Yesterday I was a meeting in London of the steering group for a major piece of government funded research into the state of heritage crafts in England. The first and perhaps most difficult task is to define very precisely what heritage crafts are in such a way as the research company can go away and start counting and measuring. Crafts…
This year’s Heritage Crafts Association conference at the V&A has the theme “Evolving Craft Communities” Since you are reading this on the web and presumably have an interest in craft you are part of an online craft community which did not exist 20 years ago. At the same time many of us are also part of other craft communities whether…
For auld lang syne, my dear,for auld lang syne,we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,for auld lang syne. What better way to bring in the new year than gathered with friends and sharing a communal cup of kindness of good whisky? So it was that I said hello to 2012. Edale is a small and very sociable village and about…
Well, 4 years and this is blog post 500. Considerably more writing and photos than in most woodworking books all cast out into cyberspace for free. The feedback makes it all worthwhile though and I want to thank everyone that continues to read, post links to my blog, tells others about it and those who have sent me lovely stories…
2011 was my fifth year of teaching spooncarving profesionally after nearly 20 years carving as a hoby. These courses are now recognised as the best possible way to learn the skills of carving with an axe and knife. Many of the folk I taught in the first few years are now running courses themsleves and many more are carrying on…
In 4 years blogging I have made some great friends around the world, quite a few of whom I have met in person and others I hope to meet in the future. I feel to be very much a part of a growing online craft community with links around the globe and I’d like this blog post to help strengthen…
These inspirational quotes from Steve Jobs were put together by Mike Press for his great blog here the most craft related ones are at the end but I think they are all great. “In most people’s vocabularies, design means veneer. It’s interior decorating. It’s the fabric of the curtains and the sofa. But to me, nothing could be further from…
Often folk picture heritage and traditional crafts as being backward looking, and having nothing to say today. This is a misunderstanding, today in times of global financial adversity people tend to reassess their priorities and question what good work and a good life means, what is of value and what is not. The traditional crafts have always been closely linked…
Here is a really nice film of Finnish blacksmith Jesse Sipola, he has developed a system of using hand held air hammers for fine forging work, particularly faces, it’s a nicely shot and edited film too. Worth double clicking to get full screen. [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/32786485 w=400&h=225]Jesse Sipola, Seppä | Blacksmith (2011) from Eero Y on Vimeo.
In 4 years blogging I have made some great friends around the world, quite a few of whom I have met in person and others I hope to meet in the future. I feel to be very much a part of a growing online craft community with links around the globe and I’d like this blog post to help strengthen…
