We had plenty of anticipation building in the run up to May 2013 with Launchpad at Pulse, Earl's Court our second ever trade fair! There is alot of email traffic about many aspects to what you can make of your presence at a show! :>

We chose to focus on light shades which has been our main product area since the business launched!
We operate on quite a bespoke level this matches the holistic and personal approach that generally underpins anything I do!!!!

I am delighted to say that our Exotic Floral range of shades was a big hit and we have some great new stockists that I am keen to work with and promote. We also had a great response from visitors who took photos of the shades for the daily Pinterest board run by Clarion and Global Colour's Mix Mag Competition via Twitter our shade designs complemented one of their trends 'Pattern Overload' and colour palettes for the S/S 2013 season.

It is shop indie day next month - the 4th July so you can promote and support independent shops by taking part. Independent shops normally exist without the infastructure, marketing and resources of a large brand so it can be tougher!

But it can be tough on any level and is highly competitive - if you have premises that cost you have to make the best use of them which is why we can shop and do most things within the high street chains and supermarkets but I do think if we only had these we would miss the character, diversity, convenience & selection the independent shops can deliver! There are so many skills at work in retail and many levels on which it operates!

I am hoping to bring a few indies to the for through my blog - my new stockists so that when visiting different parts of the country with family and friends you can enjoy some Urban Bird Lightshade spotting!

Fab New Arrivals at the Pop Up!

Winchester Pop Up Design Shop 2012/2013

Opening on November 1st 2012 we had a brilliant lead up to Christmas, kept busy with suppliers (all our designers & designer makers!) and customers. Lots of compliments and support that encouraged us to extend until February 2013.

We are approaching our final week and I just wanted to share a few photos of some of the FAB! work that has arrived to put us in the mood for Valentine's day!

We have some exclusive Valentine's pieces from creative knitted textile's designer Deryn Relph. Some may have seen Deryn's work in Living Etc this month, Deryn's 'mini hotties' were also mentioned in the Independent good gift guide in December, we sold out and have a few more now as the weather calls for a little something useful and beautiful to keep warm!

We also have a few exclusive 'hearts & kisses' versions as pictured! Perfect for giving anyone a hug in a gift!  Not to mention the pom pom trimmed cushion versions!

I was delighted to meet Illustrator Sam Pierpoint this week and we have a fab piece of her original art work - a 3D heart of course, Sam has also produced prints and cards of this glorious piece in stock at the Pop Up!

Sharon Cluett's word friendly cards have been enjoyed by many and her Valentine's expressions have made passersby gulp and go for it!
Seen above with Zukru toys in all the colours I certainly love to finish on a high!

Edinburgh's Carla Edwards has sent some fun & delicious looking resin pieces above!

Embossed & screen printed leather from one of our favourite pop up jewelers Rowenna Harrison, with ceramicist Lucy Foakes specially commissioned Tea Pots :>

More above from Deryn, me & a glimpse of some beautiful gold embossed kid leather purses from April Mawhinney of Little Red Designs www.littlereddesigns.co.uk/

Examples of our international contributor(! we generally have one or two to add to the mix of home grown high talent!) Anne Black from Copenhagen in a collaboration with fashion designer Miss Dotty.

You may have spotted one or two beautiful bikes from Tokyo Bike UK, there has been plenty of cooing over those these past few months and one or two cycling off in style!

Come and visit us before Feb 16th & see for yourself!

 

Winchester Pop Up Design Shop July 2011

Some fab photos from our first Pop Up July 2011! 

To coincide with the first Winchester Fashion Week

We are now on our third Pop Up Hurray! :)