Join Creative Network: Crafts

Textiles and masculinity

Worcester-based textile artist Oliver Bliss shared his practice with the group, including '#SoftLads', a series of largescale handmade tapestries exploring notions of masculinity.

Guest speaker Chris Hocking spoke with us about organising Bridgwater Carnival's entry to the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, and we discussed the vital but often unnoticed role of volunteers. 

We explored how crafting can benefit mental health in troubling times by learning about the Parliament Coronavirus Memorial Quilt Project, with guest speakers Dawn Butler MP and Naomi Clarke, the memorial quilt stitcher.

Naz Syed and Marilyn Priday shared their experiences of creating a community quilt during lockdown as part of Lost Connections, a project run by Coffee 'n' Laughs bringing together women of all ages, faiths, and cultures.

Guest speaker Theo Wright explored the relationship between technology and weaving, and how his background as a computer scientist led to his practice as a weaver and textile designer. 

Hanny Newton gave us an overview of the traditional art of goldwork embroidery, and her plans for the Goldwork Embroidery Workshop as part of The Making of Coventry project.

Special guest Ebony Ademola, creator of Cultured Waist, spoke to us about the history of waist beads as a form of expression and self-love, and the community wait bead workshop she's running as part of The Making of Coventry project.

Rachel New (Creative Lives On Air Producer at BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire) and Daniel Carpenter (Heritage Crafts Operations Director) spoke about our new collaborative programme, The Making of Coventry.

We discussed how the stories behind heritage crafts can connect us with our past. You can watch a recording of the presentation from our guest Jane Cobbett, a quilt maker, textiles tutor, and collector of vintage patchwork.

Alli Tillcock, Secretary of Bristol Stitchers, gave us an overview of the group's projects during lockdown, and what's next as in-person workshops and activities start up again. You can watch a recording of the conversation about Bristol Stitchers here. 

We discussed sustainable textiles with Saffron Darby, Studio Manager at Bristol Textile Quarter and leader of the Meet, Make, Mend project. 

Guest speaker Rose Sinclair (Design Lecturer (Textiles) at Goldsmiths, University of London) shared the history of the Dorcas Clubs and their links to public health and education, and we discussed the contemporary craftivism movement. 

We discussed how to use microblogging and social media platforms to raise awareness of heritage crafts, with insight from guest speaker Elena Kanagy-Loux (Brooklyn Lace Guild).

Available support and advice

We outlined the support and advice provided by Creative Lives and Heritage Crafts, and then discussed the types of support that people want and need from national organisations.

Keeping a craft group together through thick and thin

Guest speakers Fee Barton and Kerry Russell spoke about how their respective craft groups have developed over the years, and how they've coped and adapted through lockdown. 

Turning your craft hobby into a business

We were inspired by Cass Barton (Bookbinding with Cass) and Molly Plummer (The Mimo Yarn Company), who have both turned their passion for crafts into flourishing businesses.

Kate Dewmartin (Craft Courses) and Sally Evans (Craft Workshops) spoke to us about leading online arts, crafts, and wellbeing workshops, and we reflected on the pros and cons of online and in-person teaching.

Craftivism 

We discussed craftivism with Sarah Corbett (Craftivist Collective) and independent artist Julia Davis Nosko, and explored how activism can be slow, quiet, small, and compassionate whilst still making real positive change. You can watch some short clips from our craftivism session here. 

How the grassroots crafts community can speak to government

We learned about the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Craft from Baroness Sue Garden, Patricia Lovett, and Lucy McGrath, and discussed how the crafts sector intersects with advocacy, policy, and research. You can watch some short clips from our session about how the grassroots crafts community can speak to government here.

How to keep making during a pandemic

In our first Creative Network: Crafts, we discussed how to keep making during lockdown, how craft contributes to our wellbeing, and how craftspeople are keeping heritage skills alive in difficult circumstances.