Top picks at London Craft Week

London Craft Week, a brand new annual event that showcases exceptional craft, opens today and carries on until the 10th May. With important partners and organisations such as Arts Council England, Craft Council and the Mayor of London, London Craft Week is a major event on the craft calender. With dozens of events, workshops and demonstrations spread over London, we've chosen our top ones to watch out for. 

1. Cockpit Arts, an award winning social enterprise will be holding Spring Open Studios. Get a glimpse behind the scenes and meet 170 independent designers-makers in their element. You can even buy directly from them if you wish and entry is free! It starts on Friday 8th May 6 pm - 9 pm and carries on through Saturday & Sunday 11 am - 6 pm at Cockpit Yard, Holborn. The second series of Open Studios take place on the 15th - 17th May and takes place in Deptford.

2. Presented by Crafts Council, COLLECT brings some of the finest collectible craft from galleries across the world to London. Anyone who has a passion for international craft should check this one out! This is a great way to keep up to date with the latest trends and developments in the craft world. Advance tickets are £12 and can be bought online, tickets on the door are £17 for adults and £12 for concessions. COLLECT takes place in the Saatchi Gallery.

Begins Friday 8th May 12 - 6 pm / Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th 11 am - 6 pm / Monday 11th 11 am - 4 pm

3. The next open studio at London Craft Week is Made in Clerkenwell, meet the designer-makers in their work-spaces and buy directly from them too. The admission is £3 however under 16's go free! To celebrate the first annual London Craft Week, Made in Clerkenwell will also be holding demonstrations throughout the four days. These demonstrations will showcase specialist craft skills and are interactive, creative and free! 

Thursday 7th May 5-8 pm / Friday 8th May 12-8 pm / Saturday 9th & Sunday 10 May 12 - 5 pm     

4. What is Luxury? It's a Good question and the title of the new V&A and Crafts Council Exhibition that delves into how 'Luxury' is made and understood in a physical, conceptual and cultural level. While it is a part of London Craft Week, the exhibition started on the 25th April and will carry on until the 27th September at the V&A Museum. Admission is free and opening hours are 10 am - 5:30 pm apart from Fridays when the V&A is open late and closes at 9:30 pm.  

Highlights from The Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair

The 8th year of The Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair celebrated exceptional craftsmanship with a vibrant mix of disciplines...

This year the Christmas season kicked off with a celebration of the very best of contemporary fine crafts in all disciplines across Fashion and Interiors in the biggest Handmade in Britain show to date. With innovative design alongside exceptional craftsmanship, visitors enjoyed an impressive variety of form, function and style from over 120 highly skilled designer-makers.

Success for Designer-Makers

This year Handmade in Britain 14 welcomed more makers than ever before, with over 120 exhibitors in Interiors and Fashion offering an exciting variety of work of absolute craftsmanship from Belfast to Edinburgh. Disciplines showcased included glass, ceramics, jewellery, furniture, fashion
accessories and home textiles.

Alongside established and well-known makers, we also invited visitors to meet designers at the very start of their career in the New Graduate Showcase, supported by Heart Home Magazine. The Showcase was an overwhelming success for these new designer-makers who presented creative, vibrant and inspiring work across a range of disciplines.

“Some wonderful creative talent”

If you visited Handmade in Britain 14, why not share your thoughts, images and highlights with us via Twitter or Facebook? #Chelsea14

@handmadebritain

www.facebook.com/handmadeinbritain

HMIB Christmas Gift Guide - For Him

Continuing our series of HMIB Christmas gift guides, we present our ‘For Him’ edition! Last week we offered up a few unique suggestions for those extra special festive presents in our ‘For Her’ selection (missed it? Check it out HERE) and now it’s time to pick something for the boys!

Men are notoriously tricky to buy for – there’s only so many times a pair of slippers and some aftershave will actually be appreciated… But the array or crafts and creations at Handmade in Britain are sure to provide the perfect present, something totally different from what he’s been given before. So step into a world of individually crafted luxury: an ideal Christmas treat for the discerning gentleman.

Woodwork

Bruce Aitken, Clockmaker   /   The Marquetry Shack   /   Mark Newson

The elemental construction of wood is something that truly has a timeless appeal. Infinite incarnations and truly unique patterning make wooden creations a thoughtful and individual gift. From bespoke furnishings to artisan clockmakers and exquisite marquetry – woodwork at HMIB is sure to offer something a little special.

Metal

CreatStudio   /   Stuart Jenkins

Make a statement with your Christmas gift giving, with fluid and bold creations showcasing the finest metalwork. Evoking a true sense of modernity – sculptures, fixtures and other metals hold a luxurious appeal and put a little bit of a twist on the sparkling Christmas tradition. One of the wise men gave the gift of gold after all – although we doubt it was crafted like this!

Glass

FuseModern   /   Lynn Foster   /   Laura Smith Glass

Unexpected elegance and unquestionable beauty overflows the glass creations on show at HMIB. Many of our designer/makers use traditional techniques – centuries old to craft their creations. Meaning that the gift of glass is something truly individual – contemporary in its appearance and traditional in its creation. Beat that Santa.

Something a bit Different…

Mallon Foundry   /   Daniel Latorre Cruz

For those people who are simply impossible to buy for, the only real solution is opting for something a little off the wall. Whereas on the high-street this may mean a pair of unloved novelty socks  - at HMIB this means an incredible creation from the finest craftsmen in the country – bound to be treasured for years to come.

To see all these incredible creations and more visit Handmade in Britain at Chelsea Old Town Hall from 14^th – 16^th November.

For more information on visiting – click HERE

To see a full list of our exhibitors – click HERE

So there we have it, our little guide to the perfect Christmas gifts. If you’re still stuck for ideas check out our Warwick Avenue based Christmas Pop-up shop! Christmas Shopping = easy as (mince) pie (sorry…). The only problem is, how on earth will you top these gifts next year?!

Until next time…

The HMIB Team

xxx

The HMIB Christmas Gift Guide - For Her

 It may only be November, but there’s no denying it anymore – Christmas is coming. Festive lights are beginning to adorn streets up and down the country, supermarket shelves are brimming with tentatively placed mince pies and plum puddings and the tv is suddenly full of perfume adverts, twinkling lights and the (probably overly optimistic) snow white Christmas dream. In the back of the nation's mind, we all know this can only mean one thing: we need to start the Christmas Shopping.

Julia Ann Davenport Jewellery

Fortunately for you though, here at Handmade in Britain we’re going to try make this all a little bit easier, and a lot less stressful with our wonderful Festive HMIB Gift Guides! Our Chelsea show this year will host over 100 of the finest designer/makers in the country gracing Chelsea Old Town Hall, bringing with them a wide array of exquisite, luxury and completely unique creations. There is no gift more special than something handmade and thoughtful; at Handmade in Britain you will be spoiled for choice with beautiful creations guaranteed to bring something special to your loved one’s Christmas gift.

Helen Michie Ceramics

Therefore, we are proud to present the HMIB ‘For Her’ gift guide! It’s all too easy to fall back on high-street standbys of toiletry gift sets or ornate boxes of chocolates as the Christmas pressure mounts, but here we are presenting a few luxury alternatives for the women in your lives – from intricate jewellery and sublime textiles all the way to something a little more experimental. This is just a small selection of the wonderful creations on offer at Handmade in Britain, and with such a variety on offer, consider your Christmas shopping sorted. Easy as that! 

Jewellery

Amanda Mansell   /   Fox Silver   /   Joana Cunha

It’s often said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. And to be honest, for a lot of us that isn’t far wrong. There’s nothing quite like the gift of jewellery at Christmas, and that’s made all the more special when the jewellery in question is a truly individual, handmade creation.

Textiles

Fleur Design   /   Katie Mawson

From delicate embroideries through to cosy and chic knitwear, there is something for every taste in the textile miscellany at Handmade in Britain. For those searching for the indefinable King's Road chic head for silk scarves and wraps, or take a glance at the range of cosy knits for outdoorsy types.

Ceramics

Catherine Carr Glass   /   Justine Munson   /   Boop Design

Help someone make their house that little bit more lovely with the gift of ceramics. Something a little bit different from the standard present fare, ceramics make for thoughtful and beautiful gifts.

Something a little different…

Alison Lowry   /   Sarah Morpeth   /   Deborah Timperly

If you’re searching for inspiration beyond the gift giving norms then Handmade in Britain is the place to go. From experimental glasswork to paper-cut creations, if you’re looking for a truly standout gift, there really is no other option!

Handmade in Britain is running from the 14th - 16th November at Chelsea Old Town Hall. 

For more information and tickets click HERE.

For a full list of the wonderful exhibitors (make your shopping list early!) click HERE

Until next time...

Happy shopping everyone!

The HMIB Team

xxx

HMIB Fashion Focus

True style is being lost in a sea of identical high-street outfits. The ubiquity of everyday dressing necessitates a creative rebellion. From exquisite handcrafted leather to delicate fine jewellery, over 100 designer-makers at Handmade in Britain will be exhibiting their unique wares. Big names and newcomers alike: offering the opportunity to truly stand out from the crowd. 

Indulge your pre-Christmas wardrobe cravings with luxury fashion and accessories, each piece handmade and individual. Designed and created with precision and passion.

Romandin Studios and John Todd

Renowned textile artist Carole Waller presents effortlessly wearable artworks in the form of her rich hand painted silk garments, and Nottingham’s Yakshi Malhotra showcases her collection of luxury knitwear and scarves, a decadently chic selection of cosy creations.

Jane Hopkinson Bags

Taisir Gibreel’s vibrant silk scarf collection is based on original hand drawings and celebrates colour, culture and diversity - the collection brims with individuality and bold style. And of course to hold your newfound luxury, Jane Hopkinson presents sculptural, clean lines and striking tones in her handmade leather handbags.

Emma Farquharson Jewellery and Katyb Prints

Architectural influences are present in Jewellery designer Sarah Herriot’s cutting edge, CAD designed pieces with silver, gold and rubber, while Beth Gilmour presents her award winning collection featuring bi-coloured stones, shaded gold and signature intricate leaf patterns. Delicate and unique, these intricately crafted jewels are top of our Christmas wish-list.

Beth Gilmour

The varied array of stunning fashion on display at Handmade in Britain is fostered by an atmosphere of passionate creativity. The exquisite creations lending the much sought after sense of elegance, individuality and excitement that make good styling fantastic. Eye-catching pieces destined not only to set you apart from the crowd, but also to add that certain mysterious allure to the possibilities of your wardrobe.

For a preview of exhibitors click HERE and to purchase your tickets for this unique event, click HERE.

Until next time...

The HMIB team 

xxx

Introducing our supporters...

We are very pleased to introduce our partners and supporters for

Handmade in Britain 14: The Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair