Yorkshire through an Artist's eyes

After enjoying Yorkshire Best in September, local Artist Jane Duke will be returning to York to sell her lovely pieces - which make brilliant Christmas presents! Jane creates her works mostly  through Lino Printing and Watercolours, using Yorkshire as her main inspiration, but can be known to dabble in other mediums.  

Jane's Lino prints are a personal favourite of ours. She manages to capture the elaborate detailing on The Heart of Yorkshire on The Minster (see below) and contrast it beautifully in monochromes. The imperfect quality of the surface and print subtly touches on  the stonework of The Minster, allowing the piece to feel rustic and passionate. 

If you love Jane's art just as much as we do, make sure you come and see her at YORKSHIRE BEST this SUNDAY 9TH DECEMBER in The Hospitium (Museum Gardens), York.

If you can't make it to the fair on sunday, or you simply can't wait, you can contact Jane through her website: www.janeduke.com or on facebook at www.facebook.com/janedukeartist. 
Please note: the works used in this article may not be available to purchase.

Love Yorkshire Best xxx

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"Lets face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me." - Audrey Hepburn



It seems that Audrey, like many of us, knows the importance of a good cake. Fiona Brook, owner of Cakes by No More Tiers, definitely does. Based in York, North Yorkshire, her designs are individual, hand-crafted, and simply delicious. Her vast portfolio of cakes, ranging from weddings to halloween proves there is certainly a cake for every occasion! (including if the occasion is just to eat yummy cake!)

After working as a Lawyer for 10 years, Fiona admitted that her hobby of cake-making was getting the best of her, and took the plunge into a full-time cake business. Since launching her company in March 2012, she has already won 5 awards and we're sure she's destined for many more! Fiona's passion for her company  shines through in her delicate and intricate designs, and she's more than willing to take on a challenge, so let your imagination run wild whilst she attempts to make it reality! 



As you will already know, Cupcakes have recently become a worldwide phenomenon, and Fiona wouldn't be one to miss out! She makes beautiful cupcakes, perfect for any occasion, so with an individual cake for each guest, there'll be no more mess and no fussy cake-cutting! (Think of how easy a kids party bag could be!)

Fiona will be attending YORKSHIRE BEST, THIS SUNDAY 9TH DECEMBER in The Hospitium, York (in the museum gardens!) so make sure you come down and have a look for yourself at her exquisite and delicious selection of cakes!

Check out Fiona's website www.nomoretiers.co.uk or visit her facebook page: www.facebook.com/CakesByNoMoreTiers

Love from Yorkshire Best xxxx 

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How I did Something Funny

by Lucy Sangster of Use or Ornament

Once, when my husband was not himself, I tried tea, wine and chocolate. None of it worked (it was a really rubbish day) so there was nothing left for it, I drew him a cartoon. Of him grinning. 

And when it came to what cartoon-hubby wore, I wasn’t sure which of his many t-shirts to use so I wrote “[something funny]”, as a sort of a meta funny t-shirt symbol. It worked to cheer him up anyway and when Christmas came round I made him a real version.

I learned a thing or two that day. I used thick paper for the template, which went a bit soggy as my sister and I valiantly stippled away. Also, a blunt Stanley knife from Dad’s tool box is no craft knife… but a t-shirt was made and loved. Here it is, it’s been worn for a couple of years now and occasionally left on the floor, so you can see the fabric paint works!

I've learned a lot since then, my stencils are far more hardy and I have a proper camera! I can’t claim that my [something funny] t-shirts or the matching mugs are a proven method for cheering up husbands, but I’ll leave you with my story and let you draw your own conclusions.

The Red Corvid

 

 

 

 

Hi, my name is Kimberli Werner and I am the artist behind The Red Corvid.

I am a paper-cutter who hand cuts animal silhouettes, archaeological aerial trench views, ancient ruins, and whatever else strikes my fancy.  My current line of greetings cards has over 25 different wildlife silhouettes, with over 80 different colour combinations, many incorporating vintage maps in their designs.  I also create paper-cut artwork, inspired by archaeological digs and history, which has been exhibiting in two different galleries this year.

 

I feel like I have travelled a long and winding road to get where I am, although, to be honest, sometimes it felt more like a hedgerow maze. I even crossed an ocean three years ago, to settle in North Yorkshire, where I busied myself trying to figure out the next part of my career path.

 

 

 

Somehow, combining my love of paper, wildlife, textures, and maps resulted in my niche market of hand cut stationery.

 

 

 

 

People are very surprised my work is all hand cut, but that allows me to put my signature on every single piece in the form of the way I cut a layer or silhouette.  I also find that people have very strong reactions to my work. Whether they love or hate a certain animal, and the whys behind it, are always fascinating stories to hear.

 

 

 

I look forward to participating in my first Yorkshire Best show on 9 December. I will be bringing primarily my greetings cards, some Christmas styles, and some animal silhouette artwork.

 

 

Dear Emma

Hello, I'm Cathy from Dear Emma Designs, 

I design and make a small range of home wares and personal accessories using cottons and linens which I then decorate using appliqué and hand free embroidery. My product range varies from fabric bowls and pots to tea cosies, clasp purses and small brooches. I use layers of fabric to build up an image and the results I get from free-hand embroidery provides a sort of sketchiness that helps to enhance my work,

My bird designs have been very popular and I have fine tuned the design over many months, but I also thrive on perfecting new designs and products, the latest being my street scene pictures.

At Yorkshire Best on the 9th December I will be bringing along a good selection of my work!

Maybe something will catch your eye!

Look forward to seeing you at there!

Cathy x

[Vinegar and Brown Paper]



Hi, my name’s Andy Poplar. Here’s a brief history of how I came to be doing what I’m doing now:

1. Advertising creative gets burnt out by the industry.

2. Quits.

3. Becomes stay at home dad

4. Discovers how to etch glass.

5. Sets out to mend his head with [vinegar & brown paper].


16 months later and I’m looking forward to rounding off a frankly amazing 2012 for [vinegar & brown paper] with the Yorkshire Best event on the 9th of December at York Hospitium.

On the [vinegar & brown paper] stall you’ll find a collection of vintage and iconic pieces of glassware, from traditional sweet jars to classic British milk bottles.  All individually etched with a slightly askance view of the world, that hopefully goes to show that even the most ordinary things can reveal extraordinary things if you look at them...

just a little from the side...

with one eye closed!

Hopefully I’ll see you there.  (If you’re passing come and say hello).



Things To Do In Yorkshire #4

Stockeld Park

 

Looking for something Christmassy to do in Yorkshire to get you in the festive mood?

How about Stockeld Park?

 

The Now and Then team had the privilege of being invited to their opening of the Winter Wonderland which is based between Harrogate and Wetherby just off the A661

 

The first thing to test was the maze; it wasn’t too hard to find the way to the focal point of the castle turret but getting out was another story. The maze was cleverly dotted about with different street names such as ‘upside down street’ and ‘absolutely disgraceful avenue’ to keep people entertained…until they were spotted for the 3^rd or 4^th time!

 

 

 

To the left of the maze stands a huge Christmas shop, a Santa’s grotto and Woodland cafe so when you finally escape the maze you can refuel yourself before testing the other activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockeld Park homes the only artificial Nordic ski trail in the UK; visitors are asked to change to proper ski shoes and attached to skis and poles before setting off around the course whilst viewing the Enchanted Forest (this can be walked on foot if you’d prefer). The forest itself is nestled with illuminated treats such as fairies, unicorns and reindeer's as well as a magical lake which is a must see.

 

 

 

 

Finally visitors can strap on the skates and test their dancing on ice skills with a large real ice rink.

The park is one of the few places that it is really suited the cold dark nights so wrap up warm and go enjoy the Christmas experience!