We're in the Journal

Really lovely feature in the North Devon Journal  http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/Stand-fairy-cake-revolution/story-16425348-detail/story.html on our last cake stand workshop. Rosanna from the journal came along and, with a small group of ladies, spent a relaxed afternoon playing with clay. Some ladies made two tier cake stands and others - having spotted one that I'd made earlier - asked if they could make a slightly more complex pedestal cake stand. You can see photos of the results on the Journal website.

We are running more workshops later in the year. Unfortunately the next cake stand workshop has literally just sold out (sold the last space about 10 minutes ago) but we will try and schedule in another in the spring. We do, however, have a couple of spaces left on the make a jug workshop, where you can slab build, design, decorate and embellish your very own jug.

For more info go to our website http://www.gallery-atelier.co.uk/

We're in the Journal

Grab a copy of this week's North Devon Journal, thumb your way through to the arts pages and Ta Da! there's a lovely feature on our forthcoming Spectacular Jubilee Craftacular on May 27th.

This will be a leisurely Sunday 'Crafternoon' with a 50's inspired make-do-and-mend twist. There's a printing project and you can create your own jubilee inspired masterpiece that you can take home and frame OR you can print your own commemorative tea towel. On top of that you will be making a vintage inspired jam-jar sewing kit ... just bring a clean jam jar (or sauce jar) along.

There's be crafty demonstrations showing you how to turn odd bits of vintage crockery into cake stands and we'll show you how to turn vintage containers into lovely candles.

And Lilico's will be laying on a vintage style tea party (INCLUDED in the ticket price!!)

The ladies from Nirvana will be there showing you how to perfect a 50's style up do and we're also hosting a vintage boutique with Country House Vintage.

Dig out your vintage clobber because we'll be getting dressed up!

The Vintage Boutique will be open to the public from 1 - 5pm the workshops and tea party are strictly ticket only. Tickets are £16 each and include all materials - all we ask is that you bring along an empty jam jar. Tickets are available online here or from Atelier on Tuly Street. You can also pay over the phone on 01271 268244

It's going to be a fantastic event so we're looking forward to seeing you there.

Emma Cocker's in Devon Life Magazine

If you grab a copy of this month's Devon Life magazine you will find not one, not two, but THREE whole pages dedicated to the very lovely and exceptionally talented Atelier artist and maker Emma Cocker.
Atelier met the journalist Caroline Rees when we were at the Country Living Christmas Fair back in November and introduced her to the wonderfully quirky world of stitchery and knit that is Ms Cocker. In fact I have a sneaky feeling that Mr Fox may have flirted with the the journalist a wee bit when I wasn't looking, which might have gained us an extra page. The upshot is a lovely feature looking at the inspiration behind Emma's body of work.
Emma has been working with Atelier since we opened the Barnstaple gallery back in July 2010. At the time, the focus of her work was her gorgeous hand-stitched applique art works on vintage linens and tableware and her quirky knitted characters. We showcased Emma's characters when they featured in our Winter Wonderland Christmas window display ... isn't it stunning? ... snow flake cuts outs in the window made from vintage doilies and little Christmas scenes featuring her characters doing Christmassy stuff like wrapping presents

One of the perks of this job is working closely with your artists and seeing them grow and flourish as they gain confidence in their distinctive creative voice. So last year when Emma was one of a small group of artists invited by Atelier to develop new works for our Craftdermy exhibition - taxidermy with a craft twist - Emma excelled herself and introduced the world to Mr Fox, a rather dashing creature decked out in the finest hunting tweeds, and knitted antlers. We never knew we needed them until now - and now we can't do with out them ...

We are keeping Emma rather busy again this year as she'll be working closely with local ceramicist Fiona Bates on some brand new works for a window installation for North Devon's Art Trek in July. Watch this space!

We have Emma's work here at the gallery as well as selected pieces online here.

And here's a chance for you to see Emma in action. She was out and about taking photos of her work with her talented photographer friend Mikey and they turned it into a brilliant short film. It's a little bit of Emma magic perfectly captured on film ...

You can find out more about Mikey here

A spectacular jubilee craftacular

Ta da - here it is crafting fans - our spectacular crafting event is back - this time with a vintage vibe in honour of the Queen's 60th jubilee.

You'll be able to design and print either your own commemorative tea towel or your own jubilee inspired piece of wall art AND make a vintage jam jar sewing kit. We'll also have some craft demonstrations showing you how to upcycle vintage crockery into gorgeous cake stands and how to turn vintage containers into lovely candles using soy wax. If that's not enough there'll be a vintage style tea party thrown in courtesy of Lilico's, the ladies from local salon Nirvana will be showing you how to create the perfect 50's style up do and we're also hosting a super cool Vintage Boutique in association with Country House Vintage. All materials are provided we just ask you to bring a clean jam jar with you. All this for just £16 - booking is essential. Staff and tutors will be dressed up for the event so why not dig out your best vintage clobber and join us on Sunday May 27th from 1pm. Tickets from www.gallery-atelier.co.uk

This event is a social crafting event encouraged to foster the appreciation of all things handmade and to spend some quality time with working artists and makers. Atelier runs it on a not-for-profit basis because we are passionate about crafting and the handmade ethos. We host Craftacular Craftacular events 2-3 times a year. If you're not in the area it's definitely worth a trip as - on top of a brilliant crafting event and a gorgeous gallery (smiley face) - we have some of the most breathtaking coastlines in the UK right on our doorstep.

We're in Vogue ...

Strictly speaking We're not in Vogue - as in Atelier being featured in the magazine - but one of our artists is. See the Fab bright pink letter press print from masters of typography Wasted & Wounded.

And in a stroke of pure, unexpected genius, the said same print just happens to be gracing the Atelier window as we speak. Does that make us 'in vogue' kind of?

Anyways chuffed to pieces for John Cheves the maestro behind the new series of 'Punk Rock' inspired prints we have here in the gallery. They're based on lyrics from key works by bands from the punk era such as: the Sex Pistols debut album 'Never Mind The Bollocks', the Ramones album 'Rocket To Russia' and The Clash's first ten singles

They're a great addition to his 60's collection featuring the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and The Beatles.

We have all the prints in the gallery framed (£60) and unframed (£36) , we also have selection online

Giveaway!

The hugely talented screen print artist Jane Ormes was one of the first artists to work with Atelier when we opened back in July 2010. She's been a hit ever since and keeps her work fresh by introducing new work each year. Interesting fact is that Jane's mum used to live on Sticklepath Hill in Barnstaple so Jane is very familair with the area and has popped in to say hello when she's in the area for a wee visit.

Last year Jane was approached by high street giant Marks and Spencer to illustrate their Easter confectionery range. How unbelievably cool is that? So her gorgeous bunnies have hopped out of her Bristol studio and onto some boxes choc full of Easter choccies.

To celebrate Jane's success we're giving away a goodie bag full of chocolate treats with Jane's lovely designs on them ... if we don't eat them all ourselves that is ... no, no promise to just taste a few to check that they are yummy enough for Atelier's discerning customers.

The lucky winner will receive goodie bag full of chocolates including a big chocolate bunny, some little bags of mini eggs ready to hide for your Easter egg hunt and some chocolate bars. The whole package is worth £10!

All you have to do is leave a comment here on the Atelier blog, you can also enter by leaving a comment on our facebook page or sending us a direct tweet at @galleryatelier and we'll automatically enter you into the free prize draw. Closing date is midnight Monday 2nd April and is only open to UK residents (sorry oversea's fans). You've only got a week so quickerty quick, first name pulled out of the hat wins the goodie bag.

Jane has been super busy because on top of all the work for M&S she's also designed some new prints. We have a selection here at the gallery and we've popped some of her new gocco prints on the Atelier online shop. At only £20 each they're just as irresistible as those M&S choccies ...

Emily's work is in Mollie Makes

Those of you who, like me, have swooned over Emily Hogarth's screen prints and paper cuts in Atelier will be delighted to know that a piece of the artist's work has been featured in an article on Edinburgh by Mollie Makes.

Here's more info on the article from the journalist and blogger Zoe Pearson who wrote the original article.

Emily was introduced to me by a close friend who lives in Edinburgh when we were looking for a paper cut artist for a commission. I tried popping over to her studio in Leith when I was last there but it was shut - my fault as I should have called first. Doh! Leith is fab BTW, it's just a hop and a skip away from Edingburgh with lovely galleries and eateries and THE coolest place called Roseleaf where you can have cocktails that you pour out of vintage teapots. I know - how fab is that? You can also get authentic Chinese food at Chop Chop too - it was the only place that I've ever been to that serves the same food that you eat in mainland China. Green beans Chinese style yum yum.

Anyhoos I digress, Emily's a lovely friendly young lady who makes really cool screen prints from hand cut paper cuts. She has a very steady hand and oodles of patience. We have a small selection on our online shop. This is my personal favourite - it makes me happy, especially on rainy days.

And a quick word about Blue Bird. I got very excited and told absolutely everyone that I knew ... and many more that I don't ... that Emily's Blue Bird print would be appearing in the April issue of Country Living magazine. The editorial team had a re-jig of their features and Emily's print will now appear in the May issue instead as part of a 50's style photo shoot, can't wait to see how they've used it. I'll post a pic once the issue is out.