Manchester Craft Mafia

’tis the season

Tis’ the season for a bit giving and sharing, so Manchester Craft Mafia team up with Bristol’s Making Things Club for a little Christmas swap!

In November, attendees at each group’s monthly event brought and made Christmas gifts for us to exchange so that in December all the Manchester folks received presents from Bristol and vice versa!

Have a look at some of the gorgeous things that were swapped and entered into MCM’s Christmas Competition

… and check out our Christmas Competition Prize Winners

3rd Prize went to Cherry for her Jam Jar Ornament

2nd Prize went to Bec and Sam who made these lovely Milk Carton Elephants

…. and… drum roll please…. 1st Prize went to Andrew for is unique Coke Can Wreath!

Showcase Friday : The Chandelier of Lost Earrings

Welcome to our new blog feature where we are aiming to showcase the work of crafts people and designers who we think are doing interesting and inspiring projects. For our first showcase we’re really pleased to be featuring two local artists called Lauren Sagar and Sharon Campbell from www.sagarandcampbell.co.uk . Lauren and Sharon are currently running a mass participatory craft project called ‘ The Chandelier of Lost Earrings’ in which they want to gather together lost and lonely earrings after their pair is lost. Lauren and Sharon  aim  to turn these forgotten earrings and the stories of their owners into one beautiful site specific craft piece that will hang inside the glass summer house which they have created in the grounds of St.Marys maternity hospital  in Manchester www.summerhouseblog.blogspot.co.uk. So far they have collected over 1000 earrings from all over the world but need about 5000 in total to complete the project and have been asked by Guinness World Records  to create a brand new record and make the World’s Largest Sculpture Made of Earrings !

Tell us about what you do …

How did you get into craft and design ?

Sharon and I work together, we have done for the last 7 years or so. We have developed a nice interdependent balance between us, having very different ways of approaching things, and we also just get on really well. The ways we got into art and craft were actually quite similar: both drawn to being artists from an early age; having abandoned the more traditional route to an arts career as it felt constricting rather than enlightening, we both chose to find our own way, always looking for training opportunities and experiences. We both found that we had a natural ability and enthusiasm for facilitation. We could assist groups to meet their creative potential. The combination of glass work, craft and group facilitation has been an important and common thread in both our careers. The Chandelier of Lost Earrings is turning out to be a good example of this. People are immediately captured by and engaged in the idea. As one arring contributor recently said; the loss I experienced by one of a pair of my most favourite earrings breaking, can now be resolved by adding it to all of the others in a beautiful artwork.

Do you create your pieces by hand or do you use any modern technology? If only by hand is that something that’s really important to you ?

We do both. Our art works are always a combination. We like to have a tangible element of ‘handcraftedness’ so that the it has a familiar human feel. Chandelier; the structure will be designed and created using modern technology; the earrings will be added by hand.

Where do you get inspiration for your craft and design work?

Who knows!! From the process of making I guess, and from the audience – who will see the work, how will they benefit from it etc. The Chandelier was inspired by the work we were doing at St Mary’s maternity hospital in Manchester. Having completed our commission there – the glass Summer House – we decided to install mini ‘pop-up’ exhibitions inside the structure. We were looked upon by staff and patients; a bit like being in a fish bowl! We chatted to people and found out that they were interested in what we were doing. We wanted to create something FOR them, with them in mind; something they could participate in.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

We’d really like to make bigger and bigger art works that involve many many people – mass participation. Maybe something on the Yorkshire Sculpture Park! And at the same time to be able to learn more about our craft; to find better, more successful ways to engage with our audience; to create beautiful pieces that have a positive effect and that people like to see in their every day lives.

What’s the dream ambition?

To be paid well for what we do best.

How do you promote your projects ?

Talking to people, tweeting,Facebook,local press and media, our web site, other web sites like Axis. Now that we have Arts Council funding through the Grant for the arts scheme to make the Chandelier, we hope that we can achieve some coverage on local and national media to appeal for the the many, many earrings that will make up the Chandelier.

What do you think it takes to become successful in the craft industry?

Focus, tenacity, and pretty thick skin sometimes, also, keep creative, under all the admin, bids, bookkeeping, don’t forget you are an artist, so do some art sometimes!

Favorite crafts person or designer?

Grayson Perry/my niece, Ruth Chambers, who does the most beautiful drawings

Do you have any favorite blogs or publications where you get inspiration ?

I used to love browsing Artist newsletter, it’s not so easy now that it’s not in print anymore. Plus Sharon’s blog about our work.

Tools of the trade?

Pencils, glass cutters

Best and most satisfying piece of work you’ve done ?

The Summer House and all that goes with it. We are loving the Chandelier of Lost Earrings project.

Any Tips or advice to share with aspiring crafts people?

Find your own way. Be polite to everyone; you never know who is going to come back to commission you many years later

Links of websites:

www.sagarandcampbell.co.uk

www.manchesterstainedglass.co.uk

Email:

info@sagarandcampbell.co.uk

Twitter: @summerhouseart

LoFi tomorrow

Upcycle your t’s

Tomorrow night LoFi from 6pm

This month we are gonna dig out forgotten t-shirts and turn them into wonderous jewellery!

Myself and Nico Dawson will show you how to make necklaces, rings, bracelets and brooches. It’s really easy peasy and very experimental.

We will aim to provide all the materials for a mini fee but if you have any old forgotten t shirts bring em along.

Anything you’ve made recently please bring it along for show and tell, we’d love to see.

Common will take orders for our tea or whatever drinks and nibbles make take your fancy?

See http://www.aplacecalledcommon.co.uk/food

To let us know you’re coming email nico@opheliabutton.co.uk

(Acceptance of your invitation helps with numbers for food if you plan on eating? And also for the demo and materials so please do try to let me know if possible?)

Lo Fi DIY is brought to you in association with Manchester Craft Mafia, a friendly bunch!

May Lo-Fi and the building of Crafty City

May Lo-fi DIY

Making things happen!

On Tuesday 3rd of May 6 till 9 at Common Edge St

(Edge St, Northern Quarter)

Crafty City 2

Wanna make a building to be exhibited at Fred Aldous as part of their 125^th Birthday celebrations?

This is what we will be up to this month at Lo Fi and would love for you to join us in this crafty activity.

We will aim to bring a variety of materials to hopefully inspire you but feel free to bring down anything you wish to use in your building construction or any bits you have to share.

Please see below for full details of the project.

Anything you’ve made recently please bring it along for show and tell, we’d love to see.

Common will take orders for our tea or whatever drinks and nibbles make take your fancy?

See http://www.aplacecalledcommon.co.uk/food

To let us know you’re coming email nico@opheliabutton.co.uk

(Acceptance of your invitation helps with numbers for food if you plan on eating? And also for the demo and materials so please do try to let me know if possible?)

More info on Crafty City…….

Mini Manchester. A Not So Big Up North.

Following the success of MCM’s crafty city, MCM and Fred Aldous are teaming up to create a Mini Manchester!

Manchester Craft Mafia are inviting as many people to create a little building using any art material or method. The only restriction being the size and we hope the ‘Crafty City’ will grow and develop. Our city started on Thursday 19th August 2010 during MCM’s re-launch night with about thirty seven mini buildings and MCM hope it will grow from a village, into a town and then into a large ‘Crafty City’. We hope this will reflect the history of how Manchester grew from a little camp to what it is today, a large and very busy city.

The ‘Crafty City’ is a project for everyone. For crafters and non-crafters, for people living in Manchester or further afield in the UK and if possible people from overseas. Creativity is everywhere and in everyone, and we would like to encourage it out by providing the chance to contribute, share and make.

The only restriction is the size; it should be no bigger than 15cm by 15cm by 15cm – including the roof.

Inspiration can be taken from the buildings of Manchester or from the one you live in now, in the past or where you would like to live in the future or it could be one created from your imagination. Buildings can be sewn, knitted, cross-stitched, drawn or painted. You could make one out of wood, paper, Lego, card or clay. Anything goes!

The finished city will be exhibited at Fred Aldous Ltd. in Manchester city centre from 16^th July – 31^st July.

If you need one, there is a template available to download from the MCM website www.manchestercraftmafia.co.uk

You can deliver your submissions to our drop of point in store at Fred Aldous Ltd. or alternatively post them to:

Fred Aldous Ltd.

37 Lever Street

Manchester

M1 1LW

The Deadline for submissions to arrive is 24^th June 2011.

Lo-Fi

At the beginning of the month I ran one of the Mafia’s Lo-Fi sessions

I taught a lovely group how to make some simple little artist books/ scrap books. the results were lovely using ribbons, buttons even old map some beautiful books were created. for more of the finished books check out my flickr

to see a little more about me check out my blog

LO-FI is a monthly get to together at Common in the Northern Quarter

taking place on the first Tuesday of the Month. starting about 6pm costing

just £1 towards materials

The next session will be run my textile Artist Jane Dennerly who will be demonstrating some simple stitches that create fantastic results beginners and experienced crafters welcome.

to hav a nosey at some of Jane’s work check out her blog

places must be booked to book and for more details contact Nico on nico@opheliabutton.co.uk

Ministry of Craft

The Manchester Craft Mafia has great ties with lots other crafty organisations and businesses around Manchester – one of our ‘best buddies’ in the craft community is Manchester based Ministry of Craft!

Ministry of Craft has been gathering lots of attention lately for its wide range of fantastically fun courses… did you spot them in this month’s ‘Making’ magazine?  There’s a huge spread featuring Sam Sterkin and her collection of crafty classes. So we figured why not feature them here for all our Craft Mafia followers?

Ministry of Craft are going from strength to strength this Spring. With last season’s newbies Cupcake Decorating and BathBomb Making already having become firm favourites, they‘re always reinventing their programme, this spring even more than ever – with brand new courses all taught by local makers and crafters – some of whom you may recognise!

Their new courses include Lino Cut Pattern Printing, Origami Jewellery, Knitting a Wire Bracelet, and Making Your Own Bunting – there’s got to be some new skills there, for even the most seasoned crafter! Get the full list at www.ministryofcraft.co.uk

Tomorrow!

can hardly contain ourselves, Soooo excited!  see below how much Mafia member Jane Dennerly is looking for to tomorrow’s Craft fair at The Whitworth Art Gallery. also pictures of her beautiful bags available tomorrow

Ooo its that time of year again, when its the Manchester Craft Mafia’s annual xmas fair held at the Whitworth Art Gallery. This year I have been busy organising the event and selecting some of the best crafters in the Manchester area. I will be selling my own work too and I’ve been busy making bags, bows, scarves and corsages from beautiful Harris Tweed and silk. There will be plenty to choose from, in lots of different colours and patterns. Hope you can come along and buy something unique for yourself or as a present for someone special.

Less than a week to go!

We are all very busy at the Mafia, painting, stitching, knitting and sticking ready for our craft fair at The Whitworth Art Gallery  http://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/ on Saturday at 10am

Here are a couple of photo’s of Mafia member Debbie Greenaway’s work that will be on sale on Saturday to find out more about Debbie’s craft and illustration see her website http://www.debbiegreenaway.com/ and on her blog http://www.theimaginationofladysnail.blogspot.com/