ceramics – Page 2 – AmeliasMagazine

Amelia’s Magazine | New Designers 2013 Ceramics and Craft: The Best Graduate Designers

Charlotte Mary Pack - critically endangered mammal in porcelain
New Designers part one plays host to large number of crafts and ceramics graduates: here’s the ones that caught my eye, starting with the work of Charlotte Mary Pack of Central Saint Martins. She grew up on a farm, which inspired an early love of nature that is manifested in her stunning porcelain models of every critically endangered mammal.

Ru Raynor ceramics characters
I adored ceramic characters designed to prompt environmental awareness by Ru Raynor, who has merged her inner hippy and nerd together to create a saleable range that is inspired by her love of vinyl toys.

Ceramic artist Kako Oya explored the frailties of the human condition using the body language of rabbits.

New Designers show 2013-Charlotte Stockley Midsurrey Ceramics
Charlotte Stockley‘s Midsurrey Ceramics range would sit nicely alongside all the 50s inspired interiors design I’ve seen this year; I’m not surprised to discover that she already sells in a host of shops.

upcycled teddy bear by Ginni Jones Mansueto
This upcycled teddy bear was by designer maker Ginni Jones Mansueto.

metal plates by Sophie Jones at Hereford
Sophie Jones of Hereford College of the Arts created these intriguing distorted platters, which were forged in iron before being given an eye-catching makeover with neon spray paints.

New Designers show 2013-Emma Hughes
Emma Hughes had made these rattling ceramic dolls inspired by African and South American tribal rituals – it’s not the first time I’ve seen this kind of work from artists at Hereford College but I still can’t help but be drawn to it.

New Designers show 2013-Elizabeth Hart
These incredible ceramic pots by Elizabeth Hart at Nottingham Trent University were created with the garden in mind. I love the organic textures that seem to mimic a mixture of moss, bark and barnacles: they looked incredible filled with tumbling houseplants.

New Designers show 2013-glassbirdstudio
These beautiful glass insect wall hangings are by Georgina Foster of Glass Bird Studio, created through a combination of screen printing and sandblasting.

New Designers show 2013-Richard T Roberts glass
I’ll always be a sucker for cute animals. These wonderful glass versions of popular favourites are by Richard T Roberts.

New Designers show 2013-Bethany Lanning
Bethany Lanning‘s evisceral ceramic heads were designed as a tribute to the abused of the world – her evocative use of clay slip an echo of real life stigmatisation.

New Designers show 2013-Emma Claire Whiston
From Manchester School of Art ceramicist Emma Claire Whiston created beautiful slipware bowls decorated with slices of pattern.

New Designers show 2013-Elise Menghini
Elise Menghini of Bath Spa University made this ceramic bulb design which must have been inspired by the fairground. I really liked her witty ‘business card’ – a slice of ceramic that looked like a piece of rock candy.

George Groenhuysen ceramics
Finally, I must mention the astonishing ceramics installation by George Groenhuysen, a graduate of Kensington and Chelsea College. I unfortunately did not manage to take a photo of his cabinet full of blackened earthenware so instead here’s a shot from his promotional postcard showing a fabulous teapot encrusted with skulls.

*Many of these images first appeared on my instagram feed, where you can view my pick of design graduates as I find them.*

Written by Amelia Gregory on Saturday July 20th, 2013 9:49 pm

Categories ,2013, ,Bath Spa University, ,Bethany Lanning, ,Central Saint Martins, ,ceramics, ,Charlotte Mary Pack, ,Charlotte Stockley, ,craft, ,Elise Menghini, ,Elizabeth Hart, ,Emma Claire Whiston, ,Emma Hughes, ,George Groenhuysen, ,Georgina Foster, ,Ginni Jones Mansueto, ,Glass Bird Studio, ,Hereford College of the Arts, ,Kako Oya, ,Kensington and Chelsea College, ,Manchester School of Art, ,Midsurrey Ceramics, ,New Designers, ,Nottingham Trent University, ,review, ,Richard T Roberts, ,Ru Raynor, ,Sophie Jones

Amelia’s Magazine | New Designers 2013 Surface Design Graduates – Playful Brights

New Designers show 2013-Hannah Rampley
Next up, my review of splashy abstract brights and lovely playful designs. It’s fair to say that this is a look I will always love, but there did seem to be a lot of very beautiful surface designs and printed textiles that followed this theme in 2013.

surfacedesign by Hannah Rampley at Leeds
At Leeds College of Art I wanted to gobble up these juicy fruit designs by Hannah Rampley.

New Designers show 2013-emma cook
Emma Cook worked in ceramics to create pretty textured decorative tiles.

Dinosaurs and Octopi by Hannah Bowen
New Designers show 2013-hannah bowen
Dinosaurs and Octopi populate surface patterns by Hannah Bowen. I can see her gorgeous designs working really well for children, and her playful prints also snagged her the Harlequin Award at New Designers.

Tropical Pleating from Emily Jane Fisher
I loved the tropical pleating and glittering oversized sequins in a stunning display by Emily Jane Fisher at De Montford University.

Amy Gill textiles
At Nottingham Trent I was taken by these neon floral and graphic textiles by Amy Gill.

Fun surface design by Ozlem Djafer
Fun portraiture based surface design by Ozlem Djafer at Bucks New University was based on fashion hierarchies.

abstract print by Katie Whitton at new designers
These super colourful skeins of abstract print are by Katie Whitton at Norwich University – another understandable award winner, this time from Tigerprint.

Radishes by Charlie O'Byrne

A brave move to display your menswear prints on a fruit and veg stall, but I think it paid off Charlie O’Byrne! This UWE graduate interned with Louise Gray, which makes total sense since they are both lovers of all things bright and fun.

Oxana Koroviatskaia - modernist painterly brights
Oxana Koroviatskaia‘s modernist painterly brights were immensely appealing draped across the Glasgow School of Art stand.

New Designers show 2013-Emily Chapman
At London College of Communications I liked this colourful display of patterns by Emily Chapman.

printed textile design by Rosie Cook
Mock ups for graphic printed textile designs by Rosie Cook at Staffordshire University went down a storm when I posted them on instagram. Don’t forget, many of these images first appeared on my instagram feed, where you can view my pick of design graduates as I find them. Read about my favourite designs that follow a strong 50s trend here.

Written by Amelia Gregory on Thursday July 18th, 2013 1:42 pm

Categories ,2013, ,Amy Gill, ,Brights, ,Bucks New University, ,ceramics, ,Charlie O’Byrne, ,De Montford University, ,Emily Chapman, ,Emily Jane Fisher, ,Emma Cook, ,Glasgow School of Art, ,Hannah Bowen, ,Hannah Rampley, ,Harlequin Award, ,Katie Whitton, ,Leeds College of Art, ,London College of Communications, ,New Designers, ,Norwich University, ,Nottingham Trent, ,Oxana Koroviatskaia, ,Ozlem Djafer, ,Printed Textiles, ,review, ,Rosie Cook, ,Staffordshire University, ,surface design, ,Tigerprint, ,trends, ,UWE

Amelia’s Magazine | In Place Peckham: Camberwell College of Arts Illustration Degree Show 2014 Review

This year the Camberwell College of Arts illustration graduates eschewed central London to hold their show in a warehouse in Copeland Park behind the Bussey Building, an area which has changed beyond all recognition since I shared a studio there after graduation with Simone Lia and Catherine Vase. Nowadays Peckham is a seething hub of creativity, with the cafe culture to support it. Eighteen years ago (gulp!) not so much so.

Phlegm artwork adorning the Bussey Building, which used to be known as SANA.

The exhibition was aptly named In Place Peckham: when I arrived some of the illustrators were kicking a ball around with local kids, and a few of the final projects were the result of work (and play) within the community. Peckham may be changing but it’s still a very deprived area of London, so it was good to see a thoughtful engagement from students who clearly consider the place where they studied an important factor in their creative development.

I’ve been to a lot of shows this summer and I’m incredibly late posting my reviews because we’ve been away a lot as well. So here, without further ado, is my run down of favourite pieces found in Peckham. Soonmi Jung creates wildly energetic paintings and I fell in love with her book, After the Tide, about becoming engulfed in the sea whilst hunting for pretty pebbles – with illustrations that wonderfully evoke the untamed nature of the coast in glorious technicolour.

This subtle wood texture print is by Matt Dunlop.

I thoroughly enjoyed some spot on commentary about excessive mobile phone use from Daryl Rainbow. Of course, I fully get the irony of taking photos of his illustrations on my mobile phone and subsequently sharing them on instagram (where I first shared all my finds a few weeks back).

This interactive sculpture by Lara Preiti explores the reasons why structures might collapse in earthquakes. I also like the quizzical faces on ceramics that remind me of the Easter Island monoliths.

Nepalese illustrator Gaurab Thakali created colourful illustration inspired by a love of jazz.

Large scale fabric cacti and succulents by Jess Money dominated the corner of a room.

Haylea Rush also worked in fabric to create this somewhat jokey fabric sarcophagus.

Bizarre aggregations of flowers, fruit and body parts remain a very popular trend amongst graduating illustrators, by Lisa Mallinson.

A decorative ceramic roast chicken by Camille Thirot-Lafond was cast from a plastic one she found in a pound shop, part of a commentary on how we attribute value to objects.

These pretty patterns are by Soo Nyeong Shin.

Ara Cho had created a plethora of tiny colourful collages inspired by the act of dining.

Soap was re-formed into oddly familiar shapes by Caz Slattery, one of many artists interested in imbuing everyday objects with a new significance.

I really liked Chloe Greenfield’s patterned ceramics and textiles display, part of her Greasy Shrine installation.

Beautiful fine porcelain was adorned with delicate illustration by Anna Baldwin.

This joyful astronaut cat and giraffe illustration is by Rebecca Barnett.

Amy Glover showcased a clever and much needed project, the result of making dens and spaces for play in collaboration with local Peckham kids.

Surreal interiors by Yvonne Wiecek were inspired by a love of fiction.

I love the perspective on this campfire scene by Amy Grimes. She also created these coral ceramics and sheep.

A love of science and nature inspired a series of very detailed work by Natalie Rowe.

To support the In Place Peckham exhibition the students raised money via Kickstarter to produce a beautiful show catalogue. The exhibition was also lovingly realised, but I had to spend an inordinate amount of time matching the work to the illustrators, as everything was number coded and had to be checked back to an A4 sheet. This made for a slick show on the walls but it was a nightmare to write about: future graduates please take note! It’s a shame, also, that Camberwell students did not accept my offer to list their graduate show on my website (as I did for Kingston and Bournemouth). When I didn’t hear back I clicked on over to their website and nicked a few images to use in a listing for the June Open House at Camberwell College of Arts. The result? A major art book publisher got in touch with me because they want to work with one of the students whose work I featured. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: new graduates have to grab every opportunity to promote their work, for this is not the end it is only the beginning… and you never know where offers such as mine may lead.

Follow me on instagram to discover new art in real time as I find it.

Written by Amelia Gregory on Tuesday August 12th, 2014 9:25 am

Categories ,2014, ,After the Tide, ,Amy Glover, ,Amy Grimes, ,Anna Baldwin, ,Ara Cho, ,bournemouth, ,Bussey Building, ,Camberwell College of Arts, ,Camille Thirot-Lafond, ,Caz Slattery, ,ceramics, ,Chloe Greenfield, ,community, ,Copeland Park, ,Daryl Rainbow, ,Degree Show, ,Gaurab Thakali, ,graduate, ,Greasy Shrine, ,Haylea Rush, ,illustration, ,In Place Peckham, ,Jess Money, ,Kickstarter, ,Kingston, ,Lara Preiti, ,Lisa Mallinson, ,Matt Dunlop, ,Natalie Rowe, ,Peckham, ,Phlegm, ,Rebecca Barnett, ,review, ,SANA, ,Simone Lia, ,Soo Nyeong Shin, ,Soonmi Jung, ,Yvonne Wiecek

Amelia’s Magazine | An Interview with Designer Laszlo Tompa

Lazlo Tompa

The title of this post is a little misleading as Laszlo Tompa is more than just a Designer. Not just a Ceramist or a Craftsman, he is more like a materials ‘magician’. His creations are half homeware item and half magic trick, and his Spiral Puzzle Box is particularly enchanting.

Having studied at Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest, Hungary, Laszlo has a real knack with clay and wood as well as a killer eye for design. Geometric shapes and space are his obsessions, and his wood pieces are all sensually smooth and designed right down to the smallest detail.

Lazlo Tompa

His wooden pieces fall into the following categories: Flower Hanging Lamps, Hydro Lamps, Cube Illusion and Spiral Box. The Flower Hanging Lamps are made from solid cherry wood with hexagonal and pentagonal pyramids forming the main structure. Light only points downwards in these nifty little ceiling lovers. His Hydro Lamps, inspired by ocean creatures that emit light, are made from solid wood, but have more of a deep sea vibe than than their flowery counterparts. These beauties let shards of light out in the main body of the lamp, unlike their floral brothers and sisters.

Cube Illusion is a wooden box with a lid, and looks a bit like a giant Ferrero Rocher (minus the golden foil). It’s a design sculpture and homeware piece made of complex shapes that appears to house a small space, but in actual fact is surprisingly roomy. The Spiral Box is part gargantuan snail, part labyrinth; at first impossible to open, patience and persistence lead to the discovery of a hidden drawer. I spoke to Laszlo about his talent for materials, his amazing creations and how he knew these nifty concepts would work.

Lazlo Tompa

How did you become interested in ceramics?
I had no special influence in my childhood. I encountered clay for the first time in a school workshop and I loved its limitless ductility. At Art High-School I spent time in the Department of Ceramics. After this I learned everything I know about clay at university.

Laszlo Tompa

You also work with wood, how did you first develop a love for this material?
Both my grandfather and my father were Craftsmen who did a lot of woodwork in their free time. As a child, I was delighted to see them shape wood and create new objects. Through several generations in our family, the wood-turning lathe was as common as a refrigerator in other families. Despite this, I was more attracted to ceramics, though I have enjoyed rediscovering wood during the past two years.

Laszlo Tompa

Do you find you find switching between materials difficult?
My starting point is the form, and I choose the material based on that. I think all Designers have to know the properties of the materials. I have no problem with changing materials.

Geometric shapes are a big feature of your work, have you always been interested in space and shape?
I’ve always liked Maths. While studying Ceramics I realised that tile geometry and tessellation is really interesting. After I realised this, I spend years studying it, and later I turned to designing 3D tiles.

Lazlo Tompa

Your work is really well thought out, what process do you go through to get to a finished piece?
Luckily I have a lot of ideas. Out of these I choose some that are worth pursuing. I make several 3D models on computer. When they are good enough I produce a prototype and I refine the ratios. For example this is how the computer version of Cube Illusion was created.

Lazlo Tompa

What kind of furniture is your own home filled with?
I prefer Scandinavian-style furniture.

How did you get the idea for Spiral Box?
I was interested in spiral forms at university and I studied all kinds of twisted plant shapes. Spiral Box was designed long after these. The idea came to my mind after studying the form of a worm. Preparation of the prototype was very difficult and complicated.

Lazlo Tompa

What have you got lined up for the year ahead?
I would like to return to tile geometry and make wooden wall tiles. I plan to exhibit them at the end of the summer and I have confidence that they will have similar success to my former works.

Lazlo Tompa

To see more of Laszlo‘s work check out his site www.tompakeramia.hu. All photos were provided by Laszlo Tompa.

Written by Jessica Cook on Friday July 12th, 2013 8:31 pm

Categories ,ceramics, ,Clay, ,copying lathe, ,craft, ,design, ,form, ,Furniture, ,geometry, ,jessicasrcook, ,Lazlo-Tompa, ,Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, ,shapes, ,Space, ,Spiral box, ,tile, ,wood, ,Woodcraft, ,woodturner

Amelia’s Magazine | Louise Wilkinson Illustrations and Ceramics: an interview with the designer

Louise Wilkinson ceramics- Lemon Tree dinner plate lifestyle

I first encountered Louise Wilkinson’s inimitable ceramics designs at Tent London last September, and instantly fell in love. The likes of Liberty discovered her beautiful bone china early on, and she has more recently created bespoke illustrations for panelling in the shop at the V&A. I caught up with her to find out more about her career to date, where her inspiration comes from and how she set about putting her illustrations onto china.

Louise Wilkinson ceramics- jug lifestyle

I absolutely adore your debut Maple Collection, inspired by English gardens, Oriental china and a love of nature. How did you construct the designs and how long did the process take to apply them to so many different shapes?
I like to draw a few pencil sketches first on scraps of paper and then at a later stage I draw my artworks on the computer with a pen. I love to create intricate artworks with witty details, often with a narrative. The designs are then screen printed and hand decorated in Stoke on Trent. It took many months to consider the shapes and designs together and then to fit the artworks correctly.

How do you pick the colour ways for your designs?
For my Maple Collection, I chose to have navy blue as the main colour with bold, playful, pops of colours for highlights. I often kept to two colours per design, for instance I liked the combination of a citrus yellow accent with navy blue or a coral red with navy blue.

Louise Wilkinson ceramics-Trees plate

What was the best bit about growing up in Yorkshire?
I loved growing up in the counrtyside, being able to spend a lot of time outside. We lived opposite a large field with lots of trees, me and my sister would often play and run around! I have lived in London over 10 years now, so it is nice to have the balance of London life and also visiting my family up north!

You have already led a varied design career, studying illustration before moving into print and textiles for fashion. It sounds like the ideal career I never had! What was the highlight of those first years out of college?
I had always wanted to study Illustration so I took an Illustration degree at University. It was great to learn about the different aspects of image making, and after graduating my first job was working as an illustrator designing the prints, patterns and characters for children’s clothes, drawing everything by hand. I moved to London and worked in the fashion industry as a print and textiles designer, whilst also working on freelance book and magazine illustrations. I learnt a lot about working in different styles, techniques and applications to fabrics. It was great to get to know more about the commercial world and seasonal trends. Kids clothing is a fun area to work in!

Louise Wilkinson ceramics-Apple Tree dinner plate lifestyle

Why did you decide to create your own range and how did you effect that move?
I have been an illustrator and print and pattern designer for over a decade but I had always wanted to create my own artworks – to have a little more creative freedom and work for myself, creating timeless, playful and beautiful pieces. I launched my first collection in Liberty after attending the Best of British open day and it went from there!

Like me you are an avid fan of the illustrations found in children’s books, an aesthetic which I think comes through in your designs. Any favourites that you keep returning to?
Yes I do love children’s book illustrations, I always admired the painted collage technique used in the classic tale of The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, which is a classic. I also love Alain Gree’s cute illustrations and Russian fairy tales. I’m influenced by the traditional decorative arts, nature, exotic dreamlike places and often by different exhibitions I may visit in London. I love art and illustration, including Japanese and Chinese paintings, Matisse, Henri Rousseau, George Lepape….

Louise Wilkinson ceramics-Trees jug

What are your favourite pieces of homeware to design and why, and what is the hardest thing to design?
I love designing all the pieces, especially the plates and the cups and saucers. I like the flat surface area on a plate, which is like a blank canvas for artwork… and I like the little details you can add to cups and saucers. I’d say teapots can be harder to design for, as they are slightly more spherical.

What could we expect to find if we visited your work studio, can you describe it for us?
I am based in South East London where I have a large wooden desk with a Mac monitor and a pen tablet – it’s nice to have lots of surface area. There are lots of things around such as notebooks and pencil sketches, china samples, boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, brochures, postcards! I have a lot of research in draws and on the walls. I also have lots of magazines and art books because I love looking in books for research rather than always using the internet. Oh and there is always a cup of tea on my desk, I drink too much!

Louise Wilkinson ceramics-Teacups

Why is it important for you to maintain strong relationships with UK suppliers?
I think its great to manufacture as much in the UK wherever possible to support the industry, and it is nice to meet the lovely team in Stoke on Trent who I work with.

When can we expect a new collection from you, and can you share any hints as to what that will be?
I will be selling my exclusive artworks which were created especially for my recent collaboration on the Christmas shop installation at the V&A. I’m also exhibiting at the Modern Show in Dulwich on March 16th 2014. I love this Mid Century design show, which it is local to where I live. I will also be exhibiting at Tent London again, during London Design Week in September.

Louise Wilkinson ceramics-Coral red plates

Do you have any plans to expand into other areas of design and if so what?
I love creating artworks and illustration and this can be applied to many different surface areas. So hopefully new things soon, I have lots of ideas.

Finally, do you have any exciting plans for 2014 – in either business or life – that you can share with us?
Hopefully a few nice trips away, perhaps to Copenhagen or Finland. I may also be getting married this year, which is exciting!

Written by Amelia Gregory on Thursday March 6th, 2014 5:37 am

Categories ,Alain Gree, ,Best of British, ,Bone China, ,Ceramic design, ,ceramics, ,Chinese, ,Designer Maker, ,Dulwich, ,Eric Carle, ,George Lepape, ,Henri Rousseau, ,interview, ,japanese, ,liberty, ,London Design Week, ,Louise Wilkinson, ,Maple Collection, ,matisse, ,Mid Century, ,Modern Show, ,Russian, ,Stoke-on-Trent, ,Tent London, ,The Hungry Caterpillar, ,va

Amelia’s Magazine | Melody Rose Ceramics: an interview with fine bone china homeware designer Melanie Roseveare

Melody Rose skull plates

Designs by Melody Rose first caught my eye at the Renegade Craft Fair a few years ago, and then I bumped into the lady behind the brand at Tent London again this September and was excited to discover how her line of quirky decorated ceramics has grown in the intervening years. In addition to her original range of up cycled plates and tea cups designer Melanie Roseveare has recently launched a complementary fine bone china range that features her trademark idiosyncratic motifs. Think skulls, kissing couples, dragonflies, wolves and nudes. And some exciting new dramatic designs on the way for 2014…

Wolf Plate Melody Rose

Can you tell us a bit about your background: how did you come to work with ceramics and where did you learn your aesthetic from?
I wanted to be a painter when I was young but got a job with an international wine and spirits company when I moved to the UK from Canada in my early 20′s. It was a great experience and I did travel with my job and even went to live for a few years in South Africa but still missed my first love, art, and so I continued to make. When I returned to London I decided to work freelance and I took a range of part time courses in ceramics. I was very inspired when I saw Grayson Perry‘s Turner Prize winning show and the way he used the surface of his pieces as a canvas for his ideas. He was using a digital process to produce images to print on ceramics and I decided to learn everything I could from there.

Melody Rose ceramics - Skull in Crown dome

I believe you grew up in Canada, what brought you to the UK and what do you miss most about your home country?
I grew up in Canada and moved to the UK in my early twenties when I fell in love with London. The things I miss most about my home country is family and friends. I also miss the countryside especially in the autumn when all the leaves are changing colours, it’s incredibly vibrant and beautiful and my favourite time of year.

Melody Rose - Kissing Couple and saucer on log

What do you look for in the up cycled china pieces that you use?
I always look for pieces that are great quality and from a good factory if I can, and condition’s really important. I also love finding pieces that are quirky with interesting original details to add to and transform.

Melody Rose -Upcycled Vintage Vulture Side Plate

Why is it important to you to take an ecological approach to your designs?
I think it’s really important to try and reuse wherever I can. I’ve always collected antique and vintage ceramics and couldn’t believe the amount that sits unused or wasted in attics, charity shops, auctions while people buy more and more new pieces. It’s just such a waste of resources but also often of beautiful quality pieces that should be enjoyed and still have plenty of life in them. I love to introduce the idea of using pieces everyday that were once thought of as for ‘special occasion’ only.

Melody Rose ceramics bare bottoms plate

Why did you recently decide to branch out into your own bone china design production, and what can customers expect to find in this collection?
I was constantly being asked to make big tea and dinner sets for people and also to make much larger numbers of pieces so I decided to launch the range of tableware to go with my upcycled collection. I like the idea that people can choose from either range or they can mix and match from both ranges to create unique settings.

Melody Rose Gold Skull teacup

You particularly like to play with surreal combinations in your designs, where do you look for inspiration?
I take inspiration from the everyday things around me. I like to make pieces that have humour and are playful, but with an edge. I always liked the theatrical style of the baroque period and I was very influenced by surrealist painters when I was young. I like to think I can capture those feelings on my pieces.

Melody Rose china- The girl with cups hanging

How do you hope that your customers will use your ceramics, and what is the best part about seeing them in use?
The pieces do look beautiful on display, but they are completely functional and it’s great to see them in use. I love to see people taking pleasure from pouring a cup of tea.

Melody Rose - Dragonflies Bone China Teacup

What has been the highlight of running your own business so far?
Every week there’s something new and exciting and it’s constantly surprising me how much pleasure I have from my work. I’m very proud to be selling my ceramics in 15 countries around the world now and in some great galleries and shops as well as online.

Melody Rose - Skull in Crown Profile

Any downsides that you can share, and any tips for newcomers hoping to establish their own product design business?
It’s been a huge learning curve setting up Melody Rose. There’s always a new challenge and you have to really learn from your mistakes and move on rather than let it hold you back. It sounds like a cliche but you have to absolutely believe in what you are doing and be passionate about it. It’s a huge amount of work to get going and there’s no set hours so it’s a real labour of love.

Melody Rose Kissing Couple Side plate crop

What are you planning in 2014, and can you share any sneak peaks into new designs you are working on?
I will launching a new collection a bit later in the year in 2014. I don’t have anything to show at the moment but you can expect to see a lot of colour and a lot of drama!

Written by Amelia Gregory on Wednesday November 20th, 2013 12:03 pm

Categories ,canada, ,ceramics, ,eco, ,ethical, ,Homeware, ,Melanie Roseveare, ,Melody Rose, ,Renegade Craft Fair, ,Saucers, ,South Africa, ,Teacups, ,Tent London, ,Turner Prize, ,Upcycled

Amelia’s Magazine | Middlesex University: Ba Hons Jewellery and Accessories Design Graduate Show 2011 Review

Middlesex University Jewellery graduate show 2011-Louise McKay photo by Amelia Gregory
Ceramic pendant by Louise McKay. All photography by Amelia Gregory.

The Middlesex Ba Hons Jewellery and Accessories display at Free Range Art and Design Show was by far the most impressive part of the exhibition held on the weekend of the 4-5th June at the Truman Brewery. It’s no wonder that this is one of the most respected jewellery degrees in the country, order with an extremely high quality of work on display throughout. Only a few weeks back I met Myia Bonner, a recent Middlesex graduate who is already producing some brilliant work with the Metric Collective just one year out of college. Here are some of my favourite finds:

Middlesex University Jewellery graduate show 2011-Joys Cheung photo by Amelia Gregory
Joys Cheung had produced some clever acrylic bangles – I particularly liked their use as plastic bag holders, the bright colours of the disposable bags becoming something beautiful in themselves, and ever ready to be used down the shops.

Middlesex University Jewellery graduate show 2011-Samira Mazloom photo by Amelia Gregory
Samira Mazloom had some lovely chunky shell shaped rings with gems in the spikes. How I would love one of those on my hands.

Middlesex University Jewellery graduate show 2011-Jenny Konnaris photo by Amelia Gregory
Jenny Konnaris used metallic leather to create flat laser cut neck accessories. During 2010 Jenny worked alongside Hussein Chalayan to produce jewellery and eyewear for his Mirage A/W 2010 collection which might explain why she has a website showcasing her work. Her final degree collection was inspired by Narcissus, questioning the idea of perfection through conscious asymmetry.

Middlesex University Jewellery graduate show 2011-Kirstie Maclaren photo by Amelia Gregory

The stunning work of Kirstie Maclaren crossed the boundaries of jewellery and fashion, with origami influenced cascading folded garments that move position to change shape. Simply gorgeous. The images of a model were taken from Kirstie Maclaren’s blogspot. Keep an eye on this one!

Middlesex University Jewellery graduate show 2011-Rebecca Ng photo by Amelia Gregory
Rounded button hats in softly tactile stingray leathers and felt were rendered in berry colours from Rebecca Ng. Yummy indeed.

Middlesex University Jewellery graduate show 2011-Louise McKay photo by Amelia Gregory
Huge metallic ceramic glazed balls hung on an oversized chain from Louise McKay. Wonderful.

Middlesex University Jewellery graduate show 2011-Dino Wear By Kali Clever photo by Amelia Gregory

Dino Wear By Kali Clever was a range of interlocking jigsaw necklaces that can be remade in different shapes, created by Kali Ratcliffe. She has a wonderful website which plays on her name – multiple hands show the way to some even more avante garde Dino inspired designs (see above). Go check it out.

Middlesex University Jewellery graduate show 2011-Esme Newdick photo by Amelia Gregory
Latex collars were etched with dark circles by Esme Newdick, then decorated with brass and zinc.

Middlesex University Jewellery graduate show 2011-Kerry Howley photo by Amelia Gregory
Winner of MoDA’s Arthur Silver Award prize, Kerry Howley had created bizarre necklaces out of human hair – they drew a gasp of disgust from the person next to me but were certainly very clever and innovative. She is inspired by emotional responses from the wearing of jewellery and frequently uses biotic materials in her jewellery such as bone, teeth and hair. Hair is already familiar in jewellery but is more usually found in lockets, rather than in intricate patterns inspired by wallpaper designs.

Middlesex University Jewellery graduate show 2011-Francesca Samels photo by Amelia Gregory
Francesca Samels showed her delicate jewellery on a beautiful dressing table installation. She was inspired by the mystery of objects that retain memories, thinking of ways to give life to forgotten jewels.

This was a really quite magical selection of new jewellery design but I have one major gripe – no websites on promotional postcards AT ALL. Luckily I found a few designers online anyway. The others, nowhere to be found at all. What were they thinking?!!!!

Written by Amelia Gregory on Thursday June 16th, 2011 10:52 pm

Categories ,ceramics, ,Dino, ,Dino Wear By Kali Clever, ,Esme Newdick, ,Francesca Samels, ,Free Range, ,Free Range Art and Design Show, ,freerange, ,Gold, ,Graduate Shows, ,Hair, ,Hussein Chalayan, ,Jenny Konnaris, ,jewellery, ,Jewellery and Accessories, ,Joys Cheung, ,Kali Jewellery, ,Kali Ratcliffe, ,Kerry Howley, ,Kirstie Maclaren, ,Latex, ,London Jewellery Week, ,Louise McKay, ,Memories, ,Metric Collective, ,middlesex university, ,millinery, ,MoDA’s Arthur Silver Award, ,Myia Bonner, ,Necklaces, ,Rebecca Ng, ,Samira Mazloom, ,shells, ,Stingray leather

Amelia’s Magazine | New Designers 2011 Part One: Ceramics and Glass Graduate Show Review

New Designers review 2011-Tim Rawlinson
Glassware by Tim Rawlinson.

Ceramics and Glass took up most of the upper balcony at New Designers part one, pill curling against the railings in small exhibition spaces that brought home to me just how important it is to put together a really great eye catching main graduate exhibition: the Royal College of Art‘s small space did not show off work to anything like the standard that was seen at their own show and I would have easily passed by some of their most compelling student’s work if this was all I had seen. Luckily I did see Ceramics and Glass in situ at the RCA – read a full review of their show here.

New Designers review 2011-Emily Woodcock
From University of Westminster I was drawn to Emily Woodcock‘s ceramic photo frames piled crazily on top of each other.

New Designers review 2011-Sally Szczech
Next to her Sally Szczech had interspersed ceramic bobbins embedded with old photos amongst sewing threads.

New Designers review 2011-Tim Rawlinson
At Bucks New University I liked Tim Rawlinson‘s curvaceous coloured glassware.

New Designers review 2011-Nan Kong from the University of Sunderland
Nan Kong from the University of Sunderland MA course showed a beautiful glass decomposing pear. Nom nom.

New Designers review 2011-Michelle Taylor
At the University of Wolverhampton Michelle Taylor had deconstructed baroque with knitted teacups and half gilded ceramics.

New Designers review 2011-New Designers review 2011-Nicala Hellinger
At University of Wales Institute Cardiff Nicala Hellinger displayed a wall of red and green flocked ornamentation.

Written by Amelia Gregory on Thursday July 7th, 2011 10:56 pm

Categories ,baroque, ,Bobbins, ,Bucks New University, ,cardiff, ,ceramics, ,Emily Woodcock, ,Frames, ,Gilded, ,Glass, ,knit, ,Michelle Taylor, ,Nan Kong, ,New Designers, ,Nicala Hellinger, ,rca, ,Royal College of Art, ,Sally Szczech, ,Teacups, ,Tim Rawlinson, ,University of Sunderland, ,University of Wales Institute, ,University of Westminster, ,University of Wolverhampton

Amelia’s Magazine | New Designers 2011 Part One: Contemporary Craft Graduate Show Review

New Designers review 2011-Hollie Anderson
Creatures, troche by Hollie Anderson, purchase at Hereford College of Arts.

During part one a large part of exhibition space was given out to what is known as Contemporary Craft – which in essence meant anything that was not particularly innovative in comparison with the rest of New Designers. But there were exceptions… Hereford College of Arts turned out some of the strongest contemporary crafters, page with individual and imaginative artwork that looked fresh against much of what I saw, both in the Contemporary Craft space and elsewhere. Hereford very deservingly won Best Stand.

New Designers review 2011-Ashleigh Williams
Ashleigh Williams was on hand to explain that her crocheted jellyfish filled with LED lights were intended for display as groupings that mimic their tendencies in the natural world. The tentacles and translucency were very convincing – amazing what crochet can do.

New Designers review 2011-Sarah Bevan Toft Laski
Sarah Bevan also goes by the name Toft Laski. On her display cabinet there was a host of curious beasties: dolls with donkey heads, dried fish on wheels and rolling birds with wigs on. A grand old assortment.

New Designers review 2011-Victoria Midgley
Victoria Midgley created extravagant mirrors from unconventional art materials, inspired by the colours and shapes of tropical sealife.

New Designers review 2011-Hollie Anderson hereford

I was totally stunned by Hollie Anderson‘s work – fuelled by an interest in animistic religions, she’d put together some totemic pieces that were vaguely unsettling and yet utterly compulsive: strange faceless creatures with embroidered snowflake tummies, gaping mouths and protruding spikes… bleeding figures with no discernible features at all… five legged creates with bones for mouths… a tethered fox like creature, again with hair and bones in all the wrong positions. She aims to tug at the viewer’s subconscious, ‘creating an innate emotional reaction to the figures, giving them life.’ Totally dazzled with the brilliance of Hollie’s incredible creations, caught somewhere between craft, totems and fine art. More images can be viewed on her very well designed tumblr website.

New Designers review 2011-Nadine Spencer
Nadine Spencer from Nottingham Trent University showed a huge laser cut city chandelier, with buildings piled on top of each other. Her individual artworks also showed cities, this time populated with alien spacecraft too. What fun!

New Designers review 2011-Laura Matthews Nottingham Trent University
By the table Laura Mathews was obviously in charge of the rats. I do so love it when you can spot the maker! She told me how her rats with articulated limbs are made out of recycled acrylic that she found in a skip. At last! Someone thinking ecologically! There really wasn’t enough of this at New Designers. Laura would like to make an animation featuring rats amongst those other urban pests: foxes and pigeons.

Don’t forget to check in with my other New Designers Part One blog posts: Textile Design, Surface Design, Ceramics and Glass and Jewellery. Just click on the links!

Written by Amelia Gregory on Friday July 8th, 2011 9:47 am

Categories ,2011, ,Acrylic, ,Animistic Religion, ,Ashleigh Williams, ,Best Stand, ,Business Design Centre, ,ceramics, ,Chandelier, ,Contemporary Craft, ,craft, ,crochet, ,Curious Beasties, ,Fine Art, ,Hereford College of Arts, ,Hollie Anderson, ,Jellyfish, ,Laura Mathews, ,Laura Matthews, ,LED lights, ,Mirrors, ,Nadine Spencer, ,New Designers, ,Nottingham Trent University, ,Rats, ,recycled, ,Sarah Bevan, ,Toft Laski, ,Totems, ,Upcycled, ,Victoria Midgley

Amelia’s Magazine | New Designers 2011 Part One: Contemporary Craft Graduate Show Review

New Designers review 2011-Hollie Anderson
Creatures, troche by Hollie Anderson, purchase at Hereford College of Arts.

New Designers review 2011-Victoria Midgley
Victoria Midgley created extravagant mirrors from unconventional art materials, inspired by the colours and shapes of tropical sealife.

Don’t forget to check in with my other New Designers Part One blog posts: Textile Design, Surface Design, Ceramics and Glass and Jewellery. Just click on the links!

Written by Amelia Gregory on Friday July 8th, 2011 9:47 am

Amelia’s Magazine | New Designers 2013 Ceramics and Craft: The Best Graduate Designers

Similar Posts:

Amelia’s Magazine | New Designers 2013 Surface Design Graduates – Playful Brights

Similar Posts:

Amelia’s Magazine | In Place Peckham: Camberwell College of Arts Illustration Degree Show 2014 Review

Similar Posts:

Amelia’s Magazine | An Interview with Designer Laszlo Tompa

Similar Posts:

Amelia’s Magazine | Louise Wilkinson Illustrations and Ceramics: an interview with the designer

Similar Posts:

Amelia’s Magazine | Melody Rose Ceramics: an interview with fine bone china homeware designer Melanie Roseveare

Similar Posts:

Amelia’s Magazine | Middlesex University: Ba Hons Jewellery and Accessories Design Graduate Show 2011 Review

Similar Posts:

Amelia’s Magazine | New Designers 2011 Part One: Ceramics and Glass Graduate Show Review

Similar Posts:

Amelia’s Magazine | New Designers 2011 Part One: Contemporary Craft Graduate Show Review

Similar Posts:

Amelia’s Magazine | New Designers 2011 Part One: Contemporary Craft Graduate Show Review

Similar Posts: