Ceramic Beakers by Lush Designs

One of our most well-loved designer/makers, Lush Designs, known for their illustrative, screen-printed lampshades, have more recently created a range of ceramics and we're so excited to have their beakers at Radiance!

We have four designs: buildings, trees, waterweed and flowers.

They are charmingly irregular and sweetly patterned, and make up part of Lush Designs' bathroom range but would be equally good as a container for a posy of wild flowers or pens and pencils.

Available in the shop and online here.

Handmade Parade

It's the Handmade Parade in Hebden Bridge tomorrow and everyone is going to be out to enjoy the colour, creativity and joy of it. It was postponed from last week because of the flood and after a week of cleaning up mud it's just what our town needs. It starts at 11am tomorrow morning. This years theme is the Enchanted Wood. It's going to be amazing! Hope you can come along.

They don't do things by halves!

There is a brand new shop opening in Hebden Bridge this Saturday and it's causing quite a stir! Home-Oh! is right opposite Radiance and I have been watching people stop and take it all in as the weeks have passed and it has taken on it's new identity! Some are amused, some are confused but mostly people are just excited! It is the new venture of The Yorkshire Soap Company boys whose grand soap shop has been wowing people since it opened it's doors last year (I blogged about it when it opened). It's going to sell home wares and quirky things and I have been trying not to peep inside to spoil the surprise. Whatever is in there you just know it's going to be amazing because these guys don't do things by halves!

I mean LOOK at the invitation to their champagne launch that came today! An invitation on a plate!

Can't wait until Saturday!

Juan and his balancing stones

Juan, the guy who balances stones is becoming quite a feature of a sunny day in Hebden Bridge. He creates his graceful stone sculptures along a large stretch of the river.

I was overhearing a sceptical couple watching him and not believing that he could possibly be balancing them without some kind of aid or magic!

But he does. He stays with his stones for a long long time patiently balancing and re-balancing until he can let go and leave them teetering and seeming to defy gravity. His patience is amazing. He has more that most! It reminded me of a quote by Einstein that I read the other day. He said 'It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.' The stone balancing is a kind of meditation. He gets into a zone with the stones and stays there until they balance.

The other great thing about Hebden right now is all the knitting. You see the bunting in the picture? Every flag is knitted and it's part of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festivals ( i got the email about it but I'm a rubbish knitter) 'yarnstorming'. Lots of people made garlands and bunting and colourful knitted buns hanging in trees - even all the bollards wore woolly hats. I love living here.

(I just read that Juan is doing stone balancing classes in town too on the 30th July on Salem fields)

The New Yorkshire Soap Company

The fabulous Yorkshire Soap Company has been attracting people to Hebden Bridge for a good few years now to it's tiny, but possibly the most beautiful and cared for shop on Market Street BUT it has just MOVED and you really have to see it now in it's new premises because it is truly STUNNING. It opened on Saturday but with being in my shop all weekend I hadn't had a chance to visit until today. It was very inspirational and almost brought afew tears to my eyes! They have worked very hard and have created something amazing!

The most wonderful thing is that they make all their own beautiful bath products (upstairs in the shop in fact)..... things that look good enough to eat.

Marcus won't be happy with me for posting this photo of him (don't worry Marcus we're looking at the beautiful chandelier, not at you! ;))!

They really have done a fabulous job and it is a real asset to our Market Street which seems to be getting better and better all the time. Another good reason to visit Hebden Bridge!

Oh and their brand new online shop is coming soon....

Such Characters

Some more little birdies by Joanna Coupland landed at Radiance today. Cute little guys!

New Year, New Shop!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I have a tale to tell that I've been dying to share for weeks but nothing was finalised so I couldn't....

A few weeks ago on a busy Friday afternoon a man walked into my shop and asked me if I had 5 minutes to come and look at a newly refurbished shop space that he was hoping to rent out. Well I'm always up for taking a peek inside peoples buildings so I nipped down the road with him to take a look. I have not been the same since. It changed my world! It was lovely space and had everything I had been asking for whilst struggling with a growing business in a small space. It is a converted ground floor of a house so is very homey and I could instantly see this working for Radiance with all the lamps and home wares. It has a fireplace and alcoves to light and a lovely window.

Then there is another room with a fireplace and large window which would make the perfect light workspace for me. There is a cupboard under the stairs for box storage. THEN there's a storeroom (oh how I've prayed for such a thing) which can also be used as a parcel wrapping room and then a kitchen with more storage and then a shower room/toilet (a big plus as I've had to nip home to the loo for the last 4 years!) AND a yard.

I have not been stopped thinking about it since. It's not a typical shop with a typical shop window. It wouldn't work for any business and I had to weigh up letting go of my huge window and tall ceilings for a smaller (but still beautiful) window in a more prominent location with the extra space that I need. I think I can make the homliness of it really work for Radiance.

If you know Hebden Bridge it's right next door to the lovely Mooch cafe in the middle of Market Street and opposite Dynamite and Ruby Shoesday.

So the negotiations have been made and I'll be getting the keys on the 1st of February so please hold my hand. Here's where I will be planning and thinking and panicking and sweating no doubt. There's ALOT to think about - shop fitting, workshop fitting, signage, logisitcs (how do i keep one shop open and one workshop running whilst creating a new one), painting, financial issues, publicity etc etc etc. It's good timing though. 2010 holds the beginning of a shiny new project for me and Radiance. A blank canvas - a new beginning.Very exciting indeed!

I hope you will come to my grand opening...although as readers of my blog you will have watched the whole thing unfold anyway!

GULP!x

Late night shopping in Hebden Bridge

The flyers and posters have just arrived for Hebden Bridges late night shopping. Shops will be open until 8pm on the 26th November and the 3rd and 10th of December. On the first night the Christmas lights will be switched on and there will be a handmade lantern parade leaving from the square at 5.30.

There will be lantern making workshops for the parade at the Hebden Bridge Methodist Church (near The Coop) on Sunday 22nd Nov 2-4pm, Monday 23rd November 3.45-6pm and Tuesday 24th November 3.45-6.

Look, the flyers have even got room for special Hebden Bridge Christmas shopping list....

Ribbon Circus

I went out today to find something to hang up my new Lorraine Ditchburn light pulls in the shop and I went to Ribbon Circus for the first time. It's been open a while now and I was pleased that Hebden Bridge had a haberdashers again...but it is so much MORE than that. Its rows and rows of shiny and sparkly ribbons and trimmings really inspired me and I had to skip home down the street to go and get my camera. It was lovely to meet Amy the owner who is passionate about her wares and loves people to come and get inspired. She has a great online shop. All you crafters out there, this is the place to buy your ribbons!