CATHERINE DOWNES Catherine says… Based in West Norfolk, I’ve been designing and making bespoke giftware in silver, copper or pewter for 22 years. I do a lot of work to commission and make quite a wide range of products from pieces for the home to jewellery. What’s your most popular product for weddings? My most popular product for a wedding gift would probably be the flower holders which, like all of the pieces that I make, can be commissioned in either silver, copper or pewter or a combination of metals. I always think a freshly cut single flower has so much meaning, so it’s always lovely to have something nice to display it in. Bowls and spoons also make a nice gift. I’ve also made pieces that can have elements added at a later date to mark anniversaries or maybe the arrival of a new family member! Why is it important to choose local suppliers? In a faceless world of mass production, it’s so nice to have the connection of working with a maker to have a handcrafted piece that can be cherished for years to come, and even passed on to future generations. There’s also an inevitable environmental benefit which is always a good thing. What do you love most about what you do? I love all aspects of my working life. My inspiration comes from the vibrant energy and movement that comes from my love of music. I also find inspiration in the natural world and I love texture in pieces, it seems to bring them to life. As each piece is individually handmade, I’m fortunate that I can cater for most styles from the very minimalist to the more detailed. I love the variety of my work and can’t imagine doing anything else. Catherine Downes, Silversmith, www.catherinedownes.co.uk OLIVE & IVY WEDDING STATIONERY Emily says… Olive & Ivy began as a favour to my best friend, designing and creating their invitations and wedding stationery. It gave me such joy to be a part of such a happy occasion I knew I wanted to be able to do the same for other people. We offer bespoke, quality wedding stationery from save the dates to on-the-day items. What’s your most popular product for weddings? Our most popular product of late has been our concertina invitation, rather than three different pieces of card it’s an all-in-one design which has been a real hit. Why is it important to choose local suppliers? By choosing local suppliers you receive that personal service you wouldn’t necessarily receive with the auto-generated stationery giants. What do you love most about what you do? Having done a lot of watercolour designs (which I love creating) it’s refreshing when someone chooses the more modern design that focuses on typeface and colour. I’m working on one at the moment which uses natural earthy colours and elegant fonts, giving a stunning finished look. Emma King, Olive & Ivy Wedding Stationery www.olive-and-ivy.co.uk ELIZABETH FITZGERALD CARTER Elizabeth says… A professional marine and river landscape artist, I offer original oil or acrylic paintings as wedding gifts either specially commissioned or selected direct from the studio. Liquid light flows and dances through paintings of the East Anglian coastline and waterways; these are works of art to visually sink into and treasure for a lifetime. My work has appeared previously in Homes & Gardens Online, World of Interiors as well as local publications like KL Magazine and North Norfolk Living magazine. What’s your most popular product for weddings? I am most often commissioned to paint coastal images or favourite walks. Why is it important to choose local suppliers? As well as supporting the local economy, a locally made product is often a reflection of the area the happy couple have a real connection to. Equally they or their guest can be assured of an interested and in person tailored service. My customers want a painting that engages their senses in memory or a feeling of wellbeing generated by a particular landscape or combination of colour and composition. In the case of a commissioned work, this is enhanced a hundred-fold as the painting is special and unique to them, and is a timeless addition to their home. It is not unusual for close family members or friends to get together to chose a painting based on somewhere which has special significance to the happy couple. What do you love most about weddings what you do? An instance of the last bit above happened to me a few years ago, when I was asked to paint a river view as a gift from the best man to the groom. It was a place where local children had played, teenagers had messed about and where the groom proposed to his bride. A few weeks after the wedding I had a phone call from the bride and groom so moved they were in floods of tears it meant that much. They are in the military and the painting travels with them wherever they are posted. Elizabeth Fitzgerald Carter, Artist, www.izycarterartist.com 68
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