Weekend of the Maker
Guest blog post – Camilla Westergaard from Folksy introduces the Weekend of the Maker, which takes place in Sheffield on 26-27 November.
The Weekend of the Maker came from a desire to celebrate everything it takes to be a maker today. Unlike the decades before, most makers find it’s no longer enough to be a skilled craftsman; they now need to double up as photographers, know how to reach people on social media, understand their story and how to write about it... Photography, copywriting, marketing, business development, artistry and technique – it takes a lot to be successful, and this weekend is designed to highlight and hone all those skills.
The Weekend of the Maker centres around a craft fair where around 80 designers and makers from around the UK are showcasing their craft – only the second time established London fair Crafty Fox Market has ventured north. Visitors with an eye for textiles should look out for The Stitch Society’s utilitarian aprons, the silk scarves of Wilful North featuring complex layered patterns, the stitched necklaces of Nook of the North and the rope and thread jewellery of Peggy.
Running alongside the fair is a series of workshops, where anyone interested in making a living from craft can further their skills. There are workshops on how to use Instagram to grow your creative business, product photography, selling to shops, Google and social media. For those wanting to learn another craft skill, there is a Stained Glass Taster Day run by artist Jenny Newall, while embroidery artist Marna Lunt will be running an embroidery sampler workshop using her collection of snow globes as inspiration.
The Weekend of the Maker is a collaboration between Folksy , Crafty Fox Market and social enterprise Roco. You can find the full list of stallholders and workshops here www.folksy.com/weekend
2 comments
I have been a professional artist in the medium of fibre and textiles since 1972.
It is wonderful to see all of the variety and creativity in just the few examples here. Keep up the good work. I no longer live in England but adjacent to the Pacific Ocean in Canada. Here we are also seeing an increase in the number of “makers” and more interest in fibre again. After reading the previous information, the name Glossop (road) in Sheffield caught my interest. That was my maiden name and also not far from where I grew up during the war and beyond. A lovely reminder of my past.
We can also thank Selvedge for keeping those of us on distant shores up to date through the internet.
I have been a professional artist in the medium of fibre and textiles since 1972.
It is wonderful to see all of the variety and creativity in just the few examples here. The skill level is not important but the participation is. I no longer live in England but adjacent to the Pacific Ocean in Canada. What drew my attention, after reading the information with interest, was the name Glossop (road) in Sheffield. That was my maiden name and also not far from where I grew up during the war and beyond. A lovely reminder of my past. Keep up the good work.
We can also thank Selvedge for keeping those of us on distant shores up to date with their e-mails.
Pauline McLean Dutkowski