Blog

Get creative with modern calligraphy and work it into your daily writing, cards and events! This workshop is designed for those piqued by the art of calligraphy and specially tailored to beginners who wish to explore this art of writing with a pointed pen. Taking a modern spin, you will enjoy a 3 hour workshop learning about the basics of calligraphy consisting of handling a pointed pen, drills, letter forms and finally be well equipped to create a simple artwork at the end of the session.

As part of an ongoing project, we have been inviting Leeds based creatives to paint on a canvas to decorate our new store.

Are you attuned to the artisanal craft of pencil sharpening? We weren't, which is why we starting stocking David Rees' book How To Sharpen Pencils. From his home in New York's Hudson River, David offers a bespoke pencil sharpening service to those that find themselves at the blunt end of a pencil.

To celebrate International Women’s Day and to launch the fantastic 2016 Wonder Women programme of events, Instigate Arts take an intersectional exploration of the aesthetics of protest and consider how clothing and style is used to shape, define and own gender, sexuality and identity. From the Suffragettes to Red Lipstick Day, the Slut Walks and Pussy Riots to butch and drag, women have long utilised that which is used to restrict them; to strive for freedom and an identity on their own terms.

Over at our Leeds store Chris Dorning, otherwise known as The Cunning Craftsman, has created an impressive illustrated window mural for us. Take a look.

We were really excited to start stocking Technology Will Save Us kits, and it seems like you guys were too, they flew off our shelves over Christmas.

If you've been past our Manchester store, you will have noticed that our window is currently home to ten sets of little houses. These gorgeous paper sculptures have been made by Helen Musslewhite, who is a visual artist and in our opinion a paper wizard! Helen made the sculptures for her book Little Houses - A Counting Book which has been published by Laurence King and is available to buy in-store and online.

We are really pleased to be supporting RareKind China which showcases the diverse visual identities of graffiti and street artists from China and the UK.