Meet The Maker – Miranda Sharpe

Miranda Sharpe – Jeweller

Miranda started her professional practice/business designing and making contemporary jewellery in 2001 and has exhibited and sold her work widely across the UK and ventured into the international market place.  She enjoys the challenges of designing and producing a unique range of jewellery that holds commercial possibilities, alongside opportunities to create one-off or commission specific piece’s that can be larger/ bolder in design.

Miranda Sharpe – Flourish necklace

 Miranda studied for a BA Hons degree in 3D design at Manchester Metropolitan University, followed by an MA specialising in jewellery design at the Birmingham School of Jewellery. Her latest work explores ideas of emotion and emotional responses. One strand is inspired heavily by microscopic images of disease and bacteria, translating images of matter that we find unpleasant and finding the beauty within it to evoke a contrasting response.

Miranda Sharpe – Thrive 6 piece necklace

For this work she is exploring scale by working on larger pieces for walls as well as pieces of jewellery.

Miranda Sharpe – Thrive 5 drop necklace

Miranda’s approach to jewellery is to express what interests her visually, drawing on shape and form from the natural world and presenting it an abstracted way. Through the design process she explores form through simple lines and how repeating or layering materials and components can change the effect of a piece. 

Miranda Sharpe – Flourish multi drop earrings

Heart Gallery loves Miranda’s work and our customers do too – add her to your ‘wish list’ before it sells out!

Miranda Sharpe – Flourish ring stack

WHAT A CRACKER – Christmas Exhibition at Heart Gallery 13 November 2011

Heart Gallery kindly invites you to WHAT A CRACKER launching on Sunday 13 November at 12pm

What goodies can you buy this Christmas at Heart Gallery? Here’s a sneak peek of what’s new for you, for your loved ones and for your home.

Louise Wilson - Mixed Media Artist

Karen Dell'Armi - Jeweller

Tania Sneesby - Textile Artist

Caroline Cowen - Jeweller

Jacqui Sharples - Letterpress

Heart Gallery has now launched a fantastic Loyalty Scheme and we have been really busy cutting, stitching and preparing lovely little heart shaped felt pouches for you to keep. Feedback from customers has been amazing so here is some info for those of you who haven’t heard about it yet:

Heart Gallery Loyalty Card

Collect your loyalty card from Heart Gallery when you spend over £50.

Receive a heart stamp every time you spend £50 or over.

Collect 5 heart stamps on your loyalty card and exchange it for your Heart Gallery 10% Token.

Your Heart Gallery 10% token is a pewter heart and is yours to keep, for life.

Use your Heart Gallery 10% token every time you spend over £50 in Heart Gallery.

Heart 10% Loyalty Token

Live with the art you love …

It’s easy and affordable to buy and collect contemporary art and craft at Heart Gallery with Own Art which lets you spread the cost of your purchase over 10 months with an interest free loan.

Own Art loans allow you to borrow from as little as £100 up to a maximum of £2,000 for the purchase of works of art by living artists.

Own Art loans are available from Heart Gallery for the purchase of contemporary art and craft of any kind, and in any media. That means you can choose more or less anything you want from Heart Gallery from paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture, to glassware, ceramics, jewellery, furniture and textiles.

There is no limit on the number of times you can use Own Art, but we recommend that you don’t apply for more than one loan at a time. This is because each loan application is subject to a credit check, and your application may be declined if you have not yet already established a repayment record for an existing Own Art loan, or if the bank considers that the total amount of credit you are asking for is too high in relation to your income.

The minimum you can borrow is £100 (monthly repayment of £10), but this can be used to cover a group of lower value items whose combined total adds up to £100 or more. This means that at Christmas you can purchase a number of presents for your friends and family interest free so there is no need to use your credit card!

If you are buying something more valuable than £2,000 you can use an Own Art loan as a part payment. Please note that you cannot apply for multiple Own Art loans to cover the costs of a single purchase.

Own Art is available to all UK residents over the age of 18, subject to status. This means that you must be able to meet the following criteria in order to be approved for a loan:

• Over the age of 18
• A permanent UK resident
• Working at least 16 hours a week (employed or self-employed)

If you are not working but are married to or living with a partner who does have a full time job, then you may still apply provided that your partner is happy for their employment details to be included on your application form.

You’ll need to have proof of ID with you in the form of a driver’s licence or utility bill, along with a credit or debit card as proof of signature and it only takes 10 minutes!

Staff in Heart Gallery will take you through the loan application process and once you’ve given all the information we need, you’ll get an instant decision.

Once your application has been approved and you’ve signed the paperwork you can take your purchase(s) away with you – simple as that!

Own Art bank partner Hitachi Capital Consumer finance will send you a welcome letter and the 10 monthly payments will be collected by direct debit from your account starting a few weeks after you’ve made your purchase.

Meet The Maker – Helen Noakes

Helen Noakes - Jeweller

Based in Salisbury Helen Noakes is widely recognised for her beautifully executed work in resin and precious metals and is one of Heart Gallery’s favourite jewellers, first showcasing her amazing work with us in 2006. This little post will include lots of Helen’s images but you really must bob in to Heart Gallery to see the ‘real thing’ – she’s got a great new collection with us.

Helen Noakes Swimmer Ring

Swimmer Bangle - Helen Noakes

Following a chance discovery of a single box of miniature figures and a book on resin Helen quickly developed an obsession with combining the two into her varied and stunning collection. 

Seaside earrings - Helen Noakes

Beside The Seaside Bracelet - Helen Noakes

Now selling across the country and featuring in several books Helen incorporates everything from penguins to nuns to circus performers.   

Penguin Cufflinks - Helen Noakes

Penguin Bangle - Helen Noakes

Penguin earrings - Helen Noakes

The most important aspect though is the element of surprise and humour integral to each piece – a second look is a must.

Monkey ring - Helen Noakes

Mermaid Ring - Helen Noakes

Helen is one of Heart Gallery’s favourite jewellers and we are happy to be showcasing another range from her in this our fifth year.

Swimmer Necklace - Helen Noakes

Meet The Maker – Jo Clarke

Jo Clarke - Maker of Gorgeous Accessories for you and your home

Jo is based in a quaint little village near Wetherby in West Yorkshire and it is here that she designs and makes her products.

Lollipop brooches with a hint of Swarovski sparkle and ribbon detail

Jo completed a BA Hons in Textile Design at Bradford College gaining a 2:1 and specialising in knitwear and embroidery.  She was lucky enough to be able to display a selection of her textile and embroidery work at New Designers in Islington, London.  Her work was selected by Drapers to be exhibited in one of their collections. This collection was also spotted by The Society of Designer Craftsman where Jo  joined their annual exhibition in The Mall Galleries in London.

Ornamental hand made cake with rose detail and a hint of Swarovski sparkle - this makes a fab paperweight

Jo wanted to pursue her love for accessories and gifts so she set off for Nottingham Trent University to complete a Master’s Degree in Fashion knitwear. It was here she learned to combine different materials and techniques and became fascinated by resin and silicone moulding. Jo very quickly learned how to cast her own moulds and create wearable accessories.

Looks good enough to eat! 100% fat free, suitable for vegans, vegetarians and the fashion conscious! Hand made brooch with swarovski crystal detail

Jo’s current collections are inspired by sweet treats, creamy chocolates and tasty desserts. She adores the bright and contrasting colours of sweeties next to the creamy subtle shades of handmade chocolate. 

Looks good enough to eat! 100% fat free, suitable for vegans, vegetarians and the fashion conscious! Hand made brooch

Jo wanted to create an everlasting pretty collection of gifts and accessories; similar to those in a French patisserie.  A collection called Le Faux Patisserie was born.

Hand made faux cupcake - make fantastic wedding place settings or favours

A collection of cupcakes and chocolates that can be enjoyed by everyone… but without the calories. Every item Jo makes is entirely made by her, by hand, from the original mould to the polishing of the final piece. 

Handmade faux cupcake - make fantastic wedding place settings or favours and can be colour co-ordinated to your scheme

Hand made faux cupcake - make fantastic wedding place settings or favours

Jo has a lot of fun making these treats and hopes that you enjoy them too. A full range is on display in Heart Gallery now and we are taking bespoke orders for weddings and parties.