Well here we are! Day one!

Day one for you that is and you are most welcome.

I have been on the Made by Hands of Britain journey for some time now and what a journey it has been! It is a cliché, but it really does feel as if my whole life has been leading to this point. From being a young girl, I have always had a fascination for handcrafted things and have, throughout my life, tried with mixed success, to put my own hand to making anything from wooden toys, spoons and pottery to print making, mosaics, clothes and food of all descriptions. I think any maker, however skilful, will tell you that there is nothing more satisfying than toiling and tussling with a particular medium or material to create an item that is useful, beautiful or both. There is a definite relationship that builds up over a period of time between a maker and his chosen material and just like any relationship, there is a period of struggle where one, will attempt to enforce their will and nature upon the other, until a compromise and understanding is achieved, at which point something beautiful and almost irresistible emerges, for the maker and the eventual owner.

I am in awe of the skill, care and passion that the makers within this site and beyond, dedicate to their craft or art and have gained nothing but utter respect for them.

Controversial as it may be to some but for me there are no such people as artists or craftsmen, there are only makers. All that is made, without exception, has been conceived, designed and fashioned from the makers, chosen material to serve an aesthetic and functional use, whether that be spiritual or practical, whether if feeds the mind, the soul or indeed the stomach!

You will never be able to purchase (or make) something with more honesty, authenticity, integrity and meaning than that which has been made by hand with those very same sentiments woven into the very fabric of the work. You will never be saying or learning more about yourself as an individual, than when choosing to buy (or make), surround yourself and fill your home with items that have been made by hand. You will never be more connected to your fellow human beings (or yourself) than when purchasing (or making) something that has been conceived, designed and created by another human being (or yourself). You will never be able to grow to love your possessions more than when they have been made by hand.

In these troubled times you will not make a better purchase than to

"buy something once and buy it well, make something once and make it well!"

I hope, while you wonder around the site, that you too will see and marvel at the Handmade Producers and Service Providers and consider, having at least one of these things grace your home, or indeed be encouraged to put your hand to making something yourself and that as a result your life will somehow be richer for it.

ENJOY!

*please forgive me for not including any pictures just now, I need to dig through the Gilly archives to find evidence of all my past handmaking endeavours large and small, great and not so great, so watch this space!

I tried out the new Christmas Craft Fair at Burslem School of Art in Staffordshire on the 12th December. This is the first year this has been run and was exclusively for the sale of handcrafted work being sold by the artist-maker themselves. It was a lovely day with a high standard of work on offer. Customer footfall will be much better next year as word gets around about this lovely little fair set in this atmospheric building.

See www.burslemschoolofart.com to find out more about Burslem School of Art.

Brighton Art Fair - 22 - 25 September 2011, Corn Exchange, Brighton.

Brighton Art Fair is an opportunity for the public to buy art from the best local and national artists and for artists to sell direct to the public, to make contacts and to build a relationship with buyers and potential buyers.

Brighton Art Fair has come to be seen as a friendly, high quality show, firmly established as a must-visit event in many art buyers calendars.

It is now the largest art exhibition on the South Coast and brings together about 130 of the most talented national painters, printmakers, photographers and sculptors along with artist groups and Sussex based galleries.

6 - 9 October 2011, our new art event in London - Fulham Palace .

A beautiful cafe in the Georgian wing of the palace with an outside terrace provides an area to relax and contemplate potential purchases whilst enjoying great seasonal food and drink.

MADE 11 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair, 17th - 20th Nov at the Corn Exchange, Brighton.

MADE11 returns to the beautiful Corn Exchange in the heart of Brighton offering the public the opportunity to buy original and exceptional design and craft from the best local and national makers. It also provides space for the designer / makers to sell direct to the public and to build a relationship with buyers, potential buyers, galleries and craft suppliers.

Now in it's Fifth year MADE11 has become firmly established as a friendly, accessible and high quality event, attracting over 5000 visitors each year who delight at the quality and extensive range of work.

MADE showcases over 100 contemporary and highly original makers and designers across all media. With jewellery, furniture, ceramics, textiles, clothing and the odd quirky pieces thrown in - the fair offers beautiful handcrafted objects to suit everyone's taste and budget.

A cafe provides a place for visitors to relax with a drink and a bite to eat and contemplate purchases.

During the process of preparing the garden for the onset of winter, something occurred to me that may be of interest to Made by Hands of Britain visitors as well as anyone who is questioning recent economic events.

Every year, I like to have some Geraniums (Pelargoniums) to decorate the courtyard part of my garden. As I have Mediterranean connections, I suppose it is an attemnpt to recreate the courtyards so typical of that region, which will always contain this ubiquitous plant.

A few years ago, I bought one or two small examples that took my fancy and brought them home and placed them where I thought appropriate.

Today, I still have those same plants as well as others that I have taken from cuttings, some six or seven years on.

My point is that I have grown to love these plants dearly and I think, nay I'm sure it is because I have taken the time and effort to nuture them and look after them, by watering and feeding them during the summer and bringing them in out of the cold during the winter, where they continue to flower and bring me pleasure.

Had I discarded them each year and purchased fresh ones each spring, I am certain I would not have the same emotional attachment as I do to the ones I still own and I would also be financially less well off.

It's about investment. Regardless of the situation, one expects a return on one's investment. The greater the return on that investment and over the longest period of time, the better it is. When one makes an investment, coupled with an emotional one, the rewards are greatest.

That is why I think there is so much more meaning in investing in something that has been handcrafted with skill, care and passion (certainly an investment on the part of the maker), which clearly has an initial attraction for that reason, along with the inevitable aesthetic beauty (more often than not for the same reason). An emotional attachment has already been formed, which only strengthens once the item is brought home to take its rightful place. But it does not stop there; Because this emotional and financial investment has been made, the feeling one has to care-for and appreciate this item is all the more great and so the relationship strengthens to its inevitable conclusion of love.

How wonderful to think that all of our purchases could possess such meaning, to enhance and enrich our lives now and well into the future.

Strange bed fellows, investment and love, but in my book you can't have one without the other.

Hello All!

I am pleased to announce the addtion of three new saddles to our range. All new for 2012

“Freedom Trail” Long Distance/Endurance saddle

•     This world class, Walsall Made Saddle is an incredibly comfortable saddle, perfect for those long Trail rides and all related Endurance disciplines!
•    In the “Freedom Trail” saddles beautifully quilted seat, we use the latest cutting edge materials, making this one of, if not THE, worlds most comfortable Endurance saddles.
•    But this saddle is not only comfortable for the rider, it is also as comfortable as it’s possible to get for the horse too! Why? Because of the Contour Master™ wide panel… The cutting edge panels are made up of of layers of felt, foam and layers of Latex rubber which has incredibly high pressure absorbing properties.

The Contour Master™ Wide Panel absorbs pressure, ensuring the horse is free from discomfort and thereby improving performance immensely. You can see in Fig 1, In the diagrams above, the traditional panel and how it sits on the horse. Fig 2 shows the Contour Master™ Wide Panel which is designed to put more panel on the horses back and therefore spreading the bodyweight of the rider and their chosen attached Endurance kit.  This creates even pressure and eliminates the pressure points, and other issues, that cause so many back problems in our horses. The Contour Master™ Wide Panel, a truly innovitive idea that is perfect for Endurance and the long distances undertaken in this challenging discipline. The Contour Master™ Panel adjusts to every contour of the horses back and are also used in our “Free Spirit Dressage/Endurance saddle”

•    The Freedom Trail is built on a symmetrical Tree, made by Lightwood, one of the UK’s Premier Saddle Tree Manufacturers. This tree can be altered by us, to make it wider or narrower, as the horse changes shape throughout the year.
•    This saddle is made with a wide gullet/channel to enable horses to swing through their backs, this improves engagement and stops the panel interfering with spinal processes or musculature of the horse’s back.
•    Made with the finest English leather, which feels already broken in, soft and comfortable and is pre oiled, stunning quality leather!
•    Colours are Black and Dark Havana Brown or 2Tone black and brown. Other colours may be available on request.
•    All the usual Endurance saddle fittings, in Solid Brass, are attached to this saddle.
•     Another fantastic addition to the Freedom Trail Endurance saddle is the self adjustable saddle/girth straps/billets. This allows you to alter the first and middle strap, to your prefered position (see photograph)
•     Our Endurance Saddles are Custom made for the following Endurance Horses… Arabians, Arabs, Missouri Foxtrotter, Spanish Mustang, gaited horses, Morgans, Single Foot Horses, Tennessee Walker, Thoroughbred TB’s, Trakehners, Standardbreds, Quarter Horses, Paint, morab’s, Bashkir curlie, Paso Fino’s etc
  

“Free Spirit” Endurance Dressage Saddle

•     This world class Saddle, is so called, because it is basically an incredibly comfortable Dressage saddle! So comfortable in fact that many riders use it for both Dressage and Endurance. When you do wish to use it for Endurance, simply ask us to attach all the usual Solid Brass fittings for you kit!
•    Also available with a more forward cut flap, see the photograph.
•     But this saddle is not only comfortable for the rider, it is also as comfortable as it’s possible to get for the horse too! Why? Because of the Contour Master™ wide panel… The cutting edge panels are made up of of layers of felt, foam and layers of Latex rubber which has incredibly high pressure absorbing properties.

The Contour Master™ Wide Panel absorbs pressure, ensuring the horse   is free from discomfort and thereby improving performance immensely. You   can see in Fig 1, In the diagrams above, the traditional panel and how   it sits on the horse. Fig 2 shows the Contour Master™ Wide Panel which   is designed to put more panel on the horses back and therefore spreading the bodyweight of the rider and their chosen attached Endurance kit.  This creates even pressure and eliminates the pressure points, and other issues, that cause so many back problems in our horses. The Contour Master™ Wide Panel, a truly innovitive idea that is perfect for Endurance and the long distances undertaken in this challenging discipline. The Contour Master™ Panel adjusts to every contour of the horses back and are also used in our “Free Spirit”  Dressage saddle.

•    This saddle is made with a wide gullet/channel to enable horses to swing through their backs, this improves engagement and stops the panel interfering with spinal processes or musculature of the horse’s back.
•    This saddle is made with a wide gullet/channel to enable horses to swing through their backs, this improves engagement and stops the panel interfering with spinal processes or musculature of the horse’s back.
•    Made with the finest English leather, which feels already broken in, soft and comfortable and is pre oiled, stunning quality leather!
•    Colours are Black and Dark Havana Brown or 2Tone black and brown. Other colours may be available on request.
•    All the usual Endurance saddle fittings, in Solid Brass, are attached to this saddle.
•      Another fantastic addition to the “Free Spirit” Dressage is the self adjustable saddle/girth straps/billets. This allows you to alter the first and middle strap, to your prefered position (see photograph) 

Our Endurance Saddles are Custom made for the following Endurance   Horses… Arabians, Arabs, Missouri   Foxtrotter, Spanish Mustang, gaited   horses, Morgans, Single Foot   Horses, Tennessee Walker, Thoroughbred   TB’s, Trakehners,   Standardbreds, Quarter Horses, Paint, morab’s, Bashkir   curlie, Paso   Fino’s etc

The Yin-Yang Australian Pony Turnout Saddle

A Ponysaddle but also available in Junior and Adult sizes. 13” to 19” including half sizes.

•    Custom made to measure for you in Walsall, England. Shipping is fast and secure.
•     This beautiful 100% English Made Turnout Saddle is crafted from double layered, super soft, English leather with rolled, stitched edges and leather covered buttons.
•    Available in all sizes, inc’ half sizes
•    Dark Havana or Black (pictured)
•     It has the necessary fine stitching around the flaps, skirts and also around the girth straps/billets and on the buckle guards too
•    Covered all over in gorgeous soft, comfortable, highest quality English leather
•    Deep seat for that perfect riding position, but we can make it with a flatter or deeper Dressage style tree if requested
•    We also offer a square cantle if desired
•    Long billets/girth straps on request and at no extra cost.

•    These, and all our saddles, will be   made from scratch for you and your horses unique requirements. We offer full UK/Europewide saddle fitting service, if you would like Matthew to come and take all the required measurements etc. We will also make the saddle to tracings/templates, instructions and photographs supplied by you or your chosen saddle fitter. This is a very popular choice.  You can see how to supply what we need by clicking the following link… Saddle Measurements 
•       We are a very flexible company and if you wish, you may supply any    personal design ideas. We always do our best to accomodate these ideas    into the saddle of your choice. Please contact us to discuss, almost anything is possible.