalising you album. You can make it to your wedding colour scheme, or even use the same fabric as your dress. A popular request is for Heather to mount a a wedding photo (or artwork) on the cover, with the couples’ names etc underneath. Guest books may also be covered in a fabric of your choice to match. Heather can make you a bespoke Wedding Album and/or Wedding Guest book and we hope you can feel the love Heather has put into making it for you to cherish for many years to come.

Look at the books Heather made for our Wedding Exhibition 'I DO' 2012. The top one is our bespoke book that Heather made for us that customers are signing for us - come in and see it soon and leave us a comment

Meet The Maker – Sarah Dodd

Sarah Dodd - textile artist

Sarah graduated in 2010 from Winchester School of Art in BA hons Textiles, Fashion and Fibre, specialising in Textile Art.

Blue Tit - Sarah Dodd textile

She has always had a passionate interest for free hand machine embroidery and for a long time enjoyed making machine embroideries as a hobby. 

Woodpecker - Sarah Dodd textile

Sarah’s main passion in life is being environmentally-friendly, so she endeavours to make her pieces as eco-friendly as possible; using recycled card, and found and re-used fabric. 

Robin - Sarah Dodd textile

She loves making things with fabrics that she finds all over the place, from old clothing to pieces picked up at car boot sales (bits of old envelopes to old felted jumpers). 

Goldcrest - Sarah Dodd textile

Sarah makes all her creations in her studio at home, which is a horder’s paradise – filled with ribbons, buttons, and fabrics galore!

Kingfisher - Sarah Dodd textile

Nature is her source of inspiration, each piece Sarah creates is unique, a one off with its own personality, just like anything within nature, even if tried to replicate there will always be a slight difference.

Whitethroat - Sarah Dodd textile

Past work has included the study of lichens, rising damp and mould, Sarah loves to find beauty within natural forms that get over looked & make beautiful creations inspired by these natural occurrences to adorn our homes. Sarah is currently studying birds, drawn to them for their physicality: their movement, beauty and texture but also as a concern that bird populations are decreasing due to noise pollution. ’Birds of a feather, flock together’: hoping that by replicating birds people become more aware of and appreciate the birds that are taken for granted.

We also sell framed textile pieces of Sarah's lovely birdies

 Sarah doesn’t want to have to imagine a land without birdsong and we totally agree. Do call in soon to see her mounted and framed pieces as I don’t think they will be around for long, they will fly!

Meet The Maker – Tanya Igic

Tanya Igic - jeweller

Tanya is a contemporary jeweller based in Swansea, South Wales.  Having moved from Serbia after completing a degree in Business studies, Tanya had the opportunity to develop what was a part-time business into a full-time career in jewellery, with emphasis on innovative and creative design.

Tanya Igic - leather tiara

Working with finest quality delicate leather in many beautiful shades, and influenced by floral, natural and abstract motifs, Tanya produces a wide range of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, corsages, chokers as well as bridal accessories. Her technique is unusual and innovative and involves a complex process.

Tanya Igic - leather jewellery

Tanya Igic - leather tiara

After selecting the best leather skin and colour, Tanya cuts and bonds together up to eleven layers into the required shape.

 

Tanya Igic - leather head piece

Tanya Igic - leather head piece

When dry, the layered shape is cut into thin slices. The softness of the leather allows Tanya to stretch the slices into shapes which are then glued together. Silver wires and beads are then added as embellishments.

Tanya Igic - leather jewellery

Each piece is extremely labour intensive. This exiting and innovative work is produced in bright, natural and pastel colours.

Tanya Igic - leather jewellery

Tanya has exhibited her amazing work in many galleries in Wales, England, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Holland and recently USA and Austria so Heart Gallery is really proud to be added to Tanya’s list of carefully selected stockists. 

Tanya Igic - leather wedding tiara

 

Meet The Maker – Emma Turpin

Emma Turpin - jeweller

Emma’s passion for traditional Crafts and Craftsmanship is reflected within her style of jewellery. Emma draws inspiration from Victorian Folk life, Victorian interiors and buildings.

Emma's statement necklace

She is continually striving to create Contemporary wearable pieces of jewellery with the essence of bringing the old with the new together.

Rosette earrings

Emma graduated from Middlesex University in 2005, during which time she explored the beginnings of her main collection ‘Maidens Garlands’ which consists of hand folded fine silver rosettes, a technique developed by Emma.

Silver rosette on fresh water pearls

Emma’s ‘Maiden Garlands’ collection is inspired by a Traditional British craft.  Each rosette has been hand folded from fine silver, and mounted upon a peg, where upon each rosette rotates. Allowing the wearer to respond with their jewellery

Silver and gold rosette necklace

Emma works in silver, 18ct yellow gold with elements of oxidisation and 22ct yellow gold plating.

Sculptured rosette ring and lapel pin

Heart Gallery adores Emma’s work and hope you can find time to bob in to see it soon.

Meet The Maker – Rachael Taylor

Rachael Taylor - Surface Pattern Designer

Rachael Taylor is a fun, enthusiastic creative designer and textile artist with over several years industry experience in a variety of fields. Since leaving university this young designer has achieved so much in such a small time span working for a number of prestigious clients worldwide.

Rachael's bright range of oven gloves and matching pinnys!

Originally from the Wirral, Merseyside (UK) Rachael graduated from the University of Leeds in 2005, with a BA (Hons) in Textile & Fashion Design. Her first job was as a print & design technician whilst also working as a part time freelancer in the textile industry. She then went on to progress with her textile and stitched screen printed pieces and held her first solo exhibition called ‘stitched’ in 2006 at the Brahm Gallery Leeds. Later that year Rachael was awarded 1st prize in the Janome creative competiton for a layered paper skirt design.

Rachael's much loved cow parsley design tea towel in sea green

Then specialising in surface pattern design, she developed her early signature style of layering, textures and quirky hand drawn linework. This style is present in both her screenprinted pieces and digital work. Wanting to obtain further experience and technical knowledge Rachael applied for a job with one of the greetings market leaders, where she worked as a mac designer for two years specialising in surface pattern design. She then set up her own design studio in May 2008 (based in Leeds) where she now works as a freelance surface pattern designer and textile artist.

One of Rachael's greetings card designs

Rachael has recently had over twenty pieces of her work published in four renowned designs books including ‘Print and Pattern’ by Bowie Style (LKP Publishing), ‘Patterns‘ by Drusilla Cole, (LKP Publishing and ‘The Exciting World of Pattern Design‘ by Zeixs Feierabend (Unique Books)’ ‘Patterns’ by Maomao/booQs publishing. She is also featured in the keenly awaited ‘Print and Pattern 2’ by Bowie Style (LKP Publishing).  Her unique web styling and design attracted the attention of ‘by Zeixs Feierabend (Unique Books)’ as they showcase her website in their brand new book ‘Websites 3’. Rachael regularly receives design commissions from trend forecasting companies and has had work published in trend books for Trend Bible & Mudpie. Her designs and products are regularly featured in the press and have made appearances on TV and more recently has attracted a celebrity fan base.

Books Rachael is featured in

Rachael likes to bring her own personality to her work and creates fun quirky designs ‘patterns to make you happy’. Her positive & energetic approach was recognised in 2009 as she was awarded the title of ‘the happiest person in Britain 2009′ from her excited and happy twitter posts. Her patterns are spontaneous as Rachael loves to draw with her right and left hand and sometimes even with her eyes closed. This way her patterns are unique & full of energy, she takes inspiration from everything around her and a lot of her motifs come from her own mood & personality.

Three of Rachael's new designs on tea towels just arrived at Heart Gallery, yippee!

Three of Rachael's new designs on tea towels just arrived at Heart Gallery, yippee!

Rachael is also actively involved in education. She has delivered a number of workshops and career presentations in schools, colleges & universities throughout the UK. Rachael played a huge part in the Liverpool Design Stars challenge for 2011. She was commissioned by the Design Initiative to oversee the surface pattern category. This involved writing the brief, presenting and running workshops in schools, judging entries, selecting winners, presenting awards and delivering a masterclass weekend for select nominees. Rachael was invited to speak at the renowned Do What You Love art & creative enterprise retreat (held in May 2011) in front of an international audience.

Brand new box of 20 notelets by Rachael have now arrived at Heart Gallery

My favourite notelet would make a fab birthday card and there are 4 other designs to choose from

Full set of notelets in a gorgeous box now in at Heart Gallery

Rachael has recently launched a groundbreaking new e-course called ‘The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design’ where the successful designer teaches and shares her expertise and knowledge in surface pattern; from sketch through to product combined with business tips along the way. The course is a collaboration between Rachael and award winning entrepreneur Beth Nicholls of  ‘Do What You Love’. It has attracted a global audience and has received fantastic support from industry leaders.

Rachael on her stand at BCTF April 2011

Rachael with some of her textiles in Heart Gallery September 2011

Read Rachael’s interview on the inspirational Do What You Love for Life website  here folks and call in to Heart Gallery soon to see her range of textiles and stationery, thank you.

Group of 6 of Rachael's latest tea towels at Heart Gallery

Meet The Maker – Bev Milward

Bev Milward - ceramicist

Bev’s work is back with us again this year after proving popular in 2011 and as part of our current Wedding Exhibition. ‘I DO’, Bev has made us some more of her porcelain cake toppers.

Porcelain cake topper

Bev’s porcelain landscapes and figures are influenced by the environment in which she lives, personal events and experiences and by the nature of the porcelain itself.

Couple on mound

 

She is concerned with how humour and sentimentality have been used historically in ceramics and aims to infuse emotion into each piece.

 

Couple under bowe

Although the work illustrates a personal journey it appeals to a much wider audience who can identify with the sentiments.  Each element or symbol has a history or a meaning and her maker’s mark, in the shape of a key, can be found somewhere on each piece. 

 

Imagery and themes are reworked and revisited but no piece is repeated.  The last piece informs the next and evolves as a continuous visual diary.

 

In clover

A sense of ambiguity is important and Bev is left with satisfaction when someone is able to bring their own interpretation to the work.

The night you swept me off my feet

Meet The Maker – Amy Keeper

Amy Keeper - jeweller

Having undertaken the City & Guilds Certificate and Diploma, Amy graduated from London Metropolitan University in June 2007. During her time there she developed an interest in using images in jewellery and particularly vintage postcards and photographs.

Small couple pendant on a string of pearls

Amy incorporates the photographed characters from vintage postcards to make pieces of jewellery with a nostalgic aesthetic. Sometimes setting the images behind stones to include them as precious elements, and sometimes using photo-etching to create the suggestion of a modern cameo.

Couples kissing photo-etched bracelet

Taking further inspiration from the messages written on the reverse of these postcards, Amy designs her jewellery to try to reflect the romantic sentiment with which they were originally sent, often incorporating the messages themselves. Amy often includes further semi-precious elements to her jewellery to give them a splash of colour with faceted garnets, or to add a touch of class with hand strung fresh water pearls. Pendants come either with sterling silver chains adorned with semi-precious beads or on strings of fresh water pearls, garnets or smoky quartz.

Votre Aime pendant

Amy has exhibited at a number of craft and jewellery fairs including, Treasure, Handmade in Britain, Made 09 & 10, bi-annually at Made in Clerkenwell for Craft Central and for London jewellery week 2011. Amy has also co-organised her first, high profile, independent exhibition, ‘14 carat’, exhibiting her own work and that of 13 other jewellers to great success. Last year Amy was selected as one of only 10 to exhibit at International Jewellery London as part of their kickstart stand and was selected by the Craft Council for Origin.

Votre Aime silver ring

Heart Gallery adores Amy’s jewellery and we are certain you will too. Please call in for a chat if you would like to commission your own photograph into a piece of jewellery; a bespoke necklace just for you.

‘I DO’, we did, you came!

Jodie Hook - Florence silver tiara

I DO invite

Sunday was the launch of our third Wedding Exhibition, ‘I DO’, which runs until 8th April and we all had a super day…the weather was pretty kind in the end as the weekend before had been seen a flurry of snow showers!

Heart Gallery the weekend before the 'I DO' launch!

Celebrating with us on sunday 12th February was Truly Scrumptious who organise vintage tea parties for your romantic wedding day.

A selection of sumptuous gourmet sandwiches, scones and desserts we sampled on the day

Truly Scrumptious Vintage Tea Parties

Sarah Mason Photography was back with us for another successful year and launched her new luxurious leather wedding albums.

Sarah's display of her previous weddings and her new leather album

Sarah Mason Photography leather Wedding Albums

Sarah Mason

Nia Fiori brought samples of her wedding stationery along to give you a taste of her many creative skills which she can tailor to suit your own colour schemes; creating your very own personalised Save The Date cards, Invites, Table Plans, Thank You cards and much, much more.

Nia Fiori - Wedding stationery

Choose from fairly traditional and vintage looking or opt for something really unusual such as Nia’s Circus range. Of course you can meet with Nia to get her to design something completely bespoke for you as she is a qualified artist/designer with a BA (Hons) in interactive arts.

Nia's Vintage english Rose designs

Nia's Circus range

Psst … Nia doesn’t just do wedding invites, we also sell her cards and you can contact her for any of your stationery needs here.

Nia Fiori (right) with Jacqui Sharples, letterpress printer

We were treated to seeing one of Jacqui’s vintage printing presses in action so customers could see how she creates her letterpress prints we sell.

Jacqui Sharples with her small Victorian press at Heart Gallery

A selection of Jacqui's current letterpress pieces available at Heart including your bespoke Mr & Mrs suggestions

Call in to Heart Gallery to see Jacqui’s work soon and also check out her latest news here.

Heather Wilson - maker of mad and beautiful things

Our resident maker, Heather Wilson, was busy making a mad wedding hat commission but she is better know for her personalised watercolours which you can see on her website and also for her celebration pieces which she creates using items gathered from your Wedding Day – such as table place cards, invitation, order of service, confetti and petals, photographs, menus…the list is endless!

Gibson Mill photo shoot with Sarah Mason

The National Trust were with us to tell you about hiring out Gibson Mill for your ceremony, it was lovely to meet Kerys who came along from The Wedding Guide (we still have a few of her great guides left with special offers if you call in soon) and we all drank pink fizz and ate some scrummy cakes! 

All having a jolly good time drinking pink fizz and eating mini cakes!

We had some lovely couples in enquiring about us making their wedding bands, personalising a wedding album and guest list book and creating a Hearts Desire list for their guests so they can choose perfect gifts from a selection of the finest ceramics and craft we sell all year round.

Timea Sido

Bev Millward - ceramic cake toppers

And one really chuffed bride-to-be finally found the jewellery she has hunted for to wear on her special day soon which will be made for her by one of our current jewellery makers Charlotte Verity.

Charlotte Verity in her workshop

Lots of hard work went in to organising this day but it was a great success and we can’t wait for our fourth one in 2013!

I DO invite

Meet Sarah Mason

Sarah Mason - Photographer

Meet Sarah Mason, a local photographer who delivers high quality wedding and portrait photography in Hebden Bridge, Halifax, Yorkshire, the North West and throughout the UK. Photography is her passion and creating beautiful images is what she is about!

Matt and Sarah at Todmorden Town Hall - courtesty Sarah Mason

You will quickly recognise that photographer Sarah has a unique talent for seeing life through a lens differently. Thanks to her background in film and television, Sarah brings a cinematographer’s approach to her work and her reportage style of photography and filmic view of life always leaves the viewer wanting more.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Whether it’s a stylish wedding

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

an intimate family portrait

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

or a precise packaging shot for a commercial campaign

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Sarah never fails to capture the very essence of her subjects.

image courtesty of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Living as she does in the Pennine town of Hebden Bridge, Sarah capitalises on the dramatic landscape as the ultimate backdrop for her distinctive brand of photography that celebrates the great outdoors.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Despite the advance of the digital age, Sarah explains our enduring love affair with the printed photo: “When I look back at family photos from my own childhood, they still have a powerful emotional impact, a kind of visual time travel that transports me back to the day it was taken. These images endure when everything else changes.”

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Her delighted clients will happily testify that Sarah creates bespoke images that will stand the test of our time and surely become heirlooms of the future to hang in pride of place on the walls of the generations to come.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Sarah will be at Heart Gallery Sunday 12 February 2012 for our third Wedding Exhibition to show you her previous work and chat to you about your special day and what story-telling moments she can capture to help you keep the memories of the happiest day of your life alive, for you and your children, and even the generations to follow.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Sarah’s approach is to quietly allow your special day to unfold before her cameras, minimising her impact on the event, and so resulting in photos that buzz with energy and emotion. 

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Her connection with the couple often outlasts the wedding and she is always proud to be able to build on that bond when she is asked to photograph new bundles of joy or capture other key moments in a family’s intimate life.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

As no wedding is ever the same, Sarah has created her wedding packages carefully to ensure there will be something to suit everyone.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

You can choose from pre-wedding shoots, personalised save the date and thank you cards, a photo disc, a slideshow DVD and a number of different options for showcasing your photographs. It’s important to Sarah that she supports local suppliers and her wedding albums are handmade to order by Calderdale based, Butterwick Wells. The albums are of the highest quality, available in a variety of fabrics and finishes and tell the story of your wedding beautifully.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Catch up with Sarah’s news on her blog and do come along on Sunday to meet her – she is a star.

Sarah Mason - Photographer and all round good egg x

Will You Marry Me

Will You Marry Me silver and 9ct gold rings

Well, what can I say? These rings say it all really! On Sunday 12th February we are launching our ‘MARRY ME’ silver and 9ct gold proposal ring.

Will You Marry Me 'pop the question' ring

Designed by Heart Gallery and one of our jewellers, Bronwen Tyler-Jones, this ‘Marry Me’ silver and 9ct gold ring is a perfect choice … it says it all to help you create a romantic and memorable wedding or civil partnership proposal, you just need your partner to say ‘yes’!

You then have all the time in the world to browse for that replacement ring you both like; the ring of your dreams chosen from the heart.

Once found the ‘Marry Me’ ring can either be worn on another finger, as a necklace or even on a keyring but of course the ‘Marry Me’ ring doesn’t have to be replaced if you don’t want to … it is stylish enough to treasure forever.

Will You Marry Me silver and 9ct gold rings