Decorative hand leaded glassware influenced by Art Deco
and Art Nouveau style... with more than a hint of Rennie
Mackintosh inspiration... and started in the spare
bedroom!
"Time to start my own business"
After spending five years following my husband around
the Caribbean and having two beautiful children we decided to return to Great Britain
in 2002. My husband Alan and I decided that it was time to do our own
thing. We had always wanted to start our own business together so we
opened a gift shop in the lovely market town of Hexham in
Northumberland. Our first few months were all about refining our mix of
product but we were soon regarded as the shop with "something
different".
Artefacts of Hexham
Within two years I had started to experiment with
"leading" glassware. My inspiration was an interest in all things Art
Deco/Art Nouveau and particularly Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Looking
back, my early efforts would be embarrassing had I kept them! But
"practice makes perfect" as they say so I refined both my technique and
designs and eventually with much persuasion I was selling my own collection
in our shop.
Wildflower Studio was born!
This really gave me the confidence to pursue Wildflower Studio
full-time so we sold the shop and took the next big step. With Alan's
help we became a genuine cottage industry and our home was never to be
the same again. I have been lucky enough to develop clientèle throughout
the British Isles, including shops, galleries, department stores,
National Trust properties and garden centres.
After more than two years of chaos at home we were offered the
opportunity to open a studio/workshop at Kirkharle. Here we produced more variations
on our designs with the input of our regular customers and studio
visitors but still very much in the Mackintosh style. In June 2009 we
decided it was time to return to Hexham and continue to develop our
business back where it all started, after all, there's no place like
home!
GIFT... Home of Wildflower Studio
In summary, the response over the last few years has
been tremendous; people have been kind enough to praise and indeed
purchase my wares and also contributed ideas which have led to finished
designs. This website shows a selection of my work, I do hope you enjoy
looking at them as much as I have enjoyed designing and making them.
Best Regards,
Marion.
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