Meet The Maker: Corinne Welch

Tuesday, December 04, 2018

As we head into the final furlong before the moment you’ve all been waiting for (right?) we get to go a gift fairing at Colston Hall one more time (hurrah!), we would like to invite you to pause for a few moments and enjoy the final interview in our current Meet the Maker series. If we were giving out prizes, today’s artist would win a patterned paper rosette for the cutest place name of where they live (although we would give it a catchier title than that as it wouldn’t fit on the rosette). Anyway, without further ado…

Parade – August 12th 1961
A box of 10 collages created from one mouse-chewed magazine found in Corinne's garage. Digitally printed with collaged detail on box. (£12)

What do you love most about your chosen discipline?
I have always had a bit of a thing for paper – my favourite Christmas present as a child was a large box of different coloured papers… although I was given this when I was 7, I was still using remnants from it for my Art GCSE. So my studio with a whole plan chest chock-full of paper really is the stuff of childhood dreams.

Twenty Trees (as seen from a train): Riso printed tiny concertina book documenting trees sketched on a train journey from Bristol Parkway to Didcot Parkway (with train times on the endpapers). (£8)
What is currently your must popular piece of work?
A small twenty-page concertina book called ‘Twenty Trees (as seen from a train)’ is my best-selling book. It’s risograph printed, and based on sketches of trees I made on a train journey between Bristol and Didcot. The endpapers show the destination and times of the start and endpoint. Although it’s essentially a collection of drawings of trees, the story of the train journey seems to have a wide appeal. Tiny books are always the most popular… if in doubt, make it small.

Drawing from nature: Corinne takes inspiration from her natural surroundings
What are some of your biggest creative influences or inspirations?
A lot of my illustration work is for environmental charities, such as the Wildlife Trusts, and I find the natural world is my biggest inspiration. I’m also influenced by the work of other book artists, specifically at the moment by the folded books of Hedi Kyle. Her structures are so innovative, and I’m very excited to be introduced to lots of new formats in her recently published book, The Art of the Fold. I regularly attend the Artist’s Book Club (ABC) at UWE, and I’ve found the workshops and talks there to be a big influence over the past year.

Corinne's studio in Coombe Dingle full of inspiring objects
Describe your studio or workspace…
I’m fortunate to have a studio space in my home, overlooking the woodland of Blaise Castle Estate. My computer desk is at one end of the room, and open shelves for storage at the other, with my plan chest and a sink inbetween. The bookshelves are currently over-flowing, so I have a plan to squeeze in more storage soon. I’d like my studio to be tidier than it is, but I’m always working on lots of projects at once, and I seem to thrive on creative chaos, so I don’t try too hard to counter this inclination.

Paper, patterns and glue: a glimpse into Corinne's process
Tell us what your creative process is like…
I love the planning process almost as much as the making, and it can often be quite a while between an initial idea for a book (usually hastily typed onto my phone notes or scribbled in a sketchbook) and the completed edition being made. I really enjoy the element of decision-making and control over the creative process. Choosing an appropriate format of book, the correct paper, a relevant choice of typeface, the right medium of illustration and/or printing. Strangely, I also like the repetition involved in making an edition of books – there is something quite meditative about creating something by hand in duplicate, and very satisfying when the different stages of the process come together in a pile of completed books.

Forest: Double concertina book of rubber stamp stencil prints of trees. Digitally printed with hardback covers and bellyband. (£12)
What are some of the biggest challenges in your work?
The biggest challenge I find is being able to carve out enough time to make books. I work five days a week as a designer/illustrator, but as a minimum I always spend between 8 and 9 in the morning working on my books – it’s a good creative start to the day. A lot of the processes of bookmaking require drying and pressing time, so where possible I use screen breaks to do a batch of glueing or making covers, which helps to keep some momentum going.

Fiery Words 1-3: A set of three tiny books contained in matchboxes, illustrating fire-related literary quotes from Charles Bukowski, Cormac McCarthy and W.B Yeats. Available to buy individually (£6) or as a set of three (£15).
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
Right now, I’m very fond of a beautiful white enamel necklace by Ava and Bea which was a Christmas present from my partner last year. He bought it after he saw me coveting it at the Made in Bristol Gift Fair at the Colston Hall. It’s a very simple design, but I absolutely love it and have worn it all year.

Pot Plants: Small concertina book of pot plant prints, with rubber stamped hardback cover and endpapers. (£6)
What do you do when you are stuck in a creative rut?
My creaking book shelves of art and design books usually provide a much-needed creative boost. I also enjoy responding to briefs for book competitions, as this often requires tackling new subject matter, which can set me off in a different direction and stop me getting stuck in a rut. Failing that, a good old-fashioned walk with my dog is usually the best way to clear my head and press a re-set button.



Celebrating the everyday: trees, buildings, birds are encapsulated in Corinne's tiny books
Where would you like to be in ten years time?
Being self-employed for so long, it’s been a while since I’ve had to answer a question like that. I would like to continue working for myself, and hopefully be able to take my foot off the pedal a little with my design and illustration work so I have more time for making books. I’ve recently started teaching a few workshops in printmaking and folded books, which I’ve really enjoyed and I would definitely like to develop this side of my work. My main aim for the next ten years would be to spend less hours a day glued to a screen and more time working with my hands.

Thanks Corinne. We look forward to seeing you at the Made in Bristol Gift Fair on Saturday! 

Photos courtesy Corinne Welch.


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Meet The Maker: Colour Designs

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Whether or not its grey out, there is nothing like a burst of colour to brighten one’s day and today’s maker has it running through her creative DNA. Jeweller Clare Lloyd is Colour Designs and guess what?! She loves colour. To find out what else she likes, read on…

Colour Dot Stacking Rings in a range of shades by Colour Designs, £32 each

Please can you introduce yourself and your work?
My name is Clare and I design and make a range of colourful jewellery using sterling silver, polymer and resin clay, under the name Colour Designs. I live in Frome and my studio is in an old converted mill in the centre of Frome alongside 20 other artists/makers.



Tiny disc necklace with sterling silver chain by Colour Designs, £80
Tiny disc necklace with sterling silver chain by Colour Designs, £80

What do you love most about working as a jeweller?
I’ve always loved jewellery so to be able to make it is a complete joy. What I love the most is that I can make my own colours and mix the clays like paint to create a never ending range.  I’ve got a thing about colour and I use my materials to create dead flat matt colours and I love the way the soft flat colours contrast with the silver metal.
Interchangeable Colour Dot Trio Pendant by Colour Designs, £95.
Interchangeable Colour Dot Trio Pendant by Colour Designs, £95
What is currently your most popular creation?
My current favourites are the stacking rings - I’ve been making some slightly larger square rings which are more of a challenge to make and involve some fiddly soldering but I like the contrast of the bigger squares with the little circles.


Modern Deco Necklace in sulphur and grey by Colour Designs, £65
Modern Deco Necklace in sulphur and grey by Colour Designs, £65

What are some of your biggest creative influences or inspirations?
My biggest inspirations come from the natural world and the changing seasons but also from other artists and makers - particularly painters and ceramicists. Working in a studio surrounded by artists is brilliant because although our work and disciplines are very different, we often inspire each other with our colour combinations. I love the way that artists such as Kandinsky used colour and how he combined different colours together that just seem to work perfectly. There are also a lot of modern ceramicists such a Katie Lowe and Sue Pryke who make beautiful minimalist ceramics using flat matt colours which is wonderful.

Light and colourful, Clare's studio is in The Silk Mill in Frome
Colour and light abound in Clare's studio at the Silk Mill in Frome
Please describe your studio…
My studio is quite tiny and stuffed full of things that I can’t live without such as a million paint charts and colour swatches galore as well as far too many plants. My studio is in the Silk Mill in Frome which is also home to lots of other artist/makers studios and so it’s lovely to have other creative people around me. My work space is often fairly cluttered and I’ve usually got lots of work on the go at the same time - other than the mess it’s colourful and I love it!

Sass-swatch: Clare's trusty companion is her extensive colour palettes
Sass-swatch: Clare's trusty companion is her extensive colour palettes
How do you go about designing a new piece?
I’m always jotting down ideas and notes for possible new designs and I’m forever collecting colour swatches or taking photos of colours that catch my eye. I try to keep my jewellery as wearable as possible so whenever I make a new design, I’ll make a sample and then I’ll wear it for a while to see how it behaves in the real world. Sometimes, I’ll ask a friend to road test a new design as it’s really important that each new design is practical and wearable and will stand up to daily wear. Sometimes new pieces work brilliantly in my head but are less useful in real life, so they might need a bit of tweaking before I unleash them into the big wide world.

Dotty about colour: Clare experiments and test runs her designs before finalising them
Dotty about colour: Clare experiments and test runs her designs before finalising them
What are some of the biggest challenges in your work?
There are quite a few challenges really, from trying to source materials and packaging that are as environmentally friendly as possible to giving myself something ridiculously small and fiddly to solder. I think when you’re running your own tiny business, you have to do every single part of it from the designing and making (the best bit) to all the marketing (the bit I like the least!) so there are numerous challenges that crop up!

Spots in front of your eyes: Colour combos in Clare's studio
Spots in front of your eyes: Colour combos in Clare's studio
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
My most cherished handmade possessions are a little group of beautiful handmade plant pots made by Priormade and some gorgeous textile hanging plant pots by Ruby Cubes. I have quite a collection of them now in my studio and I’m pretty sure there will be more of them. I love cacti and succulents so have filled my studio with them and put them into lovely colourful handmade pots and hangers.

Clare obviously has a hammer... do you think she hammers in the morning? Or hammers in the evening?
Clare obviously has a hammer... do you think she hammers in the morning? Or hammers in the evening?
What do you when you are stuck in a creative rut?
A good stomp around a field or escaping to the middle of the countryside or the sea always helps with creativity. There are so many glorious colours in the natural world to inspire me that it’s impossible to be in a creative rut for very long.

Where would you like to be in ten years?
I’d love to be living and working by the sea and making more and more colourful jewellery. It would also be lovely to learn some more skills and techniques and I’ve always wanted to try ceramics so that would be something I’d love to do.
Thank you Clare – we look forward to seeing you on 24 & 25 November and 8 December at our Made in Bristol Gift Fairs at Colston Hall.

You can also see Clare’s pieces featured in our first ever Made in Bristol Designer-Maker Gift Guide.


Photography thanks:
Products by Jo Hounsome Photography.
Other images courtesy of Clare Lloyd.



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Meet the Maker - byAliceWood

Monday, November 19, 2018
Today's Meet the Maker interview is with byAliceWood, whose artisanal leatherwares are made mainly from chrome-tanned leather. The design principle behind byAliceWood is that form follows function, and there is beauty in simplicity; natural organic shapes lend themselves to the soft tactility of the leather.
We recently caught up with Alice to find out more about her practice. Find out more below...

A tiny pouch keyring byAliceWood
Firstly, please introduce yourself....
I'm Alice, I live in Plymouth having recently moved there from Totnes, and I make simply designed leather bags and accessories using beautiful thick leather.

The mini Alice bag byAliceWood
What do you love most about working in your chosen discipline?
I love the versatility, and the ability to make something beautiful that is also at heart, a functional product.

Six-card wallet byAliceWood

What is currently your most popular piece?
Both the Alice Bag and the Stud Purses are constantly popular.

Tiny pouch keyrings byAliceWood

What are some of your biggest creative influences or inspirations?
I'm very much inspired by utilitarian vintage bags, army bags, industrial bags... etc. I firmly believe in the saying that form follows function, and love simple lines and beautiful colours.

Small handmade pocket stud purse byAliceWood

Describe your studio or workspace?
A large cutting table where I start the processes of making, from design to hand cutting... and then regularly finishing them there too. There are two sewing machines, and various other machinery. A beautiful selection of leathers are rolled up on a large high shelf, and I'm constantly rediscovering leathers up there!


The Alice bag byAliceWood
How do you go about designing a new piece?
Inspiration usually comes from discovering something I need, and I design from there, experimenting with how to create something to fulfil that need. For example, I recently redesigned a purse to be able to hold the new £10 note flat as it's such a nightmare to fold! I'm constantly inspired by the leather itself, colour, texture etc. and this can sometimes lead to the feeling I have to make a particular thing from it.

Small handmade pocket stud purse byAliceWood

What are some of the biggest challenges in your work?
Sticking with making one thing at a time, especially when I've just bought some new leather, as I just want to use it all at once right away!

Leather Shopper byAliceWood

What handmade possession do you most cherish? 
It was a necklace made by my mother which is now unfortunately lost, so to choose something in my current possession I would say my beautiful vase/carafe made by Sue Pryke, I admire her simplicity in design and the colours she uses are just spot on.

Handmade leather purses byAliceWood

What do you when you are stuck in a creative rut?
I visit junk shops and army surplus stores to look at old bags!

Handmade leather make up bag By Alice Woods

Where would you like to be in ten years?
I would love to be making my own bag frames and hardware, inspired by my love of vintage military bags.

Alice's making process


Thank you Alice - we will see you on the 24 & 25 November for our first Made in Bristol Gift Fair weekender at Colston Hall.

Photos courtesy Alice Wood.


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Meet The Maker: Wendy Calder

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Before we get underway with today’s interview, here’s a little pop quiz warm up… 

Q: What’s the connection between Mary Poppins, Snow White and today’s Meet the Maker interviewee? 

Is it:
a) They all whistle while they work? 
b) They all have films made about them by Disney? 
c) They all have a special connection with animals? 

Read on to find out more…



Wendy Calder’s earthenware ceramics with scraffito cow parsley. Jug £28, mug £18.

Hello! To begin with please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your practice…
I am Wendy Calder, a Bristol based ceramicist, happily potting in St.Anne’s. I make functional ceramics and jewellery with botanical themed surface decoration.
Inspired by nature: Wendy Calder's earthenware jug (£28).
What do you love most about working in your chosen discipline?
I love the motion of the potter’s wheel, the ball of clay becomes a vessel quite quickly. It’s therapeutic and mesmerising at the same time. I enjoy working with pottery tissue to create monoprints, each one slightly different in line and tone, making them unique.

Sketchbook to ceramics by Wendy Calder. Vase £32; mug £18; jug £28; espresso cup, sold as a pair, £28.

What is currently your most popular creation?
My most popular pieces of work are my white earthenware mugs with allium and dandelion seed head monoprints.


Wendy's dandelion monorint earrings are £18 per pair
What are some of your biggest creative influences or inspirations?
I’ve always loved simple forms, inspired by potters Jennifer Lee, Robin Welch, Kyra Cane, Carolyn Genders to name a few. For the surface decoration I take inspiration from nature, especially my little garden when it’s full of alliums agapanthus. I’m lucky enough to live five minutes away from St.Anne’s Woods and Nightingale Valley. I’m in my element when the wild garlic flowers and the cow parsley are out. I always take my sketchbook and paints out with me when I’m on holiday, looking back at the paintings for possibly the next image on my pots.

Wendy's ceramics begin in her sketchbook with watercolour paintings of nature scenes

Tell us about your studio…
My studio is ideally situated from my home...downstairs on the ground floor! On the plus side I can still be in my PJs when I have to turn the kiln up at midnight, but sometimes I find I don’t leave the house for days. I’m very lucky to have a big studio, using it for making, pottery classes, fundraising events, my girls’ art homework, children’s parties, playing pool & motorbike storage! My wheel is situated near the window and door to the garden. I get morning sunshine and our rabbits often sit at the door watching me, they’re good company.

The wheel of the potter goes round and round: Wendy in her studio

Can you describe your creative process? How do you go about designing a new piece?
I usually sketch out some new ideas when I’ve got a coffee to hand. If it’s a new mug shape I like to think about the form, weight and how the handle sits in your hand. I’ve been making some new planters recently, a couple of the forms were a lovely happy accident on the wheel, which can feel like a breath of fresh air after weighing out clay and throwing 20 of the same design. If I’m stuck in a rut it’s good to see where the wheel will take me. I also get to try new things when I do demos in my classes. I get lots of inspiration from my students’ work, so many different results from teaching the same technique.

From sketch to print to pots - a glimpse into Wendy's process

What are some of the biggest challenges in your work?
The biggest challenge I face with my work is patience! From making to drying out, to firing then glazing and finally a second firing & kiln cooling time, takes me at least two weeks. I can’t rush the process otherwise the work would crack if damp in the first firing, or crack if I open the kiln too quickly in the glaze firing. If I have both kilns cooling this is the time I have to leave the house as I can’t stand the waiting!

Wendy's tools of the trade by her potter's wheel

What handmade possession do you most cherish?
Apart from all the creative works my daughters have made (and there are a lot as I’m not good at throwing things away) my most treasured possession is a gorgeous pot covered in beautiful scraffito Native American images, bought on my honeymoon and very carefully carried in hand luggage! It inspired me to try scraffito (scratching through the slip to the clay underneath) which I use on my red earthenware range.

Where would you like to be in ten years?
I’d like to still be fit enough to work the potter’s wheel, still be lucky enough to share my love of ceramics with my students, still go on adventures in our Bongo with my gorgeous family and probably wishing I wasn’t nearly 60! ☺️
Thank you Wendy! We look forward to seeing you on the 24 & 25 November and 1 December at our Made in Bristol Gift Fairs at Colston Hall.

You can also see Wendy's pieces featured in our first ever Made in Bristol Designer-Maker Gift Guide.

Photography thanks:
Products by Jo Hounsome Photography.
Other photos courtesy Wendy Calder.



In case you were still wondering, the answer to the pop quiz is as follows: 
- possibly a; 
- who knows about b (our questions were perhaps not probing enough on this occasion); 
- definitely c – although Wendy replaces singing to birds that willingly land on her finger (in both the cases of Mary Poppins and Snow White) with hanging out with rabbits while she’s making on her potter’s wheel. Either way, we have big respect that Wendy’s chilling with the bunnies…

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