Joy of finding handmade items

While many of us appreciate mass market products at bargain basement prices, you only realise how soulless they are when you compare them with something that has been hand-crafted.

Buying from a designer maker feels right on so many levels. Your item is likely to be excellent quality, of superior design, it’s been lovingly made and gives you the warm feeling of supporting a person rather than the shareholders of a faceless big business.

The only problem is finding them, as many are hidden away working at home or in studios and can’t afford a presence on the high street.

Open Studios events, generally staged in the summer are excellent, as many artists and makers open their workshops to the public. Independent shops can also be a good place to look for handmade items, as, of course, can craft fairs.

Don’t be afraid to go to selling exhibitions at galleries too. These may sound expensive but they usually have low priced items too. At the forthcoming Joy of Food exhibition at the Lund Gallery in Easingwold, prices start at £5.

It will see the normally minimal surroundings of the barn, which houses the gallery, transformed by a showcase of ceramics, glass, tapestries, crafts and objects all inspired by the cooking, presentation and enjoyment of food.

It will include plenty of contemporary ceramics, including work by international names such as Walter Keeler, Sandy Brown, and Jack Docherty plus a great range of jugs, vases, platters and tableware from studio potters based across the country, such as Clive Bowen, Kaori Tabeyashi and Philomena Pretsell.

New to the gallery are London-based Lou Rota who transforms vintage china into highly desirable home-wares (www.lourota.com) and Esther Coombs (www.esthercoombs.com) who also adds her own twist to popular ceramics.

The inspiration behind the show comes from artists Isa Denyer and Sarah Hall Baqui.

York-based Isa, is best known for her hand-thrown table and kitchenware.

Local graphic designer turned contemporary sculptor Sarah Hall Baqui has enjoyed notable success with her sculptures created from papier-mache. Yorkshire ceramicist Jane Blackman, textile designer Fiona Defty and glassmakers Andrew Sanders and David Wallace will also have works there.

Gallery owner Debbie Loane says: “By setting the work in the context which relates to something that everyone will enjoy people cannot fail to be inspired to see how they can enjoy the objects in their own home. It has been really good fun to turn my hand to creating things that I wouldn’t normally make.”

The Joy of Food runs from September 25 to November 6. For details visit www.lundgallery.co.uk. Opening hours are Thursday to Saturday 11am to 5pm, Sundays 12 to 4pm or by arrangement.

Where to find designer makers

One of the best ways of discovering makers is to embark on an open studios tour. The North Yorkshire and York Open Studios tours see artists and makers open their workshops to the public over one or two weekends in the summer.

Etsy is an American selling site but has a lot of British makers on www.etsy.com, while Folksy is based in Yorkshire and is similar, www.folksy.com. Visit Look What Mum’s Made at 70 Gillygate, York. It’s full of handmade goodies by local craftspeople and prices are very keen. Also, try the regular Art Markets in Holmfirth.