Snow, snow and more snow!

My 'young' really enjoyed the big snowfall on Christmas Day at Dad's house and it was quite magical being surrounded by 'the white stuff' even if it nearly stopped us getting up Dad's very slippy lane for our Christmas family gathering.

I love the men in my life and this is a great picture of my Dad, hubby and son .... before our obligatory Bucks Fizz too!

 

Whizz our hamster joined in the Christmas fun and enjoyed eating the pine needles and making a den in the wrapping paper!!

 

All that seems so long ago already and we have had even more snow and school closures so I am starting to think 'enough already' ... but it is so beautiful.

 So I hope that you are enjoying the snow too wherever you are, stay safe if you have to travel in it and best wishes for 2010, Alison x

Happy Christmas and a Joyous 2010

 

A very Happy Christmas to you all and wishing a joyous 2010 with fun and laughter. As children, we laugh hundreds of times each day, delighted by the newness of living. When we reach adulthood, however, we tend to not allow ourselves to let go in a good belly laugh. Inviting laughter back into our lives is simply a matter of making the conscious decision to laugh. Though most of us are incited to laugh only when exposed to humor or the unexpected, each of us is capable of laughing at will. A laugh that comes from the belly carries with it the same positive effects whether prompted by a funny joke or consciously willed into existence. When our laughter comes from the core of our being, it permeates every cell in our physical selves, beginning in the center and radiating outward, until we are not merely belly laughing but rather body laughing.

Laughter has been a part of the human mode of expression since before evolution granted us the art of speech. Through it, we connected with allies while demonstrating our connection with people we didn’t know. In the present, laughter allows us to enjoy positive shared experiences with strangers and loved ones alike. Yet solitary laughter carries with it its own slew of benefits. An energetic and enthusiastic bout of whole-body laughter exercises the muscles, the lungs, and the mind in equal measure, leaving us feeling relaxed and content. When we laugh heartily at life’s ridiculousness instead of responding irritably, our focus shifts. Anger, stress, guilt, and sadness no longer wield any influence over us, and we are empowered to make light of what we originally feared. Laughter also opens our hearts, letting love and light in, changing our perspective, and enabling us to fix our attention on what is positive in our lives.

It is easy to laugh when we feel good, but it is when the world appears dim that we most need laughter in our lives. Our laughter then resonates through our hearts, filling the empty spaces with pure, unadulterated joy. We regain our footing in the moment and remember that no sorrow is powerful enough to rob us of our inborn happiness. When we understand that uninhibited laughter is the food of the soul, nourishing us from within, we know instinctively that life is worthwhile. 

Live, laugh and love your way through this next decade. xXx

 

Late Night Shopping

Hebden Bridge is the perfect place for your late night shopping and it all kicks off this coming Thursday, 26 November, when Chris Chittell (Eric Pollard, Emmerdale) switches on the lights in the town and snow will fall on Heart Gallery, Market Street, Bridge Gate and The Square.


Avoid crowded cities and support your local independents by coming down to Hebden Bridge to do your Christmas shopping; there's so much to see ...

... so see you soon xXx

All I Want ... Christmas at Heart Gallery

Our Christmas Exhibition 'All I Want ...' got off to a cracking start this last weekend, despite the grim weather we had sadly got used to after a full week of rain and possible flooding! The nasty weather did not seem to put people off visiting Hebden Bridge and there was a lovely atmosphere in Heart Gallery as customers browsed all the new work.

  

New jewellery from Lucy Palmer, inspired by myths, fairytales and folklore,  was well received as was

beautiful porcelain work from Clare Mahoney.

Other inspiring pieces were from Alison Dupernex - her unisex silk and cashmere scarves were admired by customers - and Jill Ford's delicate ceramic pieces decorated with porcelain old roses.

There is not enough  time for me to show you all the new pieces on this blog so why not take time out of your busy schedule to come along to Hebden Bridge for a day out. Call into Heart Gallery and see all the wonderful new work then treat yourself to a coffee, cake or lunch and wander around all the lovely independent shops in this picturesque Pennine Town... See you soon x

Bjorg Jewellery at Heart Gallery

Norwegian designer Bjorg claims her inspiration, in part, from the Nordic nature she grew up with, believing that unpretentious beauty can find a place and be reflected in the most unlikely places. Bjorg went to art school in Oslo before working in the fashion industry, enabling her to travel the world, developing her style and the ethos of her designs.

While typically focussing on British designers, we simply could not ignore the striking combination of glamour and natural appeal in Bjorg's surprising jewellery. We love that her work verges on eccentric Gothic vintage.

 

Christmas at Heart

Well folks, it is that time of year again so just to bring you up to date with what's happening at Heart Gallery here is the exclusive invite for the launch of our Christmas Selling Exhibition,  All I Want ...

It would be lovely to see you on Saturday 7th November but don't worry if you can't get to Hebden Bridge that day, the exhibition runs until 10th January 2010 and we are open 7 days a week and until 8pm Thursdays 26th November, 3rd December, 10th December and 17th December.

Late night shopping on Thursday 26th November will see the Christmas Lights switched on in Hebden Bridge and lots of festive things happening around the town. There will be Carol Singers at Heart Gallery and, with a bit of luck (still trying to finalise it) roast chestnuts too!

If you follow this link it will lead you to a photo album of new work at Heart Gallery so you can have a sneaky peak:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=114324&id=682814520

Also new at Heart Gallery is our Heart's Desire List. All you have to do is visit and point out any work that your heart desires, we will add it to your list and save it so that all you then need to do is send your friends and family in to choose from it when you have a special occasion to buy for such as a Birthday, Anniversary or, of course, for Christmas. Let them know your Heart's Desire List is at Heart Gallery and we will do the rest!

This little beauty of a cuff is on my Heart's Desire List:

See you soon

Alison x

One piece of beautiful jewellery and two beautiful ladies tie the knot!

Friday 11th September and the sun was certainly shining on these two lovely ladies for their wedding day as Mel decided to make an honest woman of Sue!


Sue is a regular exhibitor at Heart Gallery with her delicate boxes hand-built from porcelain clay slabs. Sue's pieces are fired twice in her old re-conditioned front-loading kiln. She has tried various clay body and glaze combinations, but has settled on a French porcelain called Limoges, and a transparent glaze which is silky to the touch, and enhances the cleanness of the lines and form. All Sue's work is food-safe and waterproof.

Mel contributes enormously to The Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade which is a community-generated parade led by local artists which celebrates the creativity, variety and the uniqueness of Hebden Bridge and its surrounding areas. As an area fiercely proud of its local character, and apparently internationally known for its funkiness, the Hebden Bridge parade is not your average small town parade so Mel should be proud of its achievements the last two years.

Sue and Mel came down to see me a few days before their civil ceremony and reception at The Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey to find something suitable for Mel to wear around her neck that would remain a classic piece worn time and time again. They both knew the type of thing they wanted and as soon as they saw Hannah Souter's range from my ACJ exhibition, Cambridge they knew that they had found 'the one'.  


Hannah's work is strongly influenced by her love of organic forms, in particular seed pods and buds. Comprising of hand press formed and individually fabricated units, her jewellery combines subtle surface textures and contrasting finishes to create unique pieces of fine jewellery. Heart Gallery was proud that Hannah wanted to showcase her work in Hebden Bridge with the Cambridge branch of The Association of Contemporary Jewellery.

Sue and Mel had just a fabulous day, everything was perfect, and this close up of them proves that ... and also shows how perfect Hannah's pendant was around Mel's neck.

Heart Gallery sends heartfelt love and best wishes to Sue and Mel for a happy and joyous life together. xXx