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Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

I’m Electric You’re Electric

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This week Manchester Craft and Design Centre opened a new exhibition of neon light installations by artist Richard William Wheater. The Craft and Design Centre is a fantastic local venue for artists to showcase their work, and this latest exhibition is sure to bring new customers to the centre.

Richard works in print, performance and installation and has been creating since backpacking in Europe as a teenager, where he was inspired by the sights. Now, Richard gets inspiration from speaking to people and looking out for interesting sights on his commute to and from work.

Gaining enjoyment from sharing his work with others and hoping it will provide them with pleasure, the only thing he dislikes it that he can no longer see his pieces once they’re sold! Richard is lucky enough to have his ideal workspace – a bit, minimal white space just outside Wakefield in Yorkshire, UK, and works mostly to commission – though his artist books are available through Amazon.

“Not many artists work in neon, even less are developing it in a hands-on sense,” says Richard. “I benefit from being one of only a few artists that develop and make neon. Often it’s the idea that I promote, usually through a media story or in on-line forums and what’s on guides.”

“My concern [with the UK art scene] lies with the lack of funding for material-based arts courses in UK colleges and universities. It’s here where we should be inviting students to explore the creative possibilities of such materials, though apart from Neon Workshops, there is nowhere in Britain where one can even learn about or play with neon.”

“It’s crucial to have the support of exhibiting in spaces that not only have resources to help promote ones work but the ability to financially support an exhibitor to make and install new work. Without this support, less new inspired work is made, and therefore less chance for general public to become inspired by what they might see.”

I’m Electric You’re Electric runs at the Manchester Craft and Design Centre from February 12 to April 30. Visit www.craftanddesign.com for full details.

Designers Eclectic

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In this post I am going to profile Designers Eclectic (DE), a Manchester, UK based collective of jewelry designer-makers. DE is based in the Manchester Craft and Design Centre – see my previous profile of the Centre.

DE was launched in October 2009 by Jane Dziesiwski, Stephanie Brown, Sue Barry, Helen Pickering Pick, Michelle Appleton and Carly Townsend. The founding designers met while completing a Foundation Degree in Jewellery and Applied Arts in Manchester. The course was a turning point in the designers’ lives and some were turning their backs on successful careers to study. What the designers had in common was passion for their work and the drive to succeed in a new field making unique jewelry and accessories. DE was borne out of this passion and upon graduating the students decided to form the collective to support each other moving forward.

DE’s aim is to design and produce unique handmade jewellery and accessories. The six DE designers produce very varied work, even when working to identical briefs, which means that the collective offers a wide range of work catering for a variety of tastes and budgets. The collective was extremely brave in deciding to launch a new business during one of the worst recessions in history! In order to keep overheads low, DE looked to MCAD for studio space. As the Centre offers affordable rents and great support services, it was an obvious choice. In addition, DE was able to secure both studio and retail space, meaning that the designers can make the jewelry on-site, often while customers watch.

“Being part of the community within Manchester Craft & Design Centre has been a fantastic experience. The other tenants have been really welcoming, and now I actually look forward to going to work”, says Stephanie Brown.

“We get lots of support from the office too”, adds Jane Dziesiwski. “The industry is surprisingly small and Kate Day, MCAD Director, always makes sure that we know about up-and-coming opportunities and events”

DE finds that working in a collective offers a number of benefits, including reduced overheads and getting inspiration from each other. The responsibility of staffing the studio is also shared, meaning that messy processes such as etching and using resin can be done off the premises and the more customer-friendly silversmithing and textiles work can be carried out within MCAD.

The only downside to the business is lack of time, a sentiment I am sure many other designer-makers would echo. The designers are all extremely busy individuals and are each heavily active in regional groups and networks, including MCAD, Manchester Jewellers’ Network and the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair. However, the collective has found rewarding careers turning a passion into a profitable business and I for one am envious.

If you like what you see, please visit DE’s Facebook Page and Twitter stream.

Product Showcase: Starry Night

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Here is a fact that almost everyone who knows me will tell you – I love stars. I’ve always been fascinated by them, both the actual stars in the night sky and anything with their shape on it. I’m so into stars that I even have 12 of them tattooed in various places on my body! This week, I’ve rounded up some fabulous star-themed handmade goodies for your enjoyment.

The inspiration for the earrings up top started with the finish, which Caroline, the artist, discovered by accident one day while working with a piece of silver. She realised that just by using a steel file, she could create a wonderful shimmer effect on the surface of the silver. Caroline has always loved star shapes in jewellery – “I feel the shape is simple, yet fun and also timeless…so what would be better than a star that gently shimmers in the light. ”

I love this print by Deb of Champignons, it reminds me of looking up at the night sky and feeling very small indeed. Deb was inspired by the juxtaposition of big things like cosmic hares and stars and tiny things we treasure and keep safe. She says, “I’ve always liked the idea of tiny world systems, there’s nothing to say that worlds have to be giant, either, so there might be tiny worlds all over the place, with stars and hares and even smaller worlds within them.”

How adorable is this zombie/stars colourful print? “The idea behind the little zombie lovers is to share some love!” says designer Rhi, who intends the expression of the zombie about to recieve the heart to depict warmth, shyness and surprise. Rhi paints these designs with the hope that someone can give the painting to another, as a gift that says ‘I love you’ in an alternative way.

Nautical stars like the ones in this cushion cover remind me of my husband, who has one tattooed on his forearm. Ruth was inspired by her daughter, who loves skulls and pirates – she also thought the red and black stripes were very piratey! “I just love being creative with fabric, it is a bit of an obsession!! I am always looking out for beautiful, luxurious and quirky fabrics.”

Product Showcase: Men Men Men

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My wedding anniversary is coming up, which happens to be less than two weeks before my husband’s birthday. Which happens to be three weeks before my dad’s birthday. And don’t even get me started on Christmas…

When it comes to gift buying for the men in my life, I often draw a blank, especially when it comes to traditional presents like books, CDs, etc. The fact is, if they want something like this, they’ve often already bought it! This predicament has inspired my latest product showcase of unique and fabulous gifts for the men in your lives — and mine!

The quirky little headphone case from SheDraws is ideal for a music-lover wanting to avoid tangles. Its retro design combined with practicality makes it a perfect gift for my very own husband – so much so that I recently bought him one!

Earthworks Journals‘ notebooks are designed to be robust enough to throw in a bag or rucksack and take on travels without it getting damaged or the pages falling out. The books are made from leather, paper and strong waxed cord. Earthworks Journals use a lot of Celtic designs in their work, which comes from their love of British heritage. The designs are hand tooled rather than machine embossed as this gives a much deeper impression in the leather which will never wear off.

I adore this owl Tshirt from bonbiforest – the owl is speaking the alphabet! The owl is based on a drawing that Lee of bonbiforest made, pondering on the phrase ‘Wise Old Owl’. Lee thought that since he is so wise, he must surely know his alphabet!

Steampunk is so popular right now and these cuff-links will have even the most casual guy dying to wear a suit! Jenny of tinyminds has been taking watches apart since she was small, much to the annoyance of her parents who owned some of them! Jenny finds watches beautiful and feels that the intricate mechanisms and tiny jewels cry out to be pried from their cases and shown to the world.

I hope that these gift ideas have inspired you. I’d love to hear your suggestions for guys’ gifts – post them here!

Dealing with Infringement: Part Two

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Last week I talked with Eloise of HidenSeek who found herself in the unfortunate position of having one of her designs copied by a large retailer. My post certainly captured your interest, and I found that a lot of you are concerned about finding yourselves in the same situation as Eloise, Gemma Correll and Laura of SheDraws. This week I share some of Eloise’s tips for handling suspected infringement.

1. Protect your work from direct duplication

If possible, watermark photos and images in your online shops. While this may not completely deter copyright infringement, it means that any images taken directly from your shops will be easily identified as yours. “I started putting a watermark on the images in my shop very early as a first step,” says Eloise. “I understood back then too that it is pretty impossible to protect your work from copying. The watermark for me is just a sign to big companies that you are willing to protect your intellectual property and of course they become unable to use the ‘I didn’t know it was copyrighted’ defence.”

2. Gather support from other artisans

As I learned from your comments last week, infringement is a huge worry for a lot of indie designers. There are numerous communities and even a Facebook group dedicated to identifying and stopping copyright theft. “The support that was offered to me so freely and the abundant kindness shown by thousands of people back then, still fills me with the warmest emotions whenever I think about it. I learned that people are willing to put themselves on the line for a perfect stranger that has been wronged and that when we the little people band together we make an unstoppable force.”

3. If you suspect infringement, contact the individual or company immediately

“When you are dealing with individuals…let them know of the problem and seek for a calm and quick solution, they will probably want to avoid any stress and trouble, just as much as you. If they show great resistance or indifference to your plea, you could treat them as a company. Companies will seldom reply to your personal plea. You should still immediately let them know of the problem and be very diplomatic about it, so no rough accusations, just ask for an amicable solution.”

4. Don’t back down…but keep your cool

If calm communication doesn’t work, don’t feel defeated. “Feel free to make your problem public and find any way to apply pressure to them. You could send them a proper bill for your services that they so conveniently appropriated or you could take them to a small claims court (that’s what it’s called in the UK at least and you don’t need a solicitor for the procedure). I wouldn’t suggest you go for a proper court case unless you are rich or can find a no-win no-fee lawyer. Even then, expect an excruciating few months, legal proceedings are a very tiring and dirty business.”

5. Don’t let fear of infringement ruin your passion

Particularly when you’re feeling powerless, it’s easy to think ‘It’s not worth it’ and call it a day with crafting – but don’t! “All in all, you can’t do much to protect your work, other than lock it in a box and never open it again. Since you are going to show your art to the world, might as well go all the way! The more your art is seen, the easier it will be to defend yourself if the unfortunate happens. The fact that everyone could see I had sold the specific artwork on Etsy months before Paperchase produced their own copy, made it very clear in everyone’s eyes that I was the one being copied.”

Have you got questions or simply want to share your experience? Post in the comments section below!