Monday 22 August 2011

'Oh hello new seller'

Gemma Skully, Button Box Memories

Tell us about yourself?

Once upon a time there was a dressmaker’s daughter and she lived in the magical northern land of Manchester. As her mother sewed all day she would sit surrounded by ribbons, silk off cuts, lace trimmings and an old chocolate tin full of buttons. Now the button tin was her favourite toy she would sit for hours digging her hands into the sea of buttons to see what treasure she could find.


As she grew up Gemma saw that numbers were ok, words were fine but creating, drawing, painting and making was everything. So she packed her bags and left Manchester to study at Art School for a BA hons in jewellery and metalwork. Here she learnt how to hand make accessories that people would exchange magic beans for. Having completed her degree she created Button Box Memories a company designing, making and selling jewellery using all of her favourite childhood treasures, a dream come true from which she hopes to live happily ever after.

Your chosen picture inspires you, tell us why?


Inspiration is a funny thing. So many simple images and items strike me and drives my work forward without any obvious influence on the design. So I picked an image of a place that inspires me. Large scale architecture and past civilisations such as Masada, Ephesus and Machu Picchu are incredible. Clear examples of what teams of humanity can achieve with very little tools but with motivation, creativity and a need to build something better.

Out of the three I choose Machu Picchu as it’s my photograph. It hangs in my workshop. A couple of years ago I completed the Inca Trail, a four day trek to reach the sun gate, where the picture was taken. It was at times rough going, I wanted to curl up on the path and say “just leave me here I’ll be fine”. But I didn’t, I completed the climb.

This image also reminds me of what I am capable of when I set my mind to a task and what I would have never experienced if I had surrendered. In this economic climate we all need a reminder of that.

What possession do you most cherish?

Instantly I think of relationships and friendships but I don’t believe you can possess them. So in a material world I like all of my things but could live without most. My laptop is the item I use the most and it holds so much of my life, my business and all its paperwork, all music and photographs. However, with it all backed up, my laptop could be replaced if necessary and therefore I don’t feel I cherish it.

Anyone that knows me knows I lose everything and take little care over most things, but I do have a couple of irreplaceable items that I would mourn the loss of. My photograph albums from the pre digital camera era, my 24 ct gold, diamond Eternity ring (which was a gift from my grandma which was given it by her husband my granddad). Though I don’t like diamonds and it’s not my style, I love it for its sentimental value, a clear testament to their relationship. These are two things I do cherish and would hate to live without.


Tell us about the product you’ve chosen in the photograph, why is it your absolute favourite?


Eek! This was a little hard I have thousands of buttons and lots of silk thread meaning I have a huge product range. In short I bailed from picking one product and chose an image that shows a collection of the work I make. I love each pair in it. I like the texture of the wooden apples and the fact the threads don’t match.

The red hearts are one of the first pairs I started to make and they are so retro\kitsch they make me smile. The flowers are cute and the butterflies in the background are one of my latest designs which I’m really happy with. However if I had to pick just one pair it would be the wooden buttons with the floral print at the bottom left. They are very vintage tea party, good colours, nice texture in the wood and to me just sumptuous.

What should we expect to see from you in the coming years?

Ooooh world domination for sure! My next challenge is to build the first Princess and Prince charming made entirely from buttons, I’m going to send them to button moon to live with Mr and Mrs Spoon and make button babies.

No, more of the same is the simple honest answer. Quirky, retro, kitsch jewellery, inspired by haberdasheries, all handmade but affordable. Looking to Christmas I have some beautiful buttons that I am currently working with, that fingers crossed should make some awesome designs. So keep visiting button box memories!

Wednesday 17 August 2011

'Oh hello new seller'


Hyun-Young Shin from Biscuit Village

Tell us about yourself?
My name is Hyun-Young Shin and I am the co-owner and head designer at the Biscuit Village. My main passion is for creating designs and expressing my artistic nature through various mediums. I am a qualified Textile Weaver and a former British Young Designer of the Year finalist. I've been designing biscuits with royal icing for many years now and I'm always learning and enjoying new styles and techniques. I can say I am in my dream job and I really love what I get to do all day although it is hard work I feel very rewarded and happy when I finish icing a biscuit.

Your chosen picture inspires you, tell us why?
I recently spent the day with Liz Locke from BBC's the Apprentice. We joined her for a video blog related to the recent series where the contestants were asked to create their own biscuit. We had a lovely day teaching Liz to pipe royal icing to our biscuits and the final video made me so proud to think. I made those :-) It's inspiring because its similar to when "Home and Garden" magazine awarded us with the title as one of Britain's "three of the best" biscuit companies. I feel Biscuit Village has come so far from those early days and our goal has always been to bake the best tasting biscuits and make them look as attractive as we can and it's inspiring to have our biscuits considered in such high esteem.

What possession do you most cherish?
My favourite possession would have to be my collection of buttons. From classic to new age I'm always keen to spot a good looking button. Fashion (including buttons) does mean a lot to me but it is closely followed by my trusty Silver Kenwood mixer who I have fondly named "Kenny". Our home mixer broke within days of opening Biscuit Village and so my boyfriend and I gathered our pennies together for our first major expense. Since then, we've been able to produce the perfect dough which has helped us enormously and is by far my favourite possession.

Tell us about the product you’ve chosen in the photograph, why is it your absolute favourite?
It is so tricky to pick a favourite product but I do adore our Biscuit Village Jurassic Dino Tin. The colours and line icing is my favourite to work on but it’s the end result I love the most. Colourful tasty biscuits with that dangerous prehistoric edge. Need I say more :-)

What should we expect to see from you in the coming years?
Royal icing is such a wonderful medium for me to create designs and I cannot see an end so I envisage creating more unique baked treats in the years to come. I will be continuing to train our staff to keep to the high standards we set here at the Biscuit Village and I am looking forward to trying some new styles such as triple layered biscuits!!!!

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Transform your living space for under £100


With so much outdoor living over the summer months, I always get itchy feet as September starts to dawn.

And I know, we are still almost a month away from the end of our summer, but before I know it, I’ll be back indoors and my alfresco dining days will be over. It will be a whole other year until my rickety bbq’s back out performing its summer ritual.

For me, the next couple of months are very much about reuniting with my indoor living space. So about this time every year, as my itchy feet do a small dance around my bijoux living space, it starts. What can I do in here that won’t cost the earth, but will guarantee me a brand new look?

So here goes, four very simple but unique ideas that together can transform your indoor space:

London Phonebox Wall Sticker (£32.98), The Binary Box



Red, white and blue Queen Cushion (£39), Karen Hilton Designs
Antique Photo Frame (£15), Patchwork Harmony



Conceal - Hidden Bookshelf (£16.50), Exit Interiors



'Oh hello new seller'

Chris Chadwick from The Binary Box

Tell us about yourself.

I am Chris Chadwick one of the founders of The Binary Box, we started creating wall stickers just over 2 years ago and have been trying to offer something unique that we know you will love. Starting from humble beginnings in a back bedroom with one desk and a laptop, we now have a fully kitted out workshop and a team of people who help design and make wall stickers here in South
Manchester.




Your chosen picture inspires you, tell us why?

We love Irelk’s style and the way he creates such bold pieces with his stencil art and in this piece especially I love the mysterious and eerie feel going on. We came across him at a graffiti festival in Manchester and are currently working to create a range of wall stickers from some of his stencil designs. I have always been a big fan of urban art and love how such simple stencil graphics can create such a focal point and think these make great wall graphics for the interior too.


What possession do you most cherish?

It may seem a little sad but it has to be my iPhone, it keeps me up to date with all my friends and everything at work and has helped me get to a lot of important meetings on time without getting lost.


Tell us about product in the photo why is it your absolute favourite?

I really like the best of British range which is one of our first full colour printed pieces that we launched as a wall sticker too, I think the London Bus has come out really well in the vintage halftone print effect and it looks even better in the flesh. It’s brilliant seeing ideas come from a sketch into reality and the best thing is it happens right in front of us here in the workshop.


What should we expect from you in the coming years?

Over the next few years you will be seeing some real stand out pieces from The Binary Box, we have many innovative designs planned for both wall sticker ranges and for new and unique methods of covering your walls. Also we have plenty of collaborations lined up with some outstanding young artists who are really excited to create something truly excellent over the years to come.


Thursday 4 August 2011

Kitsch, retro and vintage inspired jewellery at just pinch – well under £10!

In our move towards recycle, reclaim and reuse; we’re spotting more and more retro inspired jewellery, made from scrabble words, dolls house pots and pans, lego, buttons and teddy bear noses.

But the all important question is; how do you wear these kitsch designs comfortably to suit you and importantly your wallet?

Well, we’ve been on the case yet again to uncover our favourite finds. Now before we jump head long in, I will tell you that whilst on our quest, we’ve kept in mind two things;

1) You actually will want to wear these unusually designed specimens, not just keep them as ‘90s souvenirs.

and 2) purchasing them will still keep the wallet happy – it’s all about the wallet (ok, not so much that we can’t accept a little treat every now and again). If it’s under a tenner it doesn’t count.

So enjoy browsing our finds, and remember everything is under £10! I know. Genius.










Featured Seller :: Imogen's Imagination

Sophie Cook from Imogen's Imagination

Tell us about yourself?
My name is Sophie Cooke and I'm a self-confessed hat addict! I love wearing them, I love making them...and I adore seeing my designs on other people when I'm out and about!

I started making mini top-hats to wear to burlesque nights in Sheffield back in 2005, as I could never find what I wanted to wear...and the rest is history!

My range has expanded enormously since then, and now incorporates bridal wear, fascinators plus a large range of hair accessories.

I've been attending Leeds College of Art and Design for the last 2 years training in millinery, in fact I've just signed up for next year and so I'll be back in September for another year. The training I have received has been first rate and the mentoring and equipment I have access to there have been invaluable, but it’s a hefty trek on the train every week after working the 'proper' job all day!

Imogen's Imagination is a home-run business; I do however, still work full time for South Yorkshire Police which is sometimes a bit of juggling act! Luckily, I am super organised; I have to be!


Your chosen picture inspires you, tell us why?
The picture I have chosen as my inspiration is of these very dapper ladies during the 1940's....please note, a lot of hat action! Whilst my current designs are not necessarily 40's inspired (never say never!), it’s the idea that you make the best of what you have, and look damn good doing it!

Despite the Make do and Mend movement; limited beauty products, rationing of everything from fabric, food and water, lack of proper housing, the threat of the whole world collapsing in on you and losing everything you hold dear... these women were fighters, lookers and grafters.

How can you not be inspired by this grit, determination and sheer bloodymindedness to rise to the challenge? This is kind of how I lead my life, both personally and professionally... although I confess, it’s fair to say I have an easier life than those of my grandparents generation, for which I'm very grateful!


What possession do you most cherish?
My most cherished possession is a bit of a tough one. In terms of material goods, I think my computer is my most precious... its key to my business! But on a personal level, my most treasured items are a solid silver bracelet that my inspirational silversmith mother made for my 30th birthday, and an antique solid silver watch chain that I inherited when my grandpa passed away nearly 20 years ago.

I wear the watch chain as a necklace and have done since I was given it. Despite being the proud owner of much costume jewellery and handcrafted jewellery from a range of sources over the years, these are my two staple pieces because of their sentimental and emotional value.


Tell us about the product you’ve chosen in the photograph, why is it your absolute favourite?
This was such a hard decision! I only make things that I like...and I have to confess that sometimes, I'm very disappointed to see some of my designs sell, especially the limited collection one-off pieces, as I hope to snaffle them for myself!!!

However, this has to be the ultimate tick-all the boxes piece for me. I love animal prints, be it leopard, tiger, cheetah, zebra...I must be the only person who wants Pat Butcher's hall wallpaper (I did find it, but my mum refused to help me hang it in my house!). But I also love texture, it’s so, so important to materials. The colour can right, but if it doesn’t feel right, then that's it, it just won't do. I also love classic, wearable shapes and whilst I'd love to create avant garde pieces a la Lady Gaga, that’s just not the where my creativity or my tastes lie.

So this piece has everything, a classic animal print, with the most strokable long pile and a simple but elegant shape - a timeless design which will last and last. This hat was hand blocked, then stiffened, then hand blocked again before being finished by hand, with the tiniest amount of machine sewing on the lining, it truly was a labour of love. And yes, I do have one of my own! ;o)



What should we expect to see from you in the coming years?
More of the same I hope! Continuing excellent and personable customer service, and a dedication to wearable and affordable designs. A reduction in my full-time hours would be amazing so that I could produce more (I often run at capacity between February and September meaning my only social life is events that I'm attending with Imogen's Imagination). I also intend to start doing more events in London as I have a huge online client base there and it would be great to finally meet some of them! This would also allow me to raise my personal profile there and hopefully extend the number of shops and boutiques that I stock. I suppose the warning is....get ready! If you thought the promotion machine was at full tilt already, you haven’t seen anything yet! ;o)