3 days to go...

Our countdown to Speed Craft continues with an introduction to the next designer offering expert tuition on Saturday...

Lucy Renshaw is a textile designer with a passion for bright colour, influenced by time spent living in the Caribbean. Mixing contemporary colour and design with hand picked finds and reclaimed materials from junk shops, every item of her hand-made work is entirely individual.

You too could make something truly unique with Lucy this Saturday. Sign up to our newsletter for £10 off ticket prices for up to three people :)

If this Saturday doesn't suit you, have a look at our other workshops here, including 2 this Sunday...

Speed Craft... Here we come!

4 days to go, and a warm hello to designer number 3 - Nicki Dennett!

 

Nicki is a talented printmaker, inspired by everything around her, drawing and collecting visual inspiration everywhere she goes.  She is currently working on a children's book, and exploring solar print etching...

See our workshop page to see what Nicki could be helping you create on Saturday...

To become a speed crafter, give our shop a ring on 0115 950 7776 to grab a place.

Remember you can get £10 off if you sign up to our newsletter here.

Our Speed Craft warm-up continues...

... With an introduction to Janine Nelson of Smashing Chintz who will be on hand this Saturday to guide your mosaic creations!

Janine's work is influenced by a love of pattern, design and illustration combined with an interest in contemporary issues relating to the environment. Old plates, cups and saucers from flea markets and charity shops provide the basic material... which you could be using in your designs too!

 

 

Fancy a 'piece' of the action? Remaining tickets are £65 each or sign up to our newsletter for £10 off here...

 

Alternatively, how about joining a workshop on Sunday? More details on these are on our workshop page...

6 days and counting...

Here's the first of 6 introductions to the designers involved next Saturday...

Katie Almond is a designer who specialises in ceramics, with a collection of one-off pieces, from porcelain jugs and cups to cake stands and brooches, made using a variety of slip casting and hand-building techniques, decoratively hand painted with drawings, text, collage and pattern.  Inspired by nostalgia, old paper ephemera and vintage textiles, her beautiful work is a real vintage treat!

Visit our workshop page to see what you could be making with Katie!

Fancy joining the fun? A limited number of tickets are still available... and for £10 off, just sign up to our newsletter first...

P.S. If you're busy on Saturday, you could always join us in the shop on Sunday for either our Young Creative Club or Ceramic Christmas Tree Decoration workshop... More details on both of these here.

Countdown to Speed Craft!

We're warming up to Speed Craft!  Each day this week meet each of the 6 designers taking part... starting tomorrow...

For more details on the event, please visit our workshop page.  Tickets are still available at £65 each... or if you sign up to our newsletter first (here) you can get £10 off a ticket for you and up to two friends... (but shush, you didn't hear that here...)

Winter is coming...

...which can only mean one thing - Christmas! 
If you're looking to make it a bit different this year, how about making your very own decorations?  We've got a couple of great workshops coming up where you can do just that!

On Sunday 4th November Katie Almond is leading a Ceramic Christmas Tree Decoration Workshop at the very leisurely time of 12-3pm. So, even if you were speed crafting all day on Saturday, after your lie in, come and join us to create your own range of hand painted bell, holly, tree (or your own design) shaped ceramic decorations. The workshop (including our scrumptious refreshments) is just £30... And your pieces will be fired and ready to collect from Nov 17th. 

 

Alternatively, on Saturday 24th November, Louise Dawn Wilson will be with us all day for two Wire-work workshops. Spend the morning (10-1pm) creating a unique brooch of your own design from wire and textiles (£20) or the afternoon (2-5pm) sculpting your own set of individual wire hanging decorations (£28)– ideal for hanging over the fire at Christmas! 
 

To book onto one, two or all three of these, just give us a quick ring at the shop on 0115 950 7776.

Creative Talk at Nottingham Castle

Ceramicist Katie Almond and Textile designer J.C.Middlebrook are going to be at Nottingham Castle from 2-3pm this Wednesday 24th October giving a talk on the inspiration behind their exclusive collections for this historic location. Usual entry fees apply, but the talk is free... and will make most interesting listening!

Both designers have also created beautiful Nottingham Lace inspired work (pictured below), which is available to buy both at the castle and from our shop...

Sunday Tea Party Time!

Now we don't usually need a reason for tea and cake, but on Sunday 28th October we're indulging for a very special reason... As from 12-4pm, Nottingham Breast Cancer Support Group are holding their annual fundraising event in our shop. 

Alongside the yummy home-made treats and warm refreshments, there will be a selection of talented ladies showing off their creative skills.. so why not pop in, pick up a piece of guilt-free cake and maybe learn something new!?

Creative Twinning October Events

After the success of last year (and with more people on board!) Creative Twinning has curated the following inspirational events in October...  And we'd love to see you at one or all of these!

From 19th-31st October... the Creative Twinning Window Exhibition will be showcasing the creative talent of designers involved in the project this year... 

From 5-7pm on Tuesday 23rd October, Designer Forum (69-73 Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 3BB) are generously hosting Fantastic Futures where you can meet creatives, exchange ideas and see what rich inspirational resources designers use to stay ahead of the game.  This free and informal networking event promises to provide a glimpse of emerging concepts that could influence your work and shape the future... 

Following this, from 7pm-midnight, Antenna's Designers Resolutions 6 'Collaboration' offers an evening of inspiration and untold stories... A magical place where Sherwood Forest meets the Black Forest for a delicious hot picnic, live music and inspiring tales...  
Tickets for this event are £15 available from Antenna, Beck Street, NG1 1EQ or online.

Then on Friday 26th October, from 11-3pm South Nottingham College are putting on a one day participatory exhibition called Creative Central at The Space in Nottingham Contemporary.  From 11am, see an exhibition of Creative Twinning Design in ceramics, textiles, glass, paper and more... And have an opportunity to meet and questions the designers involved whilst exploring the value of creative collaborations.  Then from midday, pop in and take part in a collaborative art workshop alongside professionals and tutors with creative expertise of the highest calibre!

Following this, from 5-8pm, come and hear inspiring speakers from the creative business sector at Inspire and Unite - A Eco-Design Showcase from Creative Twinning - with live music from the talented Georgie Rose.

For more details on everything, please visit www.creativetwinning.com. 

German designers involved this year include Juli Foos, Renate Schweizer and Wiebke Goos... 
And the UK group is represented by Debbie Bryan, Jayne Childs of J.C.Middlebrook, Paperwork by Hannah Lobley, Kit Anderson of Foto Ceramica, Samantha Robinson, (who all happen to stock our shop!) Ashi Marwaha (who will be stocking the shop by Christmas!) Bethany Walker, Rhea Clements, Michelle Arieu of Pocellana & Duomo, Sue Bulmer, Ruth Singer, Gillian Lee Smith and Catherine Carr.

And a special thank you to all our support from Nottingham City and Karlsruhe Council, Arts Council England, Experience Nottinghamshire, South College Nottingham, Design Factory, Designer Forum, Future Factory.

After Hours

Join us this Thursday 18th October 'After Hours' from 5-7pm for an exclusive preview of artists and writers who will be based at our studio during Nottingham's Festival of Words next year.

Hear Peter Clayton (top) from Leicester Print Workshop, talking about his own work and forthcoming Narrative 2013 exhibition in conjunction with Sat Kalsi (middle); 

Browse the Curated Bookshop – a taster of specially selected books by The Bookcase in Lowdham that have been inspired by, based in or written by authors from Nottingham; 

And watch illustrator/maker Penelope Ruth (below) create a new cast of wistful characters, inspired by the books around her.

It promises to be a fascinating evening exploring the relationship between art and words... And it's free!

Three weeks until Speed Craft!

We're gearing up for a full day of creativity on Saturday 3rd November at the Galleries of Justice. For just £65, participants will be getting creative with ceramics, mosaic, print, textiles, paper and glass!  Expert tuition will be provided from our selection of talented designers, including ceramist Katie Almond, mosaic artist Janine Nelson, printmaker Nikki Dennett , textile designer Lucy Renshaw, paper artist Phonia Richards and glass maker Stevie Davis.  Homemade refreshments and a special sweet treat finale courtesy of our resident tea lady Jo, will be on tap throughout the day... and there will also be a showcase of exquisite British made gifts for inspiration!

Tempted? Come along and create some wonderful unique treats for yourself.. or perhaps as presents for Christmas?!

Give us a ring at the shop on 0115 950 7776 to grab a place!