The Capital of Craft

Craft Festival Wales Special I met Cathryn Gwynn at her home studio in Cilgerran, a village near Cardigan in West Wales. Her early life in Cardiff led her to a career in writing, editing and finally teaching at Preseli School. She later began an access course in art, leading to a degree in Textiles from Carmarthen School of Art in 2020. Text, texture and textile: three words which reflect sher practice as a mixed-media artist. She is drawn to thread, pen, ink and paper and work somewhere on the cusp of these materials. Cathryn Wynn will be giving an illustrated talk about her work at The Capital of Craft at Craft Festival Wales at Cardigan Castle. Her work is part of an exhibition of 8 important Welsh makers at Canfas Gallery in Cardigan. Woven, curated by Suzi Park from Cambrian Wool, runs from September 5-October 5th. Craft Festival Wales September 5-7, 2025 www.craftfestival.co.uk/wales

Craft Festival Wales Special Weaver, Llio James joins me in her studio in Cardiff to talk about her life and work and what led her to work on the loom. Deeply embedded in Welsh culture, Llio's rich colour ways and confident, minimalist patterns reflect her interest in architecture. Llio is exhibiting at Craft Festival Wales. She will also be part of The Capital of Craft Live at the Festival. She will be in conversation with Ann Whittall, Head of the National Wool Museum and Mary Eluned Lewis, Head of Craft Sustainability at Heritage Crafts. They will be discussing the future of double cloth weaving as it has been recently placed on the Heritage Crafts' Red List. Llio James is also one of 8 important makers exhibiting in "Woven" at Canfas Gallery in Cardigan from September 5-October 5 curated by Suzi Park from Cambrian Wool. Craft Festival Wales September 5-7, 2025 www.craftfestival.co.uk/wales

Season 5 of The Capital of Craft, Wales Special. To celebrate Craft Festival Wales at Cardigan Castle, I had a great conversation with Jem Roberts AKA On the Wing. Writer, poet and artist, we chat about the creative juggling act needed to persue a passion for words. Jem is our poet in residence at Craft Festival of Wales and she will be working along side Nick Hand of The Letterpress Collective to produce daily posters responding to the Festival at Cardigan Castle. You can meet Jem at Craft Festival Wales from September 6-8th, 2024. www.craftfestival.co.uk On The Wing

The Capital of Craft Season 5, Wales Special To celebrate the first Craft Festival Wales at Cardigan Castle, I had a lovely conversation with textile artist and surface pattern designer, Sophie Snow. Born and bred near Cardigan, West Wales, Sophie lives in St Dogmaels and makes contemporary quilts. I loved hearing about her creative family and how she is passing down her passion for making to her own children. You can meet Sophie at Craft Festival Wales from September 6-8th 2024. Sophie will also be speaking at The Capital of Craft LIVE at Craft Festival about her practise. Join us in Cardigan. www.craftfestival.co.uk Sophie Snow

The Capital of Craft 20th Anniversary of Craft Festival Season To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Craft Festival Bovey Tracey in June, here is the 4th season of The Capital of Craft hosted by me, Sarah James MBE. I am the director of Craft Festival and Find a Maker. In this podcast I chat with the inspirational and influential founder of the Craftivist Collective, Sarah Corbett. Sarah is joining us at Craft Festival Bovey Tracey in the Out of the Woods tent on June 8th where she will be in conversation with Daniel Carpenter, Executive Director of Heritage Crafts. Born in Everton, Liverpool, Sarah P Corbett is an award-winning activist, Ashoka Fellow, author and founder of the global Craftivist Collective. She has dedicated over a decade to the Craftivist Collective, honing her unique 'Gentle Protest' methodology, combining neuroscience, positive psychology, campaign strategy and beautiful handicrafts. We talk about upbringing in Liverpool and how her parents shaped her approach to activism and why it's important to use your voice for change. Her latest book, Craftivist Collective Handbook is is out now. Craft Festival Bovey Tracey, Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9FF www.craftfestival.co.uk

The Capital of Craft 20th Anniversary of Craft Festival Season To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Craft Festival Bovey Tracey in June, here is the 4th season of The Capital of Craft hosted by me, Sarah James MBE. I am the director of Craft Festival and Find a Maker. Alex Finberg was the recipient of Craft Festival's Making It Award 2023 and debuted at Craft Festival Bovey Tracey that year. In our podcast we find out more about his career. Trained in psychology, his entry into woodworking came about from working on therapeutic projects. I loved learning more about Alex's life and his passion for the outdoors. He talks with me from his Devon home. https://alexfinberg.co.uk/ https://www.craftfestival.co.uk/

The Capital of Craft with Keith Brymer-Jones and Marj Hogarth. To celebrate the end of our good friend, Keith Brymer-Jones', storming national tour, we are releasing a podcast to end Season 3 of The Capital of Craft. Recorded live earlier this year at Craft Festival Cheltenham at the Town Hall, Keith is in conversation with his partner Marj Hogarth, talking in great depth, with humour and poignancy about his life, growing up in London to Welsh parents. Becoming (as well as a dancer and singer) an accomplished and prolific potter, before being "discovered" by Love Productions and asked to be a judge on The Great Potter Throwdown. The series has gained a hugely loyal following, almost entirely due to the warm and emotional interactions between Brymer-Jones and the contestants. The show is now the 2nd most popular show on Channel 4 after Bake Off! Marj and Keith have just completed a successful, 22 date national theatre tour, where they brought Keith's book, Boy in a China Shop, to life. Huge Congrats Keith and Marj. Sound quality reflects a live environment.

Our latest podcast features the brilliant basketmaker, Hilary Burns MBE. Hilary is one of the UK's most respected makers. Recipient of Heritage Crafts Maker of the Year in 2018, she was also awarded MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2021, in recognition of her dedication to her craft. She talks with me, Sarah James from Craft Festival and Find a Maker from her Devon home. We talk about her earliest memories of making and what keeps her exploring the possibilities of creativity. Hilary has been curating one of our most loved features at Craft Festival, Out of the Woods, for a number of years. You can meet Hilary at Craft Festival Bovey Tracey from June 9-11, 2023. You can follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/craftfestival/ You can watch our films on https://www.youtube.com/@craftfestival1035/featured You follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theoriginalcraftfestival You can follow Hilary Burns on Instagram Hilary Burns (@hilaryburnsbasketmaker) | Instagram

Sarah James from Craft Festival and Find a Maker meets with lecturer, designer and maker Keeley Traae. We met at her home in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, UK. Keeley has had a varied and illustrious career in design having worked for ceramic industry giants Wedgewood and Royal Doulton. She set up her own making practise, Keeley Traae Design in 2020. She has extensive experience in ceramic design, design management and evaluating market trends. In her own practise, she is now known for her dististictive use of colour and shape, specialising in 3D Printing techniques. Keeley is also a senior lecturer on the Staffordshire University 3D Designer Maker BA (Hons) course and Product, Furniture, Ceramics BA (Hons). The course is a mixed material course and so she has the opportunity to work with students not only with their ceramic designs and making processes but also with many other materials and objects. Working alongside the amazing course leader Timothy Forrester and other design and industry experts, she thoroughly enjoys sharing her knowledge, skills, and over 25 years of experience with the next generation of creatives. @keeleytraae_3d @craftfestival @find.amaker

Season 3 of The Capital of Craft Sarah James of Craft Festival and Find a Maker talks with maker, gallery owner and teacher, Jennifer Collier. We talk about her practise and how she moved from textiles to paper and how her gallery, Unit Twelve, founded with her partner Iain Perry, has moulded her making life. Paper pioneer, Jennifer Collier, creates exquisite sculptures from vintage recycled materials in conjunction with stitch; a contemporary twist on traditional textiles. The papers serve as both the inspiration and the media for the work, with the narrative suggesting the forms. Through this marriage of unlikely materials old papers are transformed into something truly unique, delicate and complex. Most recently Jennifer has been collecting rarely used, heritage stitches and discovering how to translate the art of lost stitches onto paper, as these techniques are an important part of our creative heritage and she wants to continue to invest time in them to keep them in the present, offering them onto future generations. Jennifer is giving new life to things that would otherwise go unused, unloved or be thrown away. Jennifer completed a BA (hons) in Textiles (Print, Knit and Weave) in 1999 at Manchester Metropolitan University, is internationally exhibited, and has had her work featured in over 60 magazines and over 15 books to date. @paperjennifer @unittwelve @craftfestival @find.amaker

In the final episode of Season 2 of The Capital of Craft, Sarah James of Craft Festival and Find a Maker talks with weaver and educator, James Donald from Pick One. They speak from his workshop in Coburg House in Leith, Edinburgh. James talks about his journey into textiles and his early life in Brechin in Angus, which as well as having access to countryside and freedom, it also established his love of music and dancing at the iconic nightclub, Flicks. James is joining us at Craft Festival Cheltenham from March 11-13th at Cheltenham Town Hall. @pickoneweave @craftfestival

In this week's episode of The Capital of Craft Podcast, Sarah James from Craft Festival talks with Find a Maker member and jeweller, Tanja Ufer. Based in Brighton, we chatted whilst Storm Eunice did it's worst. You might hear her in the background. Tanja's makes beautifully constructed and abstract jewellery. Born and trained in Germany, Tanja moved to Sheffield to complete her MA Studies and has lived in the UK ever since. You can meet Tanja at Craft Festival Cheltenham, March 11-13. @craftfestival @tanjaufer