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Must See Exhibitions in August

7/31/2022

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We've put together our top picks of exhibitions to go and see this month. Our makers love visiting exhibitions to explore colour, shape and form and to inform their creative practices. Our list includes their recommendations as well as those from our supporters. We hope you feel inspired to get out there and enjoy all the brilliant art on offer in London and beyond.

Eternally Yours: Care, Repair & Healing
Somerset House, London
until 25 September 2022


Rob of Romor Designs and Michele of Wyckoff Smith Jewellery both recommend a visit to the Eternally Yours exhibition at Somerset House. Rob is an expert in Japanese repair and teaches these techniques in person and online. Michele has enjoyed practicising visible mending techniques over the last couple of years.
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Free Exhibition. More information here

Althea McNish: Colour is Mine
The William Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park, Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 4PP
Until 11 September 2022


Our weaver Cecilia of By Cecil spent a morning recently at the William Morris Gallery seeing Althea McNish's work. She says of it "the colour and print work are exquisite and I thoroughly recommend a visit".
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Free admission. More information here.

Sheila Hicks 'Woven Wonders' Installation
Coal Drop's Yard, King's Cross
Until 16 October 2022


Cecilia is also drawn to the Sheila Hicks Installation - Woven Wonders - at Coal Drop's Yard.

"Woven Wonders is a vast and floating sculpture transforms the space into an explosion of colour and moving forms, responding directly to its unique setting."

More information here

Small is Beautiful in London - A Miniature Art Exhibition
79-85 Old Brompton Road, London 
Extended until 4 September 2022 due to popular demand!


Amy at The Idle Bindery says the Small is Beautiful exhibition is "excellent". MHC supporters Lynsey and Bethan have been and loved it too. 
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“Small is beautiful, Miniature Art” is the most important European exhibition to compile the work of 34 local & international miniature artists and present 143 miniature artworks to the general public. After the undisputed success of the #MiniatureArt phenomenon on social networks, the exhibition offers exclusive access to the magical and sometimes unusual worlds of some of the greatest artists in the movement."

Book via the website.
Thanks to MHC supporters Lynsey & Bethan for the images!

WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR
Design Museum, London
Until 16 October 2022


Ros at Papershades recommends the fun exhibition at the Design Museum about the sounds which make you feel a bit weird or really happy! Ros says "Apparently Bob Ross, artist, has a voice which has that ASMR whisper and the sound of brush on canvas is a sound which invokes great pleasure - well, I agree!".

Design Museum: "Millions around the world are part of an online community who experience ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response): a physical sensation of euphoria or deep calm, sometimes a tingling in the body, triggered through sound, touch, and movement.
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This is the first exhibition of its kind to lift the world of ASMR out from your screen and into physical space. Step into an acoustically tuned environment and understand how people are using new and existing tools and materials to navigate our complex world."

Tickets from £7.20. Online booking essential.

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Ruth Asawa: Citizen of the Universe
Modern Art, Oxford
Until 21 August 2022


Michele Wyckoff Smith describes this exhibition as "inspiring, majestic, iconic and powerful. Ruth Asawa overcame adversity and racism in her life, but continued to be true to herself and her art, all whilst raising a family."  

"Citizen of the Universe takes a unique look at the visionary artist, educator and activist Ruth Asawa (b. 1926, Norwalk, CA – d. 2013, San Francisco, CA). The exhibition features her signature hanging sculptures in looped and tied wire, and celebrates her holistic integration of art, education and community engagement through displaying prints, drawings, letters and photographs."

Free entry. More here.


Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts
The Wallace Collection, London
Until 16 October 2022


Amy of The Idle Bindery enjoyed visiting this exhibition which "displays American 20th-century hand-drawn animation alongside French 18th-century art to reveal the surprising and enchanting connections between these two artistic movements."

Book here

Cornelia Parker 
Tate Britain, London
Until 16 October 2022


MHC supporter Karen recommends a trip to the Tate Britain see the Cornelia Parker exhibition. She says there's something for everyone.

Tate Britain: "Cornelia Parker is one of Britain's best loved and most acclaimed contemporary artists. Always driven by curiosity, she reconfigures domestic objects to question our relationship with the world. Using transformation, playfulness and storytelling, she engages with important issues of our time, be it violence, ecology or human rights."  Book here.
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And there's more....

Isabelle of Isabee: "I have visited The Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy this year. I thought the exhibition was very well curated, with over 1400 works of art. It invited the viewer to look up, left, right and all around. I spent over two hours and thoroughly enjoyed it. I always find artists I have photographed in my early career, and that is great fun!" 

Amy's looking forward to visiting the Gold Exhibition at the British Library which features 50 spectacular manuscripts from around the world. On until 12 October. Book here.

Thanks to Mollie of Art With Mollie for spotting that Queer Britain, a new museum, has just opened in Granary Square, King's Cross. We Are Queer Britain - marks the 50th anniversary of the UK's first Pride March. It is a riot of voices, objects and images from the worlds of activism, art, culture and social history covering over 100 years of queer life.  More here.

Michele has her eye on The Rana Begum: Dappled Light exhibition at The Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery. The exhibition "presents a solo exhibition of work by artist Rana Begum RA, with striking works which explore the perception of light, colour and form and blur the boundaries between sculpture, architecture, design and painting." Open until 11 September 2022. More here.
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Our Pick of Father's Day Gifts

6/8/2022

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Father's Day is coming up on Sunday 19 June. Here's our pick of Father's Day Gifts - all handmade in and around Muswell Hill by members of our collective. .
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Father's Day Cards

Colourful Daddy and for Dad designs handmade in Bounds Green by Art with Mollie using gel printing.

£4.50
Buy Here
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Personalised Candle

Pick your Father's Day message and choose a scent you think he'd love.

From £23 from Crouch End Candles.⁠
Buy Here
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Handmade leather cardholder

From £60.

Available in a range of leather colours and stitching by Steph Rubbo Saddlery⁠
Buy Here
​Guntai Shibori ring indigo apron

£55

Romor Designs ⁠
Buy Here
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Open Oval Silver Cuff Bracelet

£140

Wyckoff Smith Jewellery ⁠
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​Giclee Print of the Maid of Muswell Pub

From £28

Hilary Sketches ⁠
Buy Here
Buy Here
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Organic Cocoa & Olive Hand Cream

60ml £9.00. 50ml £7.50⁠


Queenie Organics ⁠
Buy Here
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Expresso Cups

Handmade in Muswell Hill

​Contact Jeremy for prices at jeremyornstin@hotmail.co.uk

Ceramic Justice
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​Papershades of Place - created by Rosalind Freeborn

3/7/2022

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Ros with her Shrewsbury and Ludlow papershades
Ros Freeborn is a paper collage artist based in Muswell Hill who uses all kinds of paper to create her art. She found a way to turn her work into a product - paper lampshades which come as a flatpack in an A4 envelope with five panels of special paper printed with the design she’s created and held together with two wheel-shaped supports. She sells the paper lampshades via her website www.papershades.co.uk and they cost just £30 including postage and packing.
 
During lockdown Ros was at home in her studio and, like everyone else, longing to visit places, see people and explore the world. So she decided to go travelling through her creativity. The result is a range of Papershades Places, paper lampshades which celebrate a wide variety of places in the United Kingdom. 
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London
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Oxford
At first she made designs of places which had personal meaning. She says: “I sat down in my studio and started channelling all the places I’ve lived in in my life and have a special connection with. I began with Oxford where I was born and spent some of my childhood; then I created two towns in Shropshire, Ludlow and Shrewsbury which I ‘discovered’ as a teenager while youth hostelling along the Welsh border. Then there’s Yorkshire where my grandmother was brought up and Kent where my grandparents lived. A cousin of mine lived in Cornwall for years and we had so many wonderful family holidays staying with her and exploring the beautiful countryside near Falmouth. I have a daughter in Cambridge and friends in Edinburgh. Once I started thinking about it there was no end to the places I’ve had a connection with and really wanted to celebrate in my paper collage way."
 
But Ros didn’t stop there. Once these Places Papershades were on the website, local papers and radio stations got in touch and she was invited to talk on local BBC Radio station and be featured in regional papers.

​Ros says: “During lockdown, when the shops were shut, online retail became quite the thing. I loved getting orders from people wanting to send Papershades as a present to someone special whom they couldn’t visit. I’d pop in a cheery note saying that my Papershade of Norfolk, for instance, came with love from a daughter to a mother, and I’d send it off to someone in Norwich or Cromer who loved the thoughtfulness of the gift and they they, in turn would send one to someone they loved.

The next thing that happened was that people got in touch with me suggesting I should make designs of places where they lived. So I created designs of places like The Wirral, South Shields, Aberdovey in Wales, Plymouth and Derby. I haven’t lived in those places but it was wonderful to research the area and create an impression of the countryside, the towns and cities and all the important landmarks."
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The Wirral
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Edinburgh
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Norfolk
Ros continues to create her own impressions of places in paper which are turned into lampshades. She welcomes suggestions from people who’d like to commission a design, with the promise that they’ll buy several of them.  She says: “I have a particular palette of paper which I use for these design so that there’s quite a ‘family resemblance’ within them and no doubt at all that they are in my style.”
View the Places Range
Contact Ros with a Place idea
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Ros is still creating other Papershades designs. She launched a new range earlier this year - The New Floral collection - which were inspired by a trip to Northumberland at the end of last year.  She also has a collection of designs under the banner of Nostalgia, Culinary, Literary and Pick and Mix.  

Ros also runs workshops at her studio in Muswell Hill as well as running them at crafts fairs such as  Living Crafts and Crafts4Crafters.
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Book a Workshop
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Beach of Dreams

6/9/2021

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​Beach of Dreams is an epic journey to discover the hidden gems of the East Coast of England. It runs from 26 June - 1 August from Lowestoft to Tilbury. It invites collaboration from communities and artists along the way in Suffolk, Essex, Southend, and Thurrock. Kinetika’s Artistic Director, Ali Pretty, and Guardian journalist Kevin Rushby are walking the entire route, joined by artists, writers, scientists, and local residents. 

Together, guided by strong environmental themes and the challenges of our current time, they will consider the question “How can we creatively reimagine our future?”

The event is run by Kinetica is an internationally renowned company specialising in creating large-scale silks.

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An installation of all 500 pennants will mark the beginning of the walk on 27 June, at sunrise on the beach at Lowestoft, during the First Light Summer Solstice. The route follows the coast, taking in stunning scenery, wild landscapes and seaside towns. Further installations and events take place along the way including Harwich Festival on 10 July and the finale at Tilbury Fort on 1 August.


Find out more about where you can visit the Beach of Dreams here

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Member of Muswell Hill Creatives, Rob Jones of Romor Designs is a specialist in natural dyes. Rob was brought in as a consultant on the Beach of Dreams project. His consultation started with experimenting with different natural dyes, mordant and indigo. 

Wax resist designs by a group of artists were created on the silk before the final dye was applied to the pennants. The designs were inspired by images of sections of the route. 

Rob spent time with the Kinetica team test dyeing samples over in Purfleet before helping to dye the final pennants which you will find along the route. 

He is looking forward to joining the team at the walk and seeing the completed pennants in all their splendour along the coast.
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Book a Romor Designs Workshop
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Welcoming our new Muswell Hill Creatives

4/8/2021

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We're very excited to have three new creatives join our collective.
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Sunbul Akhtar - Night Press

Sunbul runs Night Press from her home studio in Muswell Hill. Working in publishing in the day, Sunbul began printing as a creative after-work outlet before starting an online shop in 2019. Working exclusively with lino cut prints in a series of themes, Sunbul’s portfolio includes illustrated graphic novel posters, whimsical cityscapes, and prints on her Pakistani heritage.

Lino cut art involves carving a design onto a sheet of linoleum or wood, creating a negative space where the surface is carved. Using ink, an impression is made of the block. It is the earliest form of printing and allows the printmaker to reproduce artwork by hand.

​At Night Press, Sunbul produces all of her prints by hand, using traditional techniques such as hand burnishing her prints with a wooden tool.

Read more here

Hilary Masetti - Hilary Sketches


After a career in HR and then a break to bring up her boys, Hilary is excited to be able to follow her passion and focus on her artwork. She has always been a keen artist after selling her first watercolour piece of her schoolbag at the age of 15! More recently she has been drawn to urban sketching through her love of detail and the beauty of local architecture in Muswell Hill and the surrounding areas.

'The process starts for me when I explore and take photos of local buildings. I am spoilt for choice around here! I love recording the amazing detail in buildings we pass by every day but can easily overlook'.

Read more here

Isabelle Blondiau - Isabee


Isabelle Blondiau of Isabee makes beautiful handmade applique t-shirts featuring original designs for babies and children.

Isabelle studied photography in Belgium and came to London to learn English. She worked as a professional photographer for many years before switching her career to becoming a designer maker over 15 years ago.

Isabelle's range is all about colours, simplicity, fun and quality.  The organic and ethically made cottons are gentle and soft to the skin - perfect for little ones.

Read more here

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Here's to the women who inspire us

3/8/2021

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To celebrate International Women's Day, members of Muswell Hill Creatives have come together to celebrate the brilliant women past and present who inspire their lives/their work. 
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Laura Knight by Ros Freeborn, Papershades

Laura Knight was a very talented artist and one of the first female artists to study life painting amongst men at art school - a radical thing to do in 1913 when she created Self Portrait with Model. She shows herself painting a nude model, with the model in the background and the work on a canvas - a very clever set up involving mirrors. And it's an intriguing work to see close up with such variety of style and paint application.

​She moved to Cornwall with her husband and was a leading light of the Newlyn School. She depicted women at work in her paintings - especially during WW2 and she was commissioned to record the Nuremburg Trial in 1946, depicting the Nazi criminals in the dock. She never stopped working, right up until her death.

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Patricia van den Akker, The Design Trust by
​Rob Jones, Romor Designs 


Patricia is a force of nature! She has a strong belief in what she does, supporting artists and makers in setting up and running their businesses. Her advice and support has been a critical factor in the success of my business and she specifically saved my bacon last year when she ran her 'How to teach online' classes in 2020 when lockdown had effectively closed my business.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by JC, Queenie Organics

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortzez worked her way up from a poor background with grassroots issues. Daughter of an immigrant in a mainly white male environment, she isn't afraid to speak truth to power.

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Lynette Yiadom-Boakye by Sue Copeland

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye is a British artist and writer acclaimed for her enigmatic portraits of fictitious people - both familiar and mysterious. The colour she uses in her work is wonderful. 

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Frida Kahlo by Jeremy Ornstin, Ceramic Justice

We visited her house in Mexico City. What struck me was her passion. Her indomitable spirit; channelling her suffering through her art and outlook, giving expression to raw experience. She confronted life full on. But I saw that, by rendering it in full colour, she embraced it too.

​What do I take from that? I suppose that in artistic terms, once you find a medium in which you feel you can express creativity, no matter how raw or untutored your skill's level, grab the opportunity. Don't compromise and don't get distracted by comparing yourself with others in your field, and keep focused on your passion.

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Ruth Asawa by Michele Wyckoff Smith

Educated at Black Mountain College by Joseph Albers and Buckminster Fuller, Ruth Asawa developed a style of woven metal biomorphic forms that were both fragile and etherial, as well as commanding and monumental. Despite being born in America to Japanese parents, Asawa was none the less interned in a camp during World War II. Strangely, she has credited this difficult experience with the making of her as an artist.

​I remember a photo spread of a fountain commission she completed in San Francisco in the 1970s. My mother was so impressed by the piece, we eventually made a point of visiting it in person. The large  work resonated with my mother, and brought Asawa's creations to my attention.

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Great Aunt Nell by Jenny Freebury,
​Crouch End Candles


My Great Great Great Grandfather was a door keeper at Eton School in the early 20th Century and died suddenly leaving his wife to bring up a family of 4 girls. She started to take in the washing and mending and established a wash-house serving the Eton School boys and surrounding gentry. My Great Great Aunt Nell was one of her daughters and took on the business after her beau died in the Boer War.

​She never married, but expanded the business into one of the biggest Wash houses in the area. She was a strong woman in a world where most businesses were run by men. Every Friday my Great Aunt Nell would pay her staff, drop the takings at the bank and then make her way to the Grapes Hotel in Slough, walk through the 'men only' door to the tap room, with its sawdust covered floor and order herself a large whisky. She would drink it with her head held high - "respected as one of the men". Her reputation was tough but fair, and she always had bags of penny sweets in her pockets for the local children.

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Judy Murray by Steph Rubbo Saddlery & Leather Work

I think this quote of hers in The Scotsman of 28 Nov 2020 sums it up “I never saw obstacles as barriers that stopped you, I saw them as things that you had to find a way over or under or round because I’ve never let anyone stop me. I’m one of those people that if you tell me I can’t do something, I will go out of my way to prove you wrong and that’s been the story of my life.”

She is well known for her involvement in tennis, not just training Andy and Jamie, but she has done so much more for the grass roots of the game, through to the LTA. She also does a lot to highlight the back stories of what women in sport have to do to be successful. She also picked Oti and Bill to win Strictly.

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Catherine Hough by Samantha Sweet

Catherine was one of my tutors on my BA Hons degree in 3 Dimensional Design. She was the first person to emphasise that glass could be a sculptural material. I was very grateful when she took me on as an apprentice in her London studio where I worked there for 8 years learning production glass blowing, cold working and the business of running a glass studio.

​For all the time I have known Catherine she has been incredibly dedicated to working with glass to the highest standards technically while pushing the boundaries with her own, distinctive style.

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Anni Albers by Cecilia Child, By Cecil

Anni Albers is a name that looms large in the weaving world. And while I love her woven pieces, it is her sketchbook work that I find particularly interesting. She was so playful with her design work and continuously found new ways to make marks and incorporate new materials into her work.

​Weaving and textiles have traditionally been viewed as women's work and therefore not as worthy of attention. To see the craft elevated to an art form at the Tate retrospective in 2018 felt like the beginning of a long-denied recognition.

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Kate Fletcher by Tracey Lord, Lord and Taft

I’ve chosen Kate Fletcher because she was the first person who really made me think properly and deeply about the issue of sustainability. Her pioneering book was particularly important to me as at the time I discovered it I was teaching a fashion/textiles degree course and leading the critical thinking module. We spent a lot of time debating sustainability in the industry and Kate’s approach was the first I’d seen that tackled all aspects of the concept of sustainability, from processes, environmental impact, labour, fibres and chemicals to economy and ideology. It challenged and energised me and my students and that urge to question how and why I do things the way I do has remained with me ever since.

Now we are all much more used to thinking this way but she changed my work ethic and informs my approach to this day. She’s an actual proper hero.

Also an honourable mention this year for my grandma Belle for teaching me about grit and determination!

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Philippa Perry by Rachael Booth-Clibborn, Founder, Muswell Hill Creatives
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I come from an artistic background on my father's side. My great Aunt was artist and writer Nina Hamnett who was known as the Queen of Bloomsbury. My grandfather was an artist, my uncle is an arts publisher and my cousin an art dealer and publisher representing artists including Grayson Perry and Damian Hirst.

A love of art is definitely in my genes but I've stayed on the sidelines as more of a cheerleader. After dabbling a bit after I left school, I only really picked up a paintbrush again last year after being inspired to do so by Philippa Perry on the C4 Art Club show she shares with her husband Grayson. Her positive approach to life and great empathy have inspired me to feel braver about just giving painting another go and even sharing what I've created over the last year. I've been reminded just how good it is for the soul and it has helped put all the worries of the pandemic to one side for periods of time. I'm a bit haphazard when it comes to art & craft and when Philippa said the other night on the show "Oh dear, I've just sewn my skin into my embroidery" I realised we are definitely kindred spirits! 

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Muswell Hill Creatives Lockdown Love-In

2/8/2021

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Love in the time of a pandemic.... Love in a cold climate..... we value our friendships and relationships so much right now even when we can't celebrate Valentine's or Galentine's in the ways we might normally.  But, we can still show our love by buying a gift.  Whether for a loved one or just for a bit of self-love, we've put together some gift ideas with local delivery/pick up options to make life easier especially during this cold snap!  
Much Love

Show a friend how much you love them and appreciate their friendship with a handmade lavender-filled heart in a Springlike floral print. Handsewn in Crouch End by former menswear designer for Paul Smith - Sue Copeland.

£15

Contact Sue to order here
Available for pick up in N8 and free local delivery 
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His & Hers

These handsome silver cuffs in a minimalist design by Michele at Wyckoff Smith Jewellery are handmade from sterling silver and are a popular gift for men and women.

Available in polished and matte finish.

£140
Available for Pick Up in N10 or Free Delivery
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Buy here  
A Treat for Lockdown Locks

Whenever Rob at Romor Designs gets to Japan to further his textile education, he picks up beautiful vintage Japanese fabrics.  

He uses the
Kimono silks he buys to make scarves but often has leftover pieces. With zero waste in mind, Rob has made a range of hair scrunchies which are perfect for those who are missing the hairdresser!

£12
Free delivery

Buy here
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Love is In the Air

Jenny at Crouch End Candles has the perfect candles and diffusers in scents you'll love. 

Hello I Love You - The crisp freshness of Mediterranean Fig candle evokes Spring dewy mornings all year long. 
 
Big Love - Fall in love at first sight with the heady blend of cassis, cherry, grass and fig, with heart notes of hyacinth, cyclamen, jasmine and pine tree. All sitting on base notes of patchouli, cedar, amber and musk.

From £16
Free local delivery and pick up in N8
National delivery £5

Buy here
​Ethical Skincare for the One You (Self) Love

JC at Queenie Organics' ethical gift set is perfect for you or a loved one. This is a limited edition of 4 sets. Each set comprises: 

1x Hand & Body Cream of your choice
1x Face moisturiser of your choice
1x Cocoa and Olive Hand Cream.
1X Crochet bunny - proceeds go to Hong Kong based homeless charity

£75
Free delivery over £50

Buy here
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Calling all Plant Lovers

These planters in cheerful glazes were handthrown by Jeremy of Ceramic Justice in Muswell Hill. They would make great gifts for a loved one. Now is a good time to plant Spring bulbs and look forward to brighter times ahead.

£20 each 

Buy direct by contacting Jeremy here
Local delivery/collection by arrangement
Show Them You Care

Cecilia at By Cecil's silk eye pillows are handwoven in Crouch End and filled with linseed and lavender so you can lie back and relax during meditation or when taking a nap. They can be heated on a radiator or placed in the fridge to soothe tired eyes.

£35
Free UK delivery. Contact Cecilia about N8 Click & Collect

Buy here
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For the Light of Your Life

Ros at Papershades has a a range of six floral shades for the light of your life. They’re all based on paper collage art and look very pretty in a room whether the lights are on or off. And they don’t need any watering or looking after! Flat-packed with easy assembly.

Handmade in Muswell Hill. 

£25
Free UK shipping. N10 pick up/delivery by arrangement.

Buy here

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Lord and Taft knitwear travels the world

1/21/2021

1 Comment

 
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Knitwear designer Tracey Lord of Lord and Taft, makes accessories for men, women and children. 

Since studying Tracey has been based in Camden and Portobello Road and she now designs and makes knitwear from her studio on Avenue Mews in Muswell Hill.

Tracey knits berets, beanies, gloves, ties and scarves using vegan and cotton yarn and alpaca wool.

​As an active member of the Muswell Hill Creatives collective, Tracey loves telling us the far flung places all across the world where her berets and accessories have ended up.
Tracey's berets have appeared on stage in the Young Vic Theatre in London and in theatres in Edinburgh, Huddersfield and Sydney. 

Further afield she has sent them to some amazing destinations including all across Europe, Beverley Hills, Taiwan, China, Alaska, Hawaii, Paramount Pictures and our absolute favourite - The Crazy Horse Campground in Arizona, USA.

Tracey has even provided hats for all members of the Belgian Highland Games team!
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​Tracey's designs are inspired by many sources - from an accidental arrangement of gorgeous colours she might spot on a walk in the country, to a clash of textures spied whilst traveling in the city; from the trend magazines she reads about textiles to the wealth of creative galleries and museum collections in London. She gathers it all up like a magpie, pops it into her sketchbook and then starts to play with new designs and colour combinations.
We have had a bit of fun in this gloomy lockdown January and have plotted Tracey's knitwear travels on a Map!  

Tracey says: "I'm reading lots of travel writing books at the moment in lieu of being able to go anywhere. I used to go to a  travel writing course for years. It's lovely to see what I make travelling the world, even when I can't!"

If you love a good map, then do click on the link below and look for the Yellow Stars to see how far and wide handmade knitwear lovingly made in a little studio in Muswell Hill has ended up!  
Lord and Taft Conquers The World - Map
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Shop from Tracey's knitwear range HERE

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Introducing our new Muswell Hill Creatives

10/2/2020

2 Comments

 
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We are very excited to announce we have five brilliant new makers joining Muswell Hill Creatives:

Jeremy Ornstin - Ceramic Justice

After a 35 year career as a criminal lawyer, Muswell Hill based Jeremy was lucky enough to find a new discipline - ceramics - and has found it utterly absorbing.  Learning a new skill, a creative process without being answerable to anyone for the first time in half a century, Jeremy sees as a great privilege.

Read more here

Rosalind Freeborn - Papershades

Muswell Hill based Rosalind Freeborn has always been an artist but particularly loved working with paper. Ros launched Papershades as a way to make her art available beyond a work on canvas - on lampshades. Papershades presents a range of designs which are based on Ros's paper collage artwork.

Read more here

JC - Queenie Organics

JC launched Queenie Organics in the Autumn of 2018. Working from his home studio in Turnpike Lane, JC handmakes skincare which is cruelty free, certified organic, registered vegan and certified palm oil free. Queenie Organics has been rated a top ethical skincare brand by Ethical Consumer Magazine which is a tremendous achievement.

Read more here
 
Sue Copeland

Former menswear director at Paul Smith, Sue Copeland has been an international fashion designer for over 30 years. After a sudden stroke in 2010 which left Sue with Aphasia, an impairment of language, she focused on her rehabilitation. While recovering, she rediscovered her passion for sewing, leading to a handmade collection of cushions to raise money for the charity. Sue's current projects include handmade throws, baby quilts and wall hangings as well as handmade toys and gifts. Sue is based in Crouch End.

Read more here

Jenny Freebury - Crouch End Candles 

Jenny Freebury is a fashion designer who discovered candlemaking as a passion on a workshop she organised for her best friends on her hen weekend. Jenny has since developed Crouch End Candles - with beautifully simple and clean packaging with different waxes, wicks and fragrances being right at the heart of her brand.

Read more here

Christina Clements (founder of Butter Bar Soapery) has made the switch to jewellery making with her new brand Eva Fay Design. Check out her page here.

Alumni

We're saying a fond farewell but never goodbye to Jo Angell, Jess Albert, Natasha of Rolling with the Posies, Adriana of Yaya Lala, Leonora of Luminous Muse Ceramics and Edit Juhasz Ceramics. We've loved having them as part of the collective. Things change in creative businesses and in people's lives. Jo has made the shift from print and design to painting, Leonora is studying a Masters Degree in ceramics, Edit has moved to South London! Nobody ever completely leaves the Muswell Hill Creatives community and are welcome back at any time.

You will find links to past makers on our Alumni page.

The main thing, always, is to keep supporting and buying directly from all these amazing makers.
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Local Indie Retailers We Love

7/3/2020

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To celebrate Indie Day 2020, here are our favourite local independents across Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Hornsey, and Haringey. As a collective we believe it is incredibly important to support local independent retailers, cafes, restaurants, pubs, and cinemas. It is good for the local economy and community wellbeing.

Now, more than ever, independents need your help to survive the Covid crisis. Please do share this blog and share the love. 
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Tash & Tanya 
106A-106B Alexandra Park Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE

Head here for beautiful, handmade products that are built to last, made by local people and sold at a fair price. Run by Natasha Barton and Tanya Kreisky, the shop made its name as ‘home of the Ally Pally cushion’ for the duos’ collaborative work based around local landmarks. T&T stocks products made by Muswell Hill Creative member Rob of Romor Designs.

Muswell Hillbilly Brewers Taproom
14 Avenue Mews, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3NP

We had a pop up shop in the building which now houses the Muswell Hillbilly Taproom. Also on Avenue Mews, Pete, Martin and team produce bottle conditioned craft beer and cask and kegged real ales in their microbrewery. The beer is great!

Cosi Homewares
85 Fortis Green Road. Muswell Hill, London, N10 3HP

An established shop on Fortis Green housing design led furniture and homewares boutique. Great for products sourced by the owner Sarah, who is very skilled at helping you find the right gift for the right occasion.

Slipstitch 
108 Alexandra Park Rd, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE

We've held two pop ups in the fabulous and welcoming space which is Slipstitch and Rob of Romor Designs has taught regular classes in their lovely workshop space. You may also recognise it as the location for the 'concept store' in the last series of Motherland. The physical shop is still closed for browsing but Rosie and team are open via their website offering in-store collection and can offer craft help via email.  

Sunshine Garden Centre
Durnsford Road, Bounds Green, London, N11 2EL

Creativity of the gardening kind.  We think this is the best run independent garden centre we know.  It did a fantastic service during lockdown and has now launched Click & Collect.  Excellent customer service and a huge wealth of knowledge - just ask any member of staff!

Aleion
346 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 1DJ

We had a happy month before Christmas sharing Aleion's downstairs homeware boutique thanks to the lovely owners of Aleion - Alex and Ian.  We hope to see them back open soon for great food and gifts. Aleion really is an important part of the Muswell Hill community and we miss them!

Nest Knitting
102 Weston Park, Crouch End, London, N8 9PP

An experienced seamstress and teacher, Genevieve West has always wanted to pass on her love of sewing and crafting; her opportunity to do so came along when she took over as the owner of Nest in January 2015. Having seen the demand for classes explode, she decided to change the use of the space from a yarn shop to purely a sewing school in 2019. Rob of Romor Designs teaches Shibori and other dyeing & stitching techniques here.

Morley Butchers
23 Broadway Parade, Crouch End, London, N8 9DE

Award-winning butchers, Morleys are continuing a long tradition. There has been a butchers shop at the same location on Broadway Parade in Crouch End since the end of the 1800s.  The butchers comes highly recommended by our leather worker Steph Rubbo.

Arthouse Cinema 
159A Tottenham Lane, Crouch End, London, N8 9BT

The friendly local cinema will not be open again until September as they want to be sure that their visitors and staff feel safe and confident in returning. Our weaver, Cecilia of By Cecil, will be first in line when they do re-open. In the meantime, they have commissioned local artist Julia Clarke to make an angel sculpture to hang over the door. 
  
Pickled Pepper Books
10 Middle Lane, Crouch End, London, N8 8PL

Pickled Pepper Books offers a fantastic selection of books for all ages and runs a book fairy service. You decide how much you want to spend, leave a note describing special interests and favourite books and they handpick a selection for you. They even hand delivered an order during lockdown. Cecilia is really really looking forward to their theatre opening up again soon.
 
W Martyn
135 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3RS

Muswell Hill Broadway would not be the same without specialists in tea and coffee and retailers of fine food, W Martyn. The shop opened was opened in 1897 by the current owner's great grandfather. You can now have goods delivered to your door for free, if you live locally.

Dunn's Bakery
6 The Broadway, Crouch End, London, N8 9SN

Dunn’s of Crouch End is a family owned bakery, run by Christopher and his wife Christina. Christopher’s great-great-grandfather, Robert Freeman, came down from Brackley, Northamptonshire in 1820 on a hay wagon and started work as a baker in South Grove, Highgate. You may have spotted a cake by Dunn's in the latest series of Killing Eve and in bank commercial.

The All Good Bookshop
35 Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, London, N8 0EA

This is a community-run bookshop and events space selling both new and second hand books. The team behind it missed having a bookshop in Wood Green/Turnpike Lane so they got together and set up the All Good Bookshop cooperative. The shop comes highly recommended by Steph Rubbo of Steph Rubbo Leather Work & Saddlery.

Indish
16 Broadway Parade, Crouch End, London, N8 9DE

When discussing this list, Indish the vote was unanimous. The shop has been flying the design flag in Crouch End since 1996. Kasha and Melanie came from a background in publishing to a change of career in retail. Twenty years later the shop still stands proud and packed with the most amazing home-oriented products.

Children's Bookshop
29 Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3HP

The award-winning Children's Bookshop is an independent family-owned children's bookshop which first opened in 1974.  The team led by Sanchita has a deep commitment to enthusing children - and their carers - with a passion for books that is so important to building the booklovers of the future. Their knowledge of the books they sell never fails to impress!

Harmless
79 Tottenham Ln, Hornsey, London, N8 9BE

The Harmless Store started its life at the Blue House Yard in Wood Green, before a successful crowdfunder led by its owner Tami, led to a relocation to Hornsey. The store is a vegan, minimal packaging, grocery shop with a goal of helping you lead a more ethical lifestyle.

Sally Bourne Interiors
26 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3RT

A favourite of our floral designer Natasha of Rolling with the Posies, the shop offers over 12,000 colours of paint, with hundreds of colours painted onto large boards, to enable true comparisons. Wallpapers and fabrics are also available along with Sally’s own range of handmade tiles. The huge range of home accessories, ranging from dishcloths of Swedish linen to antique French furniture, makes for destination shopping.

Victoria Stakes
No.1 Muswell Hill, London, N10 3TH

​The Stakes dates back to the turn of the century, originally built as a coachouse & stables. The building sat firmly at the foot of the hill, and became a welcome spot for those wishing respite and a friendly welcome. Run by Ben, his wife Lucy, and brother-in-law Marc, community is at the heart of what they do and we have been fortunate to use their wonderful yard for sales and celebrations over the years.  They re-open on Independents Day - 4 July.

Owens
90-92 Alexandra Park Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE

Owen’s Food Store opened in November 2010. Local residents Simon & Sarah Owen decided they wanted to open a food store to bring good honest food into the heart of the local community – and to offer an alternative to often laborious supermarket shopping. Having worked as a chef for many years, Simon was able to draw from his inherent knowledge and passion for food to create a local store that provided almost everything any kitchen could need.

Cheeses
13 Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill, London N10 3HP

Cheeses is small but perfectly formed. Morgan and her team are passionate about quality, well sourced farm house & artisan cheese. They sell the finest quality cheeses online from all over the world.  It is the most fun queue to be in at Christmas time! 

La Dinette

3-5 Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3HP

Our knitwear designer Tracey Lord was a regular at La Dinette before lockdown and is happy to be able to return. The cafe owner Claire says "La Dinette is about trying to recreate (in a very modest way) her childhood memories which are mostly filled with Sunday trips to the local patisserie and market with her dad, long family lunches ending with delicious and beautiful cakes, rainy days at home baking with her sister and making tons of jam with her mum and grandma, and talking (and arguing) about food with her brother."

Cachao Toys
452 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London N10 1BS

A colourful place filled with toys, gifts, party supplies, cards & gift wrap. Everything in the shop has been carefully chosen by owner Jennie and team to give you a happy buying experience. You really don't need to turn to the big online retailers when you have a shop like this on your doorstep. If you saw balloons being walked around Muswell Hill during lockdown that was Jennie making deliveries to ensure celebrations were extra special.

Please check websites for COVID closures and any safety measurements in place.
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