Open Studios - Jan Bennett

Artist and maker Jan Bennett is having an OPEN STUDIO at 17, Norfolk Road, Littlehampton on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th November from 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

View paintings, craft work & painted furniture all made by Jan with many items for sale.

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Maker of the Week - love loli

Lauren Tourle lives and works in Worthing on the south coast where she produces beautiful textile corsages, soft felted cushions and limited edition stripey scarves. She trades as loveloli.



One favourite living craft maker (and why?)
So many, but within my field…I love the work of Sandra Backlund. She has taken hand knitting into another dimension and transformed it into the most amazing sculptural forms that still have a wearability factor. Her work over the last few years has inspired so many other designers and graduates that the high street is now overflowing with her signature textural knits!

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased? or What one product/item do you really covet? (and why?)
Not really purchased, but a gift -a fabulous fish bone Tatty Devine necklace! I have also recently been given a handmade charm necklace dripping with everything from buttons, beads and found items to pieces of Lego! Brilliant! Secret covetable item, however, would have to be the fragile and enchanting Chronicles of Narnia cut book sculpture by Su Blackwell. Unashamedly expensive but oh so beautiful!!



At age 15 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
Wow, at 15? I didn’t have any! –this was the Eighties! The Cure, Smiths, Cocteau Twins, even Madonna! A lot of Goth’y stuff, a bit of Psychobilly (I had an awful flat-top!) and a later attempt of being more grown up? (shoulder pads and perm!) I’m quite surprised that I actually got in to College. Seriously though, my Grandmother was definitely a creative influence and I have fond memories of the old Singer sewing machine and tins of lovely old buttons! I realise now why I have such an extensive collection of vintage haberdashery!

Last best read (book).
I read so many trend/forecasting fashion and textile magazines that a good old book is a welcome treat! To be honest I read almost anything at night in order to sleep- my mind is a constant whirl of ideas and sleep doesn’t come easy. I have always had a notebook by my bedside to empty my ideas/thoughts but still need to read to force my eyes shut! The Time Travellers Wife was a beautiful read but sadly bombed as a film! The Celestine Prophecy I have read countless times and think everyone would view life differently after reading this.



Where and what is your studio? Do you work alone? In silence, radio?
I have a studio built on to the back of my house that overlooks my garden. Peaceful, accessible but just far enough away to escape from.



What is your favourite (art) website (and why)?
I am a compulsive web surfer and manage to stumble across vast amounts of random web/blogs full of inspiring stuff. Currently loving ‘knit kicks’ – a blog about contemporary fashion knits. A bit of one stop shop for your inspiration needs!

Surprising activity/hobby?
I love anything art, design, fashion and interior related. So my down time usually involves being creative in some form! Having 3 boys I find some weekends involve slightly more active pursuits such as Go-karting and Skating (I’m rubbish at both!)

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
Never!



What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Synchronicity! It just ‘feels right’.

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Of course. It’s brilliant therapy and allows people to express their individuality. Without the natural creative force within us all - the world would be a very dull place.



What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
Ugg boots!

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Andy Lovell at Castor & Pollux

Andy has featured as an Artist of the week here on Made before, and has been a regular at the Brighton Art Fair.
The exhibition of prints at Castor & Pollux is already on the wall and includes beautifully stormy two West piers.

Price start at £110.

The drinks party with Andy is on Friday 13th 5- 8 pm so please come along, or visit any day between 10 and 5.
http://www.castorandpollux.co.uk/
http://madeuk.blogspot.com/2008/08/artist-of-week-andy-lovell.html

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The C Word

Is Craft getting sexy? Probably not quite yet but hat's off to Craft Scotland for trying to break out of the usual 'craft ghettos' and introducing Cinema adverting to reach new audiences and new buyers to the joys of buying something unique, handmade and beautifully designed.

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Something New To Send.....

In these days of email and text, and even with the odd postal strike it is still a pleasure to receive a card .... and some super new cards have just been created from images by the printmaker Robert Tavener. The images on the cards are taken from rare illustrations and lithographs by Tavener. The new cards include some beautiful Sussex and Kent landscapes, some with boats & nets and then four winter/Christmas scenes.

They are available from emma mason British Prints either in their gallery in Eastbourne, or on line at www.emmamason.co.uk Tel. 01323 727545 sales@emmamason.co.uk

They are also availabe to buy at Pen to Paper in Brighton or Lewes and also Kemp Town Books in Brighton.

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CARDIGAN - One Day Pop Up Shop - SUNDAY

Our friends at Cardigan have got a one day only pop-up shop in Paint Pots by Brighton Station this Sunday They'll have a large selection of fashion accessories, cushions, wraps, cards and lots of other lovely Cardigan products.
Just look out for the dashing knitted seagulls in the window!

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Maker of the Week - Sarah Elwick

Sarah Elwick graduated from Winchester School of Art in 2003 with a First class honours degree in Textile design. She then studied for an MA in Fashion Menswear specialising in knitwear at the Royal College of Art, London in 2005. Sarah now lives and works in Brighton where she runs her own knitwear business, which she combines with part-time lecturing in Textile Design.


One favourite living craft maker (and why?)
At the moment it's a jeweller called Sally Collins who I met at The Great Northern Craft Fair in Manchester where we were both exhibiting. She makes the most exquisite handcrafted jewellery using really unusual combinations of different metals, found fabrics, and extremely fine crochet that she does on a 0.4mm crochet hook. I find the attention to detail, and use of handcrafting techniques in her work totally inspiring.

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased?
A Sally Collins beautiful brooch! Although I didn't actually have to buy it as it was in exchange for some of my knitwear. The joys of craft exchanges!

At age 15 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
At age 15 I was really into the grunge look, inspired by Nirvana et al. The look consisted of second hand mens moth-eaten cardi's, stripey leggings or tights, and the obligatory Doc Martin boots, with ribbons instead of laces all year round. I don't think I wore anything else on my feet for about two years. I remember my granny being a bit surprised in the summer!



Last best read (book)?
Hmmm, I don't read that much, as I'm more of a doer. When I do it's normally some kind of 'how to' craft manual. I think it may well have been 'The Art of Macrame' which I'm still in the process of mastering.

Where and what is your studio? Do you work alone? In silence, radio?
I currently work from home, in an attic room. Work is always accompanied by music, either on the radio, or my rather eclectic collection of old records. Current faves are The Carpenters, and Paula Abdul.

What is your favourite (art) website (and why)?
I regularly look at a blog called Hula Seventy belonging to a photographer called Andrea Jenkins, based in Portland, U.S.A. I'm not quite sure how I originally stumbled across her blog, but over and above all the other art blogs I have looked at, I have found myself drawn back to hers time and time again. She has a knack for capturing the extraordinary in the ordinary, and has a great eye for spotting unusual colour and pattern combinations.

Surprising activity/hobby?
I don't know if it's surprising, but I love to dance. Tap, swing, jive, samba, I love it all. I must admit to flitting between different classes though, as I still can't decide on my over-riding favourite.


Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
I think I have a reasonably good work/life balance. I combine my own designing and making with teaching textiles at City College Brighton and Hove. I really enjoy doing the combination of the two, and think teaching helps to prevent you becoming stale as a designer, as it keeps you on your toes. However, I think that slightly obsessive tendencies go with the territory of being a designer. You never totally switch off from what you do, as you're always on the look out for new ideas and inspiration. I have recently joined a choir, which I absolutely love. It's one of the only times I switch off from my work completely, that and swimming.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Vocation

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Of course. Human beings have an innate drive to create, and to communicate ideas with each other. If you find a medium you feel an affinity with, and can really express yourself through, that's a real gift.


What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
I don't really want to get personal about any other artists, or craftspeople, but as for design, there's just one word: Crocs.

Can you think of any 'stories' which might be of interest.eg have you travelled to research your ideas eg what did you do before you started your art career?
I did my research for my current knitwear collection at Winchester School of Art knitting reference library: www.wsa.soton.ac.uk. It's an amazing and inspiring resource of knitting patterns, books and artefacts from 1900's onwards, with private collections donated from Monste Stanley, Richard Rutt, and Jane Waller. I did specific research into Wartime and naval patterns to inform my accessory shapes.I could spend days there.

Sarah will be exhibiting and selling her work at MADE09 in November.

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