Made To Last....



Rust-Jewellery

 I love jewellery not bling or certain high street shops who charge a fortune for pieces of string with a few beads on, (I am sure you know who!) but beautiful crafted pieces that can be passed onto your children and give pleasure for years.

One of my favourite jewellery companies is RUST, who is based in London.  All their jewellery is handmade in London using traditional methods and tools by a small team of highly skilled jewellers. Not only is their work unique and beautifully crafted, I love the inventive way their pieces are displayed and the wonderful personality and sheer British-ness and sense of humour.

Nao Utsumi came to London (from his native Japan) at 18 years old with the dream of studying shoe-making at Cordwainers. However he realised he had a talent and passion for jewellery making.  He joined forces with Artemis Russell, an English fine artist and together they formed Rust.





By purchasing from RUST Jewellery, you are showing your support for British Manufacturing and are helping to keep alive the traditional techniques such has hand engraving and stone setting. Every ring is unique, as each and every one has been hand made and/or worked on using tiny chisels. You also a purchasing a beautiful, unique piece of jewellery and I am sure an antique of the future, I am not too sure that a piece of string with a few beads on will turn up on the Antiques Road show!

Also check out Artemis’s blog which is really stylish, a little bit eccentric and great fun.

http://www.junkaholique.com/

 Go to   www.rustjewellery.com for further information and to view the full collection of rings, lockets, bracelets and vintage pieces

All the Best

Sara x

Interesting Extra Bits

Jenny McCabe

The mission behind Coo & Co designs is to use natural and where possible recycled and up cycled materials. All pieces are made one at a time and by hand using water based inks which are environmentally friendly. Jenny is inspired by nature and all her work is based on her original sketches. I love her beautiful drawings and the practically as well as the design qualities of her work and its uniqueness.

Self-taught screen printer Lancaster-based fine artist, designer and maker Jenny McCabe of "Coo & Co Designs" in her own words…..

I have always been an artist; deal ways crafted and had a multitude of creative projects on the go. My formal training started with a foundation art course straight from school, then I went on to do a BTEC in Art as I didn’t want to leave the fantastically creative environment of Art school. After having my daughter and working as a community artist I finally managed to get to University to do a BA in Fine Art, but I hated it, it was far too conceptual and very anti-craft and making. I finished the degree and got good marks, but I wrestled for year with this idea that craft was bad. I tried out video-making and installations amongst loads of other things to finally come back to what I love, making something beautiful from nothing with you own hands.

Her book came out in 2013 called Hand Print and Make Your Own Bags which has 35 projects for you to have try at home or visit www.cooandco.co.uk to view Jenny’s lovely work.

Sara x

Global Crafts

 

In this post I wanted to look at global craftsmen rather than focusing on UK artisans. The traditional crafts inspire many current day craftspeople and in the developing countries many wonderful companies and individuals are aiding the continuation of these skills.

Stephanie Odegard seeks to preserve rare artistic traditions from around the world and has devoted her career to assisting artisans in developing countries promote and preserve their traditional crafts. Recognized as an international leader in contemporary design she has expanded from selling carpets to include finely crafted objects from regions outside Nepal and Tibet, and has focused on preserving the ancient traditions which flourished during the Mogul period.

Before starting her own business Stephanie consulted in craft sectors in different nations around the world for 15 years. She designs and develops textiles, furniture, accessories, carpets and architectural fixtures.

 Stephanie gets the most excitement and inspiration with working through new concepts using ancient traditional skills with designers in realizing their visions for interiors.

Artisans are commissioned in Nepal, India, Tibet and Italy to create modern pieces of furniture, lighting, textiles, and decorative accessories. Stephanie Odegard works to assure the survival of their traditional crafts and honour the communities in which they are made. Each unique piece is infused with a clear sense that the artist's hand has been at work. This is of such importance, particularly in raising the awareness of crafts and traditional skills.

www.stephanieodegard.com for more information further images see below.

http://pinterest.com/sarabrowndesign/primative http://pinterest.com/sarabrowndesign/kilim-tapestry-and-crewel/

Sara xx

Bohemian Pattern For Interiors

Surfacephilia

This is one of my favourite surface design brands. I love the sketchiness and uniqueness, this brand is instantly recognizable with a strong signature style. I feel that many surface decoration and design brands have become very similar.  It is really exciting to see a home grown brand becoming an international success in such a short space of time.



Surfacephilia is a UK based surface design brand that creates luxurious bohemian patterns for the interiors and homeware market. It was launched at the London Design Festival in 2011 by owner and designer Helen Stevens. After graduating in 2002 in Textiles and Surface Design, Helen went on to work in industry as a print designer for Red or Dead and as a college lecturer and is also involved in the Designer Marketplace.

Helen's hand rendered approach towards surface pattern and her bold and experimental designs are built up using layering of intricate and often repetitive drawings, paintings and textures that have been lifted directly from precious sketchbook pages.

Described in The Telegraph Magazine as 'One to watch' and as one of Glass Magazine's 'Top 5 designers to have in your home'. Surfacephilia’s debut collection Navajo, spans across a range of digitally printed wallpapers, luxury feather filled cushions, bone china and greeting cards and is all consciously manufactured in the UK.  Surfacephilia is sold in Liberty and through their website which is listed below.  Sara xx

www.surfacephilia.co.uk

Bespoke work by Helen Stevens

Bohemian Pattern Design

Surfacephilia Images.....

Room Sets And Drawings

Back To The Drawing Board

 In the modern age speed is of the essence, particularly in the design world. Computer programmes are essential in the design world. However, I just love to see original drawings and water colours of room sets. These are so beautiful and are actually works of art in their own right as well as serving a function in the design process.  So how about going back tothe drawing board and starting to draw and paint?

Food for thought….

Sara x

Wonderful drawings taken from The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needman.

Bespoke Wallpapered Furniture

Suzanne Rose

I came across this lovely furniture online, I like the idea of taking a piece of furniture and giving it a new lease of life, and they also look great and really make a statement. A fashion stylist in the music industry, Suzanne has been responsible for some of the most iconic images of the 80’s and 90’s : Pepsi and Shirley, Nik Kershaw, Duran Duran, Sinitta, T-Pau, Bucks Fizz, Musical Youth, UB40 and many more chart-topping acts.

To describe this range in the designers own words;

I make beautiful wallpapered furniture. Each piece is individual, unique, practical and durable having been coated with a high gloss lacquer. My passion has always been interiors and creating beautiful ‘things’. The more ugly the item, the greater the transformation.

To contact Suzanne about a commissioned piece email- suzanne.langan@gmail.com