Morningside Makers Market...This Saturday!

I can't believe it's been nearly a month since the last Morningside Makers Market, but then I guess February is a short month (well this is what I'll be telling myself as the year shoots by)! Anyway this Satuday 5th March 2011 I hope to see some of your lovely faces in Morningside, Edinburgh for another brilliant Makers Market featuring GraceInk Design.

Selvedge Spring Fair

GraceInk will be taking part in this years Selvedge Spring Fair in London this April in association with the textiles magazine. The webpage for the event has just gone live so you can see who else will be exhibiting alongside me. Either click on the image above or if that doesn't work click just here. Papa Stour will also be there, where I already sell some of my work alongside a whole host of other artisans and crafters. Check back soon as I'll be blogging more about this event nearer the time!

First Birthday Blogging

I attempted to be all on the ball and do a blog posting on its first official birthday, well anyway that was yesterday and sadly yesterday has come and gone, so here is me marking it on its first birthday plus one. Possibly a few too many candles on the cake but doesn't it look delicious! (sadly I can't take credit, this was baked by a friend's boyfriend for her birthday).

And not to disappoint with a pointless blog about its first birthday, a little update about this weekends activities. As mentioned in the previous update, I attended the Morningside Makers Market this weekend and had a fabulous time selling my wares. I managed to forget to take my camera to take some snaps of the days goings on, but did manage to sell quite a few bits and pieces to the lovely people of Morningside, met some great people and I'm now really looking forward to the next one! Check out Block Art and Clara Smith Jewellery...my lovely neighbours at the event and some lovely hand-made gifts into the bargain.

Morningside Makers Market...This Saturday!

Just to let anyone Edinburgh based I will be taking part in the first Morningside Makers Market of 2011 this Saturday. The first fair of the year for me and I'm quite excited to get back out there, meet new people and hopefully sell one or two products. I'm down to do March as well so if you don't read this before Saturday 5th February then you haven't missed out on GraceInk in Edinburgh just yet!

New Year, New Work

It's a new year full of potential and opportunities, and a month that started slowly and unwillingly in a creative sense has certainly kicked off now. Having spent the first couple of weeks of the year trying to get myself back on track and deciding what the new year had planned for me, the second couple of weeks have held visits and presentations in Schools across North Lanarkshire in preparation for this years Creative Residency (check out previous posting here), my work has been picked up by a gallery in Wales called the Milkwood Gallery and should soon be gracing its shelves (no pun intended). I am looking into a series of fairs this year including more local venues (Edinburgh) and maybe even one down in London in the lead up to Easter. Be sure to check back for more information on those nearer the time. Life is starting to pick abit of speed again...which is always a relief!

Also I'm going to point you in the direction of a blog I enjoy following and a bit of a campaign...Johanna Basford is a very talented illustrator and has launched her very own 'Christmas Cup Campaign' to get her designs on a Starbucks cup this Christmas 2011. Check out her lovely work just here.

ukhandmade blogpost

Just wanted to highlight a blog posting on ukhandmade written by Larissa Joice. (Check out her photography website, giggleicious, for beautiful family portraiture). The post highlights some of the great people and crafts on show and for sale at Made by Hand this year. I also had to include this photo above (by Larissa) as I just thought it was so whimsical.

Made by Hand, Wales

Last weekend the Made by Hand Fair took place at the idyllic location of Tradegar House near Newport in Wales, where I had a lovely stand alongside around 140 crafts people based all over the country. I had travelled from Scotland (along with a couple of other stands), as well as Devon, London, Shropshire, Manchester etc etc! The work on display was of such a high quality I couldn't resist coming away with a few goodies myself, as well as selling my work to customers who had travelled in from Bristol, Birmingham and Wales to experience the first Made by Hand Fair to be held at this location. Thanks so much for making the journey if you made it...the weather certainly didn't make it easy! The location was beautiful (see the picture below) and I had a great time chatting to fellow crafters and creative types exhibiting and visiting the event. I had a lot of my smaller pieces, popular purchases included the gift tags, birdcage tea-towels and butterfly canvas bags which made perfect presents for friends and family (but more often than not for yourself)!

Some other exhibitors you should go and check out if you have a chance include;

peris&corr (screen-printers based in Wales)

studioat37 (ceramists based in Glasgow, whose work I had seen at the Gin Palace Event back in April...check my blog from then)

Dennis Farrell Ceramics (I couldn't resist one of his sea inspired bowls)
Helaina Sharpley (The wire pieces were soooo clever)

Ecoh (stunning paper manipulation)

Jennifer Collier (I've admired the paper artworks for many years now)

Ruth Green (whimsical screen-printed creatures, flora and fauna)

I could include everyone in this list for something as it was an amazing high standard of work on offer so if you get the chance then check out the link here for a comprehensive list of everyone that took part this year.