Spotlight on the Seller...Calico Gifts

Based in Stalybridge, Laura has a connection to Leeds after having lived here for 4 years and working at St James' Hospital. Her work is based around wooden gifts and decorations and she likes to create new designs regularly not only to interest customers but also to stimulate her desire for designing. 

Prior to setting up Calico Gifts, Laura worked in the health care setting but had to give up her career due to suffering from severe migraines which had the same symptoms as a stroke. Moving to Stalybridge to be nearer family who could help, Laura decided to set up her own business so that she could still work but be more flexible should she be taken ill. She chose to set up a craft business as she has always been very creative. Her grandparents were both artists and her GCSE's were all based around the arts. 

 

The main material that Laura uses is wood. She chose wood because her father has always been creative and has all the tools necessary for cutting the shapes and designs that she requires and one thing that Laura wanted when setting up her business was to keep it local so by working with her father she is able to achieve this. There are many beautiful products which can be created using wood and Laura mainly takes her inspiration for her products from her children.

Laura's children are both very young and so the majority of the products which you will find as part of Calico Gift's range involve nursery decorations, christening gifts and designs aimed at children. As well as working mainly with products for children, Laura also offers wedding gifts, new home ranges and many more.

 

The product which Laura enjoys making the most are the free-standing wooden stars with a chalk board star encorporated which have a countdown to when a baby is due written on it. She likes to imagine the excitement and anticipation which the parents-to-be have whilst they mark down the weeks on the star. 

 

Since Calico Gifts was established in 2011, Laura has grown her business to now provide her with full time working hours and enables her to focus on this and be proud of what she has achieved since leaving her career. 

As well as making general gifts, Laura also make personalised items which can be ordered through Fabrication in Leeds too. 

Spotlight on the Seller... Beth Kilburn

A local artist from Leeds with a fascination for all things miniature, Beth preserves her tiny illustrations under clear resin to make unique and charismatic jewellery pieces. Each image captures her affection for funny little characters and sensitive eye for detail. 

Originally a professional actress, Beth's passion for jewellery grew in part from financial necessity. Struggling to find work in 2012, and facing a bleak Christmas, she rediscovered a love of illustration, creating personalised artwork for friends and family. 

Curious for different ways to develop and frame her mini designs, Beth discovered resin and was immediately hooked. Initial experiments were far from perfect, but after a gruelling period of trial and error, her efforts began to pay off. 

Since then Beth has found new ways to create colourful, quirky jewellery pieces using pressed flowers, fabrics, wood, beads and anything else that can be covered in resin! 

For commission enquiries, or to request something more specific, visit Fabrication, Leeds.

Spotlight on the Seller...Lorraine D Connolly Jewellery

I am a Yorkshire lass, born in Keighley and now based in the small market town of Howden, in the East Riding. I worked as journalist for many years before realising, in my late 40s, that I wanted to be a jewellery maker/designer when I grew up! Redundancy pushed me into making the move and I launched my business last year.

My jewellery is made in large part from fine silver clay, which uses silver recycled from the film industry and other sources, including x-rays! The finished pieces are 99.9% pure silver, with some sterling silver.

I also love the versatility and colour of polymer clay, which works well in jewellery, creating unique and wearable art.

I love to add texture and depth to my jewellery and many of my designs are inspired by textiles, specifically crochet and lace. Preserving the delicacy of the fabric designs, whether in fine silver or polymer clay means each and every piece is truly unique. There is no mass-production here.

 

My aim is for others to take as much pleasure from owning and giving my work as I do in designing and making it.

I love creating these pieces and hope that others will enjoy wearing them.