Branding

Recently I went to a ‘new-to-me’ eatery in Leeds to celebrate my daughter being offered a place at Leeds City College in September, RED’S. Before I’d even had my food delivered I knew I was in for a treat … why … because their branding was so strong; they had got it spot on!

A shot of the menu at RED’S, Leeds

A shot of the menu at RED’S, Leeds

I even pulled one of the lovely waitresses to one side and asked her to pass my comments on to the two owners and then accosted (in a friendly manner of course) another member of staff thinking he was the owner! I apologised but also asked him to pass on the much deserved praise.

The condiments at RED’S, Leeds

And when the food arrived I was not disappointed in the slightest  ….although I couldn’t go too regularly, not good for the waistline with those generous portions! I should have known as my hubby said that he thought that Adam Richman (Man V Food) had paid RED’S a visit but I’m not sure how true that statement is.

Pulled Pork and Slaw at RED’s, Leeds

Onion Ring Stack at RED’s, Leeds (They also do one a metre tall!)

This got me thinking about how important branding is and how so many people get it wrong and dilute the strength of their brand by straying and not remaining true. One of my makers who is so spot on that we love here at Heart Gallery is Andy Poplar and this is why … just received today from him:

A brief history

Creative Juices Andy Poplar

Kindred Spirit Andy Poplar

Half Full Andy Poplar

Watch our for his Fathers Day offering coming soon to Heart Gallery, Mothers Day was a huge hit:

‘Thanks for Delivering Me’ etched milk bottle – Andy Poplar

Love isn’t love until you give it away

Whilst researching for the new displays for the run up to Valentine’s Day it got me thinking about love of course so here is a little blog post of things I love that are now in Heart Gallery for you to love too …

Bear Hug – Julia Ogden

Original pencil drawings, giclee prints and cards based on Love, Friendship and Support by our very own super talented Julia Ogden.

‘And on’ partnership pair of silver rings with diamond

Diana Porter’s jewellery range includes her signature ‘and on’ partnership rings, ‘and on’ bangle and ‘I who is you who is I’ set of silver bangles.

close up of detail on the notebook case

Fabulous leather pieces concentrating on music lovers and bookworms by emerging local artist Rod Boyes.

Kindred Spirit

Andy’s etched glass work was a hit at Christmas and we are so chuffed with his new pieces. Perfect for homemade drinks such as damson gin, lemoncello vodka but these lab bottles work really well in the bathroom for shampoo and conditioner too.

Silver and 9ct gold heart rings

Karen’s popular silver and 9ct gold heart range now has a cute little addition of these rings.

Silk Scarf digitally printed from a hand-dyed original design

Sarita’s Reminiscence Collection of floaty scarves and lavender filled pouches and eye-masks will make a lovely gift not just for a Valentine but for a Mum too as Mothers’ Day is not that far away.

Ethical recycled silver jewelery

Ali’s ethical jewellery is inspired by her love of dancing and the dynamic lines of movements she creates whilst dancing.

Ceramic Hearts (can be personalised)

We love Laura’s ceramic hearts and they are certainly the perfect little love token at this time of the year. Our personalised service includes bridal favours matched to the wedding colours where possible with the wedding date stamped on as a great keepsake.

Ceramic Hearts (can be personalised)

And there you have it, a little snippet of new pieces we love and hope you love too….Love isn’t love until you give it away.

Speaking of love, I can’t end this blog post without an image from Kate Lycett though. A customer sadly lost her Dad recently and with a little bit of money he left her she really wanted something that reminded her of him and where he lived so every time she looks at this she will remember the years filled with love that they spent together:

Waterfront – Kate Lycett

Meet The Maker – Eric Moss

Eric Moss – Potter

Eric work’s in raku and naked raku as he likes the way the finished pots reflect their ‘elemental’ journey from mud to ceramic: Eric thinks this particular process imparts a ‘sense of life’ within a piece. 

Knife Family

The transparent crackle glaze Eric uses dresses tightly-controlled, sculpted forms in a complementary random and natural effect sometimes punctuated by paper and glue resisted areas. Thrown pots are modified with shaped ‘ribs’ during throwing and often have no base so the pot can ‘rock and roll’ without tipping. 

Seedpod

Seedpods group

Eric enjoys this play between the fragility of the pot and the durability of its composition.  His forms suggest seeds and nuts, ringed planets, flower bracts and jet engine parts. 

Small Boat Balancers

Larger, sculptural, work: The ‘Big Boat’ theme Eric is exploring is assembled components, press moulded with a variety of surface treatments and levels of enclosure; The ‘Knife form’ – not quite a cylinder and not quite a cube is intriguing by virtue of it being three dimensional but with only two sides and one edge – follow the knife edge with your finger and you end where you began.  This form is ‘scale independent’, lending itself to manufacture in many sizes – groups of varied sizes ‘nest’ together in ‘family units’

Knife couple

Much of Eric’s work is in 2 or more parts and very tactile with a range of display configurations which invites the observer into the sculptural process. 

Squid & Seed Mated Pair

Shark

Heart Gallery has showcased Eric’s work before but we still get excited when he delivers his new pieces – his work will be with us for our next exhibition launch to celebrate our 6th Birthday.

Eric Moss

SPIRIT

SPIRIT – Heart Gallery’s 6th Birthday Exhibition

Yes! We are 6 next month and after the year that we have had in Hebden Bridge with the devastating floods we felt it was something we needed to celebrate! So you really do have to come and join us on Sunday 23 September for the Summer Garden Party celebrations we had to postpone.

SPIRIT – Heart Gallery’s 6th Birthday Exhibition

We have rushed to put this exhibition together but have fantastic support of previous makers alongside new ones keen to be a part of our celebrations. Keep checking into the blog for some sneaky peeks at all the work due in for this exhibition and see you on the 23rd x