An amazing commission for a special Birthday

Recently I worked very closely with a lovely customer, Justine, and a talented jewellery maker, Emma Gale, to design jewellery for Justine's 40th Birthday. 

Coming up with the perfect necklace and bracelet to compliment a bespoke dress Justine had designed herself and was having made by Irene Calverley took time and thought, but once I knew which of the many talented UK makers in Heart Gallery to use, Emma made the rest of the process flow with ease.

After initially meeting Justine we realised that most of the detail for the necklace had to be down her back as the dress had been designed to drape really low. What we also wanted to do was make the necklace multi-functional so that Justine could wear it again and again even when she wasn't wearing her fantastic frock!

Emma managed to make the necklace so that Justine wore the whole necklace on her special evening but it broke down into 2 single necklaces too, giving her 3 variations to wear - genius!

After Justine had collected the necklace she quickly realised she wanted a bracelet to match and with very short notice Emma made the perfect little bracelet for Justine to complete her look .... and doesn't it all look amazing?

Emma uses 18ct yellow gold, antique glass beads and pearls then knits her flowers with kid mohair; her pieces are exquisite and are heirlooms of the future. This is a close up of Emma's kid mohair flowers on 18ct gold chain, they look so delicate but they are simply stunning and so perfectly designed and crafted.

I caught up with Justine after her birthday weekend and this is what she had to say:

"Thank you so much Alison for pulling everything together so quickly and suggesting Emma. As you can see the vintage style is perfect with the dress. It helped that you and the team at Heart Gallery were as excited as me about the whole choosing a jeweller and pulling together the look. Heart was my fave shop before but it's now my favourite place to recommend to friends looking for something special where the service is so personal and outstanding. I felt fantastic as the look had come together and therefore that enhanced an amazing night! Thanks so much, see you soon Jus xx"

Thanks to Emma Gale for interpreting our ideas perfectly and to Justine for sending stunning photographs to use in this blog.

Christmas at Heart

Well friends, it's been a while since I blogged for various reasons but the weather we have all had hasn't really helped matters has it? It looks so pretty when it first falls and covers the world but after a short while the picture fades as reality kicks in. Life as we know it seems to stop as people can't get to or from work, children are sent home from schools, public transport ceases and the media tells us all to stay at home!

It's at times like these that we really must, more than ever, support our small local independents to keep them in business providing a service to the community we live in.  I ordered the Heart Gallery Christmas Tree from Bob at William Holt, Greengrocer, Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge. Two days later it arrived and not only was Bob prompt at getting the tree delivered round to me, he and a colleague walked round to Market Street with it, made sure it was secure and straight for me and then put the lights on it too as I couldn't reach to the top of it myself!

It's this type of Customer Service offered by the independents of Hebden Bridge that make a great town greater.... and doesn't it look all Christmassy?

Hebden Bridge has recently won the title of 'Best Town in Britain 2011' and we really do deserve this award.

The team behind the Totally Locally campaign in Calderdale have worked tirelessly to get their message across since launching and only last week won another award, this time for 'Outstanding Response to the Economic Downturn'. Invest in your town - invest in your future is their tag line and the people of Hebden Bridge do just that. As someone who has a business in the town I appreciate how important it is to support other businesses and try where ever possible to shop totally locally.

This beautiful Christmas Card by talented local artist and illustrator Julia Ogden is available at Heart Gallery. Julia has also painted a small canvas of Two Turtle Doves which is hanging proudly in Heart Gallery.   

This is part of the 12 days of Christmas trail around Hebden Bridge kindly organised by The Hebden Bridge Bookshop. This new family-run, independent bookshop opened its doors in June 2010 to pursue and share their passion for literature with the local book-reading community. Sadly 2 weeks ago Gillian and Ross were dealt a devastating blow when the flat above their shop flooded through their ceiling ruining more than three quarters of their stock and their fixtures and fittings.

With friends and family rallying round they should thankfully be open again for business this weekend so call in and show your support. This time of year is crucial for small businesses so we all rely on you, our loyal customers, to spread the word on how great Hebden Bridge is for shopping .... see you soon and don't forget it is Late Night Shopping on Market Street every Thursday in December, shop late until eight and bring Market Street alive after five!

So, as silly season fast approaches I hope you are all prepared and ready for Christmas and if you have a few pressies still to wrap this beautiful double-sided Robin paper is perfect!

Late Night Shopping at Heart Gallery, Hebden Bridge

GORGEOUS GIFTS AT HEART

Yes, it really is nearly that time of the year again my friends - where does time go?

Planning for this exhibition started in January 2010 which might seem mad to some but I have to work about 10 months in advance to book new work in from makers. The small designer/makers Heart Gallery chooses to showcase throughout the year have to be able to timetable their work schedules in advance too.

It is always an incredible selection journey choosing pieces handmade by the cream of British talent ... here is a sneaky peak of what you will be able to buy at Heart Gallery already or coming soon:

 Porcelain t-light holders by Stef Storey

Fairytale silver jewellery by Xuella Arnold

Oak Jewellery box by Frances Smith

Silk/cashmere scarves by Alison Dupernex

Pen and ink originals and prints by Clare Caulfield

Award winning photography of the Hebden Bridge area by Nigel Hillier

Quirky silver jewellery by Helen Noakes

Rob Ryan Christmas cards and boxed notelet sets

Jan Constantine embroidered cushions

Award winning kitchen/dining products from Joseph Joseph

Luxurious silk scarves by Taisir Gibreel

Delicate little t-light holders by Cerys Boyle

I hope that's a little taster of what's in store for you in the run up to Christmas and don't forget that Heart Gallery is now offering the Arts Council’s Own Art scheme which is designed to make it easy and affordable for everyone to buy contemporary works of art and craft including paintings, photography, sculpture, glassware and jewellery. 

Simply choose the pieces you like, give us about 15 minutes of your time and you could be taking them all home on this great scheme - pick up an Own Art leaflet next time you visit Heart Gallery or call in for a chat.

Own Art to take home

Buy art at the Heart Gallery on interest free credit*

The Arts Council’s Own Art scheme is designed to make it easy and affordable for everyone to buy contemporary works of art and craft including paintings, photography, sculpture, glassware and jewellery. You can borrow from as little as £100 up to £2000, and pay back the loan in 10 monthly instalments - interest free.  

Arts Council England has established the Own Art scheme for the following reasons:

• to encourage new buyers and audiences for the visual arts
• to develop the visual arts economy by encouraging an increase in the sale of work by contemporary artists
• to support a breadth of practice from traditional to the innovative, by artists at all stages of their career.

The visual arts include craft, printmaking, glassware, painting, sculpture, installation, artists' film and video, media arts, architecture, live art and photography.

*Typical 0% APR

*Offer subject to age and status. Terms and conditions apply.

 

Own Art at Heart Gallery

Own Art

I still don't think that customers fully understand how the Own Art Scheme works so here's some info for you all. Almost everything at Heart Gallery is covered by this scheme and you can buy from different makers or just your favourite one.

                   Ceramics by Rowena Gilbert 

 

 Porcelain T light holders by Mandy Livesley 

Just bring 2 forms of ID with you when you come to shop, the process is quick and easy and a decision is made there and then.

Limited Edition prints and original pen and inks by Clare Caulfield

Own Art certainly comes in handy at Christmas as you can group lots of beautiful pieces together and get all your pressies under one roof ... we even gift wrap everything for you!

Silver and freshwater pearl Lily collection by local jeweller    Amanda Cox

  Silver and 22ct gold plate seed pod collection by Claire Troughton

Read more about Own Art here. 

Photographs of Hebden Bridge by award winning local photographer    Nigel Hillier

Own Art

Why not buy several items and spread the cost with an interest* free loan, and you can take the items away on the day.

You can borrow up to £2000 or as little as £100, and pay back the loan in 10 monthly installments.

*Typical 0% APR

Summer Show

Heart Gallery's photography exhibition YORKSHIRE - IN ALL ITS GLORY is now well under way and has been so fantastically supported by locals and visitors alike, thank you.

Mind you, I can't say I am not surprised! Eight local photographers and some amazing pieces from them and a variety of styles all under one roof!

This photo, HORSE, OLD TOWN, won Nigel Hillier an award last year and it was the first to sell at Heart Gallery. We have also got the shot he took last year of Hebden Bridge that also won an award and was printed out as Christmas cards for Heart Gallery - selling out week after week!

If you haven't been down to Heart Gallery yet then the exhibition runs until 01 August so you have plenty of time left.

We are also now running the Summer Show which is showcasing jewellery, ceramics and glass from newly graduated designers/makers and small ranges from makers not previously exhibited at Heart Gallery.

Sitting in amongst the new pieces are some contributions from a few of previous Heart Gallery favourites working in wire, metal and enamel:

So a stunning selection of pieces for the Summer Show and YORKSHIRE - IN ALL ITS GLORY photography working together in harmony - see you soon xXx

Totally Locally in Hebden Bridge

Totally Locally is all about Me, You, Him & Her. It’s about shopping in your street, your town, your district. It’s about jobs & community, it’s about investing today for a prosperous tomorrow, it’s about making this place shine like a diamond.

If every adult in Calderdale spent just £5 per week extra in our local shops & businesses it would mean an extra £40 million a year going into our local economy!

Totally Locally Calderdale has just launched its Fiver Fest and Heart Gallery is happy to be involved with this great campaign to encourage everyone to shop locally and avoid the concrete jungles. This is the link to take you to the Totally Locally pages to view all the wonderful offers and ideas independent shop owners have come up with for the Fiver Fest Fortnight.

http://www.totally-locally.co.uk/news.aspx?m=2&y=2010

We hope to see you soon … shopping locally and enjoying the experience xXx