Amanda Ross at Country Living Fair, Spring 2013

Amanda Ross' botanical prints and designs, which are available on a range of ceramics as well as stationnery and prints, have a very British character. The plants and flowers that inspire her designs are picked from the hedgerows and fields: cow parsley, dandelion clocks and wild geranium leaves. The colours are a subtle range of pinks, lilacs, teals and mustardy greens which evoke soft spring and summer days. Silhouettes of leaves and flowers are set on a white background, the designs are subtle and the ceramics pictured below would mix well with vintage florals or more simple contemporary pieces.
Amanda Ross is based in London and her products are made in the UK.

Sophie Woodrow at Primrose Hill Designer Sale

Each time I see Sophie Woodrow's porcelain ceramics I am struck anew by their amazing combination of vivid character with quietness. Is it the contrast of black, empty eyes with the smooth white porcelain? Is it the stillness of her friendly owls ready to take flight for a night out in the woods, or the bull which might normally be rampaging through china shops is endearingly wrapped up in a bow?
I'm not sure. But these ceramics demand a second look - and they would be fantastic sitting atop your dresser.

I spotted Sophie's ceramics at the Primrose Hill Designer Fair before Christmas - they are also sold at The Shop Floor Project, which is based in Ulverston in the Lake District.

Handmade in Britain: Melody Rose ceramics, Trisha Needham textiles, Danila Tarcinale jewellery

A few more finds from the Handmade in Britain show:

Melody Rose ceramics - vintage chinaware upcycled with transfers. More tea vicar?  

Melody Rose has also just launched some new tea cups and saucers, echoing vintage style shapes - handmade in Stoke on Trent and finished at the Melody Rose studios.

cushions by Trisha Needham

Danila Tarcinale: man jewellery - cufflinks and collar stiffeners

I like the display cabinets used by Danila Tarcinale, jewellery lined up like exotic bugs

Vintage finds: time for tea, green and spotty

Another find from my favourite vintage homewares shop

1960s Tams Ltd tableware: green cups and spotty saucers and plates

Emmanuel Cooper ceramics

Yellow glazed ceramics, red chair: Emmanuel Cooper

Fliff Carr ceramics

In July I had the happy chance to visit Fliff Carr in her London studio.  Fliff makes the most beautiful and delicate ceramics which I had seen at Studio 196 on Regents Park Road, London (nearest tube Chalk Farm -a treasure trove of goodies from around the world, especially India) and in The Shop Floor Project in Ulverston.

Fliff uses white earthenware clay which is smooth and strong; when working with it, it doesn't have the grittiness of stoneware which gently sands away your skin, or the messiness of red earthenware which is akin to chocolate fudge cake (not as delicious as it sounds). The pieces here have been finished with touches of gold, patterned by vintage lace and pale blue-grey slip and tiny images of birds.

While you could just put Fliff's ceramics on a shelf to look at, I think they would be the perfect pieces to serve afternoon tea on. You know the sort of thing: Earl Grey tea, small finger sandwiches, homemade scones, something involving cream, meringue and fresh raspberries.

Click here for a list of stockists of Fliff's ceramics

Linda Bloomfield ceramics at Spirit of Summer Fair

Back in the days when I rode a Penny Farthing bicycle (as my 6 year old daughter fondly imagines) I used to take pottery classes - and I was just a little bit obsessed with blue and green glazes (matt and shiny), most specifically mastering the fine art of getting an even glaze (no drips gathering at the bottom) and seeing what happened when I double-dipped pieces.
Linda Bloomfield (also see here) uses a most lovely greeny-blue glaze on her hand thrown porcelain ware, as well as citrine, grey and pale blue. My ideal weekend would begin with breakfast in bed, served on Linda's porcelain tableware.

Selvedge Spring Fair 2012 - Top Picks - Linda Bloomfield ceramics

If, like me, you appreciate handthrown ceramics but are wary of the porridge-coloured heavy-as-a-brick chunky stuff (I'm talking Cranks c1974), then you will love Linda Bloomfield ceramics: white with delicate coloured glazes, very pleasing graceful shapes, both decorative and practical for everyday use.

Treasures from The Shop Floor Project

An Easter weekend spree to The Shop Floor Project to take a look at some of their treasures and to have a chat with Sam who, along with Denise, has created one of the finest selections of good things by British designer-makers that I have come across.

Textiles - scarves by Angela Thurston

 Textiles - aprons by Original Little Bird

 Textiles - cushions by Maxemilia

 Textiles - wraps and shawls by De Mont & Wright Studios

 Textiles - cushions by Tamasyn Gambell

 Textiles - birds by Abigail Brown

 Textiles - cushions by Selvage and Maxemilia

 Textiles - Selvage fairisle shawl

 Ceramics - by Fliff Carr

Screen printed poster - Alice Pattullo

 

The McGill Duncan Gallery, Castle Douglas

I have just discovered the McGill Duncan Gallery at 231 King Street, Castle Douglas which has a collection of very covetable ceramics, paintings, prints and sculpture.  I could happily give wall space, or shelf space, to many of the pieces from this lovely gallery which specialises in Scottish paintings from the C19th, and contemporary works by national and international artists and makers. The gallery is run by Jill and Zoe Blamire, a mother and daughter team, and it is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm all year round. Check out their blog for more info on events and what's new in the gallery.

A few of my favourites below, but where shall I start? - there are so many.

I love this earthenware slipware by Paul Young - as child I often visited the Wetheriggs pottery in the northern Lakes which used to make simple earthenware pieces for the kitchen decorated with wiggly lines and dots.  These pieces by Paul Young have more complicated patterns, but he uses those familiar feathered lines, dots and dashes.

I'd like both these pieces by Winifred Hodge who was born in Galloway, and now lives in Wensleydale Yorkshire. This Wee Mouse is particularly sweet, and I love the big open skies of this painting which I could dive into, if I had wings, a refreshing view when I feel crowded by city life - titled Frogs Are Croaking (mixed media on canvas).

Polly George ceramics

Polly George ceramics are simple and elegant - hand-made white bone china decorated with, variously, butterflies, roses, birds and a pair of tiny little characters called Mr and Mrs Jones. Her china is made in Stoke on Trent, home of bone china, at the very last factory in Britain to hand-make china flowers.

Polly is a founder member of the collective behind the shop Luna & Curious on Calvert Avenue (Shoreditch, London); if you’re in the neighbourhood, I recommend a visit for fabulous fashion, jewellery and home accessories.

Ravilious (Kiran) + Ravilious (Eric)

I found these lovely cushions designed by Kiran Ravilious on Etsy - designs are carved out on lino, and then handprinted onto unbleached linen.

Buy from the Inkling Prints Etsy shop, and read more about Kiran's work on her blog.

Kiran's husband Ben is the grandson of Eric Ravilious, an artist, designer and illustrator.  

This fabulous lemonade jug by Eric Ravilious can be bought from my new favourite shop - Rennies 'Seaside Modern' in Folkestone. ( cost of this jug? POA, yikes)