Christmas Markets

Today, there is a rare chance to visit the Crystal Palace Subway. You don't have to book, and you shouldn't need to queue, and what's more, there will be lots of lovely things to buy, by local artists and makers, including the wonderful printmaker, Sinead Taylor, who designed the poster above. You will also find my cushions featuring the subway itself, and our friendly neighbourhood dinos.

My other half, Jochen, has also been hard at work in his 'laboratoire', I mean kitchen, creating his delicious Ludwig London scented candles. As well as the popular Hansel & Gretel Christmas candle, there will be a special one that's been created in honour of the Crystal Palace. Catch the smoky aroma of 1936.

If you can't make it today, the cushions and candles will also be on show on Sunday 17th December at the Upper Norwood Library's Christmas Bazaar.

And these aren't the only markets in town this Christmas. The Alma plays host again to the Handmade Market tomorrow, and next Sunday, while, if it ever gets going, there's a planned Winterfest in Crystal Palace Park, from now until the New Year.

Beth Mander / Handmade Palace

Immortality, whether actual or merely figurative, has long been craved by mankind. To achieve it, it seems to me,  you could do worse than become a potter or ceramicist. After all, what is the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of archaeology? All those ancient Greek and Roman vases surely? For a medium so soft and pliable, clay, in the hands of an artist, has the potential to transform into one of civilisation's most enduring art forms. Ceramic artist, Beth Mander probably doesn't dream of immortality, but she has become a well known face on the Triangle, as a result of her running the Handmade Palace stall at the market every saturday.
Things have happened remarkably quickly for Beth, who not so long ago did a City & Guilds course in ceramics, followed by a teaching course (to teach ceramics to adults), as a way of pursuing a new path after a career break spent bringing up her kids. Although living in Croydon, where she was brought up, Beth always gravitated towards the creativity of SE19. Then eighteen months ago, while on the hunt for studio space, she was lucky enough to find a ready-made potter's studio, complete with kilns, at the Gipsy Hill Studios. And once settled in the space, she got straight on experimenting with different techniques and glazes. Her work, such as the ceramic bunting, is light-hearted, colourful and fun. Her first sales outlet was via the Secret Garden, and it was then that her work was spotted by the organisers of the Alma market. About the same time, she got involved with Makerhood, a Lambeth based organisation that supports artists and makers. Being part of the events team, gave her the confidence to take on the running of the Handmade stall, which has since gone from being  monthly, to weekly, showcasing the talents of many and varied local creatives. While Beth's own work has developed, circumstances have channelled her increasingly into organising events. After the successful Christmas market, at the Sparrowhawk, other events are in the pipeline.

Bowls with a molten glass glaze

Enamel badges

Beth at work

Left over clay all gets recycled.

Oxide glaze test sheet

On the right is a whimsical model of a certain local landmark made from clay dug from an SE19 garden.

The Handmade Palace stall

A pair of Sinead Taylor's prints

Make a Statement jewellery made from tropical nuts!

Beth's bunting

Crochet Craft by Libby Holloway

Locally themed mugs by Dom Richards

Homewares by Anne Fortin

Mya and Joe jewellery

Dreamcatchers by Ismay Frazier

Make a Statement

Antenna - Café Thing

I learnt some Icelandic last week, well, just the one word, 'thing' which apparently means assembly. The quirkily named cafe tucked away at the bottom of Haynes Lane, has a half Icelandic owner, Jakob Kaye. He, and business partner, Darren Doherty own Antenna Studios above the cafe, and decided to turn the space downstairs into a cafe, after its previous incarnations as a guitar shop followed by a skateboard shop, hence the distinctive door handle.

Inside, I am greeted by Georgie Cook, who runs the cafe while Jakob and Darren look after their other projects. It's a bright simple space with a rustic timber counter, red banquette in the window, and red and white tables and chairs. Before the cafe opened in the summer of 2012, Georgie had been living in Paris and working as a Photographer, but had long had connections to SE19, having grown up in the area. When the cafe was first mooted, she had been full of suggestions for her friends at Antenna, so much so that they suggested she come and run the place!

You might be forgiven for not knowing of the cafe's existence. As I mentioned, it is somewhat off the beaten track, and it was only with the advent of the weekly saturday food market right outside its doors, that its profile was raised. As Georgie says, on saturdays it's heaving and effectively becomes the unofficial HQ of Crystal Palace Transition Town, the local group that set up the market. As well as excellent coffee, the cafe also serves excellent cakes made by local bakers, Brett & Bailey, who have a regular stall at the market. I can vouch for the cake, once photographed, it had to be eaten. And this small space is much more than just a cafe, it's also a venue for all sorts of happenings, including the RPM club, a monthly open decks vinyl night, Bonne Heure, an experimental music night with local group The Fireflies, and their guests.  Additionally, Almost Naked, is an acoustic folk night, and there are occasional poetry recitals.

Georgie Cook

Café Thing can also be hired for private events.

Café Thing
Bowyers Yard
Haynes Lane