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National Makers Directory
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Angela Davies
My inspiration for my creative practice is fueled by a passion and a desire to explore the environment around us, looking for the fleeting ephemeral traces of our footprints in society. Influences derive from time and memory, objects silently disappearing into their surroundings, revealing the beauty of surface decay.
I use old and discarded objects and obscure and decayed architecture as a starting point. I then combine and assemble the found objects along with distressed … read more
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Cathy Hilton Artisan
I produce illustrated sculptures. Images are drawn, cut out and reassembled in to a three dimensional form.
I work with a very tough, hand-made paper that is strong enough to be structural, and has a charming texture and tone.
I seek to provide moments of joy, so humour, love and surprise are recurrent themes and I relish the expressions of delight that my work causes.
As an illustrator I am self-taught since O level. I have a degree in Industrial Design which contributes to the structural element of my work.
I’m drawn to help people express their appreciation for others, so there’s great tenderness in this work.
I generally start from the emotion I wish a piece to evoke, and design from there. -
DrawntoStitch By Louise O’Hara
I am a mixed media artist based in a small village in the heart of Cheshire; I work from my studio which is filled to the rafters with ephemera, vintage fabrics, typewriters, sewing machines, threads, hand painted papers and books, I am sure you can picture the scene!
During My Masters Degree in Fashion and Textiles I discovered ‘wabi Sabi’ and the ethos of ‘beauty in imperfection’; this really captures my inspirations and the work which I produce, I am influenced by … read more -
Fiona Thompson
Fiona Thompson makes one off ceramic pieces for exhibition and commission. Her work is handbuilt with layers of printed and photographic imagery, and has been exhibited widely in the UK, Europe and N. America. She runs various workshops and courses at her new studio.
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Fran Wellby
Fran Wellby works from her studio in South West London, having trained in Bookbinding and Conservation at LCC in 2005.
Each book is individually crafted with precision and care for durability and beauty. Fran uses only the most exquisite paper from Japan, with covers that range from the traditional, to soft Italian leather or a more robust goatskin leather from the Scottish Highlands.
All her books are available to be individually embossed in gold or silver for weddings, christenings, special occasions or just as a beautiful gift. If a specific book is required with particular colours and purpose, commissions are gladly undertaken.
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Hens Teeth
Hello, my name is Viv Sliwka. My work has envolved from a lifelong obsession with collecting vintage American, French and British textiles, haberdashery and paper ephemera.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to incorporate a little of the past into my one off handmade pieces. Texture plays a big part in my work, softly worn printed fabrics, alongside hand woven linens. Lovely!
I design and make mixed media textile collage, accessories, needlecases and purses, finished with hand embroidery for lots more texture and colour. You will also always find a button or two!
All made in my garden studio in Staffordshire, UK.
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hl - Paperwork
In 2002, Hannah Lobley developed the award winning Paperwork; a unique recycling technique using unwanted paper layered back into a solid wood like material. Traditional wood working methods are then used to create interior objects and the surface patternation, when the objects are worked, echoes wood grain. Wood becomes paper becomes wood.
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Janet Dorey - emBoxed
Janet’s creations are based on the traditional French craft of cartonnage, the art of making decorative boxes out of cardboard and paper.
Janet applies the techniques & skills of cartonnage across a wide range of home and office products including, storage boxes, bespoke stationery sets and gift items with a special emphasis on personalised photo albums and boxes to store treasured memories.
Having trained in Paris, Janet sources materials from established French suppliers as well as drawing new colours and styles from Italian and Japanese paper suppliers.
Created at Janet’s home studio with the precision that the craft demands, her products are designed and made to be as long lasting as they are beautiful.
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Jennifer Collier
My practice focuses on creating work from paper; by bonding, waxing, trapping and stitching I produce unusual paper ‘fabrics’, which are used to explore the ‘remaking’ of household objects. The papers are treated as if cloth, with the main technique employed being stitch; a contemporary twist on traditional textiles. The papers themselves serve as both inspiration and media for my work, with the narrative of the books and papers suggesting forms. I tend to find items then … read more
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julia jowett
My illustrative practice explores the importance of storytelling and imagination. I draw with wire, pencil and stitch; intricately working dense areas of traditional embroidery and needlepoint stitches into metal gauzes and figuratively manipulated wire lines. I combine my hand embroidered wire work with observational drawing and screen printing techniques onto fabric and paper grounds to create contemporary art pieces. Drawing on folk tales, childhood stories and surreal … read more
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Melanie Mayho
My collection consists of a range of colourful, decorative bespoke interior and fashion accessories. All designs are hand illustrated and hand-printed on to fine quality linen and cotton.
Using traditional methods of hand dying and screen-printing enables me to create an eclectic range of unique products.
Celebrating beauty in the ordinary and everyday!
My inspiration stems from a love of traditional crafts, colour, architecture, antiques, travel, cultures and the surrounding … read more -
Naturally Heartfelt
Stephanie Wheeler from Naturally Heartfelt makes beautiful contemporary jewellery incorporating extracts from original texts, poetry and music into her designs. Papers from salvaged books are sealed and fixed behind glass in pendants, earrings and bracelets.
Stephanie also makes paper lampshades by applying hand cut circles of reclaimed music scores and maps to shades.
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Old Bean Design
Clare Nichols from Old Bean Design makes handprinted greetings cards from original wood engravings on polished end grain English boxwood. Her themes are rural and figurative, taking inspiration from the creatures and native species of the British landscape and hedgerow.
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Paper Cherry
I create art with paper for a unique gift that cannot be found readily on the high street, I can cater for a range of requests from one off designs to children’s silhouettes. I also love to create cuts from photographs, which I find my customers love as it makes a gift so much more personal.
My work can be supplied mounted or framed and varies in size from approximately A4 to A3. -
Paula Powell Original Artwork and Handmade Cards
Paula Powell Original Artwork and Handmade Cards offers products with three aspects: Growing – artwork and accessories for children ; Living – artwork for the home; Loving – keepsakes and stationery for celebrations. My work originates from a love of memories associated with garments, fabrics and images. Fragments of lives, histories held in items often thrown away. This includes children’s clothes; the fabrics, prints and memories they hold.
My range includes canvases, framed artwork, hangings, memory boxes, pomanders, cards and stationery. Applique techniques, hand and free motion embroidery combine with paper, wax and new, painted or recycled fabrics and garments. Ribbons, buttons, found objects and vintage lace are firm favourites. Stitch brings it all together by adding names, dates or messages to create a unique, personal gift.
