Handmade Living is a lively mix of lifestyle, craft, home and design ideas for you, your family and home. Projects range from the quick and easy to the ones that you’ll want to hand down. In addition to all this you’ll find recipes, gardening, beauty and in-depth interviews with the cream of the handmade community.
Kate’s Raindrops Bracelet has been featured in the Handmade Emporium in the April issue available to buy now, perfect to wear during those April showers!
There are two new fabulous exhibitions on at Manchester Art Gallery featuring artist Raqib Shaw and jeweller Karl Fritch. Kate went to visit this weekend and took some pictures of the stunning painting by Raqib Shaw. The detail and intricacy combined with the vibrant colours and sparkling rhinestones are right up Kate’s street! Also, once you look past the glittering colours there are some surprising elements incorporated into the subject matter!
When studying her BTEC before going to University, Kate did her art history module on Victorian fairy paintings as she was heavily inspired by the paintings of John Anster Fitzgerald at Birmingham Art Gallery. Many of his fairy paintings are dark and contain images of ghouls and demons; his work has been compared to the surreal nightmare-scapes of Hieronymus Bosch.
John Anster Fitzgerald
Raqib Shaw is an Indian-born, London-based artist who shot to fame in the international art world at the age of just 33. His opulent paintings and sculptures evoke the work of Old Masters such as Holbein and Bosch in their treatment of often unsettling subjects. But they also reflect the ornate style of Persian miniatures and Kashmiri and Japanese textiles. Beneath their beautiful jewel-like surface is a collection of dark and violent images inspired by ancient myths and religious tales from both East and Western tradition.
It is a fantastic exhibition on from 15th February to 26th May 2013…..
This month Kate is the featured jewellery at the Ropewalk Craft Gallery in Barton upon Humber in North Lincolnshire. You can see a selection of her Love Hearts and Flowers jewellery on display throughout February.
The Ropewalk is a regionally acclaimed centre for the arts housing galleries, sculpture garden, coffee shop, and Ropery Hall – a venue for live music, theatre and cinema within a Grade II listed former rope factory.
The Craft Gallery is an ever changing display of the best in contemporary craft. Representing over 200 makers from throughout the country and beyond, the gallery offers a comprehensive range including ceramics, jewellery, glassware, textiles and unframed artwork.
Kate is currently working on some new jewellery for 2013! These will be on show at BCTF in Harrogate in April but there will be some sneak previews of her new jewels coming on the website shortly.
In preparation for Valentines Day, Kate has designed some new Love Heart studs made from silver and fushia pink resin. They will be available to buy on Notonthehighstreet, along with a range of Kate’s other jewellery.
Happy New Year! Thank you for all your support in 2012 and looking forward to an exciting 2013! New work, exhibitions and adventures are on their way!
Over the past few weeks Kate has been out and about looking for inspiration for her new work for 2013. The gorgeous colours of autumn and the beautiful frosty effects of Winter creeping in provide so many wonderful sources of inspiration. Here are a few of Kate’s pictures which she is hoping to incorporate into some new jewellery next year…..
On Sunday 7th Octotber Kate was at Castlefield Artisan Market on Duke Street in Manchester. It is a wonderful little market full of good food, wonderful handmade crafts and music! Cotton Town Hot Band were there providing the afternoon entertainment with lots of Jazz dancing!
The next market is on Sunday 4th November, why not pop down, say hello to Kate and make a start on your Christmas shopping!! It is open 10am until 4pm and is next to Dukes 92.
Kate has recently completed a number of rings which are inspired by some of her current collections for Ferrers Gallery in Leicestershire. The gallery will showcase exclusively rings by a hand picked selection of British jewellers with the emphasis on“Beautiful, Bespoke & British”. Kate has included rings inspired by her “Beside the Seaside” collection, shells found at the great British seaside!
The exhibition will run from 12th October – 23rd December.
Kate was asked by a wonderful friend to make a necklace for a very special birthday boy inspired by a much loved guitar.
From the photograph she did some initial sketches and simplified the design so it could be translated into silver.
The 5p give you an idea of the size!
The design was then pierced out of silver sheet and put together. Here is it in progress before it went for hallmarking.
Finally the necklace was given a brushed satin finish and oxidised to give depth and surface texture and give it a more masculine appearance.
Happy Birthday Roast!
If you would like Kate to make you a unique piece for a special occasion please contact her and she would love to discuss your ideas.
Why not treat yourself to a summer bargain or if you are looking for a gift for someone special, check out the summer sale at Notonthehighstreet! A selected range of Kate’s work is available in the sale with up to 25% off!