May 2011 is almost over, but there is still a chance to come in and see our featured Maker of the Month, Lara Scobie who is one of Edinburgh's leading ceramicists. 


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Watch out for our June Maker of the Month which will be announced shortly!

Lara Scobie - Small Jug

Lara Scobie - Small Jugs

Lara Scobie - Small Jugs - Detail

Lara Scobie - Small Jugs

Lara Scobie - Small Jugs

Lara Scobie - Large Bowl

Lara Scobie - Containers

Lara Scobie - Small Jugs

Ceramic Bird Brooch

Ceramic Fish Brooch

Ceramic Bear Brooch

News Release: Immediate release for Lindsay Grime

Illustrations, etc.

The intriguing and quirky images of Lindsay Grime will be adorning the Concrete Wardrobe shelves in many guises this summer, as the July Maker of the Month exhibition.

Grime graduated from ECA in 2009 with First Class Honours in Illustration. The diverse approach Grime has to her discipline has enabled her to produce a broad range of work, from pencil and gouache drawings to hand painted plates and tiles, cardboard installations to hand-painted ceramic jewellery.

Grime’s style evokes a folk art aesthetic. She delights in depicting flora and fauna as well as figures in antiquated or carnival dress. Her inspiration is drawn from a variety of sources, including reference books from the 19^th Century. Her created images often reflect fragments of her own invented narratives, with eccentric characters providing the starting point of the illustration. Grime brings their world to life.

The exhibition includes a cardboard display Noah’s Ark, with ceramic brooches trooping into the showpiece. Framed illustrations and a range of hand painted ceramics, including one-off jewellery pieces, and a collection of plate stands; a collaboration with the ceramic artist Helen Kemp, Grime’s mother. Grime commented that exhibiting at Concrete Wardrobe gives her the opportunity to “showcase the full gamut of what I enjoy doing as an illustrator – to create a body of work that reflects my current visual pre-occupations.”

Since graduation Grime has been busy creating a diverse portfolio of work that has already achieved public note. She has exhibited throughout Scotland and England, and has her work in print. James Donald, Co-owner of Concrete Wardrobe added, “Grime has brought her distinctive style of illustration to a saleable range of pieces. The characters she creates tell a story and it is great to be able to bring that story to Concrete Wardrobe this July.”

Lindsay Grime’s work will be on display at Concrete Wardrobe from 1^st to 31^st July 2011.

Concrete Wardrobe is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm. (Sunday 12 - 4pm.)

Concrete Wardrobe 50a Broughton Street, Edinburgh EH1 3SA

ENDS

PR: Katherine Emtage. Co-Owners: James Donald & Fiona McIntosh

Having a great Concrete Wardrobe business breakfast in Treacle on Broughton St. The veggie sausages are fab and the eggs benedict with salmon was Michael's favourite dish!

We have just taken delivery of some fantastic skirt pieces by Edinburgh based Mairi Brown. Mairi has an excellent blog with the address as follows, please be sure to have a look at her extensive class list where she offers a comprehensive list of differing workshops to suit all skill levels from cushions to corsetry making to advanced pattern cutting classes from her Leith based studio.

 http://mairib.wordpress.com/

Mairi has also blogged about us at Concrete Wardrobe with images of what you can expect to see in Concrete Wardrobe by her.

News release: Immediate Release

Tartan Twists

This June, Concrete Wardrobe will be exhibiting the fabric jewellery and accessories by Scottish based designer maker Lesley Thornton.

Under her trading name ‘Crimson’, Thornton will be using this opportunity to showcase new work and statement pieces including brooches, neckpieces, cowls, skinny scarves and wigs, alongside her standard range of jewellery Concrete Wardrobe shoppers already love. Her prices range from £12 for a handmade key fob, to £150 for a one-off wig.

Thornton has worked as a professional kilt maker since 1998. This experience of working with tartan inspired her to experiment with the traditional fabric in new and innovative ways. For example, she has created a range of long necklaces, consisting of bundles of complex knots and fabric beads in vibrant blends of tartan - a cross between a necklace and a scarf. She says “tartan has no need to be traditional. It is a versatile fabric that lends itself to contemporary use.” Thornton usually works with the fabric cut on the bias, which transforms the appearance and proportions of the original check, and also gives great drape and elasticity to the fabric, making it possible to cover flexible surfaces, such as plastic tubing, a technique she has employed on a selection of her jewellery.

Using tartan is very important to Thornton, although she abhors the use of tartan for tartan’s sake. She aims to make items that not only enhance the tartan fabric, but are themselves enhanced by being made in tartan.

Fiona McIntosh, Co-owner of Concrete Wardrobe commented “at Concrete Wardrobe we love seeing traditional techniques employed creatively to produce contemporary and wearable pieces. Crimson has achieved this beautifully.”

Crimson jewellery and accessories will be on display at Concrete Wardrobe from 1^st to 30^th June 2011.

Concrete Wardrobe is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm. Sunday 12 - 4pm.

Concrete Wardrobe 50a Broughton Street, Edinburgh EH1 3SA 

ENDS

PR: Katherine Emtage. Co-Owners: James Donald & Fiona McIntosh

Black Box Bag

Black Box Bags

Heart Clutch

Frame Clutch

http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh-north/news/16996-broughton-street-named-by-google-as-one-of-britains-hippest-streets/

http://www.google.com/landing/beststreetsuk/#tab2

Broughton St. the street that Concrete Wardrobe is situated on, has been shortlisted by Google as one of the hippest Streets in Edinburgh, it's one of two streets in Scotland to be shortlised!

Michael from Concrete Wardrobe even gets a quote or two in the the first link above,  it takes seconds to vote, with the second link taking you to directly to the voting site.

We will keep you posted on the outcome of this!

Lara Scobie - May Maker of the Month. 

Please find enclosed our May Maker of the Month flyer for Edinburgh based ceramics artist Lara Scobie. Please share with all your contacts and other interested parties.

Thank you.

Welcome to Concrete Wardrobe's first ever on line blog! This page will again give you a snap shot of what goes on within one of Scotland's longest running retail spaces that promotes Scottish based and trained designers and crafts people. 


Watch this space for the latest designers we are stocking and other news worthy events at CW.


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