Castle Ward event is highlight of craft fest

Castle Ward event is highlight of craft fest

5 August 2015

A MAJOR craft festival at Castle Ward will be one of the highlights of August Craft Month in south Down.

Craft Fest will take place at Castle Ward on August 14-16 with a packed programme of events showcasing craft, applied art and design.

The event includes a craft fair, exhibitions, artists-in-residence, demonstrations and workshops, with plenty of good food to enjoy. For more information on booking workshops email info@craftanddesigncollective.com

Throughout the weekend visitors can meet and buy work directly from makers at the craft fair, see demonstrations and maybe have a go themselves. Be inspired by the exhibition ‘In the House’ from 10am – 4pm.

August Craft Month is in celebratory mood this year as Craft NI marks its tenth anniversary with a special retrospective exhibition featuring the work of Northern Ireland’s leading makers.  

There are more than 150 craft-related events taking place in venues throughout Northern Ireland during August including festivals, exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations and opportunities to buy high quality craft directly from makers.

With Craft NI itself celebrating its tenth anniversary, Chief Executive Alan Kane said the contemporary craft sector in Northern Ireland has become increasingly more influential over the years.

He said: “We are continuing to work with partners such as Invest NI and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to promote and grow the craft industry in Northern Ireland. This year we are looking at how designer makers can interact with local retailers to showcase the best of Northern Ireland craft.

“August Craft Month would not be possible without the creative input, talent and ingenuity of our craft community. These are exciting times in the craft industry in Northern Ireland and this is highlighted by the numbers of makers coming here to be part of its evolution and success.”

Events in the South Down area include:

From August 7-29 there will be a History Repeating exhibition at Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick.

This is a joint exhibition bringing together two local ceramic designer-makers: Rebecca Killen and Aine McKenna – History Repeating makes reference to common themes embedded in both makers’ work as they explore the notion of multiples and industrial processes.

Meanwhile, Down Arts Centre is also the setting for a number of workshops including:

 August 1: Sewing machine basics — an introduction to sewing machines and a glass painting workshop.

August 8: Learn to crochet – teaching the basics.

August 15: Introduction to quilting. Naomi will guide you through multitude of quilting techniques.

August 22: Felting and stitch – discover the joys of ‘painting’ with wool.

August 29: Creative hand embroidery with Naomi – learn about fabric printing creating layers using stencils and wooden printing blocks.

August 1-2: At Welig Heritage Crafts near Portaferry there are a series of different workshops available during the weekend, including traditional basket-making, stone carving, straw and corn craft. www.handsonworkshops.com

August 29-31: The third annual Benraw Creative Convivium takes place at Turnip House, Castlewellan, where audiences can experience a wide range of craft demonstrations and activities.

There will be knitwear and felt making demonstrations and hands on sessions, plus demonstrations of from other local craftspeople in pole lathe turning, jewellery making, and reed sculpture. Free admission 12 noon to 5pm. 

There are also a number of workshops taking place at the Top Floor Gallery and Open Studios in Saintfield www.topfloorart.co.uk .

They include:

August 4: Beginners dry needle felting workshop. Make two colourful needle felt projects in this half day workshop.

August 5 – Time bug workshop – create your own exquisite time bug.

August 8 and 15: Intermediate crochet – Granny’s Gone Crazy, all the skills needed to go crazy with crochet. Beginners spindle spinning – learn how to spin your own yarn.

August 12: Free-style Embroidery – learn a variety of hand embroidery stitches and techniques.

August 15: Beginners’ spinning with a wheel at Rowallane Community Hub, Saintfield. Choose fibres and learn to spin a continuous thread and learn about plying and yarn.

August 18: Lace knitting – learn lace-making skills and receive a lace scarf pattern designed using swatch stitch patterns.

Knitting as therapy – Knitting is the new yoga. We’ll teach you the basics of knitting.

August 19: Beginners cross stitch class.  

August 22: Beginners toe up sock knitting.

August 26: Explain and explore double class in cross stitch with Emma Whitehead.

Rowallane Community Hub in Saintfield is also holding two workshops:

August 15: Beginners’ spinning workshop with a wheel. Choose fibres and learn to spin a continuous thread and learn about plying and yarn.

August 19: Beginners full day of felting.

For full details of all August Craft Month events, visit the Craft NI website: www.craftni.org  

and click on the August Craft Month section. To find out about all the makers and events in your area, click on the interactive craft map.