I have to start this post by saying I am normally a very rational, scientific not very tree huggy sort of person. However I love outstanding experiences of the natural world and I also enjoy adrenalin rushes and any top entertainment that is free is a bonus, spur of the moment opportune experiences do it for me too, this has…
Food for Thought: Craft and Sustainability BY Julie K. Hanus The article below was originally posted on the American Craft Council blog here http://www.americancraftmag.org/blog-post.php?id=12554 I enjoyed it and wanted to share it unaltered, it is a good blog worth following. Craft and sustainability is a hot topic at the moment and I’ll be attending this conference in a few weeks.…
This week I am in full production mode in the workshop and thoroughly enjoying it. These are beech bowls, perfect for soup or cereal. They are turned green then stacked for the air to circulate whilst they dry, it takes about 6 weeks. I think it is sad so few turners make bowls to eat from it is such a…
Just discovered halloumi and watermelon a combination made in heaven (or Cyprus apparently it’s popular there) sweet crunchy juicy melon is the perfect match for the rich salty grilled halloumi. Bowls by me, Wille Sundqvist and Richard Raffan, plates mine, wine glass air twist by Tony Wassell, cutlery Alexander Clark Co Sheffield, 2006 Rioja and good company to share it…
My first post of 2011 said “I believe this year will see an explosion of traditional crafts in the media” a couple of weeks ago I was filmed for John Cravens BBC “Britan at Risk” series and today the BBC announce “Handmade in Britain.” All great news. The BBC and V&A today announce Handmade In Britain, a year-long season of…
My daughter Jojo is very talented with many hand skills from cake baking to knife forging. Whilst she has carved bowls and spoons before she has never turned a bowl on the pole lathe. I think it is a bit intimidating when you have grown up seeing someone doing it at full speed professionally but she finally felt it was…
Looking for an interesting way to spend the weekend? an unusual gift? or to learn a new skill? Some folk will have seen my friend Sophie Hussain as the tutor on Monty Don’s BBC Mastercrafts program last year. Now you have the chance to learn the skill yourself. Sophie is offering 2 day weekend courses for a maximum of 4…
3 nights ago a badger dug out a wasps nest alongside my woodstore. The nest had clearly been considerably larger than a football and all the comb and grubs were gone leaving only half the outer paper shell. The remaining worker wasps were clustered around on this having nowhere else to go. The thing that surprised me was that despite…
The Journal of Modern Craft contains some of the most thought provoking writing on current craft practice worldwide. I was delighted to be asked by the editors to submit a piece which appears in the current issue. Technology and hand skill in craft and industry. As a craftsman I am interested in how stuff is made and the effect that…
I don’t normally work Sundays unless at a show but today I had a rush job on and made a pair of bowls and spoons for BBCs hairy bikers. Nest week they are filming at HMS Victory and needed some appropriate tableware so this morning I started with a beech log and cherry log and this afternoon I had a…
