30 Jan 2017

Meet the Maker Monday - Introducing Steve Smith of Steve Smith Jewellery

At Hand Made Yorkshire, we want to introduced to you our artists, crafters and designer makers, their wonderful work and where you can find them.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Stephen Smith (That's his Sunday name by the way), designer and maker at Steve Smith Jewellery, based in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.Steve is also 1/4 of the founding members of Hand Made Yorkshire. 
Here's what Steve had to tell me:




How long have you been a designer maker?

6 years making dichroic glass jewellery but was an abstract artist before that.

What do you do/make?

I design and make Kiln fired glass jewellery and include some silver smithing in some of my pieces.



How did you become a designer/maker?

For a long, long time, I painted abstract art for open exhibitions and before that did quite a few animal portraits.
When I went to art exhibitions the three-dimensional art always caught my eyes. It’s different shapes and form and watching the light change and bounce in different directions.
 I think this is when it started.

 I loved the idea of making glass jewellery but never could because of the cost of a kiln. Until I met my wonderful muse and partner, Sue. It was her who gave me the confidence to start designing and making and put the idea of asking for a kiln on freecycle to get me started. Within 48 hours I was fully kitted out with a kiln and all the tools to get started. Although, the very first time I plugged the 40 year old kiln into a very long extension cable and set it going outside in the garden, just in case it burst into flames.

I used that kiln for nearly 2 years before buying a more reliable one that didn’t have hot spots.



How did you choose your business name and what’s the meaning behind it?

 That’s easy, my name and what I do!

Do you run your business full time or balance another job as well?

I balance my business with a 4 day a week PAYE job as a Chemist.


How do you make time for it all?

 I don’t. But I do get most things done, eventually. (too much TV make me a lazy man)

What’s your favourite thing about running your business?

 The freedom to create whatever I want.

Of all the thing’s you’ve ever made, which has been your favourite?

That always changes, on a weekly rate. I make new designs almost every week, to pick one would be very hard.


Describe your business in three words?

Quality, Colourful and affordable.

I have a love hate relationship with?

Sunday nights, as I have to go to my PAYE job in the morning.


I love?

Designing, making and coming up with new ideas that work!

I ignore?

Sometimes common sense!

What inspires you?

Shape, form and colour of the things I see around me.



Where can you be found

At the studio on Fridays & Saturdays, 288a High Street, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 8DW

Tel: 07736 680 190








Twitter: https://twitter.com/SteveSmithGlass


See Steve making one of his pendants here




Thanks Steve for sharing your beautiful, shiny, sparkly, objects of dazzling, delight with us and for the video too. 

23 Jan 2017

Meet the Maker Monday - Introducing Ruth Hawkes owner of Ruth's Arty Experience

At Hand Made Yorkshire, we want to introduced to you our artists, crafters and designer makers, their wonderful work and where you can find them.

This week it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to our latest contributor to MEET THE MAKER MONDAY,  Ruth Hawkes owner of Ruth's Arty Experience .




Ruth creates arty experiences for children..... But I'll let her tell you her story in her own words. 

This is what she told me...

How long have you been a designer maker? 

I've always loved making things, as a teenager I'd always be getting glue and paint on my bedroom carpet while making something instead of doing my homework! I took Ceramics A-level and fell in love with clay and all its opportunities. I trained and worked as an Occupational Therapist for over 12 years but my passion has always been for art and making things. I have made beaded jewellery, greetings cards, felt pieces, painted material wall hangings, ceramic sculptures and much more.

What do you do?

 My passion and experience has equipped me well for what I do now, which is providing exciting and innovative process art workshops for childcare settings and schools, as well as a weekly club for families at Romanby WI Hall on Monday mornings and Arty Parties by appointment. 

My aim is to bring true joy and exploration to art. I have had adults comment that they would love to 'experience' my art workshops and I am bringing my Arty Experience to an Expressive Retreat coming up at the beginning of April!




How did you choose your business name and what’s the meaning behind it? 

I think Ruth's Arty Experience describes well what I do, as I want to provide a safe place for children (and adults) to 'experience' creating and experimenting with art without focusing on an end product, which people can get hung up about and if it doesn't turn out how they were expecting they can become demoralised and dismiss the idea that they are creative.

Do you run your business full time or balance another job as well? 

I am a mum to two lively young children so it doesn't leave much time for my business at the moment. I have great support from my husband and father who take care of the kids when I do my workshops, parties and business admin. And when the children are in school I will have more time to expand my business.



How do you make time for it all?

 Lots of multi-tasking e.g. thinking up new art activities while lying next to my children getting them off to sleep, or doing business emails while having a conversation about Peppa Pig!

What’s your favourite thing about running your business?

 The freedom to take the business where I want, if I have ideas I don't have to check it with anybody else, I can just go for it!

Of all the things you’ve ever done, which has been your favourite?

 Bringing Ruth’s Arty Experience to the unique childcare setting Mini Explorers Nursery and taking the art workshop outside and using nature’s treasures to create art work e.g. paint brushes made with leaves, dripping fir cones and rolling conkers. It really encouraged my creativity to think of different art activities to complement the nursery’s outdoor ethos.





Describe your business in three words?

 Exploration, joy, art

I have a love hate relationship with?

 Computers! I couldn’t do without them but they do frustrate me!

What inspires you?

 Nature



If you'd like to book Ruth she can be found at the following places

Tel: 07855 395747
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruthsartyexperience


I think you'll agree, Ruth's passion shines through. Art is something everyone can do, but only children do it with wild abandon and without judgement.
How many kids have you heard say “Oh no…. I can’t draw/paint?” and how many adults have you heard saying the same?
Sadly today, kids education is more about academic subjects than creative ones. Art and craft is not a choice or a cop out, we are all born creators, hopefully the kids who are being allowed to express themselves this way will never be bored, never rely solely on technology for entertainment.

Thank you Ruth for letting me interview you. Keep that creative spirit going! 

Warm wishes and happy crafting!
Sue xox

15 Jan 2017

Meet the Maker Monday - Introducing Michelle Lavender from Careful Keepsakes

At Hand Made Yorkshire, we thought it was about time we introduced you to our designer makers, their wonderful hand crafted items and where you can find them.

This week i'd like to introduce you to our latest contributor to MEET THE MAKER MONDAY,  Michelle Lavender (I know.... fab name eh?)  owner of Careful Keepsakes.



Michelle has been a designer maker for nearly a year (trading since April 2016)

Here’s what she told me:

What do you do/make?
I make bunting and cushions mainly. I can transform old baby clothes into bunting and create designs from clothes on a cushion. I can also make bespoke bunting with or without personalisation. I have recently made a cushion from a man's shorts and shirt, so the clothing is not just limited to a baby's either. I also have more ideas but it's just taking time to implement them.



How did you become a designer/maker?

After the birth of my first child and when I realised I couldn't return to my previous job in HR as I would have had to go back full-time and I wanted part-time hours to fit around my son. I have always been creative and the ideas started rolling and I thought now is the best time to try my hand at being self-employed and see where it takes me.



How did you choose your business name and what’s the meaning behind it?
I thought of a lot of different names before settling on having 'keepsakes' in the title which reflects the nature of my work. 'Careful' then kind of fell into place as it's something I say a lot to my son and I thought 'Careful Keepsakes' had a nice ring to it.

Do you run your business full time or balance another job as well?
I am a 'stay at home mum' and fit my business around bringing up my son.


How do you make time for it all?
I have a set day to work on a Wednesday when my son goes to his grandparents. Then I work when he is napping or on an evening or weekend. I also write lots of lists!


What’s your favourite thing about running your business?
I enjoy the freedom of choosing my own hours/time off etc and love it when a finished product comes together and I can show it off. I also enjoy selling at craft fairs.

Of all the things you’ve ever made, which has been your favourite?
It would probably be the first baby keepsake bunting I ever made out of my son's clothes, personalised with the word 'play room' which is now displayed in there. For a customer, it would probably be 'Henry' personalised blue gingham bunting which was sent all the way to America.


Describe your business in 3 words
Professional, bespoke, creative

I love?

My family and the support they give me.

I  have a love hate relationship with?
Social media. I love taking photos of my work and posting them but it does take up so much time. Sometimes I can get sucked into it too much and lose hours of my day!

What inspires you? 

Seeing the lovely work of other makers

You can find Michelle in the following places.

Tel: 07903255112

Blog: coming soon!

Thank you so much Michelle for showing us your wonderful hand crafted work and being one of the first contributors to Meet the Maker Monday.

What a great idea to turn those memorable little outfits once so loved, into memorable keepsakes. Something to treasure forever.

I'd also like to thank you for being part of the collective and being active on the group page. 

Warm wishes and happy crafting
Sue xox


REMEMBER: Sharing is caring. Please help support our Designer Makers by sharing and/or commenting on this post - Thank you xox

9 Jan 2017

Meet The Maker Monday - Introducing Harriet Ward from The Sewing Ward

At Hand Made Yorkshire, we thought it was about time we introduced you to our designer makers, their wonderful hand crafted items and where you can find them.

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to our first contributor to MEET THE MAKER MONDAY,  Harriet Ward owner of The Sewing Ward based in Scruton, Northallerton, North Yorkshire 




Harriet has been a designer maker for 11 years in the sewing industry, 3 years ish self employed

Here’s what she told me:


What do you do/make?
Clothing alterations, sew to order, I teach sewing and run workshops and work on my own children’s wear brand Betty&Bob (this part is very much at the beginning after introducing in October)


How did you become a designer/maker?

 Its a way of life, went to uni studied fashion, worked in sewing industry in various jobs went back to uni part time to graduate with a teaching degree, had children and now use all my qualifications and life experience to run my unique sewing business

How did you choose your business name and what’s the meaning behind it?

Last name Ward, also a ward on a hospital where you need help so a play on words The Sewing Ward a place for all your sewing needs. (hope ive explained this so you understand it)



Do you run your business full time or balance another job as well?

Balance with children once youngest is at school in September ill be 9-3.30 and occasional evenings/weekends



How do you make time for it all?

Cups of tea, chocolate, tears, laughter and never do my hair! Lol


What’s your favourite thing about running your business?

 I'm free to be me!

Of all the things you’ve ever made, which has been your favourite?

 I couldn’t possible pin it down to one creative thing. I have made 2 beautiful children I’m pretty proud of.



I have a love hate relationship with?

 Technology

I love?
 Vintage, retro, sewing, crafting, uniqueness, creativeness, absolutely everything inspires me and I see things very differently to a lot of people.

What inspires you? 
Everything




You can find Harriet in the following places.

and generally running round like a mad woman aspiring to be a super woman!

Tel: 07846990742


Facebook: The Sewing Ward

Thank you so much Harriet for showing us your wonderful hand crafted items and being the first contributor to Meet the Maker Monday. Your work is certainly unique and inspiring. 

Warm wishes and happy crafting
Sue xox

REMEMBER: Sharing is caring. Please help support our Designer Makers by sharing and/or commenting on this post - Thank you xox