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Category: Art

This exhibition marks the first time that the Cheapside Hoard has been displayed in its entirety since its chance discovery deep under a cellar floor in London’s Cheapside over 100 years ago in 1912. At nearly 500 glittering pieces strong, the Hoard includes delicate finger rings, cascading necklaces, Byzantine cameos, beautiful jewelled scent bottles, and a unique Colombian emerald watch. Now known to be a jeweller’s stock-in-trade, this priceless collection of jewels is the City of London’s most exquisite stash of buried treasure. And it is the single most important source of our knowledge on early modern jewellery worldwide.

The Cheapside Hoard: London’s Lost Jewels at the Museum of London will consider why and when it was buried and by whom. It will also use the jewels to explore the wider landscape of 16th and 17th Century London, and in particular, the clandestine world of the Elizabethan and Jacobean goldsmith-jeweller. The exhibition will also offer new evidence about the individuals and communities engaged in mining, cutting, trading and buying jewels and it will look at their creative talents, craft skills and manufacturing techniques. The jewels will be shown with a range of objects to reflect craftsmanship, taste and fashion, and portraits of goldsmith-jewellers, patrons and consumers will be used to illustrate the importance of jewellery in early modern society. Surely a must see for anyone interested in jewellery design, and indeed anyone working within the wider design community.

On Thursday 17 October 2013 you are invited to don your favourite bling between 7-10pm and join the Museum of London for All That Glitters @ Late – a dazzling night of jewels and gemstones. Embrace the world of Elizabethan and Jacobean chic through creative workshops, sparkling talks and immersive performances and enjoy the galleries by twilight, with live music and late night bars.

All That Glitters @ Late highlights include:

•Hazel Forsyth, the curator of The Cheapside Hoard: London’s Lost Jewels, presents four thematic talks over the course of the evening, exploring the magic and meaning of jewellery
•Diagnose diamond cuts, discover replicas of famous diamonds, unravel tales of lore behind gemstones and find out what makes and breaks the rocks you wear, in a special sessions with The Gemmological Association of Great Britain.
•Music from four-piece melody masters BeauBowBelles bring the glitter to the gala with jewellery inspired songs with a vaudevillian twist
•Morley College turns back the time to 1660 where you can marvel at and model a myriad of period costume pieces from ruffs, corsets and hats. Then get to grips with jewellery making, with a hands-on demo.
•Inspired by the Cheapside Hoard, the art collective, Artful Badger, whip up a musical frenzy of past and present which will have you dancing in no time
•Practice your swagger and swaddle as Costumier and Stage Combat duo Shoni and Rob take you on a journey through how clothing shaped the mind and manners of Elizabethan aristocracy
•Try your hand on a touchstone, hammer a hallmark and learn your carats from your plums as you test the purity of your very own jewellery with The Goldsmiths’ Company
•Creative outfit HurdyGurdy provide a glittering workshop where you can create your own bespoke jewellery from stitched brooches to sparkling hair pins.
•Strike an Elizabethan pose and get your picture taken in the Mighty Booth.

The exhibition costs £10, Concession/child (12+) £8 & tickets to All That Glitters @ Late cost £10 (concs £8.50, Combined late event and The Cheapside Hoard: London’s Lost Jewels ticket: £15 (concessions £11.50, Museum of London Friends FREE)


Book online at www.museumoflondon.org.uk or phone the Box Office on 020 7001 9844

Category: Fashion

Everyone loves a bit of Nostalgia, especially at Christmas. If you are looking for something different to buy the loved ones for Christmas this year, then look no further than the Mid Century Christmas Market this year, because Bettina Scarlett is bringing her brand new retro market to London. Having had a love for the 1950s since she was a small girl, Bettina Scarlett has grown up with a passion for all things retro and is now looking to share it with the public.

The Mid Century Christmas Market is a 1950s inspired fair showcasing glamorous companies from all over England including vintage and reproduction clothing, crafts, jewellery, records and much more. Whether you are after a cute and kitsch necklace or you want a retro rocking record to have you jiving the night away, the Mid Century Christmas Market is perfect if you are shopping for those last minute Christmas gifts or a treat for yourself.

Reapfolio's photobooth who will be creating retro inspired photobooth images for every customer.

If you are looking for something to warm you up there will be Calamitea Jane’s vintage tea room serving hot drinks and sweet treats all day. Or if you fancy getting your hair done for a night out on the town, the Vanity Box will be pin curling away in the vintage hair and makeup parlour to make you look like a perfect pin up. Or if you are feeling a bit silly then head to Reapfolio’s pop up photo booth where you can pull all the face’s you want with friends and take away a reminder of the Mid Century Christmas Market.

Lady K Loves is a 50s inspired clothing company selling a mixture of glamorous day and evening wear perfect for every lady to create the famous pin up look.

Rosie Alia Hair accessories, selling unique hand made hair accessories perfect stocking fillers for ladies out there who want to spruce up their hair do.

The market is being held just a short walk from Hammersmith tube stations, and entry costs just £2.

Category: Art

Sarah Maple: An Artist and a Female Artist.

As part of the Art Licks Weekend the A-side B-side Gallery invites you to the private view of Girls Aren't Funny on Thursday 3rd October between 6-9pm. The Art Licks Weekend is a new festival to showcase the work of pioneering young artists, curators, galleries and project spaces in London.

“Women aren’t as funny as men”
Germaine Greer on a TV show in 2009

“The reason why you know more funny dudes than funny chicks is that dudes are funnier than chicks”
Adam Carolla a US radio presenter, while promoting his new book in 2012: Not Taco Bell Material

“Women can be funny, they’re just not given the chance”
Lynne Parker, founder of ‘Funny Women’, writing for the Guardian in 2009

Claire Douglass: The Great Beard of Joy.

A public furor and raging debate ensued after Greer’s public remark and more recently Carolla’s declaration, yet this opinion is still widely held. If you are a female, being funny is ‘not something regularly associated with attractiveness’ observes Lynne Parker for the Huffington Post, although contrariwise for a man it is considered an attractive trait. Greer later elucidated by saying that she thought females lacked the humour of their male counterparts due to social conditioning, for generations women have been supposed to be passive, and being funny would be unattractive and threatening to a man.

Sarah Maple: It's A Girl.

This exhibition sets out to prove that GIRLS ARE FUNNY! and features a carefully selected and talented group of female artists whose work does actually make you smile, chuckle and laugh out loud. To broaden the platform there will also be a screening of several short films on the opening night, Thursday 3rd October, including a performance by the fabulous Bryony Kimmings, ‘One of the funniest, most charming things I’ve seen in an age’ Time Out.

The Girls: Beatrice and Eugenie.

Girls Aren't Funny features work by some of our favourite artists, including Tinsel Edwards and Twinkle Troughton (read more here), The Girls (read more here) Claire Douglass, Miriam Elia, Sadie Hennessy, Catherine Magnani, Sarah Maple and Sig Waller.

Tinsel Edwards: Shoebox.

“A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.”
Jane Austen

Opening times: Thursday-Sunday, 12-6pm

Category: Art

This Christmas, for the very first time, Kew Gardens opens after hours with a one-mile illuminated trail through its enchanting winter landscape. As part of the Christmas village which kicks off the illuminated trail, We Make London are pleased to be collaborating with the Kew team to put on a boutique Christmas market and a special We Make London popup boutique, filled with an assortment of hand-picked products many of which are handmade in the UK.

Visitors begin their adventure at the Christmas village located at Victoria Gate where entry is FREE. There you will find designers showcased in Tudor style traditional wooden chalets alongside a special We Make London pop-up Christmas boutique selling distinctive works by a range of designers from around the UK. With everything from Ceramics, Textiles, Prints, Fine Art and Fashion to Home wares, Jewellery, Children's Toys, Stationary, Bags and Needlework, visitors are sure to find some unique gifts this Christmas! The Christmas Village is a veritable wonderland with something fun for the whole family from Santa to festive nibbles, Christmas shopping and nightly live Christmas carols. Here's a small taster of the designers taking part:

Victoria Eggs: 
Victoria is a Fine Art Graduate from Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, where she specialised in film and photography, many of her designs are based on photos she has taken, capturing true Britishness at it’s best. Since graduating she has gained experience within the creative industries; designing greeting cards, working for a branding company, Brandculture and designing T-Shirt graphics in Sydney. Whilst working Down Under for fashion label Ben Sherman, she realised how something as simple as a teacup and saucer can tug at your heartstrings and make you feel right at home. She came back to the UK and began working on her own designs. Victoria Eggs’ designs are fun and playful, cultural and nostalgic and evoke fond memories whilst celebrating a love for all things British. Founded in March 2011, it wasn't long before Victoria was awarded ‘Gift of the Year 2012’ for ‘Made in the UK‘, she was also short-listed for the ‘Heart Home Design Awards 2012′ and 'Gift of the Year 2013, Made in UK'. She is currently a finalist for Startups Awards, 'Home-based Business of the year 2013'.

Cecily Vessey: 
Cecily Vessey is based in London, England. Since graduating in 2009 she has worked to build a successful retail and wholesale business as well as working on a variety of freelance projects such as illustrations, wedding invitations, orders of service, and special editions of cards, mugs, tote bags etc. Cecily's stockists include Design Museum, Houses of Parliament, Tate Modern and Magma. Her drawings and prints have been sent all over the world to a far away as Australia, Singapore and America. Cecily is all about British manufacturing. Her ceramics are hand decorated in Stoke-on-Trent. Her cards are printed by a family run business in Clapham, London. Her sticky is tape made in Lancashire and tea towels in Lincolnshire!

Hokolo: 
Hokolo is a London based design-led brand founded by Jen, an architect turned surface pattern designer with a love of bold colours, patterns and beautifully designed everyday objects. Hokolo is an amalgamation of Hong Kong and London. Originally from Hong Kong, Jen’s designs celebrate some of the most novel aspects of her adopted Great Britain.

Join the Facebook Event Page here or news.
The We Make London boutique Christmas market runs on the following dates:
November 28-30 – December 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-23, 26-31 – January 1-4
Opening times: 4:30pm to 10pm daily

Category: Art

Amanda Doran, Rainbow Poodle

Eschewing the limited and oppositional categories of ‘bad painting’ or ‘outsider art’, Tales of the Unexpected at the Transition Gallery reflects an attitude to painting that deliberately sidesteps the standards of good taste to challenge the conventionally acceptable by engaging playful means, instinctive logic and/or unselfconscious excess.

Stuart Pearson Wrigh, Olympian

Irreverent content, a disregard for accurate representation and rejection of conventional subjects result in intensely personal and liberated paintings that are potent with suggestion and unpredictable appeal.

Kathleen Thompson, Drone

Each bold piece hints at a back-story, often with sinister or wryly comedic undertones, that combine or antagonise to produce multiple twisted Tales of the Unexpected.

Boudicca Collins, Tortoisetime

Category: Art

The East London Design Show is TWENTY this year and in celebration of the huge success of the show, it is moving to a much bigger and better location at the Truman Brewery off Brick Lane in East London. The East London Design Show (ELDS) is an annual shopping event that brings together 140 of the best of the UK's independent product, interior and jewellery designers, all under one roof, just before Christmas. ELDS is ‘the’ event to discover tomorrow’s talent today, with over 38 brand new designers joining us this year – many launching products, alongside superb design from established and respected designer makers – in glass, ceramics, jewellery, women’s and men’s fashion and accessories, children’s clothing and toys, stationery, home-wares and furniture. So why not join them and take advantage of special show offers and make a day of it! In addition to the designer maker stands we have an extensive food hall and a fabulous workshops for kids and adults. The 'Design your own Christmas' workshops and demonstrations will be presented by a selection of designers and supporters from this year's show, in our newly expanded Crafthouse area. The creative 'drop-in' workshops will run throughout the weekend and will include; screen-printing your own Christmas cards, hosted by textiles & homewares queen Zeena Shah. Up-cycle your junk into beautiful Christmas decorations and gifts with the inspirational (Re)design team. And last but not least, Story-telling and drawing sessions with leading authors and illustrators from independent children's publisher, Walker Books.

Fox by Molly Meg.

Cushions by Lulu and Luca.

Volpe & Volpe Wolf Plate.

Tickets: £5 per person. Concessions: £3 / Accompanied children under 16 get in free.
Opening times: Thur – 12-6, Fri – 12-9, Sat – 10-6, Sun – 10-6

Category: Art

This Saturday 5th October 2013, Significant Seams in Walthamstow is holding for the first time a workshop for parents or carers with babies up to 12 months to explore drawing. Even as someone who is not a mother yet, I have noticed that there is a lack of workshops, especially creative ones, for mothers with really young babies, so this was a refreshing class to discover! The hour-long session will introduce a range of materials through fun exercises designed to develop your observation and drawing skills whilst promoting the physical and perceptual development of your baby. Your own baby, and the relationship between you, will provide a basis for the drawings, as a focal point for techniques and ideas which you might want to take on to other subjects. The session is suitable for all levels, from beginner onwards.

The workshops are designed and led by artist Leah Lovett, based on techniques developed with her own daughter whilst on maternity leave from the Slade, where she is currently researching her PhD and teaching. See www.leahlovett.co.uk for more information.

£8 (all materials provided).
Bookings at https://makingmamasdrawing.eventbrite.co.uk or through Significant Seams.

Category: Art

Curated by the Barbican and Louise Kamara (renowned creator of design events including Duckie’s Christmas market), no two days will be the same at the Barbican Design Market. Offering a handpicked selection of UK-based designers and makers showcasing their work, this is an ideal opportunity to source imaginative gifts, everything from jewellery and accessories to decorations and covetable homewares.

Christmas Toy Shop.

Soft toys by Justina Dewhurst-Richens.

Sharon Wymark hand made chocolates.

Opening times: Wed – Fri 5pm – 8.30pm / Sat – Sun 12pm – 8.30pm, Exhibitors vary day to day

Category: Earth

Experience by Shireen Qureshi.

This ‘Me’ of Mine Symposium will be addressing Identity in the Digital Age, with a roundtable discussion on contemporary identity that explores the link between the Freudian ‘death drive’ in digital mass archiving activity (think blogging and facebook) and the same Freudian ‘death drive’ related to narcissism which is on the rise with social media use. Plus there is lots more on the agenda. It is postulated that linear ‘historical’ thinking is under siege from a new reality of portals, immediacy and multiplicity. “The function, meaning and significance of identity, memory and objects are changing at such a rapid pace, it will be good to actually sit down and discuss these things,” says artist Jane Boyer, curator for This ‘Me’ of Mine and symposium moderator. “Objects have always been an important way to communicate concepts and represent ideas, but now the boundary is blurred between the self and the object; objects have taken on an identity and we begin to see ourselves as objects.”

Sounds like a fascinating discussion at a time when we are increasingly living through our social media selves.

Panellists: Dr. David Houston Jones – Director of Visual Culture at the University of Exeter, Annabel Dover – Artist and PhD candidate at Wimbledon College of Art, Dr. Aiden Gregg – Social Psychologist, member of Centre for Research on Self and Identity and Lecturer at the University of Southampton, and Dr. Catherine Horan – Lecturer in Childhood and Youth Studies at University Campus Suffolk.

The symposium will be held at the Ipswich Art School Gallery and tickets are available for £16.55 available through eventbrite.
This ‘Me’ of Mine blogsite: www.thismeofmine.wordpress.com
This ‘Me’ of Mine exhibition on view now at Ipswich Art School Gallery, Tue – Sun, 10 to 5pm, until 5th January 2014.

Category: Art

If you go down to York Hall for the Bust Magazine Christmas Craftacular this Sunday you're in for a nice surprise. In addition to aisles and asiles of handmade gifts galore, there'll also be top London fashion designer talent setting up shop in the new 'BOOBTIQUE' area of the side bar. Look out for award-winning LFW and Esthetica designers, Lu Flux and Goodone labels both of whom will be bringing along sample sale items for the day.

Lu Flux is the queen of thrifty craft couture. Since establishing her eponymous label in 2009 Lu has presented collections at London and Tokyo Fashion Week and has won awards for her collections that showcase reclaimed textiles and traditional techniques. The Lu Flux signature style is very British, eccentric and high on charm. Items such as the Boo Boo bear apron dress – a favourite of Tatty Devine's Harriet Vine, and her trademark Machiavellian knitted fox scarf will be on sale on Dec 8 as well as rare items from the Lu Flux archive.

Goodone specialises in innovative ‘up-cycling’, combining new sustainable British fabrics with reclaimed textiles. Known for its bold, colour-blocked styles, the label has gone from strength to strength since it was set it up in 2006, winning awards for its intelligent approach to design which addresses the environmental impact of the fashion industry. The label will be selling items from the current Autumn Winter 2013 collection on Dec 8 at sample sale prices.

Another first for BUST Craftacular is their raffle going online with the help of supermarketsarah.com. The 35 prizes donated by vendors and supporters will help raise money for women's charity, Women for Women Interational and include Tatty Devine jewellery and a beginners shoemaking course at Prescott & Mackay worth £394, can be browsed online at Supermarket Sarah.

Item highlights from Craftacular vendors include:

Anna Wiscombe Wall Birds: A lovely pair of handcrafted and painted wooden birds made of oak – perfect to hang on your wall. Link

Racoon Macaroon Dish: A charming illustrated ceramic side plate by Jimbob Art.

Tea towels by Hazel Nicholls, who in the past assisted paper cut designer, Rob Ryan.

If you need to take a break from shopping, there is plenty on offer if you want to get crafty. Join Art Macabre for an hour-long tasters of their unique life drawing events in the secret Murder Mystery Drawing Room, or drop in at one of the back-to-back DIY workshops on offer all day from bow-tie making, to 'Christmassy' tie dying!

As usual early birds with their skates on can snag one of the free goodie bags which this time includes a tote bag by Hey! Holla made especially for Craftacular, plus for 10 lucky guests there will be a piece of Tatty Devine Jewellery.

Follow Craftacular on Twitter.
Facebook Event here.