Amelia’s Magazine | Valentines Day 2013: Jewellery, Handmade Gifts & Discounts on Chocolates

I’ve given you some great ideas for unique handmade Valentines cards, and now I bring you a round up of beautiful and unusual gifts, including, of course, some delightful jewels.

dowse design anatomy brass pendant
Dowse Design don’t pander to the usual romantic image of Valentines, instead they have crafted an unusual gesture of love that is bound to turn heads: the Anatomy etched pendant comes in steel or brass and is made in England.

With Love Silver Necklace_Nicola Crawford_RRP £135
Jewellery designer Nicola Crawford has based her designs on the lost art of letter writing in a collection entitled With Love. These tumbling letters may well spell out your own feelings.

Georgia Wiseman Sirus Limited Edition pendant
For something more jewel encrusted, Georgia Wiseman has some glamourous earrings. I love the art deco influenced Capella design, but she has also created a special limited edition pendant for Valentines; Sirus, which looks like a modern day flint, is made with a smokey Swarovski crystal set in rose gold. She’s offering free P&P up until February 14th too.

EOTW designs Hand made Solid SIlver Earrings
We profiled Eye of The World Designs back in 2011, and since then designer Hope Von Joel has been busy building the brand, which bridges interior design and jewellery. I love these bold laminated wood and perspex earrings.

Made & Told heart ikat cushion
Moving on to other gift ideas, Made & Told are offering hand woven Ikat cushion covers with a heart pattern. They are handmade in Uzbekistan and come gift wrapped for £30 (including P&P) using the code SAINTVALENTINE. The company promotes traditional crafts from central Asia and you can watch a film about the making of the cushion on their website.

Nichollette Yardley-Moore vintage silk scarf Rose cushion
Designer Nichollette Yardley-Moore collects vintage fabrics, scarves and original flags which she then transforms into beautiful one-of-a-kind cushions. I like her romantic floral cushions, which are made up with vintage silk scarves from the 1960s

MrPS happy hearts Hankies
These pretty hankies by illustrator Robert Shadbolt are covered in smiling hearts. They are screen-printed by hand in the Mr.PS studio and come in double-packs of candy pink & sky blue, and plum & turquoise.

Chloe Cook painted teapot
If you find an overload of hearts a bit saccharine, how about this starry hand painted teapot by Chloe Cook?

M.Hulot Strapped howe red bag
Or how about a beautiful rich red hand made leather Howe clutch from M.Hulot?

London Kills Me Reclaimed slate Heart
Slate hearts from London Kills Me are hand cut from reclaimed roof slate, much of it from the nineteenth century, meaning that each one has a slightly different patina. They can be written on in chalk pen: making them an ideal alternative to a paper card.

sabina savage hummingbird scarf
This wool and silk mix scarf by Sabina Sauvage features four bold hummingbirds and comes with a lovely blood red border.

Charlotte Linton Cove_paisley scarf
There’s something a bit, I don’t know, meaty, about this unusual bright red Cove Paisley scarf by designer Charlotte Linton. It would make an unusual gift, the swirls reminiscent of hearts and body parts.

David Shillinglaw Double Heart painted bottle
Artist David Shillinglaw offers beautiful hand painted bottles, which come with a short personal message: perfect for a beer lover perhaps?

YouTube Preview Image
And: for something a bit different, how about a personalised serenade over the phone from consummate karaoke professionals Hot Breath (above). ‘Intimate, passionate and 100% from the heart. All sung by a professional amateur to the best of their ability.’

To find exclusive handmade designs, go no further than the Love.Make Designs pop up shop at Craft Central’s Corner Shop in Farringdon, London from the 11-17th of February.

Luxury-Valentine-Gifts-My Voucher Codes Chocolates Hotel Chocolat
And don’t forget, chocolates will always go down a treat, so why not take advantage of some great discounts at My Voucher Codes? Get 10% off any purchase from Hotel Chocolat: how about their Sealed With a Kiss selection, which comes in a pretty heart shaped box?

Thorntons Be My Valentine chocolate selection my voucher codes
Or you could really make an impression with this Be My Valentine chocolates selection from Thorntons, with a bespoke message hand iced onto a chocolate tag. Take advantage of My Voucher Codes and get a free box of chocolates when you spend £20 with Thorntons, plus free delivery on orders of £25 or more.

To round off the blog, here’s a clever infographic describing spending patterns on Valentines Day, brought to you by the folks at My Voucher Codes.

Valentines Day spending patterns infographic
Fancy being featured in one of my regular round ups? Make sure you follow me on twitter @ameliagregory: most of these designers responded to open callouts for Valentines ideas.

Categories ,2013, ,anatomy, ,Be My Valentine, ,bespoke, ,Capella, ,Charlotte Linton, ,Chloe Cook, ,chocolate, ,Cove Paisley, ,Craft Central, ,cushions, ,David Shillinglaw, ,discounts, ,Dowse Design, ,Eye of The World Designs, ,Georgia Wiseman, ,gifts, ,handmade, ,Hope Von Joel, ,Hot Breath, ,Hotel Chocolat, ,Howe clutch, ,Infographic, ,jewellery, ,Karaoke, ,London Kills Me, ,Love.Make Designs, ,M.Hulot, ,Made & Told, ,Mr PS, ,My Voucher Codes, ,Nichollette Yardley-Moore, ,Nicola Crawford, ,Robert Shadbolt, ,Sabina Sauvage, ,Sealed With a Kiss, ,Sirus, ,Swarovski, ,The Corner Shop, ,Thorntons, ,Uzbekistan, ,Valentine’s Day, ,Valentines, ,Vouchers, ,With Love

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Amelia’s Magazine | Valentines Day 2013: Jewellery, Handmade Gifts & Discounts on Chocolates

I’ve given you some great ideas for unique handmade Valentines cards, and now I bring you a round up of beautiful and unusual gifts, including, of course, some delightful jewels.

dowse design anatomy brass pendant
Dowse Design don’t pander to the usual romantic image of Valentines, instead they have crafted an unusual gesture of love that is bound to turn heads: the Anatomy etched pendant comes in steel or brass and is made in England.

With Love Silver Necklace_Nicola Crawford_RRP £135
Jewellery designer Nicola Crawford has based her designs on the lost art of letter writing in a collection entitled With Love. These tumbling letters may well spell out your own feelings.

Georgia Wiseman Sirus Limited Edition pendant
For something more jewel encrusted, Georgia Wiseman has some glamourous earrings. I love the art deco influenced Capella design, but she has also created a special limited edition pendant for Valentines; Sirus, which looks like a modern day flint, is made with a smokey Swarovski crystal set in rose gold. She’s offering free P&P up until February 14th too.

EOTW designs Hand made Solid SIlver Earrings
We profiled Eye of The World Designs back in 2011, and since then designer Hope Von Joel has been busy building the brand, which bridges interior design and jewellery. I love these bold laminated wood and perspex earrings.

Made & Told heart ikat cushion
Moving on to other gift ideas, Made & Told are offering hand woven Ikat cushion covers with a heart pattern. They are handmade in Uzbekistan and come gift wrapped for £30 (including P&P) using the code SAINTVALENTINE. The company promotes traditional crafts from central Asia and you can watch a film about the making of the cushion on their website.

Nichollette Yardley-Moore vintage silk scarf Rose cushion
Designer Nichollette Yardley-Moore collects vintage fabrics, scarves and original flags which she then transforms into beautiful one-of-a-kind cushions. I like her romantic floral cushions, which are made up with vintage silk scarves from the 1960s

MrPS happy hearts Hankies
These pretty hankies by illustrator Robert Shadbolt are covered in smiling hearts. They are screen-printed by hand in the Mr.PS studio and come in double-packs of candy pink & sky blue, and plum & turquoise.

Chloe Cook painted teapot
If you find an overload of hearts a bit saccharine, how about this starry hand painted teapot by Chloe Cook?

M.Hulot Strapped howe red bag
Or how about a beautiful rich red hand made leather Howe clutch from M.Hulot?

London Kills Me Reclaimed slate Heart
Slate hearts from London Kills Me are hand cut from reclaimed roof slate, much of it from the nineteenth century, meaning that each one has a slightly different patina. They can be written on in chalk pen: making them an ideal alternative to a paper card.

sabina savage hummingbird scarf
This wool and silk mix scarf by Sabina Sauvage features four bold hummingbirds and comes with a lovely blood red border.

Charlotte Linton Cove_paisley scarf
There’s something a bit, I don’t know, meaty, about this unusual bright red Cove Paisley scarf by designer Charlotte Linton. It would make an unusual gift, the swirls reminiscent of hearts and body parts.

David Shillinglaw Double Heart painted bottle
Artist David Shillinglaw offers beautiful hand painted bottles, which come with a short personal message: perfect for a beer lover perhaps?

YouTube Preview Image
And: for something a bit different, how about a personalised serenade over the phone from consummate karaoke professionals Hot Breath (above). ‘Intimate, passionate and 100% from the heart. All sung by a professional amateur to the best of their ability.’

To find exclusive handmade designs, go no further than the Love.Make Designs pop up shop at Craft Central’s Corner Shop in Farringdon, London from the 11-17th of February.

Luxury-Valentine-Gifts-My Voucher Codes Chocolates Hotel Chocolat
And don’t forget, chocolates will always go down a treat, so why not take advantage of some great discounts at My Voucher Codes? Get 10% off any purchase from Hotel Chocolat: how about their Sealed With a Kiss selection, which comes in a pretty heart shaped box?

Thorntons Be My Valentine chocolate selection my voucher codes
Or you could really make an impression with this Be My Valentine chocolates selection from Thorntons, with a bespoke message hand iced onto a chocolate tag. Take advantage of My Voucher Codes and get a free box of chocolates when you spend £20 with Thorntons, plus free delivery on orders of £25 or more.

To round off the blog, here’s a clever infographic describing spending patterns on Valentines Day, brought to you by the folks at My Voucher Codes.

Valentines Day spending patterns infographic
Fancy being featured in one of my regular round ups? Make sure you follow me on twitter @ameliagregory: most of these designers responded to open callouts for Valentines ideas.

Categories ,2013, ,anatomy, ,Be My Valentine, ,bespoke, ,Capella, ,Charlotte Linton, ,Chloe Cook, ,chocolate, ,Cove Paisley, ,Craft Central, ,cushions, ,David Shillinglaw, ,discounts, ,Dowse Design, ,Eye of The World Designs, ,Georgia Wiseman, ,gifts, ,handmade, ,Hope Von Joel, ,Hot Breath, ,Hotel Chocolat, ,Howe clutch, ,Infographic, ,jewellery, ,Karaoke, ,London Kills Me, ,Love.Make Designs, ,M.Hulot, ,Made & Told, ,Mr PS, ,My Voucher Codes, ,Nichollette Yardley-Moore, ,Nicola Crawford, ,Robert Shadbolt, ,Sabina Sauvage, ,Sealed With a Kiss, ,Sirus, ,Swarovski, ,The Corner Shop, ,Thorntons, ,Uzbekistan, ,Valentine’s Day, ,Valentines, ,Vouchers, ,With Love

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Amelia’s Magazine | Review: Moniker Art Fair and The Other Art Fair at Truman Brewery 2013

Frederik Næblerød shark

Frederik Næblerød.

This year was my first visit to Moniker Art Fair, held at the Truman Brewery in conjunction with The Other Art Fair last weekend. Both fairs showcase contemporary artists operating just outside the mainstream art establishment, and many Moniker artists also have their roots in urban culture, particularly street art. Here’s what I liked:

New #artistrash monster on Hanbury Street

This Art is Trash monster was lurking against a tree just outside the gallery entrance on Hanbury Street: a deliberate situation, since he was showing as part of Moniker. I love these quirky monsters, which have been showing up with some regularity around the Brick Lane area: it’s great to see someone approaching street art from such a different perspective.

David shillinglaw - installation

Inside my favourite Moniker Art installation by far was by David Shillinglaw. This artist mixes tribal markings with modern iconography to construct complex narratives that take on a wonderful decorative form.

Crayola Folk by Dickon Drury at theotherartfair

Dickon Drury; a mad Eden featuring houses on stilts & crazy colour slides.

Over in The Other Art Fair I was captivated by colourful surreal works by Brixton based artist Dickon Drury. His Crayola folk are suitably odd, and his version of Eden features houses on stilts, out of which sprout crazy coloured slides.

Saucy and strange by Frederick Noeblerod

Frederik Næblerød really caught my attention with a wall of grotesque graphic pictures in neon colours. Saucily strange and full of a cheeky and irresistible energy.

Categories ,Art is Trash, ,Brick Lane, ,Brixton, ,Crayola, ,David Shillinglaw, ,Dickon Drury, ,Frederik Næblerød, ,Hanbury Street, ,Moniker Art Fair, ,The Other Art Fair, ,Truman Brewery

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Amelia’s Magazine | Review: Moniker Art Fair and The Other Art Fair at Truman Brewery 2013

Frederik Næblerød shark

Frederik Næblerød.

This year was my first visit to Moniker Art Fair, held at the Truman Brewery in conjunction with The Other Art Fair last weekend. Both fairs showcase contemporary artists operating just outside the mainstream art establishment, and many Moniker artists also have their roots in urban culture, particularly street art. Here’s what I liked:

New #artistrash monster on Hanbury Street

This Art is Trash monster was lurking against a tree just outside the gallery entrance on Hanbury Street: a deliberate situation, since he was showing as part of Moniker. I love these quirky monsters, which have been showing up with some regularity around the Brick Lane area: it’s great to see someone approaching street art from such a different perspective.

David shillinglaw - installation

Inside my favourite Moniker Art installation by far was by David Shillinglaw. This artist mixes tribal markings with modern iconography to construct complex narratives that take on a wonderful decorative form.

Crayola Folk by Dickon Drury at theotherartfair

Dickon Drury; a mad Eden featuring houses on stilts & crazy colour slides.

Over in The Other Art Fair I was captivated by colourful surreal works by Brixton based artist Dickon Drury. His Crayola folk are suitably odd, and his version of Eden features houses on stilts, out of which sprout crazy coloured slides.

Saucy and strange by Frederick Noeblerod

Frederik Næblerød really caught my attention with a wall of grotesque graphic pictures in neon colours. Saucily strange and full of a cheeky and irresistible energy.

Categories ,Art is Trash, ,Brick Lane, ,Brixton, ,Crayola, ,David Shillinglaw, ,Dickon Drury, ,Frederik Næblerød, ,Hanbury Street, ,Moniker Art Fair, ,The Other Art Fair, ,Truman Brewery

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Amelia’s Magazine | Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014 Review

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-David Shillinglaw 1

Last Friday my good friend Helen of East End Prints persuaded me to join her in a trip to the Affordable Art Fair in Hampstead, taking advantage of our lovely new overground line to drag the toddlers with us. As is usual at these large fairs, there was loads of wonderful art alongside plenty of dross: here is a tiny snapshot of what I saw and loved whilst trying to keep track of my child.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Hyunjeong Lim
Hyunjeong Lim, Made in Arts London

In the entrance we were entranced by art from University of London graduate students, shown as part of the Made in Arts London initiative. My favourite was a series of surreal landscapes by Central Saint Martins graduate Hyunjeong Lim.

Rebecca Rendell AAF Hampstead

I also liked enigmatic miniature sculpture using everyday household items by Rebecca Rendell: she calls these ‘autobiographical cleansing‘.

Carola Del Mese upcycled teapot - Affordable Art Fair Hampstead

From there it was into the main part of the exhibition, chasing small boys up and down the aisles, to the chagrin of some and amusement of many. This upcycled pewter teapot is by Carola del Mese, who gains inspiration from her career in theatrical prop making and a love of Edwardian charm jewellery.

David Shillinglaw - Affordable Art Fair Hampstead

David Shillinglaw’s iconographic artwork is instantly recognisable. I particularly love his use of colour.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Shuby

The trend for bastardising old works of art shows no sign of abating. How about this humorous portrait by Shuby?

Gods Own Junkyard - Affordable Art Fair Hampstead

Neon artwork by God’s Own Junkyard manages to be both kitsch and sophisticated, combining garish lighting with elegant typography.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Gerry Smith

I was most enamoured of clever photorealist paintings by Gerry Smith at the Sol Art Gallery.

Lauri Hopkins collage AAF

Lauri Hopkins at Four Walls Contemporary reassembles found materials with paint in these lovely abstract collages.

Frances Doherty - Affordable Art Fair Hampstead

This gigantic Bishops Pom Pom is by former restauranteur Frances Doherty, who calls herself ‘the ceramic gardener’ and works between Normandy and Brighton. She has a lovely blog here.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014

And yes, that is our children, lolling around on the floor dangerously close to expensive pieces of art. The upholstered dogs are by Dominic Gubb and take on the various characters of the salvaged sofas from which they are made.

Myung Nam An - Affordable Art Fair Hampstead

Eye ceramics by Myung Nam An made for a stunning wall show at the Cube Gallery.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Reindeer Ourensma

Downpatrick Head by the Dutch artist Reinder Ourensma has the bizarre feel of a fantasy world but it is an actual location in Ireland.

Neon circular paper artwork by Eliza Kopec

There was a strong neon trend running through the show and I particularly liked this circular paper artwork by Eliza Kopec.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Victoria Browne 2
Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Victoria Browne 1

I first saw these prints by Victoria Browne at an exhibition in Margate and instantly fell in love. Her Training Nature series highlight our attempts to improve nature through constant pruning and shaping. This gave me a second opportunity to lust after one… but they sadly do not come cheap.

Ice cream art by Marie Robinson

Ice cream art by Marie Robinson was perfectly kitsch and delicious on the Will’s Art Warehouse stand.

affordable_art_fair_Cristina Gayarre

Simple graphic portraits by Cristina Gayarre work well in bold red and black.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Richard Bawden

I can’t resist a more traditional print by Richard Bawden.

Jemma Appleby AAF Hampstead

I am a sucker for strange landscapes, especially if they feature curious modern architecture, like these delicate charcoal pieces by Jemma Appleby.

Helen Beard ceramics

Lastly, lovely ceramics by Helen Beard (based at Cockpit Arts) feature whimsical swimmers on delicate porcelain.

Categories ,2014, ,Affordable Art Fair, ,Bishops Pom Pom, ,Carola del Mese, ,Central Saint Martins, ,Cockpit Arts, ,Cristina Gayarre, ,Cube Gallery, ,David Shillinglaw, ,Dominic Gubb, ,Downpatrick Head, ,East End Prints, ,Eliza Kopec, ,Four Walls Contemporary, ,Frances Doherty, ,Gerry Smith, ,God’s Own Junkyard, ,Hampstead, ,Helen Beard, ,Hyunjeong Lim, ,Jemma Appleby, ,Lauri Hopkins, ,Made in Arts London, ,Marie Robinson, ,Myung Nam An, ,Neon, ,Rebecca Rendell, ,Reinder Ourensma, ,review, ,Richard Bawden, ,Shuby, ,Snarfle, ,Sol Art Gallery, ,The ceramic gardener, ,Training Nature, ,University of London, ,Victoria Browne, ,Will’s Art Warehouse

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