Brighton Boro'ers

BORO — ぼろ 襤褸 In Japanese — describes mending and patching fabric. The term is now commonly used in reference to all Japanese textiles that are patched or repaired garments or bedding which have been mended, using fragments or oddments of cloth.

We are delighted to be welcoming KOBO A-B (aka Hiroko & Nigel Aono-Billson) to teach a masterclass in the ancient artform on February 24th, here at Atelier Beside the Sea.

Our BORO workshop begins with an introduction and a private view of pieces from the KOBO A-B BORO collection. Hiroko & Nigel will then teach you the basics of Sashiko stitching and the patching/construction process of creating a BORO-inspired piece.

Places are limited. Book now to avoid disappointment.

Make, do, and mend...

Upgrade your mending gear with a beautifully put together complete darning kit from ROVE knitwear. It contains everything you need to restore your favoutite knitwear to its former glory, all neatly contained in a handy zip-up pouch made at ROVE HQ in Margate from beautiful Organic Cotton Herringbone cloth.

Each contains a darning mushroom, two cards of100% Merino Lambswool darning wool, a pair of super sharp bird scissors, two darning needles, and a simple, step-by-step darning instruction postcard.

Embrace the art of darning and extend the life of your favourite garments while reducing waste.

We've got just a couple of these in store. Don't miss out!

Trash to treasure

We are so delighted to have Charlotte Eatock's beach gleaned 'jewells' here at Atelier Beside the Sea.

Being just a few meters from the shoreline, it feels very fitting to to be working with a jeweller who embraces the beauty of the ocean and makes a statement about its preservation.

Charlotte's Everyday Beach Clean Necklaces are each handcrafted from ocean plastic collected along the Devon and Cornish coast. A gentle reminder of the extraordinary beauty of our coastal world and the small but meaningful changes we can make to protect it.

They come in various shapes, colours, textures, and - with their own stories - no two necklaces are ever the same. Come and see them in the gallery.

Coo-eee

We've long been fans of the Bristol-based printmaker Simon Tozer, but this latest Seagull print is a particular favourite.

He looks a lot friendlier than his mugger relatives on Brighton beach who regularly ambush unsuspecting visitors for their chips.

We've got several of Simon's prints in the gallery. See the whole selection here.

Turning Japanese

Not only is Hiroko Aono-Billson an expert in Japanese textiles, but she's a talented ceramicist too. Inspired by her mother’s collection of functional Japanese ceramics and the Mingei movement, meaning “art of the people”, Hiroko's pieces are made from earthenware terracotta clay using the sgraffito technique – where a slip or glaze is applied, then scratched off to reveal the layer beneath – to create unique patterns.

She joins fellow Japanese ceramicist Mizuyo Yamashita here on our gallery shelves, whose refined thrown work exemplifies the popular Japan technique of carving with chisels called Kezuri.

Mizuyo effortlessly combines cultures to create beautiful and elevated contemporary ceramic objects.

Start your own collection of Japanese ceramics and experience the work of both Hiroko and Mizuyo here in our gallery on Brighton beach.

We hope you're feeling the Christmas spirit. We certainly are, and are sending you tidings of comfort and joy from all of us here at ABtS.

Angel print by Will Mower