Spotlight on the seller - Original Bob

Original Bob is Dawn Griffin.

Whilst studying for her Physiotherapy degree in Newcastle Dawn started to develop an interest in art history and art. The images of the impressionists started the journey. In 1992 Dawn qualified from University with a Physiotherapy Bsc. and moved briefly to Coventry until moving to London in the mid nineties.

Dawn attended evening classes in 3D and design, working on wood carving and plaster. After a few years of physiotherapy working with head injuries, stroke and spinal injured persons Dawn wanted to spend time on developing her artistic side before she got too old. Her sculptures got her into Camberwell College of Art where she studied Fine Art and Design followed by another part time course in Fine art at the same time as studying pottery.

“In the early days my work focused very much on stimulating all the senses, visual, auditory, touch, not so much on smell though. I made large installations out of tissue paper. Tissue paper is great to work with it has very sculptural qualities and it moves easily when people pass by” I could really bleat on about tissue paper I worked with it a lot”

“I have always been interested in the effect of time on an object whether one is considering weathering or erosion on a surface or even urban erosion like on huge bill boards, how the paper rips and dissolves yet a memory is still left behind.”

Having secured a studio in Hackney she worked on transcribing images onto canvas , oil painting and embroidering.

The arrival of her son in 2000 returned her to the real world of Physiotherapy.

In 2002 she returned to Leeds, working more than full time hours and being a mum did not leave a lot of time for crafting but as a way of relaxing she would make things in felt and knit or crochet. She was also studying on an evening on a Postgraduate Certificate in rehabilitation.

She returned to pottery about ten years ago and started to really concentrate on clay as a medium. “I have been inspired by Barbara Hepworth for years and fascinated by some of her amazing sculptures also she was quite mature when she settled down to do her Art”

“I love the tactility of clay especially when it's just going beyond leather hard and you can burnish it. Its a great medium to work with . You can do so much with it”

Currently she works primarily with White Stoneware but she's partial to working with rough Raku. “I glaze or smoke fire my Bobs. Bobs are the name of the globe heads I make. A friend's daughter named them Bobs and the name stuck. Hence the name Original Bob” .As well as making the Bobs Dawn likes to experiment with clay and make other items too. “I just wish there were more hours in the day or that I had more hands.”.

She left her job in January 2013 to spend more time with my daughter before she started school. When she started school in September I decided it was the perfect opportunity to really focus on art and design as a career.

“I feel a little odd about speaking so much about how my work (physio) as interwoven with my art through the years but I don't think I would have developed along the same path without it. Who knows that though. I think I will always be fascinated by how things move and evolve and what memory is retained that is why clay is so perfect for me”.

Spotlight on the seller - Adella Creations

Adella Creations is Bernie Cooke! Adella being Bernie's middle name.

Bernie is a self confessed fabric hoarder and her stash is mainly where she gets her inspiration to create garments from.

Bernie tends to make tops and tunics mostly. She likes to make free sizes that are loose, comfortable, stylish, trendy and all her unique designs. The prices range from £20 /£80 and everything is machine and hand sewed by Bernie herself. 

The pieces fit most sizes and each garment is versatile in that it can be dressed up for the evening with lots of your favourite accessories, or dressed down for work or day wear.
The tunics look good worn with boots, heels, pumps, leggings, or coordinating coloured tights.

Bernie has recently designed a range of lace fingerless gloves with embellishments, some using vintage ribbons, beads, crystals and re-purposed jewellery. These are quite unique I have not seen any others in Leeds so far...! They would be ideal to wear to weddings, parties, in fact anywhere, even 'down the pub' with your favourite jeans.

Bernie has also designed a range of brooches using silks, beads, ribbons and re-purposed jewellery.

Bernie has previously sold her creations in various markets, to friends, and since last October she has been selling in Fabrication. This is a suitable outlet as it is in the centre of Leeds, the 'vibe' is inspiring as there are many creative sellers working here, so it's a hive for inspiration and a chance to meet lovely people!

Bernie welcomes commissions and is happy to discuss ideas for designs.

Spotlight on the seller - Hart of glass

The Hart of Glass  seeks to offer a range of unique fused, slumped, recycled and stained glass giftware, jewellery and homeware at affordable prices. 

Designed and made in Leeds in my home studio, I take inspiration from nature, colour,  light, textures and used objects. A large range of glass is used in my one-off pieces and each one is meticulously created with love.

All jewellery is made by firing multiple layers of the finest ‘Bullseye’ and dichroic art glass to achieve a various multi-dimensional effects.

Recycled bottles are chosen carefully for their colour, shape, texture or design which impacts on their final use. Bottles are kiln-fused flat to make cheeseboards, or slumped into shapes for dip dishes, spoon rests, candle bridges and plates. 

I use special enamel paints for commission messages or patterns, for instance on a champagne bottle for an anniversary.

I also enjoy enhancing colourless and transparent glass with inclusions such as coloured ground glass (frit), wafer thin glass and copper sheet or wire. 

I use this technique in my key rings, plaques, coasters and bowls. Again, this provides me with a wide scope of possible designs and products, which are always developing.

Bespoke and commission pieces are always welcome. Please email me with your design idea to thehartofglass@gmail.com

“People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”
~  Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Spotlight on the seller - Needlecase

Jean Walne and Judith Schur are a mother and daughter team who are passionate about knitting and needlework of all kinds.  Their shop, Needlecase, where they offer a wide range of yarns and haberdashery, opened in September 2010, in the small North Yorkshire town of Tadcaster.  www.needlecase.co.uk

These unique knitting kits have been designed by Judith who is currently studying for a City and Guilds qualification in Knitted Textiles. The range of kits available is very small but Judith is hoping to make some additions throughout 2014.

All of the kits use British yarn from West Yorkshire Spinners, based in Keighley.

Chain Stripes – an Easy Knit, this cushion is designed to really show off the natural colours of the Jacob wool and it is available in 4 different ‘colour ways’, each one taking a different shade as its background colour. There are 3 coconut buttons included which complement the natural colours of the wool.

Tile Petal –in beautiful, soft Blue Faced Leicester wool, requires some experience. There are 5 colours available on a cream background.

Diamond Cable – again this cushion requires some experience. It is knitted in Jacob Aran weight wool and is available in Ecru and Light Grey which are both natural colours from the Jacob sheep. The wool from West Yorkshire Spinners is fabulous quality and beautiful to work with. The cushion is fastened with three enormous coconut buttons which I love.