I DO

Are you popping the question anytime soon? Is your BIG DAY already planned and booked? Are you the mother of the Bride or Groom? Are you a guest at someone’s wedding/civil partnership? Then our ‘I DO’ Wedding Exhibition is for you.

Launching on Sunday 23 June 2013 whilst our wonderful Hebden Bridge Arts Festival is in full swing we are bringing you lots of lovely ideas to inspire you, your family and your friends…what better way to spend your day? Here is a little peek at what will be showcased that day and throughout the exhibition until 28 July 2013:

You can commission our glass artist Andy Poplar to etch your keepsake milk bottle for £35:

Andy Poplar – etched glass ideas

There will be lots of lovely silk scarves and bags lovingly made by our textile artists Clare Webster, Holly Davis and Louise Taylor to match to your special outfit:

Silk scarves – Louise Taylor

Bags by Holly Davis

Silk Bags and scarves by Clare Webster

Selection of silk ties by Clare Webster for the Groom, Best Man and Ushers made to match your colour scheme

Choose from gorgeous gift ideas for the happy couple that we have lovingly sourced including a variety of ceramics.

Functional ceramics from Jane Booth

Porcelain tea lights by Amanda Mercer

Sentimental ceramics from Cat Brown

And of course don’t forget the jewellery! Lots of lovely ideas for you, your bridesmaids, your mum and future mum in law and naturally all the guests too! Here’s a very little sneaky peek – can’t give too much away now can we?

Vintage inspired jewellery for the Bride by Judith Brown

Crochet silver jewellery, a contemporary choice from Suzanne Claire

Cute silver jewellery from Karen and Victoria perfect for bridesmaid’s pressies

Joining us on 23 June is Sarah Mason, a local photographer who sees herself as the storyteller of your day; creating each chapter in pictures. In Sarah’s words – “I am here to capture those details big and small, and to make sure your day is documented how you remember it, and a little bit more…”. We have worked with Sarah before so totally agree; she is very special and so easy to work with, ‘Sarah manages to evoke such a sense of feeling in her work.  She creates photos with soul.’

Nicky & Ben, one of Sarah’s recent wedding couples.

See more of Sarah’s work over on her website.

Alongside Sarah we have local artist Julia Ogden  who will be unveiling a brand new (and exclusive to Heart Gallery) range of wedding stationery so you can discuss your requirements with her:

A sample of Julia’s pencil drawings

And we also have Sue Leslie with us to chat to you about alternative wedding bouquets using handmade papers. Her buttonholes, favours, confetti packets and table decorations also use paper and you can colour co-ordinate everything to your scheme and personalise if you wish:

Bouquet of paper roses with handmade papers – Sue Leslie

Daisy bobbin with room for a hidden message to your guests

Personalised small rose keepsake

And last but not least The Willow Garden will have a beautiful floral display for you to feast your eyes on and two lovely member of their team will be on hand to chat to about colour schemes and ideas … and they have such fabulous ideas for all occasions and budgets:

The Willow Garden, Hebden Bridge

The Willow Garden is a local, friendly flower shop in Hebden Bridge offering over 20 years’ experience styling and arranging flowers for all occasions, especially ‘I dos’. The shop itself is filled with an abundance of seasonal blooms and foliage which can be individually styled following a personal consultation with a member of the team.

Vintage bouquet from The Willow Garden

They love the natural beauty of meadow flowers, scented herbs, vintage roses and majestic peonies.

Strawberries!

Whether the scene for your celebration is opulent glamour, wild and romantic or simple and rustic the talented team at The Willow Garden can help make your big day magical and memorable.

Cream bouquet

In our beautiful garden on Sunday 23 June there will be two local outside caterers setting up for you to buy and sample their offerings. One is ‘Go The Whole Hog’ who I really have to say make the most delicious pork sandwiches I have ever eaten. Mandy buys her pork from local butcher Stephen Maskill, slow roasts it in the most amazing juices and accompanies it with her special homemade stuffing, home cooked apple sauce and the crispiest of crackling with the juiciest of gravy….delicious!

The other is the ‘The Milk Bar’ who provide milkshakes for lots of events as an alternative for guests at wedding that don’t drink … a hit with the young of course! You will be able to buy smaller versions of a handful of their best sellers including Dime Bar, Aero Mint and Skittles milkshakes! For your wedding you can chose the menu so come along and discuss your requirements with them.

So there you have it; a snippet of what’s in store for our fourth ‘I DO’ Exhibition which launches on Sunday 23 June at 12pm and continues until 28 July but remember … if you want to meet Sarah, Julia, Sue, Jane and Helen to discuss your requirements then they will only be at the launch on the 23 June so get there early and enjoy!

Ever After cufflinks

Cleaning Silver

Hi there, this is a quick care post for cleaning the beautiful jewellery you buy from us!

Most of our UK based makers (I say most as we do have some that use recycled, ethical silver for their work) only use sterling silver, one of the most beautiful and lustrous of all metals and my personal favourite. With proper care, your silver will retain its beauty and character for many generations to come. But it can tarnish for many reasons so here is a quick guide for you:

Tanya Krackowizer silver bangle selection

What you need to know:

Sterling silver tarnishes, especially when exposed to salt air and some products containing sulphur, such as rubber bands, and some papers and products containing chemicals such as sun-creams, perfumes and body lotions. However, silver that is regularly used typically needs less care, so Heart Gallery strongly encourages you to wear your silver every day……why wouldn’t you? I don’t need an excuse do you? When you are not adorned with your silver simply keep it in the box we packaged your piece in. If you do use a jewellery box then please make sure you keep each piece in a separate place, perhaps wrapped in a fabric pouch or roll.

Elaine Jenkins – Silver and 18ct gold rings

Washing silver:

Heart Gallery recommends washing silver by hand in warm water with a mild detergent. Because many gases in the air and products that we use on our skin can have a corrosive effect, we suggest that you wash your silver immediately after use. Silver should not be left to soak in water. To avoid spotting, it is important to dry your silver immediately after washing and at Heart Gallery we place on absorbent kitchen roll on top of the radiator to ensure that it is thoroughly dry before placing back in the cabinet.

Emily Morgan – Heart Charm Bracelet

Our old-fashioned tip :

Regularly using this method will stop you having to use a more abrasive approach with dips and chemicals. Take a deep bowl and line with aluminium foil. Boil a kettle and add to the bowl with a couple of teaspoons of table salt and half a teaspoon of baking soda. Wait for it to dissolve and then drop your silver jewellery in to soak for a while. This is especially good when your jewellery includes pearls or gemstones as it is not harmful to them. Remove after about 20 minutes and rinse under warm soapy water then dry thoroughly as mentioned earlier.

Amanda Cox Silver and Freshwater Pearl Necklace

Gentle rubbing:

We sell a good quality silver cloth for only £3 which is impregnated with a compound to stop the silver oxidising. This can be used to gently rub over your silver once a week to remove any tarnish by using gentle back and forth movements so you don’t damage your piece of jewellery. These cloths can be used even if your jewellery contains stones or pearls as they are not harmful or abrasive.

Emily Thatcher Companion Rings Silver Onyx and Black Diamonds

Dips & Chemicals

These are quite harsh and should be avoided really where possible. By following our simple guide above you should not need to go down this route but if you do we recommend Silvex. This cleaner is not as abrasive as silver dip and others available and it’s not harmful to silver jewellery that also incorporates fresh water pearls or gemstones. You don’t need much and you can just apply with a soft cloth, small sponge or small soft bristled brush. Rub your piece gently but firmly using even strokes then rinse in warm soapy water, dry thoroughly and then buff gently with a soft cloth/silver cloth.

Alice Stewart Silver Doves Necklace

And there you have it, a simple guide to looking after your beautiful silver jewellery to ensure your pieces will become heirlooms of the future.

Meet The Maker – Cate Wood

Cate Wood – Textile Artist and Jeweller

Cate graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1992 with a BA (Hons) in Fashion and Textile Design. It was there that she developed a passion for collecting objects and a skill for creating relationships between them.

Cate’s jewellery modelled

Her final exhibition was inspired by memories and found objects that can be held in the palm of your hand or hidden in a match box; old, worn, weather beaten things found in the streets or places she had visited. Her eye for detail and space made small, over looked objects, precious. Her new collection of jewellery echoes this.

Jewellery by Cate Wood

Her natural pull towards used, aged materials and a love of a time when things were hand crafted and bespoke is evident in the assortment of vintage clothes, accessories and furniture in her home. Her small terraced house in West Yorkshire is an organised clutter of intuitively found objects, bursting at the seams with an extraordinary mish mash of, crockery, clothes, accessories and other treasures picked up in her home town and on her travels.

Jewellery by Cate Wood

Cate’s brand new collection of Jewellery continues this theme. She falls in love with obscure, interesting and charming things, findings picked up at local markets and trinkets that are part of the local heritage: hearth brushes worn by years of use, colliery tags that have been smoothed by the hundreds of hands they have passed through, vintage buttons removed from dresses and uniforms.

Jewellery by Cate Wood

Cate is curious about their past lives, the people they once belonged to and in the stories that are lost. Cate deconstructs and reconstructs these findings into unique pieces of jewellery. The bristles of a brush become tassels. A leather watch fob and a button become the fastening of a bracelet, old lost keys become jewels.

Jewellery by Cate Wood

Buttons feature heavily in her work and are symbolic for buttons are the fastenings that hold things together.

Jewellery by Cate Wood

Jewellery by Cate Wood

The use of words and messages is a recurring theme and they are used as a dark, playful reference to modern life, opinions and memories. Her colour palette is dark, Dickensian, and a nod to the surrounding streets and buildings that have been tarnished by decades of soot.

Cate’s jewellery modelled

Many of the materials that she crafts appear discoloured and marked.

Jewellery by Cate Wood

Jewellery by Cate Wood

Heart Gallery is proud to have been approached by Cate recently to be her stockist in Hebden Bridge and we look forward to introducing her work to you in 2013 and working closely with her for her Valentines Day collection for us.

Jewellery collections by Cate Wood

Jewellery collections by Cate Wood

Meet The Maker – Ali Haley

Ali Haley – Jeweller

Ali originally studied for a degree in Graphic Design, but the tactility of working with her hands and making things kept calling to her, so she went back to college and studied Jewellery Design.

Silver pendant by Ali Haley

Having worked in a jewellers for four years repairing jewellery and creating new pieces to commission Ali decided to set up on her own to give herself more artistic freedom.

Silver pendant by Ali Haley

Ali makes her jewellery from recycled silver. Silver mining is incredibly destructive and it is very hard to reconcile that to making pretty items of jewellery. If she is going to make things people can love and love to wear then she wants them to be ethically responsible.

Silver earrings by Ali Haley

Ali’s current collection is inspired by her love of dancing and the dynamic lines of movements that are created whilst spinning around the dance floor. Her favoured technique for creating pieces, and one that has become her signature style, is piercing as it allows her to make intricate patterns in metal using just a drill, a saw, a steady hand and a keen eye.

Silver pendant by Ali Haley

 Ali loves telling people no lasers were involved as they seem surprised that something so intricate can be cut by hand.

 

Silver earrings by Ali Haley

Heart Gallery loves Ali’s first ever collection for us which was showcased in Makepiece in December and we look forward to working closely with her in the future.

Meet The Maker – Sue Candy

Sue Candy – Ceramicist

After studying a City & Guilds course in Ceramic Design and having a number of careers including English Teacher and member of a wholefood co-operative, Sue set up as a full-time ceramicist eight years ago.  She now works from a workshop at the bottom of her garden in the creative town of Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, designing and making contemporary tableware, wall pieces and ceramic jewellery.  

Jewellery Box

All of Sue’s work is handmade with care from porcelain slabs, and decorated using a variety of techniques including inlay, sgraffito, incising, metal lustre painting and printing.  Each piece is finished with a transparent silky glaze and fired to 1230°, making her tableware waterproof and dishwasher safe.  Her reputation is built on the clean geometric shapes and delicacy of her designs, applied with a limited colour palette. 

Tall Lidded Box

The imagery Sue uses is drawn from coastal, horticultural, Scandinavian and Japanese influences, which unconsciously become absorbed into the melting pot of ideas, and resurface as a range of unique decorative and functional tableware and accessories.

Chutney, Salt and Pepper and Mustard pots

 Sue regularly exhibits at galleries all over the UK and stocks approximately twenty galleries at any one time.  She also sells direct to the public at contemporary craft fairs and online.  She is a member of Northern Potters and an Associate Member of Northlight Art Studios.

Jewellery Box, Vase and Bud Vase

Heart Gallery regularly showcases Sue’s ranges and we currently have this turquoise version on our shelves.

TALL TREES AND WARM STONE

So now we are into 2013 and as I have previously said, last year’s plans become this year’s realities. This was mentioned in my previous post which was a more personal one but it also applies to my Heart Gallery plans for this year too. In November we showcased work by super talented local artist Kate Lycett and what an amazing two months it has been for her.

Kate’s colourful work has been admired, loved, adored, bought and fought for and we have thoroughly enjoyed seeing it hanging on our walls. Plans last year for her first Solo Exhibition with us are now finalised and it is with my greatest pleasure that I announce it here first … cue drum roll …

The exclusive ‘invite only’ launch is on Thursday 28 March from 6pm and 9pm so please contact Heart Gallery to request your invitation to this evening which promises to be spectacular.

Kate is busy painting away in her local studio not far from Heart Gallery producing lots of lovely new originals for us so there will be plenty to choose from but it is strictly on a first come first served basis on the night so you will need to arrive early if you have your eye on a piece…no bun fights!

Here is a sneaky peek at one of Kate’s new pieces for us:

Emily’s Garden

See you in March! It’s a long wait but the best things in life are worth waiting for x

Thinking outside the (GIFT) box!

So ‘silly season’ is most definitely upon us now in Heart Gallery and we are positively glowing with cheer and enjoying the festive atmosphere in Hebden Bridge. The Valley of Lights events recently really brought our community together and it was an amazing celebration for businesses and homeowners that had been affected by the floods but got through it and renovated and re-opened. With a sense of pride for what we have all achieved the Valley of Lights attracted approximately 10,000 visitors from far and wide and gave the upper Calder valley the boost it needed to face Christmas.

With the Festive Fandango now well and truly underway we can see at Heart Gallery that people are making more of a conscious effort to stay local and support the many small independent shops in our great town. Every year I do this as I feel so blessed to have a wealth of choice on my doorstep but this year more and more people are supporting Hebden Bridge businesses which is fantastic to see. Festive Fandango is now in its third year and gathering pace. It’s not rocket science! All you need to do is spend a minimum of £5 in 5 separate Hebden Bridge shops, get a sticker, collect all 5, complete the card and hand it in or post it to our Visitor Centre by the Marina. You are then given a discount voucher booklet for January and entered into the draw to win a £750 hamper of goodies donated by all the lovely shops in our great town.

So many of our fabulous customers are thinking outside the (gift) box this year and I just wanted to share a couple with you that have got our creative juices flowing here at Heart Gallery so thank you to those that planted the seeds for those ideas!

Andy Poplar’s amazingly clever etched glass lab bottles have been bought to fill with home infused damson gin for presents by one very artistic customer who is also a member of our fabulous Hebden Bridge WI. Then this last weekend two guys bought the larger version of Andy’s lab bottle for their bathroom to keep purple shampoo and conditioner in … I will be borrowing that idea too!

I think everyone in our town should bottle a bit of Hebden Spirit don’t you?

The same lovely lady who has been making damson gin all year came back for one of Rosie’s handmade mini wooden chopping boards we have in Elm, Oak, Tulip and Zebrano …. not for cheese but for lemons and limes to go with the gin of course!

So there you have it folks, a few ideas thinking outside the (gift) box and keeping your pennies in the town along with the chance to win a £750 hamper – simples I say!

Meet The Maker – Holly Levell

Holly Levell – Textile Artist

Holly graduated from the University of Huddersfield with a degree in Textile Crafts but her love for textiles, making and general crafty-ness has grown since childhood. Holly is a Textile Artist specialising in the everyday through soft sculptures, softening the lines of a usually solid idea. Holly is inspired by her daily surroundings and the unnoticed aspects of life and how as an artist she can challenge the status and meaning of the humble object, using her personal textile craft techniques.

Holly Levell collection of textiles

Holly’s current work came from exploring ideas of the objects that feature in our everyday activities. She began to focus in on the idea of shopping and was stitching a flat bean can in her room and thought it may be possible to make the bean can but from stitched textiles completely softening the solid idea and producing a soft and nostalgic object, and that’s when Supermarket Stitch was born.

Holly Levell collection of textiles

Each of Holly’s soft sculptures are completely handmade using a variety of fabrics and take her a few days to complete. 

Heinz Beans anyone?

Meet The Maker – Molly Ginnelly

Molly Ginnelly – Jeweller

Molly is currently studying at HND level at Carnegie College Dunfermline and in the early stages of  her career as a jeweller so she is searching for her own unique style.

Large Mixed Media Pendant

Exploring new techniques, experimenting with both metals and mixed media materials and investigating different sources found in the natural environment her current work is vast and varied whilst concentrating on one particular theme.

Coloured Bracelet

Inspired by tree branches, leaf patterns and textures and places from her childhood, the variety of design, techniques and materials Molly has used in her collections show the diversity and range she is able to work in. Molly’s work includes techniques such as roll printing, inlay, patination and stone setting. This mixture of different techniques produces interesting patterns and finishes, giving individuality to each piece showing the diversity in which she likes to work. 

Small Mixed Media Necklace

Searching for perfection, balance and form, Molly’s work continues to develop and grow. Recent additions to her collections are Formica laminate based jewellery, including a collaboration with paper artist Charlie Trimm. Charlie works by hand creating romantic and whimsical paper cuts; each piece unique and colourful, she works to her own designs and particularly likes birds, trees and flowing patterns.

Dandelion – Charlie Trimm

When Molly met Charlie the story began …

Birdie earrings

Meeting through a friend of a friend of a friend you might say, through social networking actually. Tweets led to facebook likes which then led to emails and loving each others work Molly and Charlie decided to have a look at what they could do together, Molly with her trusty but not rusty jeweller’s saw and rolling  mill and Charlie and her amazing magical scalpel.

They set about new ideas and patterns with great excitement and wonder of the outcome. A few weeks later came designs for embossing silver and quickly after, a range of colourful brooches with Molly’s favourite material Formica…yes you read that last part right…lovely, colourful Formica. Cut by laser to achieve the beauty and intricacy of the branchy patterns and double layered to show depth and contrasting colour this range of wearable jewellery pieces have proven to be most popular and as beautiful as a little birdie itself.

Oval birdie brooch

Molly’s birdie range is currently in Heart Gallery and we all love it and really hope to receive some of these little beauties to add to the birdie collection now Autumn is nearing.

Little fawn oval brooch

Charlie’s papercuts will be arriving any day now to launch at our next exhibition 23 September and we are all really excited about that too! Come along to our 6th Birthday Celebrations and see both Molly and Charlie’s work alongside other gorgeous contemporary jewellery and craft.

6th Birthday Party Invitation

Meet The Maker – Charlie Trimm

Charlotte Trimm – papercut artist

Charlotte has continued her methodical approach to creation, which was the foundation of her painting and installation work, to produce a collection of hand-drawn and hand-cut papercuts.

Dandelion clock

These works now come under ‘By Charlie’s Hand’. Founded in 2011, By Charlie’s Hand is one girl armed with a scalpel, lots of patience and a touch of OCD, as well as a love of coloured paper and tea. Charlotte has been producing highly detailed and intricate works which often explore nature, repetitive motifs and symmetry.

Mr Stag

Charlotte’s papercuts have a unique style which echoes Charlotte’s previous structured approach, which often explored colour and repetitive patterns, bringing order to the natural elements while adding a contemporary twist to traditional rhymes and familiar motifs.  Birds, trees, plants and animals feature heavily in her work but the chaos of nature is given a distinctive shape, most often becoming contained within perfect circles and hearts.

Tweetheart in Kingfisher

Magpies

These original papercuts have also grown into a range of products that includes giclee prints, greeting cards and cushion covers. Joining forces with Scottish jewellery designer and maker Molly Ginnelly (a jeweller also showcasing her amazing work in Heart Gallery at the moment) on a continuing collaboration, Charlotte’s work has found new mediums that combine both artists’ styles, leading to the distinctive and highly wearable ‘When Molly met Charlie’ collection of earrings, necklaces and brooches made of formica and silver.

Collaboration between Charlie Trimm and Molly Ginnelly now at Heart Gallery