Organised by Sarah James and Nina Fox (creators of the multi-award winning Contemporary Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey and founders of Made by Hand at Tredegar House), Made By Hand in association with the Contemporary Craft Festival has teamed up with Cardiff City Council to bring the event to South Wales. The weekend event showcases a rigorously selected group of 135 artists and creators, with collections including jewellery, pottery, textiles, ceramics (including artist Jin Eui Kim). Not all of the makers are Welsh, however Made By Hand have encouraged Welsh creators to participate. As well as the 135 stalls, visitors can expect workshops, demonstrations and the Pottery Showdown over the course of the weekend.
Workshops at the fair include: Stitch Embroidery (Fri), Silver Ring Creating (Fri), Shrink Plastic (Fri), Introduction to Needle Felting (Fri), Screen Printing Greeting Cards (Sat), Needlefelt a Broach (Sat), Making Memory Wire Bracelets (Sat), Felt Christmas Decorations (Sat), Paper Cutting (Sun), Mini Book in a Box (Sun)Inspirational Pottery (Sun), and Home Mosaic Projects (Sun), plus plenty more. Workshops are an additional fee, starting at ÂŁ10 and should be booked in advance – more information can be found online. Complementary workshops targeted at children and demonstrations also occur throughout the event from companies such as: Williams Handmade-Leatherwork, Christian Ryan Stained Glass, Gloster Pottery, Ruth Packham Feltmaking, Adam Cornish, Hatton Willow, Leoma Drew, Fauxidermy and Felicity Lloyd-Coombes, with many more to be announced.
The hugely popular Made By Hand Pottery Throw Down is also back for this year’s Contemporary Craft Fair. Potters Clover, Richard and Elaine of the 2017 series BBC The Great Pottery Throw Down will be about throughout the weekend for you to buy ceramics off and to challenge them at their own game. Billy Adams is booked to guest judge and will be setting daily challenges for the brave potters who dare to take on the pros. The Made By Hand Pottery Throw Down is free to anyone who has purchased entry, however you must book your slot online to avoid disappointment.
Made By Hand, City Hall, Cardiff, Fri 3 Nov – Sun 5 Nov. Tickets: prices vary per event. Info: www.madebyhand-wales.co.uk
words CORRIE DAVID