Wee Birdy

July 14, 2009

Craft Capital: London handmade happenings (pt1)

When I first started Wee Birdy (my second blogiversary is this week!), I was very keen to cover the so-called contemporary craft scene, and had quite a few things to say about the topic. But it was only just starting to get off the ground in London, with just a few events dotted around the capital. Fast-forward two years and the trend has completely taken off, with all sorts of enterprising crafty individuals, independent companies, stitch-and-bitch pub nights and handmade events popping up around town.

The Make Lounge (pictured above and below) set the scene when it came along in 2008, offering a full menu of crafty workshops from its stylish boutique in Islington. It's not only become a popular venue for functions, birthday parties and hen's nights, but has partnered with the likes of high street store Oasis, Twestival, Innocent Village Fete and the V&A Museum to bring 'making-and-doing' to the masses.

And to cater for the increasing demand for craft supplies, The Make Lounge are in the process of fitting out a new shop on site, which will stock fabrics, patterns and craft kits as well as haberdashery, Janome sewing machines and overlockers, and a selection of handmade goods by UK designer-makers.

Crafty peeps at The Make Lounge.

No doubt the recession (with calls to Make do and Mend), increasingly urgent environmental concerns (with consumers seeking alternatives to mass production), as well as the extraordinary success of handmade websites like Etsy, Folksy and Dawanda are responsible for the increased interest in all things handmade, which is also reflected in the sheer volume of craft-related blogs that have sprung up in recent months. Not to mention that crafting can be a particularly fun, creative, and a sociable pastime. People like the idea of 'making stuff' and are desperate to learn forgotten skills such as embroidery, crochet and knitting.

And if there was any doubt that the trend has been embraced by the mainstream, one only has to look to Net-a-porter’s move to stock a (faintly ridiculous) £70 knitting kit by Parisian collective Wool and the Gang from July 15.

I’ve had quite a few emails from some of you requesting more info on what’s happening in London, so I’ve done a bit of digging to bring you the very latest on craft in the capital:

Finishing School
Fiona and Becky are the two pals behind Finishing School,
an evening they run at a pub in Islington for meeting up, making stuff
and drinking wine. They say it’s a bit like grown-up Brownies, with the
aim of learning a new skill each session (whilst making new friends).

They source local experts to lead the group, with Catherine Hirst
taking the crochet workshop for their very first meet-up last month.
Next up is life drawing tonight, Tuesday 14 July, hosted by Louise Reade. All
abilities are welcome and basic materials are provided. Entry is free
with an optional donation.
Finishing School
Next lesson: Tuesday 14 July from 7pm
The Geography Room at William IV.

7 Shepherdess Walk
London N1 7QE
Nearest Tubes: Old Street and Angel

Tea and Make
Stylist Sally Curtis and artist Esther Yarnold (such a good, crafty name, no?) have collaborated to create Tea & Make, which aims to celebrate regional craft and lots of making-and-doing through a series of events. Their very first ‘fete’ is in August, with an excellent line-up of artists and designers selling their wares (Garudio Studiage, Pheasant, Hannah Waldron, Sara Tierney, Abigail Thomas, Kathleen Stern, interim, Polly George, Laura Laura are confirmed so far), as well as classes and events on the day (including Pete Fowler’s Design a Monster workshop).

Keep an eye on their blog for more details. Loving that they've got an art vending machine courtesy of Pingo, as well as the Choc Star van (offering such choc delights as Mexican chocolate icecream, Malteser muffins and Hot Chocolate floats) on hand for the day. One to watch.

Tea and Make
Saturday 22 August 2009
11am-5pm
St Saviour’s,
Brockley Rise, Forest Hill
London SE23 1JN
£1 admission.

Create Boutique
A relatively new independent craft studio, Create Boutique offers a range of fashion and trend-led workshops by a network of industry specialists. Here you can learn to make a raft of deluxe products and accessories, including organic body cream, bow-themed jewellery and accessories and Burlesque nipple tassles (known as pasties in the biz).

There’s also a hats workshop led by milliner Katherine Elizabeth, who has worked with Stephen Jones and created headpieces for the likes of Dita von Teese. Workshops start at £35. Stay tuned to the website for upcoming dates.

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