Reviews of Inspired:London
Karen Jinks, Creative Director, UK Handmade www.ukhandmade.co.uk
"Inspired:London is 200 pages of quality, originality and creativity that is second to none and makes it a book to treasure and be inspired by. The exceptional talent that resides in the vibrant city of London is bursting from every page of this book and it also shows the dedication and passion of Mary McDermott as she works tirelessly to promote and support designers and makers through her We Make fairs. Congratulations to everyone involved!"
Tracy, White Lilly Green www.whitelilygreen.co.uk, whitelilygreen.blogspot.co.uk
"Inspired London more than lives up to its promise of taking the reader on an inspirational journey of handmade London. Every page is bursting with diversity and awe-inspiring creativity displayed by the talented showcased handmade designers. Discover London's hidden gems of the handmade world, from intricate jewellery to quirky illustration, contemporary needlework to printed textiles. Bask in an array of handmade treasure and find out where to buy them as We Make London introduce you to the designer-makers and their businesses.
Sure to be a hit this Christmas, Inspired London is a visual joy and a must for craft lovers and those who appreciate something that little bit different. It will make a fabulous present itself or it will inspire you to find that perfect, one-of-a-kind handmade gift.
Congratulations to Mary and the We Make London team."
Laura Mason, Designer-maker, Mason Bee www.masonbee.co.uk
“This can only be described as an awe inspiring look-book of accessible lushness!
As a designer maker I have always been acutely aware of the treasure trove of untapped, unknown talent within the UK. The individuals contained within this book are of course, just the tip of the designer-maker iceberg. And it has only been with the continued work of organisations such as We Make London and the talent and hard-work by individuals like Mary McDermott that finally the tide is turning and people are becoming more aware of what has sadly long been considered the underdog, handmade crafts.
This book I guarantee will leave you in awe and reaching for your laptop to find out more about these gifted people. I know, because that’s precisely what I did. This is a perfect resource which I can turn to whenever I am seeking the perfect gift for my loved ones. Something to look to turn to if you are seeking the encouragement to continue you on your own path to running your own craft business.
Now I can’t wait for the next one….."
Kirsten Miller, Designer-maker, Quernus Crafts www.quernuscrafts.co.uk
“The internet has made it both easier and harder to buy handmade arts and crafts in the UK. Well known websites like Etsy have certainly helped in raising the profile of the handmade community, but if you want to find the designer-makers in your local area, it can be hard to know where to start.
With Mary McDermott at the helm, We Make London has responded to this challenge by publishing a 200 page guide which is both an invaluable resource and beautiful to look at.
This unique guide gives a one page introduction to 162 talented creative micro-businesses in all parts of London, but it is so much more than a business directory. Each designer has a page to showcase their work with beautiful images and a description of their business. This is where the guide comes into its own – every page is a delight, and demonstrates the great diversity and talent that exists within the UK’s capital city. At the end of the guide is another useful section of organisations which promote and support handmade in London.
All in all, this is a gem of a book on so many levels. It’s a great resource for those buyers wishing to explore beyond the mass-produced high street offerings, it’s wonderful eye candy for those moments when you want to be inspired, but most of all it demonstrates that there is a growing demand to buy beautiful things direct from local designer-makers. Surely it’s only a matter of time before we see more of these guides springing up all over the country.”
Dawn Bevins, Designer-maker, Dawn Bevins Design www.dawnbevins.co.uk
Inspired: London – A Guide to Handmade in London is a mammoth guide to the wonderfully eclectic, bustling world of handmade that is currently thriving in London.
It introduces you to the latest cutting-edge designer-makers based in the capital, by dedicating a page to each, where you can find product images, a brief explanation about what it is they create and contact details.
The book is divided into the North, South, East and West of the city, so is of great interest to anyone living close by that may be interested in buying local, or to visitors searching for a unique item from their trip. However, most designers also have an online shop listed, so this also acts as a functional directory for anyone wanting to find handmade products online.
An extensive range of craft, art and design disciplines are covered including, illustration, screen printing, glass blowing, needle felting and jewellery, and you will find links to beautiful London themed products by designers such as Tobyboo, Amelia Parker, Mr Wingate and London Clay Birds.
For those that do live in, or visit, London there is also a useful list of organisations that support independent designer-makers, shops, galleries, studios, workshops, suppliers and markets.
This book contains something for everyone and it a great introduction to the handmade community. It is also a valuable resource if you are new to searching for handmade gifts but aren't quite sure where you can find sometimes elusive independent makers.
