Meet the Maker - Marissa Irwin

Meet the Maker - Marissa Irwin

As the granddaughter and niece of professional jewellers, Marissa Irwin has been draping herself in gemstones from a very young age. Her first designs included graduation gifts for her elementary school girlfriends and birthday presents for her Mom and beloved grandmothers. She continued making jewellery throughout  university, hosting trunk shows at her family’s jewellery store in the US and selling earrings alongside local artisans at her town’s summer fair. Nowadays, you’ll find her crafting new designs with semi-precious gemstones, freshwater pearls and delicate gold findings at her home studio in London.

  

Marissa says! My favorite product is the Freshwater Pearl Threader earrings. They're made of 14kt gold-filled ear threaders and Freshwater Pearls that I individually wrap using 14kt gold-filled wire. I wear them almost everyday!

I often feel most inspired to create when I'm sitting at my desk with a pile of colorful gemstones in different shapes & sizes all mixed up together in front of me. I'll play with color combinations and designs on a velvet cloth until I have that 'aha!' moment. I also use Instagram as a source of inspiration by following the journeys of fellow designers & makers - seeing each of them do what they love inspires me to keep going!

Marissa will be at Homeworks on 8th December. 

Meet the maker - Ruth Spencer-Jolly

Meet the maker - Ruth Spencer-Jolly

Hi! I'm an artist based close to Queen's Park and I am really inspired by the locality which I love walking and running round. In my guise as 'ARTSJ' I currently have two ranges of products, one of which directly responds to nearby boroughs of London, taking the form of illustrated maps that capture the sites of interest and quirky landmarks in a neighbourhood. I also have a 'paisley pet' range: a collection of products for people who love animals, pattern and bright colours. When not making art, I'm often found with my other hat on - as a nanny - but I also love to run, ceilidh and go to the theatre.

My favourite product at present is the paisley dog teatowel. It's bright, cheerful and captures man's best in friend in many of the possible shapes and sizes. 

My favourite place to find inspiration at the moment is the Victoria and Albert Museum. I didn't grow up in London, and so I only discovered this treasure trove when I moved to 'the big smoke' about 18 months ago. It's incredible! As a lover of all things patterned; I'm in seventh heaven there. 

You can see Ruth's work at www.ruthspencerjolly.com/ARTSJ and www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ArtSJillustration. Ruth will be at Homeworks on 1st December

Meet the maker - Hokan Bowls

Meet the maker - Alistair Donald

Once I became a father of two sons, it quickly became apparent that I needed to use my time efficiently in the kitchen and to avoid unnecessary food waste. So I turned the leaning towers of bowls with saucers and clingfilm that covered food in the fridge, into a practical, plastic-free solution that will work in any kitchen. Hokan Bowls can be used to cook, bake, store, serve and save food. They come in three sizes with a one-size fits-all lid, which through their interlocking design can be stacked one on top of another to save space in the fridge, the freezer or the oven. Their contemporary design and range of colours, makes them perfect for serving to table or keeping out on the sideboard. One Hokan Bowl with many uses, that with good care, will last a lifetime. 




 The home, and living within it, provides all the inspiration needed to improve and develop how to make how we live more conscientious and efficient. Nature always provides the colours needed to determine the new ranges, and people provide the feedback necessary to improve and fine-tune.

Hokan bowls will be at Homeworks on 1st and 8th December. 

Meet the Maker - Elsker

My name is Sian and I am Elsker Creations. Elsker Creations was created from my desire to transform what was my hobby and love (elsker) of traditional crafts into my full time job. This journey began almost two years ago when I started taking this passion for traditional crafts such as; gilding, calligraphy, letterpress printing and bookbinding and applying a contemporary twist through my handmade products and designs. I now also run gilding workshops for adults and a programme of arts and crafts workshops for babies, toddlers and children.

My favourite products are my glass gilded pressed flower frames. I love the process of glass gilding and these works have evolved the most. I feel like I am capturing a season or a moment in time. These works are one of a kind. I love the way I manage to capture the vibrancy of the flowers.

My allotment is my number one place to find inspiration. I love doing things with my hands, I find it very therapeutic and that extends to gardening. The wildness of my allotment is a great inspiration, I feel I am out of London and can think clearly. I have also developed a wild flower meadow and use many of the flowers in my works. 

Queen's Park based Sian will bring her Elsker creations to Homeworks on 8th December. 

Meet the maker - Sophia Langmead

I hand make individual lyrical glitter word pictures on beautiful decorative papers which come from all over the world . Sometimes I make the pictures with slightly saucy women made with a touch of humour.  I use vintage and new frames.

My favourite product in the new font I am using.  Very time consuming as each letter has to be cut out with a scalpel two or three times because of the shadow and colours before being put together.  But I am very pleased with the finished look. I’ve used it for ‘Oh what a circus’, ‘wow’, ‘yay’ and ‘star’.

I get a lot of my inspiration for the pictures from simply listening to music as I walk back and forwards from my studio in Primrose Hill to Queens Park.  I hear a line that I love and think will work and quickly text it to myself otherwise I might forget.

Sophia will be at Homeworks on 1st December. You can see her work at www.sophialangmead.com

Meet the maker - Eleanor Khan

I am a former journalist and have lived and worked all over the world. Out of all the places I have lived in the one I really fell in love with was Pakistan, where I spent two years with my husband, who is British-Pakistani. 

The country has one of the richest artisanal histories in the world yet its many traditions are little known to the rest of the world. I was dying for an excuse to go back so last year I made a few buying trips and set up Nimuri, a company selling handmade clothing and homeware from Pakistan.

I sell baskets, ceramics, home and vintage textiles, wooden trays and women and children's clothing. I try to source as ethically as possible & many of my products are made by women's charities or come from small, family-run businesses or start-ups. Unlike in India, artisans have never received much government support or interest from Western designers so I really love the fact that I am starting to get money directly to them.

Favourite place for inspiration:

Of course it has to be Pakistan itself. Waves of immigration and invasion over the centuries means the country's handicrafts show great variety. From tribal embroidery, to kitsch truck art, to the floral images of the Mughal Empire that once ruled India, to the influence of British textiles, there is a huge range of looks, symbols and traditions to choose from in terms of inspiration for new products going forward.

My favourite product:

I'm very intrigued by the heavily embroidered quilts they make in Pakistan. They are very mysterious and made by itinerant tribes in the desert. It's been quite hard to find out much about them or the people that make them. Each one is like a work of art but they are so well made that they are actually quite practical and hard-wearing. They can be used on beds or sofas or turned into cushions. 

Eleanor Khan will be at Homeworks on Sunday 1st December

Meet the Maker - Michele Wycoff-Smith

Meet the Maker - Michele Wycoff-Smith

Michele Wyckoff Smith wearing
combined Olga necklace, bracelet and bangle

I'm Michele Wyckoff Smith, a trained jeweller in love with organic shapes and textures inspired by nature. I believe that jewellery should be simple, understated and versatile. Many of my pieces can be worn on their own or combined to create a new piece. For example, my Olga chain can be worn by itself, or combined with an Olga bracelet and Henry Moore inspired bangle to make a stunning focal piece. These are best sellers and I'll be sure to have some with me at Homeworks this year.

  
Right now, I am in love with my brightly colour gemstone stacking rings. They look great in all kinds of combinations or worn individually. I take great care to develop a soft, but organic texture on the ring shank, so that it feels like it is an object found from a long ago time and place. I am endlessly fascinated by the combinations of colours people put together. 

More than anything, I want my customers to fall in love with my pieces and find that they wear them day in and day out. Beautiful design should be something that can be worn all the time, not just on special occasions.

Born by the seaside, I always head towards the water when I am in search of new ideas. The most inspirational place I've found in the UK is the beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth. There is an old Victorian tip that has slid onto the beach due to coastal erosion. I have found so many pieces of decaying metal, pottery shards and odd little items that have gone on to inspire me endlessly. (Tip: it is best to hit this beach after a big storm.)

Michele will be at Homeworks on 1st December, and you can see her work at www.wyckoffsmith.com / www.instagram.com/wyckoffsmith

Mary Pritchard

I am a local Queens Park artist and work from a specially-designed studio at home. I generally open my studio to the public twice a year, in the Summer and in the run-up to Christmas. I work in ceramics, photography and hand-made artists’ books and love the variety of having different artistic interests which in fact all fire off each other:

I love my new funky vases which I have really enjoyed making and decorating. I usually make sculptural or non-functional ceramic pieces so to make vases has been a new adventure for me which has been very satisfying. It is a great thrill to think of someone enjoying and using one of my hand-made vases in their everyday home-life:

Although I am a great fan of nature and the natural world and get much of my inspiration from those sources, I can be inspired by anything I come across from a random object spotted in the street, a painting or drawing either famous or otherwise, to a pattern on the seats of a tube train! For me as an artist it is about being open to the world around me and using it for ideas. I am also interested in research-based art and am currently working on a project based on archival material from my mother’s early life in 1930s Ireland.

Come and meet Mary at Homeworks on Sunday 10 December.

Cardabelle Design

I am a printmaker working with the traditional techniques of linocut and letterpress. I set up Cardabelle Design three years ago, using my prints to develop quality products the kitchen and home. I love traditional print, I also love food and cooking, which I celebrate in my work. I also teach traditional printmaking techniques from my studio in West Hampstead:

My favourite product is my new Soupe de Poisson tote bag, very sturdy and strong - beautiful and practical, it is big enough to hold all you need, perfect for a trip to the farmer's market! My Soupe de Poisson print has long been my best selling design and it goes so well on this distinctive bag:

I love wandering around food markets, taking photos and being inspired to draw, print and cook!

Cardabelle Design are coming to Homeworks on Sunday 10 December.

Sally Hampson

Weaver Sally Hampson is passionate about pure British wool and sheep breeds such as Shetland, Welsh Black Mountain and Jacob and has spent time with shepherds in the Cheviot Hills on the Scottish border:

This wild and rugged landscape is an important part of what inspires her weaving and this is evident in her blankets, wraps and scarves – Sally is always close to the colours and textures of natural materials and the simplest way of combining them together: 

The Connemara Banket or the Family Blanket as Sally calls it, was a wool blanket her parents brought over from Ireland when they came to settle in London. The blanket became a very special object, almost like another family member and it was well used for picnics and holidays.

Being the weaver in the family, Sally inherited this precious heirloom from her parents. She decided to replicate it, counting the threads of the faded check and softening the colours slightly to reflect the surrounding landscape along the Connemara shore line, with pools of water and light against the peaty, heathery earth:

These simple aesthetics continue to influence Sally’s artistic career, from working in the theatre on costumes and sets, to travelling to Egypt, Ethiopia and Kenya, to work with artisan weavers, potters and basket makers.

Sally Hampson will be back at Homeworks on both Sunday 3 & 10 December.

Lord and Taft

My name is Tracy Lord and I am a knitwear designer based in Muswell Hill, North London. My brand is called Lord and Taft , I’m a member of Muswell Hill Creatives and I also teach and write design books sometimes!

 I make machine  and hand knitted accessories for men, women and children including ties, scarves, gloves, hats and socks. They’re all made of lovely natural fibres like alpaca, silk and cotton:

Currently my favourite products are my silk and cotton blend ties:

Being observant and in the right frame of mind to notice things is the best place to be for inspiration – sometimes I’ll see an amazing bit of lichen, or a carving on a door, or maybe just the colours of leaves against the pavement – and that’s enough to spark an idea when I get home.

I believe you can do this absolutely anywhere, it’s a state of mind rather than a location. Having said that, travelling through New Mexico was pretty damn cool for inspiration!

Lord and Taft are at Homeworks on Sunday 3 December.

Urbanknit

My name is Dolapo and I started Urbanknit in 2006 with the aim of providing unique and colourful handmade fashion accessories that give you a sense of individuality. Trained as an architect, I love to design and make pieces that are unique and unusual in bold prints, bright colours and interesting textures:

I particularly love using traditional African prints and fabrics and combining them with fabrics like denim, corduroy, and cotton to make accessories that are durable yet interesting thus mixing colours and cultures where the old tradition meets the modern world:

My favourite product is the zipper pouch. They are small and colourful but also extremely useful. They are great for keeping together little bits and bobs in your bag, like coins, receipts, makeup etc. They are bright so you can find them easily!

I love wandering somewhat aimlessly in the city and one of my favourite stops is Tate Modern for some contemporary art inspiration.

Come and see Urbanknit at Homeworks on Sunday 10 December.

Longstaff Longstaff

London brand Longstaff Longstaff has brought together a beautiful collection of silk loungewear using fresh and original, hand painted prints. Designer and founder Sophie Barnard has an aesthetic that is freshly feminine and elegant and her brand has an artisan feel with a commitment to British craftsmanship and luxury finishes:

This is their first year at Homeworks and the print-led collection includes chemises, camisoles and shorts, pyjamas, tunics and a unique wrap around robe. The fabric is printed in Worcestershire and the garments are made in one of London’s premiere production studios:

Homeworks will be one of the first places to see new lines ready for Christmas – including men’s pocket squares and silk bound notebooks and silk sleep masks. These are made in India by a family firm who specialise in using offcuts – bringing sustainability to the front of our minds:

The hero of the loungewear collection is the kimono robe- it is effortlessly glamorous but we have fallen for our note book too. They look beautiful but feel beautiful too:

Sophie is hugely influenced by the decorative arts- particularly folk embroidery so the V&A is a fantastic resource and inspiration.

Come and see Sophie on Sunday 10 December.

Janina Schroeter

I’m Janina and I started illustrating maps three years ago. Everything started as a Christmas present for friends but quickly I realised that a lot of people like my illustrations and can relate to them. Most of the times I illustrate maps. So far London, Queens Park, Kensal Rise or my hometown in Germany. It’s always places I love and where I have a connection to:

My favourite Map is the Queens Park one. I think many people who are going to visit the Homework Christmas Bazaar can relate to it and spot some familiar places also there is a personalised version where you can highlight your own special places in Queens Park which are important to you:

The best inspiration for me is to stroll around London and discover new things. So many areas in London are so unique and you always see different places, things and people. Taking pictures or sketches of these things inspire me and help me to make my maps detailed and fun to look at.

Janina Schroeter will be at Homeworks in Sunday 3 December.