As we head into the final week of May, now that the latest newsletter is finished I thought I’d take a little time to reflect on yet another really busy week. Â And it’s not just me. Everyone I speak to is absolutely rushed off their feet.
Well, at least the weather’s finally caught up with what it’s supposed to be doing at this time of the year. Â Hopefully just in time to make sure May goes out in a blaze of glory and the sunshine holds its course for all those Jubilee parties waiting round the corner.
Speaking of a blaze, have you checked out the photos on our Facebook page of Paul and Angie’s visit to the Northern Clay Biscuit Factory last week? Â The ceramics exhibition runs until early June.
For anyone that remembers the final post of Craft and Design Month last year – it mentioned the award winners for The Balvenie Masters of Craft Awards.
Well this year the competition is back, and the hunt is on for the most talented craftspeople in the United Kingdom. Â The difference is however that entries are being accepted throughout Craft and Design Month so there’s still time to enter if you haven’t already done so.
There are ten categories in the awards and they include the Young Master of Craft (open to craftspeople aged from 21 to 30) and, at the other end of teh scale, a new award is introduced this year, the ‘David Stewart Life Time Achievement’ award, open to craftspeople that have a proven longevity and expertise in their craft.
The awards will be judged this year by Kevin McCloud, Robin Wood (Chairman of HCA), expert crafts photographer Nick Hand and Anne Cuthbertson, Editor of The Sunday Telegraph Life.
The closing date for entries is FRIDAY 1ST JUNE 2011. Â For detailed information about how to enter visit www.thebalveniemastersofcraft.com.
On Friday 11th May CraftWorks was launched to around 80 guests at The Riding School, Hatfield House. Â The event was jointly hosted by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) and craft&design magazine.
CraftWorks is the project I’ve been working on for months – collecting case studies and gathering information for directories and help guides. Â It is designed to be used by anyone hoping to pursue their interest in craft and, in particular, those turning a hobby into a new or second career. Â I think it’s timing to be launched during Craft and Design Month couldn’t have been better.
Invited guests came from many different backgrounds so it was a superbly rounded overview of the sector. Â For example there were designer makers, training providers, community learning course leaders, CC Skills and the media.
Simon Beer of NIACE
Angie Boyer
Joan Kendall from Hatfield House
Robin Younger of Living Crafts
Jonathan Yewdall from BIS
The event got underway with an inspirational and welcoming video prepared by Skills Minister, John Hayes who was disappointed not to be there in person due to prior commitments. Â He said a big thank you to all those who had helped to bring the project to fruition – in particular all the craftsmen and women who had shared their stories, many of whom are readers of craft&design magazine.
He introduced the first guest speaker, our very own Angie Boyer, who gave a good overview of the background of the magazine and how it has grown over the years.
It would have been a waste of our lovely surroundings not to have had a little insight into craft skills used by Hatfield House – as we were right there on the doorstep!
Fortunately tapestry expert Joan Kendall joined us for the morning and gave a very brief but knowledgeable overview into the extreme care and attention to detail needed to restore tapestries and preserve them for future generations.
As a superb craft event, Living Crafts, was taking place in the grounds on the Queen Elizabeth showground, Robin Younger, the show’s organiser, shared his memories of how the show began. Â He explained how it has grown from a single marquee, at a time when craft shows didn’t even exist, up to today where it enjoys a reputation as one of the largest and most prestigious craft events in Europe.
Simon gave a whistlestop tour of the CraftWorks website which is now live.
Copyright Cliff Wright from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabah published by Bloomsbury
There are some super new activities taking place at Living Crafts at Hatfield House this year and that’s on top of the wealth of workshops to try and around 300 exhibitors to view.
Cliff Wright, Harry Potter Illustrator will be teaching drawing masterclasses: ‘The Nature of Seeing’
There a Sculpture School which will be working on clay sculptures and visitors can try sculpting a clay figure, hand or foot.
Tutored Wine Tasting with The Wine Tipster
Tutored wine tasting with The Wine Tipster
The Yarnsmith of Norwich
The Emerging Designer Pavilion Finalists chosen from over 60 newly qualified designer-makers, a workshop pavilion for adults and children, new corn dolly making and twig pencil making along with papermaking, decopatch, origami and pyrography.
And if that’s not enough to tempt you along, fantastic new entertainment includes the Sounds of Steel steel band and master storying telling from the Yarnsmith of Norwich.
The Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen Spring Show gets underway today at Tetbury’s 17th Century Market House in Gloucestereshire GL8 8DA. It runs until Sunday 13th May and opens 10am – 6pm.
The show features an eclectic and dynamic mix of disciplines including printmaking, textiles, ceramics, metalwork, jewellery, furniture and glass, with work available to purchase and commission.
It’s also a great opportunity to meet our diary writer for 2012, Nick Ozanne, who is one of the exhibitors. Nick has enjoyed a fantastic start to 2012.  He won the craft&design Highly Commended Newcomer award at BCTF 2012 for his beautiful weaving and followed this up with acraft&design Selected Silver Award in his category of Textiles & Needlecrafts.
So why not come to East Yorkshire and see for yourself! And whilst you’re here, visiting the wonderful rolling landscape of Hockney-land, call in to see Jude Howe and Stan Pile, who are working as Artists in Residence at Burton Agnes Hall until 15 May. Their elegant ceramic and steel garden sculptures look amazing in the beautifully designed gardens of this striking property. They’ll be delighted to see you and to chat about their work – and there’s real Yorkshire ice cream to tempt you in the cafe there too, as we discovered when we visited yesterday!
Wondering what to do on Bank Holiday Monday? You’ll find unusual handmade crafts for the home and garden and meet crafts people from all over Britain at the Weald of Kent Craft Show. The whole family can enjoy a great day out with music, workshops & demonstrations, adventure playground, live cookery theatre, falconry displays, show garden, plus much more. Open 9.30am – 5.30pm at Penshurst Place, Penshurst, near Tonbridge, Kent TN11 8DG
Hunt and Gather Design exhibiting in the Makers Fair at Saltaire Arts Trail
Paul and I spent the first Saturday of Craft and Design Month popping in and out of people’s houses in Saltaire. It’s okay, we were invited, along with lots of other people, it’s all part of the Saltaire Arts Trail that’s continuing at lots of lovely venues in the town through to the end of Bank Holiday Monday. There’s a real buzz everywhere in this UNESCO World Heritage Village, with masses to see and loads of creative activities for the children to get involved with. Fingers crossed that the weather behaves itself, but not to worry if it doesn’t, you too can enjoy popping in and out of people’s houses!
Well, Paul and I have started Craft and Design Month with a little tour of the north west, our first port of call being the Greystoke Arts Festival Friday evening charity preview in a pretty little village near Penrith. First launched in May last year by Chris and Geoff Cox to mark National Ceramics Week, the 2012 event includes Textiles in addition to Ceramics. This year’s theme is ‘Pilgrimage’ and there’s some beautiful work on show and for sale in the school as well as in the village church, where visitors can rest awhile and enjoy gorgeous home made cakes and tea whilst chatting with the makers. As we were saying our farewells this morning, we were delighted to hear that this year’s event has already raised even more money than last year for charity – fabulous news and a great start to Craft and Design Month, so many thanks to everyone involved for supporting the initiative, especially Geoff and Chris. If you’re in the area during the Bank Holiday be sure to visit, you won’t be disappointed!
There are some super events taking place this weekend. Â One not to miss is already underway at RHS Wisley in Surrey.
Craft in Focus is a stunning event with a wealth of top drawer craft.  In fact, one of the exhibitors to look out for is Katie Lake who has just been awarded the craft&design Selected Silver Award in the Wood & Metal category.
We’ve featured two images from Katie that show just how beautiful and varied her style is.
If you haven’t been to the show before then it’s well worth a visit.
As well as Katie there is a wealth of talent on display with an exciting range of designer makers, many of whom accept commissions. Â And if the weather isn’t wonderful, it won’t make a difference as the show is held in marquees.
National Craft and Design Month runs from 1st May right through to 8th June, with FREE listings and downloads to help everyone involved to promote their events.
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I believe your magazine is providing a genuine service to makers such as myself by highlighting the places to find good quality pieces of craftsmanship in this country.
The public is more discerning than they are given credit for and many people appreciate a cherished piece of work more than mass produced commodities.
