Happy 1st Birthday to Yellowstone Art Boutique!!

To celebrate Hannah and Steph threw an AMAZING exhibition/party on Saturday night complete with band, drinks, cakes and even a photobooth! Featuring the work of contemporary crafts artist Lucy Anne Harding, the party was in full swing when we (my friend and fellow artist Jess) arrived around 5.30pm. We said a quick hello to the gorgeous looking Hannah complete with new hairstyle and green maxi dress (just right for st Patricks day), had a quick look round before checking out the band High House, who were brilliant live! After getting some beverages I got the camera out to take pics of all the great stock Yellowstone has to offer. As always there is a great spread of Little Peche Jewellery, Naomi Singer Glassware, Blaize Ceramics, Hannah Stoney Prints and so much more, every time I go I see something new.

I must say a MASSIVE WELL DONE to Lucy Anne Harding, who I have featured on this blog before. Lucy is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University, studying Contemporary crafts at the same time as me. I’ve always loved lucy’s work, especially the illustrative qualities she has. Lucy was at the party and it was great to catch up with her, finding out that things are really starting to take off for her is just great, she throughly deserves it! Lucy also has work featured currently in the ‘Memories’ exhibition at the Royal Exchange in Manchester.

Yellowstone Art Boutique is based at the retail village in Trentham Gardens, If you haven’t been already…. what are you waiting for?!

“Print Garage is the dark and dusty underground lair of Iain Perry: self-styled, swashbuckling squeegee warrior”

Iain Perry is the mastermind behind Print Garage, creating these wonderful screen prints by hand in his print studio/garage, hence the name. His prints explore the minutiae of his surroundings, drawing inspiration from old technology, tools, toys, film, record sleeves and science. Iain originally trained in fine art but recently discovered the joys of screen printing by hand, particularly working with repetition. I love his use of colour in the prints, evoking a happy, joyful mood. You can see more images over on the Print Garage website, where all work is available to buy…. and whilst your there check out the amazing typography used too!!

‘Ties That Bind’ is an exhibition which uses the context of the apron to express women’s lives, published stories, personal memories, imagined futures and more. Twelve contemporary designer/makers come together under the curatorship of Jennifer Collier displaying works made from paper, print and embroidery.

The preview event of Ties that bind was a massive success, (with some sort of cake baking contest taking place between the resident artists) we stocked up on a selection of homemade beetroot brownies, lemon drizzle squares, millionaires shortbread, fancy cupcakes and plenty more whilst taking in the exhibition. After a catch up with Louise Dawn Wilson and Emily Notman, unit twelve‘s newest residents, Mini me and me got heavily involved in the paper apron making activity (which certainly kept both kids and adults in deep concentration) I must mention the lovely Laura Kent who spent possibly the longest time perfecting her apron! A few of the exhibiting artists were at the preview including Colette Dobson and Ruth Singer, and with so many other stunning examples of craft available to see up close and personal at this exhibition you’d be mad to miss out….so get yourself over there sharpish!!

Last Saturday saw the preview evening of Ruth Allen and Rebecca Jones’ exhibition at Yellowstone Art Boutique, and what a success it was! Both artists were in attendance, along with new and existing artists who stock their pieces at Yellowstone.

I was happy to see Louise Dawn Wilson and Jo Hill (lovely ladies, both based at my old studio Unit 12) have been added to the growing list of local artists too. Hannah has done the most gorgeous display of Louise’s wire work  pieces….which you will spot above in the photos. Ruth Allen’s textile pieces are amazing in the flesh, I think the St Pauls Cathedral piece is my fav and Rebecca Jones has explored her ‘natures helium’ theme to great success. Hannah and Steph at Yellowstone have really pulled out all the stops to make the boutique looks it’s best for the christmas season, bulging with ideal presents for all ages. The kids corner is especially good, I find it’s always a bright, colourful and inviting corner jam packed with make it kits, rag dolls, toys and now it’s very own Yellowstone Advent Calendar (featured above)

Be sure to make the trip over to Yellowstone, based at Trentham Gardens Retail Village when your doing your christmas shopping…. something handmade will always go down a treat, and there’s plenty of them at Yellowstone.

Say Hello to another new product available on the For Sale page as of NOW!

Seamlessly linked together, these 6 vintage lace doilies make 1 runner ready to adorn your dining table for only £ 17.50. This piece is completely unique but keep your eye’s peeled as others will appear….

Last Saturday was the private viewing of Yellowstone Art Boutique‘s print exhibition, featuring work by the shop’s owner Hannah Stoney. As it’s been a month or two since my last visit I couldn’t wait to catch up with Hannah, Steph and meet the rest of the growing ‘Yellowstone’ family. I was taking some new framed vintage embroidered paper pieces with me and was greeted with a hug and offered a drink before quickly pricing up the new pieces and putting them on display. One thing I always receive when I visit Yellowstone is the warmest of welcomes…and I can guarantee you will too. After taking in the exhibition and a whip round with my camera to capture the prints and new products available. I had chatted with Hannah, discovering the lucky lady is off on an adventure to San Francisco for 3 weeks, leaving the shop in the very capable hands of Steph and Adam. I can never leave Yellowstone without making a purchase… there’s so much on offer I have to limit myself to a budget otherwise my bank balance would never forgive me! So after paying the very affordable £7.50 for a Natalie Bonney ceramic garlic crushing pot I collected up my things, said my goodbyes and made my way home.

What a lovely evening indeed…..

These classic tea set collections ‘Drip Tease’ and ‘Lip Tease’ by Reiko Kaneko combine traditional ceramics with a contemporary twist. Unwanted marks and stains become desirable decorative details. Here, tea spills are playfully turned into precious gold and lipstick marks are turned into a cheeky decorative feature. Made of real gold, you wouldn’t want to wash this mark off in a hurry!

Hoolala Jewellery

Poppy Treffry

Recycled Storage Bags.

Dear Prudence

Bibelot is the areas only authorised Cath Kidston stockist – they carry a large range including bags and accessories, homeware, toiletries, bedding, books, stationary and umbrellas. Alongside Cath Kidston Bibelot also sell a fantastic range of children’s toys and gifts including vintage style games, a large selection of craft kits and our ever popular vintage Lego minifigures. Above are a few examples of what you can find online and instore.

One Sugar Please is the independent studio of experienced print designer and paper illustrator Rebecca Emery.

Through effective graphic design, illustration, marketing, advertising and branding, Rebecca makes a positive difference to organisations, charities and individuals. She has designed for World Vision, RoSPA, Open Doors, Envision, Retrak, West Midlands Regional Observatory & London Youth amongst others.

Working alongside printers who practice environmentally friendly printing methods, every stage of a design commission follows ‘good’ values – creating design which makes a high ethical and social impact and a low environmental impact.

Above are images of Rebecca’s handmade items available at her etsy shop, but I strongly recommend her blog too!

“My ideas spring from a complex blending of the abstract to the familiar, evident in both the functional ware and sculpture that I make. My objects, in their colour, shape and materiality, reference the ideas of restraint, containment and minimalism. My search for a simplicity of form draws inspiration upon a diverse range of sources from mid-century British Constructivism to the history of the ceramic industry in Europe and Asia. I work in celadon glazed porcelain and stoneware and my objects, whether they are made to be used or not, tend to be placed in groupings – evoking communality and sociability. My aim is to push the boundaries of a traditional and diverse artform through playing with its aesthetics, materiality and processes. Fundamentally, my work is essentially made to be used in everyday life.” – Derek Wilson

You will be able to see Derek’s beautiful ceramics at Origin, old spitalfields market, London from 22-28th Spetember, click here for more details.