MADE LONDON - Indulging in Craft

It has become an annual tradition for my mother and I to visit a London craft fair around this time of year and indulge in the wonderful world of arts and crafts. One of my earliest, most cherished memories is visiting Chelseas Craft Fair, which sadly ended a long time ago. Chelsea was then taken over by Origin, moving the fair to Somerset House, and then two disastrous years at Spitalfields Market (yes, the world of arts and crafts can be dramatic!) Much to my dissapointment, we were told that Origin had cancelled all future events this year and our mother-daughter tradition would have to come to an end... Fortunately, MADE, a craft fair mainly held in Brighton, decided to come to the rescue and held MADE LONDON. Short in run compared to some week long fairs, MADE was superbly organised and held in the beautiful One Marylebone, a beautiful converted church designed by Sir John Soane, opposite Great Portland Street tube station and next door to Regents Park.
I have known some of the exhibitors my entire life, visiting them once a year at each craft fair, and have grown up surrounded by their extraordinary work. This is thanks very much to my mother's efforts to breed cultured and curious children, something she has definitely excelled at, and I will be forever grateful.

http://www.madelondon.org/

The stunning Pre-Raphaelite altar mosaic inside the church

Ollie Zwitserlood is an extraordinary Dutch knitwear designer, now living in Belgium who has been displaying her beautiful jumpers and cardigans for over 20 years, and is one of the first exhibitors my mum ever bought from. I bought my first one last year, and ordered a custom one again this year. 

My mum's first pieces are all made from wool, but Ollie's more recent pieces have included mixes of linen and cotton too. These are much lighter and less bulky, and drape beautifully when worn one of the four different ways each piece can be worn. Her work is truly beautiful, wearable and always evolving, whilst staying with her original concept of natural materials and dyes. Each piece is truly timeless and, I believe, attractive to all ages as her pieces can mix into any wardrobe and look demure and expertly made.
http://www.olliezwitserlood.com/

Ollie in her studio

One of Ollie's many wonderful creations

Linda Miller has displayed her machine embroidery portraits in London for 23 years now and I have grown up with her work hanging up all around our house and I hope to fill my own home with her quirky images one day. Craft can often be misconstrued as a world of twee old ladies hand knitting dire coloured socks. Linda's work is quirky, fun and on the verge of twee, I must admit; but each images underlying wit and humour makes them feel so wonderfully alive that 'granny socks' never comes into play in her talent. Just as in Linda's work, you will find a brilliant vein of humour and wit running through the work of many contemporary craftsmen's work. This is no Ikea fest, if you want to make your home feel real and alive, then craftwork is often the only way to do this. 

A sample of Linda Miller's beautiful work

http://www.lindamillerembroideries.co.uk/

Sarah Cant is a milliner I met at Origin three years ago and had the pleasure of trying on her work again this year. She is the course leader for the HNC in Millinery at Kensington and Chelsea College (one of the last remaning millinery courses in the UK) She has worked for Stephen Jones, and set up her own label in 2003. Her work is constantly developing into contemporary shapes and fabrics, my favourite had what looked like a coconut shell with gold leafed nails driven through it on top of a slashed headpiece. She promised bows of the same design would be available for purchase within the next few months, so I will invest in those when I can. 

http://www.sarahcant.co.uk/

Dialogue Collective where a standout group of talent this year, mainly jewellery makers, I was fascinated by their individual styles and unique creative voices compiled in their beautiful display. They had the best idea of the show, a '£20 wall' providing £20 examples of each creative's work was a great way to sample their talent without breaking the bank. I wish more craftspeople did this as I am often put off even saving up as their prices seem so unreachable.

http://www.dialoguecollective.co.uk/

Work from members of DC