Meet the maker: Drws y Coed

Hannah of Drws y Coed tells us about the dappled light through tree canopies that inspires her beautiful wooden lamps, all designed and made in Wales

Tell us a bit about Drws y Coed. 

I grew up next to beautiful woodlands, which inspired me to make products that replicated that woodland light effect. So I went on an adventure in making; seeing how I could source small-scale local production right here in Wales. The joy of digital production is that there are no minimum quantities and work can be made to order.

What's so special about your lamps?

My lamps create a bit of that dappled woodland in in people’s living spaces, bringing the outside in.  I love the cosy glow created when combining wood and light – it reminds me of firelight and makes for relaxing and warm evening lighting. I’m going for what feels good!

The lamps are designed to fit onto one sheet of ply with minimum wastage. The cut-out of the lamp top section is a coaster; the cable entry point becomes a cabin magnet. I’m making a product that can be made locally to order as part of a virtuous loop of production.

What's important to you?       

Creating beautiful things, in positive production loops. Making things in Wales feels good – I think we have a lot of potential to get things right in this beautiful place.

Describe your perfect cabin in the woods.

My perfect cabin would be just peeping out of the canopy with a full view of the sky and stars. It would have a platform out front for sitting in the mornings and evenings. Some walls would be perforated just like my lamps to allow in dappled light and have well-positioned apertures to frame the best views. Inside there'd be a good collection of books and cushions. There would also be a large circular skylight for stargazing and a small wood burner.

Anything else you want to tell us?

Drws y Coed means 'door to the woods' in Welsh.  I chose it because it relates to the light qualities I create with my lamps, and also because I have a dream of re-cloaking Wales in woodland.

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Drws y Coed will be one of 45 crafts people at Tent London at the Old Truman Brewery in collaboration with Etsy, 24-27 September

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Drws y Coed. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory, please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk

Meet the maker: Stay Gold Mary Rose

Dean Hearne, creator and curator of The Future Kept talks to jewellery maker Abigail MaryRose Clarke about upcycling beautiful objects that have outlived their intended use

SGMR's tools of the jeweller trade

What first got you interested in making jewellery?

As a teenager I wasn’t impressed with the mass-produced accessories that were available on the high street. My school friends and I would venture to an old junk shop in the Brighton laines that had vintage jewellery from all over the world. In school I started to make my own jewellery from whatever I had lying around and I continued my experiments through college and university. 

Tell us about your design style – what makes your collections unique?

I love to work with patterns, glazes and texture so I tend to find a ceramic piece and try to incorporate the existing image or design. I like to preserve the original qualities and history of the piece rather than just smashing up a plate to use the shards. 

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I am obsessed with ceramics in general, from contemporary designs to chintzy antiques; Scandinavian, West German and Postmodern ceramics always catch my eye. Most recently, 1960s and 70s British ceramic designers have played a huge part in my work, especially the work of Susan Williams Ellis of Portmeirion and Honor Curtis of Troika, St Ives. I love their techniques of the way they combine embossed symbols, scratched patterns and organic rough glazes. There are some incredible modern ceramic artists I follow on social media, such as Martina Thornhill, B-Zippy and Young In The Mountains. 

What did you do before you made the leap into being a full-time jewellery maker?

As a student in Manchester I'd work part time in bars and music venues in the evenings and at weekends. I eventually ended up moving back to the south east where I ran an old bookshop and crafted in my spare time. I then started to apply for craft events and created an online Etsy shop. The big change came when my work was spotted by the accessory buyer at Anthopologie and everything started to take off.

Can you tell us about a favourite piece that you have created?

I love giving my jewellery to friends and family – this was originally who I started making for. I particularly enjoyed designing the groomsmens' button holes for my friend's wedding as well as the bridesmaids' head pieces for my brother’s wedding. It’s always an honour to be asked to make a piece for such a special occasion.

What are your favourite places for sourcing materials?

Oh there are so many! When sourcing for larger wholesale orders I go to the larger porcelain manufacturers in Stoke-on-Trent to buy in bulk. It’s always so amazing to look around the old pottery mills and factories – some still have the old kilns and equipment lying on benches, and old plaster moulds and bisque-ware stacked on drying racks. For smaller-scale orders and commissions I look around charity shops and markets. I adore Lewes flea market and the old fishing hut antique shops in Rye, but I absolutely love it when the customer brings their own heirloom crockery to be transformed. I've recently finished an order for a bride-to-be, using her grandmother’s wedding china. That really makes the transformation all the more special. 

Stay Gold Mary Rose's Spearhead Pendants (£25, pictured), upcycled from vintage willow china, are available to buy through The Future Kept.

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with The Future Kept. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory, please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk

Not Another Bill: the element of surprise

Every month, Not Another Bill subscribers receive a surprise gift in the post, crafted by designers, artists and unique brands. Here are some of the gifts they've sent in recent months, now available to buy on their website...

Pocket Sundial
Taking influence from historic sailors and mathematicians, this functional pocket sundial is handmade in Austria. £45

AbbeyHorn Money Clip
An exclusive money clip, engraved with a golden pineapple motif, made from ethically-sourced horn. £30

Opinel Pocket Knife
A knife that embraces the outdoors and ignites your inner boy scout. Beechwood handle and carbon blade. £24

Blue Splatter Spoons
Available in two sizes, teaspoon and serving spoon, individually painted to create a unique splatter effect. £5/£12

Noise Goods Card Holder
A practical and durable leather card holder. Noise Goods leather wares are designed and handmade in Portugal. £32

Hard Graft Key Fold
A neat remedy to keys making holes in your pockets and scratching your phone. Crafted from vegetable-tanned Tuscan leather. £22

Not Another Bill are offering Ernest readers £5 off any subscription plan – just quote code 'ernest5' when ordering. This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Not Another Bill. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.

Wunderkammer of today

We invite you to explore Eastern Biological's cabinet of botanical, geological and entomological stationery, gifts and oddities to satisfy the curious 

Body Anatomy Model
This 31-piece model can be opened up to reveal the workings of the human body. £14.50

Woodcut Notecard Set
12 notecards based on the book Woodcut by Bryan Nash Gill, revealing the inner beauty of trees. £11

A Voyage of Discovery, by Alice Pattullo
4-colour screen print of Charles Darwin and his groundbreaking discoveries on the Galápagos islands in 1835. £85

Opulent Oceans
This gift set includes accounts from early naturalists and comes with 40 art prints of sea creatures. £38

Galapagos Tortoise
Pop this hand-painted chap on your desk and simply revel in the joy of his being. Made from high density plastic. £5.95

Measuring Conical
A great alternative to a measuring jug for use in the kitchen. Available in two sizes. From £7

Jungle Plates
Inject some tropical flavour into your home with these melamine plates covered in jungle print. £6

Greenhouse Pot
This concrete base and glass cover provides a perfect environment for indoor plants. Please note: plant not included. £55

Late Jurassic, by Sam Brewster
We’re enchanted by this limited edition print illustration of a Pangaean landscape teeming with Jurassic life. £85

Large Fossil Fish
Treasure your very own nugget of prehistory with this fossil of a Knightia, disovered in the Green River Formation, Wyoming. £20

Discover more about Eastern Biological in our online directory.

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Eastern Biological. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.

Introducing Tux & Tabby

Nordic-inspired toys, umami treats and other considered accessories for the discerning feline

Blizzard Feather Balls, £4.50 each

So, tell us a bit about Tux and Tabby. What's it all about?

We design beautifully styled, contemporary toys, accessories and treats for the modern cat and design-conscious owner. Our goal is for our products to become a feature of the room and a signature of the cat’s presence, rather than an unsightly embarrassment to be tidied up.

Working closely with local suppliers, we source the highest quality materials, such as wool from British rare breeds and natural pheasant feathers. We use these individual components to craft each item by hand which means that every toy and accessory is unique and always one of a kind.

Give us a taster of some of the things you sell.

We sell a range of considered products for the discerning feline, made for both life and play. Some favourites include a curated collection of toys and treats inspired by contemporary Nordic design to sympathise with the modern interior; a ball hand-felted from undyed rare-breed British wool and fletched with natural pheasant feathers; and Bonito flakes, paper-thin tuna fish treats with an intense umami flavour.

What's important to you?

Beauty, simplicity and uncompromising quality. 

Our focus is on the interplay between cats, their owners and the home, so we aim to design elegantly simple products for felines that complement contemporary spaces.

We also stand strongly behind our ethos of small-batch craftsmanship. This allows us to ensure exacting standards are met every time a product leaves our studio.

If you were a cat for the day (or night!), where would be the first place you'd go?

Without a doubt, our first stop would be a gallery or museum. Probably the British Museum in London, or the Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum in Helsinki. We’d love to be able to prowl around at night when everyone else has gone home.

Anything else you want to tell us?

By focusing on the quality of craftsmanship and materials, we’re looking to redefine what has come to be viewed by many as the traditional model for cat products – generic, brightly coloured and mass produced toys and treats.

To this end, we’re hard at work and are in the process of developing some fantastic new products, which will launch soon.

Ernest readers receive 20% discount when placing an order with Tux & Tabby – just quote 'Ernest20' at the checkout. 

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Tux & Tabby. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory, please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.