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{Copyright 2011 Hannah Nunn. All rights reserved.}
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
HN: I’ve always loved making things. My most memorable childhood project was when my best friends and I made a cat house for a collection of miniature toy cats, with a maze of rooms made from old boxes and anything we could find to make furniture and decorations, even lights! It grew and grew until it had a lift, up to a whole arcade of shops! I went to Art College and was always very crafty and full of ideas. I had my two children soon after leaving college and while they were small (and I had my hands full) I yearned for some kind of creative business adventure. Settling here in Hebden Bridge was a great move for me and helped that start. Hebden Bridge has fantastic independent boutiques and coffee shops all nestled within an abundance of nature, surrounded by fields, moors and woodlands. The community is lovely too.
INTRIGUE US! WHAT ARE 3 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT YOU?
- I’m passionate about yoga and do my practice every day come rain or shine… or even hangovers, sometimes.
- I’m writing a book at the moment called “Illuminate” about contemporary craft lighting, which will be published next year.
- I have just been invited to attend the first “Do What You Love” retreat in Yorkshire Dales to do a Q&A session about my creative enterprise and I’m very happy and honoured to have been asked!
WHAT HELPED YOU DISCOVER YOUR CURRENT ARTISTIC PATH?
HN: When my children were old enough to go to playschool I found myself with two and a half precious hours a day to forge my longing for a creative career but was a little stuck as to what to do! I rented a space in a shared studio at the top of an old mill and decided to pull a few ideas together and make some handmade cards. They were very intricate paper cuts which I was always holding up to the light to enjoy their silhouettes and my fellow studio mate Hilary Roberts (ceramicist) suggested I make lights. My future flashed before me and with funding from the Arts Council I was able to research the idea and put my lamps into production. I have a lot to thank Hilary for as my lights have given me the creative career that I have always dreamed of!
NAME 3 PEOPLE THAT HAVE INSPIRED YOU MOST & WHY.
- Recently, I found a book of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s flower drawings. Have you ever seen them? They are stunning and every time I look at them they inspire me to get my pens out and attempt to make drawings as beautiful as them.
- Julia Cameron who wrote “The Artist’s Way” has be mentioned. Her book gave me so many tools to live creatively. If you‘re ever stuck with a creative problem, this book offers great solutions to move forward.
- And, Helen Musselwhite – a papercutting artist. We recently did a podcast interview together for the Radiance blog and it actually made me cry as she is so inspired by nature and her surroundings and is so focused when it comes to her work. She made me feel really privileged to be working with people like her in my field.
WHAT ARE SOME RECURRING OBJECTS OR THEMES THAT YOU LIKE TO INCLUDE IN YOUR WORK?
HN: It’s always plants and flowers that inspire me. I have to find ways of simplifying them into lights and shadows. I love plants from the Umbelliferae family like Cow Parsley and Fennel. They show up a lot because they make really great silhouettes.
WHAT MAKES YOUR DAY SWEET?
HN: Oh lots of things…. like my cat Tomsk waiting by the door when I’m getting ready to go out in the morning and then accompanying me so enthusiastically to the end of my street. Then getting to work and switching all the pretty lights on in the shop in the morning and feeling glad to be there. It’s so lovely to be making a living doing what I love and I appreciate that every day!
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{Copyright 2011 Hannah Nunn. All rights reserved.}
At night, the warm glow from Hannah Nunn’s lamp beckons you to sit by the window and sink into deep thought. A break from the traditional candle that still keeps you cozy on cold winter nights. Find out what inspires this artist, from the quaint town of Hebden Bridge, UK, to create such delightful lighting.
WHAT SONG DO YOU LIKE TO WAKE UP TO?
HN: Ohh, if only… I’m always up first in our little flat so I can’t wake anybody up by putting music on! Actually, though, I like the peace and quiet of the morning so that’s OK with me!
YOUR FAVOURITE HIDING PLACE IN THE CITY & WHY?
HN: I live in a small town and it’s pretty hard to hide here but if I lived in London, then it would definitely be the Natural History Museum. When I went there last, I visited the Spirit Collection at the Darwin Centre and I was struck with awe by all the beautiful creatures preserved for years and years in old Victorian jars. I had the place to myself and there was a real stillness there. You can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enter a completely different world. I LOVE IT!
NAME A HOBBY YOU ENJOY, OUTSIDE YOUR CRAFT.
HN: I love music, and getting together with friends and singing songs. My craft is mostly solitary, so it’s nice to get together with other people and create something beautiful (or even raucous) as a group. I get a real buzz from singing harmonies.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK?
HN: You know, I always wish I’d kept a list of everything I’ve ever read in my entire life. Wouldn’t that be amazing to look back upon? I might start now! Then I could have glanced down at the list and picked a favourite right now. There is one that I had recently read and loved. It was “If nobody speaks of remarkable things” by Jon McGregor.
{Copyright 2010 Bloomsbury Publishing.}
WHERE WOULD YOU BURY YOUR TREASURE?
HN: In the woods. Can’t tell you which, it’s a secret.
MOST BELOVED MEMORY OF SNOW?
HN: Walking up Horsehold Road (a very steep winding road in Hebden Bridge) on Christmas night with my then-boyfriend. The air was still, crisp and FULL of sparkling stars. The view across the field and the town was luminous. I had been learning a piece by Yann Tiersen on the piano. I got the sheet music for Christmas, so I had that tune in my head. That piece still brings back the memory.
HOW WOULD YOU DECORATE YOUR IGLOO?
HN: I’d have lots of big, bright, warm coloured cushions scattered all over the floor and fairy lights! It would have to have fairy lights to add a cozy glow!
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE SNOWED IN?
HN: I would wish that I had a big open fire and lots of logs so I could snuggle up with my cats and a cup of tea and read a good book.
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{Copyright 2011 Karmatank. All rights reserved.}
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
EM: I’ve studied art since I was eleven but eventually dropped out because of subjects like Math and German. I think school was just too hard for me. Some of my favorite childhood memories are sleeping on a footbridge, soaking up the summer’s sun and watching underwater bugs in a pond. I really loved swimming back in the day. I still do!
INTRIGUE US! WHAT ARE 3 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT YOU.
- My not so secret superpower is my big-toothed smile.
- My surname, Liela, translates to English as “The Great”, though I’m only 168 cm tall.
- I have two rescued Irish greyhounds from Kerry Greyhound Connection. Check them out, these people do some truly amazing work!
WHAT HELPED YOU DISCOVER YOUR CURRENT ARTISTIC PATH?
EM: I first saw these adorable felt kittens in a craft shop, but they were not for sale. So I bought some wool and felting needles to try and make one myself. It turned out to be really easy! Soon, people started ordering my cats and I also got some good responses from the local gallery owners – that was most encouraging. So, it’s curiosity that lead me to where I am now.
NAME 3 PEOPLE THAT HAVE INSPIRED YOU MOST & WHY.
- Roberto Greco and his fabulous blog about homeschooling and unschooling, green architecture, good food, great toys and even video games.
- Wes Anderson for his fantastic movies. I mean, really fantastic!
- Tove Jansson, a Swedish-speaking Finnish novelist, painter, honorary Professor of Philosophy, illustrator, and a comic strip author. She was the author of, among other works, the Moomin books – my favorite books since I started to read. I learned a lot about the world and others from her books.
WHAT ARE SOME RECURRING OBJECTS OR THEMES THAT YOU LIKE TO INCLUDE IN YOUR WORK?
EM: I like to use Swarovski crystals. They have this special sparkle. On a sunny day one crystal can light up the whole room with its colorful sunbeams. And if you are walking on the street, a cloud of little sparkles will follow you around.
WHAT MAKES YOUR DAY SWEET?
EM: Just the thought alone that I can stay at home all day long doing the things that I like. The thought that I don’t have to go to a “real” job, makes me incredibly happy.
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{Copyright 2011 Karmatank. All rights reserved.}
Emily and Tom are the lovely pair behind the friendly, cuddly felt creatures of Karmatank. Emily brings the bears to life, while Tom writes their biographies. Together they create their own playful world of tiny treasures and stories. They’ve shared a little about their daily adventures with us below.
WHAT SONG DO YOU LIKE TO WAKE UP TO?
KT: That must be the good morning song performed by our dogs Cedric and Bosphore. It goes something like this: “Let’s get up! It’s the middle of the day or something, I can’t tell because I have no watch! Bosphore, do you know what time it is? – No, I don’t, but it must be late. Why are they still sleeping?” And then they tap with their paws and knock at the walls with their hardy tails and yawn. This happens at around eleven.
YOUR FAVOURITE HIDING PLACE IN THE CITY & WHY?
KT: Home. It’s like the safest place in the whole city. And everybody can come and feel safe too. It’s also quite calm here.
NAME A HOBBY YOU ENJOY, OUTSIDE YOUR CRAFT.
KT: Videogames! And also collecting small porcelain animals. Videogames let you step back and remember what it is that you like so much about your craft. And porcelain animals make faces and have conversations.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK?
KT: Moomintrolls by Tove Jansson. All of them.
{Copyright Tove Jansson & Farrar Straus Giroux.}
WHERE WOULD YOU BURY YOUR TREASURE?
EM: Under a big tree.
TM: Up in the clouds.
MOST BELOVED MEMORY OF SNOW?
KT: Ooh, a tough one! Snow is the best thing in the winter. It turns nights into days. It dims the city noise, and pulls your leg when you
walk. So you better wear a helmet.
HOW WOULD YOU DECORATE YOUR IGLOO?
KT: We would use red berries and icicles. The icicles would go in the windows, with the pointy ends up in the air. And we would push the red berries into the walls, making a 360 degree zig-zag pattern.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE SNOWED IN?
KT: Drink tea and eat delicacies, like cookies and candies and pastries. And read books and watch movies and time after time look outside the window where all the not snowed-in people are hasting away their days. It’s awesome being snowed in.
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{Copyright 2010 Vanessa Chan. All rights reserved.}
16 and counting. Vanessa is a Northern Californian girl who loves to daydream, travel, spend time with friends. During her pastime, she enjoys capturing the beauty that surrounds her everywhere she goes. For as long as she can remember, Vanessa’s been fascinated by art. And though she’ll remain close friends with photography, Vanessa’s dream is to one day become a doctor so she can help others.
INTRIGUE US! WHAT ARE 3 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF.
- I’ve wanted to be a doctor ever since I was in pre-school.
- I’ve never had a pet besides a goldfish.
- I would love to travel to Greece, Iceland, France, and Brazil.
WHAT HELPED YOU DISCOVER YOUR CURRENT ARTISTIC PATH?
VC: In general, I’ve always been interested in art. As a child, I was an avid drawer but as I grew older, I realized that some moments simply couldn’t be captured with just a pen and paper. This led to my interest in photography, a way in which I believe that a feeling or a sense of nostalgia can be encapsulated in a single click.
NAME 3 PEOPLE THAT INSPIRE YOU.
VC: My dad is one of the most dedicated people I know. He inspires me to only settle for the best and to put my entire mind and soul into everything I do. Another source of inspiration is my friends. They’re all such wonderful, helpful, and encouraging people. My mother, lastly, is another inspiration to me because of her work ethic and infinite tirelessness.
WHAT ARE SOME RECURRING OBJECTS AND FAVOURITE THEMES IN YOUR WORK.
VC: I really enjoy focusing on nature and nostalgia in all my photos. Simply being around nature evokes very strong feelings of nostalgia, so the two, in my eyes, are very connected in a way.
WHAT MAKES YOUR DAY SWEET?
VC: To be quite honest, the smallest gestures can make my day sweet. A smile from a stranger, a bit of sunlight peeking through my window as I wake up, or putting on my favorite dress - things like these make me easily cheery. I believe life is too short to be sad, so I embrace the little things in life wholeheartedly.
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{Copyright 2010 Vanessa Chan. All rights reserved.}
WHAT SONG DO YOU WAKE UP TO?
VC: I Sing, I Swim by Seabear
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR GREEN EGGS & HAM?
a. Do you like them in a box?
b. Do you like them with a fox?
c. Do you like them here or there?
d. Do you like them anywhere?
e. Do you like them in the rain?
f. Do you like them on a train?
g. Other?
VC: I like them on a train.
WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU PAINT YOUR DAY TODAY?
VC: Lavender
YOUR FAVOURITE HIDING PLACE IN THE CITY?
VC: Anywhere. Depends on my mood. When I feel lively, I love to walk downtown and feel the rush of crowds and listen to the chatter of people walking by. I can be rather introverted at times as well. When I’m in one of those kinds of moods, I like to relax in a small cafe or a bookstore. Somewhere I can hear myself think without too many distractions.
SUGAR OR SPICE?
VC: I think both are necessary! Everything needs its balance.
MOST TREASURED CHILDHOOD MEMORY OF SNOW?
VC: Sliding down a snow-covered hill in a sled with my dad.
WHAT SOUND REMINDS YOU OF WINTER?
VC: Holiday carols, and laughter.
I GET ROSY CHEEKS WHEN…
VC: I make someone’s day. Or when I’m around the people I love, or when I’m somewhere full of beauty. The most simple things in life make me smile.
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Summer weddings are always a delight. And I know for those who are either looking for the perfect wedding gift or for those who are planning an intimate affair, your to do list must seem endless. So perhaps this week’s Bee’s Knees will help revive your spirits and inspire you as it has inspired me.
Cynthia Spencer is the creator and owner of RedLightStudio. Located in Everett, Washington, Cynthia enjoys sculpting and painting custom art pieces used as wedding cake toppers. They bring a whimsical air to your wedding cakes and are perfect keepsakes. Having grown up, surrounded by creative family members, it wasn’t long before Cynthia discovered her love for creating art. Whether it’s sculpting, drawing, painting, sewing, beading or even cooking, Cynthia enjoys using her hands.
She also tends to draw inspirations from her customers. Cynthia states that her customers constantly challenge her to create pieces that she would have never thought of otherwise. Each piece she creates is not only unique but also captures the romance and ambiance of the day.
On the rare occasion when Cynthia isn’t in her studio, you can find her outside in her garden. But her day is especially golden when she receives photos of toppers she’s created on the bride’s cake. It simply makes her day! Cynthia even has a photo album on her blog devoted to just these. It’s the emails, card and thank you notes from couples, that makes Cynthia feel so honored to be part of a momentous occasion.
{Photos are copyright 2010 RedLightStudio. All rights reserved.}
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Meet artist and designer of xmoonbloom, Lindsay, who currently resides in Northern California – the perfect distance between city and country. She’s always been interested in various forms of art but her current focus is crochet.
For Lindsay it isn’t a matter of wanting to become an artist or designer. She believes everyone is an artist. While we all learn how to finger paint in kindergarten, there are some who just don’t stop because they are driven! She describes feeling fulfilled while making something. Lindsay suggests that perhaps it has something to do with freedom and forgiveness. Art is nearly limitless and if you make a mistake it’s forgiving. Mistakes can be fixed or even incorporated as ideas continuously pop up. The compromising nature of art is simply liberating!
When asked about her inspiration, Lindsay states that everything is inspiring, really. But for crochet, she’s especially inspired by the experience and escapsim of suburban childhood. From illustrated books, toys, classic TV to the smell of wet pavement, it’s anything that brings up good childhood memories.
Linday’s days are golden with a steady stream of sunshine, having her cat near her, a cup of of tea or even just having some peace and quiet.
And if she weren’t an artist or designer, she’d imagine herself to be a safari guide! Picture the warm heat, gazelles and large lionesses lounging under a tree.
{Photos are copyright 2010 xmoonbloom. All rights reserved.}
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Currently studying at OCAD, Andrea is an aspiring illustrator living between Kitchener and Toronto. She delights in using her hands to create art; sewing and baking to name a few. But she especially enjoys drawing and spending time with the ones she loves.
For Andrea, there’s never been a question as to how she got into art. She simply states that she was always an artist. She remembers fondly of drawing pictures as a child in the basement and making books out of stories. Andrea believes that it’s what you enjoy doing most as a youngster that sticks with you through life. And it is her love for the arts that made her realize that you have to pursue what you love and not what will earn you money.
As an artist, Andrea is driven by the combination of wanting to constantly create art as well as making people feel good. Her inspirations are derived from the imagination of others as well as music, laughter and all around happiness. But she is especially inspired by nature and the intricacies of life.
And when something unexpectedly good happens to her, Andrea’s day is golden. She also takes pleasure in watching animals chase each other, catching a glimpse of a pink balloon fly across the rooftops and taking a ride on her bike.
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Perhaps a tad cautious at first, Olive Manna’s Natalie Jost tells us that meeting new people is like swimming in uncharted territory. You simply have to stick your toe in first to test the waters. But when you get to know her, she’s a chatterbox. With a love for creating and experiencing new things, Natalie describes her children to be the best part of her day.
Flashing back in time, one of the first things she designed was a Christmas ornament made from hair ties at the age of five. She got up in the middle of the night, went to the bathroom, cut up some hair ties and strung them up on a hook. Determined, she wouldn’t go back to bed until her ornament was finished, left hanging on the tree. It was the beginning of her insane late nights – wide awake, designing and creating new pieces.
Inspired by everything that she’s surrounded by, Natalie believes nothing is truly original. She simply takes bits and pieces from life and puts her own twist on it. Whether it’s a paper clip or a tulip, Natalie makes each piece she works on, her own.
Her days are especially golden when her children are obedient. It’s on a day when she hears a cheerful little “okay, mom” that gives her the giggle fits inside. No matter what goes wrong on that day, if one of her daughters listens to her and willfully complies, Natalie knows she’s doing her job. With fresh baked snacks and drinks in hand ready for her children and their friends, Natalie would like to continue being the mom in the neighborhood who’s always home after school ready with the goods. She tells us that all she needs to work on now is the fresh baked part.
Make sure to visit her Flickr page for more photos!
{Photos are Copyright 2010 Olive Manna. All rights reserved.}
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