The Gathering of the Illuminated!

My mate Dave is an LED expert with a business called LED Fantastic. For the last couple of years his name (LED Dave as I call him) has come up SO often in conversation when I chat to makers about various designs that they would like to illuminate, and I have referred many people over to him for his expertise with great results. Above and below you can see Helen Musselwhites stunning 'Magic Cupboard' and below that, you can see Priscilla Jones's quirky 'Illuminated Teapot'.

LED's are great because they offer a low energy and low risk way of lighting things up!

Now the great thing is that Dave also runs the Hebden Bridge Hostel

which is an ideal place to stay and host a workshop.

We thought it would be great to get everyone together, artists and lighting designers for a weekend at the hostel to learn more about these wonderful 'Light Emitting Diodes' and how we can use them in our work. It's also a great chance to hook up and share ideas and enjoy a lovely relaxing weekend in Hebden Bridge at the same time. 20th- 22nd January 2012.

Here is a link to the flyer with all the information about the weekend and it would be really wonderful if you could make it!

Showtime!

I'm having a quiet sofa day today (with cats and tea) after a fast paced few days of doing the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester. It's been a great show. Always enjoyable to meet many appreciative customers and mix with other makers. My seed pods went down a treat which was very pleasing. It was nice to have something on my stand that wasn't a lamp. I think it was a first!

There was a really fantastic selection of work this year. Best yet I reckon. I didn't get much time off my stand to take it all in, or take any pictures as it was so busy, so I have just been perusing websites from the show exhibitor list to get a closer look and share a few things which I liked . GNCCF have a lovely photo album on facebook from the preview with some great pictures.

I loved Jennifer Colliers paper typewriter. She had also made a camera and a telephone and some lovely lampshades.

Rachel Eardley (sister of Ken, have his lamp bases at Radiance) makes jewellery by cutting the pictures from old coins. Such a clever idea. I love her gorgeous illustrative website.

I've been an admirer of Ruth Moilliets botanical metalwork for some time. It was nice to see it, and her (and her Mum) in real life.

Cathy Miles was there with her wirework. This is the robin I bought for my Mum a few years back. So sweet.

Sally Pawsons stand (and Sally herself) was bright and cheery and I bought a lovely pair of her earrings.

I think Suet Yi's ceramics was my favourite. I was too slow though. She had sold most of it by the time I got there!

This really barely scratches the surface. There was so much beauty and innovation.

Thanks to Matt who helped me Thursday night and Eleanor from Leeds Uni 3D Design course who helped me out for the day on Friday. Without her I wouldn't have been able to have a meeting with my editor so she could show me some possible layout options for the book! VERY EXCITING indeed. It is looking gorgeous so far and made it very real....

By next show (selection permitted) I will have my book on my stand with me!

H is for Home and Indie Quarter have done great posts about the show with some beautiful pictures.

Tree of Life lamp

It's all go in the workshop getting ready for GNCCF and doing some design work for The Russian Tearooms (more about that another day). I made a little Tree of Life lamp to take to the show. I like them altogether in a little forest. I have just added it to my website and if you're an Etsy lover you can find it here.

The book is finished!

I'm feeling happy today because THE BOOK IS FINISHED! It's been a huge project, and apart from the slight meltdown in August (we won't talk about that) I've really enjoyed it. The best bit has been making contact with all these wonderfully inspiring light makers from all over the world, some in person, some on line and hearing their stories and learning how they found themselves making lights. Some people are really new to it and some are very well established in their field but they are all doing amazing work.

Thanks everyone for being so supportive with this. I have needed the little nuggets of support that you have given me. I feel very lucky to know such lovely people!

As my editor says 'don't think it will be last you'll see of it!' It will come back for edits and re-writes, but for now I am celebrating because the bones of it are down, the images are collected and it is out of my hands for a while. Just got to get the GNCCF done and then I'm going on a relaxing break with my lovely friend Rachel Hazell up to the Isle of Skye to chill out, have fun and look at pretty mountains and lochs and stuff! Ahhhhhhh recuperate before the crazy Christmas rush ( I said that quietly).

On the way to the post office yesterday there was the best rainbow I have ever seen. Vibrant and unbroken and arcing right over Hebden, making it look like toy town. I was in a jubilant mood and will always be a happy association with finishing the book. I didn't take this photo(Andrew Back did). I didn't have may camera (the one time) but it was awesome and I'm glad somebody captured it.

The 'Do What You Love' film has been released!

I am SO happy to see this. To be able to go back and re-live such a very very special time for four whole minutes! Jack and Rafael from Nut Films have done a beautiful job and captured it so well. In the video you will see Matt Stinchcombe, head of Etsy for Europe, painter Flora Bowley , the traveling book binder Rachel Hazell and Beth Nicholls who dreamed up the whole big idea in the first place.

Do What You Love - Retreats 2011 from nutfilms on Vimeo.