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. 

Maker’s Choice – Julia Landes

I combine my drawings with hand built ceramic platters, cups and other useful household objects:

My background is originally in printed textiles and when you see my style of work you can see that colour, pattern, line; they are all important to me and now I combine them with my ceramic pieces.

I think my favourite piece is a platter with one of my illustrations of the top of Primrose Hill in the winter:

I am constantly inspired by London, that could be the parks, buildings, people, dogs and their owners or our great landmarks.


I think my absolute favourite London spots would be the Ladies Pond on Hampstead Heath or the top of Primrose Hill.

Julia Landes will be at our second Homeworks Christmas Bazaar on Sunday 9 December.

Maker’s Choice – Theresaceramica

My name is Theresa Edwards, I trained in fine art painting followed by a post diploma in ceramics, then spent many years working in the animation industry.

When computers took over from arty types like me, I left and picked up my love of working in ceramics again.

I’m coming to Homeworks on Sunday 9 December with a selection of my hand built plates and other work.

I’m very fortunate to have a studio and kiln in my garden where I make hand built earthenware pieces, some suitable for domestic use and others more ‘ornamental’.

I love the decorating process – using hand cut paper stencils, wax resists, slips and underglaze colours – all before the first firing.

A second clear glaze firing ensures the colours are safe for domestic use.

Hard to say where I find inspiration – my imagination just flows along – I hardly ever sketch or plan a design, they just take shape on the damp clay.

I suppose nature plays a large part. I’m fortunate to be able to spend time in the country and by the sea in Cornwall.

Fantasy and colour seem very important to me! Increasingly so, as shown in the bowl I’m holding in the photograph, a very recent work which I’m very pleased with!

Come and meet Theresa at Homeworks on Sunday 9 December.

Maker’s Choice – Consuelo Radclyffe

Brazilian born, Consuelo Radclyffe studied ceramics at Westminster University and graduated in 2008.

She makes clay sculptures and objects and her inspirations include childhood memories, cartoons characters and caricatures. Her favourite products are cats and plates. They are quirky and interesting, some functional and others decorative.

She will be back at Homeworks on Sunday 2 December selling a variety of objects – bowls and plates with painted faces, vases and birds.

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.

Abalon

My name is Ana Bridgewater, and Abalon is my alias as an artist. Over the years I have lived, worked and exhibited in the US, UK and Spain. My London studio is my laboratory and my factory.

It’s where I design and experiment, and hand-make my pieces one-by-one. It’s hard work, but I love what I do. I have been working with porcelain for over a decade – it’s an amazing material that comes direct from earth. I love it for its hardiness, translucence, silk texture and it’s versatility as a material:

Influenced by nature and finished with gold, my candles are handmade, using a strong composite of porcelain. When burning, the porcelain is translucent, and the light produced is warm and delicate. When the wax has burned away, the porcelain cup can be used again and reimagined.

I go for inspiration to Kew Gardens, The Natural History Museum, The V&A, The RA, photography exhibitions, street art exhibitions, new media exhibitions. I also love long walks with my dog and my husband and then being in my studio. All inspiration comes together on my dreams.

Abalon will be at Homeworks on Sunday 10 December.

Save the Dates!

Here’s all the information for our two Christmas Bazaars for 2017. We’ll start sharing work from our fabulous designers and makers soon, you can see who’s coming by checking the sidebar for each date. Meanwhile here is everything you need to start planning your visit:

Meet the Maker - Vanessa Cohen Handmade Ceramics

I produce a range of handmade white earthenware bowls, platters and cups. I have a Fine Art Degree from The University of Cape Town where I majored in Sculpture.

My degree included a small amount of ceramics but I always had the desire to further my knowledge of the making of ceramic tableware as I very rarely found tableware that I liked.

My love of beautiful handmade things inspired me to take extra classes at Kensington and Chelsea College and I started my business in 2008. All my ceramics are made by hand in my studio which is based in NW10, just off Scrubs Lane.

I produce a delicate range of handmade tableware which very subtly explores and expresses the distorting qualities of thin clay:

An element of chance is embraced as I allow my bowls to uniformly distort into organic egg-like shapes in the kiln. People are drawn to my work and feel compelled to hold it because each piece is imbued with a uniquely ‘imperfect’ and tactile quality.

Vanessa will be at Homeworks on Sunday 4 December.

Jacqui Ramrayka

Homeworks favourite and long time supporter Jacqui Ramrayka is back again this year on Sunday 6th December.

Jacqui Makes a range of hand built and thrown ceramic vessels, making one-offs and working in series, ensuring no two pieces are ever the same. Beautiful pieces to be cherished forever:

Sunday 7 December - Our first sale preview

Less than a week to go until our first Christmas Bazaar next Sunday and here’s our first sale preview. We work hard to bring you a carefully curated mix of makers so there’s something for everyone. This Christmas we have a mix of new faces and returning Homeworks regulars:

Queens Park local Sonia Shakerley returns to Homeworks with her distinctive hand crafted jewellery. She makes bespoke pieces for private clients as well as earrings, necklaces and rings:

Homeworks very own Lou Rota will be selling her new collection Lou Rota London. They’ll be lots of new products including samples and seconds so come early to bag a bargain:

Simone Selaib Salandini returns with her intricate silver hand made jewellery:

Alpaca Pie are back with childrenswear and accessories made with love in Peru,

but with a classic British quirkiness:

Ruth Hannett and Sharon Chin are Bea Bags - they design and make all their bags and accessories:

Homeworks favourite Celia Worster will be back with her gorgeous aromatherapy oils and creams.

(If you ask her nicely she might give you a head and neck massage, a perfect way to ease

the stress of festive planning):

Knitwear designer Gilly B creates hats, gloves and scarves using only the finest natural yarns

and joins us for the first time this year:

Lighting designer Charlotte Packe is back with her stunning lighting range:

Dorothy Stiven  sources beautiful one off vintage finds in Scotland and France.

Come early to buy something unique:

Moomu returns with gifts and accessories:

Out of the Dark recycle, restore and repurpose furniture as a means to train, educate and employ young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The results speak for themselves and Out of the Dark are selling their beautiful restored furniture next Sunday:

Homeworks regular Sasha Kamen will be back with her handmade fine jewellery:

Christa Davis is back with her sell-out reconditioned cashmere knits and vintage fabric accessories:

Homeworks very own Samantha Frankel Ceramics is back for one day only with hand made ceramics and accessories:

Scamp will be back with their usual mix of bright and bold screen printed baby wear (the London bus is a real favourite) plus new wooden laser cut products and some festive fancies:

Have you ever wished your Ikea bag was a bit more special? Twisted Twee will be selling a limited edition range of these rather lovely Vintage Ikea Bags. That’s more like it:

Newcomer Helene Turbe designs and makes elegant, delicate and timeless jewellery with an ethnic vibe:

Home address will be at Homeworks for the first time on Sunday and founder Celine believes beautiful pieces for your home don’t have to be expensive, as long as they have a story to tell:

There we have it - lots of good reasons to tempt you away from Oxford Street and online shops.

Shop independent and buy local this Christmas.

See you on Sunday!

Mother’s Day Market - Final Preview

Morning! Only two more days to go, so here is our last round up of the gorgeous stuff our designers and makers will be selling at The Mother’s Day Market this Sunday. Not all of our designers have websites and photos to showcase here, so be sure to come along to see rugs, lampshades and cushions from Lisa Jones and sample some oils and treatments from aromatherapist Tabitha Robertson.

The perfect Mother's Day present, Lou Rota will have her porcelain pens on hand for putting personalised inscriptions on the base of her Ditsy Floral Dot & Bug Jugs at no extra charge.  Get Lou to do it for you, or let the kids write their own message:

 

Sparrowkids are back with a selection of their inspiring educational craft kits for both children and adults alike:

Homespun & Vintage return with their usual eclectic mix of contemporary handmade and vintage accessories for your home, including delicate bone china, porcelain ceramics & jewellery, paper cut map prints, family tree photo frames, vintage fabric cushions and more:

Clutterclutch specialise in beautifully simple leather clutch bags which are practical for daily use and stylish enough to take out at night:

Homeworks regular Sonia Shakerley returns with her trademark delicate hand made jewellery using natural gems and stones:

Happy Mother’s Day. x