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Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Christmas
Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Christmas – Sunday 8th December 2013 at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys 10am – 5pm.

Unique gifts from a selection of designers & artists for a truly bespoke Christmas.

Its a busy festive gift buying event and well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Please click here to see the flyer for more details >>

Brewers Arts exhibition
New Brewery Arts Centre in their annual show called Crafted for Christmas – Saturday 23 November to Saturday 4 January 2014

Crafted for Christmas promotes 27 selected contemporary makers from throughout the UK, bringing exciting and innovative new work to the Cotswolds. – Click here to find out more >>>

Designer Craft Show 2013 at Staircase House
Designer Craft Show 2013 at Staircase House 15 November 2013 – 19 January 2014

Fabulous crafts to buy and collect created by some of the UK’s finest designer makers in jewellery, ceramics, interior and fashion textiles.

This year in a new location at Staircase House, Stockport’s longest surviving merchants house.

Click here to find out more.

Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair
Visit my stand at The Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Wilmslow High School on Sunday 16th June 2013 – 10am-5pm.

From the organisers of Manchester’s award-winning Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, comes the Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, featuring 40 designer makers and artists, selected for their excellence in everything from ceramics, glass, interior textiles and wood to jewellery and fashion accessories. Light refreshments available.

www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk

You can find more information about this event and future upcoming events here.

Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair
Visit my stand at Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Cheadle Hulme School, Claremont road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, SK8 6EF Sunday 19th May 2013 – 10am-5pm.

You can find more information about the event by visiting the Little Northern Contemporary Fair Website.

Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair
Visit my stand at Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Altrincham Grammar School For Boys Sunday 28th April 2013 – 10am-5pm.

You can find more information about the event by visiting the Little Northern Contemporary Fair Website or the Great Northern Events Website.

Every Step Exhibition The design process of Joseph Hartley

Every Step Exhibition

The design process of Joseph Hartley

Date: 23/03/2013 – 29/06/2013


Click here to find out more >>>

3 COUNTIES, 25 ARTISTS, BORDERS 3 COUNTIES, 25 ARTISTS, “BORDERS” @ GALLERY 23

Award winning Arteria with Gallery 23 gets off the blocks at a pace in 2013 with a dynamic and inspirational collection of artworks.

The showcase titled “BORDERS” features art and craft that spans the borders of Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire

Jane Richardson, Owner and Managing Director of Arteria with Gallery 23 explains;

“The exhibition celebrates the stand out talent of 25 creatives. As a gallery it has been exciting to mix such eclectic pieces from neighboring counties.

We are so lucky to have such inspirational surroundings and we believe that those who visit the show will appreciate seeing work inspired by the county they live in or counties they love to visit.”

From statement wall art, to mirrors with messages, beautiful glass to quirky jewellery, ambient lighting to unique textiles, the artistic talent at the “BORDERS” exhibition show no boundaries.

The show runs from 9th January through to 16th March 2012 and is open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturdays 9.30am to 5.30pm

For more information please call 01524 61111 or email info@arteriashop.co.uk

FourFront Exhibition Launch & Christmas Event at Manchester Craft & Design Centre

Please join us at Manchester Craft & Design Centre on the 24th of November for our new Exhibition Launch & annual Christmas Shopping event. Come along to laser-cut your own Christmas decorations, hear some carols, sip christmassy concoctions and start your all-important festive shopping.

Click here to find out more >>>

Handstitch in detail

Click here to view my latest email bulletin >>>

Click here to sign up to my newsletter to receive my latest offers and news >>>

Deborah Forrest Jewellery Blog Devines Design featuring on Deborah Forrest Jewellery Blog

Click here to read the post >>>

Manchester Craft & Design Centre turns 30 Manchester Craft & Design Centre turns 30!

2012 is a special year for us, as MCDC reaches the big three-zero! From it’s humble beginnings in 1982 to becoming an award-winning centre for craft retail and development, we want you to join us throughout the year to help us celebrate what’s great about the Centre.

Click here to find out more >>>

Here is a short clip of the Craft and Design Center

Winner Manchester tourist awards 2011 Craft and Design Centre Manchester wins Best Independent Retailer Award

MCDC has been awarded the prestigious Independent Tourism Retailer of the Year award at this years Manchester Tourism Awards. The event was held at the Lowry Hotel and was organised by Marketing Manchester. Were delighted at this fantastic endorsement of our work, accolade for the quality of our tenants’ products and our warm visitor welcome.

Click here to find out more >>>

Devines Design Handmade in Manchester

To view an article on Manchester Craft and Design Centre including a feature on Devines Design
Click here >>>

Craft centre logo Come and visit my shop at the Manchester Craft Centre.

Enjoy hassle-free shopping with a difference – 18 boutique studios under one roof, offering unique, handmade gifts. Then recharge your batteries with delicious food and drink in cafe Aromat.

The Craft and Design centre is just a few minutes walk from Piccadilly Gardens and the Arndale.

Open Mon-Sat 10am – 5.30pm plus Sundays 11am – 5pm 30 Nov – 21 Dec

Manchester Craft and Design Centre,
17 Oak Street,
Northern Quarter,
M4 5JD
0161 832 4274

Here is a link to the map

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website updates and ideas for Christmas???

So, again, its been quite a while since I have done a blog on my site (can’t believe its about 9 months!). Its not that I have had my feet up doing nothing and hopefully a few folks have seen some of my posts on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and whatever else I try to squeeze into my making time!

There have been many things happening in the world of leather and textiles and I have been trying to produce some new work and pop some new things onto my website in time for Christmas where there is also free UK delivery. I will post some photos of a selection of newness but in the meantime you can pop over to my online shop at www.devinesdesign.com
Thanks for reading…

One of my new designs you will find on devinesdesign.com The Mango and Olive versatile rucksack. Also available in Petrol Blue.
One of my new designs you will find on devinesdesign.com The Mango and Olive versatile rucksack. Also available in Petrol Blue.

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Jingle Bells it’s nearly Christmas

feeling festive for some handmade decorations...
feeling festive for some handmade decorations…

 I thought it was time I did another post for my blog, I like to take my time on these things (it has been a while)! As the festive season is just about here, I have done a festive post of a little diary of me making some Devinesdesign created tree decorations. Hope you like them and Merry Christmas!

2.cutting shapes
cutting shapes ready for sewing…

These shapes were taken from my new Two Tone range for this year. They are used as a fastener on the stud fastening bag and as edging on the zipper style in this range. Have a look at my products page for more details.

6.ends to be threaded
ends to be threaded..
whispy threads...
whispy threads…
one complete!
one complete!
Devinesdesign Christmas tree decs..
Devinesdesign Christmas tree decs..
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New additions and photos….

Just a quick blog to update you on some new things…

Finally, after too long, I have had some new photos taken of my work and refreshed most of the images on my website. The photos were taken in my studio by Claire Louise Legg and she has managed to take some nice detailed shots and inside photos of my work, something I have been wanting to do for a while so that my products can be viewed in more detail on my website. I hope to continue to do this and improve the way the site looks so the photos are a good start and hopefully more to follows….thanks Claire!

Other things I have been working on are monthly bulletins to my Twitter followers and mailing list which is another thing I have had headaches over but am pleased with the results and hopefully will continue to improve and highlight new products in the future.The good thing about these bulletins is that it makes you look at your work and photographs, hence why I felt the need to start getting some professional shots taken again. Give me some feedback if you have the time, I would love to know your thoughts! Here are links to a couple of the latest ones….

http://www.devinesdesign.com/bulletins/5thSeptember2012bulletin/index.html

http://www.devinesdesign.com/bulletins/20thmay2012bulletin/index.html

I have also ventured into the world of Pinterest! I don’t know much about it yet but I have a page and this will be linked to my website soon and am determined to PIN something on there by the end of this weekend…watch this space! (Find me under Devinesdesign)

Lastly, blooming eck I’ve been busy, I have a Folksy page which I don’t think I have mentioned in my blogs before. Check my page out under Devinesdesign.

Anyway, thanks for reading and hopefully more updates to follow, feel free to send me any advice for the above or any feedback you want to share or just to tell me what you are up to in your world of making.

 

 

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Visit to Yorkshire Sculpture Park….

I felt the need to write a quick blog even though it is only my second one, it’s 9.30pm on a Thursday night and it has been a long day! I thought that if I don’t do another blog now I may never do one (or maybe only achieve one every six months at this stage)!

I was inspired to write it after a lovely visit to Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) this Monday. After a grey start to the day in Manchester I decided to think of places I wanted to visit that required “a drive out” too and came up with YSP. I have a fond association with the gallery as they were the first gallery to place an order with me at my first trade show at Harrogate British Craft Trade Fair (a few years ago now). Although I have only visited the gallery on one other occasion which was a very rainy day, unable to enjoy the vast area of gardens and grounds surrounding the gallery, I had a feeling that the weather was going to make my visit a different experience this time and I was right!

So sure that it was going to be a lovely trip I invited my parents to come, made a picnic and off we went. Welcomed by the sunshine on our arrival, my parents were sold as soon as we drove through the entrance. After a brief(ish) visit to the Miro exhibition in the underground gallery trying to educate my Dad into a bit of bronze sculptures we took to the grounds and explored all the huge sculptures and trails. 

Having my 18 month old daughter with me who wanted to walk the whole way,we did pretty well to cover as much as we did. We still need to another visit to get to the Longside gallery to see the Anish Kapoor exhibition which was unfortunately a little to far to walk when tiny legs were slowing us down. I think my daughters favorite parts were watching all the other children climbing and playing on the Anthony Caro ‘Promenade’ sculptures in front of Bretton Hall and also the hidden Shall Grotto near the Lake. For me, it was the whole place, the galleries are lovely and show some really high profile exhibitions, the Underground gallery being a great space in itself. Although I think it is the combination of the galleries and the huge space surrounding them containing more interesting pieces of sculptures that make it a special place.

So if you fancy a cultural day out in the sun before the summer is out, have a visit to YSP, it’s lovely!

P.S. take a peak at the Craft shop before you leave, it sells some lovely stuff too! x

end of a lovely day…..
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Welcome to devinesdesign…

People have been advising me to start a blog for a while now to get more in touch with the cyber world and help promote my business in various different ways, so after finally joining Twitter (and actually quite liking it), I thought I would try blogging. I might not be great at grammar and punctuation so apologies for that but I will try to keep you informed about various goings on and hopefully other interesting things.

I am hoping that it will also make me more aware of things that inspire and influence me and make me log things down more and act as a bit of a reference for myself aswell as being able to share with others.

I suppose I should start with a bit of a background on myself…..

I have been working as Devinesdesign since 2004 after finishing my degree in Embroidery where I started to sample making bags. I have continued to develop my work using mainly leather mixed with 100% cottons and silks to create simple, functional shaped items. My studio is based at Manchester’s Craft and Design Centre where I share with Jewellery designer Jo Lavelle.

My current work is based on traditional hand stitch and using individually sourced vintage Mother of Pearl buckles which are incorporated into the designs and finished off with linen hand stitch thread to complement the buckle and leather used. My work can be found on my website www.devinesdesign.com so take a peek if you can!

I think I’ve covered most things…here’s some recent photos of my work and process….

Next time I will post information on stuff I’m working on including an auction piece for our forthcoming exhibition at Craft and Design to celebrate it’s 30th birthday…check out more on http://www.craftanddesign.com/exhibitions/craftinghistory

Thanks for reading..