Craft Archives - Blackpool Social Club

04 Aug

Make & Do: New Potter’s Wheel class with Studio Dot

Catherine Mugonyi1 CommentGuide, Visual Arts & Exhibitionsceramics, Craft, workshop

Stephanie Cottle heads over to Studio Dot to chat with Mike Cassidy ahead of a series of relaxed pottery wheel sessions taking place at Aunty Social this August. Mike’s genuine enthusiasm for pottery is immediately evident in his Blackpool home. Beautifully glazed ceramics perch on almost every shelf. As we chat over his dining room table my only regret is having declined a brew, while Mike sips from a gorgeous, earthy, handmade mug. Conversation flows effortlessly between Mike, Kelly and me as I learn more about Studio Dot. This creative partnership, forged by Mike and Kelly, has produced a diverse…

04 Jan

For the love of silver: artisan jeweller – Nina Rambelli

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsartisan, Blackpool, Craft, hand made, jewellery, local crafts, manufacturing, silver smithing, traditional skills

The Yuletide season craft fairs have brought forward the range of artisan manufacturing skills that are thriving in Blackpool and the Fylde Coast. Out of the many crafts and trades people offering their wares, Iasthai Original jewellery did stand out for me. Craftsperson, Nina Rambelli, produces a range of stunning silver jewellery. I spoke to Nina at The Hive Yuletide fair. "I’ve always expressed myself through jewellery, much more so than fashion, yet I struggled to find pieces that allowed me to do this, especially in the UK," Nina says. "When I needed to keep my mind busy during a…

19 Feb

‘We’re Sew Done’ calls for help to get book done

Louise Ashcroft0 CommentsLocal Newsart exhibition, Craft, crafts, crowdfunding, Exhibition, FUNDRAISING, Knitting, rec, women

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Back in September community arts organisation, Aunty Social opened the We're Sew Done exhibition at Blackpool Central Library highlighting street harassment and violence against women. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="34506" img_size="medium" alignment="center"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]The project was a response to the disappearance and murder of Sarah Everard and the subsequent movement to 'Reclaim the Streets'. Blackpool Social Club contributor Antonia Charlesworth wrote an article calling out to local women to share their experiences of street harassment on the Fylde Coast. It was this information provided the inspiration for Aunty Social's textile group, Knittaz with Attitude, to create pieces for the exhibition. We're Sew…

22 Oct

New Creative Market is coming to Blackpool

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsLocal NewsArt, artist, Blackpool Creative Market, Craft, makers, market

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] On Saturday 23rd October, Blackpool Winter Gardens will play host to a range of independent designers, artisans and creatives from across the Fylde Coast. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] The first of its kind in Blackpool, the marketplace will bring together more than 20 invited artists and makers, giving visitors a chance to purchase unique artworks, homeware, fashion and foodie gifts. Visitors can explore at their leisure what the Fylde Coast’s talented artists and makers have to offer. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Jessie Crook from sustainable hair accessory makers That Scrunchie Brand says: [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1634897868048{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #ffe758 !important;}"]“We…

25 Jun

Inside Out exhibition: Fleetwood’s creativity on show at old hospital site

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsVisual Arts & ExhibitionsArt, community, Craft, Exhibition, fleetwood, leftcoast

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Could Fleetwood be the new Margate or St Ives? Claire takes a look at how a small well-known Lancashire fishing town created an amazing pop-up art exhibition at the site of an old hospital. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There is an ethereal DIY feeling to spaces taken over by creatives. Pop-up art exhibitions are everywhere in cities and around art colleges. Taken over once loved spaces or repurposing factories, empty office blocks, or shops. So in September of last year with lockdown all around us, Lancashire based arts organisation Leftcoast along with the artist in Residence Gillian Wood made a callout, asking residents…

11 Jun

Call for makers – Craft School: Yinka’s challenge

Catherine Mugonyi0 CommentsOpportunitiesCraft, education, workshops

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Join the Crafts Council and multi-disciplinary artist Yinka Ilori in leading a series of CPD workshops for teachers on Friday 9 July. The Crafts Council is proud to announce a nationwideCraft School challenge for learning practitioners wishing to engage their students with craft thinking and making. Created in collaboration with Crafts Council trustee Yinka Ilori, the creative challenge will celebrate three vital themes; Play, Storytelling and Empowerment. Ahead of the challenge launch this summer, they are looking for three craft educators or craft makers to deliver one practical session on each of the themes. They will be uplifting and…

24 Mar

Meet the Maker: That Scrunchie Brand

Catherine Mugonyi0 CommentsLocal NewsCraft, fashion, maker, Meet the Maker

[vc_row][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] You may have thought that you heard the last of scrunchies back in the 90's, but it looks like they're back. Following the 90's revival trend and being gentler on the hair than elastics, scrunchies have ditched their retro Saved by the Bell image. Earlier this year, Jessie Crook and her mum launched That Scrunchie Brand. We caught up for a quick chat. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][vc_single_image source="external_link" external_img_size="medium" custom_src="https://hips.hearstapps.com/ell.h-cdn.co/assets/cm/15/02/640x496/54abc6274454e_-_elle-05-lisa-turtle-gif.gif?resize=480:*"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Hi Jessie, how's it going? Really well, thanks! We launched That Scrunchie Brand on 8 February and it’s been so much fun since. The orders keep rolling in and we're so pleased…

15 Oct

Are you a Young Crafts Citizen?

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsOpportunitiesconsultation, Craft, Crafts Council

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] The young people’s collective at the Crafts Council (the Young Crafts Citizens) want to hear from young people across the country as part of a project to share and advocate for young people's creativity. The aim of the project is to gather a wide range of views from a large scope of young people aged 16-30 about how young people are creative, what issues we care about, and what creativity and making means to us. We're looking for as broad a range of young people as possible - from those who occasionally dabble in crafts, to those who…

12 Aug

Mrs Johnson’s PPE Emporium

Jill Reidy0 CommentsLocal NewsBlackpool, community, community groups, coronavirus, Craft, Knitting, lockdown

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] During lockdown – one of the strangest periods in recent history – Susanne Johnson of Mrs Johnson’s Emporium began to make PPE for the local hospital. Jill Reidy asked her about the experience of running Mrs Johnson's PPE Emporium... I know you’ve always been community minded but How did these lockdown projects come about? Knitters, crocheters and sewers are always contributing to good causes with their work. They've 'knitted knockers', made fish and chip baby blankets to send to Africa, traffic-light hats for babies in incubators, poppies for veterans and wrapped homemade scarves around lampposts for the homeless in…