News from the Capital of Craft: 5 Faves from The Devon Guild and Makers from the Red List
Written: 09 May 2019
News from the Capital of Craft
We talk to the director of The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Tessa Stone about her 5 Favourites from Craft Festival + we meet our Red List makers from the Heritage Craft Association, which are being hosted by Yurts for Life.
I’m really looking forward to catching up with many of our Guild Members and Associate Members exhibiting this year. Obviously there are too many to name here, and I’ve also been following and admiring many other makers, so here are my top 5, all creating confident work with flair….
This fabulously sculptural contemporary art jewellery is in the Start Up section and looks incredibly confident. The complex linear structures are almost like optical illusions. This intensely coloured piece really stood out to me. I love the strong statement it makes.
Clive is one of Britain’s finest studio potters and I’m very excited to see him demonstrating this year. His wood-fired earthenware is designed to be used, touched and enjoyed in the home. He uses simple materials and traditional slipware techniques, yet his fluid, confident, spontaneous style of decoration is instantly recognisable and inimitable.
I’ve just had my ears pierced so I will definitely be noticing all the earrings this year, and with so much on offer I’m going to be thoroughly spoilt for choice. Rachel Butlin’s jewellery stands out to me as both carefully considered and playful, and I love her intriguing combinations of materials, including enamel, silver, walnut and even chopsticks and Formica! Her thoughtful layering and placement make these real statement pieces.
I’m often drawn to clothing or work incorporating textiles and yarn, and I love these playful lampshades. They’re a fabulous twist on a simple form, skilfully executed in a true celebration of colour and material. Janie uses natural fibres such as merino wool, linen and cotton, all from UK suppliers.
I just love Raggedy’s approach to everything - styling, design, fabric re-use - and their wonderful mantra ‘dress like nobody’s judging’ is a recipe for a much more colourful and individual world!
The Red List with the Heritage Craft Association and Yurts for Life
In March this year, the Heritage Crafts Association launched the latest edition of its Red List of Endangered Crafts the first research of its kind to assess craft skills by the likelihood they'll survive into the next generation. Alongside Red List researcher Daniel Carpenter and HCA colleagues, in our Yurt there will be demonstrations from David and Hannah Smith (father and daughter reverse-glass sign gilders), Steve Overthrow (one of two remaining riddle and sieve makers), Elizabeth Tapper (metal thread embroiderer) and Julie Hopkins (nalbinder). Come and see them at work and chat to them about their experience of practicing rare crafts.
Many craft skills are under threat in the UK, often as a result of sole traders and micro-businesses not having the capacity within their business to take time away from production in order to train up the next generation, and government-sponsored training schemes proving unsuitable for such niche professions. The HCA is dedicated to highlighting these cultural gems and facilitating discussions about how they might best be carried on into the future.
Your Craft Festival Needs YOU?
We need a small army of volunteers to help power Craft Festival. We have a range of roles from meeting and greeting our makers, selling tickets, setting up, giving out information and helping in the children's tent. We'll give you fun and friendly training and an unforgettable experience. If you can help us, we'd love to hear from you. Deadline to Register Monday May 13th. CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER
ENTER OUR ULTIMATE LUXURY PRIZE DRAW
Here at the Craft Festival, we know just how lucky we are to have so many beautiful places to stay, fun things to do and gorgeous places to eat. We know that our festival brings many people to the Bovey Tracey from a far, and we are always keen to help show Dartmoor off at it's best and ensure that everyone who visits our town has a great time.
So we've teamed up with one of the UK's most luxurious hotel's Bovey Castle, to create a prize draw that'll give one lucky winner a whole host of treats, tickets and relaxation in our beautiful corner of Devon.
THE PRIZE COLLECTION
The winner, and their guest will be invited to join us at the VIP Preview Evening of the Craft Festival enjoying a Gin & Tonic and private view of the Craft Festival on Thursday 6th June.
A Pair of Weekend Tickets to the Craft Festival will also be included, giving three fun-packed days to meet over 200 makers, craft workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and a packed schedule of festival special features.
And finally, the winner and their guest can choose when to stay at 5* Bovey Castle for a relaxing One Night Dinner, Bed & Breakfast for two people in Smith's Brasserie, at one of the UK's most luxurious hotels, set in 275 acres of epic Dartmoor countryside.