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 – Aiden Spencer

Aiden Spencer – Jeweller

Frequently in Aiden’s artwork he attempts to capture the essence of an environment.

In the Woods

The collection of jewellery he has produced for Heart Galley for this exhibition inspired by fairytales and folklore has been particularly enjoyable for him as it draws inspiration from the fairytale atmosphere experienced in the woods.

Necklace – Aiden Spencer

Whilst developing these pieces Aiden frequently returned to a large wooded area that he calls spinning woods, not far from where he lives, taking along with him various construction materials and a sketchbook. He can sit for long periods laying out items he has found on the woodland floor, occasionally getting spooked by the whispering of the trees around him or by movements in the corner of his eye.

Bangle – Aiden Spencer

Aiden finds woods and forests to be a truly beautiful and somehow magical place with an almost intimidating presence. 

Necklace – Aiden Spencer

Using the materials he has gathered, along with some specially sourced stones such as serpentine and green tree stone, Aiden has returned back to his workshop and has tried to convey the fairytale atmosphere within the jewellery pieces he has created.

Green stone and pebble ring – Aiden Spencer

Heart Gallery is proud to showcase Aiden’s pieces that he has carefully made from sourced materials that really do depict a fairytale atmosphere.

Meet The Maker – Jacqui Sharples

Jacqui Sharples - Graphic Designer

Jacqui works on small antique printing presses to create unique letterpress products. Her small design studio in Lancashire is dedicated to wood letters and tree hugging paper.

Lovers Lane wood type

Jacqui is a freelance graphic designer inspired by a passion for print, the smell of ink, vintage typography and her collection of wood type.

Framed Golden Rules

Using traditional methods of hand setting type and a range of vintage printing presses, including a Victorian treadle, she creates prints to frame for the home and stationery.

Jacqui's vintage presses

 

All her presses are manually operated so the only energy used is an eco friendly light bulb and some muscle power!

Framed Bake More Cake

All the paper and card is tree friendly stock and the ink is recycled from printers who have sadly closed down due to the impact of digital on traditional print methods.

Letters

Lovers Lane print

Jacqui’s work is now gracing the walls of Heart Gallery and we are really proud to be showcasing it in Hebden Bridge – this image below has to be our favourite print!

Framed Red Wine

Meet The Maker – Mark Smith

Mark Smith - ceramicist

Mark’s work is inspired by coastal life, architecture and the effects the natural environment has on materials, such as wood, metal and stone.

Mark Smith - ceramic houses on driftwood

Mark Smith - close up of ceramic house on driftwood

The main fabric of his work is ceramic with additions of reclaimed timber and metal.

Mark Smith - large ceramic boat on reclaimed timber

His pieces have impressions of found objects discovered on journeys. They are finished in matt colours, which give the impression of sea bleached painted timber, so each piece has it’s own story to tell.

Mark Smith - close up detail picture of ceramic boat

The work is Mark’s own attempt to create decorative objects that reflect on his belief in sustainability. Mark believes that something new can be made from discarded and non funtional materials, so he’s always on the look out, using skips, waste land scrubs and along beaches, for scraps of timber, hunks of old metal, anything that he considers art-through natural errosion.

Mark Smith - Small ceramic boat on reclaimed timber

Mark considers himself a fully fledged member of the wombling society, but in all seriousness his work is ultimately designed and thoroughly thought out to make people smile.

Mark Smith - Large ceramic boat on reclaimed timber

Mark uses a variety of decoration techniques as his ideas continue to flow and move on to create different avenues and new approaches. Ships, boats, and wrecks are the main fabric of the work, made from clay that has the textures of metal and wood objects salvaged, press moulded, and patched together to produce a variety of forms that look as though they have sailed the Seven Seas.

Mark Smith - Small boats on driftwood

When Mark produces a piece it becomes a narrative, the tale of a journey. Objects discovered on the shoreline find themselves becoming part of the story…

Mark Smith preparing to sail the Seven Seas!

Christmas at Heart Gallery

All I Want ... Christmas at Heart Gallery

Well folks, it is nearly that time of year again so here is the invitation to the launch of Heart Gallery’s fourth Christmas selling exhibition which promises to be the best yet. After a challenging year for everyone it is encouraging to know that you have all supported Heart Gallery and I know you will continue to do so as we continue to offer such a diverse and exciting range of contemporary jewellery and craft all under one roof. We look forward to seeing you at the launch, Saturday 7th November. We will also be staying open until 8pm on Thursday evenings from Thursday 26th November up to, and including, Thursday 17th December.

The other great news is that from the beginning of November Heart Gallery will be open 7 days a week, Monday – Friday 10.30 – 5, Saturday 1.30 – 5.30 and Sunday 12 – 4pm. Now that is a bonus!

Heart Gallery is passionate about all things beautiful and sells the very best of inspirational work including fresh, innovative and exciting contemporary jewellery, ceramics, glass, textiles, wood, furniture, accessories and stationery.

Heart Gallery ensures that there is something for everyone’s tastes and budgets
and is constantly evolving and reinventing. Heart Gallery prides itself on showcasing classic pieces for today’s modern living alongside the more quirky and challenging accent pieces and brings unusual and unique sumptuous gifts and design-led
interior and lifestyle products together in one beautiful and inviting space offering a haven from the predictability of the High Street.

Heart Gallery is a gem nestled in the heart of Hebden Bridge beneath rolling hills and breathtaking landscapes.

Heart Gallery occupies a former Baptist Chapel and has been sympathetically restored by its owner, Alison Bartram, to offer its visitors a peaceful and serene
space in which to browse.

Heart Gallery is rapidly building an enviable reputation for top quality contemporary jewellery, distinctive and individual in design and form. With quirky displays in fabulous reproduction French cabinets, which are also for sale, customers marvel at
the choice and enjoy the decadent surroundings whilst they browse.

Heart Gallery also incorporates workshop and retail spaces for local designers offering a unique approach for visitors.

Craft & Design Magazine latest issue has arrived at Heart Gallery

 

• 

  Craft & Design Magazine latest issue has arrived at Heart Gallery

   

   This latest issue contains the following features along with many other new pieces including announcing the launch of the 2009 Craft & Design Selected Awards!

  • Wally Gilbert talks about his Tipping Point as a silversmith and metal worker
  • Sue Holdaway, Reclaims, Reuses and Recycles glass, transforming it into unique jewellery and homeware
  • Jeff Soan talks about his Journey into Craft, from Toy Maker to Wobbly Wood
  • Ones to Watch at One Year On
  • The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a great Place to Visit, with gardens and galleries to enjoy
  • In this issue’s Face of Craft interview we talk to Rachel Gogerly, designer maker and Chairman of the Guild of Enamellers
  • Andrew Arditti takes a slightly different slant on craft photography
  • Poppy Porter looks back at 2008 in the final instalment of her Diary of a Craftworker
  • This issue’s Last Word comes from gardening and homecraft expert Sarah Raven as she creates a festive sparkle

A very belated Happy New Year!

 

 

Enjoying Christmas at Heart

 

 

Enjoying Christmas at Heart

Well, well, well, I can’t believe this is the first update on my blog since Christmas, so, so sorry folks! I think because it was such a busy time for us that it has taken me a long, long time to recover this year and get totally back into the swing of things! There has been so much to do at Heart Gallery, since returning on the 7th January, that this blog has suffered due to there not being enough hours in the day. Funny old thing is time isn’t it?

Anyway, it is nearly the end of January and I am happy to report that these pages will now be updated regularly; especially as lots of exciting new work is arriving at great rates on a weekly basis. So, to all customers. past and present, thank you for your support in 2008 and a very happy 2009 to you all. Keep checking in to Heart Gallery’s blog and I hope to see you in Hebden Bridge very soon.

Take care, Alison x

October

 

 

 

Hi friends

 

The weather is now getting colder, the leaves are turning and it has been rather wet in Hebden lately but this hasn’t dampened people’s spirits and, as new work has started to arrive, we have been really busy.

This month is one which we either love or dread as the sun sits lower in the sky and it starts to get darker earlier. We can tend to hibernate and reflect on the year that is starting to pass by so quickly with Christmas fast approaching.

This year has been another tremendous year for Heart Gallery and those who truly know me understand that it has been an emotional journey which has been faced with dignity.

I hope you enjoy these snippets of new work and call in to Heart Gallery soon to say Hi.

Bye for now

Alison

 

 

chunky silver ring 18ct gold band £111.00

 

 

 

silver and 18ct gold hoops £73

 

 

 

silver and 18ct gold studs £45

 

 

 

silver bangle £125

 

 

 

2 tier cake stand using vintage plates £45

 

 

 

 

 

Biscuit plate using vintage plate £22

 

 

 

Cake stand using vintage plate and sundae dish £27

 

 

 

Small clock using vintage plate £40

 

 

Large clock using vintage plate £60