Spotlight on the Seller ......Rowan Tree Designs

Rowan Tree Designs is the trading name of Sonia Curry, a York based dressmaker who creates stylish one-off capes and cloaks in addition to bespoke orders.

My capes and wraps are designed to keep you warm by also being stylish and easy to wear.

Often made from super soft fleece (a customer favourite it seems) or a high quality wool blend I make a variety of one-off colour combinations as they take my fancy.

In addition I make a small range of shrugs and other items of clothing.

Commissions are welcome, whether it’s a different colour combination to what’s available in the shop, a different size or a completely different design!

seller in the spotlight ...Bobbinaround

Bobbinaround is based in Leeds in my home studio. I take inspiration from nature, whether it’s textures, shapes or colour, incorporating my love for textiles. Fabrication has given me a fantastic opportunity to showcase my work in the centre of Leeds.

A large range of textile materials are used in my work, but I like to specialise in the use of wool, whether it’s using the fibres to create felt or traditional wool suiting fabrics to produce home furnishings.

I enjoy experimenting with the materials of my craft when producing a hand felted product. Often wool fibres and are wet felted and stitched, and then felted again to achieve the desired effect.

In my studio, I create collections of scarves, cushions, throws and wall art, all reflecting the versatility of wool fabrics and felt.

If you don't see quite what you want, then I am always delighted to take on and also deliver a variety of textiles workshops locally. Charlotte regularly runs felting workshops for Fabrication, keep an eye on our website for details

Spotlight on the seller...Sustainable Thoughts

At the heart of my business is my love for the environment and the natural beauty that exists in the world. I am however, greatly concerned by the global issues that threaten to upset the delicate balance.

It is for this reason – sustainability of resources - that I choose to use pebbles and mixed media to create outdoor paving slabs, which are fun and also complement and beautify outdoor spaces. Where possible, I reuse old crockery and ceramics - because where will it ALL go? Your loft? Charity shops? Landfill?

I derive great satisfaction from creating something unique whilst working with unloved treasures, ranging from grandma’s old china to tired tables ready for the tip and ‘combtrasting’, (new combining & contrasting), it with new tesserae to make a design work. It inspires me to see these precious pieces transformed - with a new lease on life and saved from landfill !!! Instead, these carefully crafted pieces will bring joy and mindfulness of living the three R’s.

When I am not doing mosaics, I love making new paper from bits of paper from the recycling box !

It is fun and really therapeutic making different types of paper using different techniques with a mould and deckle. Paper quilling is another one of passions and I derive hours of great satisfaction from twirling strips of paper and creating exquisite effects with the coils of paper.

I am a qualified teacher and community artist so if you would like to do a taster session in mosaics, papermaking or paper quilling for individuals or groups please feel free to contact me. Wendy is running a number of classes for us this summer so please see the website for more details

spotlight on the seller.. Mirror Mirror

Mandy Maynard is a designer and artist with over 20 years’ experience in graphic design and fine art printmaking. Having recently set up her own studio, complete with a state-of-the art laser etcher, she has been busy designing and making etched mirror and glass homewares.

The hero designs are stunning lightboxes which are truly unique and innovative. These illuminated artworks provide a vibrant vocal point for any room in the house, particularly welcoming in hallways and living rooms, and are a refreshing change to static framed artworks.

Mandy also makes coasters and candle plates which feature whimsical lace doily motifs, enjoying the interplay between soft vintage lace and the hard clean mirror surface. Commissions are frequently taken, and a number of children’s lightbox designs have been created, as they work very well as night lights or nursing lights. Also recently work has started on etching glass splashbacks for kitchens, which look stunning when illuminated from behind.

Each design starts life in a sketchbook bursting with ideas and then it is drawn up by Mandy using professional graphic software, and etched on the laser. Top quality materials are used.

They use LED light sources which last for thousands of hours, are the most energy efficient lights available.