For Jane...

When I was four years old I met a little girl with long blonde hair outside my back gate. She said 'Do you want to come and play at my house?' I was a shy thing and didn't dare so I said 'No...but you can come to mine!'

It was the start of a long friendship. I wonder how many million hours we played together over the years. Jane pretty much was my childhood.

Last year Jane lost a long and difficult battle with cancer. She left behind her husband and her small daughter Elizabeth, her Mum and lots and lots of good friends. 

I hope that Elizabeth can find a friend that she can have as much fun with as I did with Jane.

In her memory I'll be donating 10% of my open studio sales to The Yorkshire Cancer Centre, who cared for Jane when she was ill. I wouldn't be very good at  running a marathon or shaving my hair off...but I can make and sell lamps. I'm pretty good at that.  

Jane we will all shine our lamps for you :)

My studio will be open 28th and 29th June and the 4th and 5th July. Find out more HERE.

Wearable Art at the Art Market

I got a message from Victoria Robinson while I was in New York asking if she could make some dresses from my wallpaper for an Art Market installation.

Obviously I said yes. How exciting to see my paper used in such an unusual way.

Only ten days before the show Victoria came to the studio to pick up the paper. 

She worked with her Mum, Pam, who is a talented seamstress and together they pushed the limits of the paper and created five dresses and six bodices.

So clever.

This is Victoria (in another very shiny wearable art piece) with me and her Mum.

The dresses will be on display again next Sunday's Art Market in Holmfirth. 

Hannah Nunn wallpaper sample books

My long awaited wallpaper sample books have arrived.

They are really beautiful and so well made.

Although my collection is quite small at the moment, there is room in the spine for my new designs as the collection grows.

...and grow it will.

So now it's time to send them out to all the people who people who have been waiting.

Thank you CEM Press for a marvelous job.

Open Studios

Well, since last years open studios my plants have got bigger and my wallpaper has moved from prototype to finished product. However, one thing remains the same as always...

WE HAVE LOADS OF SECONDS LAMPS FOR SALE!

Yep, all those lamps with tiny imperfections that didn't quite make it are all waiting to get off the shelf and find new happy homes to light up.

Will you come and take one home?

There are 77  Hebden Bridge artists in the trail and we're open over two weekends this year. Check out the open studios website as opening times may vary.  I'll be open  28th & 29th June and 4th & 5th July from 11.00- 5.00.

Suite 1 Studios, Burlees House, Hangingroyd Lane, Hebden Bridge, HX7 6AA. It's above La Perla Italian restaurant opposite the Market car park.

10% of takings will be going to The Yorkshire Cancer Centre in loving memory of my childhood best friend Jane.

On the 6th July the Tour de France will be coming through town. Most studios WILL be open. But I won't. I'll be in Radiance as Matt might need a helping hand in the shop. 

Hope to see you :)

The making of a bag...

My dear friend and super talented leather worker Cathy made me a bag (well actually two) to take to New York.  

She brought the hide, the softest, dusky blue nubuck, round to our house one day with a paper pattern. Ollie and Tomsk were very interested. They always love to join in.

Then she worked magic in her studio until these babies were born (the little one was a surprise). They are soooo beautifully made and I was extremely happy to go off on my travels with such a loveliness.

We thought we'd take a few pictures of her bag in NYC for Cathy.

Cathy's bag on a bench in Madison Square Park...

Cathy's bag on some brownstone steps...

Cathy's bag at the Flatiron building...

..and Cathy's bag with the Empire State building!

Thanks so much Cathy. You'll have to make yourself a special one for when you go yourself. New York awaits x

Cathy works at Brooklyn Studios (that's Hebden Bridge, not New York) and you can visit her at the end of the month during open studios.

Brooklyn Bridge Sunset

Our walk across the Brooklyn Bridge couldn't have been more perfect. Even though my little feet were aching from standing at the show all day I found a new lease of life and David and I bounded over, full of excitement.

It was a warm sunny evening and as we took in the amazing views across the Manhattan skyline and the financial district the sun began to set.

By the time we got to the other side we were given the perfect pink skies.

The bridge looked so pretty with it's twinkling lights

and I loved how the pink light reflected in all the windows.

As it got darker...

all city lights got brighter

and we walked back across the beautiful twinkly bridge in the dark.

Ah thank you New York (and David) for a perfect night.

Le Tour is coming to town!

Cafe Solo on Market Street.

In just a few weeks The Tour de France is coming! It's a big deal for all the little towns along the route as thousands of people will coming to line our streets for this world famous sporting event. So we are getting ready. There is a buzz about town and there are yellow bikes and yellow tour related shenanigans everywhere...

We are super excited about our specially commissioned lampshades and candle covers made by my friend Claire of A Northern Light. 

We've only had them for a couple of days and they are flying out already. 

They have such a golden glow. 

Dynamite over the road from us is looking bright and lovely. 

Dynamite Kate, has had some special limited edition Tour t-shirts printed. One with the design help of Russell Horne and printed by Howies, the other by Steve Gagarin. 

Yorkshire Soap looking pretty as always...

Grab yourself a bar of  special LeTour soap!

Alison at Heart Gallery has been busy yarn bombing her tree! It look fab.

Element's shop front looks fab with it's yellow bike.

They have made some super cute yellow bike rings which are free with every purchase and they are gathering customer photos of them in action on their Le Tour Pinterest board. 

The Book Case looks rather jolly.

 B Beads have cleverly beaded the spokes of some bicycle wheels.

They look super nice with the light streaming through.

Spirals have made a sweet Hebden Bridge scene from their wares.

Daisy & Sam want to ride their bicycles too.

Le Sale is taking place at Harold Crabtree.

The beautiful Willow Garden has made a moss and ivy covered bike.

What a creative town this is and a rather wonderful place to come and watch the race and do some shopping :)

The big day is on July 6th and the race will be making it's way down Keighley Road and then across to Mytholmroyd and up Cragg Vale Road. Hebden Bridge is also one of the official 'hubs' and we'll have a big screen in the park where you can watch the whole thing in all it's glory. You can find out travel information and everything else you need to know here.